Your Family Dog Podcast

YFD 270: Canine Cannabis with Angela Ardolino

There's been plenty of talk recently about the possible health benefits and therapeutic uses of hemp and mushrooms for people- but did you know that these alternative treatments could also benefit your dog? Holistic wellness advocate Angela Ardonlino's three favorite things are "hemp, mushrooms, and dogs," and she came on the podcast today to talk about all of those. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the surprising ways these unconventional medicines can benefit your pup.
 
For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog. 

YFD 269: Pup O'Clock with Brian Manni

There are subscription boxes for kids. There are subscription boxes for dogs. But there isn't a subscription box for kids *and* dogs- or at least, there hasn't been until now! Brian Manni is the founder and CEO of Pup O'Clock, a subscription box aimed at helping kids care for and develop a relationship with their dogs. With trading cards, activities, toys, and recipes, the boxes are designed to bring enrichment to both two- and four-legged children. Brian came on the show today to share the inspiration behind his company and how each box gives back to the community.
For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog. To check out the Pup O'Clock box, click here. Don't forget to use code YOURFAMILYDOGPOD10 at checkout to save 10% every month!

World's Okayest Dog Trainer

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.

267: Trust Your Gut, Part 2

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.

266: Trust Your Gut with Emily Breslin, Part I

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.

265: Goat, Dog, Goat!

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. 

YFD 264: The Thrill of the Chase with Meghan Wolfgram

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.

YFD 263: You Arf What You Eat, Part II

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. 

YFD 262: You Arf What You Eat, Part I

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.

YFD 261: Kids Around Dogs- Special Needs Edition

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.