Dose of Dog presented by emBark

Check back here regularly for this podcast series focusing on dogs. Hosted by the folks with emBark, the Chippewa Valley's premier and most trusted site for dog care and training.

Heather Mishefske (CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA), is a certified Professional Dog Trainer and Certified Behavior Consultant is here to tackle all things canine. Heather owns emBARK, which provides ethical, evidence based and empathic dog training in midwestern Wisconsin. Heather is also on the board of directors of her profession’s largest organization, the Association Of Professional DogTrainers. Find her at www.embarkdog.com

New Episodes drop every other Tuesday morning

Episode #54 Correcting Misinformation about Service Dogs Click Here to Listen

What exactly are service dogs, their roles and the laws surrounding them. Many misconceptions exist and we’re here to clear them up.

Lydia Holen, a local certified service dog trainer, hops on this episode with Heather to cover the topic.

Service dogs serve a valuable purpose for those with a wide range of disabilities, allowing them to live with a degree of independence. Service dogs are trained to handle specific tasks based on the needs of their handler.

How do service dogs differ from therapy dogs.

Oh, and they explain the fallacy of “registering” your service dog.

And what rights do businesses have in questioning your need for a service dog? Businesses do in fact have a right to ask certain questions.

Episode #53 Noticing your dog's needs/wants better Click Here to Listen

The similarities between human-to-human relationships and human-to-dog relationships are endless

A good human relationship is built on knowing your partner’s needs early.

The same applies to being a good dog owner.

Heather takes us through the importance of noticing your dogs needs/wants and ways to improve being on the lookout for them.

Observe! Observe! Observe!

Episode #52 Grieving the Loss of a Pet Click Here to Listen

Athena Diesch-Chham is a clinical social worker in Minnesota who holds a specialty as a “veterinary social work”. She joins Heather to discuss the real emotional grief that comes with dealing with the loss of a pet.

Grief is not neat and tidy and its different for everyone. The grief that comes from the loss of a pet is very real.

Episode #51 4 Tips to Guide Your Dog Through the Holidays Click Here to Listen

Heather takes us through a few helpful reminders to make this holiday season an enjoyable one for you and your dog. Ways to help your dog with the change in schedules, guests coming over and dealing with more kids, etc.

Episode #50 What to Expect when Having a Dog Click Here to Listen

Managing our expectations for dogs and why “letting go” of many pre-conceived thoughts and assumptions is important. Not all breeds are the same, but also remember that not all dogs within the same breed are necessarily the same.

Episode #49 Pocket Guide to Dog Treats Click Here to Listen

The nuance differences between using treats during training versus giving your dog a snack at home.

Why you shouldn’t be concerned about giving your dog “human” food.

Think of the three “S’s” = Small, Soft and Smelly

Be cautious of how and when food is delivered, especially prior to an undesirable event.

Some of Heather’s favorites including Happy Howies and Pet Fresh

Episode #48 5 Dog Training Advices you Need to Let Go Of Click Here to Listen

On this episode Heather goes back and tells us about some long-standing dog training advices that need to be let go of and/or revised. What may have been accurate 30 years ago isn’t necessarily the case now, with more data and more science available.

Episode 47 When to go see Who Click Here to Listen

Episode #46 - Puppy Biting Click Here to Listen

Episode #45 - Top 4 Things to do NOW to improve a dog's behavior Click Here to Listen

Episode #44 - Why I don't use Punishment Click Here to Listen

Episode #43 - Socialization of your Puppies Click Here to Listen

Episode #42 - Arousal & Play & Excitement Click Here to Listen

Episode #41 - How to Pick a Breeder - Click Here to Listen

Episode #40 - Summer Reading Click Here to Listen

Episode #39 - 4 everyday dog behavior management tools Click Here to Listen

Episode #38 - Coat brushing, toe-nail care and more Click Here to Listen

Episode #37 The myth of the "normal" dog Click Here to Listen

Episode #36 Fear and Anxiety Click Here to Listen