Wag Out Loud

Hi there this is Krista with episode number 114 On the wag out loud pawdcast, are you aware that Sundowners syndrome happens in our dogs too? Well, just like humans as our pups grow older, they experience various health issues including behavioral changes. sundowning in dogs is believed to be caused by age related issues such as the breakdown of the central nervous system, oxidative stress, and brain cell death. is your dog wandering, getting stuck, pacing or barking for no reason? More often in the evening or the nighttime? these could all signal sundowning in dogs. Welcome to the wag out loud podcast where we are obsessed with bringing you helpful tips on canine health care, nutrition, and overall well being. If you'd like to support the show. Check out the amazing online events, products and resources that I personally recommend on the Wag Out Loud website. I'm your host, Krista and I'm super excited to be bringing you yet another tail wagging episode. Hi there dog lovers, thank you so much for taking the time to listen in, and for your interest in your dog's health and wellness. Today, we are so honored to have Dr. Marty Greer with us. And she is going to chat about how has dog ownership changed in the era of COVID? And what can you do for your dog? Dr. Greer, thank you so much for spending time with us today. Why don't you introduce yourself and tell us why you wrote the book Your Pandemic Puppy? Sure. So I've been blessed with a career that I love. I've spent 39, almost 40 years crawling around the exam room floor with puppies with clients with just like I have the best job in the world. All day, I get to work with clients, I get to help them with their pets, I get to help them with managing their breeding programs. I just feel really blessed to have had so much fun with a career where I really do get to play with puppies every day and all day. So the inspiration from the book was sort of a multitude of different things that all coalesce. one was COVID started. So I had some time out of my schedule that I wasn't going to be traveling I normally am traveling quite a bit in the spring and the fall, and doing presentations. But because of COVID we were grounded. So we were home. And I realized at that point, I had a little extra time on my hands. I love to write. So I thought well, I'll just rewrite my exam room material. So I'll just write like a 20 page handout and it'll be good and I'll just get everybody up to speed on what's new with vaccinations and heartworm and flea and ticks and spaying and neutering and all that. So that the material I have in my exam rooms is fresh, but at the same time, I had clients and other people in my ear talking about how many people were staying home and how they were all trying to acquire a new puppy or a new kitten. And the concerns that many people in the industry had about how that's going to look when people started to return to work and to school, leaving their dogs alone when they'd been used to a year or more 100% of our clients of their owners being home with their pets. So we were really concerned about that. And we wanted to keep dogs from entering back into rescue back into Humane Society, and keep those dogs in the loving homes that had decided that during COVID, it was an appropriate time to get a new dog. Wow! thank you for doing that. Because yes, it is a thing. And I think all of us can agree that the past 14 months have been super challenging and downright difficult. But one of the positives and you mentioned it is that COVID puppies and rescues adoptions were up. I think it's 40% more than the year before. And with that, I think a lot of people have discovered that their dogs are even more amazing because they spent so much time with them, and have formed even stronger bonds. So what do you think we've learned about dogs as a part of the family unit during this crisis? Well, I think people have come to appreciate their dogs, they've enjoyed being home with them, the dogs have enjoyed having people home. What we did think was pretty funny is at the beginning, we were seeing dogs for things that we normally wouldn't have seen them for, it would have been typically that someone would maybe call or just take care of something themselves, like, My dog is now having four stools a day. And we'd say well, how many times a day are you walking them.? But we used to walk them once. But now I walk them in the morning before I start homeschooling the kids, and then we walk them. And pretty soon you realize that the dog is getting four walks a day. And of course the dog is going to have more opportunities. And yes, they are getting more attention. And yes, they're getting more snacks. And yes, they're getting more food, but they're also getting more exercise and they're getting more attention. So people are picking up on things like that things like lumps and bumps, things like their breath doesn’t smell good things that ordinarily would have kind of gone by the wayside. I think cats are kind of looking forward to people going back to work. They're like, really, you've been home long enough. And I really need to catch up on some sleep episodes that I've been missing out on so yeah, exactly Could you go? But what we also noticed was that we were seeing people that had never had a puppy or a dog before as an adult. So a lot of people had put off dog ownership. They have kids that are you know, in grade school, high school, and their kids were saying, Yeah, but mom, you promised us a dog all the time, and there's not a better time. So we started to see clients that had dogs as children that had never been responsible for selecting, raising and socializing an adult dog or dog to adulthood as an adult person. So it changed the dynamics of pet ownership, we had a lot of people coming in that really didn't know how to manage these dogs. And the other concern was making sure that we were managing them so that they didn't develop a separation anxiety when people went back to work so that they would be able to be crate trained. So that when they started going back to the grocery store, or work or school or whatever they happened to need to do the dentist, whatever, that the dogs were able to self soothe, were able to manage themselves at home, whether they were crated or left loose in the house or left in some confined area, that the dogs understood how to behave. And they were just comfortable in that setting. Because with people home 24 hours a day, or at least one person home all that time, the dogs were being raised in an environment that wasn't sustainable. That's absolutely right. And you alluded to it earlier, when you said we've been feeding more food and treats and I know that a lot of veterinarians are noticing increased rates of obesity and obesity was already an epidemic before COVID. And I think I read 30% of American dogs were overweight before the pandemic. So now with our quarantine 15 that I know a lot of us experienced. What do you say to people as far as how to check for the correct weight in their dogs? And what would what should we be doing to make sure that they're slim and trim? Sure. So you should be really careful that they're not eating any excessive amounts of food that you're basically feeding the same caloric intake as you were before. So that might mean a little bit less dog food if you're a little heavy on the stacks. The snacks can consist very comfortably of fresh fruits and vegetables with the exception of grapes and raisins which of course we know are toxic and onions and potatoes and corn which are kind of either starchy or potentially toxic. So we want to avoid those. But if your kids or if yourself you're looking at a snack and you're having you know fruit or vegetable that's a great opportunity for your dog to have that with you. You can cut back a little bit on their dog food and have up to 10% of their food be some other kind of snack like fruits and vegetables. And then of course the exercise. So if this time of year you'd like to go out and spend more time outside and spend more time walking, that's a great opportunity for your dog to start going out and Be with you. Now that the weather is nice, and in most parts of the country, it's warm, but not too warm, and it's rainy, but not too rainy. And it's just a really great chance for us to be outside with our dogs and get them used to that extra amount of exercise that they might have missed out on during the colder weather. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Can you describe what it looks like for us to actually check our dog's weight, I know the rib test, how do you actually do that? The rib test is a great one. And you you can do this really easily. Basically, what you want to do is take your own hand. And what you want to do is make a fist and feel the back of your hand, it's not your knuckles, but the back of your hand, you can feel those four bones. That's what your dog's rib cage should feel like. If it feels like the palm of your hand where it's in that little heel part of your hand where it's soft and squishy. That's a dog that's overweight, it feels like the back of your hand. That's where you can feel the ribs. That's ideal. But if it looks like you can see the same kind of protrusion as you would when you make a fist, and you look at your knuckles, that's too thin. So it's a really good tool for people to use, because it's something that they have right in front of them, they can feel it, they can see it, they can relate to it. So it's really handy. Now there are going to be differences from one breed to another. But unfortunately, even the most athletic dogs are frequently thought of as being too thin when they're at an ideal body weight because Americans have become accustomed to their dogs being a little on the soft and squishy side. So our dogs should be fit, they should be able to keep up with you on walks. and that type of thing runs of course, are a different story, you have to be really careful with running especially with really young puppies or exercising really young puppies too hard. But if your dog is fit, they should be able to keep up with you on walks. And in fact, you know, you walk probably too slowly for your dog to be really interested in a lot of the things that you're doing. Like when you're walking, the dog is trying to sniff over there and look over there and check this out. Check that out. So our pace can be a little bit boring. But don't keep your dog just right at your heel. right in that heeling position all the time that you're on a walk, the dog should have a chance to smell posts and check out the fire hydrants and sniff the neighbor's flowers and you know, kind of check things out so that they have some stimulation on the walk too. it's not just hardcore, put your nose down and March as fast as you can up and down the sidewalk. So the dog should have fun. And of course, if you have a place that's safe for the dog to go and be off leash, that's ideal. Not everybody's in that situation. And you have to be really careful with dog parks, some dog parks are safe. And some you have to be really aware of, especially if you have a young dog or a really small dog. Not every dog in the dog park is necessarily safe with your dogs. So just be really aware of that dog parks can be fun, but they aren't always completely safe. So be be thoughtful about it, you know, be smart about it. Just like go into the beach with broken glass, you've got to be really careful that it's always a safe place for you and your kids to be. That's a great recommendation. I think we all know that our dogs take on our stress. And of course, we have been super stressed the last year. So I just wanted to ask you, are you seeing more dogs coming in with anxiety or health issues related to all of the unease that we've had within our own families? You know, we've seen a little bit of it. But the other thing that we've seen is the some of the dogs that are coming through rescues have gotten off to a pretty rough start in life. And we are being more lenient with them. At this point, there are fewer people willing to euthanize for behavior than used to be. So we have to be really aware that some of our dogs are just high stress dogs that are going to need some kind of behavioral intervention. And I want people to feel really comfortable with the opportunity to use behaviorists and also the opportunity to use your vet for behavioral management drugs. And there's nothing wrong with admitting to your veterinarian or your behaviorist, that you're struggling with a behavioral issue, whether it's separation anxiety, or generalized anxiety, or whatever behavioral issue your dog might have. It might be thunderstorms, it might be some other kind of noise phobias. But a lot of dogs carry baggage with them. And we don't always know where they've come from, what their early life was, like, how they were socialized how they were raised, what their genetics are, because some of these dogs that are coming through rescues are randomly sourced and not purpose bred. So they tend to come with more baggage than some of our purpose bred dogs. Now that's a generalization and it certainly doesn't apply to every single dog but I do want people to be aware of this. And to not be embarrassed not to not be afraid to say I'm struggling with depression, anxiety. I'm struggling with noise anxiety. I need help with this. And don't be afraid to ask your veterinary professional for medications that are appropriate. It doesn't mean that you're weak doesn't mean your dog is weak. It just means that we have tools now that we didn't Always have, that we can use to make your dog's life much easier. So you know, the little Snoopy cartoon with pig pen with that little black cloud that, or Charlie Brown that kind of has that little black cloud that follows him around, take them with a little crowd of death, or dogs shouldn't go through life under this little black cloud, they should have a happy, wonderful life. And there are many veterinarians who are really skilled at this. There's actually an association of behavior of veterinarians, there are great behavioral training people, and there's so much happier, and there's so much easier to live with and you should enjoy living with your dog, it shouldn't be a struggle. And people really don't want to get rid of the dogs that they've brought into rescue. They really want help. So don't hesitate to ask and if your veterinarians not familiar with it, look online. Like I said, there's an American Association of veterinary behavior, veterinarians that you can look up, there are people in your area that you can very comfortably contact and get some help with and some of these are even able to do telemedicine consults, not all of them. But some are able to do telemedicine consults. And what's cool about that is through the wonders of cell phones, see your dog in its own environment, see how things are looking in their life and help you sometimes even with a long distance, recommendation for how you can do things to make your dog's life much more comfortable and much more enjoyable. That's great advice. And I know that myself, I'm a believer in integrative approaches as are a lot of our listeners. So there are so many different treatments and modalities that we can look at to help our dogs with behavioral issues as well. And you mentioned telemedicine, so I want to go back. First of all, give a shout out to all the veterinarians and their teams for stepping up to care for our pets during the pandemic. Wow, you guys shifted I mean, I sat in the parking lot. You know, you guys had to come out, get my dog take him in. It was a whole different experience and telemedicine was available as an option. What do you think we're gonna see in the future? I know a lot of facilities practices are still doing the wait in the parking lot routine. Is that going to continue? Do you think we'll see more telemedicine calls? Oh, I think there's definitely going to be an increase in telemedicine because there are absolutely things that we can do better through telemedicine that we can hands on in the exam room, like I said, seeing their behavior, witnessing certain types of things like seizures, it's so much easier to do through telemedicine than trying to capture an event when you can't replicate it in the exam room. So I definitely think telemedicine is here to stay. the states are struggling. Each state has got their own set of laws on how telemedicine works for veterinarians. And they're all struggling with how to make it work so that it's safe and that we have a valid veterinary client patient relationship and the veterinarian that you're seeing has the ability to make recommendations, medical and others for your pet. So I definitely think telemedicine is here to stay. There are many platforms that have been developed in the last few years making video conferencing with your veterinarian a real thing. Some of them are allowing the veterinarians to charge for their time, which is really appropriate. If you're spending 30 minutes with a veterinarian, they should be monetized they should be paid for their experience and their expertise. So I think it's a great thing. In our personal practice, we only let one person into the exam room at a time since the start of COVID. We did not ever shut down completely but many veterinary clinics have and certainly if you have a doctor or team members that are immunocompromised, that might have to stay in existence for a while. We know there are plenty of veterinarians and veterinary staff out there that might be on chemotherapy or have some other kind of treatment for cancer or something else. And obviously, they need to keep themselves and their staff safe so that they can continue to practice medicine. But in our practice, we've let one person come in at a time and the other thing that we've done in our practices. For the last seven years, we've been planning a drive thru veterinary Wellness Center. And we did complete the construction of that about two months ago. So we now have clients that can pull into our garage as a patented system so they can pull into the garage they can have their pet either in the back of their SUV or minivan on an exam table in the garage with them or in an exam room that's visible through the window. So we now have clients that can be a participant in their veterinary visit without having to do it electronically. Now, if you don't have that option, electronic still works great. Because yes, your dog can be in the exam room or your cat can be on the table and in the treatment area. And you can be communicating through the telemedicine platform, looking at how the veterinarian and their staff is managing your pet talking you through the history talking you through the physical exam findings, discussing treatment options. It's really pretty cool what we can do through some of these platforms, so that you can be a participant in their care and in fact when we have one client in the exam room then we'll often have the other clients, that the spouse may be sitting in the vehicle. And so we just conference them in through FaceTime or AirVed or whatever platform we want to use for telemedicine. And then that client can be a participant in that whole discussion and not have to have the spouse go home, and try to repeat everything that you can. Because it gets to be really difficult to, you know, they say, Well, what do they say about this? And you're like, Oh, I don't really remember or Yeah, they said this, but I, but you wanted to ask something else. And so it's, it's really great to be able to use some of the technology that currently exists. And we're going to see continuing to be developed for our clients for our communication tools, because they can just get better and better. That is great. Good for you guys to think outside the box. I love it It’s been a lot of fun. Well, that's cool. I hope other practices do something similar, because it's nice to have options, for sure. Were most people understanding during all the new processes during the past year? Most people have been really good about it, they understand the safety factor that we need to keep our staff safe. I mean, we're in a small exam room with somebody for 15 or 20 minutes. And, and their pet and you know, they have the entire family in there just really increases the density and the risk of developing any kind of infectious disease, not just COVID. But other things as well. I mean, most veterinarians have seen a healthier staff during this because we're not picking up the flu, and we're not picking up colds, we're you know, we're washing our hands, we're wearing gloves, doing things that we wouldn't have done before. So, in general, yes, clients have been really accepting of it, they understand they want to be safe. They, they want their pets to be safe, but they still want their pets to receive the care that they need. And like you said, there's an increase not only in pet ownership, but we've also seen an increase in the number of visits per pet. So it made making veterinary visits. To get into your vet is more difficult. Almost every veterinary clinic is overwhelmed by the number of appointments that we're trying to see. And if you're doing curbside service, it does take longer to do each appointment, because of the transition piece between appointments, we've had to disinfect rooms between clients, we've had to cut down on our density, there's just been a lot of things we've had to change. We've had a few clients that have been a little touchy, I think some of them are just in general kind of mad at the world. They're frustrated, they're tired of being home. Yeah. And sometimes we're the only social contact the clients had in a week, they don't go to the grocery store, they don't go to Walmart, they don't run errands. They're not going to PTA meetings, or soccer games or any, any after work activities. So sometimes we're their only social context for the week. And it makes it really hard for them. They're like so glad to see a person and have a face to face conversation. They're pretty excited. And then of course, there's the really emotional times where we would ordinarily just reach out and hug someone. And I know they've said this on the human side as well is when you're losing a pet when or when you're having something really fabulous happen. some really great news that your pet is healthy again, or that you've just had a litter of puppies or something really emotionally exciting. clients want that connection they want that hug I miss just shaking people's hands when I'm being introduced to them. It is just a really different experience, you lose a lot of facial expression behind a mask, you lose a lot of interaction through a video camera. So it has been more difficult to communicate. We've had more clients get kind of grouchy and kind of touchy about things. And so we all just have to take a deep breath and really be nice to one another and realize that everyone's under a lot of stress. Everyone's working really hard to make this system happen. And we're all trying really hard every veterinary clinic is just swamped, and they're trying really hard to get the care that everybody needs. But it's not always very practical to make sure that everybody gets the appointment when they need it. Most veterinary clinics are booking out several months from just routine care, because a year ago, we were not allowed to do any of the routine care. So things got pushed back. And now with an increase in pet ownership, our caseloads are much heavier. And our staff needs to get home and needs to decompress and needs to have their free time. And so it's been a real challenge to make everybody happy to keep the staff happy. And and to keep the clients satisfied with the kind of care that they're getting because it feels different. Yes, well, a big virtual hug to all of the veterinary practices out there. You guys have been doing amazing jobs. I just want to thank you for that. And in closing, let's touch on separation anxiety because it's inevitable. With a lot of dogs that have been your shadow. And when you start to leave, What tips do you recommend for separation anxiety? Well, I'm a big fan of using crates or some kind of a confined area when you're not going to be able to supervise the dog, especially young dogs. We see a lot of young dogs in particular, chew up things that aren't safe. We've seen toxicities. We saw a lot of marijuana toxicity at the very beginning of this Because people were their kids were coming home from college and not necessarily very tidy with how they were keeping their supplies. So we did see some interesting toxicities and some interesting foreign bodies, some, you know, just increasing numbers of dogs chewing up underwear and things because they were anxious because they were nervous because of changes in the household. So absolutely, the dog needs to be accustomed to being in a crate or some confined area that you can puppy proof and make it safe. So they don't chew through electric cords and into backpacks, and all the other things that can be unsafe. But they need to learn how to be alone in a crate how to be alone in the house so that they aren't distressed by that. So it's going to require practicing, create training and then practicing being gone. And initially, you want to be gone for very short periods of time, and the dog just has to become accustomed to that new routine. So you can put him in a crate or in a small room, just the first time or two just for literally a second or two. It takes a long time to build up to five minutes, it doesn't take as long to go from five minutes to an hour. But those first few minutes of the first few hours can be very challenging to get a dog accustomed to. I love the use of the kinds of metal muffin tins that we can buy at the store. They're great, you can put dog kibble mixed with yogurt in them or some put, just water in your dog kibble, you can mix all kinds of fun things with it, put it in the freezer, have it frozen and ready to go so that when you're getting ready to go to work in the morning, you take that out and instead of the dog gobbling down their food in the first 10 seconds that you put it down, you get ready for work or school, you latch the crate with the muffin tin. it needs to be a metal one that is silicone like because the silicone ones are too chewable, latch it with the crate door closed and the muffin tin inside. So your dog is now looking at the muffin tin and going, wait, my breakfast is in there. And I really wish you would hurry up and get going to work because I have a busy day ahead of me now. So you can do some really fun things to kind of shift your dog's mindset about instead of being put in a crate and being told, well, I'll be back in four hours. Good luck, right, you can now say, look, what I have for you. This is really great. I know you haven't had breakfast yet, you're going to love this. But it's going to take you two hours to eat your breakfast. And by the time they're done eating their breakfast, they're tired. So now they're going to take a little bit of a nap in the crate, it's good to have a neighbor come in or go to care.calm or some other service that you can hire somebody to come in the middle of the day, so that the dog get out to go potty and get some exercise, get some snacks, those kinds of things. So now as you're transitioning back to work, you're not just going to say, okay, Monday, we go back and you're going to be alone for 10 hours, I hope it goes well for you Bye. Because it's destined to fail, it's destined that your dog is going to be distressed, you're going to be worried about him. And even if you do something like put a video camera on him with furbo, or some other kind of video camera while you're at work, you're going to be worried about him and you're not going to be focusing on what you should be doing. So it's really important that we transition them that we teach them that they know that they can be alone that they know they can be safe and they know you're coming home. So that you put them back into a routine that they get used to a few minutes at a time and then a couple of hours. And so they they don't start to dread the fact that you're putting on your work shoes instead of your fun shoes, but that they know you're coming back, and then they're going to be safe, and they're going to be okay. And when you get home, you're going to do all kinds of fun things. But it does take a transition, you can't just walk out the door one day and say I'm sure you'll be fine, you were good when I was home with you, I'm sure you'll do fine without me. Because they may not we really have to be aware that dogs can be destructive, they can do dangerous things to themselves and your home. So there's nothing wrong with using a crate or an ex pen or some other way that you can confine the dog so that they're safe, and they're happy and they're content and you've given him stuff to do while you're gone. So stuffed stuffed toys, puzzles, muffin tins, all kinds of activities that are really safe for them. You need to think it through and and really plan ahead and know what your dog loves and what they're not allergic to and what they want to do and how they can spend their time so that they're happy and content in your absence. I totally agree. And I'm a believer, don't get all excited when you leave. Or when you come back. It's just okay. Fido I'll see you later. And then when you're back, you're you know, you're not having them jump up on you and high pitched voice. It's just part of the normal everyday routine, just be calm. Yep. They will get really wound up if you let them. Oh, absolutely. And they feed off of you. So right. And if you feel guilty about leaving them, they're going to know that they're not going to be happy. And they have to realize, you know what, if I'm going to buy your dog food and I pay your for your veterinary visits, I'm going to buy you the next new treat, I have to have a job, I have to have an income, you're going to have to stay here by yourself for a little while and you'll be fine. Sometimes they're better with another pet. Sometimes they're not you really have to assess each individual pet and what their needs and wants are and how well they get along. You don't want to leave two dogs alone together that you can't trust that they'll be safe together they might have some resource guarding that happens while you're gone. So be really careful with how you set up those, those environments so that your pet can be successful, they can be happy. You need a couple of months to transition your pet into this new lifestyle. Yes, totally agree. Well, Dr. Greer, I could talk to you forever. But unfortunately, we're running out of time. So where can everybody find out more about you? And your book, Your Pandemic Puppy? Well, it's available on Amazon. Your Pandemic Puppy on Amazon It's the only book called Your Pandemic Puppy there. My name is Marty Greer. I have my veterinary clinic website. And I also have the pandemic puppy website, you can find me on Facebook @YourPandemicPuppy you can find me at Revival Animal Health, you can find me at Veterinary Village. I'm happy to communicate with you if there's anything I can do for you. Please feel free and go out. Take a look at the book. If you know somebody that's getting a new puppy, get the book for them before because it'll help with pet selections. And give them a chance to read through it for people that are purchasing a dog as a purpose bred dog, get the book ahead of time, if you're getting a rescue dog, get the book ahead of time and be prepared with the supplies and the behavioral kinds of work that you need to do. It doesn't just go through behavior. It goes through all the medical care of spaying and neutering recommendations, which are different now than they were in past years. New vaccination protocols. It's all in there. It's very up to date. It was published in November. So it's a very up to date current book with all the new kind of information that the current contemporary pet owner, regardless of their age group should know about pet ownership. Dr. Greer, we can't thank you enough, everybody. Check out Your Pandemic Puppy on Amazon. And thank you for being with us. Dr. Greer. This was just fantastic information. And let's set up our dogs for success. Thanks for listening. 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It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hi, this is Krista with episode number 113. On the wag out loud podcast, here's a tip help to keep your dog hydrated by adding fresh veggies to their meals. Most dogs that eat kibble are in a chronic state of dehydration and that contributes to problems such as kidney disease, or the formation of bladder stones. Vegetables are an excellent source of water and veggies like cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, and brussel sprouts are over 85% water. So raw, lightly steamed or even frozen veggies are great, but you'll need to crush or pulverize them in a juicer or a blender, or your dog won't be able to digest them. Welcome all dog lovers to another informative episode of The wag out loud podcast. And joining me today is Jeff Allen. Jeff Allen is the cofounder of Monkey’s House a Dog Hospice & Sanctuary and a bestselling author of Where Dogs Go To Live!: Inspiring Stories of Hospice Dogs Living in the Moment. And he is going to share with us about where hospice dogs go to live. Jeff, we so appreciate you being with us today and can't wait to learn more about you. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your love of dogs? Sure, Krista. And first thank you for having me on. It's an honor to be on Wag Out Loud. Thank you. So my wife and I in 2015 started Monkey's House. It's a dog hospice and sanctuary. We've rescued over 120 dogs that were going to be destroyed in shelters that come to our little farm here in New Jersey. And they live a great final chapter of their lives. We feed more holistic food depending on the health conditions. They live in a home environment. So yes, we have 20 to 25 dogs at any time living with us throughout the house. And it's just a great place. We have volunteers that come over to help out. Wow! Well, Jeff, what do you consider to be a hospice dog? So generally our dogs that we that we rescue have multiple medical, so they're medically diagnosed terminal. They could have cancer, major heart issues, liver, kidney, most of them also have either they're blind or they're deaf. So we have or both, we have quite a few things. But my wife, she was a nurse for many, many years. Now she's retired and she's just doing this. So she really does have that background and she's learned so much about dogs that really helps out. And, and I just do a lot of other things for the organization. Wow, this sounds like a major undertaking. So why don't we go back? How was your dog Monkey the inspiration of Monkeys House? That's a great question. So when we we were fostering dogs at the time. And we got Monkey from this local rescue shelter, said Hey, would you take little dog has major heart conditions, again because they knew my wife could handle the major medical issues. So we said yeah, will take monkey and my wife said that Monkey needs To get some very inexpensive heart meds, we've seen this before in dogs, she went to the shelter that shelter vet said, just take take him home. Monkey’s only gonna be around for like about a month or so. And that wasn't good enough for us. So we adopted Monkey took him to our own vet, he saw a cardiologist got on the meds he needed, which were like the $4 meds from Walmart, very inexpensive. And he lived 17 vibrant months with us. And that just kind of kicked it off, we realized there was there's very little resources for the terminally ill dogs in shelters. So we've started Monkey’s House. That's fantastic. And what is your philosophy when it comes to dogs with a terminal illness? I know when we talked before, you had some different ideas about care, and you even have the beach and Santa, can you tell us more about all that? Sure. And that's kind of our saying, right? Where dogs go to live? I you know, so look, these dogs, we get them as healthy as possible. We're not saying we're curing them from their terminal diagnosis. What we're saying is, we get them as healthy as they can be. So they can enjoy those final moments. And those final final moments could be simple things like going outside and having the sun and the wind blow in their face. Or it could be the more exciting things. We have a senior dog bus, it used to be a senior citizen bus. They all pile in with our volunteers meet us at the Jersey Shore. We'll go to see Santa. And they all go the ones who can't walk. We have strollers, we have little wagons, the blind ones, they love the different smells. So it's really it says something for even for us, right as humans. It's like, Look, you have to live every day till the end. So that's what we will do with these dogs. And they do they love life. Lucky dogs, for sure. And how many dogs do you typically care for at one time? Did you say at one time we were at almost 30 at one time, which was a lot for us. We generally about 25. But we have been down to about 20 during the pandemic because we also social distance. A lot of the volunteers weren't coming over. And they're just starting, you know, a lot of us got vaccinated. So we're just starting to come back on. So we're getting back up there. We I think we have 22 right now. Okay. My main question is how on earth do you care for each dog's medical needs? When it comes to food and medications and supplements and anything else that they need to treat their illness? I would imagine that it's a 24/7 routine over there. It certainly is. Well, first, I have to have this big do a big shout out to all of our, our supporters, right, we're a donation based organization, a 501 3c. So we do get a lot of donations that come in that help support the financial end of it because it is very expensive for anybody having dogs it will be very expensive for medical surgery or issues. Then each dog is looked at when they first come, we actually take them to the vet, Michelle figures out a diet for them because depending on what their medical condition is, if they have cancer or if they have some type of liver or kidney issues, then they are put on different dietary supplements along with the the base food could be different as well. Some dogs get a chicken, turkey, beef, even pork or or so on. And we feed more raw if we can or gently cooked food. So it's all home cooked, no bag food. And we found that that food therapy is really makes a big difference. We still use the traditional medicine as well. I mean if they if they need to get meds, they get their meds. But we do find that on being on healthy food reduces that at times. Okay, that's great. So you've mentioned that you have volunteers, obviously that help you with all of this. How do these terminally ill dogs find you? They all the all the shelters around here now? know of us. So when they have a dog that has a major medical issue that needs to be…a lot of them have to be euthanized, sadly, that they will get in touch with us. And if we have room for them, then we would gladly bring them in to Monkey’s House. First. They first they actually go to a quarantine foster for a couple of weeks. Because we don't want to potentially bring anything in from the shelter like kennel cough. So they're isolated for two to three weeks. And then they make their way to Monkey's House. And then they get they get all the love they can imagine… our aunts and uncles. Here's a good name for our Aunts and Uncles. I mean, our volunteers are called aunts and uncles. Because we want them to really be part of the family and they really fall in love with these dogs. That is amazing. And Where exactly are you in New Jersey? We're in Burlington County which is the Southern part of New Jersey. Okay. And that's why you're close to the shore. That's fantastic. Yeah. Well, Jeff, you and Michelle are doing such great, great work, so that these dogs can actually live out their final days and pure happiness. And I want to talk to you about the emotional strain on you guys. So knowing that these dogs won't be with you for a long time, how do you deal emotionally with all the attachment? And then the inevitable loss? You're constantly dealing with anticipatory grief, aren't you? We are. And, look, it's no different than, than anybody who has a dog, and that dog becomes sick, and you're taking care of it, and then it passes. It's heartbreaking. And honestly, every one breaks our hearts. And Michelle said one day, when they don't break our hearts anymore, that's when we'll stop. Because they deserve all of our love, and affection. You know, it's, it's tough, it is tough. But you know, we have 20 some, so we have to keep going. And you have to keep moving on. We're very sad. And we're sad for a long time. With 20 some dogs, you would think that we don't miss one dog. We miss them tremendously. there's a there's a big hole in the family for quite a while, I guess is no different than then someone who has one or two dogs to be honest with you. And can you set the scene? What What does Monkey's House look like on a typical day? I don't know there's any typical day here. So yeah, we, you know, I wake up, usually I'm up first, and I'll start getting some of the dogs out back in our big fenced in backyard. So they go out back and, and do their business or, and then I have to wake some of them up and carry them out. Because they can't they're not very mobile. And then we actually will get ready to start feeding and feeding takes about an hour and a half. Again, like I said, because it's all special meals. It's something that some of its pre cooked. But you still have to prepare 20 some meals. With the meds get the dogs we do have crates for a lot of the dogs for when we feed just so they're not getting into someone else's food with their medicine. So they are most of them are all separated. Once the feeding is done, then it's walking time. So they go out for walks. The ones that need a strollers and even we have a couple that are in their own little carts because their back end doesn't work. Put them in there, take them out. And sometimes you can't you're taking out five or six at a time on walks up and down the driveway. A few of the other dogs that can go further might go around the back field are, you know we have old country roads, there's not much traffic, you can go down the road, you know, then lunch, it's really funny around this time at lunchtime, it's very quiet, all the dogs are kind of resting. And then it starts back up again around four o'clock they get excited for dinner. And it's the same process again. And then on certain days of the week, like Wednesdays are the days that my wife takes all the dogs to the vet the pet bt some of them get physical therapy, the underwater treadmill, laser therapy. So usually she has about 15 dogs in our van that goes to the vet’s on Wednesdays. And then sometimes on the weekend weekend, we'll try to do a trip out to the state forest, we live close to the Pine Barrens or if it's a special occasion, we we hit the beach. Well, this is a labor of love, for sure. And Jeff, you are an expert and caring for dogs with terminal illness. So let's chat about your thoughts about how we can care for a terminally ill dog here at home. What recommendations do you have? I think the biggest recommendation with will say, first have a great relationship with your vet, we joke and say if you're not that you're going to especially during COVID, you're not going to hug your vet. But if you don't feel like hugging your vet, you might want to find another vet, you want to find the best vet that's going to listen to to your needs and your dog's needs. Like I said, we do traditional and non traditional. So our vet’s a little mix of the both. If you have a traditional vet that you want to look at some non traditional approaches, see if your vet’s interested in that. A lot of vets will be if they're not, you know, maybe you need to find somebody else to to work with. But that's not said you have to have a great relationship with your vet. Because if your dog does become have issues and you need to get like say fluids for your dog, you can do fluids at home. The vet can teach you how to do that. I do it all the time. I don't have a medical background. So you could do something like that at home. We call that sofa medicine. Chapter, a chapter in the book I wrote it talks about all those things that you can do at home that you know, in the comfort of your home, because your dog might be get anxious when you go to the vet. So if it’s done on your couch is going to be more relaxing to them and more relaxing to you. It's just have that relationship with your vet, and learn to educate yourself. So educate yourself as much as you can about the about the condition of your dog, I think that's going to put your mind at ease. Absolutely. And I think what you guys are doing that is so amazing, as you're helping these dogs, you focus on the moment, that you're not looking into the future. And you are actually giving them precious time and memories, and living in the here and now, which I think is fantastic. And I would think a lot of people that have a dog with an illness, they're already thinking about when the dog is gonna pass and they're not living in the moment, like you guys are. I want to say kudos to you for doing that. Because a lot of us would just be in grief already before the dog is even passed. Do you want to speak to that? Yeah, Krista, that the dogs feel that energy too. We have a big saying here that we try to keep everything positive, as much as we can, you know, the dogs that we take in, most of them have had a horrible life prior to us. But we don't think of that, you know, when they get here, we think of that point and forward. So everything is happy times, even when, you know, it's funny, we have a large Facebook following, and sometimes we’ll say, Oh, this dog came in and they'll see pictures of it and is really abused. And people, you'll get some people that are like, oh, well it’s in the best place it can be now, you know, going forward. Other people say that, but they also say, you know, bad karma for the previous owners. And we're like, no, don't even bring that up. Because we don't want to think of negative things. It's all positive. And like you were saying, it's all positive things. Even if your dog does have a terminal diagnosis. What can you do positive? Can you take them to a walk on the beach? No, if they can't walk, then can you put them in a stroller and take them somewhere? You know, it's just like you said it took little moments that they're going to enjoy. And when they enjoy, you're going to enjoy it. Yeah, I agree. And we have to, you know, a lot of us are control freaks. And we have to accept the fact that we cannot control our dog's illness. So to your point, live in the here and now and make their final days as wonderful as possible and that would help you as well. And while we're on the topic of you know, the caretaking role, it has to be emotionally and physically exhausting for us taking care of our dog and seeing them in their final stages. So Wouldn't you say that it's so important for us to take time out for ourselves so that we can better in taking care of them? Absolutely. I think we do need to do that. And again, like I said, if you could do that along with your dog, it's what, how better is that? Right? If you could spend some time, just even just sitting outside with them, doing whatever. And like I said, If as long as you know as much as you can about them, and the illness that they have with the condition that they have. Because that's going to put your mind at ease too. Because if you know what the stages are of that illness, then when things happen, you're going to understand it more so then then just be nervous and really upset about it. It's going to be upsetting, but at least you're going to know that knowledge is power in taking care of your dogs. And you mentioned that you have a very strong Facebook following. You don't have to go through this alone, right? There has to be so many support groups out there of others going through the same thing. Absolutely. You know, when we started Monkey's House in 2015, we didn't even think about what our Facebook group would be like we we just said, Oh, you know, we got we have to start one because we need to get followers and hope to support these dogs right financially and emotionally. But we didn't realize that we now have 70,000 followers on Facebook, around the world. And yeah, and it has it has been so yeah, not only do they fall in love with our dogs, it's amazing how they fall in love with dogs from they've never seen and one passes, we'll get you know, 10,000 comments and not just rip but like comments that they've been following this dog. But what is amazing is that when someone else's dog passes, like they’ll, you can tell that maybe they don't have the support at home so much. But on the Facebook group, they'll say something about it, and then all the other people chime in and give them support. So it really is a big support network in a way and we didn't we didn't realize that was what Monkey’s House was going to become, you know, the Facebook page and everything. So it's quite amazing. And also was one of the things that brings joy to my wife and I the most is when someone comments and says, you know, by following you guys, I took a chance. And I adopted a senior dog with medical issues because I realized I can do it. Or they'll say, I didn't put my dog down when I thought other people told me because I was listening to you. And I had so much, so much more wonderful time with them. Yes, there were tough times too. But, and that's those are the most rewarding things for us, is to not just the dogs that we have here. But we're helping people with their dogs as well. I just got goosebumps, that is amazing. You're touching so many lives. So all of your hard work, it has to just feel so rewarding when when you hear confirmation like that. It really is. because like you said, it is hard, it gets tough at times, sometimes, you know, sometimes, you know, we get down, I get down. And then when I start reading comments, or reading things like that, it really brings me back up and says you know what, I am doing the right thing. You know, we are doing a good thing for these dogs. So keep chugging along. Well, Jeff, you briefly mentioned about the book, and the book is where dogs go to live inspiring stories of hospice dogs living in the moment. How did that book come to be? You know, we we post every night on Facebook. And you know, if I did I do my wife, my wife probably does more than I do. My wife is more educational. I'm kind of more fun, you know, but people really enjoy it. And I started enjoying writing. So a couple of years ago, before I I put the book out, which was the end of last summer, I started writing about different dogs stories. And I just thought that they they deserve to have their stories told, I kept writing about the stories more and more. And within a couple of years, I basically had a book. So I, I put it out and it's got really, I got a five star rating on Amazon, I'm kind of surprised. 250 reviews, it's done very well. And it really does highlight all the stories of all the stories of dogs we have here. Not all the dogs we've like I said we had 120 that's about 37 stories in the book. And also, there's a little bit education in there talks about how Monkeys House how we care for the dogs, medically and in food therapy, and different things like that. And I talked about sofa medicine. So it tells you how you can take care of your dogs. If these fluids are inflamed and things like that. But it's it's very, I didn't want it to be sad. And I wanted to show people that. You know, these hospice dogs, a lot of people don't want to talk about hospice, right? It's a word that no one wants to talk about. But these dogs live life that's really why we titled it, where dogs go to LIVE. It's been a great experience I got this is my first book I've written I've actually I'm starting the second one. Now it's going to be out. It's a coffee table book actually of pictures of dogs and some some funny and inspirational quotes. Oh, that's fantastic. Well, this book not only has amazing reviews, but the endorsements that you have from top people in the industry. I mean, that is impressive. When Dr. Karen Becker or Dr. Judy Morgan or Rodney Habib, we all know those names, and they give high accolades to this book. So it must be very heartwarming as well as informative. Yes. I'm very thankful for all the people who did endorse, I said, I guess you're right, we got a lot of terrific endorsements for the book. And you know, to be honest, they just, they know what we do here. They know that the care we give these dogs, and they love what we do and and they read the book and they love the book too. So that was that was a plus double plus they get they love us and then they liked the book. that's great. And are there other facilities like yours around the country? Sadly, there's very few like ours, Krista, who's the you know, there's senior sanctuaries and a lot of senior sanctuaries have some hospice dogs. But, you know, a lot of shelters will have volunteers that might take their hospice dog home and they'll say, you know, take Fido home, just keep them comfortable in a bed and feed them and, and just let them rest until he passes. He does not and there's nothing wrong with that because I understand it. But that's not our philosophy. You know, our philosophy is we bring them to Monkeys House. We get them as healthy as they can be. For those final moments, and not just to lay in a bed, but to go to the Jersey Shore to take walks at the park, even if it's in a stroller, right, so they get the smells, they can they can get the sight.s So we, Michelle once said, you know, one of her quotes was just because you’re dying doesn't mean you can't live. And that's how we feel about these dogs. We want them to live. And they have each other, which is fantastic as well. Oh, it's amazing to see, you know, 98% of our dogs are senior dogs too. And they come in here by themselves. Next thing you know, they have a buddy or two or three they're laying with, like a dog pile of a dog pile together. So it's really cute. That's fantastic. Well, Jeff, as we are wrapping up, I mean, my heart is so full right now. What would you like to leave us with? I guess I'd like to say that, you know, senior dogs, and especially these senior dogs with medical issues, they still have a lot of love to give, and a lot of love to receive. So don't write them off so fast. Enjoy your time with them. Especially if you have a dog that's getting older and, and has some medical issues. enjoy time with them. Like I. said, get as much information you can on the illness that they have. Have a vet that really respects your opinions and that you respect and love. And just enjoy that final time with your dogs. And it's perfect advice. Jeff, where can everyone find out more information about you? Monkeys House and your amazing book where dogs go to live? So Where Dogs go to live is in any bookstore has it. Amazon is a big place people buy it or Barnes and Noble online those type of stores. So they can go to where dogs go to live out on Amazon. And then our Monkeys House is monkeyshouse.org. That's our website. And from our website, you can obviously see a lot of the dogs. If you're interested in you know, donate or follow us on Facebook has a link to Facebook. And so please come check out Monkey’s House, check out the book Where Dogs Go To Live!. FB: @monkeyshouse.org IG: @monkeyshouse_doghospice And Krista I greatly appreciate for you having me on to talk about the dogs that we love so much. We appreciate everything that you and Michelle and all of your volunteers, aka the aunts and uncles are doing for these dogs. And hopefully we gave everybody some inspiration today that if you have an aging dog with an illness, that there's so much you can do for them in their final days. So Jeff, thank you so much for being with us. Thank you. We appreciate our sponsor: Pawp Just go to Pawp.com and be sure to use the code WOL to receive $5 off of your first month Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Jeff for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hello there! This is Krista with Episode #112 on the Wag Out Loud Pawdcast. Have you checked out all of the amazing partner products that I highly recommend? Products that I’ve tried that will help your dog to thrive? Check out the Partner Products section at WagOutLoud.com, most items with discounts, and see what can make a difference in your dog’s life. Do you realize that a big part of protecting your dog from heartworm is protecting his immune system? That’s right! When you think of your dog’s immune system, you probably think about it warding off disease. But it also protects his body from parasites, like heartworms. A strong immune system is the difference between a few heartworms and an abundance of heartworms that would affect your dog’s health. Just another reason we need to improve our dogs’ gut health! Hi there Dog lovers! Thanks for tuning in to another amazing episode of the Wag Out Loud pawdcast. Back for a 2nd time, Joel Baardseth is here to share some great information. If you didn’t catch his earlier episode about Rawsome News for Leaky Gut, have a listen! Joel has been in the pet industry for twenty years and each year he learns more about the Power of Food to help our four-legged kids live their best lives. He is the Sales Operations Manager for an excellent raw food company, Steve's Real Food. He teaches retail staff and the public how to use food to help with common dog and cat ailments. Joel, thanks so much for being on again. Thank you so much for inviting me back. This is always fun chatting with you, we get to geek out and this time on air and people can learn from everything that you have to share with us. Oh, we'll take nerd to the next level. All right, let's do it. Well, Joel, you are going to chat with us about the wolf on your sofa. What does that mean? Well, I like to use a relationship of dogs to wolves as a starting point, whenever I do presentations, I think it's important just to kind of realize that regardless of what leash colors and pink bows we put on our Chihuahuas that really, we did bring a wolf into our home. And it helps for the sole purpose of nutrition, and how to make them thrive. And I personally enjoy researching wolves. I also have a big affection for like wild cats, you know, jaguars, things like that. And something I've always loved as a kid is just kind of like and then these sort of be able to bring it into my my work world has been awesome. But the starting point of all this is that, you know, most people don't realize that wolves and dogs are, you know, they're 99.8%, the same DNA. And that point 2%, that's not identical. That's the difference in what we see. That's the difference between a chihuahua and a wolf and a mastiff is that point two. On the inside, they're all the same. So when wolves are studied, and if they were to open them up and look at the inside to learn, and you have an identical sized dog, right next to them, you wouldn't see a difference. And that's kind of awesome, right there. And in addition to that, they have the same scientific classification, and Canis lupus familiaris. You know, they're, they're the same, we know that they're the same for this reason, Wolves and dogs can mate in even produce offspring. That's how we know they're the same species. A horse and a donkey mate, they get a mule, but the mule is sterile. So the donkey and the horse are two different species. We want to have this because it helps us teach the wolves kind of we don't know exactly why. But they started to be domesticated maybe 15,000 years ago, you know, all this is going to be rough estimates. They've done DNA tracing, to get it that far. And there’s competing theories on why wolves came into our, into our world, if people did it, or if wolves, self domesticated, that's a theory that's out there too. But really why it's important is that's a long time, that they are eating what we'll call their ancestral natural diet. So both dogs and wolves are what's called opportunistic hunters. So in the wild, wolves and dogs, wild dogs, they have to form packs to survive, because they're not that good at what they do. meaning they're not that good at hunting on their own. They need that team to be able to do that. And that is a business relationship and the business is survival. Sometimes they get fresh prey, most of the time they're actually either scavenging or they actually graze. So they have a digestive enzyme You and I have it's called amylase, that allows them to metabolize like plant material. So in the wild wolves aren't just getting meat, and they're not only a carnivore, they actually have omnivore tendencies. They'll eat wild flowers. They will eat overripe berries, they love them in the fall and particularly berries that you and I wouldn't pick because they're too mushy, are loaded with lycopene, that is an antioxidant directly related to heart health. Now whether or not wolves know that they are absolutely drawn to them. So they do eat a lot of things because and they develop a wide variety of a diet. And it all stems from they're just not that great at hunting. Cats by comparison are true carnivores. They are flat out awesome at hunting, so they didn't have to develop…They don't have amylase in their saliva. They can't really metabolize plant material. Dogs can, wolves can, they need to in order to survive, so they can handle this wide varied diet. But they lean toward carnivores, they might have omnivore tendencies. But they absolutely perform best with a closer to a carnivore diet with maybe 15 to 20% plant material. That's really when they're at their best that we have found. So I have something really cool. Do you ever get to Minnesota? I've never been there. Well, okay, so I have these two lists to dos when you come. You probably don't want to come to this time of year, we're gonna have negative two degrees on Saturday as the high. so about an hour north of Minneapolis is this really cool place. It's called the Wildlife Science Center. And Peggy Callahan has been running it for 35 years. So this is a shout out to her too. And all the awesome work that she does, but on Saturdays, it's open to the public. And it's not a zoo, it is a sanctuary. She has about 110 wolves. So these wolves have come there for various reasons. Maybe mom got hit by a car. And you know, the young would die if they weren't brought somewhere. Or she had a pack of wolves that the alpha female actually taught the pack to hunt sled dogs. And so they're either getting killed or they had to be removed. So she brought them in. And so she's this wealth of information. And like, you know, Peggy, I need some cool stuff when I when I do these interviews, and I do you know, my webinars. And she told me she said that when she took it over 35 years ago, this sanctuary. The government was running it and they did a pretty good job, but they were limited budget. So they actually use kibble is what they fed the wolves, and I go all right. And she said so the first switch she made, and it turns out, it's the only dietary change she made was she worked out a deal with a DNR. In, you know, 100 square miles around the sanctuary, she gets all the roadkill deer. So her wolves’ primary diet, is road kill deer. And then she'll throw in wild flowers and you know, berries, just other things supplementally they're here and there that they would eat the wild. But they went fed kibble to that the life expectancy when they from all the records when fed kibble was 14 to 16 years, they now live 18 to 20. They have zero joint zero dental issues. And they average 130 pounds now, they actually averaged about 115 to 120. So they've gained muscle mass all by going from cooked food to uncooked food. So it helps us know what we can then apply to our four legged kids, to our dogs by using wolves and that knowledge. So wolves in the wild, they don't smell. They don't shed all over the place. They don't leave piles of poop that last three weeks. You know, all of those things are things we created that we think are normal, because of kibble, because of cooked food because of processed food. And it was created for the same reason, fast food and minute Rice was created for us convenience, it's meant we live fast lives. And we brought our dogs into that world too. And if we slow down a little bit, and take a look at this. And now we can get some knowledge from wolves and help guide us to keep our four legged kids a long, long time. That all makes complete sense. Well, Joel, I've heard that scientists have found a genetic difference between dogs and wolves. And I think you alluded to it earlier that dogs appear to have a greater ability to digest starches, and that the wolf genome has two copies of the alpha amylase 2B, which helps to process starches. And dogs have somewhere between four and 30 copies of this gene. So some people might say when it comes to diet that treating dogs like wolves doesn't make nutritional or biological sense. What do you have to say to that? I say that there are definite differences. If you look at just the fact that nature's survival of the fittest, and we try to keep the dog we bring the dog into the home that matches our personality that we connect with. And we don't know breeding history and all these things that can change kind of their immune and all of that. So sometimes, you know comparing them you know, you take Peggy's wolves 18 to 20 years, no joint issues average of 30 pounds. Well, we would love our large breed dogs to read like that going on to an uncooked raw diet isn't going to do that. But the trick is the raw diets that are the best, in my opinion, have about 20% plant material. And then you have the option to give treats and things like that. Remember, we're just going at that base diet, there is a fine line, you can amylase in your saliva. But that doesn't mean they can only eat they, they can have all the plant and all the starch that they that they want, there is a cap. So think of them as omnivore tendencies with kind of like a carnivore base. Peggy's wolves are based with roadkill deer, and then she gives these other things around it. Our dogs, even if that were true, that's still not enough to compensate for the level of starch and plant material that are in common kibbles out there, right. So we do want more protein from meat, we do want a higher meat content and keep that plant material at about 20%. And the results are awesome. I mean, that's, that's really what we look at is the results, how quickly, skin, eyes, teeth start to clean up, long life, muscle mass, these are all things that the raw feeders see over and over and over again. And so, you know, kind of the proof is in the pudding also. And so eliminating that, that high starch, I don't think starch should be factored in with what amylase can do. starch is bad for us. starch is bad for everything, you know, especially the processed starches. If we talk about fruits and vegetables, that's a little different. There are people that feed raw that give a lot of fruits and vegetables that they add to the raw and their dogs do great. But they're not adding high processed starch. They're not giving a pile of pizza crust or breads, like, that's where we gotta kind of draw the line. But whole living foods is a great way to roll. But there's so much this is what I love though is that Think about it. Like when Steve’s came out, there was no raw commercially prepared at the time. And then, you know, we got into grain free kibbles. Now we have, you know, specific quinoa in kibbles. And now we're talking about amylase, we couldn't have that conversation in the 80s or 90s, it would have gone over everybody's head. So for me personally, everything that you just said is more things for me to dig into more things for Steve's Real Food to consider, talk through, get the right testing and the right, you know, labs involved. And you know, the right animal scientists that we that we kind of talk through and have consult, because we want to get better. And I don't think any raw food on the market is perfect. I think we're all trying to get better every year and every year. And that really should be our goal. And so this is all new knowledge. You know, if you look at the you know how many years we've started studying this, if you're talking about 10s of years, that new, that new stuff. So we do have a long ways to go. But I love the starting point of carnivore with omnivore tendencies. I think that is a great way to kind of look at it, we're going to do a base diet, high meat, and then we can supplement with Whole Foods, fruits, vegetables, things like that. If you do that, we already know we're getting good results. Perfection is hard to hit though. So we'll keep trying on that. I find it so funny that a lot of the dog food brands out there have pictures of wolves on their bags of kibble. And I just don't think wolves would prefer to eat kibble out of a bag versus going after prey. Just saying… Exactly. Now, although there is this other side, to your little example there. if you had a plate of fresh carrots and broccoli and then there was a bag of chips next to you know, so that you might prefer something but the body might not. It is fascinating to watch. You know the change and the amount of changes I've seen, you know, when I first started feeding raw 20 years ago, I should say the month before I started feeding raw. I told my boss at the time, you know he he owned a distributor and I was one of the sales guys. And he brought me to the back of his warehouse and his name is Kirk Dietz and I'll make sure he listens too by the way. This was my shout out for him for bringing me into the pet industry. He walked me back to the back of his warehouse and he had this chest freezer that you might have in your garage. And he opened the door he goes Joel check it out. Raw Dog Food. And it's the best way to feed and he got all excited to tell me all of this and I shut the door and I said, I'm not gonna sell that hippie food. I don't know what that is because I was picturing leftover human food hitting the floor at the processing plant and swept into a bag. It just, it was. So out of my norm. I grew up, you see stacks of kibble in a store, and that's what you feed a dog. You know, I didn't know. So we've all had to kind of learn. And I look at as walking up through a staircase, if somebody is not comfortable yet, feeding all raw, there is enough health benefits out there that have been proven, feed, some, use it as treats, then. have their treats, be this uncooked, food that's very natural, that's fine. I'm on board with that. And if you start seeing good results, just see what happens if you add a little more. So I don't get down on anybody who is either anti raw, or because I was that person, I had to go up the staircase before I was comfortable. And I think it's totally okay, as long as they at least are open minded to listen, and just bank the information as we learn and can present it better. That's great advice. And when I think of wolves in the wild, I mean, they must have so many different protein sources. You know, deer and moose and boar and rabbits and you know, beaver fish, what have you. So if our if we look at the way that we feed our dogs, maybe the same exact protein source day in day out, I would have to think that our dogs if given a choice, and I think when they have more protein choices, that means they have the different amino acid profiles, which has to be more nutritious. So do you recommend that we do rotate our proteins? Constantly rotating for a couple of reasons. Number one, we would not want to eat the exact same thing day after day after day, it would get boring. So that's more on the emotional side of it. The other side of it is think 30 day health, not one day health. And I think people will do a lot better is there is there's nutrition in venison, and you can't get in chicken and vice versa. Rotate like crazy. Let's cover the gamut. Add in some goat milk too. give bones give freeze dried turkey necks then back away from those and add more of a higher protein source. It does prevent true food allergies. Now there's conditions out there that mimic food allergies, they give some of the symptoms but a true food allergy. If you have a dog that's susceptible to a true food allergy, repetition of the same thing over and over and over again, could ignite that. by rotating you can prevent that from ever happening. And so I love rotational diets, because wolves in the wild are used to this high variety. I can't use this example, if we if you and I ate the exact same thing. Let's say we had a baked potato every meal every day, you know for two years. And then your’e like, Joel I’m in town and there’s this new seafood buffet. And we went there, we could really upset our stomach. But if we ate a lot of different ethnic foods and a lot of variety, you can do a change and feel nothing. Our wolves and our dogs are the same way. So if you have a dog that has digestive upset rotate like crazy, and they welcome that it gives them a better healthier gut, work in canned food work in some good treats, stuff the Kongs with i like i like taking frozen. And I like taking cat food, canned cat food, it tends to be a higher meat content, a lot of times I put it in Kongs and I freeze it. And that's what I like to give. It's fun, it's different. It's unique. It's a different texture. It's all in the treat world though, you know a base diet is a complete raw diet. And then I have fun outside of that. And I like doing that. It makes life more interesting for the dog. The way I feed is if I change, flavors, formulas, or form every once in awhile I work in some freeze dried just for fun. I have special jobs that my Doberman has to do for each different food. And that's how I let her know what's coming. So when I make a food switch, she has a specific command, and then I switch and then she knows something different is coming her way. That's a great idea. Well, food is the biggest, single biggest We are the number one resource for our dogs. And you combine it with their second biggest resource which is food and that's their most personal interaction with you. And that's the best time you're going to have to feed them anyways. We're busy people . Make that interaction count. It's kind of the way I look at it. And it just gives you this awesome opportunity. I'll take freeze dried, you know, we got snow all over here right now. And I'll go to the tennis courts by my house, shut the gates, and just throw, freeze dried raw in the snow, and then Bimi has to find it. It's fun, it's entertaining. You know, it keeps them. But variety does that variety allows you to do those things. And then she can have something special and new and unique. That wasn't on the menu before. Once you establish variety, they can handle a lot of change. And it makes it a lot more fun. For both you in the dog. Great, great advice. Well, as we're coming to a close, Joel, I was gonna ask you, I've read that wolves can eat seven pounds of food in a day. But they might not eat again for several days. So that brings me to the question of should we fast our dogs and give their digestive system a break? There's one of those debates that can go either way. I do not fast my dog? Because I think about it as is that really by design? Or is that prey and food availability? And so that's one of the things I asked Peggy too and she's like, she doesn't fast her wolves. You know, she's like, that's kind of a availability thing. And I just lean toward her because her wolves, you know, average 130 pounds in captivity or 18 to 20 years. I like that. I want to follow that. And I can go either way. I've seen people get awesome results. When they fast once in a while. I just look at it as I lean more toward what if the prey was available? And would they be eating it. And that kind of comes down to wolves and dogs are opportunistic hunters, they don't know when their next food is coming. So they eat it all that's in front of them not knowing if it's gonna come? When would they be like if it was readily available. And I tend to lean towards that personally, I have no objections to people who do fast their dog once in a while, just be very careful with it. Because I've heard that they've gotten great results too. So I think this is one of those. We're still learning things, which makes it exciting. Because next year, we might do a podcast with the answer. Who knows? But right now we're still learning. Yeah. So Joel, why don't you talk briefly about Steve's because I am a huge fan, what goes into the formulation of your food and what sets you guys apart? We're an 80/20. Raw meaning 80% meat, meat by food definition is muscle meats, organ meats, and ground bone. And then the other 20 is going to be fruits, vegetables, you know, any kind of power foods in there that we add. And then we add goat milk to our entire line, if there was a separator amongst the raw brands that commercially prepared raw foods, and just so you know, I don't believe that there is a best brand, I believe that Steve's is the best food for me, because I love our commitment to the environment. I love that we're education first, that matches my lifestyle and the way I want to be. So there are other great brands too. And we all have small differences. We're all taking that same core knowledge. And then we kind of put our extended research on top, our extended research is, we add goat milk to the entire line, because we believe so strongly in gut health and goat milk is naturally loaded with probiotics. So there's a high level of goat milk in there to get a good healthy gut for our dogs. And so that is a, that's a big differentiator for us, that we get really good results on. I think we do a good job of being very transparent with our sources. So you know, competitors don't call up our sources and, and negotiate for them. But we're very transparent. I've visited some of the farms, I've been to the goat farm. And it was awesome. And the goats they're not only, you know, taken very good care of they retire on site. So this whole past year, that's their retirement, and looking at how much fun they were having. I want my retirement to look like theirs, right? They are well, cared for, they are happy and loving it. And that matters to me. You know that? That doesn't matter to everybody. You know, they're looking at their dog, and that's what matters to them. Well, I kind of I'm just a big picture thinker. And so, you know, we're part of a green initiative to you know, we're trying to get biodegradable bags, we're trying to do things that help beyond just feeding the dogs well. And so those are things that are unique to us. That's for you know, that's what makes it the best brand for me. And it's not always the best for others, but it absolutely is. The best for me. And on top of that, it just flat out performs. Yeah. And I think that's, that's the big one, right there is performance. You know, we've been around since 1998, with a lot of healthy dogs to show for it, like lots of awesome stories, healing stories. And, you know, that's kind of what we go by, is, wow, we just keep getting validated for this excellence. And that's what drives us. That's so cool. Well, and it's so easy to feed as well. And if anybody listening is interested in trying Steve's Real Food, they are in most dog boutiques. So ask your local retailer, or if you would like it delivered right to your front door, we are offering a discount, so you just have to go to RawPetFood.com. Use the code WOL10. And get 10% off of your order. And I have a feeling that your dog will be very thankful that you do that. Joel, where can everyone find out more information about you and Steve's Real Food? StevesRealFood.com, absolutely. Visit our website. There's some great knowledge in there. There's blogs, there's all kinds of extended information. There are studies that have been done. My email is joel@stevesrealfood.com And I do not mind people emailing me saying I've got this German Shepherd with this. any guidance you can give me and I'll do my best to take that first step and and to help out. My favorite part of my world is the teaching portion. You know that that's what I love to do, and taking care of as many four legged kids as I can. So well, I should say, dogs and cats. I can't help you with a hedgehog or an eguana, although I think they're cool. I can't really help you with those. Okay, just dogs and cats then. Yep. All right Joel, thank you so much for sharing with us today. Appreciate it. OFFER: You too can try Steve’s Real Food by going to RawPetFood.com and Use code WOL10 to get 10% off of your order! Joel, where can everyone find out more information about you and Steve’s Real Food? Stevesrealfood.com joel@stevesrealfood.com Social Media: FB & IG @StevesRealFood We appreciate our sponsor: STEVE’S REAL FOOD As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL10 at checkout to get 10% off your purchase! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Joel for being on the show. again Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. 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Hello everyone! This is Krista with Episode #111 on the Wag Out Loud Pawdcast. You know how most of us have a dominant hand as either right or left-handed? Well, according to the largest study ever on the topic, your dog likely has a clear paw preference. Researchers from the UK’s Lincoln University did a study with nearly 18,000 dog owners and determined that 74% of dogs demonstrated a clear paw preference and 26% used both paws equally. Of those with a paw preference, 58% were right-pawed dominant and 42%, left-pawed. Pretty interesting, wouldn’t you agree? Thanks to our sponsor, the Mine Pet Platter This has to be one of my favorite products ever! The Mine Pet Platter is designed to benefit the health and well-being of your dog and promotes the ultimate natural feeding experience for both meals and treats. What is it? Well, it’s a patented, bone shaped platter designed for your dog’s feeding instincts. It includes scoops and ridges that naturally slows your dog’s eating routine and makes mealtime fun. After watching my dog Winston slow down instead of inhale his food from a bowl, we’ve never gone back. Now he explores, sniffs, paces, walks around the platter and licks it clean! Its BPA free, made in the USA, dishwasher safe, sustainable, recyclable and has a 100% money back guarantee. There are too many benefits to fit into this ad, so I encourage you to learn more by going to https://minepetplatter.com/ and learn that how you feed your dog is just as important as what you feed them. And as a bonus, Wag Out Loud listeners can take advantage of a 10% discount by using the code WOL10 at checkout! Hi there, dog lovers, I have been super excited about this interview with Carol Smeja. And I promise that you will learn something new today. Our topic is Ditch the Bowl. And Carol, why don't you introduce yourself and share with us your love of dogs. Wow, thank you so much for having me, it's a pleasure to be with you. Right now I can honestly say I have a 14 pound, little havanese, who is the biggest part of my life. I've had dogs all of my life, and they have continually been a strong member of our families. And what makes them so special is their unconditional love, their ability to understand what we're going through. And I don't think you could have anything better in your life. But part of what got me started into the pet business was my own little havanese. And I observed one day that she was inhaling her food so fast, that she would let out a belch that would have people literally in tears because it was so loud. And she is the source of inspiration behind the original mine Pet Platter. And that is what we're going to talk about today. So Carol, let's go back to the beginning. I know you've done so much research, and we know that dogs are known descendants of wolves. And can you share with us your studies of wolves and how they actually eat in the wild? Absolutely. The closest descendant to dogs is the gray wolf. And I think sometimes we forget, because they we treat them like family members, we actually forget that they are animals. And one of the things that we can do is to respect who they are and their senses and how they approach the world. And I actually studied how wolves and mountain lions eat in the wild. And the interesting thing is that when people oftentimes think a wolf will go, bite into a carcass, kill it, and then just eat very fast. However, it's much more methodical than that. They are instinctive creatures. There's a method to how they approach the whole feeding ecology. And the thing that I would like people to understand is wolfs spend over 95% of their time in the wild hunting. And so by feeding from a bowl, you're taking all of that time that they instinctively know what to do. And we're turning it into a 10 to 15 second feeding process. When wolves are hunting their prey, they will go out, spend the day doing it. When they kill the carcass, they will circle around it in both directions to make sure nobody else can come in to take their prey away from them. And then they deconstruct their prey. And will even pull the organ meat out. So there's an intellectual instinctive decision making on how to deconstruct the carcass and then to actually eat those components. And so it isn't just this thing that happens in a couple of minutes. There is a method to how they they do this. And it's sort of Mother Nature provided them to these instincts for survival. That's fascinating. Carol, why don't you right up front answer the question, what's wrong with having our dogs eat out of a bowl? Well, the first thing is that you're asking them to stand very stiff in one position, because the food is contained in a very small receptacle. So they can’t have any control. They can't sniff out what the different foods are in there. They're sort of restricted in there. But also we're asking them to stick their head into a hole, which blocks their peripheral vision. And as I already stated, if they can’t see around them, it creates anxiety because they don't know if somebody is going to come and steal their food. So that's when they tend to eat faster and gobble their food. The other thing is, again the food is piled high. And the bowl is a convenience for us Krista, right? You know when you when you think about it, it makes it easier, people are concerned about food getting on the floor. But think about what we're doing. They love to sniff foods out instinctively, they need certain nutrients to survive in the wild. And they're programmed to go after those nutrients. When it's all piled high in one bowl is sort of like a fast food container. And you know how we eat from fast food containers, you just have a tendency to gobble it up, because the food isn't displayed on the plate. So not only do you eat faster, but the enjoyment factor isn't there either. The other thing is that licking is a big part of the feeding process. And if it's all contained in a bowl, they can't lick up the juices and different elements of food. It's just downright eating fast. The other thing I want to let people know about the bowl is that the sides of the bowl, act as a collecting wall. So if you watch your dog, instead of eating over their food, they're actually pushing into the side of the wall. So they're gulping more food and more air, which leads to belching regurgitation. And in many dogs can even lead to bloat. Yes, so those are just a few of the elements involved in that. One other thing. A lot of people put the bowl in a corner in the kitchen, when you are feeling that way. Number one, the dog cannot see what's going on around him his vision is blocked. And importantly, their second most powerful sense is hearing. And they hear a lot more than we do, they can hear up to 10 miles away, and their hearing frequency is quite different from ours. So they're getting all this noise in the background. But because they're put into a corner, they can't move around and see what's going on around them. And one other thing I'd like to say. And most of your listeners probably know this, dogs see the world through their nose. And in actuality, they, they smell in 3D, they have 25 times the olfactory receptors that we do. So by stuffing the food all in the bowl, you're not allowing them to see what is going on in that bowl. And that's taking away It's like putting a blindfold on a dog in many ways. It sounds awful what we are doing. So the feeding experience to them has to be anxiety ridden. I guess a little bit of fear to your point because they don't know if somebody is around to snatch it away from them. So they're eating so fast. I just don't I can't believe we've been doing this forever. Well, you know, it's interesting, because I've had some pet parents come to me and say what have I been doing to my pet. But you know what, it's just a matter of understanding who they are. And that's why I appreciate programs like yours. We're all here to spread knowledge together. And so if we take a moment and think about what our dog's senses really are all about, by pulling their their feeding platform out of out of the corner, and I'll be talking in in a minute then about the pet platter. But let's give them the feeding territory that they deserve. We will forget about our convenience, and you will be so surprised at how feeding them correctly, naturally slows down their eating, as well as makes it more enjoyable for them and improves digestion, which is one of the top problems that vets are seen today. digestive issues. Yes. And you're saying even the elevated bowls, they don't help at all either. Well, when you think about the elevated bowl, you're making it easier for the pet to shove the food into the collecting wall. On the side of the bowl. It's actually easier to do that. Another thing to do, which I would encourage your listeners to do there was a Perdue study talking about elevated feeding and bloat and They did find evidence that it can actually increase the likelihood of bloat, especially among the larger breeds. Not good. And Carol, we spoke before I know that you told me that there is positive and negative licking. Can you cover that? Sure. I think this is one of the things that that we're going to be learning more and more about right now. There are certain types of licking that are a result of anxiety, and frustration. And then there's positive licking. Positive licking is where you allow to get allow the dog to get the food easily from the receptacle that they're eating from, where there's no frustration involved. Negative looking is when the dog cannot get at the food. And the reason I'm saying that is again, their strongest sense is their nose. And if they smell food, which they cannot get at, that creates compulsive licking, which is actually not healthy and can cause frustration in a dog. So you always want to make sure that how you're feeding them is positive licking, it's relaxing and rewarding. So I would have to assume then the licky mats that we have seen are not positive licking? Well, I think you really have to observe your dog. And because of food particles are getting caught in there and they can't get at it. What they will do is continue to go into compulsive licking, you know, look at the behavior of your dog and see how they're interacting with that. And Carol, you say that having our dogs eat correctly can actually change their behavior. What do you mean by that? Oh, absolutely. When a lot of dogs are getting more and more frustrated because of how we feed them. When you allow them to eat naturally, you will see more relaxed, a more relaxed stance. They're more calm, they enjoy the feeding process more so and they will not be as hyped up. I always tell people, if you want to know if you're giving your dog an enjoyable eating experience, watch their behavior after they eat. Are they calm? Are they relaxed? Are they satisfied with their meal, and if not, then there's something that you're doing to either impact one of their senses, or they're not able to get at their food or the food isn't being served in a way that they can control it. And I think we need to understand that, you know, instinctively there is a survival instinct in our dogs. And they know that they have to eat to survive, give them the opportunity to control their area, which is why giving them movement and the opportunity to engage in their meal will lead to better satisfaction. It reduces the anxiety. So if you have a dog that is gulping their food like crazy, regurgitating afterwards is frustrated. You know, they're in high anxiety and frustration during eating. Yep, that makes sense. Well, the good news is that Carol, you've made it your mission to come up with a better way to feed our dogs. And by the way, cats as well. So can you share how the mine pet platter came about? Yes. As I was saying before, we noticed that our little dog was eating way too fast and letting out a belch and one day I was preparing chicken for her. And I was cutting it up on a cutting board. And my daughter said why don't you give the scraps and juices to Pip our dog. I put it down on the floor. And for the next 15 minutes. I saw her walking around the board. sniffing, licking. And this went on for almost 15 minutes. She usually finished her meal in about 45 seconds. And she looked up at me licked her lips with his great look of satisfaction and laid down and it was like oh my god. So when my husband had come home and I told him about it. He said eureka! and I'm a psychologist and sociologist so we started out by observing how wolves and mountain lions eat in the wild reading, doing observational studies of how wolves and mountain lions kill prey, talking to various professionals in the industry. In fact, I volunteer at the zoo right now. And so it let us understand what natural instinctive eating is all about. So we took those core ideas, and my husband, who was a product designer translated those into what is the original mine pet platter. And it is a platter in a bone shape that sits flat on the floor. And it has a ridge going around, as well as scoops in the center. And the whole notion of it is that it gives 360 degree view and movement. So they have complete vision of what is going on around them. And they can also control by moving around and eating where they want to. The other point is that you can spread the food all over. So what you'll see your dog do is go into sensory exploration, he is sniffing out the different nutrient components of his meal. And you'll see him to start pick up and licking those portions of the meal that he needs. First, second, and third and what his preferences are. So we're stimulating his mind and how He rewards himself by getting those nutrients. Then the scoops in there promote licking. And the scoops are very easy to get up. It resembles the ends of bones and the licking it leads to a very rewarding experience. There's no frustration involved. But all that positive looking is releasing positive endorphins which make it rewarding and calming. Which naturally slow the eating process down. So what we basically did was to take what Mother Nature has done with wolves, and we translate it into the platter. And the interesting thing is when you let them eat naturally like they do from the pet platter. It eliminates the problems we've caused. So they'll no longer dump out their bowl. They do that because they want to sniff out what's in the bowl. It's just another example of you know, when you let them eat the way they're meant to. You don't have any problems anymore. Well, I think I am your biggest fan newest, biggest fan. I tried the pet platter with my dog Winston. And we did a little test. So the same exact meal for breakfast, we put it in the bowl, and it was gone in 27 seconds. We put the same exact meal on the pet platter that evening for dinner. And it took him four and a half minutes. And you're right. It's a totally different experience. And he takes his time. And he walks around the platter because we don't put it up against the wall. And we can put it in the dishwasher. It's dishwasher safe. And do you want to talk about the materials that it's made of because it's actually a warming plastic? Right, it's actually made with cellulose fiber, which comes from plant life. And it is a warm material. So if you ever put any sort of sticky like friendly dog friendly peanut butter or anything, it tends to cling to it more. And the one thing that my husband and I spent a great deal of time on was manufacturing and material. cancer rates among cats and dogs are doubling every year. And we feel it's not only what you serve, but how you serve your pets. So our mission was to go out and find the absolute best material we could and the cellulose fiber makes this platter so strong that you know even a Rottweiler could bite into it and and it would be fine. But the other thing is our manufacturing. We are 100% USA. Our manufacturing facility is in Wisconsin. Everybody there uses the pet platter. It's sort of a family orientation. But we make sure that there are good manufacturing processes in place. And I'm up in Wisconsin all the time. But two things pet parents need to understand. What is the material? Where is it sourced from? And where is it manufactured? We even went so far, because we consider this such a mission. After the platter was manufactured, we sent it in for independent lab testing, to prove that it is food safe. So it's nonporous. Great for raw feeding. But you don't have to worry, nothing is going to Leach. And it is more expensive because of that. But we were either going to do it right or not at all. So we're very proud of the time and energy we put into that. And like you, you know, we're committed to benefiting the health and well being of our pets, and there is no compromise that we put in there. You should be proud because it is a phenomenal product. It's just like I, you know, a V8 moment you put your hand on your head and smack your forehead, like why didn't I think of this? Why have we been feeding wrong? All this time, it just, this makes so much sense. And I love that the pet platter is for any type of food that you feed your dog. So whether it's dry, wet, canned, raw, freeze dried, it works for all types of food. And remember that you can also freeze foods on it, such as goat's milk, bone broth, or yogurt. And you can even pop yogurt and then pop blueberries in the little divots pop it in the freezer, and then it acts like little ice cream cones. And so one of the things I should say if you have an A high anxiety dog, and I know a lot of people have gone out and gotten rescues during the pandemic, and I get a lot of requests about how do you deal with anxiety and transitioning to a new home. And one of the things that I did with a gal who got a rescue I told her take doggy friendly peanut butter, put it all over the platter, leave it on the floor and then come back. And so her dog used to literally tear the apartment because separation anxiety was so extreme. And after she did this, she came back and he was asleep by the pet platter. So all that positive licking. Just relaxed the dog and put them sound to sleep. So if you have a rescue, and we're working with a number of rescues, now people are writing into us, you know, the pet platter, will will take the anxiety away, especially if you don't know what emotional or physical trauma your dog may have been through the open field vision of the pet platters, his ability to control and move around his ability to lick all of those things are going to contribute to less anxiety and a more relaxed dog. So you can you know, slowly but gently bring them into your family life. That's a great point. And Carol, what is the significance of the platter colors? Well, my husband and I actually look into that a lot of people think that dogs see black and white. But that's not true. They do have a color spectrum, although it's different from ours. So we selected colors that they can not only see, but they can differentiate. And the reason for that is if you have more than one dog get a different color platter for each dog, the first color platter that you start feeding them with, they'll adopt that as their personal feeding territory. And they won't go to the other color because they respect each other's feeding territory then, so it's just one of the things we tried to do because we know when you have multiple dogs resource guarding and aggressive behavior can become a problem. So just make sure you get different colors. And What colors do you offer? We have a yellow, a teal and a red. And you have two sizes for dogs correct? one for small one for large dogs? Right if your dog is under 30 to 35 pounds, we suggest the small bone over 30 to 35 pounds the larger one but if your dog is an excessively fast eater, then we kind of opt for going to the next larger size just To help them with that. And also, for those people who have flat face dogs, what we recommend is the pet platter because there is nothing poking into their noses. I hope you don't mind if I talk about slow feeders. one of the things to look out for is if you go up and try to touch your dog's nose, they'll immediately swerve from you. They don't like things touching their nose, it's part of their survival instinct it’s how they see the world. But they have sensitive mucous glands on the inside of their noses. If those dry out or are hit into, it becomes irritated, which interferes with their ability to smell. So you don't want anything projecting into their faces. And what I often say is, if you're sitting down at the dinner table, would you want somebody there with a rubber nose hitting into your face? No. You know, again, it's understanding what their nose is all about, and how important that sense is. That's why everything on the pet platter goes down, downward, nothing projects out. And that's to protect their nose. So by spreading the food out and having the scoops go down, through natural feeding, you're slowing the process. And the other thing is, you know, again, watch your dog's behavior, if they become aggressive after you're feeling a certain way. You know, something's wrong. If they're frustrated or walking in circles. They're trying to communicate with you. I need to I need to eat a different way. Well, I promised everybody that you would learn something today. And I I really guarantee that not all of us know everything that Carol is sharing with us. So the last thing I want to say, of course, you do have a platter for cats as well, so you can eat the whole family. well, we're coming out with those at the end of the year or beginning of next year. We're working very hard on that. But stay tuned to our website and we will be getting that out shortly. And I'm sure everybody is wondering as usual do we get a discount? Well, yes, you guys do get a discount because I have vetted the pet platter and want everybody to have one. all dogs need a pet platter. So the offer is the team at the mine pet platter is giving 10% off. All you have to do is use the code WOL10. Again for 10% off. So thank you, Carol and team for offering that. Carol. Where can everyone find out more information about you and the mine pet platter? Well, you can go to our website, https://minepetplatter.com/ and it tells the history of how we came about and everything about the platter. But you know what we love to hear back from our pet parents. We have people contacting us all the time. Our goal is to help make the world better for our dogs and cats. We're here to share our information and to help other people. So feel free to contact us. We're always here to help. Carol, I can't thank you enough for being with us today and for the amazing products that you make. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you, and thanks for helping us get our information out by sharing all this knowledge together where we help one another. Thanks Krista. Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Carol for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hi there! This is Krista with Episode #110 on the Wag Out Loud Pawdcast. A great reminder that I recently read in the Whole Dog Journal suggested that we should not punish our dogs for growling because that is one of the only ways your dog has of warning you he’s extremely scared or nervous.  The warning growl is actually a good thing and means they are doing their best not to bite. We appreciate our sponsor: ULTIMATE PET NUTRITION We so appreciate our friends at Ultimate Pet Nutrition for sponsoring this episode. If you’re a fan of this show, then you probably remember the interview How to Treat Your Dog Holistically & Successfully with “America’s Favorite Veterinarian” and the #1 Amazon Best-Selling Author, Dr. Gary Richter. He has received more than 30 awards due to his expertise in the field of veterinary medicine and has been at the forefront of pet nutrition for two decades. Did you know that Dr. Richter has created his own lineup of the most advanced formulations of food, treats and pet supplements on the market? Every purchase is backed by their 90-Day Refund Promise, so I encourage you to Check out all of their products (and five-star reviews) that help your dog stay happy and healthy. Go to ultimatepetnutrition.com and save 20% by using the code WOL20 Hello dog lovers, are you ready to geek out about dogs? I want to give you a warning that we are covering a very deep topic today. So, Jeffrey, thanks for being here with us on the show. Could you please introduce yourself? And tell us about your love of dogs? And specifically about your most recent book, Lost companions: reflections on the death of pets? Yes, Krista. I'm delighted to do so my name is Jeffrey Masson. I have written 31 books, far too many. Most of them have been about animals, I used to be a psycho analyst I gave up on that. I thought humans are too indirect. I like the directness of animals. And especially I have to say, of dogs. I think I learned more about love from dogs than anyone except perhaps my wife and my children. So I wrote a book that was quite popular called When Elephants Weep. That was the first time I think that anyone had written about the emotional lives of animals since Darwin. And that was what, almost 30 years ago now it's become a very popular topic. And there are lots of wonderful books about it much better than mine. And then I wrote right after that I wrote, dogs never lie about love, which also became incredibly popular, and again, has been overtaken by many other books that talk about how extraordinary dogs are. I think there's hardly a university in the United States that doesn't have a dog cognition, library, sorry, laboratory. Library, because there's some 70,000 books now written about dogs. It's extraordinary when you think about it. But rather than cognition, my interest has always been not what they think, but what they feel. And I still believe To this day, and I'm waiting for someone to write about it in greater depth. Why is it the dogs seem to understand certain emotions, more, more than we do that they feel them more powerfully. I'm thinking, of course of love. But there are many other feelings that dogs have, that seem to surpass ours. For example, friendship, the ability to be friends, is something that dogs have, instantaneously, when they meet another dog. We live in Sydney. And we go for walks along the ocean every day, for four or five miles, and we meet constantly meet dogs, and neighbors realize that we don't have a dog. So they say, Take ours for a walk. And we do every day. We take some neighbor's dog for a walk. And we've discovered that every single dog they see, interests them, they stop, they basically say hi, who are you? I'd love to play with you. Unfortunately, the person who was holding my leash won't let me if I were free, I’d do nothing but play our ability to form friends so quickly, regardless of anything, they don't care about their size. They don't care the breed, they don't care, the color, they don't care the age. They just love the fact we're all dogs here together. And if only we could all be together all day, that's all we want to do. Wouldn't it be it? Wouldn't be I think that's a lesson for us. they've they've achieved I mean, we only talk to strangers on the walk when they have a dog. And then of course, we're friendly. But I would never just stop some say, you look interesting. Could you tell me where you from? What language do you speak? How Where do you live? How often do you come? I would never do that, of course. But dogs do it all the time. So their ability to form friends, their ability to feel love, their ability even to feel disappointment, without getting angry. In other words, when you say I'm going to take you for a walk, then suddenly somebody comes there's no you can't. We have to rush off somewhere and you tell the dog Sorry, I can't do it. The dog's eyes reflect their disappointment. They never get angry over it. They sigh, Okay, I'll wait to come back even if it's next week. It's true. It's extraordinary. I don't understand yet and I don't think anybody does. Why dogs have emotions, so much purer than the human emotion. They're not mixed with any kind of ambivalence. Whatever they feel they feel at the moment. They express it. They are their feelings. I love that about them. That is one of the things I love about him as well. Well, Jeffrey, you wanted to title this episode. You and your dog are One. What do you mean by that statement? Well, I was thinking of the fact that the latest research shows that dogs have been with us, possibly since the very beginning of our modern personhood. In other words, if humans go back modern humans, as we know them today, if they go back, say 50,000 years? Well, in that case, it's possible that dogs have been with us that entire time, that they have been that they that we have, in fact, co evolved. So here is an animal that lives with humans for at least 30,000 years, possibly more, definitely no less than 20,000 years. So that we've learned to be together in a way that no other two species have. And that indicates that there is something special about this bond, and most people live with a dog, feel it, they may not be able to explain it or express it, but they feel it. So when I say they're one, I feel that we are, they are definitely family. And you become aware of this, not just in the joy you get. But also unfortunately, and that's why I wrote this book, about the loss of dogs in particular, but any animal really that we become close to, that we feel this bond with them. And when they die, it's like a family member has died. And it wasn't that long ago, when people would especially tell children, oh, just get over it. It's only a dog. No, he or she is not only a dog he or she is a close family member who has loved you in a way that no other creature on earth will ever love you. without the slightest ambivalence, the slightest ambiguity you are if they look at you, I mean, sometimes it's a little bit strange, because you often see people who are cruel to animals, and the dog just looks at that person. Like, I don't get it. I don't understand why you're like this with me. I just have nothing but love for you. Why don't you feel that for me? Right? So they're constantly teaching us something very essential. About I wouldn't say human nature, I would say about the nature of every living creature. And if we could only learn that from them, maybe they're just waiting. And one day, that's the Okay, humans got it, we can go back to our own planet. That's an interesting thought. you say the dogs have only one fault. What is that? Well, the fault is they don't live as long as we want them to live. They don't live as long as we do. And I think the most profound upset in a child's life apart from losing their parent is to lose their dog. When as as they grow up, and both of our children were very, very close to Benji was a golden lab who had been a seeing eye dog, and then became a therapy dog. And all he really wanted to do was hang out with our family on the beach, which he did for many, many years. He lived till he was 14. But we moved around a lot. So we took him from New Zealand to Australia. Then we took him from Australia to Germany. And when we had to go back to New Zealand to Australia, the vet would not allow us to bring him he was then 14 they said he can't take that 36 hour trip anymore. So he lived with our son who was very, very close and bonded to him, and couldn't believe that he was going to die. And he clearly was he was 14. And that's their only fault because they don't live as long as we want them to live. It's very hard on our son. My wife traveled back to Germany to be with him for the last week. I stayed with our younger son. And it really, in a way I mean, I don't know. And then in the book I struggle with this, do we how do we deal with this? Do we get another dog? Or do we simply live with that pain? In the end? I decided it would be a good idea if you're young enough to get another dog to rescue another dog. She didn't say get it. It's not the right word. Is it to rescue another dog? Because there's so many dogs at least there were before COVID hit right now in Australia. You cannot get a dog for lover or money because all dogs are spoken for. Right? Isn't that great? Everybody wants to be with a dog they realize, Hey, this is great. Dog. Well, I think We can all agree that losing our beloved dogs is absolutely heart wrenching. And you're going to share the psychology around that grieving. Why do you think that so many of us find that losing a dog can actually be harder than losing a relative or a friend? Yes, I was surprised to read when I looked online, I saw a number of very sophisticated people writing, there was one article that I talked about where a man in this case it was lost this cat. And he said, I felt deeper grief when my cat died than when my father died. And I would very much like to know what kind of a father he had, but I suspect that people do not experience with with animals, the kind of ambivalent relationship they often add, even with loved ones that sometimes you love them. And sometimes you don't, sometimes you need to be alone. And sometimes you wish they weren't there. And I don't think that ever happens with a dog, certainly no child has ever said, I just don't want to be with my dog today. That's all they want to do is be with them the entire time. And that is because the dog is not judging them. The dog is not looking at them with ambivalence, not complaining, why don't you do this? Why don't you do that? Why aren't you more like this? Why aren't you more like that? They don't do that. They accept you for who you are. And I don't think we have that relationship with any other being except the dog and some other animals. And I do talk about that in the book. But the dog represents this to a depth that I don't think we find anywhere else in the natural world. And by the way, that is also a puzzle. Why aren't there somewhere in the wild, two completely different species who've decided we're one it doesn't exist. That is that is also part of the mystery, that the only two species that have formed this deep bond, are humans and dogs. And do you think that a lot of times that, you know, because we're the ones who maybe are watching their suffering, and know that they’ll be passing soon that we are the ones who have to make that ultimate decision? Does that play into the psychology as well? Well, good point. Yes, of course it does. And I think most people wish they didn't have to make that decision. They'd like to say to the dog, you decide, when it's time. And by the way, some cats managed to do that. And it's it's also a rather strange phenomenon. But some cats, I've heard this quite often. And I've experienced with many of our cats, that when it's time to go, they simply disappear into the forest or the woods or backyard, they find a place where they can be alone. And and they die by themselves. Dogs don't want to do that they want to be with us. And unfortunately, they don't decide when it's time. I don't think I'm not sure you can hear the hesitancy in my voice. I'm not sure the dogs really understand death. And I'm not sure that we do either. We certainly don't understand their death. Why do you need to go now? But I did read a very interesting article by a veterinarian who wanted to be anonymous. I don't quite know why. But what he wrote was he or she, I don't even know. He said, when your dog when the time has come and you bring your dog to a vet for the final moment. I beg you Don't leave the room. As difficult as it may be for you to be there. You have to stay and hold the dog in your arms for the final passing. Because I have experienced that when people are too emotionally upset and they leave the room. The dog looks around in panic. Where is my person? And at that moment, I think you can say the dog knows this is the end. I don't want to be separated from the person I love. I want them to be there for me. So his advice was never no matter how painful it is, no matter how much sorrow you're feeling stay with your dog. That is a great point. Because don't we owe it to them to be there in their last moments? Absolutely, absolutely. We have to. And something very profound happens in those last moments that I don't I think we, we even have words for it. We don't know what it is, it's almost, you know, you say, why are we one? Well, I think it's at that moment that we realize that there is this almost Soul to Soul meeting. And they become part of us. And of course, that is the wonderful thing about memory, we remember them, then, constantly, I'm amazed at how often my children or my wife will turn to me and say, remember, when Benji did this, or remember, when we went here with Benji, you know, he's constantly in our memory constantly. I wanted to also point out in my mind, you know, the final days, or let's say, a dog has a disease, or needs major medical attention to prolong their life, and maybe the pet parent can't afford that treatment. So, at that point, if the dog is euthanized, we must take on a huge sense of guilt, because we could not afford that prolonging of life. Do you think that comes into play as well? Well, good point. I hadn't thought about that very much. But you're, you're certainly right, that there are moments and we think oh, my God, I don't know if you What is that? That that film Nomadland? Have you seen that? I haven't? I know it's out Now. I want to see it. Okay. Well, there's a moment in it is a very deep film about homeless people where they're not entirely homeless. As they say, they don't have a house, but they have a home, they're in their vehicle. But there's a moment where somebody has abandoned a dog. And the you understand immediately that people were so poor, they they couldn't take the dog with them. And everybody in the movie, as I was watching it in the movie house, and my wife and I turned to each other, she looks at the dog, she inquires, she discovers the dog has been abandoned, and you are 100% certain that she's going to take the dog with her, and she does not. And I found that so deeply upsetting. On the other hand, of course, I've never been in a position where I was homeless, or houseless, and could barely survive. But I think that most people seeing that their first thought would be Oh, my God, you should have taken that dog, he would have brought you such joy. And you would have helped him not I like to think that in reality, that dog, mind you it is a film. So I don't know what was the real situation. But I'm sure that a dog like that was simply put on a leash and tied to a post. In this semi abandoned town, I'm sure somebody would have realized, Oh, my God, this dog is by himself or herself. I'll take the dog with me, I will get pleasure, and the dog will get pleasure. So we find it very hard to put ourselves in the position of someone so poor, that they can't have a dog as a companion, or that they can’t help the dog when it's suffering. But of course, that happens there are people simply don't have the funds to pay for that. I'd like to think that if I were a vet, I would make it my life's work to go around helping very poor people for free with the problems they have with their dog. There should be clinics, free clinics for dogs. I don't know if there are any. Do you know that Krista? Well, I know here in Colorado, we have the Morris animal Foundation, which does pro bono work, which is amazing. But you know, it's through donations as well. I just can't imagine being put in that situation. But I also wanted to ask you, you alluded to this earlier, you know, the naysayers that say, Oh, it's just a dog, you know, why are you so upset? That has to be so damaging to the people that are going through that loss? And what do you say about that? Because then there's more guilt or shame for grieving? Yeah, well, I mean, one of the points of writing the book was to make absolutely certain that anyone reading it, especially somebody with a child when the child's animal dies, never, ever say anything like that. Allow them as much time as they want to grieve. Allow them to do whatever they want to do in the way of creating some sort of ceremony or ritual around the death. Let them cry as long as they want. Never say anything belittling about that animal. I do believe that we have gotten that I don't think there are many people today I, I know the 10 or 20, or 30 years ago, that parents were likely to tell their child, that's enough grieving. Now, I don't think people would be likely to do that any longer we do recognize psychologically how important it is, for that whole process to be gone through, especially for children, they have to be, you have to acknowledge their grief, you have to acknowledge their love, you have to acknowledge how close they felt to their animals, even if you feel they were closer to the dog than they were to you, as their parents. That's perfectly possible that they were because they got a certain kind of love that you cannot give them they recognize that in many ways you are inferior to a dog. That is that is right. Good point. And Jeffrey, you do think that depending on our age, at the time of our dog's death, that it is a good idea to rescue another dog? Yeah, I do believe that it was difficult for me to think about it. Because after I lost our dog, I could not think this dog will replace that dog because they can't, any more than a human could. But after a certain point, I think you give yourself the time you need. And then you will start realizing Gee, I'm missing having a dog. Now in my case, I'm 80 years old. My wife is a lot younger, but we live in in Australia. And pretty soon we'll be able to travel a lot to Europe. She's from Germany, and we tend to go every year to Europe. So we really can't have a dog. And we were really, really desperate over that we thought What's wrong? What kind of lifestyle? Are we leading, that we can't live with a dog. And what we discovered is when we talked about this to our neighbors, almost all of them said, Hey, I have a dog. How about if you take my dog every other day for a walk. In the end, we now have four dogs that we routinely walk. So we never go to the beach without taking a dog with us. And that's almost like, at least it's having a dog in your life. Right. And I think the people who have lived with dogs find it very hard to live without a dog. And even people who tend to be hermits. Like, in Colorado, you have people live up in the mountains by themselves. But actually, I was looking into that almost none of them live by themselves. They live with a dog. So you're not living by yourself if you're living with a dog, you’re living with the perfect companion. That is true. And in the book, I know that you say, you know, you're not suggesting we rush out to fill that void, immediately. But when you've gone through the mourning process, and you're emotionally ready to open up your heart and home to a new dog, then that is fantastic. I love that you mentioned that. Yes, that's right. And I want to emphasize the best way to do that is to rescue a dog. Yes, I don't like the idea of using the word buy and dog together. I think you should find places that rescue dogs, dogs that need a home dogs that would otherwise not be with someone. And there are so many of those all around the world. Although right now, it may be difficult in COVID because everybody wants a dog. Yes, that is one of the good things that came out of this. Yes, this traumatic event worldwide. Well, Jeffrey, as we are wrapping up, what are some of the suggestions that you make as far as how best to heal once we've lost a dog? Well, I think it's important to talk to people about this to talk to people who are at least sympathetic, if not entirely like minded. So, you know, you might join some group online, you might go to a dog park, even if you're without a dog and just say Is there anyone here who has recently lost a dog I need to talk about this. I'm basically not a great fan, I used to be a psychoanalyst. I'm not a great fan of therapy any longer. But if there were a special kind of therapy that dealt with the death of pets, I would agree with it. I think that there should be people who specialize in helping you overcome this. And basically all it means is allowing you to talk about it because everybody who's lived with an animal and the animal is gone. They need to talk about that and you have to find somebody sympathetic. So sometimes it's a good idea to write you know, write down some of your fondest memories and share them with others, sometimes it means having even an anniversary, a birthday party, this is the day my dog left and invite people who knew the dog to share stories. Sometimes it means just going into the woods where you buried the ashes, and, and having some sort of communion. But I think we do need to memorialize this in some way that this has been important to us. And to think about it, and to read about it. I think there. As I said, there are now 70,000 books about dogs, some of them are really very good. I recommend that you read about them, because it'll remind you of the extraordinary qualities they have. I totally agree. And after reading your book, I think what I got from it, to summarize is that our dogs want us to enjoy life rather than mourn their loss, that they want us to cherish all of the wonderful memories that we have together, you know, when they were healthy, rather than thinking about their last days. So thank you for being here today. Thank you for this wonderful book, I highly encourage everybody to read about this, because we don't talk about it enough. Jeffrey, do you have any last words for us? Well, I was just thinking, as you said that the last word would be, I find that going into nature, going for a walk along the ocean, going into a woods, even just wandering around a neighborhood, as you used to do with your dog is something that you can do for the rest of your life. And it allows you that kind of meditative trance that you're often in, when you're with your dog and feeling that joy. That's something very important that we need to be out in nature. If you're lucky enough to have a dog that you can do it with wonderful. But if your dog is passed, go by yourself or go with a friend. And remember what it was like to be out into the real world. That's so important. That is perfect advice. Jeffrey, where can everyone find out more information about you and all of your wonderful books? That's not so easy to say. I do have a website, but I'm not very savvy about what to put on it. So it may be in decline. But if you go to if you just simply look on Google, I have lots of part. I have lots of podcasts. I've been on lots of shows. I was on Oprah once. So there and of course all my books are listed there. They're on Amazon. So it's fairly easy to find out lots about me online. Some of its controversial, especially about psychiatry, but when it comes to animals, I used to be controversial. Not any longer. Everyone agrees with me. You're a trendsetter. That's great. Well, Jeffrey, thank you for taking the time. And thanks for all that you do. Are you working on any new books right now? Well, you know, I just I just turned 80 a week ago. And I want to thank you, I want to write one last book called what's wrong with our species? But then I thought that's too negative. So I'm not sure. And my wife is a pediatrician, she, she deals with small children as a doctor, and I love helping her. It gives me great joy. And one of the things I always say to them as they come out, I say do you love dogs? And sometimes Yes, I do. But my parents won't let me have one. Look at the parents. And I say you really should get them a dog. So I think I'm doing some good by helping my wife. Fabulous. Great strongly. Oh, that's fantastic. Well, Jeffrey, thank you so much for being on the show. We really appreciate it and everybody. I encourage you to check out all 31 of Jeffrey's books. Jeffrey, thanks again. Thank you, Krista. It's been a great pleasure. You're wonderful to talk to. Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Jeffrey for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hello everyone! This is Krista with Episode #109 on the Wag Out Loud Pawdcast. Here’s a fact that all of us need to know.  Xylitol is the number two cause of all dog poisonings after chocolate and sugar-free gum is the number one source of Xylitol poisoning.  Because xylitol smells good and tastes good, dogs love it but be sure to read your labels because it’s also found in candy and is added to some toothpaste, medications, marijuana edibles and peanut butter.  Peanut butter.  So, before you stuff another kong, please make sure your peanut butter contains no xylitol because the scary part is that only a small amount can be lethal to dogs.  We appreciate our sponsor: CritterZone This episode is brought to you by our friends at CritterZone.  All animals, including dogs and even ourselves, have an essential need not only for breathing, but for also being exposed to fresh air. Just like the new and energized air you get when you first step out in the morning. That energized air helps the immune system’s ability to deal with allergens and pollutants that our dogs get exposed to by constantly living indoors.  Odor control, respiratory health and overall happiness depend on energized fresh air.  I noticed a huge difference right away when I plugged in the little CritterZone unit and I love that it brings fresh air indoors NATURALLY…without ever having to replace any filters!  You and your dog will notice the difference immediately.  In order to truly appreciate the difference CritterZone can make - TRY it for a 30-day money back guarantee trial.  As an added incentive for our Wag Out Loud listeners, use the code WOL for $15 off per unit at CritterZoneUSA.com  and breathe easy! As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL at checkout to get $15 off of your purchase Hello Dog Lovers!  Welcome to another episode of the Wag Out Loud pawdcast where we are constantly learning new ways to enhance the health and well-being of our dogs.  Today’s guest, William Converse, has over 3 decades of experience in the air purification industry and is the President and inventor of the CritterZone.  Bill is a pioneer of non-filter air cleaning technology, especially in the home and has served on the board of Indoor Air Quality and is a sought-after consultant in the air-quality industry. Bill, it is a pleasure to have you with us today. Well, we are going to be speaking about, are you ignoring a major element of your dog's health? So Bill, what is that major element that we're going to be chatting about? Well, you know, sometimes a major element is all around us. And we don't even realize it, because we just kind of take it for granted. And I would challenge you to remember the last time you've thought about breathing, and about the air that you breathe and what impact it has, we just don't do that. And we don't do it for ourselves. We don't do it for our pets. Definitely we don't put ourselves in our dogs place. Imagine what the air is like, where they're at or what impact it could have. But I have to tell you, when you think about something that is so pervasive, everything we do, starts out with you got to be able to breathe, and that air has a major impact on the quality of our life. And so don't you just take it take it for granted that the air is going to be there and we need it. And that's it? Absolutely. Yeah, breathing is automatic. But with this interview today, I did a little investigative reporting here. I can't believe this statistic, I found that Americans spend approximately 90% of their lives indoors, which can be the dirtiest air that we breathe. So the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA estimates that on average, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Bill, what's going on? Well, I'll tell you what's going on. It happened it started happening. Just about the time when World War Two ended and our our whole lives changed because we went from living outdoors to living indoors. And you can kind of track all of the problems that we have with the sale of air conditioning systems and doing everything we can do to stay indoors instead of outdoors. That is the that is the key because the pollution that we have, is you noticed indoors over outdoors, and the same pollutants are there. It's just the outdoors, there's a way to get rid of them. That makes sense. So Bill, why is air quality, so vital, not only for our health, but for our dog's health and wellness? Well, there's two aspects of it, who the first aspect of it, of course, is the one that we normally think about what do you with polluted air who wants to be in pollution? So there is an accumulation of pollutants that are in our indoor environment, because there's no outdoor mechanism to be able to get rid of them. That's the one aspect of it, then the second aspect of it, that most people really ignore, is the fact that the air is so vital to so many of our systems that keep us healthy, I did some looking at some of the guests that you had on recently. And you know, they all tend to agree on one thing, the more natural that you can get it, the more that you can do to create an environment that is healthy and let them the your dog's body take care of itself, the better off you are. And so almost everybody is working to try and get help that along. But they ignore one very critical thing. And that is the that with all of the things that we do with exercise with food, with, with supplements, with all those kinds of things. The one thing that you need to make that work is air, you need the oxygen in the air and you don't need it just in the air, but you need it in your system. And once your dog gets that, and you as a matter of fact, once you get that air in your system, then it releases the mechanism to let the body's own mechanism, start breaking these things, metabolize the food, helping digestion and really strengthen your whole immune system. Just because you're getting the things out of the other things that you're putting in the body. It's the mechanism that drives everything else. That makes so much sense. So what You're saying is that our dogs are not getting enough exposure to outdoor air? Because we spend most of our time indoors. But what about dogs that are exposed to too much outdoor air in the form of air pollution? Well, this is what we're talking about statistics, one of the amazing things is that if you have the things in the outdoor air, that cleaning up the pollution, and that's a mechanism that's happening all the time from the energy that the sun provides, is to break those things down, that people can live in that dirty environment, as long as those elements are there to clean it up. Have you ever seen the pictures of Beijing, China, for example, that that's some very popular one of the most polluted places in the world. And those people and their pets that live there that live outside without air conditioning are actually healthier than the people that are living in the inside, it's just that the outside pollution is so visible, we think it's bad, but because the other stuff is in the air to take care of it, we can tolerate it much better. And so the thing that really kills us and hurts our health is the fact that indoors, because I don't care what you got outdoors, some of its going to come in even under the best of conditions. If there's nothing in there, no mechanism to go start breaking it down, it's going to accumulate and the longer accumulates, the dosage gets higher, the amount of time that you're in it increases your risk to it. And there's nothing there to take care of it until you get an increase in the pollution. And there is nothing there that aids the body in being able to deal with those kinds of pollutions. You mentioned that the sun energizes the air. So how does that work and try to be as 101 as possible? It’s pretty simple, you know, some kind of the energy, the air, every all the energy that we have on the earth comes eventually from the sun. And a lot of it comes through basically electronic means because of electrons and a bunch of other kinds of cosmic energy, and all form all forms of energy. But the thing is, that that energy has a way to interact with the pollutants because it comes from the sun, it's in the outdoor air and is not shielded. So what happens is, as you put a pollutant in the air, and there's all kinds of natural my, goodness of wood, we didn't have a way to clean it up, the odors from dying dinosaurs would still be in the air, there has to be some mechanism to break those chemicals that make odors down. And so the chemical the energy to break them down in the form of electrons, usually, but in the in the in some form. It interacts with the chemical structure that makes up an odor and breaks it up and starts breaking it down and happens actually 24 hours because once that air becomes active once it becomes energized, once the energy is in the air, and is interacting with all the electrons, it makes everything start to break down quicker. And that's why if you've ever noticed if somebody hits a skunk, and I'm sure everybody's run across someplace where…notice how quickly does that go away, you know, if outdoors. But if that same skunk dies underneath your porch, it's going to be there a long time until you can't take it anymore and get it out of there. But that air is that air with that energy in the air is interacting with the chemical that makes up the odor that we're breathing, and converts it and keeps breaking it down breaking it down to its simpler elements until it's just all gone. And that's why the air is continually renewed outdoors. And because of that energy that we have in the air outdoors. And that's the problem. That lack of energy indoors where we spend most of our time means there's no natural mechanism to clean it up. Never thought about that. Well, before doing this, I tried to write down everything I could think of that contributes to indoor air pollution. And I came up with wood burning stoves, fireplaces, tobacco smoke, cooking, air fresheners, cleaning products, mold, mildew, bacteria, dust mites, do you have anything to add? Well, in an indoor environment, everything you know you're walking into a room, you put you put your your dog out for the morning, you know and go with them and go on a run and everything and everything that you came in contact with everything that your dog stepped on everything that in fact stuck to the fur, everything that stuck to your clothing comes in with you. So there is there is nothing If that is not some kind of a pollutant, when you come indoors, just just you being inside, start polluting it because there's nothing there, you sweat, you shed cells from your skin, your pet carries with them things on there for that they've come in contact with on their skin, because that's a natural cleaning process on their feet. Everything that you come in contact with the to bring indoors, is now there, because there's nothing to break it down in its continuous accumulation means that it not only the big stuff that you can see, but just naturally living in an environment causes it to become polluted. When you move into a new apartment, for example, you know, that though people that lived in that apartment before, were there, because they left traces of themselves and most of the time, we can smell it. And that's one of the warning symbols that we have is an area's not clean if we can smell something bad in it. But that's merely an in identification of the problem, that there's nothing there to get rid of the natural accumulation of ordinary things which can become a pollutant. I'm feeling pretty filthy. I know about this time everybody starts moving away from each other what I'm what happened. But you know what the The interesting thing about it is that we can talk about that. And we you know that you can get really complicated because you can start talking about chemical structures and all that. But it's very, very simple. If you're going to live in an environment, you are taking in food, you're taking in materials, you're you're you're interacting with your environment. And so are your pets. And that means interacting means that you're shedding and giving off as much as you're getting in. I mean, it's an interactive kind of thing. And if you can reestablish the energy so that these things are taken care of a little bit at a time, every single day, because this is not, this is something that's an accumulation thing, it's not a single event kind of thing, then you don't have a problem, it needs to be continually broken down. If you have a fire in your home, for example, you know that you've got people that can come in and clean that up, and they can get rid of the oder if they do enough reconstruction, you'll never know what happened. That's a major event. But that's not where people normally and their pets normally start to be affected. They're affected by the ordinary kinds of things just being accumulated to get the nature out of balance. Well, I'm glad we're talking about this. Why don't we talk about what health issues would we and our dog's experience, by being exposed to all these contaminants? there's a whole list of kinds of things. And when you kind of look at things that indoor pets are associated with, as opposed to your outdoor lifestyle, you can kind of see the difference, for example, you know, dogs live with their sense of smell, you know, and so the constant exposure to the sense of smell in an indoor environment where you don't have these natural things to clean up the nasal passages so that you can, the dog can smell, gradually, they lose their sense of smell. Once they lose their sense of smell a little bit and become insensitive to it, you've taken away one of the ways that they can tell what's going on in their environment. When dogs start to get old, for example, and lose their sense of smell, they're more easily startled. They have a sense of being on the alert when they're not because they don't know, they know they should be on the alert for something and they've lost the ability to be able to do that. We work with police dogs a lot. And believe it or not, that's a real common problem that you keep putting in a lot of bad smells in, in an in car environment, which is also an indoor environment. And gradually, their sense of smell starts to dull and they have to get out and get in the air again, and to be able to refresh it. So losing the sense of smell affects the dog's ability to be happy in an environment that makes them irritable. A lot of a lot of pets do much better outside, when they have that full range and full sense of smell. A lot of things that are a little more subtle than that. For example, a lot of dogs get infection hotspots. And you see that in indoor dogs not outdoor dogs so much because the natural cleaning power of the air keeps the skin clean just a little bit of the time. It's not like running through a disinfectant wash, but every single day, some part of the skin is exposed to The air in that the cleansing property of the energy in that air pulls down the bacteria growth. And that means you don't get hotspots, it helps things like digestion, because as I said before, if you can get a lot more oxygen in to the system, and you keep the respiratory system clean, which fresh air does, then you get the blood oxygen levels up. And that means that they digest food better they get the nutrition they need to get out of it, is throughout the whole digestive system actually works much better. And that energy keeps their immune system up. So they're not going to get sick and things like that nearly as quickly, just because they're stronger, and they're able to ward off the natural kinds of pollutants. Right? Well, let's move beyond the doom and gloom because you have an answer for this, don't you, Bill? And, you know, if I had my way, I probably would say if I if I would, I would use this as an air conditioner, the whole earth. So we didn't have cold and hot and stuff like that. But we would still have all the energy that is outside. So it's over the years, I have tried to clean the air. And I found that there's no way I can make it clean enough. Because when you clean it, you take all the energy out, it actually makes it worse to live in. So what we've done is we went the other way. And we said, well, let's see if we can duplicate putting the energy back in. And that's what CritterZone does. It's not really an air purifier as such, but it does purify the air, because it just puts energy back into the air so that it simulates what's going on outside. So when you kind of imagine what it does, it does the same kind of thing that outdoor air does, you don't have to move a lot of air around, you just put that energy back into the air. And then it works, right, you don't even really know what's there. It just keeps the. air, flat, fresh and clean and energized. And what's the difference between the critter zone technology versus ozone generators or ionizers. I built both those kinds of devices for a lot of years, and they do have their place. But the idea is what you're really trying to do with with is not necessarily make make a particular element like ozone. To make it the cleaning agent, what you're really trying to do is get just put enough energy in the air so that you get the molecules in the air to interact with each other as they normally would. So we don't put any kind of a chemical in the air, we don't really try to disrupt the ionized level, it's in the air, what we do is we put out and form of ionization, both positive and negative ionization, so that we really just get the total amount of energy built up in the air, so that we cause the air to start reacting with itself. It's like what we're doing is electronically just stirring the air up and making it interact with itself and cause it to achieve its natural balance in a very ordinary, natural way. Now that makes sense. Thank you for dumbing it down for me. What about viruses, we talked about pollutants would critterzone take care of airborne viruses as well? We don't necessarily kill the viruses. Because that's not the thing that we really do. But what we do is we eliminate the impact of the viruses, viruses, by themselves really don't do anything, they have to get into a place where they can do something. So the by energizing the air, we take things out of the air that viruses travel around on so you don't get exposed to them. Without without being able to go from one host to another host, a virus doesn't do very much on the surfaces. Because we clean continually cause the surfaces to be clean, we don't give them a chance to grow anywhere. So they may still exist, because we're not going to put something so harmful, that it's going to kill viruses, they're part of the environment too. But we're going to keep them under control by limiting their ability to spread from from you to your pet or your pet to you or anyway around. And we also by keeping the surfaces clean, keep them from getting a place that they can start to grow and be in a significant enough quantity to become a problem. One virus is never going to hurt you. You need a bunch of them established to be to get enough of them going to start to cause a problem. And it's very much like in again I go back to the outdoor air. These viruses have been with us as long as God created the earth. I mean, they're not something new, but they're always in balance because they do perform positive functions as well. And it's only when they get out of balance or Either in your system is out of balance, we as your immune system can deal with them as it normally does, or on a surface because it's now not a naturally cleansed surface like it would be outdoors, that that's when we start to have a problem. So all of the testing that we've done shows that when you recreate that natural environment, that what you do is you knock down the bacteria levels, you knock down the the viral levels, you knock them down to where they're still there, and they're still present. But they're not in the kind of quantities that can start to cause a problem. And that's why with these recent viral outbreaks that we've had, you've seen that were areas where people are able to get out and get into their environment leave their windows open. And that kind of thing, pretty much as we do in more of the southern states that you're going to find that you're not going to have near the problems is where you're totally air conditioned, and locked inside or heated and locked inside. So just recreating that environment eliminates the impact of the viruses without doing something as drastic as trying to kill them. So where is the best place to have a critterzone in the home? the best place is where the where your dog spends the most time, you know, and sometimes means two of them. Because sometimes it depends on what you're living we are I know, an awful lot of people leave their pets in their apartments. And so you need to have it where the dog hangs out the most. And often that that means wherever, wherever you've arranged for them to go when you're not there. But basically, it's where it wherever they experienced, the critterzone is basically a room device. And it does clean the air and the air, because you put this energy in the air, that energized air goes throughout the house, in the apartment, but usually putting them in the area where whatever the dog's room is, and then wherever the dog lives the most, or wherever in the kitchen is a good place because it's a source of nutrients. And that's a good thing the dogs walk into the kitchen, they like to know go and know where that is. Right. And, you know, depends on what the lifestyle is. One of the things that we do is we recommend more than likely that you use two of them, one, wherever the pet lives and hangs out the most when you're not there. Because that constant exposure to that energized air generally just keeps them healthier and keeps them happier. And you'll find out they'll hang out there more just because it's nice for them too they really do know what fresh air is like they, I can't imagine what it must be like to be a dog and live down with your head down in the dirtiest part of the house next to the floor, with all the contaminants that are there. And then the other thing is, and because of where they sleep, because during the time that they sleep just like you when you're sleeping, that's when your body is recovering. So wherever they sleep, and they sleep in your bedroom with you, that's where you need to have it. If they have their own place to sleep. That's where that's where I would want it to be because that gives you the maximum benefit. Yep, well, I have a critterzone. And I love it for so many reasons. It's small. There's no filters to replace. Actually, it's in our bedroom. And it has a very quiet, soothing sound, which is great for sleeping. You guys offer a 100% money back guarantee. And I can't explain. But when you walk into the bedroom, the air quality just makes you want to breathe deeper. It's just you know, I know that you that you guys have said it's kind of like right after it rains and the sun comes out, you know that fresh, clean smell it, it works. It's amazing. And you mentioned it before it actually improves blood oxygen levels, which is something that we all need. So I love this product. Bill, I've never used it to remove urine or other pet accidents and stains, how does that work in breaking up odors and stains? Well, you have to recognize that all odors are just chemicals. And so it's a matter of breaking them down. One of the things that happens of course, all pets like to mark their territory a little bit. And so not only you have to worry about urine , but you have to worry about some other things as well. So the idea is that you can maybe break it down but the natural way to do it is if there's any moisture in the air, the the energy will enter into the air into the water, the moisture of the water, the humidity, and as long as there's any moisture there, it will start to break down the chemicals that make the odor. So the first thing that happens is in Got a place in the where they, they keep going back to mark on, you eliminate the odor of the mark, and they tend not to go back there. So you eliminate the problem. But the second thing is, it takes a little while. And you just keep putting leaving it in the air where the moisture is. And if you really want to do it quickly, you just can put a little moisture on mist it right in that spot where it's at. And take the critterzone over and just kind of put it real close to that area. Because the energy coming out of the critterzone is quite concentrated there. And you know, 15, 20,30 minutes, the dog won't even be able to find it. So cool. Well, Bill, as we are wrapping up, I had questions about can you use the critterzone in the same room as a humidifier? Or a diffuser? Or what if we have our windows open? Certainly you can use it when you've got humidifiers. Using when you've got moisture in the air, you can use it when there's dryness in the air. it doesn't really make any difference at all was a third one that you asked? What about having windows open? Does that just help the critterzone? it doesn't hurt. The thing is that you think with you think that when you have the windows open that you're getting fresh air inside, and if you've got an old fashioned house with some way to pull the air in from outside or a cross draft or something that's true, but usually fresh air doesn't go more than maybe five or six feet tops into the into the house even with the windows open. So if you do sleep with the windows open, I recommend putting the critter zone on the inside wall rather than closer to the window. And that will still energize the air where the outdoor air doesn't get to. Got it. Well, Bill in closing, what is the most common reaction that you hear from your customers? What is most said and all the testimonials? Well, the first thing is I get the most common reaction when people get it and take it out of the box is that little thing can possibly work? Well, okay, I'm gonna plug it in, but it is not going to work. And then the second thing is that they say, you know what, after 5-10 minutes, I can tell if there is a difference in this room already because I can feel the difference. But the other thing is that once you've once you've used it that you wonder how you ever really got along without it, because it just totally changes the environment. And the funny thing is that we have pets that you'll notice or wherever you got it, you will find your your dog kind of liking it over there because they can breathe easier. They they sleep better they eat, they are calmer. They have more energy and and then then I guess the other kind of side effect is when somebody comes over they say, What is your dog gone? Don't you have your dog anymore? It does break down the doggy smell of the house? Well, the cool thing is everybody's probably wondering, Well, how do I get a critterzone, just so everybody knows there's critterzones for in the home. And there are also units for in the car, which is great. And the team at critterzone is offering an amazing offer for you guys to try it for yourself. And you want to use the code WOL to get $15 off per unit that you purchase. So Bill, where can everybody find out more information about you and actually order their critterzone? Well, I would suggest you just go to critteroneusa.com. And take a good look at it. And first I would just want to mention that that would try it is a really important thing because this is a new way of looking at the technology. And it is so hard to explain air because you can't see it. Nobody understands it right if you try the unit and you understand it immediately. Well again, everybody go to critterszoneusa.com use the code WOL to get $15 off per unit. Bill, thank you so much for making us breathe a little easier and for sharing all of this great information. I know you've put a lot of work and research into air quality. So we really appreciate you being here today. Thank you so much. I really hope everybody gives it a try. I do too. It's amazing. Social Media: FB @CritterZone  IG: @critterzoneusa Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Bill for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hello there! This is Krista with Episode #108 on the Wag Out Loud Pawdcast. Just a reminder that I have partnered with Dog is Good on their new division DIG Direct.  Please check out the unique products that show your love of dog at wagoutloud.digdirect.com and be sure to bookmark the site because we continue to add unique and limited-edition items you can’t find anywhere else.  Happy Shopping! Did you know that because Omega-3 fatty acids are so healthy, many dry dog food manufacturers have started adding them to their kibble?  Well, per our friends at the Whole Dog Journal, The issue is that fats in dog foods go rancid very quickly, and soon become very toxic.  In fact, rancid fats totally change the nutritional value of the food so much that your dog can suffer from protein and vitamin deficiencies.  These rancid fats can also cause liver or heart problems, cancer, arthritis and even death. Hello dog lovers, thank you so much for advocating for your dog's health and wellness. We are so lucky to learn from today's guest Aminah. Thanks so much for being here Aminah, why don't you introduce yourself and share with everybody how you enhance the lives of dogs and their pawrents. Thank you so much. And thank you for pronouncing my name correctly. I know it's not easy, but it is a practice thing. I am a pet psychic, trainer, empath. And how I help pet owners is to get out of their way with their puppies, so that I can help the conversation with not only a trainer who works in a vet clinic, I have lots of experience with all kinds of animals. So I really can see what a dog needs. When they especially talk to me, say hey, I don't like that. I'm basically a translator, you know, if you if you don't speak Farsi, maybe I do. Well, you're gonna be talking about love, understanding and resolution for dogs with people. And I can't think of any other animal on this planet that actually enjoys staring into a human's eyes. There is such a strong bond that we share. Do you agree? Absolutely. Absolutely. We I mean, have you seen a poodle yet? Have you seen some of the dogs we've created? It's just like, a Labradoodle is adorable. I don't know that was in the wolf pack. So we love them at any size and a Pomeranian? Come on? They're all amazing. I know. Absolutely. Well, Aminah, you are a pet psychic. So I have to ask, what is the most asked question that you get from people who want to hear from their dogs? Well, it might seem really silly. But the most asked question is in some version of, do they love me? Do they like me? Am I doing okay? It's just checking in on them. Because if you're going to call somebody like me, you really care about your pet, you're really deeply involved. And I'm not implying at all. caveat here that you don't care. If you don't call somebody like me. But you're going to reach out to the vet you're going to reach out to the trainer, you're going to reach out to a pet psychic, you are interested in knowing how do you do it better. And, and they're going to listen to your podcast, because they want to continue to learn on how to do it better. And that's what we're here for. That's so cool. And you've had this gift for a really long time since you were a kid, right? I was born with it. I I just always, you know, when you're little you go, Oh, don't do that. They don't like that. Didn't you hear him saying he didn't like that. And then about two or three siblings in because I'm the youngest of five. They go What, what? That must be strange. And I think I'm gonna go with let's not be strange, even as little kids. So I just kept it to myself, and would walk around and talk to the bugs and the bees and the and the dogs and the trees and smile at every single dog that every neighbor had. And when you say you've talked to them? Is it literally that they are speaking English to you? Or is it more of a feeling or colors or images? It is all of that. Because conversation, even with people is all of that you are looking at a person's facial expressions, you're looking at their body language, you're looking at their happy, sad, mad glad energy. If you if you're good enough to figure that out. I honestly have a few family members, I swear they can't show an emotion from one from the other. And dogs are just the same. They come in every single version and rendition of communication. So what I really encourage is ,I had one thing this whole time to talk about is talk to your pet in English or, or Spanish or Italian or whatever. Because it doesn't matter your language. They watch your body. They watch your eyes, your arms, your legs, because language is your entire body when we talk some people with their hands. That's how I do it. I use a lot. of hand gestures. So an animal's Picking up on the whole message, the dog is saying, Okay, what is this? So anybody who's watched their dogs that have erect ears that are upright, they are tuned in their little radar satellite dishes separately, and they will cock their ears. I think the bigger dogs with the big ears will tip their ears towards the sound they're trying to figure out. Now if they're still laying on the floor and sleeping while they're doing it, then they're not much concerned about that sound. But if they open their eyes and stand up to look towards the sounds then they're concerned about that sound. As in, I don't know what this is. I need to investigate. Mom or Dad seems pretty cool. But yeah, they don't have it all going on. So they're gonna be like, it's my job to protect them. And I don't care if you're talking about a teeny, tiny little Chihuahua. Oh, my gosh, they're some of the bigger protectors. The bigger dogs look at you like, yeah, I might get to that later. Because I'll just sit on them. Whoever comes in. Have you seen a bernese Mountain dog. And they didn't need to make a huge statement, typically, but you get the littler dogs, and they got the I apologize to all men, but little man syndrome thing going on there. And it's all noise. And that's their response to I don't know what's going on. But I'm gonna let you know. So please listen. So to that point, communication is speaking and listening. So Oh my god, what can we do to truly listen to our dogs? Take a deep breath. Don't be too fast to say, Oh, my God, you've got in the trash. It's all over the kitchen. Why are we doing this? Again, and I know somebody out there is exactly the person that needs to hear that. Because I only say things. I didn't think of this. Because I leave it into my gut guide, my spirit guide and my trajectory. Whoever's listening, these words are for you. Please take a moment and say, are they bored? Most likely, this is the highest reason. And you put something really interesting in there. Something with meat, probably. And it smells great. So figure out why they're destructive, or why they're, as we say, acting up, but I don't want to trash all of my house. That's gross. So find out where where this, the communication barrier is, it's the same way you would do with your husband, your children, your neighbor, we don't come from the same place. And dogs are the same thing. There's, I don't even want to say less than a billion types of dogs. Every time I go run, oh, I haven't heard of that breed. What they made a what? And there's a new breed breed out there. Every time that happens. They have their own set of personal ways of communicating. Yes, they bark, they wag their tails. The ears are moving, I want you to look at it all. That's the conversation. But know something about the breed. know something about how it's put together. If you're talking about a easygoing lab, and a you know, high strung, running dog, like you know, one of the greyhounds you might want to go jogging more often with one or the other. and that's what gets into destruction. is I'm bored. Or you've left the steak bone in there. And I know it's in there. We all know as pet owners, dog owners are so good about this, but I have to say it as a just a responsibility. chicken bones. They're killers. Yes. If you. Yeah, you put a turkey or chicken bone or whatever of the birds in in your trash. Wow. Yeah, you're risking it being on the floor but you're also risking a vet trip, because they will shard and they will get in their gums and they'll cause an infection. So yeah, it might be annoying, but it's also a safety issue. It's just like with any kid. do you lock up the Tylenol probably put it in a higher shelf. So what you're saying is for us to listen to our dogs, since they can't actually talk to us in conversation. We need to be able to read their body language. We need to take a step back and actually see what's going on because I'm sure they're giving us cues. Thank you see what's going on, meanings, look for the clues, be cognizant of that and when you can't, then you call in a professional if that's a vet. If that's a trainer, if that's a pet psychic, somebody else that has a little bit more training and can help you. And that's what the professionals are out here we have a passion for these amazing creatures, absolutely amazing creatures. How often do you get one type of animal that comes in teacup size, all the way to Great Dane giant, huge dog. You get every flavor of the of the choices, and they're coming out new with new ones all the time with the breeders and that kind of stuff. And they all have gifts and functions. And a way to communicate because they’re as individual as we are, you might say, Oh, I don't want to I can deal with people. I'm gonna deal with them all, we have met them all. You haven’t met all the dogs either. So the same thing is true. Take your time and and get the help you need read the books. Go online, Google it, as my kids would say. But we are out here to support you and help you because we we absolutely love what we do. And we're in there to get dirty with you and figure it out. And we know we don't know everything. That's the joy of learning. What does a session actually look like? It? Does the dog have to be in front of you? Can you do it over the phone? Are you really just talking to the person and you don't know anything about the dog going into it? I don't know anything about the dog going into it. 99% of the owners will, for example, the woman that that I'm going to see right after our call, she sent me an email. This is the problem. I'm concerned. When can we talk? So I get the cliffnotes? Literally, the Cliff's notes. we’re very sick to end of life, behavior issue. We're moving, pick something, whatever happens with with your furry children. And so I get an outline. I get people who will ask me, do you need the dog to be there? Do you want a picture? And I say no. For me personally, the way my gift works, is I'm not only a trained trainer, and so I can help you with training. And I've also worked in a vet clinic. So I know enough medicine to say Oh, yes, let's go. And I can hear what they're saying. And all these types of things. So I bring in all of those talents. And and the ability to say hey, can I talk? Can we talk, if you speak to your animals with 90% that are listening to your show is going to be the type of person that speaks to their animals. And I mean, they say, Hey, how you doing today, and you know, we tell him better day, all of that has energy all of that has feeling and your dog will feel happy, sad, mad glad. And they're picking up all your cues and going okay, mom's really great day or they're sad, let's go curl up on the couch. We don't feel good. Let's do that. Let's go for a run. And we feel better every but they feel everything you feel they're a pack animal. So you are going to use that in training and discipline and in love. They want to be with you all the time. 90% of your dogs want to be with you all the time. And take a nap on your bed and that kind of stuff so I bring all of those gifts. And I ask permission. Hey, can we talk? If you've already invited me into the conversation? 99% of the dogs will say, Oh yeah, Hey, Mom talking to him. And once in a while I get a dog that goes what? What you can hear me? Yes. I actually had a dog run out of the house during the reading. They were in a whole different part of the state. And I said, Wait a minute, wait a minute, why am I seeing fencing? What? Why am I seeing a yard and fencing all of a sudden? And she said, Oh, because he ran outside looking for you? Oh my gosh. Wait a minute. So yeah, it is really amazing. So I pick up what, whatever that God's given energy is. And I always introduce myself and not in any formal way. Hi, my name is Aminah. No, I put my energy out there and say, yeah, mom's here. We're here. We're talking about you and the dogs know, we're only talking about them because your energy is already so focused on them. They can feel that animals are more psychic than any of us. I think we'll ever be like all combined. The animals survive by their energy witnessing, feeling things. The rustle in the trees. You know if that's the coyote, maybe they're concerned. Maybe they're not if it's a bear, let's be concerned dog that really wants to take on a bear. So yes, I asked in it there but my real permission is you. you're inviting me in, tell us your pet. And your dog says, Oh, Mom’s talking to us, okay let’s talk. They don't have very much resistance. It was pretty funny about four years ago, so when the dog ran out of the house is sure that I was somewhere on the property. And you can speak with dogs that are alive and those that have passed, right? Because a lot of people want to talk to their deceased dogs. Yes, my I know, I think I shared with you that a young woman came to I used to have a class. And of course, everything's now online. And she was wanting to talk to about her dog from 20 years ago, when she was a child. And so we got a chance. Now I have been turned down. And and you have to remember they have free will. So if they feel that what you're asking isn't healthy for you to know, then they will they will say no, no, we're not going to go there. And rarely, I have to tell you, it rarely happens twice, in probably 10 years. Just give you a little snapshot. And the reason why I asked later, I asked later, meaning, would you please tell me why. And and I have to wait till the readings over we've accomplished some things is that the truth was detrimental to the, to the past owners health meaning, one of the dogs was murdered. And so it wasn't, it didn't. The dog tail, they didn't do any constructive. Help to let her know that it would just cause more grief. And here it was 25 years ago, when she was a child. She wanted to know if the dog would had been shot her parents, actually when the foster parents said the neighbor shot them. And the foster parents actually shot him. They didn't want the dog. So we do have you know cruel people cruel animals beat. You can't say cruel animals, animals that aren't trained or loved or or, you know, habituated to people well enough and have bad experiences. I am more concerned with people having dogs that are shy and timid than aggressive. That's a whole different thing. And you You sound like you know what I'm talking about? aggression, we can see aggression, we can deal with it’s like a person comes up and yells at you and you go, what are you doing? What's really I don't even know you, but a dog who is scared. A person that's scared, you don't know what they're gonna do. They don't know what they're gonna do. It, they're, they're moving on the basis of fear. That's a dangerous place to be. So this is why I really talk about build your relationship out of love and respect. But build your relationship and build it with trust. Because when the chips are down, your dog thinks you're drowning. There's a million videos on internet I've run into the other day of people looking like they're drowning and the big giant dog jumps on and practically drowns them trying to save them. This English Mastive jumped on this guy and figured well, there you go. the guy's drowned now. So have those conversations with your pets. Talk to them. Tell them about your day. Believe it or not, it's free therapy. Yes, you have to feed the dog pick up his poop. But who wouldn't want to have that as his therapist, somebody with all fuzzy and huggable and that kind of stuff who listen? You've already bought him. You already paid the fee. So use them. And when you speak, you use your energy of how you explain to them so you're happy, mad, sad, glad and the whole conversation. They follow all that. And they map it for Okay. Well, this is what this means. Because this is the outcome that happened seven times when they did that. You want a dog that's going to protect you and save your life? Absolutely, they will do it. I want to encourage every person on the planet who's listening if you your pet starts scratching you, or women and men, if they start bumping you in the breast, go to the doctor tomorrow because they're trying to tell you something is up something is wrong. Can they smell cancer? Absolutely. Can they do they know when you're going to faint? Absolutely. They will pull you to the ground. That's what these dogs are trained to do. But your house dog, your regular little dog to our great game can do the same. They smell it. cancer has a very distinct odor. I get it from the experts, all the dogs have said this. I have personally never smelled cancer on my own. But what they're showing me is his dying, dying skin, you know, that rancid smell. So it really bothers them. They have higher senses when they're bonded to you. And that's why I said go out bond. love these lovely, amazing animals that we're so lucky to share our life with. They will share it back and they will save your life someday. That's very true. All of that. Well, yeah, even if it's just a hug on a long day after work, that could save your life. I many times just scoop him up and go, Oh, this is really nice. Really nice. Who doesn't want to be loved unconditionally? Because that's what your dog will do. If you give them a chance, any kind of chance, but you do owe them on the other side, not only the good food and good house and all that. But discipline, because love is in the discipline to say no, no, no, no, you're not going to jump on me. Can you imagine if you've got a six foot Great Dane, you know, and I mean, from tip to toe when he stands on his back legs, it can massacre you when you hit the cement. So it's not a good idea. Training is so vital, because it is a language of love. So when you're in the middle of a session, and you're asking the dog the question that the parent wants to know, do they just do they answer it and then take over the conversation? Oh, here's my chance to talk to my mom or dad. And this is what I want you to know. Do you need to keep asking questions? Or do they just take over the conversation? No, animals are very, I can't think of the right term. So we're going to go with they’re very Yes. No, something it's really good. We elaborate please. And, and it's really interesting, because it's very personal. It's like you and I. So if I came on your show, and you asked me that question, I went, Oh, yes, that's great. Oh, wow. Really a long interview, right? It's gonna be more painful than I thought it would be. But you have to bring them along. But you know what the easiest is when they have a parent that talks to them the way you and I are doing in conversing and showing them just sit down and watch a child read a book to their dog, just read a book to their dog. What does the dog do, especially if they had been read to before. And these library dogs are amazing, he will bring these great dogs to the library. And they read to the children. And it gets them to read because they're reading to a dog. And he's sitting on their feet. And it's just the dog knows that. that you’re there for the support. And that kind of stuff, get them up, first of all, learn to read great because I keep reading, if I had a dog sitting on my feet, and the dog understands, this is what we're doing. This is what brings them joy, you're going to have the same learn. So you're reading the story. And we walked up the hill all the way down. And I don't care if you read Dr. Seuss, up, down and all that rhyming stuff, the dog hears the timbre of your voice, the energy you put into it happy, sad, mad, glad, and all of this stuff. And then guess what? That's the building block for communicating. When you say no, don't run in the street. And you're estatic, because you're very worried that a car is gonna go by at that very second, or you're protecting them. your language builds on language, you and I know that just being in the world of people. everybody speaks differently. So you encourage those to be the shy ones. Yes, I'll have my honest answer is I have one kind of dog and client I don't like working with. It's the hardest thing I do. Lost pets, lost pets, because everybody's so stressed out. Everybody's freaking out. And I have to get the person to calm down. But what they're going through is very, very real. So I honor that but I have to get that energy down to going. Okay, it's like talking to Okay, I've never talked to lightning, but I would assume 50 electrons into a thunderstorm. So there's lightning and power and rain. And there's just all this jibble jabble and I got to get through to talk to the dog. The worst lost pet I I ever had. I only have one thank God in all these years that I could not… I found the dog. But we couldn't get the dog to tell us where she was. She actually freaked out. And then, and she doesn't have a lot of the dog is if she doesn't have a lot of experience with people. So she didn't have a huge experience to say, oh, good people bad people. I know my family is very good. And she's a very skittish breed. And she's small. So yeah, that was that was heartbreaking for me. I just wanted to ask you. Well, first of all, thank you. This is just so fascinating. And I wanted to ask you, in closing, after chatting with so many dogs, what is the one thing that you think that most dogs would want their people to know? Ironically, it's spend time with me. and we do especially now spend a lot of time so some might want to break, but they don't. They're pack animals and you're their pack leader. They want time with you. And it doesn't matter if you're sitting watching TV or whatever, they just want time with you. Good food, a good brushing. All of that is love. OFFER: Well, hopefully we've piqued some interest here. If anybody out there is interested in using Aminah’s services, when you book your appointment, please add WOL for wag out loud to your message to Aminah and get a one hour reading for $50 and that's a $25 discount for any of our listeners. Aminah, where can everyone find out more information about you and your company Bridging Worlds?   https://bridgingworlds.us/ that should give you everything about me where I'm at classes, I'm giving speeches on giving because I am a public speaker also talking about relationships. So it is all valuable with you and your dog. You are people. How many of us have dogs we call them people they are because they're our babies and I can help you there. But there's a lot of videos and stuff like that and a lot of fun stuff. I love humor. So there's a lot of sarcasm, a lot of funny things. Where to find me on Facebook: @BridgingWorldsPetPsychic Thank you so much. I had so much fun. Oh Aminah, we really appreciate everything that you do. everybody go out there and love your dog. We appreciate our sponsor: TEEF! Drinkable Dental Health As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL at checkout to get 20% off your purchase! Thanks so much to our friends at Primalhealth for sponsoring this episode.  They are the makers of TEEF Protektin42: Drinkable Dental Health for our dogs. Now this is a product that I can get behind! With over 80% of dogs over the age of three having active dental disease, it’s crucial that we get ahead of this condition. TEEF is a patented 100% nontoxic prebiotic formula that promotes protective bacteria to neutralize dangerous bacteria, even below the gum line. It’s a human-grade, safe and clinically-proven powder that is easily added to your dog’s drinking water. It promotes clean teeth, healthy gums and fresh breath!” What are you waiting for? Order yours today! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Aminah for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hi there dog lovers! Welcome to another episode where we can learn about wellness for our dogs. I have the honor of chatting with Kimberli Weeks, who is the founder of The Fittest Dog – and she's on a mission to change the lives of millions of dogs through the power of running. As a former Division One soccer player and marathoner, she knows high intensity exercise is essential for our well-being, and the same is true for our dogs. Her team of runners have helped hundreds of dogs overcome aggression issues, anxiety, and obesity – and in the process, they've transformed the lives of pet parents throughout San Diego. The Fittest Dog has been featured on NBC, Fox News, and San Diego Magazine; and they're preparing to scale up throughout southern California and beyond. What are the benefits of running with your dog? And how does running affect leash aggression and anxiety? How can we determine if our dog is a good candidate for running? What are your thoughts on running with puppies? What if a dog has joint issues? Would you suggest an activity with less impact? Should they be running right alongside you? What’s the necessary equipment? So that we don’t push them too hard, what should we pay attention to? What temperatures are too dangerous to run in? Is it true the more cushioned the ground, the better? What are some before and after stories that you can share on dogs that have benefited from running? Kimberli, where can everyone find out more information about you and The Fittest Dog? https://thefittestdog.com/ FB & IG: @thefittestdog We appreciate our sponsor: HappyBond As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL20 at checkout to get 20% off your purchase! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Kimberli for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Welcome dog lovers!  Want to know how to biohack your dog?  What does that actually mean?  Well, the expert on that subject, Dr. Jessica Fusch is here to tell us how.  Dr. Jess is a healer in the realest sense and combines Western medical knowledge with the Eastern wisdom of Traditional Chinese Food Therapy, Acupuncture as well as other holistic remedies to create a perfect plan from preventative care to a truly proper diet for your beloved pets to live their best and longest lives.  Dr. Jess has a dog food cooking show on YouTube called Farmer's Market Fido, hosts the Biohack Your Pets Podcast, and teaches dog parents to cook for their dog through her online course. Dr. Jess, you’ve been on quite the health journey yourself.  Can you share? What does biohacking your dog actually mean? Is it true that you see dogs with health issues that are the same as their owner? How does our stress affect our dog? What are the benefits of exercise? How do we provide better nutrition for our dogs? OFFER: Check out Dr. Jess’ amazing course on how to cook for your dog (hot topic)  https://www.drjessicafusch.com/diydogfood Dr. Jess, where can everyone find out more information about you, Key Vet Care, Farmer's Market Fido, and the Biohack Your Pets Podcast? https://keyvetcare.com/ Social Media: FB: @KeyVeterinaryCare IG: @keyvetcare

Hello Dog Lovers!  Welcome to the Wag Out Loud pawdcast!  You probably already know that we are obsessed with canine health and nutrition and here to geek out about dog food is Nikki Giovanelli who is a Registered Veterinary Technician with over 10 years of experience in the veterinary field. Nikki enjoys sharing information on her blog "The Canine Health Nut" about different aspects of canine nutrition through the review of scientific research, along with sharing dog food recipes for the beginner home cook. As a home cooker of over 5 years from a conventional veterinary background, she aims to educate and inform veterinary professionals and dog owners about the different options that are available when it comes to dog food. As a vet tech, what has your experience been with veterinarians approval of homemade diets? Why are many of them uncomfortable with homemade diets? Is there anything being done to better educate vets about whole food diets? In your mind, what are the positives and negatives of homemade diets for dogs? What can we do to help our conventional veterinarians be more comfortable with what we feed our dogs? How do you recommend we have these conversations? Are more practices bringing on nutritionists as part of the entire offering of veterinary care? Is it okay to change vets if we don't feel like we’re being heard? What is the best way to find an integrative or holistic veterinarian? Nikki mentioned: Balance IT  American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (to find an integrative or holistic vet near you) Pet Diets for complete and balanced recipes Just Food For Dogs and you can use code WOL50 when ordering for the first time and get 50% off for orders up to $25 Dr. Harvey’s Use code WOL10 for 10% off of your order Nikki, where can everyone find out more information about you and the Canine Health Nut? https://thecaninehealthnut.com/ FB & IG: @thecaninehealthnut  We appreciate our sponsor: Just Food for Dogs As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL50 at checkout to get 50% off your first time purchase (for orders up to $25)! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Nikki for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hi there dog lovers!  We are so grateful to Laura Gillice for sharing some very important safety information today.  Laura became addicted to agility with her Golden Retriever and three Australian Shepherds.  They traveled all over the country to compete and soon realized how important it was to secure the dogs in crates for their safety and hers.   Five years ago, they were vacationing in Yellowstone National Park and a young man fell asleep at the wheel and hit them head on at 45MPH.  They were ambulanced and air lifted out, but when the Rangers went to get Jade out of her plastic crate, it shattered and she bolted into the wilderness.  She was lost for 44 days.    Laura, thanks for being on the Wag Out Loud pawdcast.  Why don’t we start with your traumatic story? Yellowstone is a park that is over 2 million acres and home to several predators.  Did you ever give up hope of finding Jade? Was she hurt at all? What is the biggest lesson that you learned from this tragic ordeal?  The dogs were restrained in cages.  Looking back, what would you have done different? How were the dogs after the accident?  Reluctant to get back in a car? Why is an unrestrained dog in a car dangerous? Car safety is more than just strapping in our dogs.  What else should we consider?  Wire cages vs plastic.   There really aren’t any federal testing or performance standards set for dog crates, right?  So, they really aren’t crash tested? Which ones do you recommend? And a crate needs to be secured in place as well? What are your thoughts on harnesses secured by a seat belt? Or car or booster seats? What is the best way for us to know how to best retrain our dogs in the car? Laura mentioned: Consumers should verify certification by a third party like the Center for Pet Safety. Laura, where can everyone find out more information about you and your book, Bring Jade Home  or  Jade Lost in Yellowstone (children’s book) ? FB: @yellowstonedogjade We appreciate our sponsor: DoggyStat Just go to DoggyStat.com and be sure to use the code WOL to receive 10% off of your order Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Laura for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Welcome dog lovers to another fantastic Wag Out Loud episode! With us today is Spencer Kottcamp, who is the GM for a popular dog company called K9 Sport Sack. He has been involved in the pet industry for the last 3 years and  has owned dogs his entire life.  Currently living in Utah with his dog Harvey, Spencer loves dogs and the great outdoors! We all know how important it us for us and our dogs that we stay active, both physically and mentally.  And our dogs play off of our energy and habits, so if we tend towards the couch potato side, they will too.  And unfortunately, in North America, obesity is the most common preventable disease in dogs. Approximately 25-30% of the general canine population is obese, with 40-45% of dogs aged 5-11 years old weighing in higher than normal.  Like us, overweight dogs are more likely to suffer from diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Spencer, why do you think these stats are so high?  Why do you want to include Harvey in your outdoor activities? Spencer, how do you and Harvey stay active?  What fun activities do you do together? What types of products do you use to keep Harvey safe during all of your outdoor activities? What makes your products different? What went into the design and safety features? And your Rover2 can actually hold up to an 80 lb dog? And can you tell us about your No Dog Left Behind program? Do people ever ask you about why put a dog in a backpack when they can just walk or run themselves? OFFER: Save 10% on any of their products by going to K9SportSack.com and be sure to use the code WOL10 Spencer, where can everyone find out more information about you and K9 Sport Sack? https://www.k9sportsack.com/. spencer@k9sportsack.com Customer Servicecs@k9sportsack.com or 385.515.8908 M-F 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Social Media: IG @k9sportsack FB:  @k9sportsackusa  We appreciate our sponsor: K9 SPORTSACK As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL10 at checkout to get 10% off your purchase! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Spencer for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hello Dog lovers!  Today we have the honor of welcoming Joel Baardseth to the show  and he has been in the pet industry for twenty years and each year he learns more about the Power of Food to help our four-legged kids live their best lives. He is the Sales Operations Manager for one of my favorite raw food companies, Steve's Real Food. He teaches retail staff and the public how to use food to help with common dog and cat ailments. Joel, can you start by sharing what exactly is Leaky Gut?  Maybe we need a short dog anatomy lesson of the gut? I’ve heard a recent statistic that almost 90% of your dog’s immune system is in his gut … the immune cells protect the delicate border between the gut contents and his blood and organs. What causes it? What diseases can be caused by leaky gut? And what symptoms would we see? We’ve learned from previous episodes how important gut health is to our and our dog’s immune system.  So, with leaky gut, is it just a downward spiral and other chronic issues pop up as a result? This looks like an epidemic when it comes to our dogs.  Seems like more and more dogs are suffering from leaky gut.  How can it be cured? Other stressors? Diet plays a huge role.  Why are the highly processed diets a main cause? You suggest feeding raw?  Why? Can diet alone heal the gut? Any other supplements that should be added to specifically address the gut?  Pre and Probiotics? What is it about Steve’s Real Food that benefits our dogs’ gut? Joel mentioned the Adored Beast Leaky Gut Protocol OFFER: You too can try Steve’s Real Food by going to RawPetFood.com and Use code WOL10 to get 10% off of your order! Joel, where can everyone find out more information about you and Steve’s Real Food? Stevesrealfood.com joel@stevesrealfood.com Social Media: FB & IG @StevesRealFood We appreciate our sponsor: STEVE’S REAL FOOD As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL10 at checkout to get 10% off your purchase! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Joel for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hi there dog lovers!  We have some great news to share with you today.  I’d like to introduce Lauri Lewallen, a dog mom to 5 dogs and 1 sassy cat. She’s also a dog pre-neur and centers her life and business to “all things DOG.”  Lauri is the Exhibitor Program Manager at Dog is Good, a Kibble Specialist for a Northern California pet food company and a Brand Ambassador for DIG Direct.   Lauri, why don’t we start with Dog is Good.  For those not familiar with the brand, can you tell us a little about the company? And please introduce DIG Direct Why is this so different? Why is this such an no-brainer and win-win for all? Adding more products, services and experiences? Why is this the perfect time to get involved? What is the BOLO program? What does it cost? What support do I get? OFFER: To shop the amazing DIG Direct products, learn more about the Brand Ambassador or Superfan opportunities, check out WagOutLoud.DigDirect.com  Or since I’m a Brand Ambassador, I’d be happy to chat with you about why I’m so excited and what this could mean for you.  It would be fantastic to have you on our team!  Just email me at krista@wagoutloud.com Lauri, where can everyone find out more information about you and Dog is Good?  https://www.dogisgood.com/ Social Media: FB @dogisgood and join the Dog is Good Lifestyle Group IG @dogisgood We appreciate our sponsor: TEEF! Drinkable Dental Health As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL at checkout to get 20% off your purchase! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Lauri for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.

Hello there dog lovers!  We have another amazing episode for you as we chat with Anja Skodda, who is a biotech scientist that helped her dog to skateboard again with a special joint formulation. She created HAPPYBOND, a collagen building formula to help all pet parents to extend their best friends’ healthspan. Anja uses her science background to create clean, human-grade functional nutrition to help your dog stay healthy and strengthen that very special bond. Anja, I have to believe that our dogs’ health and strength tend to deteriorate with age just like what happens to us. Is that right? And I’ve heard that loss of mobility is one of the foremost causes of euthanasia. That’s awful! But you’re here to share with us that many changes in our dogs’ mobility can be addressed and that there are things that we can do to improve their overall wellness and even lengthen their lifespan. What happens to our dogs’ joints as they age? Before we talk about supplements for joint health, what about the joint and pain meds like gabapentin, NSAIDs, aspirin and Rimadyl? When talking about supplements for pain and inflammation, many of us see products with glucosamine and chondroitin.  Do they work? Many of us have heard the buzz about collagen and before prepping for this interview I never knew that 30% of the total protein in a dog’s body is collagen and that Collagen makes up 70 to 90% of a dog’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments.  What exactly is it and does collagen production typically diminish as dogs age? I make bone broth for my dog.  Isn’t that a great source of collagen? Besides keeping joints young, what other benefits are there in collagen? What are the ingredients in HappyBond and how do they work together? What makes HappyBond different from other supplements on the market? And you have a patent pending is that right? Do we give as a preventative or just when we notice mobility issues?  That’s why you have 3 diff formulas for all life stages… Why is this Cesar Millan’s #1 supplement for joint support? Can you share some success stories? OFFER: if you are interested in trying HappyBond on your dog, Anja and her team are offering a 20% discount to our listeners.  Just use code WOL20 when shopping on HappyBOND.com Anja, where can everyone find out more information about you and HappyBOND? https://happybond.com/ Social Media:  FB & IG: @happybondpet We appreciate our sponsor: HappyBond As a Wag out Loud listener you can use code WOL20 at checkout to get 20% off your purchase! Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the Bark About it section. Or you can click on the social media buttons to share an episode. Special thanks to Anja for being on the show. Catch you next time! Also, don’t forget to Subscribe for FREE and please leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Android | Spotify I Stitcher I iHeartRADIO “The Wag Out Loud pawdcast is supported by listeners like you! The show started as a passion project that would help all of us make well-informed decisions for our dogs’ health and well-being. After many amazing guests, intriguing topics and incredible feedback, the WOL pawdcast is hitting a nerve. If you are interested in having your dog live healthier and longer and are finding value in this podcast, why not contribute to the show’s success? It would not be possible to consistently produce a quality show without the listener support that is received. Thanks to all of the dog lovers out there!” The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. It is no substitute for professional care by a veterinarian, licensed nutritionist or other qualified professional. The host as well as guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions, and Wag Out Loud LLC neither endorses or opposes any particular views discussed here.