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From A Dog's Eye View

Susan Coleman

A space to embrace your dog and understand their behavior. Bi-weekly episodes exploring all things positive reinforcement training + effectively communicating with your dog. Because dogs are simple, when their owners have the right information.

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  • 23 episodes
  • monthly
  • Avg 43 min
  • English

Episodes 23

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  • October 13 · 32 min

    Potty Training

    Upon bringing home a puppy or rescue dog, two important issues to focus on the first few weeks are building a bond with your new dog and establishing good potty training habits. I always advocate starting your relationship off as a leader who sets the rules of the house. This role as a leader includes teaching your pup where to eliminate. I hope to simplify the whole process in this episode by listing several suggestions to make it the least stressful possible on you and your dog. I also would like to share some memorable stories of clients who sought out my help to potty train their dogs. Over the years, I have found that people will tolerate ALOT when it comes to potty training. Either they have poor information to begin with, or they are okay with ‘accidents’ in the house. Many times, I start helping clients after potty training has become a problem. Their dog just doesn’t seem to get the concept. They want their dogs to only eliminate outside, but they unknowingly have been sending them mixed signals. Pet parents have to be willing to change what they have currently been doing. What they have been doing hasn’t worked, so most clients are usually open to trying different tactics. I have had a lot of success with my suggestions and this is what I would like to pass on to you. As I tell my clients, even with rehabbing certain behavioral issues such as jumping or nipping, if plan A doesn’t work, try plan B. If plan B doesn’t work, go to plan C, and so on. This strategy works for potty training too. Remember, initially, dog training involves teaching the humans how to communicate effectively with their dog first and then training the dogs. Many people successfully potty train their dogs without any assistance. It is what comes naturally and logically to them and they have a cooperative dog. I know this because I ask every client if there are any issues with potty training. I don’t stop there. I ask more questions to find out if that is really true. Sometimes, the client tells me that potty training is not an issue, but then the dog has an accident right in front of me. This can be a touchy subject when this “occasional accident” has been happening for over a year. Other clients tolerate accidents for so long hoping that the dog will figure it out as they get older. This never has led to success. Whether the dog is large or small, I have been to homes where the dog has had “accidents” in the same places on and off for many months, that turn into years, and then for the rest of the dog’s life (which means the humans have given up and just accepted their dog’s indoor potty habits). Story #1 One client had two dogs, but was focused on potty training the puppy. When I arrived, the puppy was in a crate. The older dog was loose in the house and greeted me very happily, but was jumping on me. I thought this would be an easy appointment - show the client how to have her dog greet people without jumping and give some suggestions for potty training the puppy. After all, half of the job was done because she was already using the crate! She was just using it for some other purpose unbeknownst to me. The client let the puppy out and put her in a pen she had set up with pee pads. The puppy immediately peed and was excited to meet me. So much for the easy appointment. I gave this client all the tips I have listed below, but she didn’t like how I used the crate for potty training. Needless to say, I never got a call back for further advice! Exceptions to potty training outdoors Potty training outdoors is the most desirable place for dogs to eliminate. However, there are exceptions where pee pads or diaper wraps are necessary. For example, pee pads will help if the dog has had surgery and has very limited mobility. There are also dogs that are in their last stage of life and do not have control of their bladder and bowels. There are options for these cases, such as diaper wraps and confining the dog to a certain part of the house that makes clean up easier. However, confining a potty trained older dog after they have had full rein of the house can be very challenging. I also make an obvious exception with newborn puppies. They cannot control their bowels and urine the first several weeks of their life. Their Mom will lick them to stimulate to go and will ingest what is excreted. Yick! When they are 6-8 weeks, they can be taught to start going outside. Some breeders take it upon themselves to start that process before they are placed in their forever home. This can be a tremendous help, but the pet parent still has to figure out how to do what the breeder did, in their own home. Herein lies the challenge. Using fake grass outside I have had clients whose dogs were trained to eliminate on fake grass on a deck right outside of their house or apartment. Sometimes this is necessary because the dog is so small and the temperature is extremely cold for them. I do not envy people who have to potty train their dogs in the winter. We all have experienced how long it can take for their dog to finally eliminate. They get outside and get so distracted that eliminating is the furthest thing on their minds! So, placing the fake grass close to the house and even taking the puppy out on a leash and guiding them to that specific area can work. When the puppy is bigger and the temperature is warmer, you can still take them out on leash in the front or backyard. The “Poop Arena” In the winter time, when there is snow on the ground, I recommend shoveling out a “poop arena”. Sometimes the snow can be deeper than the height of the dog. We did this for our Corgi. Story #2 Another example of how fake grass can help potty train a puppy is one of my clients had to place fake grass on her balcony because she lived in a high rise apartment. The puppy was way too big to carry and it took too long to walk him down the long hallway and get in the elevator without having an accident. As soon as the puppy could hold it longer, she was able to walk him to the elevator to get to the place where there was an area for dogs to eliminate. Story #3 Another client adopted a Shih Tzu named Princess who spent her first 3 years in a crate. She never experienced any other daily life but the inside of a crate. This meant she defecated, urinated, and ate in one that was most likely stacked on top of others. Many dogs were rescued from this particular hoarding situation, where they were living in substandard conditions. Knowing this, Princess’ pet parent vowed to never put her in a crate again. After talking to the vet, Princess’ pet parent decided to potty train her outside instead of using pee pads indoors. She was small enough to carry downstairs and in the elevator to help speed up that process. She had gastrointestinal issues throughout her life due to the poor diet from the neglect and abuse she experienced. This made potty training challenging at times. It was necessary to learn her bowel habits to avoid accidents. The great news is that Princess was able to be successfully potty trained outdoors even while living on the 30th floor of an apartment building! Princess passed away this year but taught everyone who met her that dogs can overcome the most horrendous conditions and have a fulfilled life. She was very fortunate to find her forever pet parent. Potty Training My Dog Ebi I like to recount the story of potty training my Leonberger, Ebi. I knew she was going to be a big dog and there was no way I was going to put up with huge puddles of urine or big piles of poop! So, express potty training was a necessity! It was 8 years ago, but from what I remember, I bet she had less than 10 accidents until the day I considered her fully potty trained. My husband and I blocked off our house with gates so that Ebi only had access to the front hallway and kitchen. We had a chair i… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • September 9 · 1 hr 20 min

    Search and Rescue Canines at Ground Zero on 9/11/01

    **I am reposting this must-see podcast from last year in recognition of the 25th anniversary of 9/11/2001. This episode is dedicated to my guest, Gary Flynn; all of the Task Forces deployed with their search and rescue canines, including Ohio Task Force 1, and, most importantly, those who perished on September 11, 2001. This episode is also dedicated to the dog handlers and emergency crews who continue to suffer from the trauma they experienced during that time, as well as to the family members who continue to support their loved ones as they cope with the lasting mental and physical health effects. September 11 was the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil. People were stunned and frightened as they watched the events unfold on their television screens. After the plot to destroy human lives and weaken American leadership had concluded on that horrific day, the largest call-up of emergency services occurred and FEMA task forces were deployed. One of the 26 FEMA task forces summoned was Gary Flynn and Ohio Task Force 1. I highly recommend listening to this podcast where Gary describes, in detail at times, how the events impacted him and his 5 year old Belgian Malinois, Tascha. To say that this was an emotional podcast is an understatement. In fact, words cannot describe adequately the plethora of information that Gary was willing to share. Therefore, I am only going to write about details in the best way possible to help break down the magnitude of that day, and the months and years to follow. This is also the platform where I can share photos that Gary took during his time there. Never did I think that I would meet and get to know someone who I could call my mentor and my friend, and someone who tirelessly worked at finding survivors with his personally trained professional dog. This was a war zone, no doubt about that. The way that Gary describes how he got the call while working his day job at BIOPLASTICS CO. in North Ridgeville, Ohio, is already uniquely different than the majority of us who watched the news that day in our homes. He was called up and ready to go like any soldier summoned to war. We all remember exactly where we were when we found out about the first plane slamming into the World Trade Center. None of us dreamt this was part of a much bigger plot to wreak devastation on a such a grand scale. We were able to watch the events on tv in the security of our homes. However, the first responders and those called up to search for survivors had to risk their lives and the lives of their beloved and highly trained canines. Out of the 72 people in Ohio deployed by FEMA, only 4 dog handlers and their canines were chosen to go. Three of the four handlers were from OSDA (Gary’s search and rescue dog agency). The fourth handler, Terry Trepanier was a veteran firefighter and paramedic from Washington Township, shown in the picture below with his dog Woody. There were many more qualified people ready and willing to go serve, but were not chosen by the federal government to assist. FEMA plans for disasters similar to this and whatever they decide is not to be debated or contested. Gary talks about how much the love and support from those not selected to go was an immeasurable support system while being there. FEMA requested that the canines to be deployed be live human finds only. Gary had a cadaver dog, Felix, fully trained and ready to go, but that was not what was needed from Ohio Task Force 1. There were Task Forces from other states who received the order for trained cadaver dogs. However, Gary’s dog Tascha, exhibited an aversive behavior whenever she would come across cadaver parts. She would shrug her body in such a way that it was almost an actual alert signal. Gary had specifically trained her to go past any cadavers and only focus on the live human scent. Gary and Tascha worked 12 hour shifts, but it never ended at the 12th hour. If they were commanded to search a specific area of “the pile” (which was approximately 40 stories high) and they kept finding more openings within that pile to investigate, they did not quit just because their shift was up. They continued until there was no more area left to search . If it required to rappel blindly into a dark hole, then that’s what they did. Sending his dog in first with no leash and no collar to find survivors caused fear and anxiety that cannot be verbally described. “I can tell you what it was like, but I have no way to tell you how it feels” Gary Flynn Gary and Tasha weren’t always working the pile. Sometimes they were commanded to search the surrounding buildings. A badly damaged structure assigned to Gary and Tascha was the Merrill Lynch Financial Center, pictured below. They had to climb 51 flights of stairs with no lights to guide them and search every inch for survivors. What they found was mostly plane pieces, cadavers, luggage and clothes. Gary says that the job always starts from the top on down, instead of the other way around. That way, when you are all done with the search, you can just exit the building. One of my questions to Gary was about using protective gear for himself and his dog. Gary had all the protective gear needed for a toxic environment like the one at Ground Zero. He knew what he could be exposed to because he was a certified environmental hazard specialist. However, the protective gear got in the way when navigating through narrow passages with sharp objects all around. He wished he could have worn the gear all the time, but it wasn’t feasible. Tasha did not wear any boots for her paws. She managed okay without them. She did endure a large burned area on her chest, not from direct fire, but from abrasions caused by squeezing in between and crawling through so much rubble. The wound healed up, but the fur never grew back. She lived until the ripe old age of 17. She was a cancer survivor on top of all that. It was too difficult to say that the cancer was due to her exposure to chemicals at Ground Zero, but living 13 years after the event is pretty astonishing! Gary is beyond grateful to the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams dispatched by FEMA to Ground Zero to provide medical care to the hundreds of search and rescue dogs on site. Tascha became dehydrated to the point where she needed to have intravenous fluids pumped into her. The VMAT teams provided the prompt assistance required to get Tascha back on her paws again. Another question I asked Gary was if dogs experience PTSD. He believes they do but it is because those dogs were not properly trained or they were not the type of dog that could handle the stress from search and rescue work. Just like not all dogs make good service dogs, not all dogs are cut out to make effective search and rescue dogs. The stamina and prolonged self motivation required for this kind of work is not present in all dogs. The dogs who have been correctly trained succeed and love what they do. Their handlers reward them with play time whenever they can sneak in a few minutes of downtime. Sometimes, due to the tasks at hand, the only reward was their handler’s voice praising them. Other times, down time meant rest time. Catching a few Z’s had to be squeezed in there too! Another amazing feature of the search and rescue dog is their ability to provide loving and caring support to their handlers and emergency staff members. Gary said there were plenty of them crying into their beloved dog’s fur. Dogs provide comfort that humans cannot. It’s just different. Gary is eternally grateful to so many people, but most importantly, his wife and young d… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • August 25 · 41 min

    How Border Collies Work with Ohio Geese Control

    Geese are beautiful birds with fascinating behavioral patterns that are interesting to observe. Their black heads and necks, along with their distinctive white-striped cheeks, make them especially striking to look at. I always stop to watch them up above when I see them in their infamous V-shaped flight pattern. However, they can be a nuisance to communities and businesses when they begin settling in large groups. In particular, the goose droppings are annoying to anyone walking on grass, sidewalks, or parking lots where they have been. Not only do the droppings carry diseases and present walking hazards, they can cause sickness in dogs if ingested. We all know how tempting animal feces are to dogs! Geese can also become aggressive while protecting their nests. They will hiss, pump their heads up and down, and charge at whatever is threatening their territory. My guest, Marci Hower, joined her husband, Jeff, in managing geese populations, after Jeff came up with the idea of using a resident Border Collie at the golf course where he worked, to scare away the geese that had settled there. Since he had success at the golf course, he started taking the dog other places and inquiring if he and his dog could chase away their resident geese for free. Jeff started exploring whether a business plan of using well trained dogs to chase geese away was a viable way to make a living. After all, this was a new concept in Ohio. It took about three years to establish a fully functional business. Finally, Ohio Geese Control (OGC) was formed in 2004, with the headquarters located in Cleveland. Initially, Jeff used the dog from the golf course with a binding agreement that the dog would live with Marci and Jeff. It is very important that the dogs used for this type of work live and bond with their handlers. When Jeff was ready to start the business, he purchased the dog, named Nick, from the golf course. Soon after that, they started adding to their pack. They learned that not all dogs are suitable for this type of work. The ones that were, became very effective in managing geese populations. Marci and Jeff have grown their company to servicing not only Cleveland, but also Akron, Canton, Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton. There are currently 100 employees and 30 working dogs. When Ohio Geese Control is awarded with a contract in any of these areas, they search for the right dog in that area that can be accustomed to working with geese and can become a good family dog too. Sometimes, Marci and Jeff find dogs in nearby rescue agencies or farms. If they assess that the dog will fit this criteria, they will temporarily foster the dog until the employee has been trained and is ready to take on the dog. Ohio Geese Control exclusively uses Border Collies. A Border Collie’s work ethic, instinctual drive to herd but not hurt animals or birds, plus their intelligence, make them an ideal tool to use to effectively and humanely chase geese away. They also are structurally built to intimidate whatever they are herding. They stoop down low and possess a wolf-like glare that no other dog has. Geese instinctively view the dogs as predators causing them to want to fly away. When Marci and Jeff assess a dog, an important instinct to search for is the right intensity of prey drive. To review a subject I have mentioned in previous podcasts, prey drive is a dog’s instinct to track, chase and capture moving objects or animals. Stalking, herding, and chasing animals (in this case, geese) away are optimal instincts in Border Collies to capitalize on. Sometimes, farmers are willing to relinquish their Border Collies who aren’t intense enough to herd farm animals. These types of dogs can be perfect for geese control. They are more apt to not be aggressive towards the geese. Marci and Jeff do not want the dog to catch, kill, or consume the geese. A top priority of Ohio Geese Control is to keep the geese, dog, and members of the community they are servicing very safe. This is to be done with the utmost care to uphold their value as a company as a humane, safe and effective way to manage geese populations. Ohio Geese Control’s mission is to create a healthier, happier environment for everybody who uses the outdoors. They want you to enjoy the outdoors and to embrace nature. All animals, including the geese, have every right to be a part of that experience. OGC employees must respect the animals and birds whose territory they are entering by avoiding actions that threaten or harm them. However, geese can become a nuisance when they are aggressively protecting their nests and when their droppings are in our paths as we are out and about in nature. One single goose can produce a pound and a half of dropping per day! OGC may be successful in employing one of their strategies, such as their dogs, to successfully deter the geese from settling and staying in a particular area. They also may use a combination of strategies. Several ways to humanely and effectively chase geese away are: * using Border Collies * building fencing around the property where geese have settled * laying down wire lines over the water source * placing decoys such as fake coyotes on the property * using lights and green laser pointers recognized by the geese as a threat - especially useful when working with geese that have settled on rooftops of businesses. * operating remote controlled boats on the water * using EPA approved geese repellents made with food grade ingredients In order to be successful at dissuading geese from settling amongst inconvenient places, it is necessary to know their behavior, reproductive cycle and migration patterns. Some fun facts about Canada geese are: * They mate for life * A group of geese is called a gaggle * They molt, or lose their flight feathers, typically during the month of July and cannot fly during that time * They migrate to warmer climates in the fall and return to their place of birth in the spring * Resident geese stay on the property and do not migrate * Their lifespan is approximately 20 years * They lay approximately 2-8 eggs over a period of several days each spring with an incubation period of about 26 days OGC must have safety protocols in place when working with geese. Canada geese like other birds in the wild, can carry diseases through their droppings. Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and the bird flu can be contracted by humans and dogs. According to Marci, the bird flu has become more prevalent in recent years. It is transferred from bird to bird through the droppings or saliva. When a large group of geese are together in an area, there is more chance of spreading the bird flu if the flock is exposed. Therefore, using the dogs to disperse the flock is a very effective way to decrease the likelihood of the bird flu settling and spreading to the other geese. After the handler and dog have worked an area, they must sanitize their car, the crates used to transport the dogs and their shoes. They also must rinse the dogs’ pads with soap and water. They recommend having a set of shoes specifically for this work that are left at the front door and then enter their house. The handlers are also instructed to not touch or move an injured or dead bird since they may be suffering from any one of the diseases mentioned. Instead, it is advised to call a wildlife center for further instructions such as Lake Erie Nature & Science Center (440-871-2900) or The Ohio Division of Wildlife Customer Service Center at (1-800-WILDLIFE). An abundance of goose droppings can pollute soccer fields, ponds, and parks. Discourage your dog from eating the feces. If they do ingest enough of the droppings, they can get very sick from the bacteria and parasites in the droppings. If your dog does eat the droppings and starts to b… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • August 5 · 39 min

    A Guide to Making the Best Food Choices for Your Dog and Cat - Part 2

    Nutrition is defined as the process of consuming, absorbing, and using nutrients from food that is necessary for growth, development, and maintenance of life. In my July 15, 2026 podcast, I provided information about what must be included in the meals we provide for our pets in order for them to survive. I like to go a step further and add food that is nutritionally more beneficial to their diet so they can not only survive but thrive and live a happy and healthy life. Of course, hereditary and environmental factors can influence the expression of diseases. However, I believe healthy nutrition can stunt and even suppress the onset of these diseases. In part one, I focused on the four main components humans, dogs and cats need to sustain life: protein, carbs, fat, water, vitamins and minerals. If the quality or quantity of any one of these components is substandard, health issues can arise. In this episode, I will explain how this leads to an inflammatory response, which leads to an imbalance in your immune system. I will also guide you through a process you can follow in order to make the best food choices for your dogs and cats. Over 15 years ago, I had several appointments with Dr. Debbie Decker, a holistic vet in Westlake, Ohio, to give me professional advice on what to feed my cats. As I mentioned in part one, it was because of my cats that I started to look into finding out if it was the food that was making them vomit so often. I also started to follow a nationally renown holistic vet, Dr. Karen Becker. She has a website with frequent articles about animals - focusing especially on cats and dogs. She wrote a book which I recommend, “ REAL FOOD For Healthy Dogs & Cats”. It fine-tunes the amounts of protein, organ meat and supplements needed to prepare a balanced homemade diet for your cat or dog. I chose to embark on the journey of making my own cat food with the help of Dr. Debbie Decker because of all of the symptoms they were experiencing. Making your own food isn’t something you can just guess and make up as you go. Your pets have certain nutritional requirements that must be met or else metabolic issues can arise that can turn disastrous. Dogs have different requirements than cats. It is important to work with a vet who can best advise you on what and how much to feed your pet. I have simply outlined what has worked for my cats and dog, but your cat or dog may have specific health issues that require additional food groups and supplements. I remember making the switch from processed dry food, or kibble, to homemade food for my cats. I felt overwhelmed to the point where I almost gave up. I knew if I gave up, I would most likely have to deal with all the puke again! That was a big motivator for me to continue the transition. Another driving force to make the switch was learning that I can control the quality of meat I purchase that will be fed to my pets. When you purchase any kibble, unless it is labeled as “human grade”, the meat used is generally sourced from animals or animal parts that have been deemed unsuitable for human consumption under USDA regulations. A disclaimer reminder - I am not a veterinarian or a nutritionist. The information below is a result of my research and experience transitioning my cats and dogs to a more balanced, species appropriate diet. Let’s begin! In part one, I ended the episode describing the importance of healthy fatty acids. I mentioned that in order to preserve the integrity of the fats, proper storage is critical. Oxidation occurs when food substances are exposed to oxygen. For example, bananas oxidize as they ripen. When you cut into a banana, the end exposed to the air will turn brown. It actually has a different taste to it. Oxidation in pet foods causes: * the quality of nutrients to degrade * the foods with fatty acids to become rancid - can produce a distinct foul smell * the development of molds and mycotoxins - dogs can pick up on the scent of molds that we cannot see or smell and may refuse their food * insect infestations which can cause allergic reactions Mixed tocopherols are added by pet food manufacturers to slow down the oxidation process. They are a natural form of Vitamin E. Natural tocopherols are safe and beneficial to your pet. Whereas chemical preservatives like BHA and BHT are artificial. You will see tocopherols, BHA and BHT as an ingredient on the bag or box of food for your pet. As I stated before, I prefer to provide food that doesn’t have either one of these preservatives. Solutions to avoiding oxidation in pet food * Store food in its original bag off the floor and inside an airtight container * Store food for only 2-3 weeks * Store the remainder in freezer bags in your freezer * Look for a “Best Before” date on the unopened bag * Don’t force your pet to eat the food if he or she refuses, especially if you have left the food uncovered overnight * Maintain a consistent feeding schedule with your dog or cat. If they don’t eat all the food in one sitting, cover and refrigerate it. Avoid leaving out a dish of unfinished kibble Foods Never to Feed Your Pet * Onions - can cause anemia * Raisins and grapes - can lead to kidney failure * Macadamia nuts - toxic to pets * Chocolate, especially dark chocolate - contains caffeine and theobromine which can cause heart issues. This warrants a call or more likely an emergency visit to the vet if ingested. * Brewer’s yeast - can be allergenic * Fish high in mercury and raw fish - be aware of bones that can pose a choking hazard. Fried and/or seasoned fish is not healthy. The quantity of any one of these ingredients and the weight of your pet are really the key factors in these foods to avoid. If you have a medium to large sized dog, a few onions, grapes, raisins, or a milk chocolate candy bar are no reason to panic and rush your pet to the vet. Reasons Not to Give Your Dog Peanut Butter * Contains aflatoxins - naturally occurring mycotoxins, produced by the fungus Aspergillus, which causes cancer. * Contains harmful fats - hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (trans-fatty acids ) which cause inflammation. This is explained in more detail in the next few slides. * Contains sugar - make sure NO xylitol is present * Peanuts are a legume* *Legumes are plants with a pod, i.e. dry beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, lupine and soybeans. They contain phytates and lectins which carnivores cannot break down due to a lack of the enzyme phytase. Phytates bind with minerals like zinc, iron, calcium, and magnesium and leech them out of a pet’s body. Just as in the foods to avoid above, it’s the dosage and size of your pet that matters. I used to give my Corgi peanut butter on a daily basis until I figured out that it caused him to vomit. Now, I just recommend almond butter to be on the safe side. A healthy alternative to peanut butter is almond butter. Almonds are a great source of Omega 3’s and a healthy fat. Almond butter is high in fat which can trigger stomach upsets or pancreatitis if given in large amounts. It can be a healthy way to help an underweight dog gain weight when fed in moderation. Controversial Additives in Pet Food and Treats * BHA/BHT - an antioxidant added to oils and fats to prevent oxidation. BHA has been classified as a possible carcinogen by several major health organizations. More research is needed to confirm this. * Carrageenan - derived from specific seaweeds that may cause and induce inflammation. * Natural Flavors - could be anything derived from plants, animals or mined sources. Always creating suspicion. However, they have to be deemed safe in order to be added to pet food. * TBHQ - a fat preservative to increase shelf life. Used as a stabilizer for explosive compounds and to make varnishes, lacquers, and resins. * Propylene Glycol - added to preserve moisture content. The FDA has banned it in cat food but not dog food yet. * Propyl Gallate - a preservative which may be able to mimic the negative effects of the female hormone, estrog… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • July 15 · 42 min

    An Overview of Dog/Cat Nutrition

    Welcome to “From A Dog’s Eye View”. I’m your host Susan Coleman. Today I will be talking about a subject that overwhelms most pet parents - what to feed your dog or cat. As I am talking to you, I am sharing a power point presentation I prepared for my clients, created by Shih Ying-Fa. This presentation will be divided into two separate podcasts. In part one, I will be sharing with you some history on how and when pet food started to be sold in stores, how it is processed, and what ingredients are mandated by the regulatory agency that oversees pet food manufacturers. In part two, which will be released in two weeks, I will help you make the best and most affordable decision on food for your dog or cat, which ingredients are healthy and which ones to avoid. I will also give you some suggestions and personal favorites, including what I feed my cat and dog. I have to preface this presentation by disclosing that I am not a veterinarian or a certified pet nutrition specialist. However, I am a certified herbalist and can suggest herbs/supplements for various health conditions or for just maintaining optimal health. While I was conducting my research (which is an ongoing process) about pet nutrition, it propelled me to research human food. I started looking at ingredients of the everyday food I was consuming and was shocked. I thought I was eating healthy, but I wasn’t. I took a class from a naturopath about how what we expose ourselves to, can directly affect our health. I learned about ways to use food and supplements as medicine and as an alternative to pharmaceuticals. I will share the supplements I currently give my cat and dog in part two of this presentation. I recommend consulting a holistic or integrative veterinarian for professional advice when considering making any changes to your pet’s diet. It is wise to make sure your pet is in good health before making any drastic changes such as introducing new and/or raw food. I will briefly discuss the benefits of raw food and when and how to make that switch over. I will also provide names and contact info of two holistic vets in the Cleveland area. I have contacted both of them expressing my interest in having them as a guest, so hopefully in the near future I will be able to share their expertise. So, let’s get started. How To Select the Best Food For Your Pet and Why It is So Important With so many dog and cat food brands available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. When talking about pet food, I feel it is important to make people aware of the following: * the evolution of the dry food many of us feed our pets * the regulatory commission that overseas the pet food manufacturers * how a dog and cat’s anatomy determines what they should consume * ingredients to avoid * ingredients that are beneficial My Mission My goal is to increase your awareness of the importance of making healthy food choices for your pet so that they can not only live, but also thrive on the food you give them. My Motivation My presentation also addresses some cat nutrition since it was due to my cats and dog at the time that propelled me to research this broad and confusing subject. I had four cats (one is not pictured) and a dog who were all having symptoms. My cats were throwing up frequently and one of them was actually pulling out his fur because he itched so much. My dog, Hank the Corgi, would have intermittent bouts of throwing up bile and sometimes undigested kibble. Hank also would have diarrhea that didn’t even resemble diarrhea. I was getting very tired of picking up puke! When and Why I Changed What I Feed My Pets Every one of my pets were tested by a veterinarian for parasites and several health conditions that could cause some of these symptoms. They were all under 5 years old and every single test came back clear and free of disease. I was beginning to think that these symptoms were normal. I asked if it was food related, but I never got a definitive answer. It was around this time, in 2016, that I started working at Petco as a dog trainer. The first question I asked the manager was “With all of the food in this store, what is the best food for my dog and cats?” The manager directed me to the aisle where the highest quality (supposedly) of food was. I tried one on Hank and within days, he had the absolute worst gas you could imagine. I know some of you listening can relate to this! There was something in that food that did not agree with Hank. This doesn’t mean that every dog who consumes that brand of food will have gas. It just means that it didn’t agree with my dog. My life was about to change as far as what I would ultimately feed my cats and dog. There was a mandatory meeting for all of us Petco employees.with a rep from Bil-Jac dog food. The rep started describing symptoms that dogs can have that may be related to the food they eat. He asked if anyone was experiencing these symptoms with their dog. I immediately raised my hand and told the rep he was describing my dog Hank’s symptoms to the “T”. The rep gave us some samples of food and told us that Bil-Jac is one of the rare baked dog foods on the market that you don’t have to take 10 days to transition your dog to. It is due to the lower temperature the food is baked as compared to the standard kibble most pet parents feed their dogs. You can start feeding your dog Bil-Jac dog food for their next meal and they won’t have any stomach upsets. I was too nervous to transition immediately. Instead, Hank was switched over to Big-Jac within 3 days. All of his symptoms disappeared! I must emphasize that I am referring to Bil-Jac dog food sold in a bag, not the frozen kind. After seeing how Hank improved, it confirmed to me that there was something in the food that did not agree with him. I just couldn’t believe that dog and cat food manufacturers would put ingredients in their food that pets can’t even digest! Why don’t they have the pets well-being in mind when formulating the recipe? Hence, my extensive research and discoveries that I am sharing with you. It got me thinking that maybe there are things in human food that make us not feel well too. I decided to get an appointment with a naturopath right down the street from me named Dr. Jane Semple. I thought I was eating healthy, but Dr. Semple recommended I start keeping track of the food I typically ate and to look up the sugar content of every item. I was shocked! It was about 3 times the daily amount one should have. I was convinced that food really does matter. If I noticed my dog’s symptoms clearing up and even my own symptoms, there is something to say about “We are what we eat”. My mistake was trusting that food manufacturers prioritize our health and well-being over profit. Since then, I believe pet parents can always feed their dog or cat something better than what they are conveniently giving them. It can never hurt. Real food is better than processed food. However, homemade diets need professional supervision. A lack in vitamins and minerals can cause serious health issues if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. In part two, I will provide resources to help guide you if you decide to transition your pet to a healthier diet. I will also share with you what I currently give my dog and cat. They are both in very good health in their senior years. We all want our pets around a lot longer than their life expectancy. If feeding them healthier food makes that possible, then why not make some changes now? The symptoms listed on this next slide and below can be attributed to underlying health conditions that are not necessarily due to dietary reasons. This is why it is highly recommended to be under the care of a veterinarian. Please refer to the podcast with Dr. Randy from Animal Clinic Northview dated May 19, 2026, “Allergies and Arthritis”. Not all allergies are food related. There can be a hereditary and/or environmental factor. Your vet c… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • June 9 · 35 min

    Italian Greyhounds

    The Italian Greyhound, or Piccolo Levriere, is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. Drawings of sighthounds resembling the modern day Italian Greyhound are found on Pompeiian frescoes dating back 2000 years. They are also painted on ancient Egyptian artwork from roughly 6000 years ago. They were bred to hunt hare and rabbits, but were kept mostly as a companion dog. They were popular amongst European royalty, including Queen Victoria and King Louis XIV. Today, Italian Greyhounds are enjoyed by thousands in the United States and around the world. They have been recognized by the American Kennel Club since 1886 and their popularity as a family pet has grown in the last five years. They are true sighthounds, but are very content with being lap dogs, provided they get enough daily exercise. Sighthounds use their keen sense of sight, speed, and strong prey drive to hunt down small animals. Please refer to my podcast with Gary Flynn where we talk about different hunting dog breeds. Italian Greyhounds are the smallest member of the sighthound family weighing between 7 and 14 lbs. Sighthounds include well known breeds such as Greyhounds, Whippets, Afghan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds and Salukis. All of these breeds have bodies that are built for speed with long slender legs and deep chests. The Greyhound is the fastest dog breed in the world reaching speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. The Italian Greyhound can reach up to 35 mph. They look like cheetahs running through the savanna. Whereas the Greyhound is faster than the Italian Greyhound, its endurance is not as great. My guest, Cheryl Bendik, is a proud pet parent of two Italian Greyhounds, Mia and Luna. Cheryl was intrigued by the breed when she met two of them who belonged to her son’s girlfriend at the time. She kept wanting to borrow them until her son convinced her to get her own. Cheryl contacted a breeder but had to wait quite some time for one. In the meantime, Cheryl decided to adopt one. As fate would have it, as soon as she adopted Luna, Mia was born two weeks later! Luna is a Beagle/Italian Greyhound mix. Her most noticeable feature is her floppy Beagle ears, but she has the body of an Italian Greyhound. Mia and Luna are eight months apart and have a very close bond. When they were little, they both loved to run around and zip in and out of each other looking like a chocolate and vanilla swirl ice cream cone. Luna was placed in a kill shelter in Columbus by a family with small children. She was then transported up to Vermilion, Ohio where Cheryl adopted her. She had a scar on her head from a previous injury and was very fearful of children and small women with blond hair. She also did not like noisy toys. She still is leary of noisy toys and young children with erratic movements. She lost her fear of small blonde women later in life. Thank goodness Luna ended up in her forever home with Cheryl! Luna has the temperament of an Italian Greyhound and the prey drive of a Beagle. Cheryl says Luna’s nose is always to the ground like a Beagle’s and has brought home several “presents” after a romp in the backyard. Chipmunks, baby rabbits and squirrels are her preference. One day, Luna emerged from the bushes with a 5 point deer antler in her mouth. Cheryl’s daughter thought Luna had killed a deer (an impossible feat!), but it was only an antler from a deer in rut (breeding season). Cheryl kept that antler as a fond memory. Mia enjoys chasing after small animals like her pal Luna does. She likes to catch small critters and deposit them inside the house. She also likes to birdwatch as they fly around above her. When they were younger, Mia would go tell Cheryl in her own way that Luna had escaped. Luna was notorious for running away in pursuit of a squirrel, chipmunk or rabbit, expressing her true Beagle nature. Mia would guide Cheryl to Luna. The two of them would lay down and start howling the way Italian Greyhounds do and Luna would come running back. Common nicknames for Italian Greyhounds are “Iggy” and “IG”. Cheryl advises prospective pet parents if you don’t want a dog next to you or behind you all the time, then an Italian Greyhound is not the breed for you. They are even referred to as “Velcro Dogs”. Their sweet, gentle and loving temperament makes it very easy to cuddle up with while enjoying a favorite book. Italian Greyhounds require a lot of exercise. Cheryl has walked Mia and Luna daily in all kinds of weather since she brought them home. Even when Cheryl was recovering from meniscus surgery, she had family members walk “the girls”. All dogs require daily walks. For some breeds, if they don’t get their walk in, and an outlet is not provided to release pent up energy, they can go a little crazy. Italian Greyhounds would fit that description. Caring for Italian Greyhounds is fairly easy. The biggest challenge pet parents need to watch for is leg injuries, as their dogs’ legs are very thin and prone to fractures. Pet parents must ensure their dogs don’t jump from excessive heights or run on slippery surfaces. Mia and Luna are bigger than the average size for Italian Greyhounds but still have very low body fat. This combined with their short fur makes them sensitive to cold weather. In the video of the podcast, Cheryl shows the audience the flannel coats that include coverage on their legs and boots for their paws. Grooming and hygiene are simple. Bathing is recommended only when absolutely necessary so as not to dry out the skin with frequent shampooing. Their nails grow quickly and need to be trimmed often to prevent joint strain on their thin legs. Also, Iggy’s are susceptible to dental disease. Daily brushing and professional cleanings are highly recommended. About 10 years ago, Cheryl started volunteering for the Italian Greyhound Club of America (IGCA). She fostered a total of at least 5 dogs, but when COVID hit, the restrictions forbade people to visit one another. During this time, Cheryl could not have inquisitive dog lovers come to her home to check out the Italian Greyhounds she was fostering. So, she continued to volunteer by making phone calls to prospective adopters, screening them to ascertain if they were good future pet parents of an Italian Greyhound. People frequently ask me if I know anyone who is looking for a dog. I never had any luck finding a forever home for anyone, until recently. One of my friends, Dan, called me saying that his friend’s daughter had a 3 month old Italian Greyhound who was just too much for her to handle at this point in her life. She couldn’t provide the exercise and care that was needed and thought it was best to find a better home for him. I immediately thought of Cheryl in hopes that she could connect me to someone who could help. Instead, Cheryl contacted one of her friends whom she had found an Italian Greyhound for before, just to see if he was in the market for another one. Lo and behold, he was! Within hours, the deal was sealed and Vito was on his way to his forever home soon after. Vito is co-shared by his pet parents and currently resides in two different households with two other Italian Greyhounds named Colby and Roo. They all get along very well. They play and cuddle with each other and their owners. On weekdays, Vito accompanies Keith to work where he has his own little bed. As difficult as it must have been for the original owner to surrender Vito, she can rest assured that he is getting the best care ever. As Cesar Millan always says, “Happy Dog, Happy Human, Happy World”. Who could ask for a better outcome? Over the years, Cheryl occasionally has met other people with Italian Greyhounds while out in public. She would exchange phone … This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • May 19 · 37 min

    Dr. Randy Talks About Allergies and Arthritis

    It’s springtime and that means allergy season is in full swing! The emergence of budding leaves and flowers can cause great distress to humans and dogs alike. Whereas humans tend to have runny eyes and noses with a tickle in their throat, allergies tend to manifest differently in dogs. It is common for dogs to start itching, sometimes constantly, leaving them with abrasions, and feeling downright miserable. We’ll cover how to recognize the signs, what’s changed in treatment options, and the latest immunotherapy breakthroughs that are giving dogs real relief without the side effects of old-school steroids. My guest, Dr. Randy Hutchison has some solutions for allergy sufferers that can provide relief almost immediately. The most common allergic reaction in dogs Allergic reactions can be caused by the environment, fleas, or food allergies. The most common reaction to all of these culprits is itching. Dr. Randy states that the location of the itching is a good indicator as to what the cause is. For example, itching from flea bites caused by the saliva in fleas, is mostly found at the base of the tail. Dogs will tie themselves into pretzels to try to reach that area. You will notice they will try to bite back there with their little incisor teeth. When dogs lick their feet a lot or itch their nose, face, and lower legs, this usually indicates something in their environment. In springtime, pollen from budding trees falls on the grass they walk and lay in. In the fall, there are certain weeds and molds on leaves. All of these outdoor elements can cause allergic reactions. Dr. Randy can almost predict to the day when clients will bring their dogs in because they started itching a lot. Once a dog has allergies, they almost always will for the rest of their life. Allergic reactions don’t form after the initial exposure to an irritant. In fact, Dr. Randy says if a puppy comes in for an appointment due to itching, he can start a history of the dates of the itching, but can rule out allergies as a probable cause. It takes over a year or two of exposure to an irritant for the body to react. As time goes on, the length of the allergic reaction will be longer and more pronounced. Reverse Sneezing Another reaction that can be caused by allergies is reverse sneezing. This is when your dog rapidly inhales air through their nose creating a honking sound. It can be triggered by excitement, prolonged tension on their collar, or allergies. It quickly subsides and the dog returns to normal breathing. The first time I experienced this with my dog Hank, I thought he was choking and couldn’t breathe and was having some kind of seizure. It was frightening to say the least. Symptoms of food allergies Food allergies are similar to seasonal allergies. Dogs can be allergic to certain foods, most commonly, certain proteins. They can cause dogs to itch all over their body and lick their paws. I have seen dogs’ paws that have turned raw and become a rust color because they have been licked so much. There are a lot of additives in dog food that their bodies have difficulty digesting and ultimately causing an allergic reaction. I have seen the itching subside after changing the protein source from chicken to turkey or other proteins. Prescription dog foods that hydrolyze the protein for easier digestion and relief from allergic reactions can be recommended by your vet. I will be discussing this further in a future episode concerning nutrition. Allergy Testing and Shots Allergy shots are available which involve injecting small amounts of specific allergens to build up tolerance. Dr. Randy states that if a client chooses this option, they have to commit to a long term plan. This is not a quick fix. Allergy testing through blood samples and intradermal skin testing are also available. This can be costly and intradermal testing can be invasive, requiring mild sedation. This is usually done when immunotherapy drugs and protein elimination have failed. Specific blood panels can be ordered to pinpoint the irritant causing the reactions. It will test for approximately 60 different environmental factors and will identify food allergens as well. However, testing for food allergies does not yield as reliable results as environmental influences do. This type of testing and allergy shots used to be very popular before immunotherapy drugs were available. Immunotherapy Drugs to Alleviate Allergic Reactions The biggest advancement in veterinary medicine over the past five to ten years is immunotherapy treatments. Before then, when dogs and cats had allergic reactions, the only option was to prescribe steroids or antihistamines. Most of the time, they would stop the itching, but the side effects prevented them from being used long term. Antihistamines do not get absorbed to the level they need to be to become effective. Nowadays, two immunotherapy drugs are commonly prescribed for allergies: Apoquel and Cytopoint. They have revolutionized allergy treatment. However, certain cases still require administering steroids. Prescribing them has dramatically dropped with the introduction of immunotherapy drugs. Apoquel is not an allergy pill. It is not a steroid or an antihistamine. It is an immunotherapy drug. It inhibits the attachment of specific molecules to receptors that trigger an itching and inflammatory response. According to Dr. Randy, it is very effective and can be prescribed to dogs 12 months and older. It can work almost immediately with little to no side effects. In fact, if it doesn’t work within approximately 48 hours, a different option will have to be explored. A higher dosage is not an option. Apoquel has also worked to relieve allergic reactions to food and proteins. There is a misconception about Apoquel that it can cause cancer. Dr. Randy debunks this myth. Since Apoquel is an immunotherapy drug and suppresses the immune system in a particular way, it is not recommended for dogs who have been diagnosed with cancer. Their bodies need all the help they can get to fight cancer cells. Cytopoint is an injection that is effective in eliminating the itching response and can last up to two months. Both Apoquel and Cytopoint can be stopped and started at any time that is recommended by your veterinarian. Cytopoint is different than Apoquel in that it targets a specific protein that is responsible for sending signals to the brain to stop the itching. Due to the difference in how these two immunotherapy drugs work, Cytopoint can be given to dogs diagnosed with cancer and to those with compromised immune systems. A key takeaway when calculating the possibility to prescribe either Apoquel or Cytopoint is to ascertain the reasons for using them. It is essential to determine the root cause of the itching. Both of these drugs are very effective but costly to pet parents. Dr. Randy likes to be sure that he prescribes them for the right reasons. He believes that immunotherapy is the wave of the future for treating not just allergies, but also for treating other common conditions he sees in dogs and cats. My dog’s history of allergic reactions It took me a few years to realize that my Leonberger, Ebi, was allergic to something in the environment in the fall. One August, I was visiting my parents in Rochester, New York. I had been warned that pesticides had been applied to the grass in their townhouse community to kill crab grass. By the time I got back home to Cleveland, Ebi was itching almost constantly. In a few days, she stopped. I never went to the vet because it started to subside quickly. I thought maybe she had a reaction to the pesticide used to kill the crab grass. The following year, around the same time of year, Ebi started itching again. This time it lasted longer. I noticed abrasions and scabs on her sides and belly when she would lay on her back. It went away in about a week to 10 days. I did not go to the vet this ti… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • May 5 · 40 min

    Lumps and Bumps with Dr. Randy

    Have you ever been petting your dog and suddenly felt something — a lump, a bump, something that wasn’t there before? My returning guest, Dr. Randy Hutchison of Animal Clinic Northview, walks us through exactly what to do when that happens. From simple fatty lipomas to cancer diagnosis and cutting-edge immunotherapy treatments — this episode covers it all. Improvements continue to be made in the rehabilitation department. Not all injuries require surgery. Animal Clinic Northview has a new and expanding rehab facility. Dr. Grace Schmeiser oversees canine patients in need of rehabilitation from arthritis discomfort, sports injuries and surgeries. Many different therapies are offered: acupuncture, shock wave therapy, laser therapy, and massages. Dr. Randy also shares with us some new capabilities which improve the overall recovery process for canine patients. Animal Clinic Northview has equipped their ICU unit with central lines - an advanced way to administer medications quickly. They also reduce the stress and pain by allowing multiple treatments and drawing blood samples through one port. Another improvement to the ICU is the addition of high flow oxygen. This provides more direct oxygen flow to canine patients via nasal cannulas who may be in respiratory distress. Oxygen can be delivered via these cannulas before, during, and after surgery. Patients can also receive oxygen via their state- of-the-art environmentally controlled Snyder oxygen cages. Recently, Dr. Randy shares with us how the high oxygen flow process aided in ensuring that a bulldog who came in for airway surgery received the appropriate amount of oxygen. He believes this accelerates the recovery process and promotes a swift recuperation. Animal Clinic Northview employs a full time doctor, or hospitalist, whose sole responsibility is to oversee the ICU and make sure it runs efficiently. The ICU can accommodate up to 40 patients. This relieves the 34 veterinarians in the practice of checking in whenever they have a spare moment to visit their critically ill patients while also maintaining a heavy client workload. Having a hospitalist on duty is an excellent way to give the patients the attention they need. They also rely on the staff dedicated to working and assisting with cases that are admitted to the ICU. Dr. Randy says “From the technicians to the assistants to the kennel staff - they are really the heroes. They’re the ones that are in it minute by minute, hour by hour, taking care of these patients.” Vets are expected to be jack of all trades. This can be very challenging. However, Dr. Randy’s staff has the freedom to choose what they would like to specialize in. He always tells his new doctors they are allowed “five No’s”. It is important to know the types of cases they are uncomfortable with and leave them to other vets who want to be treating them. He wants them to choose what they are passionate about so they become very good at what they do. This allows Dr. Randy to direct specific issues to vets who see these types of cases often. “It’s all about putting patients in the hands that are most likely to give them a chance to help them.” - Dr. Randy One common reason to bring your dog in for a checkup is when you notice a lump or bump. You may notice a lump while petting your dog. You may see it when they roll over. The lump could be as innocuous as a wart, a skin tag, or the result of an allergic reaction. Others could be a fatty lipoma, a sebaceous cyst or a mass. Some dogs have a predisposition to forming lumps and bumps. Certain breeds are prone to them. However, every dog is susceptible. Dr. Randy always recommends bringing the dog in to get it checked out. Sometimes, groomers find lumps that the owner never saw or felt. Lumps can be in hard to see areas and places you don’t typically touch. For example, a groomer will feel inside a back leg while they are combing the dog’s fur or they have to shave the rear end and a lump is discovered. In my podcast about grooming, Sharyn Ugan has found lumps on dogs that the pet parents had no idea were there. When Dr. Randy is assessing a lump or bump, he typically manipulates it with his fingers. He can feel if it is hard or soft. The dog usually does not seem to be in any discomfort. The texture and the look of the lump does not indicate whether it is benign or malignant. In fact, he has learned over the years - never assume anything. Screening is necessary to determine exactly what the lump is. It is done with a fine needle aspirate of the lump. A needle is injected into it to draw a sample of cellular material. This is transferred onto a slide to be examined and will reveal two things immediately: whether it is benign or malignant. The cells in the sample may be benign cystic junk aspirated from a sebaceous cyst. These lumps can fill up with cystic debris so much that they can burst. This can be painful for the dog. Once it bursts, the process of forming and filling up can resume as long as the lining inside them keeps secreting the debris. Surgical removal of the entire cyst, including the lining, may be recommended. Another type of benign lumps are fatty lipomas. They have clear fatty cells inside them with no cellular makeup. They can grow to be huge and located in cumbersome spots on a dog’s body. In both of these types of lumps, the pet parent is advised to keep a watchful eye on them. If they change color or size quickly, it should be checked out as soon as possible. Depending on the location and the size of the lump, surgery may be recommended. For example, if the fatty lipoma is located on the dog’s side and it bothers them when they lay down, then the pet parent may want to remove it. Dr. Randy has experienced the pet parent initially deciding not to surgically remove a decent sized lipoma, but then later changed their mind. After the removal of the lipoma, they noticed their dog moving around more freely and even acting a lot happier. Dr. Randy and his staff are accustomed to looking at certain cells from the different types of lumps mentioned above. It’s when abnormal cells make an appearance that require the expertise of a pathologist. Animal Clinic Northview is equipped with one of Dr. Randy’s favorite instruments called a digital cytology unit. This instrument scans the slide of cellular material collected from a lump and sends it to a pathologist somewhere in the world. They will get results within hours! Before the digital cytology unit was available, results were sent to a laboratory somewhere in the U.S. and results were not available for days. The expediency of the digital cytology unit results provide comfort to the pet parents so they can start making decisions that are best for their dog. When talking about lumps that may be malignant, it is important to understand the difference between what a cytology is and what a biopsy is. A cytology is squirting material from a lump on to a slide and determining what type of cells are present. It may not tell the doctor everything, but it may provide some clues as to what it is. If it is viewed by a pathologist who determines there are some cells that have changed, then a biopsy will be recommended. This is when the lump is surgically removed and the whole mass is sent out for pathology. Sometimes the lump is from a family of tumors called a sarcoma. One of the characteristics of a sarcoma is they like to adhere to muscles, nerves or bones, making them very difficult to remove. They are not necessarily aggressive, but they are invasive. The decision to remove some of the sarcoma, or to possibly have to remove a limb affected by it, is a difficult one to make. It is essential to have all the facts in place so that the best decision can be made. Sometimes CT scans or ultrasounds reveal that the removal of the tumor is not advisable due to the … This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • April 14 · 26 min

    Hunting Dogs - Part 2

    Regulated hunting in the United States is a safe activity enjoyed by over 14 million adults. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recorded almost 400,000 paid hunting license holders. This number includes hunting of birds, small animals and deer. Regulations exist to preserve, protect and control wildlife populations. Hunting can bring communities together and help feed those in need. It is a skill that can be learned through hunting clubs and trusted family members. In Part One of the Hunting Dogs podcast, my guest, Gary Flynn, shares stories about how he learned about the many facets of hunting from family members. Not all hunters use dogs, but Gary’s initiation to the world of hunting at a young age included neighborhood and family dogs to help in the process. He was able to witness how motivated a dog can become while pursuing their prey. He also experienced a “pecking order” amongst dogs gathered under a tree with a raccoon hanging on for dear life. Everyone knew which dog had the tenacity and skills to snatch the coon out of the tree. It helped Gary learn about individual and pack dog behavior. Living at home versus living in kennels Hunting dogs can live in the house with their humans. Gary can’t imagine not having his dogs live in his house. He trains them with obedience skills that are a necessity when out in the field. He also makes it a priority to teach them manners so he can socialize them inside hunting clubs and with guests coming to his house. Many hunters will keep their dogs separate from social gatherings inside the clubs. They do not go to the extent that Gary does in socializing and training his dogs. Some are of the opinion that hunting dogs will not be effective hunters if they become family dogs. Some hunters prefer to board their dogs at kennels. It provides a safe environment for hunting breeds who like to run and roam over great distances. They will climb over fences and dig their way out of a common crate. These kennels are designed with secure slats that are impossible to bend and are cemented to the ground. The boarding staff is often trained on the specific traits of the different hunting breeds. They are also exercised daily so they stay in good shape in between hunts and during the off season. Over the past 15 years as a dog trainer, there are hunting breeds I frequently see in my obedience classes and private home sessions. I work with a lot of doodles that have either Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever combined with a poodle, as well as many from the terrier group. It is important to remember that all three of these breeds are hunting dogs by nature. There are also breeds I have never seen before. For example, the Black and Tan Coonhound, pictured on top of the video of the podcast above, the Plott Hound or the Mountain Cur. Regardless of the type of hunting dog you may have, it is highly recommended to fulfill their physical and mental needs in order to maintain a balanced dog. Plott Hounds As with many hunting breeds, Plott Hounds have a unique bark that can drive a lot of families crazy. They require lots of daily exercise with plenty of space to roam. They are used primarily for hunting larger animals such as bears and boars. They are an intelligent breed which means they need to be challenged not just physically but also mentally. As Gary mentions, some breeds like the Plott Hound can be a challenging family pet due to their high energy and strong prey drive. They can also be difficult to potty train. They may eliminate whenever and wherever they feel like it. Gary advises families with Plott Hounds to put in durable, waterproof vinyl flooring. It may take awhile to fully potty train them! Bloodhounds Another hunting breed that can be challenging to have as a family pet is a Bloodhound. I have only experienced one Bloodhound in my career as a dog trainer. A woman brought one to Petco for my six week obedience class. He lasted two weeks. He was already a huge dog at 10 months old, which made it difficult to control his urge to jump on everyone and everything. Petco discouraged and forbade their dog trainers from using pinch collars, but when my manager saw how out of control this dog was, he handed me one! Gary jokes about how many Bloodhounds should be in an obedience class - one! Their independent nature requires very patient and consistent training. Their intense tracking instinct sets them in a class above all others. Gary has fond memories of working search and rescue sites with a man who handled Bloodhounds. Tracking vs Trailing We have all seen our dogs sniffing the ground wherever they walk. If you observe your dog long enough as they are sniffing, sometimes they sniff intensely and seem to follow a path. This is called tracking. When this is done in a hunting environment, it is sometimes done as the dog drags a long leash or the handler is holding a leash. Handlers use the keen sense of smell of scent hounds to detect, follow and locate a specific scent, such as a wounded or dead deer. Most of us have seen shows on television where the scent hound is used in search and rescue missions. Handlers will have their dogs search for a scent left by footprints, blood, or broken vegetation where animals may have passed through. Trailing dogs follow a specific scent in the air or around obstacles. They can locate a deer that may have fallen when wounded, but then got back up and kept walking. Their heads are usually level or held in the air. They are usually ahead of their handler and operate independently. If they lose the scent, they will start to circle around to find the scent again. Many dogs will be adept at both tracking and trailing to assist the hunter. Gary talks about how dogs are highly skilled at staying on the scent trail. They know that the scent is stronger on the shady side of a hill covered with dew in the morning versus the sunny side where the scent has been baked off. Another type of hunting dog is a scent dog. Their powerful sense of smell allows them to track prey over long distances. Their alluring long ears is a characteristic that aids them in sweeping the scent of their prey towards their nose. Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Coonhounds are all scent dogs with the Bloodhound being the apex scent dog. Just look at those ears in the picture above! Beagles make excellent hunting dogs and family pets. They are known for their nose to the ground while running approach to sniff out and direct rabbits and small game towards their hunter. They work well in a pack to flush out bunnies in the brush. Their baying (type of bark) is unique and can alert their hunters from far away. If you have ever heard a beagle baying, I think you would agree with me that it sounds like he’s being tortured. We had one in our neighborhood we called Torture Dog! However, their curious, clown-like nature makes them fun family pets. They do very well in obedience classes and can learn any skill presented to them. When referring to hunting dog breeds, there are sight hounds like the Greyhounds, Whippets and Salukis. They rely on their sense of sight over their sense of smell to spot and chase prey. They are notorious for their incredible speed and aerodynamic build. They also make wonderful couch potato loving companions but must be socialized and exercised daily. Training Hunting Dogs According to Gary, the most important skill you can teach your hunting dog is the recall, or the “Come” command. Most 8 week old puppies have an innate desire to follow you around. Foster that instinct and develop it by increasing the distance between you and your… This is a public episode. 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  • March 23 · 35 min

    Hunting Dogs - Part 1

    Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. There are over 400 different breeds, but they all stem from the Canis Lupus Familiaris species - the literal translation from Latin to English meaning Dog Wolf Domestic. Different breeds were created to serve different functions for humans. For example, some were created to help farmers herd livestock back to their housing quarters. Others were developed to protect livestock from intruders. In this episode, Gary Flynn from The Dog Advocate and I will be focusing on hunting breeds. It is difficult to quantify how many hunting dog breeds exist, however, they can be broken down into categories such as hounds, gun dogs, retrievers and terriers. They all have their specialties. The type of game you will be hunting will determine which breed you will choose. Gary is partial to German Shorthaired Pointers. They are highly intelligent, athletic and commonly known for hunting fowl. However, he has trained his dogs as versatiles: hunting fur and feathers. Gary recounts colorful stories in our podcast about hunting pheasants, turkeys, and small birds with his client’s and his own German Shorthaired Pointers. According to Gary: “German Shorthaired Pointers stay locked in pursuit of the holy grail!” When Gary is working with German Shorthaired Pointer puppies, their instinct to point already exists. He recounts how fun it is to observe a bunch of puppies who are all in point looking at a bubblegum wrapper, a bee, or anything that moves. This is not something that is taught. It is pure instinct. The puppies will learn as they mature to focus that instinct on birds or small animals. Pointing is how the dog communicates what is next. It is a pause before the pounce. If well trained, they will point exactly to what they found and wait for their handler to guide them to what comes next. It is a very intense and focused behavior, but Gary’s dogs will still obey commands while pointing. When older dogs point in a group, one dog may be pointing at another dog that is pointing to even another dog who is pointing at the location of the animal. They form a chain of pointers. This is called “honoring”. The dogs who come onto the scene where a dog is in a point, respects that dog by waiting and not stealing the prey. This prevents premature pursuit of the prey and demonstrates the discipline required to avoid chaos and an inefficient hunt. As the hunters approach the group, they must assess what they have come upon. They are able to handle the situation without interference from the dogs. Please keep in mind that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife (ODNR) oversees hunting and fishing by issuing licenses, establishing regulations and managing wildlife populations. Game wardens ensure laws are enforced. This is to prevent extinction of certain species and people shooting at game from their cars, etc. Gary mentions there is etiquette to follow when hunting. For example, it is unethical to shoot at birds that are out of range which can only wound and not kill. Suffering of an animal should be avoided. The mission statement of ODNR is: “To ensure a balance between the wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all.” Before I elaborate on the different hunting breeds Gary and I discussed, I would like to address the topic of hunting in general. Some people may not want to listen or read this post because it has to do with the demise of living beings. As an experienced hunter, Gary has observed time and time again how matter of fact dogs are about death. There is no remorse. The only emotion you could attach to the experience is gratification. They are satisfying an instinct. Sometimes, the dogs will flip the dead animal up in the air just to see if they can do it all over again. They couldn’t be happier. We have to remember, before our meat was already wrapped in cellophane to be sold in a grocery store, hunters had to go out and lure, trap, kill and gut animals daily. We all have the instinct to hunt. That means when we are forced to, we will try to live off the vegetables and fruit of the land and/or kill other animals in order to survive. A way we can simulate that instinct to hunt is to shop. The thrill of finding exactly what we are looking for is a form of hunting. We are excited when we find what we were looking for and we are disappointed when we don’t. This can result in pure exhaustion too! It is us humans who get in the way of our dogs doing what dogs are born to do. So often I have heard clients tell me similar stories about how they punished their dog for digging a hole to catch and kill their favorite chipmunk named Chippie. The dog had no emotional attachment to “Chippie” and couldn’t logically reason with themselves to not kill it just because you loved watching it frolic around your backyard. Pet parents must ask themselves if they are positively or negatively reacting to their dog when they are fulfilling the instinct to hunt. If they do not provide the structure and environment to fulfill these needs, adverse behaviors can arise. Gary drills in his client’s heads: “Stay out of the way of your dog and don’t interrupt the hunt”. Gary talks about how dogs feel when it’s an “off day” when the hunters are unable to find what they were looking for. It’s just like going fishing and the fish aren’t biting that day. If the dog doesn’t get rewarded with the hunt, Gary notices their behavior change. They actually seem to sulk and mope around. You always want to set the dog up for success no matter what skill you are teaching them. When Gary is working with puppies, he always ends a hunting session on a positive note. If nothing was caught, he will tie a long string to a bird wing and fling it around causing them to point. They can chase and catch that as their reward. Sometimes he will sneak away into some tall grass, make a lot of commotion, get the puppies to come check it out. A bunny might be in there. Whether they catch the bunny or not, it was still important to them because a bunny was there. It is worth mentioning that all dogs have a prey drive. They are predators. The instinct to hunt, chase and kill prey emanates from one of the four responses processed in their brain to ensure survival and continuation of the species: fight, flight, feed (eating) and breed (reproducing). Hunting is not part of the feed response. It is part of the fight response. Gary will return for a future podcast where we will delve into the prey drive and how he manages it so that the dog remains clear-headed as it escalates through this fight response. The instinct to herd animals also comes from the fight response. A border collie’s locked-in stare and posture when herding sheep looks different than a Bluetick Coonhound holding a racoon in a tree, but it comes from the same fight response. As a trainer working with different breeds, it is critical to understand what to expect from each breed. “Breed traits are real.” I don’t own a gun and have never hunted. However, when talking about dogs who were bred to perform specific tasks, there is something special about watching them do what comes natural to them. I love watching dogs work. There is a certain energy they exude while they are performing that instinctual act. My dog Ebi is a Leonberger. They were bred in Germany to pull carts on farms and to be reliable watchdogs. They also are known to be excellent swimmers and are still used in water rescues due to their size and strength. Their paws are webbed making them effective swimmers. Several years ago, I simulated a water rescue at the old Canine Country Club in North Olmsted. I had a floating device with a handle. I bobbed up and down shouting “Help!” Ebi swam over to me, I… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • February 24 · 55 min

    Analysis of a Dog's Brain

    Dr. Jennifer Smith has returned to the Canine Concierge podcast, “From A Dog’s Eye View” to discuss two misunderstood aspects of dog behavior - reactivity and aggression. Dr. Smith is a trauma-informed behavior specialist in Cleveland with extensive experience working with and training dogs. She brings her unique expertise of both humans and dogs to explain the neurological escalation cycle that drives these behaviors. She will also provide practical insights for pet parents struggling with reactive dogs. Together, we hope to help you understand what is happening in your dog’s brain and what you can do to manage and reduce the reactivity and/or aggression. According to Dr. Smith, reactivity is the dog’s expression of how they are interpreting their environment. They assess everything they smell, see, and hear, in that order. This determines what type of reaction they will have. Reactions are the dog’s way to communicate about what they are experiencing. If they are left to express their own reaction to a particular stimulus, they can get in a rut and repeat that same reaction over and over again. It is up to us as handlers to teach them to have a different reaction. “All reactions are communicative in nature.” Dr. Jennifer Smith Reactivity is not always an outwardly visible and audible response, like lunging and barking. It is also a passive reaction, such as Dr. Smith’s poodle named Blue, laying in the studio with us. He was told to lie down and stay. He is communicating that he feels safe and will successfully hold that stay until he is released. If he didn’t feel safe, he would be pacing, whining, panting and possibly drooling - all signs of stress. Aggression is the dog’s outward expression that is more severe than their initial instinct to investigate a stimulus they are unsure of. In my opinion, the most dangerous type of aggression is the quiet dog that is not showing the typical signs of an imminent attack. When dogs are improperly trained not to react to stimuli, they can suppress the typical initial signs of possible aggression such as barking and lunging. The dog will react in an explosive manner and go from the green zone to the red zone in a second. Reactivity is not always aggression. There are many factors that play a part in a dog’s reaction to stimuli. To name a few, a dog that is in pain can have an aggressive reaction when touched, but does not mean he is aggressive. A dog that is restrained and can’t reach the desired target can have an aggressive reaction, but should not be labeled aggressive. When dogs are playing, one dog can bark and bite the other dog when there is a disagreement. This may look like an aggressive act, but it is really a form of dog communication. As Dr. Smith mentions how mama dogs scold their puppies when they start getting obnoxious, is not a form of aggression, but a way to communicate to them to settle down. Certain breeds have traits that are more prevalent in some than in others. Some breeds are protective of their territory or owner, causing certain reactions. It is important to know these traits so you can manage them better. Just because your dog lunges and barks at other dogs, doesn’t mean that your dog is now labeled an aggressive dog. Could that dog’s reaction turn into aggression? Absolutely! Depending on the circumstances, your dog may have to defend himself from being attacked and bite the attacker. If your dog feels threatened and pressured enough by the stimulus, he can strike out. All of these factors come into play when assessing reactivity and aggression. Terriers are known to have stronger prey drives than other breeds. Their motivation and persistence when chasing their prey escalates as they pursue their prey more intensely than a dog that is known to retrieve prey. Dogs can be trained to chase but not kill. They can also be trained to maim or kill their prey. They can be trained to pursue and alert their owner where the prey is. It is how the dog is trained to move through these escalation cycles that determines the control you have over your dog. The average dog owner does not pursue this type of advanced training. Therefore, dogs that have not been taught the skillset to move through these drives can become so dangerous to people and animals that they become a liability to their community. This will be discussed in detail with Gary Flynn from The Dog Advocate when we talk about training hunting dogs. It is important to point out that our reactions can be totally different than our dog’s reaction even though we are experiencing the same stimuli in our environment. Their reaction can be starkly different when the dog is experiencing something they smell, see or hear, especially for the very first time. If it becomes a pattern, make a note of your dog’s reactions as they may be triggers for certain behaviors. As “my dog trainer friend”, Gary Flynn, always comments about this subject: One instance does not a behavior make” This means that just because your dog had a particular reaction to something or someone once, it doesn’t mean he will always have a reaction to the same thing again. It is when the dog has this reaction several times to the same trigger that it becomes predictable, is it now an issue that needs to be addressed. For example, just because your dog backed up and was not interested in meeting a random man with a hat on, doesn’t mean that your dog is afraid of all men with hats. However, if your dog only has this type of reaction to several men with hats in different places, then you will want to take precautions when introducing him to men with hats. For example, we humans may know that the garbage bin on the side of the road poses no threat to us. However, our dog may start growling, barking, and resisting by backing up. These are all signs of feeling uncomfortable and unsafe with the garbage bin. The worst thing we can do is force the dog towards the garbage bin while vocalizing in a frustrated tone and energy that there is nothing to be afraid of. The reaction in the dog is real and should not be discounted by the pet parent. We don’t want to make the dog feel that they cannot trust their own skillset because you are telling them they should be reacting in a different way. Instead, validate how the dog feels and then take action to fix it. A way to help the dog is to implement what I call the distance formula - find that distance from the garbage bin where your dog can sit by your side without growling or barking. Then, step by step with substantial time in-between each step to recover, slowly approach the bin until you are right next to it. Keep your leash loose with each progression. Then, leave it up to the dog to investigate the garbage can by sniffing it. This may take several days. You can never be in a hurry when conditioning your dog to have a different reaction than their original reaction. Why Reactivity is Common Today Reactivity has become a buzzword in the dog community. So many more people have dogs today than when I grew up. There are many stores that are dog friendly. You can travel with your dog and stay in designated dog friendly hotels. There are patios where you can eat and have drinks with our dogs at our side. However, not every dog is as comfortable as we are with these different places. Not every business owner is a dog person. We must respect that. Every place and every activity is not for every dog. Be aware of your dog’s limits as a social being. Don’t force them into those situations just because you want a dog that can accompany you everywhere you go. It is a balance you must strike. You don’t want to limit and restrict your dog from certain experiences. but you also don’t want to expose them to situations you know they are uncomfortable with. Aggression is best explained by Dr. Smith’s chart below. The schematic below shows which part of the brain is activated dur… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • February 10 · 34 min

    Pet Products by Doggy Style

     My guest, Brendan McCarthy, is the operations manager and one of four founders of Doggy Style. Brendan’s company sells their own line of pet care products. What separates retail dog grooming products from Doggy Style products is the quality and uniqueness of the natural ingredients. Most of the ingredients are plant based. Work experience Before Brendan formed his own company, he worked for Park Ohio Industries in Cleveland. He ran their operations for 12 years by revitalizing local companies that were run down and needed improvements. This experience led to his next job working in operations, quality control and sales for Blue Buffalo, the #1 - selling pet food brand. They were one of the first national companies with an all-natural ingredients dog food. Blue Buffalo is a family run business that started in 2003. When the family’s Airedale, named Blue, was diagnosed with cancer, they started looking into giving him the best quality food possible. What a motivator to create their own all natural food with quality ingredients! The founding members of Doggy Style are Brendan, his brother, his cousin, and a good friend from the Blue Buffalo family. They were talking one day about creating shampoo for dogs. They noticed that it was hard to find a good dog shampoo, especially one with natural ingredients. Brendan was intrigued by this concept since one of his dogs was plagued with itchy, irritated skin. The shampoo he was using could have contributed to that. One of the team members was in the ingredients business. He had knowledge and exposure to plant-based products for humans. The four compadres all loved dogs and thought it would be innovative to invent a recipe for a shampoo. They wanted their product to be good not just for the dog, but for the pet parents and their home/environment. They didn’t know it at the time, but they were to become a team and create a whole line of pet products. Doggy Style Shampoo Brendan remembers the day they all got serious in creating an all natural dog shampoo. It was August 23, 2023. Some ingredients they wanted to include were coconut oil, olive oil, and natural soaps. It was important to them that the remaining ingredients were all natural and plant-based. Doggy Style shampoo is both a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner. It only takes a little shampoo to produce a lot of suds. The best way to apply it is putting a little bit on one of their massaging brushes and gently rubbing it into the dog’s fur. In order to make a shampoo, an elastomer is required. Most elastomers are man-made and silicone based. Doggy Style shampoo uses an all-natural elastomer called Gransense, which has only been on the market for approximately 5 years. It binds the other ingredients in the shampoo with different oils to produce a moisturizer type feel to the shampoo. This benefits the dog by making their fur stay soft for days and weeks. The other plant based ingredient is Sage Balance. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It is also anti-odor and anti-dander. The antimicrobial agents destroy microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi that can cause itchy skin. Doggy Style shampoo is the only shampoo on the market with both Gransense and Sage Balance. Doggy Style shampoo doesn’t claim to be a whitening shampoo. However, it does whiten dog’s fur because it removes the unnecessary oils and returns them back to their natural pure color. I refer you to my previous podcast dated 10/14/25 about grooming with Sharyn Ugan, a dog should not be fully bathed every day or every week. Once a month is adequate. Bathing too often can strip the natural oils in a dog’s coat. If it is necessary to bathe your dog more often, using Doggy Style shampoo is much safer than other shampoos on the market due to the natural ingredients. It is based off a baby formula, so you could bathe your dog twice a week and it wouldn’t hurt. It would actually help in the case of hot spots or itchy skin. Brendan recommends a couple of baths within the first week of the onset of skin irritation. The itching will most likely disappear unless an internal problem exists, such as allergies or other conditions. Please seek the advice of a veterinarian to identify the root problem. Deodorizer Spray If there is a need to freshen up your dog’s fur or just make it smell better, Doggy Style makes a deodorizer spray that also acts as a conditioner. This is a top seller for Doggy Style. Brendan suggests carrying a bottle in the car and having one on hand in the house. Sometimes I feel the need to freshen up my dog in between baths. This spritz smells very fresh and pleasant. Brendan suggests to spritz a little on your wrist to smell it first to see if you like it. After all, it is you who will be smelling it the most! Doggy Style chose Grant Industries as one of their main suppliers. Grant Industries is a leading global provider to the personal care and beauty industry. They pride themselves in providing materials that are safe for consumers. One of their products is essential oils which are derived from plants and contain aromatic compounds. Brendan’s team tried many different ones until everyone agreed on The Ocean. This is what makes their shampoo and spritzer so pleasant. The scent is for the humans, of course. Dogs can roll in dirty diapers and be happy, but their pet parents won’t be! Paw Protector Another great product that Doggy Style sells is a paw protector. This product can protect paws from cracking, bleeding and getting chapped from very cold, dry temperatures. Exposure to snow, salt, ice, and chemical de-icers can irritate the pads and become problematic. The best time to apply the paw protector is right before heading out for your daily walk. It is also advisable to wash and wipe off the pads when returning home from the walk. If there are any injuries or small fissures, apply some more protector to the pads. The same product that protects, also heals. Many pet parents may not use paw protector because they are concerned it is not safe for their dogs if they lick their paws. However, Doggy Style’s paw protector is lick safe and will not cause any stomach upset if ingested. There is actually some charcoal in the product to deter the dogs from licking it. After all, you don’t want to make it so appealing that the dog enjoys licking it and negates the whole reason you are applying it in the first place! The variety of oils: coconut, olive, sunflower seed and sweet almond, combined with the sage balance is what produces the healing properties of the paw protector. It can also be used to heal hot spots, dry spots, and even can be used on their nose and crusty elbows. It is soft enough to scoop easily and apply just the right amount. Scrub Brushes and Regular Brushes As mentioned above, the best way to apply Doggy Style shampoo is with a scrub brush pictured below. A little bit can go a long way. The scrub brush also helps spread the shampoo more evenly. The shampoo is thicker than most dog shampoos, so squeezing it out directly on the dog makes it more difficult to spread around. Personally, I love the scrub brush better than scrubbing my dog’s fur with my fingers, especially around the back end! It acts as a massager too. Just as a massage feels good for us, the scrub brush can act as a massager as well. Brendan’s dog Maggie isn’t a fan of baths but she perks right up when she sees the scrub brush. The scrub brushes come in two different sizes. The smaller one is for short fur and smaller dogs. The bigger one has longer bristles and can cover more territory for larger dogs. Both the scrub brushes and the regular brushes are made out of bamboo and are tightly sealed with high quality silicone. This prevents mold from forming. Bamboo is durable and water resistant but is not waterproof. It is advisable not… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • January 20 · 45 min

    Puppy Mills - Part 2

    Before I had the honor of meeting my two guests, Zaron Van Meter and Stefanie Mowrey, the information I had about puppy mills was based on second hand knowledge. I also learned a lot from a book that a client/friend gave to me entitled, “The Doggie in the Window” by Rory Kress, pictured below. My very first exposure to the existence of puppy mills happened about 25 years ago. I remember exactly where I was. I had just finished playing tennis with a weekly women’s league. We were all talking in the lobby of the North Olmsted Rec Center. One of the ladies was asking for signatures on a petition that had to do with puppy mills and the welfare of the puppies born and raised in them. Someone had to explain to me what puppy mills were. I was horrified to say the least. My Exposure to Puppy Mills I am originally from upstate New York. I thought at the time that the existence of puppy mills was an Ohio issue. I was in disbelief anyone could treat dogs with anything but love. Jump ahead 25 years, I never dreamed I would have a venue such as this podcast to spread awareness of this sensitive subject. Additionally, to be able to host two dedicated dog advocates who are fighting for more effective and efficient enforcement of legislation protecting the welfare of dogs in high volume dog breeder facilities, known as puppy mills. Zaron and Stefanie have taught me so much about the regulations puppy mills are supposed to adhere to and the current oversight that exists. In both episodes of our podcast, they talk about this and the effects puppies and dogs have after growing up in a puppy mill. It is not just the physical, but also the mental toll it takes on them. Before I became a dog trainer in 2012, I volunteered at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter for almost a year. I knew that I wanted to work with dogs and thought this would be a good way to get hands-on experience with all types of dogs. I don’t ever remember anyone telling me that certain dogs were from a puppy mill. When I look back on that experience knowing what I know now, I think about particular dogs behaving in a way that could have indicated they were distrustful of humans for one reason or another, or they were from a puppy mill. We were told to just put the bowl of food in their crate and not to take them out for a walk. They were terrified and shaking. Their pupils were dilated and they were practically glued to the back of the crate. As I mentioned to Zaron and Stefanie, there was a computer station at Petco when I started working there in 2012 that allowed customers access to websites selling dogs. The general consensus was that this was a great idea - better than buying a dog from the newspaper, like my family and I did with our Corgi, Hank. By the time I left, the computer was gone. We weren’t told why. We all assumed that it was because it didn’t work anymore. However, Zaron and Stefanie revealed to me that puppy mill breeders can also be licensed brokers. They could be the ones selling these cute puppies online or part of a network of high volume dog breeders. When I think about certain dogs I trained in obedience classes, they too could have come from puppy mills. No one ever told me they knew they adopted a dog from a puppy mill. I recall soon after I was hired at Petco, I asked the dog trainer I replaced if he thought dogs could have “a screw loose”. I don’t really remember his answer. At that time, I was experiencing a young dog that was so out of control and unpredictable that nothing worked. One minute he was happy go lucky and the next minute he was attacking whoever had the leash, even his owner. The owner purchased the dog to be a therapy dog. Well, the dog ended up getting rehomed and the owner’s dream dashed of making him a therapy dog. At the time, I chalked that one up to my inexperience as a dog trainer. Current notoriety of puppy mills When I think about the dog I tried to train at Petco with the knowledge I have now, there was something wrong with the dog. Perhaps the dog’s behavior was due to poor breeding and was possibly from a puppy mill. Today, it is more and more common to hear that people knowingly adopt a puppy or dog from a puppy mill. Individuals at shelter and rescue agencies, including Stefanie, are familiar with the urgency that arises when breeders surrender unwanted dogs or puppies to a shelter. This situation occurs after breeders receive a two day notice of an inspection. Please refer to her story in Part 1 about the Rottweiler puppy she adopted within the past two years. It has reached a point where rescue agencies are tapped out. Volunteers and fosters are in short supply. There are just too many dogs being born that are suffering due to the lack of care inside these puppy mills. Additionally, the people who rescue or purchase them can be riddled with vet bills due to diseases, physical, or behavioral issues. There are just not enough people to care properly for them. This issue is not improving. It is only getting worse, to the point that puppy mills are no longer a hush-hush word. Puppies and dogs need to be rescued when puppy mills are violating regulations after being inspected, and they need to get rid of dogs. Too many dogs are disposed of either by dumping them on the side of the road, or ethically or unethically euthanized. It is difficult to state accurately what they do and how widespread it is since reporters and the public have difficulty gaining access to this information. How Ohio rates in regulating puppy mills Ohio is second in the nation for having the most egregious violations found by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)inspectors. This is backed up annually by “The Horrible Hundred” published by The Humane World for Animals. Some issues that are commonly found by inspectors in “The Horrible Hundred” list itemized by state are: * too many dogs per crate * unsanitary conditions * sick or injured dogs * inadequate and substandard veterinary care for surgical procedures * problematic veterinary check ups of female dogs suitable for breeding According to inspection reports that are available to the public, docking of tails have been performed using carpet knives. I remember a client of mine with a Corgi whose tail was cut off right at the base of the tail. It made an impression on me because my Corgi’s butt did not look like that. I also have seen Corgi tails cut off about 4 inches from the base of the tail, like a boxer’s tail. I have seen a Boxer’s stub infected when the puppy was picked up. At the time, I knew what I saw wasn’t quite right, but I didn’t know what I was really looking at. Cropping ears used to be legal only if done by a licensed vet. However, in 2022, the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) ruled in favor of the breeders. Now, ears can be cropped by the breeder. We can only hope that both the docking of tails and cropping of ears are done under anesthesia by a licensed vet in the puppy mills. PPOV is trying to reverse this procedure back to where only a licensed vet can perform the cropping of ears. Stefanie tells us the Humane Society she volunteers for accepted 1,000 puppies and dogs in 2023. Almost half of them came from puppy mills. According to the intake person at the rescue agency, the biggest problem she sees is how many emergency medical issues exist with the puppy mill dogs such as C-section complications on female breeder dogs, dental issues, and the effects of the amount of stress endured at the facility. Whether the breeding process is done naturally or by artificial insemination, it has to be very stressful on both the male and female dogs. When ethical breeders get the male and female together to mate naturally, that process is stressful for both. I can only imagine how puppy mill breeders conduct the mating process. Oversight for high volume dog breeders High volume dog breeders in Ohio are regulated… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • January 6 · 49 min

    Puppy Mills

    Nearly half of all households in the United States have at least one dog. Many have multiple dogs. All of those dogs were bred somehow and somewhere. This episode is to increase awareness of where your puppies and dogs may have come from. In particular, I will be focusing on commercial dog breeders known as puppy mills. Specifically, those located in the state of Ohio, even though they exist worldwide. Puppy mills are not the reputable breeders your friends or family may have recommended you get your puppy from. Commonly, they are unsanitary and have inadequate veterinary care. Their dogs are overbred and ill-bred, live in crowded undersized crates, and are provided insufficient socialization time, if any at all. There is no limit to how many dogs can be in one building. It can be hundreds. It is doubtful that there are enough people to properly care for the dogs housed in one location. Puppy mill owners typically use brokers who act as “middlemen” between the puppy mills and pet stores, breeders and online sales. However, they can also sell directly from their kennels to prospective customers like us. Many customers may not realize that they are dealing with a large-scale commercial breeder. The facilities, which can house hundreds of puppies, are often located at a distance from the point of sale and may not be visible to buyers. These breeders frequently transport animals across state lines. Puppies raised in such conditions may experience significant stress, potentially leading to behavioral challenges such as fearfulness or aggression. There are puppy mills who relinquish breeder dogs, and sometimes puppies, to rescue groups and shelters. They also call rescue groups to let them know that they have a certain amount of puppies or dogs they need to move out of their facility within hours. Some of the reasons could be: * an upcoming inspection * not adhering to size requirements of crates per dog * dogs can no longer produce puppies for health reasons * shoddy veterinary procedures * cost of euthanasia For this episode, I introduce two women from Columbus who are passionate in their advocacy for dogs and decided to do something about it. Stefanie Mowrey, seated next to me in the studio, and Zaron Van Meter, have tirelessly volunteered their spare time for many years by fostering, rescuing, and adopting dogs. Stefanie is a registered nurse whose passion for animals has endured since childhood. She was heavily influenced by a “60 Minutes” episode decades ago which depicted the unsavory conditions of puppy mills. It captivated her attention to take action when she became an adult. She started fostering, adopting and then volunteering at the local Humane Society, and for the Ohio state chapter of Bailing Out Benji., where she met Zaron. Bailing Out Benji is a national non-profit organization which advocates for dogs in puppy mills and also provides research and education about them. While volunteering, Stefanie became more aware of the increasing number of dogs and puppies from mills and backyard breeders ending up in shelters and rescues. All too often, the shelters were already at capacity. Therefore, they have to rely heavily on fosters to take in dogs, especially puppies. Stefanie uses the example in our podcast of the shelter she volunteers for. This shelter will only adopt “puppy mill breeder dogs” out to a home that already has a resident dog in order to help the mill dog become less anxious and learn how to actually be a dog. Some puppy mill dogs do not know how to play. They don’t know how to socialize with people or other dogs. As a dog trainer, I know that the best teacher for dogs like this are other patient, gentle dogs. Dogs learn quickest and most effectively from other dogs, but it has to be the right type of dog. Dogs also want to know where they fit in their pack. A dominant and/or guard dog in this situation with a fearful newcomer can cause havoc. It is also up to the humans in the pack to ensure the safety of those involved. Zaron Van Meter is a business owner and has been an advocate for dogs for over 25 years. Through her involvement as the founder of SK9 Scottish Terrier Rescue, she organized presentations by well-known devoted companion animal advocates, such as Cesar Millan, Dr. Jean Dodds, Temple Grandin, and Dave Hunt(an expert on dog fighting). In 2012, Zaron was instrumental as an activist in getting an anti-puppy mill law passed included in Senate Bill 130 (Ohio Revised Code 956.20)1️⃣ which mandates better living spaces, regular vet exams, and health certificates for every dog that is sold to a vendor, like a retail pet store. Violations to this code is a misdemeanor. Zaron and Stefanie wanted to do even more to help out by reducing the amount of dogs coming from puppy mills, with the ultimate goal of eliminating them. They became involved in educating the public and informing Ohio legislators of the need to close loopholes in the current laws to protect dogs who come from all commercial breeders. In my opinion, there is not enough attention and priority given to puppy mills by the public and the government agencies that oversee them. More regulations need to be passed and current regulations need to be enforced more effectively. A light needs to be shined on these factories of sadness for the benefit of the dogs and the customers who unknowingly purchase them. There are laws and agencies to oversee and enforce existing regulations against the breeders. On a state level, there is the Ohio Department of Agriculture. On a federal level, it is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Existing laws preventing abuse are rarely enforced. If they are, often the penalty is simply a fine. Breeders who have received many violations have been known to change their name and operate under a different licensed name. Even the mission statement of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees the high volume commercial dog breeder kennels, gives no mention to dogs. It reads: “To protect Ohio citizens by ensuring food supply safety, maintaining the health of plants and animals, and creating economic opportunities for the state’s farmers, food processors, and agribusinesses, all while preserving resources and supporting the state’s largest industry.”2️⃣ In Ohio, dogs are similarly classified as livestock. We all know and love our dogs as loving companions that share our homes and are members of our families. To think that dogs are also viewed as property and can be discarded at the whim of these commercial breeders is beyond sad. Their well-being is not at the forefront of their business plan. It all comes down to money. If a breeder dog can no longer have puppies for health reasons or overbreeding, they cease to be a moneymaker. They are discarded or euthanized. Their best chance for survival is to be transported to rescue groups or shelters and eventually adopted by a loving family. Laws in Ohio need to be passed to change the classification of our beloved dogs to be recognized as companion animals, not livestock. Examples of states that consider dogs’ welfare and best interest are New York, California, and New Hampshire. More states are updating their regulations and classification concerning dogs. Within the past two years, Pennsylvania joined suit. Ohio can too with your support! The Ohio Department of Agriculture(ODA) inspects high volume commercial dog breeders. However, there are only 5 inspectors in the entire state to cover the approximately 475 that exist.3️⃣ In 2025, Ohio was designated once again, the second worst state in the nation, with 16 commercial breeders committing major egregious violations. 4️⃣ This is according to the Humane Society of the United States’ (now known as The Humane World for Animals) list called “The Horrible Hundred”. These mills are sometimes documented repeat offenders that should be shut down. Currently, ODA ins… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • Nov 18, 2025 · 26 min

    What it Takes to be a Dog Trainer

    Over the past 13 years, I have helped thousands of dogs and their pet parents learn how to communicate effectively so they can live in harmony together. Most clients just need to establish more structure, consistent boundaries and an exercise regimen for their dogs in order to lead a happy and fulfilled life. Others are presented with challenges by their canine companions, especially when fear or aggression are present. Dog training is not only about teaching obedience skills. It is also about making pet parents realize that what they are currently doing is not working. I help them solve the problem behaviors they are experiencing. Most clients are very receptive to this and some are not. I have only been told once to leave a client’s home. A young man’s girlfriend called me to help her golden doodle get along with her boyfriend’s Staffordshire Terrier. She said their first encounter did not go well. The man greeted me outside with his dog. At least he had the dog on a leash, but the dog was lunging and barking to get at me. The girlfriend stayed about 25’ away with her quiet and probably terrified doodle. The man was offended that I didn’t want to greet his dog. I told him repeatedly over the barking that I never say hello to dogs that are vocalizing, especially in an aggressive tone. I tried to coach him to put the dog in a sit by his side, but he refused for his own reasons. He was struggling to control his dog. I suggested we move to the back yard to see if a change of scenery would help. We did, but the dog never calmed down. The man even told me that his dog is very friendly and this was the worst he had acted out with a stranger. That’s when he said I could go home. I quietly slipped away and was glad when I got inside my car! You can only learn if you are open to it. It can be very difficult for people to admit they are part of their dog’s behavior problem. A lot of times, they don’t even know they are reinforcing bad behavior by giving the dog affection at the wrong time. Most clients end up telling me that they have to change even before I come right out and tell them. That’s when I know that I have gotten through to them. I had to learn how to communicate this to my clients so as not to come across too offensively. My training emphasized to keep everything positive with the dog and the client, but did not outline what to say to the clients when they disagreed with my philosophy and solutions. Customer service is crucial in dog training. You are being hired to fix issues and you better tend to their wishes in a professional manner. If you are the type of person who prefers dealing with dogs and not people, then this job is not for you. Dogs are the easy part, humans can be the difficult part. That being said, I have met some incredible people over the years whose friendships I treasure. They started out as clients, and turned into wonderful friendships. I am still a part of these friends’ lives, even after the dog we trained together has passed on. As a dog trainer, you bond with people in a unique way. When a pet parent brings a puppy home, they treasure this puppy because it IS a part of the family. I don’t think I have ever come across anyone who feels any differently. I am requested to help transition this precious puppy from where it came to their new home. That’s a pretty tall order! During this transition and multiple visits or classes, life happens. I have had several clients whose partner was the primary caretaker of the dog. Then, they either passed away or divorce split up the pack. One client’s son had adopted a dog from a shelter during the COVID shutdown. We conducted our trainings outdoors to stay safe. Then, he was struck with COVID and passed away due to complications with diabetes. His mother wanted desperately to keep the dog, but she knew she could not be there for it due to her demanding work schedule. Happily, she found a great home for the dog and the new pet parent has been very happy with the adoption. Sometimes, I become like a family therapist. The new addition can wreak havoc on relationships, especially when not everyone agreed to get the puppy in the first place. Let’s face it. Puppies are a lot of work. Rescue dogs can present challenges that could not be foreseen in the shelter. There can be disagreements between family members as to how to solve problem behaviors. This is when it is crucial for me to find the right words to explain why certain solutions work and others do not. I absolutely love what I do. I got into dog training all because of my former dog, Hank, the Corgi. Even with my experience and the standards I have today, Hank was a difficult dog. I had to figure him out and I wasn’t going to be satisfied until I had answers to why he acted the way he did. Little did I know that in learning how to figure him out, I would become a dog trainer. I thought at the time I was just really interested in dog behavior. I never intended to make a career out of it. After I made the decision to pursue a job as a dog trainer, I applied to Pet Smart and Petco. Pet Smart wasn’t looking for a trainer, but Petco was. It took me almost 7 months to get hired at Petco. I pursued management on a weekly basis to see if they had made a decision. Sometimes I would drive to the store to talk to the managers. Every time I would drive there, I would get emotional. I couldn’t explain it. The tears were happy tears even in spite of the obstacles I came up against. I felt so driven this was the job I should be doing and the tears confirmed that feeling. I still feel today that the universe was shouting to me not to give up on Petco because I needed to be a dog trainer. After 7 months of persevering, I was finally in the right place at the right time. I started studying the Petco curriculum on dog behavior and how to train dogs. The curriculum was written by a well known dog behaviorist named Patricia McConnell. I read all the books I could get my hands on. However, in my opinion, there was something monumental that was missing from what I was learning from a book. It’s what Cesar Millan, the star of “The Dog Whisperer” is all about - energy. While I was learning the Petco way of training, I was also watching Cesar Millan’s, “The Dog Whisperer” episodes on tv in my spare time. Studying dog behavior became a passion of mine. In every “Dog Whisperer” episode, Cesar repeated the fact that the dog is a mirror of their human’s energy, philosophy, and actions. He proved this concept with every client while handling their dog versus when the client handled the dog. It was not magic or trick photography. It really was all about the handler’s energy that influenced the dog’s behavior. The magic is mastering that type of energy. This resonated with me in some way. I understood the concept, but could not see how it applied to me. I was on a mission to figure this all out. This ‘magical’ type of energy involves mastering remaining calm but at the same time, being assertive. I typically am a calm person, but I wasn’t when I was communicating with Hank. It seemed like I was always frustrated and mad at him because he wouldn’t obey me. I thought that was somehow being assertive. I thought refraining from exploding and yelling at him was somehow remaining calm. Honestly, I didn’t know how to be any different. Hank was unpredictable and sometimes aggressive. Anyone who knows me would probably say that I am the exact opposite of that. However, when I dealt with Hank, I was usually agitated and frustrated because he would often ignore me. Cesar was right. I was the one who had to change and then Hank would follow suit. Dogs do not want to follow unstable energy. It’s so true! As soon as I started to change, Hank changed too. Cesar … This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • Oct 29, 2025 · 41 min

    Top 15 Grooming Tools and Products

    Dog groomers are an integral part in maintaining optimal health for your dog. They are not just limited to bathing and trimming a dog’s coat. They are also checking for ear infections, trimming nails, and noticing lumps and any other superficial health issues. It is important to find a groomer who will point out possible concerns they may have about the appearance and behavior of your dog. They may suggest a follow up visit with your veterinarian. Finding a groomer you can trust and keeping the recommended frequency of grooming appointments are two key ways to help your dog get acclimated to the salon and the entire experience, which can be somewhat stressful. The more often your dog goes to the groomer, the more they will become familiar with them and the surroundings. Communication between the groomer and pet parent must be open and honest. All pet parents want to know how their dog behaved at the salon and if there are any concerns they need to know about. Sharyn Ugan is a retired dog and cat groomer from Petco. She still grooms dogs for friends and family on her own. In this episode,Sharyn shares with me all of the tools she uses. When she worked at the Petco grooming salon, the company provided a lot of the equipment. However, if she needed or preferred certain tools, she would purchase them herself. Typically, a lot of the equipment is purchased by the groomer. Sharyn likes to have backups for every tool. In the pictures below, you will discover which scissors, clippers, and products she prefers. Over the years, she has built up an extensive array of grooming tools for her “toolbox”. Brushes Sharyn predominantly uses three different types of brushes. Depending on the job, there are metal slicker brushes, a rake, a fine toothed flea comb, and a FURminator. Brushes are integral in maintaining a healthy coat by preventing and detangling mats. They also help distribute natural oils throughout the body to prevent hair follicles from clogging. Daily brushing keeps matting in check. It also removes loose fur and dirt which helps reduce shedding. * Slicker brushes Sharyn likes to use metal slicker brushes with a blue plastic handle. The teeth are made of metal and come in different lengths and textures. The wider brush with shorter teeth are used on shih tzus and smaller dogs. The brush with longer bristles are used more on longer coats like poodles, doodles and German Shepherds. The slicker brush pictured below has an ‘S’ on the back which means that the bristles are soft. They come in soft, medium and hard. Sharyn uses this type of brush on 95% of the dogs she grooms because they are very durable and get the job done. * The Rake The Rake is a type of brush to manage matting. They are recommended particularly on dogs with an undercoat. I use a rake on my dog, Ebi, every day. She has feathers, long, wispy fur, by her rear end and behind her legs. I use a slicker brush for her body. One month, I tried using a slicker brush on her whole body and thought I was doing a good job. However, when it was time for Ebi’s grooming appointment with Sharyn, she found the most mats ever. The slicker brush didn’t cut through the feathers. Sharyn calls feathers, pantaloons. Rakes can be found in the detangling brush section on the internet. Many companies make them. Just make sure you get a sturdy handle and appropriate size for your dog. * Flea comb Sharyn uses a flea comb that also has a small comb on the other side. She likes to use this on small dog’s faces, ears, and paws. Sometimes little knots form on the fur on and around the ears. Breeds like Westies and terriers have beards that need to be brushed out. The small comb is perfect for that purpose. I have seen her use it on my dog’s fur that grows in between her toes. She may even find fleas since these are the areas where fleas tend to reside. FURminator FURminators were invented in the early 2000s as a deshedding tool. The purpose was to develop a safe and efficient way to remove loose undercoat fur without damaging the top coat. However, Sharyn says that you have to be careful because of this. They can take a bulk of the fur out, but you can possibly strip away too much of the topcoat. She liked to use them when they first came out, but now she doesn’t care for them. Shampoo Shampooing a dog is the first step in the grooming process. There are many different shampoos to choose from. Sharyn likes Johnson&Johnson Baby Shampoo. It is tearless and mild. There are other shampoos available for different skin issues. For example, there is a shampoo with oatmeal in it that soothes irritated skin. No matter what shampoo she uses, she always dilutes it. She finds that rinsing the shampoo out is a lot easier. A little bit of shampoo produces a lot of suds to really scrub into the fur. An added benefit is if the dog should have allergies to the shampoo, it will be less concentrated, producing a milder reaction to it. I personally prefer all natural products for my dog. I showcase a shampoo made by a company called Doggy Style. It is a shampoo and conditioner in one and only requires a little bit. I love the way it smells and how my dog’s fur feels when it’s all dried. For more information, check out: Doggy Style Dog Care. This is a local Cleveland company that sells varied products for grooming your dog. I love the bath scrubber for short haired dogs too! Nail trims Even if you don’t take your dog to a groomer, you still need to trim the nails or get someone to do it for you. The anatomy of a dog’s foot is similar from breed to breed, but the shape and length of the nails can be different. For example, I used to walk my Corgi so much that the concrete would naturally file down his nails. In fact, sometimes the nails would be worn down so low to the quick, they would start bleeding (Please see below the definition of the quick) I walk my Leonberger just as much, but her nails stick straight out and don’t touch the sidewalk unless they start getting too long. When I can hear clicking on the pavement, that’s when I know it’s time for a nail trim. If dog’s nails get too long, the dog will compensate by walking differently. This will put undue strain on the joints. The nails can also get caught on rugs and become injured, causing even more pain and a visit to the vet. Overgrown nails can be painful if walking on pavement. It alters their natural gait and will cause the dog to shift their weight to avoid the pain. When nails are left long on a consistent basis, the quick will grow out with the nail, which makes it difficult to trim them without bleeding. If neglected for a long period of time, the nails can curl under and grow into the paw pad. Ouch! The quick The quick is located on the inner part of a dog’s nail. It will appear as a small pink dot on the inside of a dog’s nail or as a small dark circle on the nail’s tip on the inside of a black nail. It contains blood vessels, so if it is nicked with clippers, it will start to bleed. Before beginning to trim your own dog’s nails, make sure you have some styptic powder to dunk the nail in. The bleeding should stop immediately. * Small Nail Clippers These clippers are shown on the far right of the picture below. Small nail clippers are great for cat nails and small animals like ferrets and guinea pigs. They are used for very small dogs like Bugsy, who is laying on his bed in the video of this podcast. Although, Bugsy likes his nails done with a Dremel. 5. The Dremel Some animals prefer the Dremel over clipping, as mentioned above. Some dogs are afraid of the sound of it as it grinds away the nail. There are some models that are quieter than others. In general, the Dremel is safer since it reduces the chance of nicking the quick. It leaves a smoother finish and is great for thick nails. I have seen Shar… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • Oct 14, 2025 · 37 min

    Grooming with Sharyn

    Depending on your dog’s breed, you may be well acquainted with your favorite grooming salon. You might even have a preferred groomer who knows your dog and have established a trusting, reliable relationship with them. My guest, Sharyn Ugan, retired from Petco after 14 years of grooming cats and dogs. I met Sharyn over 10 years ago while working at Petco and also got to know some of the other groomers in the store. My dog training arena was right next to the salon. I would watch in awe how they would work tirelessly on various breeds. I was frequently amazed at the transformation from how the dog looked upon entering the salon and then leaving as a work of art with their pet parents. Dog grooming isn’t only about brushing and cutting a dog’s coat. Most professional groomers check the ears, eyes, the mouth, and even the rear end! Grooming is also about the dog’s health and well being. Sometimes groomers find lumps and bumps that go unnoticed by their owners. They may be located in areas that the owner doesn’t pet on a daily basis. If the fur is overgrown, skin infections cannot be seen. The owner may think their dog is just itching a lot, and doesn’t realize there is a skin infection developing. Regular appointments with professional groomers and veterinarians keep the dog’s health in check. Over the years, Sharyn has found numerous health issues while grooming. Before Sharyn became a full time groomer, she was a vet tech. She saw and treated a variety of health conditions that came into the vet office. This helped her recognize the signs of common ailments when she became a groomer, like ear infections, broken nails, and growths in hidden places. She even identified a swollen scrotum on a non-neutered male dog who ended up having testicular cancer! The owners had the dog neutered right away which extended his senior life by another 3 years. Sharyn became interested in grooming when her best friend bought a kennel that came with a grooming salon. Sharyn learned from the woman who was the groomer in that salon and came to really enjoy it. Sharyn learned a lot from her but she really taught herself. Back then, groomers didn’t need to be certified. She used a workbook for groomers as a guide which showed pictures and described details of the standard cuts for all the different breeds. “It’s just a matter of the more you do it, the easier it gets. You learn by trial and error”. Sharyn Ugan For 24 years. Sharyn worked two jobs: a groomer and a vet tech, until she decided to just stick to grooming. She loved it and actually made more money than being a vet tech. Grooming is a lucrative business for the salon and the individual groomers. The popularity of all the doodles out there will keep them in business for a long time! As Sharyn experienced, an unexpected benefit of the job was that she developed relationships with a lot of her repeat clients. It was these relationships that added a little something special to just being a groomer. I remember Sharyn showing me the gifts she would get at Christmas time. Her human clients loved her and her dog clients loved her even more! When Sharyn worked at Petco, there were strict protocols in place. For example, it was required that puppies and dogs be up to date on all vaccines. Typically, puppies don’t get their rabies shot until at least 6 months old. It is essential to get them used to the salon as soon as they are fully vaccinated, so they don’t develop fear issues later. Sharyn’s advice to pet parents who rescue adult dogs is to take them to the salon about 3 to 4 weeks after they become accustomed to their new home. It is possible the rescue dog already had a bad experience with a groomer/grooming salon. Therefore, you don’t want to stress the dog out too much right after bringing them home. Petco also changed their policy on using muzzles on dogs that showed signs of aggression. Groomers used to be able to muzzle these types of dogs who were getting something as basic as a nail trim. However, the company changed their policy on muzzles. They were no longer allowed. Instead, groomers were directed to start referring aggressive cases to their local veterinarian to avoid their employees getting bit. Vet offices will muzzle dogs and even sedate them if necessary. When seeking out a grooming salon or individual groomer, it is worthwhile to find out what their policies are with dogs who have a hard time being manipulated. Get a tour of the salon so you can see where dogs are placed while they are being bathed, dried, and waiting to be picked up. Go at a busy time so you can hear the noise that your dog will hear. If your dog has fear issues, you may not want to expose your dog to such a hectic environment. Always have your dog’s best interest in mind. At Petco and other corporate pet stores, there is usually a training program that involves being mentored by another groomer. When groomers first begin their apprenticeship, they get to know the dog by handling them on leash and leading them to the bathing area, shampooing and drying them, and learning how to get the dog up on the table to be worked on. Many dogs are fearful of the entire experience, so it is important to learn how to handle and manage a dog in this state of mind. It requires a lot of patience with calm and assertive energy. Sharyn mentored plenty of apprentices who weren’t cut out for the job. They discovered they were more fearful of dogs than they thought they were. It can be a very stressful environment when dogs are barking while grooming a fearful dog, and being afraid of getting bit. Groomers should know they will get nipped and sometimes bit. It comes with the job! Part of being a groomer is building a relationship not just with the dog but also with the client. When the client drops their dog off, Petco had a list of questions to ask them which included if there were any changes in the dog’s health. Groomers were instructed to have the dog walk into the salon instead of being carried. This way they could confirm that the dog didn’t have mobility issues. Sharyn would always do a quick check up before the client left for fleas, sore spots, and anything that might affect her grooming. Sharyn found the best approach with clients was to be honest and upfront. If she found fleas or ticks, she would put them in a baggie to show the client, in case they were in disbelief. If she found any health issues, she would bring it to the client’s attention. If the dog was having an “off” day, or the dog was so stressed out from the noises in the salon, she would call the client to have the dog picked up as soon as possible. One time, Sharyn was only able to groom half of the dog because it was so stressed out. She had the client bring the dog back after a week to finish the rest. Sometimes, the dog wouldn’t exhibit any aggression or fear until they were put up on the grooming table. If the dog was wiggling and thrashing about so much that it impeded working on the dog, the client would be contacted to pick up their dog. It was a matter of the dog and the groomer possibly getting hurt. Whatever needed to be done that was best for the well being of the dog, Sharyn would act accordingly. She was always her client’s best advocate. Sharyn not only groomed dogs, but also cats. It had to be a special cat to tolerate a noisy salon and be surrounded by dogs. Some cat clients would shave their long haired cats because it was easier to maintain a short coat and it would also keep hairballs in check. One thing to keep in mind when shaving a cat or a dog is that it can damage the follicles, making it difficult for the coat to grow back in. The fur will grow back in different places and not in others. Sometimes, it doesn’t grow back at all. Sharyn had a longhaired Scottish Fold named Marshall who she would use as a teaching t… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • Sep 30, 2025 · 28 min

    Best in Show

    There are so many fun activities to do with your dog that speak to the instincts of specific breeds, such as agility for Jack Russell Terriers, hunting for Beagles, and herding for Border Collies. However, there is a whole other venue that is all about the preservation of over 200 purebreds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). That is the world of the show dogs. Breeders dedicate their lives to ensure their dogs are born healthy and structurally sound according to the standards set by the AKC. Judges at dog shows are an integral part of preserving the legacy of purebreds by choosing which dogs (males) and b*****s(females) meet these standards. My guest, Dr. Jennifer Smith, has been involved with competitive dog performance sports for decades. That was her comfort zone. However, she was always interested in the show arena, but never gave it a try until about 5 years ago. Watching the handlers and dogs on the Westminster Dog Show every year looked easy. Little did Jennifer know that there was a lot more than just prancing around the ring with your best buddy. As with everything that Jennifer decides to take on, she went all in! At this point in her life, poodles are her favorite breed. Please refer to our previous episode entitled “Oodles and Oodles of Poodles” where Jennifer elaborates on the temperament, intelligence, and instincts of this magnificent breed. Jennifer studied for years how to groom poodles to standard. Her goal was to learn how to groom her own poodle, Scarlet, so she would become show quality. She would go to shows and just observe what the pros did. Poodles have a continuous coat which keeps on growing. Jennifer used this to her advantage while learning because the coat happens to be very forgiving. If you make a mistake, you can cut it out, and it will grow back fairly quickly. If hunters never trimmed poodles’ fur, it would weigh them down in the water so much that they could drown! Styling the poodle has changed a bit over the years, but the shape of the cuts around the body serve the same function. The “rosettes” (the two round mounds of fur on their back) were trimmed to keep the poodle’s hips warm. The poof balls on the ankles are intended to keep them from getting too cold. The “jacket” around the body keeps their internal organs warm. The function of the poof ball on the tip of the tail is to make the dog visible while swimming to retrieve fowl from the water. Jennifer also had to go through a series of conformation classes. Conformation classes teach handlers how to present their dogs in the show ring. They teach handlers how to position their dogs in a standing position called stacking. They also teach them how to move around the ring to highlight the dog’s gait. Lastly, they learn proper etiquette when communicating with the judges and how to prepare for the judge’s exam. Jennifer also spent countless hours watching and practicing handling dogs. Part of Jennifer’s dream was to not only have a show worthy poodle, but also to handle her poodles in the ring. Jennifer succeeded because Scarlet now has her Championship and is a finished dog. She performed beautifully, but she really wasn’t thrilled about being in the show ring. Therefore, Jennifer didn’t pursue getting Scarlet her “specials”, which is the highest level of competition in a dog show. The anatomical structure of the poodle is unique. Poodles are squarely built, which means their length is equal to their height. They also have a specific angulation to their structure which allows for a very elegant and effortless prancing gait. It looks like they are floating. There really is no other breed that compares to it. Every feature about them evolved that way to facilitate retrieving fowl in the water swiftly and powerfully. This becomes integral to assessing the poodle in the show ring. **“Not all family dogs are show dog quality, but all show dogs are family dogs”. - Jennifer Smith When interested in getting involved in the dog show arena, one of the first places to start is searching for reputable breeders who have experience showing that breed. Jennifer recommends for people to go to dog shows and actually talk to any of the breeders of the type of dog you are interested in. They have a lot of pride in what they do. They will give you unique insight into the breed that online research cannot. The most responsible breeders will divulge information about how they breed out certain health issues. Good breeders are all about sharing information about the breed they love and live with. They want others to love their dogs as much as they do. These are the owners who will make sure their dogs will live on for generations to come. Just as with any profession, there is plenty of fraud, so make sure you do your homework. After selecting a favorite breed, do extensive research on the breed. Make sure this is a breed that is suitable for your lifestyle. Border Collies are a lot of fun and they are highly intelligent, but that comes at a cost. You better be prepared to provide an active lifestyle for them and challenge them intellectually or else behavioral issues can arise. Jennifer talks about the pages and pages of standards set by the AKC for every recognized breed in the United States. When you show your dog, the judges are looking for the one that best conforms to those standards. “Dogs aren’t competing with each other. They are competing against the standards.” - Jennifer Smith Jennifer reads and then rereads the pages of standards for the poodle breed. Each time she reads them, something jumps out at her that she didn’t notice the last time she read them. The more experience you have, the more you understand on a deeper level what the standard means. Jennifer has 4 poodles as pets. She has studied their behavior, learned how to properly groom them, and how to handle them in the arena for several years now. Showing a poodle is different than showing a dachshund, like her husband Tom does. They are a different breed with a different temperament and require a skillset unique to each one. It is imperative to know the breed you are handling in the show arena inside and out. One important aspect of owning and showing dogs is they have to remain intact. This means that dogs cannot be neutered and b*****s cannot be spayed. This presents a challenge for Jennifer and her husband Tom twice a year when the b*****s go in to heat. She says that the intact males will claw through anything to get to the female! The instinct to reproduce is that strong. They get triggered by the smell of the urine. The entire heat cycle can last for a couple of months. However, when the b*****s are ready to mate, the males can no longer just be separated by fences in the backyard. They have to go live with other show dog friends until the b***h’s hormones subside. Jennifer’s latest addition to her poodle pack is Chapel, shown below. Chapel finished her championship on September 13 and won again to earn points towards her grand championship. Jennifer decided to have Chapel live with and be handled by a professional handler. She likes to play with her dogs and let them be dogs in her vast backyard, which isn’t conducive to maintaining the type of coat required for the show ring. When dogs play, they like to take bites at each other’s tails. It’s cute and fun to watch but it is too challenging to keep them from doing this. It prolongs the growing out process needed to properly groom them for show quality. Therefore, Chapel’s handler makes sure her coat pristine. As Jennifer explains in our podcast together, showing your dog starts as early as 6 months old. There are many cate… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • Sep 11, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min

    Search and Rescue Dogs at Ground Zero

    **This episode is dedicated to Gary Flynn, all of the Task Forces deployed with their search and rescue canines, including Ohio Task Force 1, and those who perished on September 11, 2001. This is also dedicated to the dog handlers and emergency crews who continue to suffer from the trauma experienced during that time, and to their family members supporting the mental and health issues of their loved ones who continue to suffer. September 11 was the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil. People were stunned and frightened as they watched the events unfold on their television screens. After the plot to destroy human lives and weaken American leadership had concluded on that horrific day, the largest call-up of emergency services occurred and FEMA task forces were deployed. One of the 26 FEMA task forces summoned was Gary Flynn and Ohio Task Force 1. I highly recommend listening to this podcast where Gary describes, in detail at times, how the events impacted him and his 5 year old Belgian Malinois, Tascha. To say that this was an emotional podcast is an understatement. In fact, words cannot describe adequately the plethora of information that Gary was willing to share. Therefore, I am only going to write about details in the best way possible to help break down the magnitude of that day, and the months and years to follow. This is also the platform where I can share photos that Gary took during his time there. Never did I think that I would meet and get to know someone who I could call my mentor and my friend, and someone who tirelessly worked at finding survivors with his personally trained professional dog. This was a war zone, no doubt about that. The way that Gary describes how he got the call while working his day job at BIOPLASTICS CO. in North Ridgeville, Ohio, is already uniquely different than the majority of us who watched the news that day in our homes. He was called up and ready to go like any soldier summoned to war. We all remember exactly where we were when we found out about the first plane slamming into the World Trade Center. None of us dreamt this was part of a much bigger plot to wreak devastation on a such a grand scale. We were able to watch the events on tv in the security of our homes. However, the first responders and those called up to search for survivors had to risk their lives and the lives of their beloved and highly trained canines. Out of the 72 people in Ohio deployed by FEMA, only 4 dog handlers and their canines were chosen to go. Three of the four handlers were from OSDA (Gary’s search and rescue dog agency). The fourth handler, Terry Trepanier was a veteran firefighter and paramedic from Washington Township, shown in the picture below with his dog Woody. There were many more qualified people ready and willing to go serve, but were not chosen by the federal government to assist. FEMA plans for disasters similar to this and whatever they decide is not to be debated or contested. Gary talks about how much the love and support from those not selected to go was an immeasurable support system while being there. FEMA requested that the canines to be deployed be live human finds only. Gary had a cadaver dog, Felix, fully trained and ready to go, but that was not what was needed from Ohio Task Force 1. There were Task Forces from other states who received the order for trained cadaver dogs. However, Gary’s dog Tascha, exhibited an aversive behavior whenever she would come across cadaver parts. She would shrug her body in such a way that it was almost an actual alert signal. Gary had specifically trained her to go past any cadavers and only focus on the live human scent. Gary and Tascha worked 12 hour shifts, but it never ended at the 12th hour. If they were commanded to search a specific area of “the pile” (which was approximately 40 stories high) and they kept finding more openings within that pile to investigate, they did not quit just because their shift was up. They continued until there was no more area left to search . If it required to rappel blindly into a dark hole, then that’s what they did. Sending his dog in first with no leash and no collar to find survivors caused fear and anxiety that cannot be verbally described. “I can tell you what it was like, but I have no way to tell you how it feels” Gary Flynn Gary and Tasha weren’t always working the pile. Sometimes they were commanded to search the surrounding buildings. A badly damaged structure assigned to Gary and Tascha was the Merrill Lynch Financial Center, pictured below. They had to climb 51 flights of stairs with no lights to guide them and search every inch for survivors. What they found was mostly plane pieces, cadavers, luggage and clothes. Gary says that the job always starts from the top on down, instead of the other way around. That way, when you are all done with the search, you can just exit the building. One of my questions to Gary was about using protective gear for himself and his dog. Gary had all the protective gear needed for a toxic environment like the one at Ground Zero. He knew what he could be exposed to because he was a certified environmental hazard specialist. However, the protective gear got in the way when navigating through narrow passages with sharp objects all around. He wished he could have worn the gear all the time, but it wasn’t feasible. Tasha did not wear any boots for her paws. She managed okay without them. She did endure a large burned area on her chest, not from direct fire, but from abrasions caused by squeezing in between and crawling through so much rubble. The wound healed up, but the fur never grew back. She lived until the ripe old age of 17. She was a cancer survivor on top of all that. It was too difficult to say that the cancer was due to her exposure to chemicals at Ground Zero, but living 13 years after the event is pretty astonishing! Gary is beyond grateful to the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams dispatched by FEMA to Ground Zero to provide medical care to the hundreds of search and rescue dogs on site. Tascha became dehydrated to the point where she needed to have intravenous fluids pumped into her. The VMAT teams provided the prompt assistance required to get Tascha back on her paws again. Another question I asked Gary was if dogs experience PTSD. He believes they do but it is because those dogs were not properly trained or they were not the type of dog that could handle the stress from search and rescue work. Just like not all dogs make good service dogs, not all dogs are cut out to make effective search and rescue dogs. The stamina and prolonged self motivation required for this kind of work is not present in all dogs. The dogs who have been correctly trained succeed and love what they do. Their handlers reward them with play time whenever they can sneak in a few minutes of downtime. Sometimes, due to the tasks at hand, the only reward was their handler’s voice praising them. Other times, down time meant rest time. Catching a few Z’s had to be squeezed in there too! Another amazing feature of the search and rescue dog is their ability to provide loving and caring support to their handlers and emergency staff members. Gary said there were plenty of them crying into their beloved dog’s fur. Dogs provide comfort that humans cannot. It’s just different. Gary is eternally grateful to so many people, but most importantly, his wife and young daughter. Returning from any search and rescue mission is difficult to resume a normal routine, but coming back home from Ground Zero was especially challenging. The trauma… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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  • Sep 2, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

    Search and Rescue

    Search and Rescue dogs are highly trained canines used to locate missing people and their personal items at disaster sites either natural or man-made, crime scenes, and terrorist attacks. Dogs possess the ability to pick up different scents that humans and technology cannot. They travel faster than humans when navigating through rough terrain, which speeds up the process of finding missing individuals. Time is of the essence when working a search and rescue mission. Every minute counts when dealing with life and death. Human emotions can be highly charged during these missions. Therefore, professional search and rescue organizations must maintain a sense of calm and control while adhering to local, state and federal standards.   Gary Flynn, owner and head handler for The Dog Advocate in Vermilion, Ohio, has been passionate about working with dogs since his time in the military. His training as an infantryman taught him how to navigate in the wilderness. This highly refined skill became very useful when he started working with Georgia Canine Search and Rescue while stationed at Fort Benning. Land navigation skills are extremely useful while working on a mission that may last days, even weeks. Sometimes these search and rescue missions will take crews into the woods or disaster sites where there are no well defined exits. The crews have to figure out how to navigate through it without getting lost. Before cell phone and GPS technology, search and rescue missions were even more challenging. Gary used his land navigation skills and applied them to become an extremely qualified and well sought after search and rescue handler. Upon Gary’s discharge from the military, he moved back to familiar territory in Vermilion, Ohio. He knew he wanted to become a professional search and rescue canine handler. He contacted Benji McPeak who owned and operated Firelands Kennels. Benji was a police dog trainer who also trained wannabe professional handlers like Gary. Benji had contracts to train dogs for the Ohio State Police, numerous sheriff departments, and even police departments that had their own canine programs. Gary started training dogs in junkyards searching for various items and conducting car searches for drugs. However, what really sparked his interest was training cadaver dogs - placing cadaver parts in different areas for training purposes for the dog to find. One of the most important lessons that Gary learned was how to shape dogs into performing desired behaviors. It takes a skillful eye to piece together the deliberate behavior conditioning by the handler with what the dog does naturally. Reading the dog accurately was key to developing the most effective and reliable professional dog. Taking this skillset and applying it to searching for humans, dead or alive, became one of Gary’s specialties. He trained his dog to be a cadaver dog. He used this skill many times when doing area searches of collapsed buildings, floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters. Gary discovered that how he trained dogs to alert him to dead or live finds was different than a fellow canine handler for the Ohio State Patrol. Gary trained his imported German Shepherd, Iren, to alert him to a deceased body by running back to him, bark 4-5 times, and then run back and forth between him and the deceased. If the body was alive, she was trained to run to Gary, run back to the person, and stay there and bark. This was vital later on when Gary had his own search and rescue agency and he got a call from a homicide detective for the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) who was trying to solve a missing persons case. Sometimes Gary was called to help solve cold cases. There was a possibility that by using one of his dog’s keen sense of smell and method of alerting, some of the SBI’s cold cases would result in closure. One of those cases was a deathbed confession. The murderer told his wife where the body was. Then, the wife was dying and told their daughter. So many years had passed, so the credibility of this confession was suspect. However, the daughter did the right thing and contacted the police. The police made contact with the new owners of her parent’s house. Then, Gary and his cadaver dog, two forensic anthropologists and a coroner showed up. Bingo! The remains were there and the identity of the deceased was verified. Another pertinent lesson that Gary learned while working for Benji was how to keep a dog engaged with their handler and remain focused with the task at hand for a prolonged period of time. This is the foundation for building the motivation and drive which is required in professional dogs. A tremendous amount of time is spent teaching the dog not to give up. Providing the appropriate rewards and the timing of it is also extremely important to achieve this. As a professional handler, Gary believes everything he does is intentional. The dogs must be worked in every type of situation imaginable so they ignore the bunny that runs in front of them and continue to search for people or articles of clothing. They have to ignore the juicy cheeseburger on the ground and be motivated enough to stay on course. Many times the dogs are out of the handler’s sight, so it is crucial to work with them in all scenarios in order to ensure they stay on task. I believe this lesson can be applied on a much smaller scale to every dog owner who wants to train their dogs to do a certain behavior. You have to make it exciting and fun for the dog with plenty of rewards to keep your dog engaged. Otherwise, the dog will wander off mentally and physically because you are not providing enough excitement to keep them interested. I had the privilege to work with one of Gary’s professional dogs named Abby. First, Gary demonstrated how he worked Abby through the different stages of escalating her drives. Once he got her to where she needed to be, he had me copy him. I put the bite sleeve on my arm and shouted out the German commands for her to run towards me, no leash, no collar, and bite my sleeve. I was not scared because I trusted Gary and knew previously how well controlled Abby was. Since it was my first time wearing a bite sleeve, I was hesitant and not confident enough. I couldn’t get Abby to respond in the same way that Gary could. Gary told me that I wasn’t all in. I needed to be 100% committed in order for Abby not to be confused with what I was trying to achieve and then stop working for me. I tried again and did better, but I definitely needed practice! This is exactly what Benji taught Gary and Gary taught other handlers. The easy part is shaping the dog’s behavior. The hard part is teaching the handler to trust their dog and maintain prolonged engagement with them. Benji introduced Gary to North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWADA) and North American Search Dog Network (NASDN). These organizations established a working standard for all police work dog handlers and trainers through an accreditation program. There are standards for tracking article search, area search and human remains detection. Any evidence that could be presented in court had to adhere to strict standards so as not to corrupt a crime scene. Gary even brought his dog into court to prove the reliability of their results. As far as search and rescue missions were concerned, Gary started noticing the lack of standards in place that was prohibiting the expediency and efficiency of conducting and completing a mission. The issue of liability was emerging and the last thing Gary wanted was for him or his co-workers to be sued by individuals because the integrity of the mission was compromised. This was the motivation for Gary to form his own search and rescue agency, Ohio Search Dog Agency, which still exists today. The impetus to follow through with Gary’s desire to form his own search and rescue agency was when he received… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit canineconcierge.substack.com

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