Dogs Episodes

Moving cross-country with pets is not the same as taking your dog for a quick ride around town. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, Amy shares the practical lessons she learned from a 2,200-mile move with one other adult and six pets. This is not a perfect travel checklist or a generic pet travel episode. It is the real-life stuff that matters when you’re on the road for days, juggling multiple animals, an RV, a car, overnight stops, messes, medication timing, and pets who are complete...

Does walking your dog feel like you’re on high alert every second, bracing for the next blow-up? If Spot's behavior looks like dog aggression on walks, but doesn’t feel that simple, you’re not alone. Many dogs labeled as aggressive are actually dealing with leash reactivity, and that’s a very different problem. If you’re dealing with leash reactivity, you’re not failing, and you’re not “doing it wrong.” What’s happening usually isn’t aggression, it’s a dog having a hard time. In this episode, ...

Are you dealing with “normal puppy behavior,” or early warning signs of a bigger problem? Some of the most common puppy behaviors, like fear reactions, growling over a toy or food, and mouthiness, can look harmless. But the way they’re handled early can be the difference between a phase and a serious problem, like reactivity or resource guarding that escalates into a bite. In this episode, I’m joined by multi-certified dog trainer Ruth Hegarty of Creature Good Dog Training to break down five pup...

Should you get a dog for your dog… or are you about to double your stress, noise, behavior issues, and vet bills? Many pet parents see a bored, clingy, or “lonely” dog (or other pet) and assume the solution is a companion, a boyfriend, girlfriend, sibling, or built-in best friend. But adding another dog doesn’t automatically make life easier. It can just as easily increase barking, trigger resource guarding, amplify anxiety, and create daily management problems you didn’t have before, especially...

Stop Buying Useless Pet Care Supplies. Here’s What You Actually Need. Most “must-have" pet care supply lists focus on gimmicks and generic basics, missing the pet-care essentials that actually make daily life easier and safer. You probably have the basics for pet care, like bowls and a bed, but in this episode, Amy Castro and Bev Brooks share 10 rescue-tested pet essentials they can’t live without, five dog essentials and five cat essentials, plus a few bonus items pulled from decades o...

Think crate training is as simple as putting your dog in the crate and calling it a night? That’s the biggest reason it fails. Crate training isn’t instant. It’s a step-by-step process that builds your dog’s trust and confidence over time. Rush it, and you’ll end up with whining, accidents, or full-blown crate panic. In this episode, I’m joined by Ruth Hegarty, multi-certified dog training and behavior expert, to share real pet parenting advice that actually works. Together, we’ll walk through ...

Confused about which crate is right for your dog? With so many sizes, styles, and price points, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to end up wasting time and money on the wrong crate for your dog. The right crate isn’t just about convenience. It’s about safety, comfort, and setting your dog up for success. In this episode, I'm chatting with Ruth Hegarty, dog training and dog behavior expert from Creature Good Dog Training. Together, we share real pet parenting advice to help you confidently choo...

Is crating your dog cruel, or could it actually be one of the kindest things you do for them? Many pet parents picture their pup feeling trapped or lonely, so they avoid crates altogether. But when used the right way, a crate can become your dog’s safe space — and one of the most useful tools in your pet parenting toolbox. In this episode, I break down 5 major benefits of crating your dog. You’ll hear why it’s about more than house training, and how the right approach can bring calm, comfort, a...

Feel like the more you try to fix your dog’s behavior, the worse it gets? If you’re in the thick of dog training and you're dealing with barking, leash pulling, jumping, or flat-out ignoring commands, the problem might not be your dog: it might be what you’re accidentally reinforcing without realizing it. In this episode, I’m joined by dog training expert and behavior consultant Bradley Phifer, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA, Executive Director, CCPDT to unpack the everyday mistakes that teach dogs to kee...

Heartworm Truths Every Pet Owner Needs to Hear with Dr. Zoo Think skipping heartworm prevention just this once is no big deal? It only takes one mosquito bite to change your pet’s life forever. Heartworm disease is slow, painful, and completely preventable—yet pets still die from it every year. In this episode, Dr. Zoo shares two cases that prove why you can’t take the risk: a two-year-old German Shepherd in kidney failure after his owners stopped prevention, and a rescue terrier whose heart ...