Rabbit Training That Actually Works

Send us Fan MailOne night you’re making normal plans, and the next you’re driving out through smoke and chaos with your dog pressed against you, hoping you left in time. That’s the reality Ricki Lake shares with us, and it sets the tone for a conversation that’s equal parts practical pet care and deeply human resilience. Ricki opens up about escaping the Malibu fires, losing her home, and then making an impulsive but life-changing move to New York City with her rescue dog, Dolly Mama. We get specific about what it takes to make apartment living work for a dog who’s used to nature and space: late-night potty needs, safety concerns, and building a routine that reduces stress. Ricki walks us through her real grass dog potty setup, including a balcony potty spot and a covered rooftop patch she calls the “pergola potty,” plus what she’s learned about weather, scheduling, and why great customer service can make or break the experience when you’re relying on deliveries. From there, we zoom out to animal welfare and dog rescue. Ricki talks about Dogs Without Borders, the power of fostering, and why “adopt don’t shop” isn’t just a slogan when shelters are full. She also shares a wild story from 1994 when a PETA anti-fur protest turned into an arrest, a media storm, and a lasting lesson about advocacy. If you care about rescue dogs, apartment potty solutions, real grass subscriptions, or simply how pets help us rebuild after loss, you’ll take something real from this one. Subscribe, share this with a fellow dog person, and leave a review with your own rescue story.Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailYou think rabbits can’t be trained, can’t be potty trained, and definitely can’t handle “dog style” structure without melting down? We used to hear the same thing, until we sat down with Amber, the founder of Rabbit Pals, and realized most rabbit problems start with one root cause: stress that never turns off.Amber shares how she accidentally became a rabbit trainer after raising rabbits for kid friendly public appearances, then getting flooded with questions online. We talk about why rabbits can look “fine” one moment and then spiral at dusk, how prey animal instincts shape everything from handling to recall, and why nervous system regulation is the missing piece in so much rabbit advice. If you’ve been told rabbits hate being picked up, must live in cages, or “just poop everywhere,” Amber explains what’s really going on and how to build trust without rushing the process.We also get practical: first steps for new rabbit owners, “Meet Me At Our Spot” training, a realistic timeline for outdoor recall, and how to introduce new environments without creating trauma. Then we connect it to real life at home, including how Fresh Patch real grass can work as rabbit enrichment, a cleaner alternative to messy litter, and a stepping stone toward grass based potty habits. Plus, we go full rabbit nerd with carrots, sugar limits, and the unexpectedly useful shop vac and garden fertilizer hack.If you care about rabbit behavior, rabbit training, rabbit socialization, and rabbit potty training, hit play, subscribe, and share this with a bunny owner who needs a reset. After you listen, leave a review and tell us: what rabbit myth took you the longest to unlearn?Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailA terrified foster dog leaves a trail of drool on the sidewalk, pulls to the nearest grass, and sprints back inside. That was Sally’s reality at the start, and it forced us to ask a better question: how do you help a traumatized rescue dog rebuild confidence without pushing them into panic?We’re joined by Monica from The Mob Trio, a Los Angeles foster and film producer who shares dogs the way she’d tell a story, with honesty, empathy, and real-world detail that helps adoptions happen. Monica walks us through what fostering has taught her the hard way: drop the expectations, prioritize decompression, and remember that progress is rarely linear. We talk about Sally’s heartbreaking history, what shutdown behavior looks like day to day, and why “just go for a walk” is not always the right move for fearful dogs.From there, we get practical. We break down how a Fresh Patch real grass dog potty on a patio can create a safe, consistent routine for apartment living, reactive dog households, and transitional potty training for rescues. Monica shares what changed when potty breaks moved from a loud street to a quiet outdoor spot, plus tips on consistency, rewards, and using attractant spray when dogs hesitate on a brand-new patch.If you care about rescue dog rehabilitation, fostering, humane training, or finding a safe potty solution that fits real life, you’ll get clear takeaways you can use right away. Subscribe, share this with a fellow dog person, and leave a review so more fosters and adopters can find these tools.Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailYour dog isn’t “being bad” when they panic, and the difference between those two ideas can change everything. We sit down with Kristen Levine, founder of Pet Anxiety Awareness Month, to get honest about what fear, stress, and anxiety look like in dogs and cats and why so many pet parents miss the early warning signs.Kristen shares the story of her heart dog, Buck, whose noise phobia around thunderstorms and fireworks slowly grew into severe separation anxiety. We talk about what finally helped, including working with a veterinary behaviorist, behavior modification, changing departure cues, and why medication can be the right choice when anxiety is deeply reinforced. Along the way, we break down the subtle signals to watch for: panting when it’s not hot, hiding, dilated pupils, overgrooming in cats, and litter box changes that are really stress communication.We also get practical about prevention and daily life. We cover how to create a safe space for anxious pets at home, why routine matters so much for potty confidence, and how indoor real grass potty solutions like Fresh Patch can reduce potty-related stress during fireworks season, extreme weather, apartment living, or any time going outside feels unsafe. Plus, Kristen explains what Fear Free certified care means and how it can make vet visits less scary for everyone.Subscribe for more pet behavior and wellness conversations, share this with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review if these tips help you and your dog or cat feel calmer.Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailA kitten found on the side of a Los Angeles freeway comes in cold, struggling to breathe, and ends up purring and bouncing off the walls a week later and that story says a lot about what great veterinary teams can do when preparation meets compassion. We’re joined by Dr. Kevin McKevley from Palms and Paws Veterinary Center in Santa Monica to talk about how pet care has changed for the better, why dogs and cats are living longer, and what pet parents can do right now to stack the odds in their favor.We get into the biggest positive shift Dr. Kevin has seen across the industry: a stronger human-animal bond paired with better nutrition, earlier diagnostics, and more proactive medicine. We also talk honestly about the hardest part for many families, the cost of veterinary care, and why starting pet insurance early can protect your choices when emergencies hit. If you’ve ever had to weigh finances against treatment options, this conversation gives you a clearer framework and better questions to bring to your veterinarian.Dr. Kevin shares the origin story of Palms and Paws, how mentorship shaped the business, and why they focus so heavily on leadership and training the next generation of vets. We also dig into practical, searchable takeaways for everyday pet health: balanced pet nutrition and AAFCO guidance, spotting food allergies, making slow diet transitions, and keeping puppies safe from parasites and viruses until vaccines fully kick in. Finally, we connect it all to routine and wellness, including why an indoor grass potty like Fresh Patch can support consistency, reduce anxiety, and lower exposure risks in high-rise and apartment living.If you enjoy real-world vet stories and advice you can use today, subscribe, share this with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one routine your pet depends on every day?Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailThe rescue world is full of heart, but it runs on resources, and Brittany Vascara from Paw Works does not sugarcoat what happens when the need keeps rising and the funding does not. Brittany joins us with Vega on her lap, a tiny foster with epilepsy and Demodex mange, and that alone opens the door to the real behind-the-scenes work of special needs dogs, veterinary costs, and why “harder” cases so often get passed over.We also get into Brittany’s story, from volunteering in 2014 to running operations for a nonprofit dog rescue that has saved nearly 20,000 animals from euthanasia across California. Along the way we talk misconceptions about rescue dogs, why expecting a perfectly trained “turnkey” pet sets everyone up to fail, and how simple patience can change an animal’s entire future. Brittany shares what it’s like doing emergency animal rescue during major wildfires, including chaotic evacuations, unexpected helpers, and the kind of community response that can keep people and animals safe.If you’re looking for practical ways to help a local shelter or animal rescue nonprofit, we lay them out: donations at pawworks.org, monthly giving, sharing posts, free large dog adoptions, hands-on volunteering, and the field trip enrichment program that reduces kennel stress. We also talk apartment dog life, potty training, and how Fresh Patch real grass can make the transition easier for adopters and rescue dogs alike. If you care about adopt don’t shop, spay and neuter access, and keeping rescues open, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find the show.Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailUltra-processed pet food is easy to buy and hard to decode, and the consequences can sneak up on you over years. We’re joined by William from NutriFusion, an ingredient company that works behind the scenes with pet food manufacturers to add concentrated nutrition from real fruits and vegetables back into dog food. If you’ve ever wondered what “whole food vitamins” really means, or why some labels feel more like chemistry than nutrition, this conversation gives you language and clarity you can actually use.We dig into how NutriFusion stabilizes, dehydrates, and concentrates produce so brands can include a tiny amount in their formulas while still delivering meaningful vitamins and nutrients. William breaks down the difference between plant-based vitamins and synthetic vitamins, including why bioavailability and bioabsorption matter when you’re trying to support real dog health rather than just hit a checklist on a label. We also talk about why NutriFusion stays B2B only: dosing matters, and more is not always better when it comes to nutrition for pets.Then we zoom out to the big health concepts most people hear but rarely connect to pet food: inflammation, oxidative stress, and free radicals. William explains how diet quality can influence these processes over time, and we share examples of positive feedback from testing, like healthier, shinier coats without weight gain. We also touch on the natural-products mindset that connects NutriFusion’s mission with Fresh Patch, and why choosing more natural options can improve daily life for both pets and owners.If you like practical pet wellness conversations with real science and real-world tradeoffs, subscribe, share this with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailYour dog can be “well behaved” without fear, force, or hours of drilling, and today’s guest proves it. We’re joined by Nicole Ellis, a celebrity dog trainer and pet lifestyle expert in Los Angeles, along with Rossi, to unpack what positive reinforcement actually looks like when you need results in real life, not just in your living room.We talk about how Nicole got her start with a shelter dog who grew into a confident partner for service work, therapy work, and production sets, and why that kind of transformation is often about clarity and consistency more than “fixing” a dog. Nicole also shares what it takes to keep learning in the dog training world, including certifications like CPDT and training through Karen Pryor Academy, plus why continued education matters as the science of behavior evolves.Then we dig into one of the most useful ideas we’ve heard for stressed-out pets: Fear Free care. Nicole explains how Fear Free vets and groomers reduce anxiety with smarter environments, better handling, and consent-based training that can make exams safer and calmer for everyone. If your dog hates the vet, this part is for you.We also get practical about potty routines and why Nicole has relied on Fresh Patch real grass for years, from puppy training and senior dog convenience to protecting rental yards and making hotel stays and Vegas travel way easier. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a fellow dog parent, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailYou can buy the right products and still feel stuck if your dog training plan is built on myths. We’re joined by Juliana DeWillems, owner of JW Dog Training and a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, to get real about what actually drives behavior change and why positive reinforcement works without fear, intimidation, or force. We also talk about how virtual dog training can be surprisingly effective, because it teaches you to become the trainer in your own home.From there, we dig into the messy truth about potty training. Juliana explains substrate preference and why what your puppy practices early can shape their bathroom habits for life. We cover why real grass can make the indoor transition easier than potty pads, how Fresh Patch can help senior dogs or dogs dealing with medication side effects, arthritis, or post-surgery restrictions (including TPLO recovery), and how a nearby potty option can reduce stress for everyone.You’ll also get step-by-step guidance on putting pottying “on cue” with a phrase like “go potty,” plus the reward timing detail most people miss: celebrate too early and you can accidentally interrupt the behavior. We wrap with the biggest mistakes Juliana sees, including correcting accidents and giving puppies too much space too soon, and how a better setup can make consistency feel doable.Subscribe for more practical dog training conversations, share this with a new puppy parent, and leave a review if these tips help you build a calmer routine with your dog.Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit

Send us Fan MailA puppy can be the best decision you make or a daily stress machine if you skip the unglamorous planning. We sit down with Prairie Conlon, a mental health clinician who works with animal-assisted therapy, to talk about what new pet owners actually underestimate: your environment, your schedule, and the real cost of “tiny dinosaur” chaos. We get specific about why potty training routines have to start immediately, how inconsistency follows you for years, and what it really takes to set a dog up for success in an apartment or a busy workweek. Then we tackle the emotional support animal letter conversation with zero fluff. We break down ESA vs pet ownership, what makes an ESA letter legitimate, and why the only clear legal protection is housing between a landlord and tenant. Prairie explains how the ESA landscape shifted culturally, why “instant letters” and online certificates are major red flags, and what a real clinical evaluation and treatment plan should look like if you’re seeking an emotional support animal. We also dig into the mental health benefits of pets, from research on cortisol and blood pressure to the everyday truth that animals create purpose, routine, and mindfulness. We talk trauma and depression, why walks and fresh air matter, and how accessible bathroom solutions like Fresh Patch real grass dog potties can help people with limited mobility or high-rise living make pet care workable. If you’ve ever wondered whether a rabbit can be an ESA, we cover that too. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s about to get a puppy, and leave a review with your biggest pet routine win.Use code FRESH15 for 15% off your ESA evaluation at certapet.com (valid until 6/8)Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit