Raising Your Paws- Your resource for dog & cat pet parents

First, I want to give you an update on how Rosy is doing since I wrote the blog, #106 telling you about her diagnosis of cancer. 

Then, I have heard that it is not uncommon for dogs to lose their hearing as they age.  This got me thinking - this could happen with Rosy and I wondered what it would mean for taking care of her.  So, I looked up a website I had heard about recently, called Deaf Dogs Rock as well as their social media pages.   There is gobs of handy tips and things to know if you have a deaf dog or one that is losing its hearing. Having never known much about this, and being impressed by this great website resource, I asked the founder and president of Deaf Dogs Rock, Christina Lee to tell her story on the show. What it is like to have a deaf dog and what are some important things to know about deaf dogs.    

Can male cats still spray if they have been neutered? Yes they can. Maybe you’ve noticed a new pungent smell in your house or perhaps even seen your cat spraying on your furniture or backing up to your walls with their tail sticking up and depositing a small amount of urine on the wall. How can this happen, you might be thinking? My vet told me that once they are neutered that is not supposed to happen. Though telling the story of my cat Willie who took to spraying in all the corners of my new house even though he had been neutered years before, I’ll explain a number of the reasons why cats may begin to spray and what you can do to stop it. 

It’s time for us to select the two people to win three months of free pet food that was part of celebrating our reaching our 100 episode. Thank you for everyone who left a comment on our website or Facebook page during the promotion period. We’ll be putting your names in the hat and randomly selecting two people to win either the free dog or cat food. We’ll be getting in contact with you if your name is pulled. Good luck. 

Additional Resources for the Show.

Deaf Dogs Rock Website.

Deaf Dogs Rock on Facebook.

Deaf Dogs Rock on Instagram.

Here are links to the resources Christina Lee mentioned during our conversation.

A video with American Sign Language Interpreter – Alisha McGraw

Field of Dreams Dog Training

Dog Trainer specializing in deaf dogs - Terrie Hayward

First, why are the animals we share our lives with called pets?  Where did that word come from? The word first entered the English language in Scotland and Northern England around 1500 and pet meant a spoiled child or a favorite. Ah, that’s probably where the expression teacher’s pet comes from. Hear how it evolved to mean beloved animal companions.  

Are you considering daycare for your dog?  Wondering how to find one that your dog will love and also relieve your mind that you’ve left it in safe hands for the day? Or maybe you want to know what is the big deal about it is and why to spend the money at all on daycare when your dog seems fine staying at home.  My guest is Neil Gill, the CEO and president of Dogtopia, the leading provider of dog daycare in North America and he will answer these questions and give you an insider’s view into the world of doggie daycare.  

This week’s creature feature is rather macabre and creepy. But it’s fitting as Halloween is just past, and it could also be an Easter story as well. Here is a story about a dog, I’m calling, Never Say Die. Another mention of a cat being “resurrected” caught my eye. 

October just ended and you have a few more days as a new month starts, to win our promotion and receive 3 months of free pet food. Just leave a comment about one of our 100th episodes on either the show page at www.raisingyourpaws.com or on our Facebook page. We’ll randomly select 2 winners from the comments.  Make sure you get your comments in before November 15, 2021.  Good luck. 

Our new producer is Talk North. The largest sports, outdoor, and lifestyle podcast network in the upper Midwest. Check them out at Talknorth.com. You’ll find this podcast there as well.

Additional Resources for the show. 

Source for story about where word pet comes from:  “Pet Nation” by Mark L. Cushing. 

Dogtopia’s website.

Press Release about the Partnership between NutriSource Pet Foods and Dogtopia. 

The reading program Neil Gill talked about in the show. Sit, Stay, Read. 

The autism organization Neil Gill talked about in the show: Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.

Source for the stories about pets that cheated death: “Amazing But True Dog Tales” by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, complied by Muriel MacFarlane and “Pet Nation” by Mark L. Cushing.

Have you tried to take photos of your cat in low light? If so, you’ll know that most often the pictures show their eyes as being just bright shining yellow circles.  Why is this? I’ll explain the special physical feature felines have that cause this and why they have it. 

We know that we feel stress and that it can affect our health. Dog and cats also experience physical and emotional stress that can result in health issues, but it can also reveal itself as behavior problems. In this episode, I’m replaying a part of an interview from my Wild about Pets Radio show with Dr. Paul McCutcheon, the author of the book, The New Holistic Way for Dogs and Cats. The Stress-Health connection, written with Susan Weinstein. We talk about some of the kinds of stress that can affect pets and how to monitor and remedy it. 

In the last episode, I promised I’d tell you what is considered to be the best game ever to play with your dog.  This game develops a strong bond with your canine, teaches them manners, allows them to safely express their wolf instincts, and has you maintaining leadership and its lots of fun for your dog. All great games have rules - to play them properly, and this one does too. You may already play this game with your dog but knowing why the game is so beneficial and what the official rules are will be interesting to you. In this episode, I’ll list the 7 short rules you’ll want to know and the ones to teach your dog.  

We’re still celebrating reaching 100 episodes by giving away 3 months of free pet food to 2 lucky winners through the month of October, 2021. For your chance to win, please leave a comment about one of the 100th shows, on the episode pages on the website, raisingyourpaws.com or on our Raising Your Paws Facebook page.  We’ll randomly select 2 winners from the comments.

Our new podcast producer is Talk North. The largest sports, outdoor and lifestyle podcast network in the upper Midwest. Check them out at Talknorth.com.

Additional Resources for the show:

RaisingYourPaws.com

Dr. Paul McCutcheon’s clinic: East York Animal Clinic & Holistic Centre.

Amazon link to order The New Holistic Way for Dogs and Cats: The Stress-Health Connection by Paul McCutcheon, DVM and Susan Weinstein. 

Source for the story about the best game ever: Tug of War. 30 Days To A Well –Mannered Dog. The Loved Dog™ Method by Tamar Geller. 

In this week’s creature feature stories, hear about two dogs who volunteered for the postal service and loved their work. 

Do you wonder how you can stop your cat from doing certain things like biting or wrecking your furniture with their constant scratching? Pam Johnson-Bennett, a certified cat behavior consultant is one of the foremost experts on cat behavior and she has answers today about why cats do what they do and how to solve some of the most common behavior problems. 

Does your dog know how to heel when out walking with you? I never taught my dog Rosy to do this but I’ve wondered should I teach the command?  And does the dog need to heel the whole time?  In this episode, I’ll tell you where this command originated and talk about the importance of a dog walking nicely beside you on a loose leash but that making a dog heel for the whole walk is not in the best interest of your dog’s mental and physical well-being and happiness. 

In the next episode, I’ll tell you what is considered to be the best game ever for dogs.

We’re still celebrating reaching 100 episodes by giving away 3 months of free pet food to 2 lucky winners through the month of October. For your chance to win, please leave a comment about one of the 100th shows, on Raising Your Paws website or Facebook page.  We’ll randomly select 2 winners from the comments.

Check out our new producer’s website at Talk North.com. They are the largest sports, outdoor and, lifestyle podcast network in the upper Midwest. 

Additional Resources for the show.

RaisingYourPaws.com

Source for the creature feature stories – “Amazing but True Dog Tales” by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo.  

Pam Johnson-Bennett’s website: Cat Behavior Associates.

To order “Think like a Cat” and Pam’s other books about cat behavior. 

Source for the story about dog’s heeling – “30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog” by Tamar Geller.

Cats learn to fear their carriers if the only time they see it appear is when it is taken out of the closet, they are shoved inside it, taken away from their home, dragged out of the case, plopped on a slippery cold, metal surface and some strange person starts poking and prodding them. Of course, they come to associate the sight of the crate with the unpleasant experience of going to the vet.  You are going to do the opposite and train your new kitten right from the very start to associate the carrier with fun, positive experiences.   And it’s not too late to get your older cat to accept one as well. In this episode, I’ll explain the steps to take so that transporting the cat is easier for you and the feline when you do have to go to the vet.  

Why keep feeding your dog’s meals from the same old food bowls, when there are so many other ways to do this that make your dog happy and mentally stimulated. In my conversation with Ben Rimbey, head dog trainer with Lucky Mutt Dog Training and for the “Fairly Odd Dogs” (Disc Dog performers) on social media, he explains that you can train your dogs and strengthen your bond with them at the same time by “Ditching the Bowl.” Then, learn a fun game for your dog that that builds confidence and makes eating more engaging called “Cardboard Castles”. 

There’s a cool new app to know about. Do you like to keep track of how many steps you walk? Or have you ever walked to raise money for a charity or cause?  If you have a dog, I know you’re out there walking together and there is an app, I just found out about that combines all these things.  It’s called WoofTrax. It keeps track of how long you and your dog are walking and makes money at the same time to support your favorite animal organizations.  I’ll explain how it works to make walking your dog so rewarding and how you’ll still want to use it, even if you don’t have a dog.

We’re still celebrating reaching 100 episodes by giving away 3 months of free pet food to 2 lucky winners through the month of October 2021. Get your chance to win, by leaving a comment about one of the 100th shows, on the episode pages on the website, raisingyourpaws.com. Or tell us what you think of the podcast on our Raising Your Paws Facebook page.  We’ll randomly select 2 winners from the comments.

If you like sports, or outdoor life podcasts, be sure to check out our new producer’s other podcasts, at www.talknorth.com. They are the largest sports, outdoor, and lifestyle podcast network in the upper Midwest. 

Additional Resources for the Show.

Resource for the story about cat carriers – “Complete Kitten Care” by Amy Shojai.

Lucky Mutt Dog Training Website. 

Fairly Odd Dogs (Disc Dog performers) on Facebook

Fairly Odd Dogs on Instagram. 

About the App: www.WoofTrax.com

Did you know that over 200 dogs helped alongside the emergency personnel at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Land Fill where debris was taken?  These dogs worked tirelessly to search the wreckage, bringing closure to families who had lost loved ones and offering comfort to the workers at the sites. In commemoration of the anniversary of 9-11 this is a replay of a conversation I had with Nona Kilgore Bauer, author of Dog Heroes of September, 11th.  A Tribute to America’s Search and Rescue Dogs. Ms. Kilgore Bauer tells stories of the individual dogs and how they were able to do the remarkable and dangerous work they did. See illustrating photos at www.raisingyourpaws.com. 

Additional Resources for the Episode.

Order the book- Dog Heroes of September 11th. 

Nona Kilgore Bauer’s other books on Amazon.

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. 

Prevent Kittens from Biting Hands & At Home Sports to Keep Dogs Physically fit. 

Do you have a new kitten at home? Or are thinking about getting one? I want to offer you a kitten care tip about playing with your new kitty. From your kitten’s perspective, you are now mom whether you are male or female. As a surrogate mother it is your job to teach your cat not to bite human skin. In this episode, I’ll explain the very first thing to do (and not to do) in order to guide your kitten in the right direction for successful and painless interactions with people. 

Do you wonder if there are some easy sports or activities you could do with your dog to give them more exercise and keep them fit other than walking?  My guest Ben Rimbey, head trainer for Lucky Mutt Dog Training in Minnesota and the “Fairly Odd Dogs” on social media shares how you and your dog can play some sports together. He’ll explain a few of the unusual skills you can train, such as calmness and focus that creates a better bond between the two of you, and also makes teaching your dog how to play Frisbee and/or use dog exercise equipment fun and effective.

Dogs eat the strangest things don’t they?  In this week’s “Creature Feature” listen to 3 stories of dogs with very unusual appetites. It’s a wonder the things they ingested didn’t result in killing them.  

News! NutriSource Pet Foods and the Raising Your Paws Podcast have teamed up with the Talk North Podcast Network, the largest sports, outdoor and lifestyle podcast network in the Upper Midwest. They produce over 20 different podcasts with some of the top hosts, experts and influencers in these respective industries. 

We are very excited to be partnering with Talk North.

It’s our 100th episode! We want to celebrate. We’re going to give away 3 months of NutriSource Pet food (equivalent to 3 large bags of food) to two winners. To be considered for this award, please leave a comment about the 100th podcast episode, on either the website, www.raisingyourpaws.com or on our facebook page and show us a favorite photo of your pet with their name and we’ll randomly select from the comments. Good luck!     

Additional Resources for the Show. 

Source for the story about cat play – Complete Kitten Care by Amy Shojai.

Lucky Mutt Dog Training website.

Fairly Odd Dogs on Instagram

The resources Ben Rimbey spoke about:

Absolute Dogs  for more training games. 

Susan Garrett’s Website.

Where to buy discs for dogs – Hero Disc U.S.A. 

Up Dog Challenge

Dog exercise equipment: Toto fit LLC.  Or Fit Paws U.S.A.   

The fit bone is the one Ben Rimbey recommended as a start. 

NutriSource Element Series – A high Percentage Meat dog food. 

Source for Creature Feature stories - Exploding Pigs and Other Bizarre Animal Stories by Ian Simmons. 

Sometimes, someone has got to step in between others to avoid a fight. It may be your dog that does this. I’ll explain this dog signal called “splitting” and reveal how you can use this behavior yourself to calm your dog.

Plus, just as Superman would lose his powers when exposed to Kryptonite, there are certain things women and some men, do around their dogs that can act like kryptonite and strip their powers away. Camilla Gray-Nelson, dog trainer and author, of Lipstick and the Leash: Dog Training a Woman’s way, is back for part two of her interview and explains what women, unknowingly do that results in their dogs not listening to them. Once aware of what to avoid, women will again be empowered resulting in better behavior from their dogs.  

Then, learning to identify your dog’s warning bark, and how to effectively respond to it, will increase the chances that your dog will quiet down rather than bark even more. 

Resources for this episode. 

Camilla Gray-Nelson’s website.

Camilla’s blog: Dog Talk Diva.

How to order Lipstick and the Leash: Dog Training a Woman’s way.

For the full show notes of this episode, see www.raisingyourpaws.com. 

Please let us know what you think of the podcast. Rate and review it on iTunes.

In this “Best Of” Replay show, we’ll start by talking about barking. Different sounding barks communicate different emotions and needs. If you’re trying to reduce your dog’s barking recognizing what your dog is telling you is the first step. I’ll explain the sound that means your dog is feeling excited.

Then, why do some women have a harder time getting their dogs to obey them compared to men? Listen as Camilla Gray-Nelson, author of Lipstick and the Leash: Dog Training a Woman’s Way, explains the answer and tells women how to get control back. 

Next, if your cat is peeing outside its box, it might not like the brand of kitty litter you are buying. I’ll tell you the signs that indicate this may be the issue. 

Resources for this episode.  

Source for story about barking: “Barking: The Sound of a Language,” by Turid Rugass.

Camilla Gray-Nelson’s websites:

Dairy Dell Doggy Dude Ranch and Training Center. 

Blog: Dog Talk Diva. 

Order the book, “Lipstick and The Leash: Dog Training a Women’s Way” by Camilla Gray-Nelson. 

Find the full-show notes with live links at www.raisingyourpaws.com. 

Please support this podcast by subscribing and telling your friends. To subscribe on iTunes so you never miss an episode, here is the link.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-your-paws-your-resource-for-dog-cat-pet-parents/id1313060210.

Do you like it or hate it when your dog wants to jump up on you when they greet you? Why do dogs want to jump up on people anyway? There are two reasons I’ll tell you about. If you want to stop the behavior teach your dog the way you would prefer them to greet you. 

When we take our pets to the vet because they are sick or injured we are feeling fear and love and anguished hope that they will be okay, plus worry and possible stress about the costs it will take to return them quickly to health.   That’s a lot of emotion we bring to the examining table. What about your vet? Do they also experience the stress you are feeling?   The answer is yes.  And it can take a fatal toll on these doctors who do so much to help your pets. My guest, Sandy Weaver, is the author of the book, Happy Vet, Happy Pet: Caring for Your Pet’s caregiver and the Program director of the Center for Workplace Happiness, whose mission is to reduce the suicide rate in the vet community. She will tell you three easy things you can do to help and care for your vet that can make a profound difference for their lives.

About this episode’s creature feature, It’ June and it’s been very hot where I live, so when I came across a story about what happened to a young girl during a  blizzard, and the dog who came to her rescue, just reading about winter and snow cooled me down. It’s also an inspiring tale. Hope you enjoy this story. 

Resources for the show.

Source for the story about dogs jumping up- “Decoding Your Dog” by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

Center for Workplace Happiness website.

How to order “Happy Vet, Happy Pet, Caring for your Pet’s Caregiver” by Sandy Weaver.

“Not One More Vet” website.

Source for the “Snow Job” creature feature - Amazing But True Dog Tales by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo, compiled by Muriel MacFarlane.