Ep. 237: Are You Ready To Adopt?

How do you know when you are ready to adopt another dog? Tara and Laura discuss ways that a person can know if they are ready to adopt their first dog, add another dog into the pack, or adopt a dog after losing a pack member. There is no rush, because our dogs deserve the most from us and we have to make sure we are ready and able to give them what they need.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

Is your dog ready for the holiday season? Tara and Laura remind owners to start now prepping their dogs for the holiday season. This includes preparing for holiday decor, guests, travel, and more during a time that is usually very stressful for everyone involved. Don't wait until the last minute! Prep your dogs now, expose them, and be fair with your expectations based on what you have practiced.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

Should your puppy be allowed to get excited and/or socialize in public? Tara and Laura work through the importance of balancing proper social skills, teaching your puppy expections, and also allowing your puppy time to have fun. They explain the different expectations for puppies depending on the future goals/jobs their handler has in mind and how that can influence their time in social settings.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

Is your dog resource guarding or showing a completely different behavior? Tara and Laura go over the ways that resource guarding gets mislabeled and overused to explain a dog's behavior. These inaccurate labels can cause owners to be treating the wrong problem, not see a positive change, or even make the behavior worse. It is important to know if your dog is actually resource guarding or if you are seeing a completely different behavior that needs to be addressed instead.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

Save the dates for this year's PMAD event!Daytime event: Sunday, September 27thEvening event: Saturday, October 24thThis is a re-released episode with our special guest, Courtney Leigh, from season 1 where she talks about the impact of puppy mills on dogs' behavior and the training challenges that arise from their traumatic pasts. Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

How do you socialize a shy dog?  Tara and Laura delve into the importance of socializing a dog that has an introvert personality, but stress doing it properly so your dog isn’t overly stressed.  Having a dog that is shy or less social doesn’t mean they shouldn’t go out, but it is knowing how to still practice positive exposure and socialization without flooding them or creating reactivity.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

How concerning are behavioral problems with puppies?  Tara and Laura provide examples of true behavioral concerns that can be seen with dogs that are under 6 months of age that are possible red flags for future problems.  They stress knowing the differences between general puppy behavior and true behavioral problems in order to address concerns appropriately and make the right decision for your dog and your household.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

Should you look into a stay & train to address your dog’s behavior?  Tara and Laura work through different examples of when utilizing a stay and train for a dog is the most beneficial or warranted.  Many owners are told to do a stay and train right away, but don’t see the success after their dog has returned home.  It is important to know if doing a stay and train for your dog will actually help or if it would just be a waste of your money.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

Should there be expectations when your dogs go camping with you?  Tara and Laura go over different boundaries, expectations, safety precautions, and general information that every dog owner needs to know prior to taking their dog on a camping trip.  Going on a fun vacation with your dog shouldn’t be overly stressful for either party.  It is important to be prepared for as much as possible while also creating a safe environment for your dog through proper obedience and boundaries.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman

Is that nipping at your heels mean your dog is trying to herd you?  This week, Tara and Laura debunk the myth that dogs are trying to herd people or other animals constantly.  They explain what this behavior actually means and how to know if your dog is truly trying to herd someone or if it is an entirely different behavior that should be addressed.  Many dogs are given a pass for this behavior because they are considered a herding breed, but this behavior should be taken seriously before it turns into something more dangerous.Sponsored by K9 WorkingmindThis episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "Working Minds" was also created by The WillaWoman.Hear more of her work here: https://tinyurl.com/TheWillaWoman