124. Fourth of July Pet Safety, Understanding Dog Behavior & Caring for Giant Breeds

In this special Fourth of July episode of the Pets Add Life Podcast, hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine share practical tips to help dogs and cats stay safe during fireworks while exploring the science behind canine behavior and the unique needs of giant breed dogs. Featuring two experts in animal behavior and pet wellness, this episode is packed with advice to help pet parents better understand, protect, and care for their furry family members. Story Time features: Chris shares essential Fourth of July safety tips for cat owners, including why microchipping, updated ID tags, keeping cats indoors, and maintaining recent photos are critical during one of the busiest times of year for lost pets. Kristen discusses how to prepare dogs for fireworks by providing exercise, enrichment activities, a quiet safe space, calming background audio, and—when appropriate—working with a veterinarian on anxiety management strategies. Special Guests: Kim Brophey, Applied Ethologist, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Founder of Family Dog Mediation & Author of Meet Your Dog Sarah McLean, Co-Founder, Big Damn Dog Company & Winner of the 2025 Pet Innovation Lab Competition Pet Product Recommendations: Atomic Bubbles Puppy Love Calming Bubbles & Kitty Love Calming Bubbles – https://atomicbubbles.com Pet Honesty Dual Texture Calming Chews – https://www.pethonesty.com Q&A Topics: With so many GPS trackers, health monitors, and smart pet devices on the market, which pet technologies genuinely improve a dog's quality of life—especially for senior pets? (Submitted by Rachel from Austin, TX) With so many supplements available for pets, how can owners tell which products are truly beneficial and which are mostly marketing hype? (Submitted by Michael from Denver, CO) Related Links: Family Dog Mediation: https://www.familydogmediation.com Big Damn Dog Company: https://thebigdamndogco.com/ Pet Anxiety Awareness Month: https://www.petanxietyawareness.com National Animal Supplement Council (NASC): https://www.nasc.cc American Pet Products Association (APPA): https://www.americanpetproducts.org DOGTV: https://www.dogtv.com Pets Add Life: https://www.petsaddlife.org Social Channels: Kim Brophey (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/familydogmediation Big Damn Dog Company (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/bigdamndogco DOGTV (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/dogtv Pets Add Life (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/petsaddlife Pets Add Life (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/PetsAddLife Pets Add Life (TikTok): https://www.tiktok.com/@petsaddlife Pets Add Life (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@petsaddlife Subscribe & Listen: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts! Submit a question to the podcast: https://www.petsaddlife.org/podcast Presented by: American Pet Products Association (APPA) & DOGTV