What Your Puppy Really Needs From You

It’s puppy weekend 🐾😍

This is the first picture I saw of Kathy Callahan.

“You work in heaven!” was the first thing I said to her.

“Indeed!” was her reply .. and no, it wasn’t followed up with a “.. but ..”

She loves her work.

Over the years, she has taken in more than 200 rescue pups — often fostering entire litters at a time — and her business, PupStart, focuses on coaching clients through puppyhood.

In addition to writing monthly on training and behavior for Whole Dog Journal, Kathy is the author of two books. Her new puppy guide is called Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog, and her earlier 101 Rescue Puppies is a photo-filled collection of the best stories from her fostering work.

Kathy also has a podcast, Pick of the Litter, bringing the very best names and techniques to owners who are just looking for little help they can trust.

She lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband Tom and, of course, an evolving list of resident pets and fosters.

And she’s this week’s Pawsome Human ..

Because it’s not just about cuddling cute puppies.

If you’ve heard me talk about or joined Annie Phenix for the masterclass on Healing Trauma and Phobias in Dogs earlier this month, or if you have/had a dog carrying trauma, you know how often experiences in those early puppy days mark the beginning of often lifelong challenges.

So the more you know about what your puppy really needs from you, the better the pup’s life and your relationship will be.

So, let’s talk about puppies and what they really need from you …

This week’s Pawsome Humans: Kathy Callahan - Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog

In this episode, I sit down with Kathy Callahan, a renowned dog trainer, author, and foster mum based in Alexandria, Virginia.

We dig into Kathy's experiences with over 200 foster puppies and how these experiences shaped her expertise on what puppies truly need for a smooth transition into their new homes.

Kathy shares key tips and ideas from her new book, 'Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog,' emphasizing the importance of empathy and proper setup to create a joyful puppyhood.

We also discuss common misconceptions new puppy owners have and the mindset required to foster a positive relationship with your new furry friend.

Tune in to learn more about creating a harmonious environment for your puppy and ensuring these early months are a delightful experience for both you and your dog.

And yes, I asked her how she manages to not “foster fail” them all 🤣🤣

Grab a cuppa and join us!

Gift yourself a time-out and listen in on our conversation https://share.descript.com/view/eTrRzFwHKRS

To find out more and connect with Kathy:

Website: www.puppypicks.com

The book https://www.amazon.com/Welcoming-Your-Puppy-Planet-Dog/dp/1608689212/ref=sr_1_1

Social media: https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.g.callahan

[email protected]

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The Truth About E-Collars

If you’re curious about e-collars - maybe a trainer has recommended or used one on your dog - wondering whether they are a good idea in certain situations or always wrong ..

You’ll find this article informative:

“Best-selling authors Annie Phenix and Pilley Bianchi have teamed up to write a compelling, fact-based news article that examines how family dogs are living in a time of major transition as they become more and more embedded in our families.

More is expected of them, and more often than not, people expect their dogs to inherently know the rules of order. Sit, stay, come, chew this, not that. But despite 40,000 years by our side, dogs are not preprogrammed to know what to do in the human home. With more people writing about dogs in concert with social media posts, discerning fact from fad is very challenging. Particularly for the dog.

Currently, there are no regulations or certifications necessary for dog trainers, which has created a popular subculture of abusive trainers with shocking methods. Literally shocking their dogs. Now the fox is in the henhouse and there are no guardrails to protect dogs anywhere in the United States. But there are things we can do.”

Read the full article here:

Are you a canine professional?

A trainer, coach, behaviorist, nutritionist, holistic vet, or other canine expert with a holistic, kindness-first approach?

Would you like to be a guest on the podcast? Do you know someone you think would make a great guest? Is your business ready for an upgrade to lift the limits on how much you can earn, without working even more, or hiring a big team?

Go (or send them) to https://soultouchedbydogs.com/pros

Check out the Shop

How about a mug with a picture of YOUR dog, for your morning coffee or as a gift, using the proceeds to sponsor dogs in need and help the people who help dogs?

If you’d like one, hit reply and let me know.

Send me a good-quality photo of your dog and I’ll create the design and send you a link where you can purchase it.

They get made to order so it takes 10-12 days to arrive. €15 + shipping.

(Shipping depends on where you are of course but will be somewhere around €5-12. I’ll check for you before I go and create the design, so there won’t be any surprises)

Get your Soul Touched by Dogs t-shirt

The moment I had the idea for the mugs, I knew I also wanted t-shirts 😝 and I’m super happy with mine 🐾🐾😊😊

If you want, you can get yours here https://mavericks.tpopsite.com/product/t-shirt-woman-soul-touched-by-dogs-dark-blue (they come in a few different colours)

If it doesn’t come in your size, let me know. I do work with another supplier so we can find an option that works for you.

Just like with the mugs, the proceeds will be donated to help dogs in need.

And as always ..

If you know another Soul Touched by Dogs, please send them to https://soultouchedbydogs.com 🙏🙏🐾🐾

Until next week,

Anke