The Dogs of Our Lives

In this episode, Chrissy talks with Dr Jennifer Fick, a veterinary orthopedic surgeon. They discuss Jennifer's personal and professional perspective on TPLO surgery for cruciate ligament injuries, and perhaps just as importantly, TPLO recovery for dogs like Charlotte (a german shepherd) who need mental stimulation. If you want better tools to aid in your dog's recovery from TPLO surgery, this FREE mini-guide is EXACTLY what you need:  https://www.theanimalnature.com/pl/2147656156 They also cover Jennifer's journey to becoming a mobile surgeon, her experiences with her dogs Charlotte and Elsie, and the challenges of dealing with canine hemangiosarcoma. Additionally, they address Proposition 129 in Colorado, which proposes the creation of mid-level veterinary practitioners, and the concerns about patient safety and veterinary standards. If you want to learn more about Prop 129, here are the details: https://www.avma.org/news/colorado-ballot-measure-calls-nonveterinarians-diagnose-do-surgery As always, if you'd like to stay in touch, please connect via Jenny's website: https://www.svvs.vet/ And of course, https://www.theanimalnature.com/ for all things positive reinforcement dog training and behavior with Chrissy, as well as the usual social channels: https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/https://www.facebook.com/thenatureofanimals Thanks for listening! 

In today's episode, Chrissy hosts Andrew Hale, a UK-based animal and canine behaviorist, to discuss the emotional and social aspects of dog behavior, and just as importantly, how that affects us as care givers. Trust me when I say you do not want to miss this episode if you are even slightly interested in behavior, for those listening with children, it's a must-listen! Andy shares his personal journey, including childhood trauma and its impact on his work. We emphasize the importance of understanding behavior from a deeper perspective, rather than just addressing symptoms. Andy advocates for a dog-centric approach, focusing on the dog's emotional experience and needs. He highlights the significance of secure attachment, processing, engagements, and exits. Hale also discusses the role of guilt and judgment in professional development and the need for compassion and resilience in the field of dog training. If you'd like to find out more, you can get in touch with Andy via his website: https://dogcc.org/ As always, don't forget to let us know your thoughts on this episode by leaving a comment, review or feedback on the website: https://www.theanimalnature.com/ or via my socials: https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/  

On today's episode, I speak with Jamie Flanagan, a dog trainer specializing in dogs that show aggressive and reactive behaviors and we're asking a very important question:Does Positive Reinforcement Really Work For Dogs Displaying Fearful and Reactive Behaviors? Jamie, who runs Training Wheels in Broomfield, Colorado, discusses her background, including her time at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley and her transition to dog training. She emphasizes the importance of positive reinforcement and the challenges of working with sensitive dogs. Jamie shares her personal experience with her own reactive dog, Riot, and the decision to euthanize him. She also highlights the need for patience in behavior modification and the importance of comforting fearful dogs without reinforcing fearful behaviors. If you'd like to get in touch with Jamie, please visit her website: https://www.trainingwheels.dog/ As always, we'd love to hear your feedback about today's episode so why not join the community on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/ https://www.facebook.com/thenatureofanimals Would you like to know about positive reinforcement training techniques? Head on over to my website: https://www.theanimalnature.com/  

In today's episode, I speak with Gigi Moss, a local legend in the Boulder Valley community, about navigating your dog's vision loss with resilience and compassion. Gigi had to adapt to her dog's eyesight loss which also impacted her training techniques. Gigi has been a dog trainer for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience, but helping her dog through vision loss was ironically eye-opening for her and her dog training methods, realising that teaching our dogs to be more resilient is essential. If you are going through a similar experience of change, then I encourage you to leave a comment and to get in touch with either me or Gigi https://gigimoss.com/ As always you can contact me via my website https://www.theanimalnature.com/ or join the community on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/  

Emily Tronetti, an expert in humane education, discusses the vital connection between compassion and the care of both humans and animals. She shares personal stories of how her pets helped her navigate depression and anxiety through their unique intuition and love. The conversation covers the incredible sensory abilities of dogs, including their knack for detecting changes in humans. Emily emphasizes the importance of empathy in our interactions with companion animals and the transformative power of humane education in fostering kinder communities.

This week I talk to Mary about the surprising parallels between human and animal adoption and how that has impacted her dog training and behavior consulting approach. Mary also shares her insights into her experience with the ASPCA, her journey into dog training and behavior consulting, and how her pup Buster has helped her slow down. If you'd like to connect with us then head on over to my website: https://www.theanimalnature.com/ Join my amazing community on my Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/ You can reach out to Mary via her website: https://www.maryangilly.com/  

The Personal and Professional Realities of Running a Rescue. In today's episode, I chat with Emily Wolf from Summit Dog Rescue about running a successful rescue. We discuss how running a rescue is not all rainbows and unicorns, but a huge professional and personal challenge, that has proven to be extremely difficult at times. If you've ever thought about adopting a dog from a rescue, then this episode is for you. If you'd like to learn more about Summit Dog Rescue, check out their website: www.summitdogrescue.org and be sure to check out their podcast: Pod To The Rescue. Don't forget to join the Nature of Animals community on our socials too by visiting https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/  

Life After Divorce: Building Confidence with a Reactive Dog with Rebecca and Teague. In today's episode, I talk with Rebecca about how her divorce impacted her relationship with her dog Teague. We discuss how living with a reactive or sensitive dog can cause anxiety and self-doubt, the struggles of managing a reactive dog in a single-family household and the importance of community to help build confidence. If you are living with a reactive or sensitive dog and would like to learn more about training techniques, dog behaviour and more then head on over to my website: www.theanimalnature.com Join me on Instagram for some social fun! https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/  

This latest episode of the Dogs of Our Lives podcast centers around the themes of grief, loss and the importance of companion animals in providing comfort and purpose during difficult times. Chrissy chats to Joanna who she shares her personal experience of losing a loved one and navigating that with the support of her animal companion. Chrissy and Joanna talk about the need for empathy, trust, and emotional healing, and discussed the unique ways Joanna formed such a strong bond with her dog Lolo. They also discussed the challenges of socializing reactive dogs and the importance of shifting the traditional mindset towards a more collaborative and respectful relationship with dogs. Please enjoy this episode: How to Survive the Loss of a Loved One With the Help of Your Animal Companion. To find out more about animal training, communication and behaviour head over to my website: www.theanimalnature.com Join me on Instagram for some social fun!https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/  

Welcome to Episode One of the Dogs of Our Lives Podcast with me, your host, Chrissy Messick. The Dogs of Our Lives podcast is all about living, learning, and growing with dogs. In this episode, I will talk to you about my personal journey as a dog owner, and trainer, how the dogs in my life made me a better parent and how my childhood influenced the person I am today. In future episodes of the Dogs of Our Lives podcast, I will invite guests to talk about their personal experiences of owning dogs and to have real and vulnerable conversations. It's only fair that I do the same in this episode. I will discuss my family and childhood trauma, my career in sports medicine and how my two boxer pups changed the entire trajectory of my life. I hope this episode will inspire you to talk about your life influences and to think about how your own experiences impact your personal growth and development. https://www.theanimalnature.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thenatureofanimals/