Believe in Dog

Episode 32. Building a Community of Pet Parents with the DogHood. While Purvi and Ruchi both grew up in India, it was just 2 years ago, while living in the San Francisco area that dogs brought them together. Purvi shares her story of growing up afraid of dogs and never thinking that she’d one day be a “dog person” after giving in to her husband’s & sons’ desire for a dog.  Purvi jumped right into the deep end with Oreo, a sheepadoodle they got as a puppy. Being a first-time dog owner, Purvi had many questions about what was “normal” dog behavior.  And this is where Ruchi brought the peace of mind. Ruchi shares with us her childhood and how her & her husband decided to become pet parents first, before having children. Ruchi’s 20+ years as a pet parent has led her in many directions from photography (after her son wasn’t interested in being her subject) to boarding dogs.  Ruchi’s Dog Mom Wisdom has helped many of her friends and neighbors over the years. Seeing so many first-time Pet Parents struggling during COVID-19, Purvi & Ruchi’s idea for The DogHood was born.  The DogHood app connects you with Pet Parents in your neighborhood as well as globally. From questions about your dog’s behavior to planning dog park meet-ups to sharing your adorable pet pics, the DogHood is a one-stop app for dog owners by dog owners. Find Show Notes, Links and Photos at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode-32

Episode 31. Erika Kovacs with Pinups for Pit Bulls. A lifelong dog-lover, Erika is one firecracker of a Dog Mom. Erika is a vet tech by day and spends her free time advocating for pit bull dogs with the Pinups for Pit Bulls organization. Ericka even modeled in the Pinups for Pit Bulls 2020 calendar…as Miss March 2020 … or Miss COVID!  But Erika shares with us how she was able to redeem herself in the 2022 “Greatest Pits” edition of the calendar. Erika has so much to share about her experiences as a Dog Mom including Hogan’s leash reactivity and everything she’s done to improve this behavior over time.  Plus, we discuss life as pit bull owners & advocates, from the pressure we put on ourselves to have the “perfect” breed ambassador dogs to everything we’ve learned about advocating and breed discrimination to dealing with other people’s reactions to our dogs. Make sure to follow Erika on her always entertaining Instagram where she shares the adventures of her pit bull dogs, Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Erlenmeyer Flask.   Find Show Notes, Links and Photos at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode-31

Episode 30. Ekene Okeke of Shuree’s Organics. Ekene is a first-time Dog Mom who started her company, Shuree’s Organics to provide safe and healthy treats for dogs. After not growing up with pets, it didn’t take long for Ekene to fall in love with the Dog Mom Life, even if there have been challenges along the way – from behavioral issues to injuries. Each of the Shuree’s Organics treats contain only one ingredient which Ekene sources herself from local farms and butchers with meats fully traceable from farm-to-dog bowl. We’re also celebrating 2 years since the start of the Believe in Dog Podcast. We share stories from listeners about the dogs who have impacted their lives. Find Show Notes, Links and Photos at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode-30

Episode 29. How Billie Groom of UPWARD Dogology is Helping Dogs with a "Checkered Past" While Billie Groom didn’t grow up with pets, the dogs started finding her when she was in her 20s.  Billie’s passion was ignited when she stumbled upon a dog hiding under a log on a beach and found her a loving home. After traveling through the U.S. in a renovated bus and running an informal dog rescue in North Carolina, Billie returned to Canada and fell into starting a dog walking company. While running her business, Billie found she had a knack for working with dogs with behavioral issues and found herself helping pet parents improve their dog’s problematic adolescent behavior and assisting dogs with a “checkered past.” Billie’s UPWARD Dogology has helped hundreds of families who are often in a crisis due to their dog’s behavior.   Billie’s methodology differs from traditional training methods and is based on the principles of cognitive behavior therapy.   Find Show Notes, Links and Photos at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode29

Episode 28. Katy McQuaid, Author of Everybody Loves Grace. Katy McQuaid spent 32 years working for the CIA – Yes, that CIA! – and is now an award-winning children’s book author of the Everybody Loves Grace series.  Grace is Katy’s Finnish Lapphund dog.  (These dogs were actually bred to herd reindeer in Scandinavia!) Katy’s book series shares Grace’s dog’s-eye-view perspective of their road trips throughout the U.S., the people she meets and the world around her. Grace has a special talent for finding those who seem to need her the most and looking into their eyes and straight into their hearts. We’ll also hear from a special 5th grade guest who gives us her review of the Everybody Loves Grace books. Find Show Notes, Links and Photos at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode-28

In Part 2 with Jennifer Ganz, we’ll hear more about her work with students, the 20+ dogs she’s fostered for animal rescue organizations and the social club she started for sighthound dogs in the Baltimore area. I give some background on the Project Mickey Humane Education Program. (Trigger warning for mentioning animal abuse.)  And also discuss the connection between Adverse Childhood Experiences and how more animal-assisted programs could help. While Jen has been kind enough to share her individual experiences with us, please note that she is not representing any specific school, district or institution. Find Show Notes, Links and Photos at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode27part2

Episode 27, Part 1.  Creating a Humane Education Career with Jennifer Ganz, School Psychologist.   I feel so fortunate to have met Jennifer Ganz through Baltimore’s animal welfare community. We had so much to talk about that it turned into 2 episodes! A lifelong animal lover, Jen started her career as a teacher and then pursued further education to become a school psychologist.  I found Jen’s dedication to continuing her own education as well as her dog’s ongoing training inspiring.  While Jen’s first rescued greyhound could be somewhat unpredictable at times, when Jen adopted her dog Charm, he turned out to be perfect canine companion for humane education with Jen’s students. Find Show Notes, Links and Photos at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode27part1

Episode 26. Krista Karpowich of Wag Out Loud Krista’s passion for our dogs’ health and wellness is unmatched. As the creator and host of the Wag Out Loud Pawdcast, Krista is one of the most knowledgeable pet parents I’ve ever met! Krista’s love of dogs inspired her to obtain a certificate in Canine Nutrition and create Wag Out Loud to share everything she’s learned along the way.   Find the Show Notes, Links and Resources at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode-26

Episode 25. Margrit Strohmaier, Author of What to Know Before You Get Your Dog Inspired by her daughter’s “relentless campaign” for a dog of her own, Margrit is the author of What to Know Before You Get Your Dog. When she couldn’t find a children’s book that described the responsibilities of dog ownership in a way that kids could understand, Margrit decided to write it herself.  Then with the boom of dog ownership during COVID-19, Margrit was further motivated to get the book published to help all the families now considering dog ownership. Margrit & I discuss: Margrit’s childhood experiences with pets; Pet ownership in the country of Austria, where Margrit grew up; Her daughter’s “relentless campaign” for a dog of her own; The unexpected challenges her family faced when they tried to get her daughter the dog she wanted; All of the research and preparations Margrit and her family did to prepare for owning a toy breed dog; The potential danger of eating 1 chocolate chip for a toy breed dog; All of the challenges and rewards of owning a toy breed dog; How COVID-19 motivated Margrit to finish her book; and Preparing your dog for traveling overseas.   Links Discussed: Download your free Dog Care Contract and Dog Chore Chart: https://www.margritstrohmaier.com/ Buy your copy of Margrit’s book, What to Know Before You Get Your Dog: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1736999524 Pets and International Travel: https://www.state.gov/pets-and-international-travel/ 5 Surprising Ways Pets are Good for Kids & Families: https://www.parents.com/parenting/pets/kids/the-benefits-of-pets/   Erin’s Interview with the Dog Podcast Network: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7iRIfvSslA Facebook: https://fb.watch/7gPgs7jmoC/   Let's Connect – I’ll be sharing photos of Margrit & Scruffy at: Facebook: @believeindogpodcastInstagram: @believe_in_dog_podcastEmail: erin@believeindogpodcast.com Support this podcast, subscribe on your favorite app and leave a rating or review.    

Episode 24. Animal Welfare Round Table: Mythbusters Edition On this episode, we’re welcoming back previous guests Annie Pruitt, Kaitlyn Thomas and Liz Weiner. Between the 4 of us, we have nearly 30 years combined experience in animal sheltering and community pet support. Special thanks to Chuck Nunn,  audio engineer for the Round Table - who also joins in the conversation when we put him on the spot.   On this Round Table, we’re confronting 4 myths that we see on social media and in our personal experience: Myth #1: Heartless people dump animals at shelters. Myth #2: If you can’t afford a pet, you shouldn’t have one. Myth #3: Dogs with scars and injuries were used as “bait dogs.” Myth #4: Pets end up at animal shelters because they were abused, have behavioral issues or are otherwise flawed in some way.   Annie, Kaitlyn, Liz & I talk through each of these statements and share the truths we’ve learned through our volunteer, work and life experiences.   Some of the topics we discuss: How we used to believe some of these but our experiences changed our minds – and we’re thrilled that we used to be wrong; How negative and judgmental comments on social media can create a dangerous situation for pets; Why we need to change the conversation from focusing on our opinions about the problem to focusing on solutions; Challenges faced by pet owners living at or below poverty level; How we can’t jump to conclusions or make assumptions about what goes on in a family; How imparting our own judgments on situations is the root cause of most conflicts and unhappiness; The power of making human connections; The importance of collaborating; Being responsible with social media consumption; and Compassion fatigue and burnout in the animal welfare community and the best way our panelists have found to reverse it.   Let's make Liz’s poem go viral!  Share now! https://medium.com/creatures/i-adopted-your-pet-today-a-poem-921b7dab43fc   Connect with Annie of Charm City Companions: Website: http://www.charmcitycompanions.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charmcitycompanions Podcast Ep. 6:  https://believeindog.podbean.com/e/episode-6-annies-story-compassion-in-action/   Connect with Kaitlyn of Finding Knox: Website:  https://findingknox.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FindingKnox Podcast Ep. 19:  https://believeindog.podbean.com/e/episode-19-kaitlyn-thomas-of-finding-knox/   Connect with Liz Weiner: Liz's Writing:  https://medium.com/creatures/liz-weiner/home Podcast Ep. 7: https://believeindog.podbean.com/e/episode-7-lizs-story-tovis-gift/ Podcast Ep. 17: https://believeindog.podbean.com/e/episode-17-dog-mom-dog-dad-round-table-shy-fearful-dogs/   Let's Connect: Facebook: @believeindogpodcastInstagram: @believe_in_dog_podcastEmail: erin@believeindogpodcast.com Support this podcast, subscribe on your favorite app and leave a rating or review.