066 Service Dogs Taught Without Training Commands and Why Cats Are So Agile.

First, I answer a question from a listener – Scott Martin from Highland Park, Illinois asked why cats are so agile with their feet? I go into the juicy details but overall the secret has to do with them needing to be great hunters. Next, there is a newer revolutionary approach to teaching your dog that does NOT rely on the traditional method of training commands. Rocket, the NutriSource dog that is working as a service dog in a children’s’ hospital (featured in the last two episodes) was taught using the Bond-Based approach. My guest in this episode is Jennifer Arnold, the founder and executive director of Canine Assistants, the non-profit company that teaches and places service dogs, is the developer of the bond-based approach. In this episode she explains how this works for educating service dogs and pet dogs as well. Then, you’ll hear the personal true pet stories told by a friend and podcast listener himself. Michael Birnbaum shares the story of his dog that stopped him from getting into a nasty physical fight and the emotional tale of how he was going to protect the life of a cat at all costs. Listener Invitation! I’m inviting you to have the opportunity to have your stories told. If your pet, dog or cat, has saved your butt somehow write and tell me your story. I may contact you, we’ll talk about either me telling your story on air, or you telling it yourself, on the podcast. Send me your brief story at [email protected]. Additional Resources for the show. See the videos of “Agile cat, Clumsy dog” and cats doing agility courses at www.raisingyourpaws.com. Blog page for episode 66. Source for the story about cat’s feet – “Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet” by John Bradshaw. How to Order Jennifer Arnold’s book, “Love is All You Need: The Revolutionary Bond-Based Approach to Educating Your Dog.” Canine Assistant’s website. A resource about the “Do It” program, by Claudia Fugazza, mentioned by Jennifer Arnold - dog’s learning by imitating humans. Article, “Owner to Dog – Just Do It” by Claudia Fugazza and Adam Miklὀsi. To request more information about Bond-Based dog education approach – write Jennifer at [email protected]. Information about Artist/color design stylist, Michael Birnbaum. His website: Transformed By Color.