The term "pythiosis" probably doesn't mean much to most people. Yet this particular disease- which can affect humans, dogs, and other mammals- while not common, nevertheless seems to be on the rise, with cases being reported in more and more places. So what is this disease? How is it spread, how is it treated, and how can you protect your pet? In the first of multiple episodes examining pythiosis, Tina talks to her friend Katie Gallagher about her experience dealing with the disease in her young puppy. For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog ..read more

Living with kids and dogs can be fun, but it can also be incredibly challenging. Balancing different needs and keeping everybody happy is no easy task, but it can be done and the end result can be amazing! Today Julie and Tina are joined by Aishlyn Skoczylas, a dog trainer and new mom, to discuss her experience of bringing home a tiny human to a house full of dogs. Tune in to hear the good, the bad, and what she wished she had known sooner. For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog ..read more

Regularly cycling out what your pet eats- otherwise known as "rotational feeding"- at first might seem like just adding an unnecessary complication to your life. After all, if your dog is happy with his food, why rock the boat? But switching up what Fido eats doesn't have to be difficult and can have some surprising benefits. Today, Julie and Tina break down what rotational feeding is, different methods of doing it, and how it can help improve your dog's health and mood.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.  ..read more

Bird flu is in the news again. By now, most of us have seen the reports of the H5N1 strain infecting chickens, dairy cows, and even some humans. With the Covid pandemic still fresh in our collective memory, it's reasonable to wonder just how worried we should be about this particular flu strain. What risk does it pose to us? To our pets? What (if anything) can we do to help keep ourselves and our families safe? To answer these and other questions, Julie and Tina are joined today by Brittany Buckley, the manager of the histology lab at the University of Georgia Poultry Research and Diagnostic C ..read more

Teaching your dog a new behavior can sometimes seem overwhelming. Sure, it would be great if Fido could go beyond the basics and do things like roll over, shake hands, or play dead, but who has time to teach all that? Well, actually- you do! Training new behaviors and tricks doesn't have to be labor intensive or take hours of your time. In fact, sometimes five minutes is all you need. Today, Julie and Tina present a variety of fun, simple behaviors that you can teach your dog with just a few minutes of practice a day.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog ..read more

Christmas may have come and gone, but many of us are still on break. In the post-Christmas, pre-New Year's haze, when the weather often keeps us inside, both kids and dogs can start to get antsy- and that can be a recipe for disaster. How do you keep dogs and the grandkids from driving each other- and you- crazy? Today, Julie and Tina provide a range of ideas for fun activities that allow the kids to enjoy doing things with and for their canine friends, while making sure that nobody get overwhelmed.   For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog ..read more

Most of us recognize that euthanasia can sometimes be necessary or even kindest course of action when a beloved pet is terminally ill or suffering. The question of putting a dog to sleep because of behavioral concerns, however, is often much trickier. Is euthanasia ever justified in these cases and if so, how do you know when you've reached that point? And are the costs of not euthanizing potentially dangerous dogs worse than letting them live? Dog trainer Trish McMillan came on the show today to talk about this sensitive, but important topic.   For show notes and more, please go to Your ..read more

Julie is still on hiatus, but Tina is here this week, accompanied by a special guest. Although he's still only in high school, Will Ryan is the founder of Service Dawg Nation, a non-profit dedicated to helping train and match service dogs for veterans. He and his mother came on the show today to talk about his project, what it means to him, and where he plans to take it from here.   For Show Notes and more: Your Family Dog ..read more

Julie and Tina are back! Not just back to recording but (at least in the case of Julie) back from a month abroad as well. And after spending a month in Ireland, Julie has an important question- are Europeans better at socializing their dogs than we are? And if so, what can we learn from them to help our star-spangled pooches over here?   For more information and show notes: Your Family Dog ..read more

The new year is upon us! For many of us, this means setting goals and making resolutions. For almost as many of us, this also means having them blown to smithereens before January even hits its halfway point. So what can we do about it? Julie Fudge Smith and Tina Spring offer advice not only on how to set goals for yourself and your dog, but also on how to achieve those goals and give yourself and Fido grace if you fall short. For shows please go to: Your Family Dog ..read more