Bark Radio

And the winner is … Hickory the Scottish Deerhound.

Children and dogs

In honor of President’s Day in the U.S., Bark Radio offers up just a few of the dogs who have inhabited the White House. In the news recently … Pit Bull saves Poodle. Now there’s a story you don’t hear every day. And what’s the best cure for obesity in kids? We think it’s a dog!

Terry’s all over the Silvia Trkman class he’s auditing. She is well known in the agility world but today’s conversation is about teaching unusual tricks. Very cool stuff!

Sadly, the jury in the Baltimore City trial of Travers and Tremayne Johnson did not find the brothers guilty of felony animal cruelty. If setting a dog on fire doesn’t constitute extreme animal cruelty, what does? The hung jury obviously had at least one idiot on it. Phoenix deserves better! Next up: noise aversion training for dogs who pull on leash … does the Dog-e-Walk work? And what’s that we hear? Professional athletes taking a stand AGAINST dog fighting? Mixed Martial Arts Middleweight Champion Jake Shields is but one of many fighters doing the right thing through Knock Out Dog Fighting. 4 paws way up on this one!

Terry is taking a canine logic class and that is the topic of discussion in today’s episode. Training tools discussed range from the very cool to the totally wrong. First up, cool: the K9 C’Mere for a reliable recall. Wrong: chains that do what? Cool again: the Snappy trap for counter surfing. And what is House doing on Bark Radio? Clicker training? Really ….

In today’s episode of Bark Radio, hear about Virginia’s HB2063 that will provide protection for pets whose families experience domestic violence. Next, did you know there was another dog food recall from Merrick? That’s five in the last 12 months. What the heck is going on in their manufacturing facilities? And, finally, today’s feel-good story: do you remember Cindy Williams from Laverne and Shirley? She is currently in a stage play that incorporates local shelter dogs in each performance. How cool is that?

Thanks to all those animal lovers who stopped Virginia House Bill 2482 in its tracks. This dreadful bill would have undone 20 years of progress for abused animals. Another bit of good news: it is the one-year anniversary of Vicktory Dog Handsome Dan’s new life. Talk about a poster boy for rescue and rehabilitation! And have you checked out the ASPCA’s Virtual Behaviorist?

The Richmond SPCA recently received 16 dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri. According to the SPCA, “They have been brave little survivors to get this far and we will make sure that they now get much needed care and loving homes for the remainder of their lives.” Great work! But remember, Bark Radio listeners, puppy mills sell directly to pet stores. Yes, that’s where those cute puppies come from. Stop buying puppies from pet stores and begin the process of putting puppy mills out of business. Next up: PETA‘s position on pit bulls and the trial of brothers in Baltimore City accused of pouring gas on dog named Phoenix and lighting her on fire. To round out the bad news, what kind of person can a person leave a puppy to die in a landfill?

Terry and Dee caught up with Larry Levin recently to talk about Oogy – the dog and the book. Levin updates Bark Radio listeners about life with Oogy nine years after he was adopted. It’s a bit quieter now. Twins Dan and Noah have gone off to college. But it a very good life with a truly remarkable dog.

Ian Dunbar pulls no punches as he rocks the air waves once again on Bark Radio. What does he advise? Train your puppy. Why? Because Ian Dunbar says so, that why! And because your dog needs to know the house rules from the very beginning AND because training is FUN!! And if you don’t train your puppy, that sweet baby may very well become a shelter dog before he’s a year old. And that is why there is Shelter Dog Prevention Month. Think about it: shelter dogs were once puppies. How do those lovable puppies go from being the apple of someone’s eye to being homeless? Ian tells you how it happens and how you can prevent it. Listen up, dog lovers. Share this episode of Bark Radio with everyone you know who has a puppy or is getting a puppy. And go to Ian’s site, Dog Star Daily. You will find tons of free information there: books, videos, blogs, podcasts, and more. Meet and learn from the “father of positive dog training” himself at one of his 2011 seminars, “Science-Based Dog Training (with Feeling)” and for all you dog professionals out there, “SIRIUS Academy”.