Your Family Dog Podcast

YFD 009: Fun with Food! How to use intelligence toys to keep your dog happy and healthy.

Need a way to keep your dog busy and challenge him mentally? Professional dog trainers, Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith discuss various intelligence toys for dogs and how to use them to keep your dog happy in a variety of common situations.
 
For show notes with more information on intelligence toys and where to find them go to: Your Family Dog
 
Kong
Squirrel Dude
Kibble Nibble
Magic Mushroom
Twist N Treat
Kyjen slow bowls
 

YFD 008: Thanksgiving for dogs! Or, why we are so thankful for dogs in our lives.

No problems this week! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith discuss why they are so thankful for dogs and what makes dogs man's best friend. 
For more thoughts on dogs, check out the show notes on our website: Your Family Dog

YFD 007: A dog for the kids?

Should you get a dog for the kids? Will it really teach them responsibility? Professional dog trainers, Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar talk about what needs to be considered when adding a dog to the family. 
Colleen's books Living with Kids and Dogs ... Without Losing Your Mind and Puppy Training for Kids can help set your family up for success with your dog.
For show notes and links, visit our website: Your Family Dog. 
 

YFD 006: Teaching kids how to meet a dog.

Most parents encourage a child to ask the owner before they pet a dog, but did you know your child should also ask the dog? Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith teach you how to ask a dog for permission, how to know if the dog is saying yes or no, how to properly pet a pooch, and more. 
For show notes, links, and other information go to: Your Family Dog Podcast
 

YFD 005: I Hear You Knocking!

Someone's at the door and your dog goes crazy! Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar discuss various solutions that can do to help your dog be calm when someone comes knocking. 
For additional links and show notes, go to Your Family Dog Podcast
 

YFD 004: Why Be Positive?

You'll be amazed at how positive reinforcement training improves your relationship with your dog ... and your relationships with other people too.
Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith talk about their own experiences with old-school, force-based methods as compared with positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement methods focus on solutions, not problems. These techniques make you and your dog a team, not opponents, and they are family friendly because they don't increase the risk of aggression.
Companion Animal Psychology's article: What is Positive Reinforcement in Dog Training?
For more information and show notes: Your Family Dog

YFD 003: Helping Your Dog on Halloween Night.

We think of Halloween as a night of fun, but it might not be so much fun for our dogs. In this episode, Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith discuss
How to tell whether your dog is enjoying, tolerating, or trying to end an interaction
Common canine stress signals
Strategies for making the evening more enjoyable for your dog.
For More information see: Your Family Dog
 

YFD 002: Preparing Your Dog for Halloween

Halloween can be a scary holiday for dogs. In this episode, Julie Fudge Smith and Colleen Pelar discuss the importance of socialization and why dogs can be a bit unnerved by the sights and sounds of Halloween.
For more information and show notes go to: Your Family Dog Podcast

YFD 001: Mealtime Management

Family meals can be challenging with dogs in the house. Colleen Pelar and Julie Fudge Smith offer several suggestions for managing family mealtime.
For more information and show notes see: Your Family Dog Podcast