Theory Of Pets Podcast

Fresh food is exactly what it sounds like – fresh, whole food ingredients. No processed junk. No preservatives or fillers. It’s just real food that you can see and smell. Now, think about the food you feed your dog or cat? Does it fall into this category?

Puppy mills – we’ve all heard the term, but do you know what these breeding facilities really are, and how they're classified? Are you aware of how to avoid purchasing dogs from puppy mill? Finally, what should you do if you discover a puppy mill in your local area? PETA representative is here to answer these and other questions.

Medicinal marijuana has become quite a hot topic in the human health field in recent years. We’ve seen some states legalize medicinal marijuana, while others are extremely opposed to the practice. With all of this talk about the benefits of medicinal marijuana for humans, many people overlook the benefits that this plant may have for our canine companions.

This time of year shelters are overrun with spring litters. Spring is also a great time to adopt a new furry friend. The weather is getting warmer, the snow is gone and you can finally get outside to enjoy time with a pet or do some outdoor training without worrying about the cold winter winds. Especially if you’re a first time pet parent, there are a few things you need to do before bringing your new pet home. Aimee Gilbreath is the Executive Director of the Michelson Found Animals Foundation. I spoke with her this week about the things that we need to know about adopting a new companion animal. In this podcast she shares her advice on what to think about before you decide to adopt, tips on pet proofing your home, and how to make the transition as easy for you, your family and your new pet as possible. Aimee also discussed a recent survey performed by the Michelson Found Animals Foundation. They questioned 1,000 people about their belief in love at first sight. You may be wondering what this has to do with s

Now that spring is here, pet owners everywhere are looking forward to getting out and getting active with their dogs. There are many things that you can do with your canine companion from daily walks to agility training. Whether you have a senior pooch or a playful puppy, it would benefit you both to get out and get active together. This week I had the chance to chat with Liz Claflin, the Director of Operations at Zoom Room. Zoom Room is a franchised indoor dog training gym that offers traditional training classes, advanced training classes and doggy playgroups. Liz knows all about the importance of keeping a dog active and stimulating a canine mentally to prevent boredom. In this interview, Liz discusses the many different ways to can get out and about with your dog and how to keep Fido safe while doing so. She discusses the supplies you’ll need while adventuring with your dog and the best ways to find dog-friendly establishments in your area.  Liz also tells us all about Zoom Room and how you can find a loc

Are you thinking about marketing a pet product? Do you already have a prototype? Maybe you just have an idea, but don’t know how to get started. Barton O’Brien was in the same boat a few years ago, and now his company The Chesapeake Bay Dog Company has rebranded and is growing rapidly. I was able to interview Barton earlier this week to discuss how he got involved in the pet industry and the struggles that he has faced throughout the process. He also explained all about the rebranding procedures and the exciting things that we can expect from BAYDOG in the near future. The Chesapeake Bay Dog Company is a veteran-owned business, so I’d like to take the time to thank Barton for his service to our country. He feels that it is important for companies to give back, and he’s chosen to work with charities that benefit veterans and dogs (and in some cases, even veteran dogs!). A portion of the proceeds from BAYDOG products goes to help SaveAVet.org and The Warrior Dog Foundation.

DNA tests for dogs are very similar to those for humans. Whether you’ve used one yourself or you’ve seen one performed on television, you’re probably familiar with these cheek swab tests. Human DNA tests can tell us whether we’re related to one another and how strong that relation is. They can also give us some insight onto our genetic makeup. Did you know that you can get the same type of information about your dog? That’s right! Dog DNA tests can tell you a lot more than just the breeds that your Fido is made up of. Of course, it depends on the brand of test that you choose. Every company runs a different set of tests, which means that you’ll get different results depending on the test you purchase. Embark is one of the leading doggy DNA test companies, and I wanted to see what set this brand apart from others. Ashley Troutman, a representative from Embark, spoke with me about the different types of dog DNA tests on the market, what we can learn from these tests, and what types of innovations may be coming

Clean eating is a very simple term, literally. It just means the act of eating foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Clean foods are those that are minimally processed or not processed at all. Clean foods have no artificial fillers, colors or preservatives. They are just simple, whole foods that are close to natural as they can possibly be. As with many other health food trends, we’re beginning to see the clean eating trend take over the pet food industry. Owners want more than natural, organic ingredients in their pet’s food. They want simple, unprocessed ingredients that are full of nutritional benefits. They don’t want unnecessary ingredients either. Pet owners want their dogs and cats to eat nutritious food made with ingredients that serve a nutritional purpose. NUTRO has come out with new FEED CLEAN recipes that offer this type of nutrition to pet owners. I spoke with Arren Beach, NUTRO brand manager to find out more about the clean eating trend and how it may affect the pet food in

I love hiking with my dogs, but it’s not as easy as most people think it is. I’ve heard many stories from pet owners who weren’t prepared for a hike with their dog, and it ended in disaster. It’s important that you plan ahead for the hike. You need to know what to bring, where to go and what you should be looking out for. This week I decided to share my tips for hiking with dogs. I start by explaining what you need to do before you even think about setting off on your adventure. Does your dog have a microchip? Identification tags? Has he been checked out by your veterinarian? These are all things that you should be considering if you’re planning to go hiking with your canine companion. I’m sharing my packing tips for all the must-have items to bring along, and I’ll also let you know what you should be looking out for during your trip. Do you know how often you should be stopping to give your dog a drink or a snack? That’s alright. I’m going to fill you in on all the do’s and don’ts of hiking with dogs in this

It’s finally starting to feel like spring, and I can’t wait to get back outside with my dogs. The winters in Maine (where I live) are long. Very long! With 5-8 feet of snow blanketing the ground in the winter months, it can be challenging to get outdoor exercise. It mostly consists of regular walks and playing around in our yard. But, with spring comes the revival of all of my favorite human/dog activities. Since we do have such long winters, I really try to make the most of the spring, summer and fall. We love hiking with our dogs, but I know that’s not for everyone. This week I decided to share some of my favorite activities to do with your dog when the weather is nice. From paddle boarding to agility work, I’ve covered a ton of fun dog-friendly activities in this episode! I also talk briefly about the things you need to consider when selecting an activity to do with your dog. All dogs are different, and you definitely need to find something that will be fun for you and your Fido.

Dog training is perhaps the most frustrating aspect of dog ownership. Whether you’re a first time owner or a seasoned pet parent, there are challenges that pop up during training that none of us expect. Many of us have sought help from the dog training isle of a pet store, only to find that there are countless products to choose from. How do you know which products actually work? Jessica O’Neill had this same problem. She knows exactly what it’s like to be in this situation. And, unfortunately she couldn’t find anything that worked for her and her pooch. So, she did the next best thing – she created a harness that would help her train her canine companion. Jessica isn’t just an inventor; she’s also a highly qualified dog trainer. In this podcast episode she’s giving us some tips on how to work with our dogs to make training as easy as possible. She’s got some great tips about understanding your dog and helping him understand what your expectations are. In the words of Jessica, “It’s not how your dog behaves t

What is a service dog? Service dogs are a type of assistance dog that are specifically trained to help someone who has a disability. This disability may be a visual or hearing impairment. Service dogs can also help individuals who suffer from seizure disorders or paralysis. Until recently, there was no record of a cardiac alert service dog, but one Labrador Retriever is changing that fact! Marty Harris suffers from a cardiac condition that causes her to faint, and she had been fainting daily since she was in elementary school until she met Adele. In this week’s episode, Marty is here to talk about her and Adele’s inspiring story and bring awareness to the huge impact that a service dog can have on a person’s daily life. Adele lives a life of retirement now, and Marty has brought a new service dog into their lives. How is Adele coping with the change? How is Marty coping with the change? She’ll explain it all in this week’s podcast.

What is Dogtology? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out all the details, but author Jeff Lazarus is here to chat with me about this term that he coined. Have you noticed that dogs and cats seem to be everywhere you look nowadays? They are used in commercials and advertisements, and the pet industry has EXPLODED in the last decade. Do we worship our dogs and cats? You may not think you do, but once you listen to what Jeff has to say you may quickly realize just how much our lives are centered around our furry companions. Jeff’s hilarious books Dogtology and Catakism are delightful reads that every pet owner can relate to. And, the books aren’t all about humor. There are also some great tips for communicating with your pets and understanding what they are trying to tell you. In this week’s podcast episode, Jeff explains how he came up with the idea behind these books. He also explains how to go about getting your book idea off the ground, if that’s something that you’ve been thinking about.

A runaway pet is one of the biggest nightmares that we have as cat and dog owners. The worry that your pet will escape your home or yard is one that looms over us every day. And, that worry becomes greater when we travel with our animals. What if my dog jumps out of the car when I stop to get gas? What if my cat escapes while we’re on our way to the vet? In this podcast episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Aimee Gilbreath, the executive director of the animal welfare non-profit Michelson Found Animals. Not only is the company focused on keeping pets safe at home with their owner, they also offer the first FREE national microchip registry. Don’t know what microchipping is all about? That’s alright; Aimee gave me all the details! We also chatted about other things that pet owners can do to ensure that their cats and dog do not get lost. Some of the tips that Aimee shared are easy every day  things to keep in mind, while others (like microchipping) will require assistance from a professional. In this pod

Losing a beloved pet is one of the most difficult experiences. It’s heartbreaking. Our pets become members of our family, and when we lose them there is a hole left in our hearts. Suzanna Lane is an author from New York City, and she was devastated after the loss of her first dog, Sammy. She felt compelled to write a book about Sammy’s life and the changes that he made to hers. You see, Sammy was a rescue dog. Anyone who has ever loved a rescue pet understands that the bond you form with them is different than the bond formed when you adopt a pet as a baby. You’re rescuing them. You’re saving their life. And, if you’re as lucky as Suzanne, they just might rescue you too. This week’s podcast focuses on the benefits of adopting pets over purchasing from a pet store or breeder. We also discuss Suzanne’s book, A Little Sammy Music. Both Suzanne and I share stories of the beloved rescue pets that we have adopted over the years and the meaning that they have brought to our lives.

Have you ever given your pet a massage? If you’ve ever stroked your pet lovingly from neck to tail, then you have! Most of us think of a relaxing deep tissue massage when think about massage therapy. In fact, pet massage involves many different techniques, and this week I talked with an expert in the field to learn more about the benefits of pet massage and get some tips for pet owners at home who would like to give their furry companion a massage once in a while. Jacqueline Newholm is a trained pet massage therapist based in the UK. Her business, Big Brown Dog Therapy, just celebrated its one year anniversary. However, Jacqueline has been involved with pet message for much longer than that. In this week’s episode she talks about the many benefits of pet massage and shares some tips for pet owners about massaging their companion at home. You learn about the science behind pet massage and the many different ailments that it can help to treat. Did you know that massage is also beneficial for working animals and

Low level light therapy (LLLT) has been used as a healing practice in veterinary medicine for decades, but you’ve probably never even heard of it. I had heard a few whispers about the treatment method, but didn’t know much about it until an email from a company called LumaSoothe crossed my desk. They’ve created a handheld LLLT device that pet owners can use to treat their pets at home. Of course, this piqued my interest and I started doing some research on the subject. I was inspired by what I was reading, so I decided to reach out to the CEO of LumaSoothe, Mr. Craig Froley, to talk more about the concept. In this week’s podcast, Craig tells us all of the details about light therapy for pets and his company’s unique device. What are the benefits of light therapy? Does it work for all pets? Is it only useful for senior animals? You might be surprised to find out just how beneficial this treatment option is for pets of all sizes and shapes. Whether you’re pet is active in competitions or a mellow senior with ar

Raw food diet is a very controversial topic in the pet food industry right now. Some pet owners believe that our pets’ ancestors ate a raw diet, so it’s best if we feed them the same types of food. Other people believe that raw food is the home of many harmful bacteria and parasites that could make our pets very sick. This week, I wanted to get some more information about this hot topic. I spoke with Mark Sapir, Chief Marketing Officer at Stella & Chewy’s. Stella & Chewy’s is a pet food company that strives to offer pet parents a commercially available way to feed their furry companion a raw food diet that is both healthy and safe. They follow strict guidelines to ensure that the diets they provide to pet owners are nutritionally balanced and properly prepared to prevent the spread of bacteria. During our interview Mark explained the benefits of a raw food diet. He also told me whether or not the diet is safe pets of every age, size and activity level. While Mark offers a lot of great information in t

Anxiety in pets is becoming more and more common. As most owners must work outside the home, we are also seeing more pets being left alone for a large part of the day. How can you tell if that naughty behavior just requires additional training or if it’s a sign of pet anxiety? If you’re already pretty sure that it’s anxiety, how do you know that it is because of an environmental variable? What if the emotional and behavior symptoms are also stemming from an underlying healthy condition? Jessa Paschke is a professional pet trainer with Mars Petcare, and she told me all about the signs and symptoms of pet anxiety that you should be looking for and what to do if you notice them. Jessa shares some great information for beginner and advanced pet owners in this week’s episode. She also gives us some great resources to use to educate ourselves about pet anxiety and discusses a few products that may help you when trying to cope with your pet’s condition.

Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, PhD is back with some great information to share with pet owners about the differences between wet and dry kibble. She discusses how to choose the right diet for your dog and the advantages and disadvantages or wet and dry diets. She will also be sharing some helpful tips for dog owner who may be interested in transitioning their pet to a new diet. One of the things that many pet owners don’t realize when shopping for a food for their furry companion is the quality of the packaging and how that can affect the food itself. If you’re buying a high quality, all-natural food for your pet with no artificial ingredients, toxins and chemicals could still be leeching into the food through the packaging. A new type of packaging from Tetra Pak is being used by Petcurean and other pet food companies to reduce these risks. They are making food packages (which are also becoming more popular in the human food industry) that are made from renewable resources. The packages are specifically engineered to