Episodes
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
This week’s question is about using temperament testing to help match puppies with owners:Temperament Testing: I have someone interested in our litter and training the pup for a potential therapy dog.
They want to train him to do deep pressure therapy for her anxiety.
She grew up helping train hunting dogs and they have trained rescues, so I know she can do this if we get her a good match.
So how do you find someone to do temperament testing?
In this episode I explore:
The origins, benefits and limits of puppy assessment tests
How to use the information gained through the tests
How to find a good puppy tester
Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
I feel like there is a general need for a new kind of dog professional.
Don't you feel that many puppy owners could use something like IN PERSON "puppy parenting coach?" So not dog training per se, more like a breeder-mentor for puppy owners.
It just seems like puppy owners throw a lot of effort agains things that are not really problems, but they don't know those things are not problems because they don't have someone with enough wisdom and experience to point that out. Someone who has raised 100 puppies, particularly if they raised puppies of that breed, could really save those owners a lot of trouble.
What do you think? Would any of you be interested in doing this?
Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep14 - Growling Puppies - Should You Be Worried?
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
This week’s question is about puppies who growl when restrained:
"Hey everyone! We're raising our first litter, English Setters, nearly 7 weeks old. All have lovely temperaments and have been going through the PC process like little pro's.
One thing we've noticed over the last week is, if they want to hop down when a puppy family or friend is holding them, they'll do little frustrated growls or barks (I hesitate to say growl, though I'm sure you'll understand – it's just a "let me down!" kinda thing).
We've introduced gentle restraint over the last week and they all get a little annoyed if they want to go play/explore etc but nothing out of the ordinary. I just wanted to check if this is normal - should we be upping gentle restraint, or something we should be concerned about?"
In this episode, I cover:
What you should do about puppies who growl when restrained
Whether you should be concerned about puppies who growl or don’t like to be cuddled
How to balance the will of the puppy with the will of the puppy owners
Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.
Thursday Feb 22, 2024
Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep13 - Canine Nutrition Potpourri with Magda Chiarella
Thursday Feb 22, 2024
Thursday Feb 22, 2024
Magda Chiarella joins me for this week’s podcast and, if Magda is here, you know we’ll be talking about canine nutrition!
This week’s question generated a lot of interesting comments that we discuss in the podcast:“Hi I found a recipe for a dog Slushy for pregnant females. Its ingredients are baby kale, baby Spinach, coconut water and flaxseed meal.All ingredients according to Google are safe but kale. Says new studies show it can cause kidney and bladder stones.Any advice please? I'd love to supplement this to my pregnant girls but if the kale thing is a fact I’ll take it out of the list.”
In this episode, we discuss:
Does kale cause kidney and bladder stones in dogs?
Is flax seed meal a phytoestrogen to be avoided by breeding animals?
Should those who feed kibble be offering different formulas to their intact and neutered animals?
Can flax seed meal cause cyanide poisoning?
Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep12 - What’s the Best Age to Place Puppies?
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
This week’s question is about when puppies should go to their new homes:
“I've known breeders who keep their pups till 8 weeks, and some till 10 weeks. Some even until 12. What are the deciding factors in how long pups stay with the breeder? Does it depend on breed, the specific litter, or does it just come down to breeder preference?”
In this episode, I talk about:
Optimal age for placing puppies.
Factors that go into determining what that optimal age is.
Extenuating circumstances that influence the decision when to place puppies.
Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.
Tuesday Feb 06, 2024
Tuesday Feb 06, 2024
When it rains it pours, and this week it’s pouring puppies who bite fingers when taking treats. We got FOUR posts on this topic this week!
The questions came from both puppy owners and breeders, and in this episode, I give you a fresh perspective on this “problem”:
Why puppies take treats roughly from hand
What you should do about it
Tips for working with puppies or dogs in groups
Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep10 - Challenges and Frustration. How much is too much?
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Today’s question comes from a breeder, but it’s a topic that is applicable to anyone who owns a puppy or dog:
“How much frustration should a puppy have before changing the game a little to make the session successful?
Did the barrier challenge for the 1st time today...he was continually going to the wrong side to a closed section...At the 3-minute mark, I pulled the food bowl so a small portion went beyond the barrier, then placed him back at the starting point again. He was able to complete the challenge then.
Should I have waited him out? I am second guessing myself.”
In this episode I cover:
How do you know how much challenge is enough and not too much in any given training session?
Why is so important that we try to guess right about the amount of challenge the puppy or dog can handle?
What do you do if you guess wrong and make the challenge too difficult?
Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep9 - Puppies That Terrorize Adult Dogs
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Today’s question is about puppies who terrorize adult dogs:“Does anyone have experience with a pup obsessed with chasing the older dog (Labrador pups adult GSD). The GSD runs from him and has turned and bark/snarled at him, but he won’t leave her alone when he sees her. Suggestions?”
In this episode I cover:
Is this a normal puppy behavior?
What to do about it.
What the long-term outlook is for this situation.
Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.