We know that people can have different types of intelligence, but what about our dogs?  I think every pet parent I know has been astonished by how smart their dog is – and usually in a good way.

Author Jennifer Holland explores the many different ways that dogs show their intelligence in her new book Dog Smart: Life Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence.

Jennifer interviewed everyone from scientists to dog trainers to pet parents to learn how dogs demonstrate their smarts.  I was fascinated to learn about all the different types of working dogs – some of which I’d never heard of before!

But what does this mean for pet parents?  Jennifer shares with us what she now does differently with her own dogs after everything she learned while writing Dog Smart. We also discuss the types of intelligence we’ve seen in our own dogs.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with an animal communicator?   

After connecting with Nancy Mello earlier this year, Tim & I decided to book a session with her to see if we could get some insight into the lack of connection between our old man Neno and newly adopted Nessie.  

During our session with Nancy, there were several points that didn’t resonate with us at the time. But over the following days and weeks, more of Nancy’s insights started to make sense. 

Tim & I decided to listen to our recorded session from start to finish and reflect on the statements that didn’t make sense at the time but later became a-ha! moments.  So I thought I’d turn on the microphones and capture this for you.

 In Part 1, you’ll hear Neno and Nessie each share their side of a scuffle that happened in our living room.  Then we check-in with Neno, both physically and emotionally.

Did you know there are many reasons why a dog could be wearing a muzzle?  I like to think that the presence of a muzzle isn’t the sign of a bad dog – but of a good pet parent!

Clara Hewson spent years advising pet parents on the benefits of training their dog to wear a muzzle. But Clara had never experienced one of her own dogs needing to be muzzled in public – until she adopted Tolly.  And Clara became shocked by the stigma she & Tolly began to experience.

Clara was searching for the “perfect” muzzle design – one that gave Tolly enough room to pant and receive treats – and when she couldn’t find it, she decided she would create it herself.  Now you can shop at The Muzzle Movement to find muzzles that are safe, secure and fun to accessorize.

Clara shares with us the exact steps to start muzzle training your dog. 

We’re joined by Mindy Meiering, LCSW, a licensed therapist, life coach, and mindfulness teacher who specializes in grief and loss. Even though Mindy has supported thousands of clients and families through major losses and life transitions, she was blindsided by how devastated she felt after losing her first dog, Ellie.

Calling upon all the tools and resources she learned, Mindy created the Rainbow Bridge Deck to support pet parents grieving the loss of a beloved companion.

In Part 2 with Chris Hanna (Dog Dad to Cole the Deaf Dog), I share my observation that not only is Cole a special dog, but that Chris is a special human to have the emotional bandwidth to hold space for the many people he encounters during their therapy work.  Chris explains how Cole’s influence has shown him parts of himself that he didn’t know he had.

Chris also shares with us the incredible media opportunities and awards of recognition that he & Cole have received.  From Good Morning America, Rachel Ray, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and Lester Holt to being the first deaf dog to receive a Hero Dog Award.  Oh Em Gee! (Ahem, *cough* Kelly Clarkson next?!)

 But while this attention has been thrilling and surreal for Chris, it’s also come with a dark side – online harassment and bullying due to Cole’s breed.

Sometimes a dog comes along, and nothing is ever the same again – in the best way possible!  In 2017, when Chris Hannah decided it was time to adopt a dog, he didn’t realize exactly how much of a life-changing of a decision this would be.

From day one, Chris witnessed the impact Cole made on his students and everyone he meets.  Learning about Cole’s disability opened an unexpected dialogue for children (and adults too!) that disabilities aren’t inabilities – and sometimes those qualities that make us different are our superpowers.

Today we’re talking to renowned trainer Deb Jones about Cooperative Care - the most important skills you’re (probably) not training your dog to do!  Also called Consent Care or Husbandry, I’m referring to the procedures needed to keep dogs healthy such as veterinary care and grooming.

Deb is the author of the book Cooperative Care: Seven Steps to Stress-Free Husbandry.  Her methods encourage our dogs to become willing partners in the training process rather than using heavy-handed forceful practices that can damage our relationship with our dog and hurt their trust.

Deb shares with us what she learned from dolphin trainers that will help our dogs, what to do if you accidentally “quick” your dog while trimming their nails and how to handle those times when your dog needs immediate care to avoid causing a setback in your training and relationship. We’ll also hear the #1 most common skill that veterinarians wish Pet Parents trained their dogs to do!

It’s the Puppy Episode! 

So how do you best set up your new puppy for success – not just in your home but in the world too?  What is proper puppy socialization?  And what isn’t? 

As the author of the book, Welcoming Your Puppy From Planet Dog – How to Go Beyond Training and Raise Your Best Friend, Kathy shares with us everything we need to before we bring one home.  From setting up your home to setting your expectations, Kathy’s book is not just a “how to” reference but a mindset guide as well. 

Did you know that the health decisions you make for your dog today impact their long-term health?  Including whether your dog could be at-risk developing Canine Cognitive Dysfunction aka canine dementia.

Francine Barish-Stern learned all of this first-hand after her experiences with her dog, Shamrock.  She spent years trying to get a proper diagnosis for Shamrock that would explain both the physical and the behavior changes she was seeing in her dog: Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. 

Now a Dog Mom advocate on a mission, Francine shares with us everything Pet Parents should know about treating and preventing canine dementia in our dogs.

What do you think are the most common complaints our dogs have about us Pet Parents?  Animal Communicator Nancy Mello shares the two most common grievances she hears – and I definitely needed to hear this!

While some of us might be completely intrigued by the concept of animal communication, for Nancy Mello, her experience has not been all “love & light.”  Nancy describes herself as not at all woo-woo. She spent the first 30+ years of her life trying to repress her abilities and just live as a “normal” daughter, military spouse and mom.