18 Growing Pains

Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt episode I chat with Kristen Griffin, an End-of-Life Stage Pet Doula and author of the touching children's book Magnum's Final Goodbye. Kristen shares her journey from veterinary medicine to becoming a compassionate guide for families facing the difficult decision to say goodbye to their beloved pets.Drawing from her own experience losing her soul dog Magnum, she explains what it means to support pet parents through the final stages, creating meaningful goodbyes and honouring the pet's dignity in their last moments. As a doula, Kristen helps ease the emotional weight, offering gentle, personalized care during one of life's toughest transitions.A big focus of the conversation is helping children process pet loss. Kristen's interactive book Magnum's Final Goodbye (available via her Etsy shop and magnumsfinalgoodbye.com) provides parents with tools and words when they're struggling to explain death, grief, and the Rainbow Bridge to young kids. Through storytelling, activities, and open dialogue, it normalizes these hard conversations and helps families heal together.Whether you're currently navigating pet loss, supporting a loved one, or simply want to understand the profound bond we share with our animals, this episode offers empathy, practical insights, and a reminder that every goodbye can be filled with love.Follow Kristen on Instagram at @magnumsbridge for more on her doula services, book updates, and pet loss support. 🌈🐾@SpicyDogMamaFollows Cass' spicy girl, Lady Rey @MyLittlePibbleIf you are missing that supportive person in your life, reach out! I would love to help encourage you and be someone that you can go to to feel less alone. Email [email protected] GroupSupport the showSupport the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailOne of the greatest blessings in my life is the people that have been a part of my journey since bringing Reese into my life in 2018. We have made so many friends through training, Instagram or friends that have adapted from other areas of our lives. Having people in your life who support you and encourage you changes the game and I would not be where I am at today if it weren't for each and every one of them. Community is everything and feeling alone with your dog, your situation, reactivity and training can be so hard. Feeling like people are judging you because of your dog or the way you try to work with them is so isolating. That is why we started the FB Page Balancing Reactivity Canadian Dogs so that people had a safe place to share their wins, struggles, vent or ask for advice. I won't lie... it's a little dead there but life is crazy. We use the page to also plan pack walks with those in our area and it has helped develop even more relationships even just online!If you are missing that supportive person in your life, reach out! I would love to help encourage you and be someone that you can go to to feel less alone. Find me on InstagramRey @mylittlepibbleEmail [email protected] GroupSupport the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailAsking the big questions this week on the Spicy Dog Mama Podcast. Should you really get a dog?A friend of mine has the dilemma of her husband really wanting a dog, and she's stuck between wanting him to have that and knowing she will have to do most of the work as a stay at home month with 3 kids. When she told me she didn't know if she even wanted one, it made me want to scream "don't do it!" As a dog lover, I will always think of what is best for the dog and they deserve to be loved and wanted, not tolerated. Now hear me out, if they got a dog, she would love it so much. She would be an amazing dog owner. But it would be so much on her already quite full plate. It made me want to discuss the ins and outs of dog ownership and whether or not it's the right decision for everyone out there. There are so many considerations when you think about getting a dog from breeds to finances. So on this episode, I'm playing devil's advocate and telling you why you should NOT get a dog.Honourable Mentions (Not paid advertisements)Venture Nines discount code REY15Plant of Life discount code PIBBLE15Trainer: Evan Dogget Follow us on Instagram!Rey / The Spicy Dog Mama PodcastSupport the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailBack after a long time away (again). I'm here to share deeper into how the transition into motherhood has affected my relationship with Rey & our life together. "You're never going to love your dog the same when the baby is born" is what you always here. But that can't be true, can it? From 2019-2023 Rey was my entire world, buying her sweaters, adventuring together, putting her first always. She's my entire world, my baby. But then I had a baby. I didn't want those words to be true, I needed to make sure that I still gave Rey the love, attention, and fulfillment that she deserved!Whether you are going through the same thing, don't ever plan on having kids, or are going through another life change, take a listen. Even just to have some grace for the dog moms in your life balancing motherhood as well. We are no longer active on our instagram @spicydogmama - everything will flow through Reys account @mylittlepibble If you have a story that you want to share, reach out to [email protected] I would love to hear from you !Support the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailHappy Spicy Dog Mama Monday (A mini series)Start your week off with a reminder that you are awesome. "Two steps forward and one step back is still one step forward"- Rosa Diaz, Brooklyn 99 Reactivity is hard. You are allowed to be frustrated, tired, discouraged. But keep showing up for you & your dog. Want to join the conversation?Send me a message [email protected] me on instagramFollow Reys journey!Check out my book Rescuing Reese a story about a fearful Pitbull finding his forever home. He taught me so much and I'm forever grateful for this dog.  Support the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailAh it's been a while hasn't it. That seems to be how I do things lately. Please join me in an unedited update on my life. (Okay I edited a LITTLE- but I just don't have time for that anymore!)Life is wild... in a good way. And I want to share what's been going on, if you care! Remember... this is  a judgement free zone Join the conversation! Send me a message :)[email protected]/spicydogmamawww.instagram.com/mylittlepibbleRESCUING REESE  - the story of how a fearful pitbull finds his forever home www.reesecanineco.com Support the showSupport the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailHappy National Kids and Pets Day! A not at all made up, totally familiar, and obviously nation-wide celebrated as the day to appreciate the relationship between children and their companions... Did you sense the sarcasm? I hope I'm not the only one who just found out about this day, but it's a good excuse for an episode! I'm going to chat about my experiences with kids and dogs and what I'm doing right now to raise one little boy to be so well versed in dog behavior and the most respectful to all animals.Not all dogs like kids, not all kids like dogs, and there is nothing wrong with that. Join the conversation! Send me a message :) [email protected]/spicydogmamawww.instagram.com/mylittlepibbleRESCUING REESE  - the story of how a fearful pitbull finds his forever home www.reesecanineco.com Support the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailAs a spicy dog mama to my beloved bully, Rey, I am all too familiar with breed discrimination and am a huge advocate for "Don't Bully My Breed". For this episode I reached out to dog mom, Sarah (better known on instagram as @MolsonandMyatheMaltese) to discuss the "bullying" or struggles that she goes through as the owner of small dogs who also get too much hate, and what it has been like dealing with reactivity. Her less than 5lb hiking buddies are not toys, nor does their reactivity does make them "little demons". Give them a follow on Instagram:www.instagram.com/molsonandmyathemalteseHappy New Year!!www.reesecanineco.com - Order Rescuing Reese! The story of a fearful pitbull finding his forever home despite his distrust and behaviour towards humans.www.instragram.com/SpicyDogMamawww.instragram.com/MyLittlePibble - follow Rey's adventures and fashion!Questions? Want to be a guest on the show? Reach [email protected] the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailAnd we're back again! With an honest update of the last few months and what I haven't shared on social media. As our reactivity journey continues with its ups and downs, we cannot help but compare ourselves, our training, our progress and fall backs, with what we see on the dogstagram. We had come so far and then things changed so drastically; we aren't where we used to be while others continue to succeed. And it's hard. Oh and I'm 35 weeks pregnant. Instagram: @spicydogmama / @mylittlepibbleRescuing Reese - tales of a rescue available at www.reesecanineco.comHonourable mentions: Canine Steele - custom biothane muzzles made in Canada @canine.steeleDoggett Style Dog Training - Nova Scotia, Canada @doggett.styleJoin the conversation! Send me a message :)[email protected]/spicydogmamawww.instagram.com/mylittlepibbleRESCUING REESE  - the story of how a fearful pitbull finds his forever home www.reesecanineco.com Support the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey

Send us Fan MailAnother unedited update on our lives and the big changes that we've gone through in the last three months. After a year in our apartment Rey was regressing and her reactivity/anxiety was getting really bad. After a few months we were able to find a house to move into with my partner Devan in January 2023. We have discovered new challenges living in our home and we have been navigating these together. Trying to help Rey with all of these changes has been a journey in itself, dealing with additional stresses, exhaustion and other health changes, and I'm constantly learning and growing with her. In the midst of all of these big changes we have yet another surprise for Rey Rey and it will bring new challenges that we are very excited about and I'm also very excited to share this with everyone. [email protected]/spicydogmamawww.instagram.com/mylittlepibbleRESCUING REESE  - the story of how a fearful pitbull finds his forever home www.reesecanineco.com Support the showI am not a dog trainer. I'm an uneducated, untrained and unqualified dog mama over here learnig from my own mistakes, the amazing people around me and the dogs in front of me. I'm sharing my own experiences and my own opinions. Always consult (and research) a professional trainer to help you with your dog. With love,Cass & Rey