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It's okay to be okay! In fact, our guest today takes pride in it. Melissa McCue-McGrath is the self-proclaimed "World's Okayest Dog Trainer," who went from alpha-rolling retired sled dogs in her backyard to using positive reinforcement techniques to help improve family-dog dynamics. Join us today for a definitely more-than-okay conversation about kids, dogs, body language, and everything in between!   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Welcome back to the second half of our conversation with Emily Breslin about your dog's gut microbiome! Join us as we pick up where we left off last week for a discussion about gut ecosystems, healthy chewing habits, and cancer-fighting diets for dogs.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Favorite guest of the show Emily Breslin is back, this time to dive deeper into a topic we briefly touched on the last time she was here- your dog's gut microbiome. Though it may not be something we think about a lot, our dog's gut contains its own complex ecosystem that affects almost every aspect of their health. Tune in to find out more about this crucial, if often neglected, aspect of canine health and learn how you can help support it.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Goats are stubborn creatures, so when Seth Thompson began running a goat farm, it quickly became apparent that he was going to need some help. Enter Dutch, Seth's goat-herding dog, without whom New Plymouth Farm couldn't operate. As both a working dog and a family dog, Dutch is a vital part of not only the Thompson family's business, but their home life as well. Join us today as Seth shares both the challenges and the unique joys of life with his goat-herding farm dog.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog. 

Most of us hate the thought of our precious pooch dismembering a squirrel or eviscerating a rabbit, but the truth is that ultimately, that's what they were designed to do. Dogs are natural predators, and while they may have moved into our living rooms, those hunting instincts haven't gone away. Enter Meghan Wolfgram and SwiftPaws! SwiftPaws creates enrichment toys designed to help dogs indulge their natural predatory instincts without leaving bits of bunny entrails all over your lawn. Meghan came on the show today to discuss the inspiration behind her company and how you can turn your backyard into a cruelty-free hunting area in just five minutes. We promise, no squirrels were harmed in the making of this episode!   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Welcome back to Part 2 of our discussion about canine nutrition with dog trainer and nutritionist Emily Breslin. Join us as we pick up where we left off last week and talk more about the necessity (or not) of supplements, the importance of gut health, and whether or not your dog should go vegetarian.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog. 

The importance of nutrition is a recurring topic here at Your Family Dog, and with good reason. Quality nutrition can make a huge difference in the life, health, and happiness of your dog, but figuring out what that looks like can be overwhelming. Should my dog's food all be raw? Are grains good or bad? Do I really have to make it all myself? Dog trainer Emily Breslin is, if possible, even more passionate about nutrition than she is about enrichment (which she talked about on the show back in November). She's committed to helping families feed their dogs better, without going nuts. Join us today to learn about a healthy canine diet and what you can do to help improve your dog's meals.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Navigating life with kids and dogs can be tricky- something we've talked about many times before on the show. And it can become even more complicated when one of the parties involved has some kind of special need. Neurodivergent kiddos or children with sensory processing disorders can find living with a dog- even a dog they love- to be especially challenging, and parents are often at a loss as to what to do. Enter Debbie Lucken, the founder of Kids Around Dogs, an organization dedicated to helping kids and dogs get along. Back in December, Debbie came on the podcast to talk about her work with KAD. This week she's back to talk more about helping those kids who are a little differently wired to still find joy in their pets.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Back in December, we talked to Mark Mancuso, developer of the new app Workout Woof. Designed to connect fitness enthusiasts with canine workout buddies, the app aims to build community and connection between dog owners and local athletes. Now, a few months on, tune in for an update from Mark on how the app launch is going and what to expect in the future.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Many of us seek out chiropractic care for ourselves, to help with aches, pains, and stiff joints. But spinal adjustment isn't just for humans- animals can benefit from chiropractic care as well. Dr. Kelli Meier adjusts the spines of both humans and animals at her practice, and joined the show today to discuss how chiropractic care can help everyone from dogs to guinea pigs.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Loss is always the hardest part of owning and loving a pet. This can be especially true for children, whose first experience of death and grief comes through the loss of a beloved animal. Fortunately, there is no lack of gentle, comforting resources to help kids- and adults!- navigate the grief that comes with pet loss. Recently, we highlighted Warren Hanson's wonderful book "Paw Prints in the Stars." Today, we're joined by author Patrice Karst, whose book "The Invisible Leash" celebrates the bond that exists between us and our animals, even after they're gone from this world.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Dog training has come a long way over the past few decades. A huge shift has happened, away from the harsh and punitive measures of the past, to kinder, gentler, reinforcement-based training. The tools of the trade have obviously changed as well- prong collars and choke chains have increasingly given way to better alternatives, such as the popular Gentle Leader. And now, there's an even better training tool on the market, one designed not only to help with pulling issues, but to deepen your relationship with your dog. Trainer Heather Beck of Heather's Heroes joined the show today to talk about her innovative new training leash, the Sidekick.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Grief is, unfortunately, an inevitable part of life. For many of us, our first real experience of grief and loss comes with the passing of a beloved pet. As children, it can be hard to understand exactly what's happened and why our furry friend is never coming back. Moved by the story of a tragic accident, author and illustrator Warren Hanson set out to try and give comfort to children experiencing grief. His books "The Next Place," and "Paw Prints in the Stars" provide a gentle guide to coping with the sadness of death, and the celebration of the love that remains. Join us today for a discussion of grief and loss, and a special storytime (tissues recommended!).   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

There are a lot of resources out there about kids and dogs. But whether it's bringing a puppy home to your kids, or a new baby home to your dog, most of the information available focuses on the early stages of child/puppyhood. What is often overlooked- but can be just as challenging to all involved- is what happens when the kids grow up, move out, and leave their pets behind. Family dog trainer Debra Murray, of Smartypaws LLC, specializes in family-pet dynamics. Join us today to talk about how to handle this overlooked but still pivotal adjustment in your pet's life.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Getting a new puppy is a little like being invaded by aliens- cute, fluffy, wiggly aliens, but aliens nonetheless. Humans and puppies don't innately understand each other, and this lack of understanding can turn a time that should be fun and exciting into a one full of anger, stress, and doubts.  Fortunately, there is help! Certified dog trainer Kathy Callahan specializes in families and their new puppies acclimate to one another and achieve a smooth transition into the household. Join us today for a discussion of all the highs and lows, ups and downs, of puppyhood!   Certified dog trainer (CPDT-KA) and family dog mediator (LFDM) Kathy Callahan specializes in puppies. The author of Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog and 101 Rescue Puppies, she writes monthly on training and behavior for Whole Dog Journal. Her business, PupStart, focuses on helping clients through puppyhood. Her website is www.puppypicks.com.  KATHY SOCIAL: Instagram - instagram.com/puppypicks  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.g.callahan   YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2XrCeyKGTvXvp4l5dSMG1A   Other links from episode discussion: Welcoming Your Puppy From Planet Dog Snuggle Puppy DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) Regular Roller Gate Reinforced Roller Gate Outdoor Reinforced Roller Gate (HUGE) Indoor (open floorplan) Reinforced Roller Gate Ping Pong By Leslie McDevitt - How to use it with puppies   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog