Believe in Dog
by Erin Scott (Erin the Dog Mom)
Are you looking for deep dive conversations into topics like dog training & behavior issues, the best health & nutrition options for your dog or an honest look at rescues, shelters & the animal welfare world? Join Erin for candid discussions sharing wisdom that will help you navigate the challenges of pet parenthood, celebrate the amazing times and discover everything that Dog Moms & Dog Dads should know. Erin believes that dogs can be healers, teachers and inspirations in our lives. Say hi to your dog for me!
Episodes
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REPLAY: You Don’t Have to Train Everything: How Smart Management Can Change Your Dog’s Behavior Today with Juliana DeWillems
REPLAY: What If you could solve your dog’s biggest behavior challenge TODAY? Dog trainer Juliana DeWillems says that while immediate results usually aren’t possible in dog training – they can be when we use management techniques. In her new book Manage It! Hacks for Improving Your Dog’s Behavior,...
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Unbreakable Bond: Chris & K9 Tambo’s Journey of Strength, Survival and Service
What happens when the bond between a K9 handler and his retired working dog is tested by something no training can prepare them for? In this episode, federal law enforcement officer Chris Bingham shares the powerful, behind-the-scenes story of his retired K9 partner, Tambo — a dog who served with...
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The Missing Piece in Dog Behavior: Are You Meeting Your Dog’s Needs? with Kim Brophey, Dog Behavior Expert
Why are so many dogs today anxious, reactive, or struggling with behavior issues? In this episode, I’m joined by Kim Brophey, Applied Ethologist, Dog Behavior Expert and creator of the groundbreaking LEGS Framework and Family Dog Mediation Center, to explore the root causes behind dog behavior...
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Dog Mom Self-Care: Why taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for your dog
When the world feels heavy — or your dog’s health or behavior challenges have you running on empty — how do you find your calm again? This episode is your reminder that your dog doesn’t need you to be perfect; they need you to be present. We’re rethinking self-care as something deeper than bubble...
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Grey Muzzles & Golden Years: Supporting Senior Dogs Every Step of the Way with Helen St. Pierre
What if “senior” didn’t mean the end—but the beginning of a whole new chapter with your dog? Today we’re joined by Helen St. Pierre, dog trainer and founder of Old Dogs Go to Helen Rescue. What started as a way to help dogs get adopted through training turned into a lifelong passion for giving...
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Second Chances: How Shelter Dogs Bring Redemption and Hope to Incarcerated Youth
What happens when one woman believes so deeply in the power of dogs to change lives that she builds a program to prove it — and keeps it alive even after the state stops funding it? Content Note: In this episode, there are mentions of child abuse and neglect and a juvenile case involving murder…
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Why we should all care about BSL: A Pit Bull Advocacy Story with Cait Conroy and Ilona Price of PG Pet Unity Project
What would you do if buying your dream home meant giving up your dog? In 2018, Cait Conroy and her husband were forced to confront Prince George’s County, Maryland’s decades-old “pit bull” breed ban when it threatened their beloved Poptart. That experience sparked Cait’s ongoing advocacy — not…
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Scent Work for Dogs: How to Start, Why it Matters & Easy Games to Try with Dianna Santos of Scent Work University
Has your dog played the sniffy game yet today? Today we’re joined by Dianna Santos, founder of Scent Work University, to explore one of the most powerful — and fun — activities you can do with your dog: scent work. Whether you’ve heard it called nose work or scent work, this enriching game taps...
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Checking In on Our 2025 Dog Goals
Did you set goals for you & your dog this year? Back in February, I shared the goals I set for myself & my dogs in 2025 — and now that we’re a little more than halfway through the year, it’s time for a check-in! I’m sharing our progress (and setbacks!) not just to update you, but for my own...
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Old Dog, New Dog: When’s the right time for your next family member? with Kathy Callahan and Helen St. Pierre
If you have a senior dog in your home, when’s the right time to bring a new dog into the mix? For longtime dog trainers Kathy Callahan and Helen St. Pierre, the answer isn’t simple – it depends – on your dog, your household and your bandwidth. Kathy & Helen share with us what inspired their...
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REPLAY: How to do Sport Search & Rescue with Your Dog with Melissa Stagnaro
REPLAY: If you can name a Dog Sport, Melissa Stagnaro has most likely tried it at some point over the past 20 years. And today we’re so fortunate to have Melissa sharing tips and insight from her years of experience. I loved her canine enrichment idea for dogs recovering from an injury! But did…
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REPLAY: Can Dogs Be Neurodiverse? How Sharon Vincuilla Helps Dogs Who Experience the World Differently
REPLAY: Have you ever been around a dog who doesn’t “dog” like other dogs? Maybe you’ve experienced a dog who is reactive or has separation anxiety or a noise-phobia? Sharon Vincuilla and I explore how dogs (and people!) can experience the world differently and how neurodiversity shows up in a...
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Dog Love Stories: Celebrating the Canines Who Change Us with Patricia Eagle
Have you ever thought about your time with your dog as a chapter of your life? For teacher, speaker, and lifelong journaler Patricia Eagle, her story is told in ten chapters – with each devoted to a dog who changed her life. In her new book, Dog Love Stories: The Canines Who Changed Me, Patricia...
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Real-Life Shelter Challenges & the Leaders Who Keep Saving Lives: WWLTDO Shelter Roundtable Part 2
What does leadership in animal welfare really look like when the going gets tough? Like losing most of your staff in a single day—or raising twins, running a shelter, and opening a spay/neuter clinic all at once? We’re back with author, advocate, and nonprofit founder Cara Achterberg (Episode 75,...
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How Community-Focused Shelter Leaders Get Scrappy to Save Lives: WWLTDO Shelter Roundtable Part 1
What does it really take to save lives in a shelter where the need never stops? For leaders like Courtney Cross (Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Shelter) and Ruby Fooks (Butler County Animal Shelter), it means getting scrappy — not just in strategy, but in spirit. Across the country, life-saving...
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Training That Feels Like Play: The Power of Pattern Games with Angie Haines Madden
Whether you’re looking for something fun to do with your dog or if you need help with a behavior issue, Control Unleashed might be exactly the training class you’re looking for. Today, I’m joined by Angie Haines Madden of DogSpeak Training — the trainer my dogs & I have been working with through...
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Canine Enrichment Round-Up!
How are you enriching your dog’s life today? This Canine Enrichment Round-Up episode features segments with three amazing guests who are leading the way in canine enrichment. Each guest shares ideas to help you bring more joy to your dog’s life and celebrate their dog-ness. First, we’ll hear from...
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Both Ends of the Leash: Evolving as a Pet Parent with Sylvie Savage
What if it’s our end of the leash that needs to change? When we’re struggling with our dog’s behavior, Sylvie Savage wants us to consider that it might be the human end of the leash that needs to evolve. In her new book Unleash: How to Evolve from Dog Training to Dog Parenting, Sylvie encourages…
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How to Turn Your Dog’s Reactivity into Resiliency with Grisha Stewart’s BAT Training
Have you ever struggled with your dog’s reactivity? Whether your dog is reactive to other dogs, people or something in the environment, Grisha Stewart’s Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) may be what you’ve been looking for to help your dog lead a more comfortable life. Grisha developed BAT...
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How to Choose a Virtual Dog Training Class
Ever since Nessie joined our family, I’ve had to step up my pet parenting to incorporate more enrichment and training into our home than ever before. I’ve spent a lot of time (and money!) over the past year trying numerous different online dog training platforms. While many of them have great...
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How I Set Goals for My Dogs
Do you have goals for your dogs in 2025? In this solo episode, Erin shares: My complicated relationship with the concept of goal setting; The goals I’ve had for my dogs over the past 20 years … before Nessie; How I feel about setting goals for my dogs today; and The goals I have for my dogs in...
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Help Your Dog Feel Safe with Andrew Hale’s Dog-Centered Care
What’s more important to you: What your dog does? Or how your dog feels? This question is at the core of Andrew Hale’s Dog Centered Care approach. An emerging thought leader in the dog training world, Andrew draws on his background in human psychology to place empathy and a deep understanding of…
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Herbal Remedies for Your Dog’s Anxiety with Rita Hogan, the Canine Herbalist
Have you ever used herbal remedies for your dog? or yourself? If you started your day with a cup of coffee or tea, then your answer is Yes! Rita Hogan, the Canine Herbalist, has so much wisdom to share with us. From being raised on a rural farm to running a holistic pug rescue, Rita has dedicated...
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Canine Enrichment: Fun for Dogs of All Ages with Taylor Finton of Bindi's Bucket List
Want to give your dog the best year ever? Let your dog be a dog with more canine enrichment activities in their lives! When Taylor Finton & her husband adopted their American Village dogs – rescued from the island of St. Lucia - Taylor thought it would be fun to document her dogs’ new lives in...
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Soulmate Dog: Exploring Animal Communication and the Human-Animal Bond with Michelle Slater, Ph.D.
Have you ever wondered if you’re making the “right” decisions for your dog during an injury or illness? Support this podcast, subscribe on your favorite app and leave a rating or review. Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.…
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Your Pet Parent Holiday Wish List
If you're anything like me, you enjoy shopping for other people but have a more difficult time telling people what they should get you. This episode will give you plenty of ideas for your Holiday Wish List (and your dog), no matter where you are in your Pet Parent journey. From 1st time Pet…
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Holiday Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Dog Behavior Challenges (For the Holidays & Beyond!) with Juliana DeWillems
Holiday Giving Campaign: Let’s help Cara Achterberg (Episode 75) provide her newest book Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories & Solutions for FREE to America’s shelters and rescues! What If you could solve your dog’s biggest behavior challenge TODAY? Dog trainer Juliana DeWillems says that while...
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My Dog is as Disciplined as I am
In this solo episode, Erin is celebrating one year since their family adopted Nessie – which hasn’t always gone according to plan. Erin shares the story of how Nessie joined their family and what she wishes they had done differently in the meet & greet process. Erin also reveals what Nessie has...
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Who Rescued Who? with Christopher Dale, Author of “We Saved Each Other”
Has your dog ever helped you through a hard time in life? Your answer is most likely a resounding YES, right? Author Christopher Dale credits Vector, his rescued “sato” dog from Puerto Rico, with helping him start a new chapter in life after going through hard times. Like really hard times. Like...
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Pet Parenting Basics for Multi-Dog Families (or any family!) with Debby McMullen
Have you ever thought about your pet parenting philosophy? Maybe you have an idea in your head of what you want your relationship with your dog(s) to look like, but how would you describe it? A few months ago, on an Amazon recommendation & a whim, I bought Debby McMullen’s book How Many Dogs?!...
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How to be a Safe Space for Your Anxious, Fearful or Reactive Dog with Zazie Todd
Has your dog ever shown fear, anxiety or reactivity? If your dog hasn’t, I’d be willing to bet that you know someone whose dog is dealing with one of these issues. Returning guest Dr. Zazie Todd is a psychologist who digs into the science of dog behavior to help us make the best decisions for our...
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How to Train Your Dog with Love & Science with Annie Grossman of School for the Dogs
Do we really have to understand science to teach our dogs? According to Annie Grossman, it really does help - both us & our dogs - if we grasp the basics of how dogs learn. And she should know. Annie is the author of the new book How to Train Your Dog with Love & Science as well as the founder of...
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Don’t Be Your Dog’s “Alpha” (and What to Do Instead) with Marc Bekoff, Ph.D.
Have you ever heard someone say that you should be your dog’s “alpha”? I’ve heard all types of odd advice over the years, like don’t let your dog walk through the doorway before you or never feed your dog before you eat. And I’ve always had lots of questions. Do dogs have alphas? or is that a…
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Dog Smart: Life-Changing Lessons in Canine Intelligence with Jennifer Holland
We know that people can have different types of intelligence, but what about our dogs? I think every pet parent I know has been astonished by how smart their dog is – and usually in a good way. Author Jennifer Holland explores the many different ways that dogs show their intelligence in her new...
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Our Real Life Session with Animal Communicator Nancy Mello: A Conversation with My Dogs (Part 2 of 2)
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with an animal communicator? This is Part 2 of our family’s session with animal communicator, Nancy Mello. In just the past few days, we discovered another one of Nancy’s insights about Neno’s health is correct! We’re jumping back into our session…
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A Conversation with My Dogs: Our Real Life Session with Animal Communicator Nancy Mello (Part 1 of 2)
Happy 100th Episode!! Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with an animal communicator? After connecting with Nancy Mello earlier this year, Tim & I decided to book a session with her to see if we could gain some insight into the lack of connection between our old man Neno and newly...
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How – and why! – to Muzzle Train Your Dog with Clara Hewson of The Muzzle Movement
Did you know there are many reasons why a dog could be wearing a muzzle? I like to think that the presence of a muzzle isn’t the sign of a bad dog – but of a good pet parent! While working with some of the UK’s most challenging dogs in rescue at Dogs Trust, Clara Hewson spent years advising pet...
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Good Grief: Taking Care of Yourself & Others in Times of Pet Loss with Mindy Meiering, LCSW
It feels like we’re finally at a time in society when pet loss grief is starting to be acknowledged and resources are becoming more readily available. But do we really know how to take care of ourselves and others in times of pet loss? Do you know how to give good grief? We’re joined by Mindy...
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What Dogs Teach Us About Ourselves Part 2 of 2 with Chris Hannah and Cole the Deaf Dog
In Part 2 with Chris Hannah (Dog Dad to Cole the Deaf Dog), I share my observation that not only is Cole a special dog, but that Chris is a special human to have the emotional bandwidth to hold space for the many people he encounters during their therapy work. Chris explains how Cole’s influence...
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Advocacy, Inclusion & Acceptance with Chris Hannah and Cole the Deaf Dog (Part 1 of 2)
Sometimes a dog comes along, and nothing is ever the same again – in the best way possible! In 2017, when Chris Hannah decided it was time to adopt a dog, he didn’t realize exactly how much of a life-changing of a decision this would be. Chris shares with us why adopting a deaf dog was the…
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Cooperative Care: Simple Steps to Stress-Free Nail Trims, Vet Visits, Grooming & More! with Deb Jones, Ph.D.
Today we’re talking to renowned trainer Deb Jones, Ph.D., about Cooperative Care - the most important skills you’re (probably) not training your dog to do! Also called Consent Care or Husbandry, I’m referring to the procedures needed to keep dogs healthy such as veterinary care and grooming. If...
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Everything You Need to Know About Puppies Before You Bring One Home with Kathy Callahan, CPDT-KA
It’s the Puppy Episode! I’ve always heard that the best way to set yourself & your dog up for success is by putting in 12 months of solid training with your puppy so you can reap the rewards for the next 12+ years (hopefully!) with your amazing dog. So how do you best set up your new puppy for...
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Can You Prevent Canine Dementia in Your Dog? with Francine Barish-Stern
Did you know that the health decisions you make for your dog today will impact their long-term health? including whether your dog could be at-risk developing Canine Cognitive Dysfunction aka canine dementia? I learned that as many as 50% of dogs show signs of canine dementia in their lifetime –…
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What Does Your Dog Want You to Know? with Animal Communicator Nancy Mello
What do you think are the most common complaints our dogs have about us Pet Parents? Animal Communicator Nancy Mello shares the two most common grievances she hears – and I definitely needed to hear this! While some of us might be completely intrigued by the concept of animal communication, for...
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How to Build Your Dog’s Confidence in Any Situation with Kelly Lee of Dogkind Training
Is your dog always 100% confident? While Kelly Lee of Dogkind Training specializes in working with fearful dogs, her confidence building tips will help you build your dog’s confidence in any situation. Kelly shares her top Do’s and Don’ts for increasing your dog’s confidence – whether it’s a...
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Are We Giving Our Dogs Anxiety? with Alex Peacock
Have you ever wondered if we’re [accidentally] making our dogs’ anxiety worse? Alex Peacock – a dog trainer who specializes in working with anxious dogs – is going help us answer this question and understand why anxious people and anxious dogs seem to attract each other. Alex works with pet…
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Learning Our Dogs’ Body Language with Lili Chin
Our dogs are always talking to us … but are we listening? I believe that learning our dogs’ body language is one of THE most important aspects of being a pet parent. So thank goodness for Lili Chin’s work translating Doggie Language for us humans. In fact, if you follow anything dog-related on...
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Hope for Challenging Dogs with the Way of Life Method with Dr. Souha Ezzedeen
Have you – or someone you know – ever struggled with a challenging dog? Where you’ve tried everything from trainers to vets to behaviorists, but life with the dog is still a daily struggle – whether fear, reactivity or feeling like the dog runs the house instead of the humans. If any of this…
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5 SMART Steps for Introducing a New Dog to Your Home with Ann King
Dog Mom Confession: Sometimes it’s stressful adopting a new dog! Have you ever heard of the 3-3-3 Rule? This advice gives Pet Parents an expectation of what to expect 3 Days, 3 Weeks and 3 Months after bringing a new dog home. Today’s guest Ann King is the dog trainer who has popularized the…
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How to Make Your Dog Happy: According to Science with Dr. Zazie Todd
Is your dog as happy as you think? Are there scientifically proven ways to make your dog happy? Dr. Zazie Todd shines light on these questions in her book Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. This is a re-broadcast of Episode 9, which originally aired March 9, 2020. Zazie Todd did not grow…
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About this show
Are you looking for deep dive conversations into topics like dog training & behavior issues, the best health & nutrition options for your dog or an honest look at rescues, shelters & the animal welfare world? Join Erin for candid discussions sharing wisdom that will help you navigate the challenges of pet parenthood, celebrate the amazing times and discover everything that Dog Moms & Dog Dads should know. Erin believes that dogs can be healers, teachers and inspirations in our lives. Say hi to your dog for me!
Hosted by
Erin Scott (Erin the Dog Mom)