Madcap Radio

Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep38 - Puppies Who Demand Bark: Why Puppy Owners Fail and How We Can Help Them Succeed

This episode is a fan request:
"Looking for a podcast - My co-owner needs help. I’ve worked with them on training behaviors, and they’ve done a masterful job at teaching puppy (who’s about 3 months old now…) that barking gets attention. They wait until they just can’t take it anymore but then cave in just as extinction burst really ramps up.Is there a podcast that will guide them through navigating this? To be fair, one of them works nights and NEEDS their sleep! I can understand how they got here. But just like parenting - pay now or pay later, and this one is gonna sting! They do have PC curriculum - I told them to start looking through it again."
This podcast unpacks:
Straightforward advice for handling confinement and demand barking
Why that straightforward advice often fails to help puppy owners
How we can re-frame the emotional component of this issue for puppy owners and help them succeed.
Visit our website www.madcapradio.com for further reading.

Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep37 - Puppies That Shiver After First Solid Foods: Are They Cold or Calibrating?

This episode is about the possible reasons why very young puppies sometimes shiver after big sensory experiences, especially after eating food from a dish for the first few times.
We discuss:
The neurological organization function of shivering
Different theories about shivering after new experiences, such as being put in a new room or eating food for the first time
How shivering may prime the puppies' sensory system for “wonder”
Visit our website www.madcapradio.com for further reading.

Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep36 - Is the Fear Genetic? Tough Decisions about Keeper Puppies

This episode's question is about what to do when your “keeper” puppy starts showing significant fear issues:"…I’m really sad about my situation. I don’t want this to reflect poorly on my small breeding program that I’ve poured so much time, thought, stress, money, and emotional energy into.… my keeper puppy is now showing pretty significant fear issues…I was hoping to keep this puppy and eventually use her in my program. My biggest concern is that this is genetic fear and she will not outgrow/overcome it. This is depressing me quite honestly, and I’m feeling very deer-in-the-headlights about how to move forward…"
In this podcast I address:
How to tell if a fear issue is a developmental or genetic issue and what the line is between normal and pathological fear
My personal experiences and outcomes in this area
Words of encouragement for small program breeders, with thoughts for surviving emotional setbacks and staying in the breeding game
Visit our website www.madcapradio.com for further reading.

Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep35 - Puppy Meltdowns: "Bringing Back" a Puppy That's Had a Bad Experience

The question is about what to do with puppies that have meltdowns at shows or trials or any socialization situation:"My 7 month old puppy just had a meltdown. At our National this past weekend he showed OK on Thursday and Friday. A little unsure. But showed. On Saturday he was amazing and took Winners Dog. Sunday, he had a complete melt down. He has shows again in 5 days my inclination is to pull him. Work with him at home. Thoughts?"
In this episode I discuss:
When to hold back, and when to continue exposing puppies after meltdowns
Rating experiences for success
Thoughts about avoiding future problems
Visit our website madcapradio.com for further reading.

Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep34 - Bad Genes and Good Puppies: Genetics, Behavior and Puppy Culture

This episode's question is about whether and by how much we can modify temperament with protocols:"I was chatting to someone recently about nature versus nurture, and they said, you can get a bitch who has a poor temperament and using Puppy Culture, you can have pups who have great temperaments. My view is it's more complex than that.…Would love people's thoughts.​"
Listen in as I discuss:
The difference between temperament and behavior
The ramifications of using behavior modification protocols in a breeding program
Our ethical obligations as breeders vs as puppy raisers
Visit our website madcapradio.com for further reading.

Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep33 - Fruit Kefir for Puppies: Double the Ferment, Many Times the Benefits

This episode’s question is about giving puppies double fermented fruit kefir:"Hello, We are curious about the benefits of using Mango kefir for puppies. How does it help their gut flora? What is the purpose of using it. Thanks!"
Listen in as I discuss:
How a second ferment with fruit transforms the nutritional profile and bioavailability of kefir
Why kefir in general is such a probiotic powerhouse
Why double fermented fruit kefir is particularly appropriate for puppies
Visit our website madcapradio.com for further reading.

Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep32 - Puppies Who Can't Settle Down in the Evening: The Arsenic Hour

This episode answers a question about puppies who just can’t settle down in the evening: "What are your best tips for “witching hour”? We have an 11.5 week Spinone Italiano that we brought home just over two weeks ago. He settles down for naps during the day after some play and training, but after his early evening nap, some play, dinner, potty, he gets over aroused and overtired and we cannot for the life of us redirect his mouthing to a toy or chew and he cries in his X-pen and jumps at the sides. We are trying to establish a routine with a licky mat, Kong or other soothing activity to transition him and bring down his arousal. But it is a nightly struggle!"
In this episode I talk about:
Why it’s natural for puppies to be restless and difficult in the early evening
Tips for dealing with a puppy who can’t control himself
Management and bedtime routine suggestions
Visit our website madcapradio.com for further reading.

Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep31 - Resorbed Pregnancies, Small Litters and Antibiotics: The Latest Research

Today’s question is about resorption of pregnancies and the advisability of using antibiotics to prevent future resorptions:"We had a girl who was pregnant with at least 1 puppy at 28 day ultrasound and 0 puppies on x-ray at 50 days...I'm curious what other people would check with the girl who absorbed before breeding again."
In this episode we discuss:
Things to check/do when your dam resorbs a pregnancy
How the vaginal microbiome affects fertility and prevents disease
The most recent studies on the prophylactic use of antibiotics in breeding bitches
Visit our website madcapradio.com for further reading.