Teacher's Pet - Training Pets & Pet Obedience - Pets & Animals On Pet Life Radio (petliferadio.com)

Colleen, a mother of three and a professional dog trainer, certainly has first hand experience in this field. I will be speaking with Colleen today about living with kids and dogs. Colleen offers parents support, advice and lots of encouragement so the don’t "lose their minds!" Colleen will give you tips and remedies for both dogs and their humans to avoid misunderstandings that can, unfortunately, lead to dog bites. Today’s society is busy. Colleen will give you some guidance so you don’t sink into pure chaos. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Living with Kids and Dogs... Without Losing Your Mind -- An Interview with Colleen Pelar - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

Training behaviors to help your canine companion become a well-mannered pet is necessary. Yet, training should not end with the basic commands such as sit, stay, down and more. Once your dog understands that training can be fun, you can teach him tricks that can be practical or just for fun. There is nothing more entertaining to children than to see dogs perform tricks. Also, if you are thinking about getting your dog certified as a pet therapy dog, tricks will come in handy and are always a hit at the hospital, school or nursing home. In today’s session, we will teach your dog a few fun tricks to show off to your guests! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - TRAINING SESSION #19 -- Parlor Tricks -- Just For The Fun of It! - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

Are you concerned about the dry food your dog is eating? Looking for detailed information about certain food ingredients? Confused about inconsistent information about dog food from pet food manufacturers? Need help comparing dog food brands and finding a better one? Pia talks to animal nutritionist Sabine Contreras about pet food, nutrition and her website: The Dog Food Project. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Help For Your Fearful Dog - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

Is your dog afraid of strangers? Would he rather hide than play with other dogs or interact with people? You are not alone since this is not an uncommon behavior exhibited by dogs. Nicole Wilde will talk to us about learning how to read your dog’s stress signals, how your attitude affects your dog’s behavior and how four essential skills can be applied to everyday life to help your dog relax. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Help For Your Fearful Dog - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

Do the risks outweigh the benefits of puppy training and socialization classes? A well-run puppy kindergarten class can definitely get puppies off to a good start. Understanding dogs’ social behavior is a crucial part of conducting a successful class. But, who is coming to class and what is being taught? Are trainers interpreting the behaviors and interactions correctly? Do they truly understand and implement proper socialization techniques? I’ve seen a massive increase in dog-dog aggression. Can puppy classes be contributing to this? If so, where have we gone wrong? Or, is it becoming more difficult to find a good puppy? When you get a puppy, how do you know if the pup is exhibiting ‘normal’ puppy behavior or is the behavior over the top, a-social and not a good choice for your family? What could have gone wrong and what do you do? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you will be interested in tuning in! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - TRAINING SESSION #18 -- Devil Puppie

Nicole Wilde has worked and lived with wolfdogs (also referred to as wolf hybrids) for many years. There are many considerations that should be taken before you quickly run out in search of a wolf hybrid as your next pet. Nicole will talk to us about what life is really like with them; the legalities involved; housetraining issues; socialization (what really works); isolation issues and much more. Her everyday guide to life with this companion is a fascinating read so you won’t want to miss this discussion. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Living With Wolfdogs - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

Do small dogs require the same training as their fellow 60 pounders? Is it fair to put a 3 lb. tike in the same class as a 90 lb. brute? Are people avoiding class because they are fearful for their little tykes? Or, do owners really think little dogs aren’t much of a nuisance and don’t require training? I’ve listened to owners’ concerns and as a result, developed a training course specifically designed for dogs 30 lbs. or less. Training is done in an environment designed to make learning more enjoyable and comfortable for both owner and dog. Many small dogs rarely leave the house on foot, especially during the cold weather. Today I’ll discuss various training ideas when living with a petite pal! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Living In A Big Dog’s World -- Petite Pals - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

You visited your local animal shelter and sadly you went home without a pet. Don’t fret! Last year, Petfinder.com adopted 1.5 million pets from member organizations. Not only does Petfinder have adoptable pets located in shelters around the country, but there is a listing of pets living in homes that need to be re-homed for various reasons, a lost and found pet section, a message board, a library full of information and more. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Petfinder.com! The Virtual Home of Adoptable Pets - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

When the dog is experiencing competing motivations, the behavior displayed will depend upon which motivation is stronger at that time. Learning and motivation go hand in hand. Without motivation, learning the correct response may not occur. They key to remember is that behaviors can be taught, but are under the control of the dog’s emotional state at all times. There are two stages of learning. The first is the acquisition stage. The second is the maintenance stage. Pia will go over the key points to getting behaviors and making sure they are reliable in the next several training sessions. Can you get reliability? Of course, but how can you keep that behavior strong? Listen and find out! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - TRAINING SESSION #16 -- Getting Reliable Behaviors -- Part 2 Dogs - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

When potential adopters go to a shelter, they are looking for a family dog that will live with them for many, many years, giving them great joy and happiness. Rescuing a dog from a shelter is so important since shelters are designed to house dogs for short periods of time, not for long periods or, even worse, indefinitely. The emotional health of the dog is critical during housing to ensure that the dog's quality of life remains stable. Not all dogs kennel well and their behavioral health can suffer as a result. So, before you are quick to pick the dog you feel sorry for, think twice and ask questions. Jackie Fahey will be discussing the importance of temperament testing and maintaining good emotional health for shelter dogs. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - To Test or Not To Test? The Importance of Temperament Testing in Shelter & Rescue Dogs - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

When the dog is experiencing competing motivations, the behavior displayed will depend upon which motivation is stronger at that time. Learning and motivation go hand in hand. Without motivation, learning the correct response may not occur. They key to remember is that behaviors can be taught, but are under the control of the dog’s emotional state at all times. There are two stages of learning. The first is the acquisition stage. The second is the maintenance stage. Pia will go over the key points to getting behaviors and making sure they are reliable in the next several training sessions. Can you get reliability? Of course, but how can you keep that behavior strong? Listen and find out! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - TRAINING SESSION #15 -- Getting Reliable Behaviors -- Part 1 - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

When we work with dogs, it is critical to understand what is motivating the dog to perform and what might be motivating the dog to do something else. Karen Pryor, a behavioral biologist with an international reputation in two fields, marine mammal biology and behavioral psychology, will talk to us about modern, force-free animal training. These methods are being used around the world in zoos to help animals deal with being handled to avoid putting them under anesthesia for simple treatments such as nail trimming. Why is this methodology so popular and how can we use it in our day-to-day training of dogs? Listen and find out. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Reaching The Animal Mind -- What The Clicker Training Method Teaches Us About All Animals - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

In Session #10, you taught your dog to walk nicely on leash. However, there may be times when you want your dog to walk next to your side and not six feet in front or behind you. Times when I use heel might be in a highly trafficked area, when walking in the street and a car is passing by or walking down a path where there might be another dog approaching. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - TRAINING SESSION #14 -- "HEEL" -- Teaching Your Dog to Walk By Your Side - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

The pet service industry is growing in leaps and bounds each day, especially with the economic changes and people out of work. Americans shell out over $40 billion each year to care for their pets. While the benefits of dog care and off leash dog play can be wonderful, it might not be the right business for you or the right place for your dog. Caring for people’s beloved pets at your facility requires business skills, animal skills, people skills and money. There are joys and risks to owning a day care and dropping your dog off for what you think will be a day of play and fun. Robin Bennett has been in the business for over 12 years and she’ll tell it all! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - All About Day Care and Off Leash Dog Play - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

Teaching your dog to stand still is an advanced behavior for most dogs since it takes a lot of self-control, especially when there are distractions present. However, it can be an extremely handy behavior when you need to wipe your dog’s muddy paws, give him a bath or clip his nails. Once your dog has learned to hold a reliable sit and down stay, a stand stay should not be very difficult. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - TRAINING SESSION #13 -- "Stand Still!" -- Teaching Your Dog to Stand - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

More and more pet owners are seeking holistic care for many reasons. The world of holistic care for dogs can be quite mysterious and confusing at the same time. The term holistic has become quite a buzzword and can easily be confused as to exactly what people mean when they call something holistic. "Dr. Doug" will talk to us about the most common holistic treatment methods, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, herbal medicine, and homeopathy. In addition, we will learn how conventional veterinary practices can be integrated into a holistic care program, including safe vaccination protocols. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog with Dr. Doug Knueven - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

Being able to send your dog to a mat, dog bed or crate from a distance will come in handy more than you know. It can be used to get your dog away from the front door, relax during mealtime, avoid being stepped on and much more. There are several methods to teaching this behavior so we will go over a few in this session. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Clicker Basics for Dogs and Puppies - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

What is clicker training and why is it so popular? A clicker is simply a tool, just like your dog’s leash and collar that helps you train your dog. It’s a small plastic box with a mechanism that, when pressed, makes a clicking sound. Clicker training is a special form of positive reinforcement training that emphasizes the use of two types of reward: a primary reward and a secondary reward. Once your dog becomes "clicker savvy", meaning that he really understands the meaning of the click, he may start to "offer all his favorite tricks. A dog that offers behaviors has caught on to the game of training and is trying to figure out what it takes to get you to click! This is great mental stimulation for your dog and makes training an interesting and creative process for you. It’s a win-win situation! Carolyn Barney will review the basics of clicker training and go over ways to "turn your dog" onto another way to train! More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Clicker Basics for Dogs and Puppies

Teaching your dog to move away from doorways, hot ovens, the refrigerator and more can come in very handy when you are carrying something or want your dog to avoid getting hurt. This is especially necessary for small dogs since they can easily be stepped on. Once your dog has learned to move back, we will work on getting him to sit or lie down away from you. This can come in handy if your dog is at a distance and you need him to be still or when he is riding in a car and blocking your view. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - TRAINING SESSION #11 -- "Get Back!" -- Teaching Your Dog to Back Away from Doors and Other Areas - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com

Do you come home to find complaints from your neighbors taped to your door about your barking dog? Do you have to put your dog outside when guests come to the door because he barks uncontrollably? Does your dog seem to be constantly "on patrol", barking at every person, animal or sound that he sees or hears? If so, you have a barking dog problem. In this interview, we talk to certified animal behaviorist Dr. Daniel Estep about why dogs bark excessively and what can be done to reduce or stop problem barking. Dr. Estep is internationally recognized as a teacher, researcher and educator in animal behavior. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Barking Dogs - with Pia Silvani on PetLifeRadio.com