Madcap Radio

This week, my guest, Jean Donaldson, chats with us about how to be a smart dog training consumer. We delve into both practical and ethical questions when it comes to finding a puppy class, and Jean shares the answers to her three questions you should ask any dog trainer: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

This week’s podcast is about puppies and owners who can’t seem to bond with their owners. The original question is long, so here’s the gist of it:‌ “Functionally Mac is excellent. Crate/House training/Obedience excellent…He sleeps through the night. He is great at puppy classes...He is good with other people and dogs…He was good at the vets. No problems so far with loud noises or anything like that…The problem is that we have been unable to build a relationship with him. He doesn’t respond to affection at all. We find it hard to make his tail wag. He will briefly let us stroke him, but this usually ends with a bite. He is unwilling to let us pick him up. He will play enthusiastically with toys, but this will quickly progress to biting and frenzy…We have had rescue dogs before, we have had puppies before, but we have never experienced this lack of relationship…we have tried everything we can think of to improve the relationship... We fear that the situation will become worse”‌ In this episode I explore:‌ Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

This week’s topic is the significance of trainer certifications: “Will knowing a trainer’s certification help you find the “Best” trainer?” In this episode, I discuss: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

This week’s question is about marrow bones: “Looking for advice and information on giving puppies bones. I've heard so much conflicting information about the benefits and risks, but I'm thoroughly confused. A dog dentist once told me not to give my dog anything to chew on that I couldn't dent with my thumbnail. Yet here I see hooves and raw meaty bones being offered. Thoughts?” In this episode, I lay out: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

This week’s question is about your changing relationship with your puppy through his teenage months: "I was talking with a very respected breeder about my ten-month-old Bull Terrier and she told me that this is the age where I need to start being ‘firm’ with him. What does she mean by ‘firm?’" In this episode I explain: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

This week’s question is about Breeder-Puppy Buyer contracts: Our puppies are 7 weeks old now and will be going to their new families in 3 weeks. I have been following along each day and this experience with the puppies has been incredible. Thank you for "holding my hand" throughout. We are getting to the part that I just feel I am not prepared or knowledgeable enough....THE CONTRACT. I, too, want to keep it simple.....feed healthy, train in a positive way, and bring back the puppy if something changes. Would you be able to share an example or a template perhaps? I would appreciate any assistance you can provide. Episode highlights: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

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: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

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.

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:‌ Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

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: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

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: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

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”:‌ Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

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: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

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: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

Today’s question is on dams who refuse to eat when pregnant: ‌“Ok friends, I’m having a REALLY difficult time getting my girl to eat… I have mixing pumpkin purée, we currently have three different dog foods that I have been trying different combinations of. She was eating Badlands Ranch and Orijen really well, before that it was Royal Canin, but all of these she eventually has stopped eating. I have freeze dried medallions I break up and mix in, I have canned (Royal Canin) I try mixing in…anything to get her to eat. What else can I do to get her to eat?” In this episode, I talk about: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

Today’s question is a fan request for an episode on teenagers: “I wonder if you could do a podcast covering what you have learned works best regarding how to frame the adolescents mind and some general guidelines around training and general standards we should be aware of at this time in her development. You know, like with the puppies at their different stages.” “Adolescent dogs” is a huge topic spanning several developmental periods, but in this episode I’m throwing out some big, universal landmarks that I have observed in adolescent dogs. I discuss: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

This week’s star question is from a puppy owner who’s puppy is drooling and throwing up in the car. They’re wondering, is it general anxiety or carsickness? It’s very troublesome because these puppy owners have lots of big plans for travel with their pet and it’s important that their puppy ride well in the car. What can they do to fix this situation? In this episode I answer these questions and look at: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

Today’s question comes to us from a breeder who’s having a large litter and wondering how she’s going to get everything done: “Help, I am actually freaking out…just confirmed 11 via x-ray…have got a really bad feeling that I am going to be short on time for individual work. How do those of you who have big litters work?” In this episode, I talk about: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

Today’s question comes from a viewer who has a puppy that wakes up at 5AM and screams her head off. They’ve been ignoring the screaming but it’s not going away...what should she do? This is a common problem that both puppy owners and breeders regularly write in about. In this episode I cover: Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.

Today’s question comes from a person who’s thinking about taking in rescue litters. She’s thinking that a good early start could help rescue puppies, but she’s wondering if she’ll be able to use Puppy Culture. She’s worried that, because the dams are stressed, she might not be able to do some of the protocols. What should she do? Are there any special considerations for doing Puppy Culture with a rescue litter? Visit our website, madcapradio.com for further reading.