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Dogs Episodes

From training and health to grooming and enrichment, these episodes are all about helping you raise a happy, well-behaved, and healthy dog. Get practical tips and expert advice for every stage—from puppyhood to senior years.

Topics included: dog training, grooming, nutrition, behavior, exercise, senior dog care, enrichment, preventive health.
May 7, 2024

How Massage Therapy Can Help Your Pet Feel Better

Want to help your pet feel better, heal faster, and trust you more? Most pet parents have no idea that massage therapy can improve everything from joint pain to anxiety. In this episode, I sit down with certified canine massage therapist Blanca Rodriguez to explore the power of pet massage and how …

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April 23, 2024

What Guide Dog Puppy Raisers Do to Train Future Heroes

Ever wonder who helps train the dogs that change lives for people who are blind? Most people don’t realize that before a guide dog is matched with their handler, there’s a volunteer family behind the scenes laying the foundation for that dog’s success. In this episode, you’ll meet two longtime pupp…

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March 5, 2024

Stop Being That Dog Owner: Public Etiquette 101

Tired of chaotic encounters with unruly dogs in public spaces? Bringing your dog out in public shouldn’t feel like you’re bracing for battle. But without clear rules, training, and awareness, even a simple walk can turn into a mess of pulling, barking, and awkward run-ins. This episode breaks down …

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Feb. 27, 2024

Why Your Dog Guards Food, Toys, or You - And How To Stop It

Is your dog suddenly growling over food, toys, or even you? Many pet parents miss the early red flags of resource guarding until it turns into full-blown dog aggression and the advice they get from friends or online groups often makes things worse. If you’ve ever felt anxious when your dog “guards”…

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Feb. 12, 2024

Inside Shelter Life: What Rescue Dogs Go Through Every Day

What’s it really like for a dog living in a rescue or shelter? In this eye-opening episode, Amy Castro is joined by Donna Ball of Ranger’s Reach to reveal what life is like for dogs inside a rescue—from intake and daily care to rehabilitation and adoption prep. You’ll hear the real, unfiltered stor…

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Jan. 30, 2024

The 2 Pet Needs Most People Overlook, But Your Pet Feels Every Day

Are you giving your pet everything they need to truly thrive? In Part 2 of our series with UK veterinarian and animal welfare advocate Dr. Emma Milne, Amy Castro explores the final two of the five legally recognized pet welfare needs. These last two, companionship and the ability to express natural…

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Jan. 23, 2024

3 Pet Needs You’re Probably Missing Without Even Realizing It

Are you meeting all 5 of your pet’s welfare needs—or just the basics? In this powerful first episode of a two-part series, Amy Castro teams up with renowned UK veterinarian and animal welfare advocate Dr. Emma Milne to explore the often-overlooked foundations of pet care. In this episode, they tack…

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Dec. 14, 2023

Adopt or Shop? How to Make the Right Choice for You (and Your Dog)

Caught in the middle of the “Adopt Don’t Shop” debate? Here’s what you really need to know before getting your next dog. In this balanced and thought-provoking episode, Amy Castro sits down with AKC judge and Siberian Husky e...

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Dec. 12, 2023

How Service Dogs Help Veterans and First Responders Heal

What makes a service dog a lifeline for veterans and first responders? In this powerful episode, Amy Castro is joined by Joe Gionti, CEO of K9 Heroes 4 Heroes, to explore how service dogs are changing lives for trauma survivors. From PTSD to physical injury, these dogs are trained to support and em…

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Oct. 3, 2023

Could Your Dog Be a Therapy Dog? Here’s How to Know

Ever wondered if your dog has what it takes to become a therapy dog? In this uplifting episode, Amy Castro sits down with Sandy Weaver, a therapy dog expert and professional trainer, to unpack what really goes into therapy dog work. From how dogs are chosen and trained, to the powerful emotional co…

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