Pick of the Litter Podcast

Are those sharp puppy teeth taking a bite out of the joy you feel about puppyhood? Are your kids scared to play with new new puppy because "he's biting me!" Is your mouthy adolescent dog hard to handle sometimes? Mouthiness is more complicated than you may think!  In this episode we talk about why young dogs tend to be mouthy, and what strategies you can employ to meet their canine needs while teaching our human ways. 

When your beloved dog starts to age, it's natural to think about getting a puppy. That can work beautifully to shape the puppy, and to soften the inevitable loss. But it can also be tremendously challenging to fully support an aging senior while trying to meet the needs of a puppy. In this episode, we have a special guest: Kathy's co-author Helen St. Pierre, of the senior sanctuary "Old Dogs Go To Helen." In their new book "OLD DOG, NEW DOG," they combine Kathy's expertise in puppies with Helen's expertise in oldies, to create a roadmap for this classic, poignant moment in every dog lover's life. Join us for an in-depth conversation about strategies to set yourself, and your dogs, up for success. (The book is available in paperback, audio and kindle versions, wherever you like to buy your books.)

Do you dread clipping your dog's nails? How about giving ear medicine, or brushing out a mat? In this episode we talk about an approach called "cooperative care," which reduces stress by giving dogs more agency during each task: They can choose to participate for a reward, and communicate when they need a break. The expert in this subject is Dr. Deborah Jones—a dog trainer with a background as a psychology professor—who has a great little book called "Cooperative Care: Seven Steps to Stressfree Husbandry." It's a terrific way to deepen the trust between you and your dog.  

In this episode, we explore Doggie Language by Lili Chin, a beautifully illustrated guide that helps dog owners understand canine body language and behavior. We discuss key signs of stress, happiness, and curiosity in dogs, and how better communication can strengthen the human-animal bond.

When 2020 ushered in an era of remote work, dogs everywhere rejoiced! Suddenly, all the humans were around a lot, allowing for a daily routine filled with walks, play and simple companionship. Unfortunately for our canine friends, many employers are shutting down the remote option and insisting on a return to the office. That's a big adjustment for a dog who's never spent much time alone! In this episode, we tackle the challenges of helping your dog adjust to a new normsl. We share expert tips on reducing anxiety, building independence, and keeping your dog happy while you're away. Should you hire a dog walker? Try doggy daycare? Arrange something with your neighbors? Tune in for strategies to make the transition smoother for both you and your pup!

Does your dog snarf up a bowl of kibble in 20 seconds and then look up at you asking what's next? If "what's next" includes things like barking, pulling, lunging, jumping up or being anxious, we always suggest saving at least some of the "gold" in that nutritious bowl to use creatively to encourage the behavior you'd like to see.  That can mean turning those meals into natural "foraging" activity (scatter feeding, stuffed toys, puzzle toys) or using it as you actively engage with your dog in training and play that builds your connection. The trainers from Absolute Dogs in the U.K. coined the term "Ditch the Bowl" as shorthand to refer to this approach of using a dog's regular food to teach, enrich, and build the bond with your dog. (For some extra fun, check out their "Sexier Than A Squirrel" challenge — a series of games that build upon each other.)

We've long been taught that our dogs need "a walk." But the kind of walk we're often giving them — say, 20 minutes around the block at a fast pace — may end up creating more problems than it solves as we forbid meaningful interaction with the environment. (Don't sniff that! Don't eat that! Don't chase that! No, you can't say hi.) It may all end up leaving our dogs with the question: "What the heck is this walk for, anyway? Why are we walking?" In this episode, we discuss how doing things to add a sense of purpose to your dog's walk answers that question for them — resulting in a more confident dog, a more trusting relationship between you, and quite often an end to challenging behaviors like barking, lunging and pulling.   

 In this episode, we discuss the different factors that go into choosing the right dog. What breed might be the best match for your lifestyle and setup? Should you dive in and get a puppy or would an adult be the smartest choice? If you hope to adopt a great rescue dog, where do you start? If you're choosing a purebred, how can you be sure (and why SHOULD you be sure) you've got a responsible breeder? And finally . . . should you ever just go with your heart and take that dog who, on paper, seems like a terrible idea but you simply cannot stop thinking about? We hope you enjoy this conversation, and it helps give you a bit more fodder to ponder the next time you approach one of the most exciting decisions we have in life: adding a new dog to the family.  

Do you know how to really PLAY with your dog? The answer is more complicated - and important - than it might seem. True social play between you and your dog can be a powerful tool in building connection and trust, and it can be a much-needed reprieve for a dog living here in our human world. Dr. Amy Cook is the expert on human-canine play, and her "Play Way" approach is our topic for this episode.   LINKS: Video of Dr. Cook demonstrating some elements of "The Play Way" https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=681929543785963    Graphic illustrating highlighting key Play Way concepts https://blog.doggiedrawings.net/post/614077754120519680   Kathy's article on play in Whole Dog Journal      

Have you ever been surprised by a growl as you tried to take something from your sweet dog? Taken aback when your usually friendly dog bared her teeth as the neighbor's dog came near her toy? Resource guarding is both completely natural AND can be a big problem! We see folks worrying too much in some cases, and not enough in others. In this episode we use Jean Donaldson's book "Mine" as a jumping off point for a discussion on resource guarding: what to watch for, how to use management to prevent issues, how to handle emergencies, and how to keep your dog from becoming a problematic guarder. 

Does punishment work with dogs? Dr. Ian Dunbar has spent five decades at the forefront of the industry as a vet, researcher and trainer, and he's channeled it all into his new book, "Barking Up The Right Tree." In this episode, we focus on the one chapter that is a master class on punishment. Rather than addressing the morality or ethics involved, Dunbar goes straight to the science: Is it effective? When we yell, jerk on the leash, buzz or shock our dogs, what does it teach them? Listen to find out. 

On this podcast, we often talk about authors — and this time, the author is one of us! "Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog: How to Go Beyond Training and Raise Your Best Friend" is Kathy's new puppy guide.  Take a listen to learn why she says your training success will skyrocket if you make this one key mindset shift: think of your puppy as a baby you kidnapped from another planet. While the book offers many tips and techniques regarding the various challenges of puppyhood, the fundamental key is that starting with empathy just may be the best training tip there is. 

It's great to train with food, but don't forget to harness the powerful "environmental" rewards that are right at your fingertips! These "real life rewards" -- like sniffing something, going through the gate to the walk, hopping up on the couch, or greeting someone -- are powerful reinforcers. Make the most of them by linking them with the behavior you want to see.  (And make sure they aren't unintentionally reinforcing behavior you don't want!) Learn how to use these functional rewards and you'll enrich your relationship, creating fantastic daily habits that put you in happy sync with your dog.

Kim Brophey's paradigm-shifting system of understanding our dogs is disrupting the dog training industry in the very best way: by finally making the dog's needs part of the equation. Her ethology-based L.E.G.S. model teaches us that before we think about "how" we're going to modify a dog's behavior, we need to ask "why" it's occurring by looking at a dog's four legs: Learning, Environment, Genetics & Self. Once you do that, some remarkably simple solutions emerge. Result: happier dogs, happier people.  For more . . . Check out Kim Brophey's website:  familydogmediation.com Get Kim's book: Meet Your Dog  

'Tis the season . . .  for dog bites, dog fights, and trips to the ER after a chocolate feast! In this episode we discuss the ways you can help your canine family members enjoy the holidays as much as the rest of the family, and keep everyone safe while doing so. 

Does your dog pull on leash? Probably! Why? Because walking steadily forward in a straight line is not something a dog does naturally. It's a big ask we humans make of our dogs, which is why this challenge takes some time, and a multi-faceted approach. In this episode we talk about the strategies and equipment we find most successful in getting to a walk that's enjoyable from both ends of the leash. 

When tiny puppies jump up to say hi it can be so cute! Whoops . . . it's not so cute later on when kids are getting knocked over, clothes are getting muddy, and grandma gets hurt. To eliminate that jumping, it's key to teach (and reward) different ways for dogs to greet people, or express their desire to engage. In this episode we'll cover all the things you can do so that your dog learns that keeping four on the floor is the most direct route to the affection, play and up-close smells they're after. 

Teaching your puppy to use the outdoor bathroom is both the simplest and the most challenging part of puppyhood. It's simple because combining the top three strategies absolutely works — but it's miserable because doing it right takes an incredible amount of dedication. This episode is a discussion of how to make this intense phase as short as possible.

Do you ever think that you and your dog aren't communicating very well? You can get much better at it! Dr. Patricia McConnell's work as a zoologist and an applied animal behaviorist been groundbreaking in helping people to understand canine body language — and how our own primate-style body language confuses our dogs, and weakens our relationship.  In this episode, we use McConnell's classic book "The Other End of the Leash" as a jumping off point, discussing all the simple things you can do to improve communication between yourself and your dog.  As the episode continues, we delve into McConnell's fascinating research on vocalizations between species — if you want your dog to come quickly, then don't use one long slow note to call! —  and then finish with a more abstract conversation on the complex issue of "dominance." NOTES Patricia McConnell is a delightful speaker, and we highly suggest that you search her out on your podcast app! She has been a guest on: Drinking from the Toilet Pod to the Rescue The Bitey End of the Dog  

If you’ve heard of clicker training but you’re not quite sure what it is, this episode is for you. “Clicker training” has become shorthand for positive reinforcement training, and marine mammal behaviorist Karen Pryor is credited with bringing this incredibly effective technique to the dog training world. Here, we talk about Pryor's classic book “Don’t Shoot The Dog,” and cover why, how and when to use a clicker.