93. Super Pet Expo & Training for a Better Dog-Human Bond

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Speaker 1 (00:00):

Pets, add Life, your guide to the latest in Pet Trends products, and the joy of the human Animal Bond with Kristen Levine and Chris Bonafide, powered by the American Pet Products Association and Dog tv.

Speaker 2 (00:14):

Hello, and welcome to another episode of Pets Add Life. I am one of your hosts, Chris Bonafide, and joining me from the jungles of Costa Rica is Kristen Levine. Kristen, how are we doing today?

Speaker 3 (00:28):

Oh, man, it's hot and muggy here.

Speaker 2 (00:30):

Yeah, jealous. What a great getaway to just be machete and bio vacuuming your way through the jungles of Costa Rica, but still having the time to sit down and do a whole podcast for our wonderful listeners.

Speaker 3 (00:45):

Yeah, I'm just hanging out with the monkeys here and I'm glad to be doing the show from down here, so that's so weird. Why did you pick Costa Rica?

Speaker 2 (00:55):

I just thought, I'm thinking warm thoughts. It's December. It's

Speaker 3 (00:58):

December. Oh, okay. That's why. All right.

Speaker 2 (01:00):

Yeah, I'm just trying to get out of the, it's like the first real cold days have hit and now I'm trying to be warm. Jungles of Costa Rica sounds nice with all the monkeys. And do they have jaguars? I think they have Jaguars. I don't think they have panthers.

Speaker 3 (01:19):

I haven't seen one yet.

Speaker 2 (01:20):

Nonetheless. Let's move on away from Chris's couch and into the Powell story corner,

Speaker 1 (01:28):

Kristen and Chris, present story time.

Speaker 3 (01:33):

So Chris, why don't you go first with your story this week?

Speaker 2 (01:36):

I will. I was going through the news and I'm pulling up, I believe it was just New York Times that covered this, and I kind of like these sections of the New York Times where they just do a little profile on a New Yorker, I guess like an average Joe type thing and their story. And they were interviewing this guy named Abdul Rahim, who has fostered hundreds of kittens, and it's something he started doing during the pandemic and I guess thought it was such a great little interview and really goes to show how much effort goes into fostering the kittens. So for those of you who don't know, if you're getting a kitten, you're going to the shelter or you're going to a pet store and you're getting a kitten, that kitten has already been raised by either a mama cat or by a person. And in a lot of situations it is a person as in nature, mama cats, while we all like to think of them as smart, capable, and willing, they aren't always.

(02:44):

They are not always. And sometimes they either can't produce enough milk or they're too tired and they lack the nutrients to be able to nurse properly. So there are a lot of people out there who are fostering kittens, and kittens are tough. In the interview, Abdul talks about the commitment and he says it's 24 hours, seven days a week, constantly being woken up, constantly having to do feedings. It's like an infant every three hours having to do bottle feedings for the cats. He talks a little about the origins and how he got roped into it, and as always it was they thought about fostering. One cat fostered the cat, cat became a forever cat. That's starts, and then now they've done hundreds in the New York area. So I just thought it was a cool little profile. If you are the type of person who doesn't really need sleep and doesn't value their sanity, go for it.

Speaker 3 (03:37):

You got to be young to do that, I think.

Speaker 2 (03:39):

Alright. Kristen, what's your story for this week?

Speaker 3 (03:43):

Oh, okay. So mine's a little more serious. I read this in The Wolf Newsletter, which is actually a pet industry newsletter, but it's got a lot of really interesting pet news in it. And this was about pet prenups on the rise. So a growing number of couples are including a detailed pet provision like who keeps the dog or the cat, what kind of shared custody, who pays for vet bills in their prenups or in their postnup agreements. So unfortunately, the legal landscape is starting to evolve where a lot of states are now directing the courts to pets to consider the pet's best interest in terms of custody or what have you, rather than just treating them as property. As an example, in Pennsylvania, a new bill, HB 97, would categorize companion animals as a special category of personal property and allow joint possession arrangements for pets in divorce situations. So I mean, we all know pets are not assets, they're family. So I think it's pretty cool that people are thinking, I mean, prenups and postnup not a fun thing to talk about, but the fact that people are being thoughtful about what would happen to their pets if things didn't work out. I think that's a good thing for the animals.

Speaker 2 (05:13):

I also think it's a good thing to bring up prenups. Yes, bring it up and tank your relationship.

Speaker 3 (05:20):

Exactly.

Speaker 2 (05:21):

Just nuke it.

Speaker 3 (05:21):

Exactly.

Speaker 2 (05:22):

Yes, absolutely. Blow the whole thing up right at the end, right after you propose, you should say, will you marry me? And then they'll say yes. And then you say, can you look at this prenup? Please have your lawyers call my lawyers. There's nothing more romantic than having the lawyers chat,

Speaker 3 (05:40):

And clearly you would hope do not have a prenup or a postnup.

Speaker 2 (05:44):

I don't think I knew what a prenup was when I, although hindsight, in hindsight, no. The only document we ever signed was our marriage license, and even then we were unaware that we had to sign a piece of paper. So

Speaker 1 (06:01):

Beyond the leash, exploring the untold stories of pet passion and professionalism,

Speaker 3 (06:06):

I'm so excited to introduce this guest. He's an old friend and we go back so far that Chris was probably an infant when we met. That's how old we are. Eric ler is the founder. I'm still in infant. Eric is the founder and the president of Super Pet Expo, the nation's largest consumer pet shopping experience, and it's held every year in Edison, New Jersey. Now Eric is based in Rockville, Maryland, and he leads all show services, which is the event production company that's behind Super Pet Expo and other big consumer shows. Now, under Eric's leadership Super Pet Expo has grown into more than just a trade show. It is a destination for families, pet parents, and animals alike, offering really cool interactive experiences like dog agility, demos, large scale ball pits. And if you don't know what that is, stick around for dogs, influencer appearances and hands-on opportunities for the public to engage with pets and pet industry innovations. Also, in 2023, Eric was honored as the outstanding show pro by trade show news network for his awesome super pet Expo. Welcome, Eric.

Speaker 4 (07:20):

Happy to be here. Thanks for having me.

Speaker 3 (07:22):

Oh my gosh, it's so good to see you. Now, I've been to some of your shows, it's been a while. I need to get back there. But let's talk a little bit about the fact that you launched Super Pet Expo. What year did you say?

Speaker 4 (07:36):

It all started in 2001, and it started really just with a dream of how can we bring pet lovers together? Because in my world, and I think in your world too, pet lovers are cool people. They're the kind of people I want to run with.

Speaker 3 (07:50):

Right, exactly. Well, and so you had an original vision, but how would you say your original vision has evolved into today's show?

Speaker 4 (08:01):

I think what I've noticed is a dramatic shift with pet owners over the years and what started out as a dream to create a pet shopping extravaganza. Everything for every pet owner has turned into an entertainment extravaganza. And we've got celebrity celebrities at the show, dog trainers, celebrity pups, pet influencers that have seven to 15 million followers. And when I started with all this, it was just about bringing pet lovers together, quite frankly, bringing buyers and sellers together. That's what we do when we produce events and it's really evolved into a destination. And we have this cult following of people that come year after year, and it's a great pressure to have on my shoulders to create something. Okay, what am I going to do now to wow them? What's the next in terms of that? Wow.

Speaker 2 (09:03):

Yeah, and talking about that wow factor, I think one of the really cool things your show does is it's almost like you've developed the promming for with pets in mind, right? It's not just all people stuff. So why don't you talk about some of the new exciting and then also the tried and true pet friendly features that are going to be at Super Pet Expo this year.

Speaker 4 (09:27):

Sure, sure. So we look at it with our dogs or our cats or whatever you own, whatever pet you own, you love 'em. And I think, I mean, I'll be honest with you, I'd rather hang out with my pet than most people I know. And I think a lot of the hardcore pet owners are just like me. And I see that by talking to 'em, engaging with them. And so one of the things I wanted to do was you have entertainment at the show. We've got, as you mentioned, Chris, cool features. We've got dog agility shows, we'll have a Tika Cat show, how to get your pet into show business with Dawn Wolfe, a famous animal talent agent. We'll do micro chipping and those fun things. We'll have birds, we'll have an animal communicator. But ultimately what I think really changed our trajectory was seven years ago, I started to think about, okay, it's cool to see a dog show. It's cool to see on dog tv they have the dog moms Amber and Chrissy Joy. They've been performing at our shows for years. And I think it's really cool to see dogs do amazing things, but my favorite dog is my dog, and your favorite dog is your dog. And there's no better dog out there than your dog or my dog. And that's how we all feel. I've got the coolest dog. So I started to look for ways to create engagement and enrichment for pets.

(10:58):

And I traveled all over the world. I love sharing the story with you, but I hired somebody to do lower coursing for me. And in case for the people out there that don't know about Lower Coursing, it's a game of capture the flag for dogs. And I started to look into it and we tested it out one year, would people come to the show? Would they want to participate in a lower course? Would their dogs want to do it and would they, that's more of a participation sport. And it took off. It was amazing to see how many pet owners, that's where your dogs are the star of the show. And so we've partnered with a company called Loring 1 0 1, and they provide lower coursing all around the country and they offer lower coursing at our shows. So that's where your dogs, the star of the show. It's going around a course chasing a simulated bunny tail. It's just like dog's doing greyhound racing. Right?

Speaker 2 (11:57):

Although I heard if I slip you a $20 bill, you'll let me on the course.

Speaker 4 (12:02):

No, actually for you, Chris, it would be free. We don't charge for, and anybody that's been involved in shows know that you have to be careful to fire marshal and follow rules. So they were using bales of hay to surround the dog ball pit, and we had to come up with something that wasn't so flammable. And now we have a dog ball pit that's 15 by 15. It's got 5,000 balls in there and it runs concurrent all day long. And imagine a kid going into a ball pit at preschool. Well, now a dog gets in there and the dog's like, oh my God, it's ball overload. What am I getting into? This is fun. And it's not a real long excitement time. It's about 45 seconds to a minute that that dog is happy. He's in his element. I've got all these balls. And then he is looking at you with that deer in the headlights look, Hey dad. Hey mom, what's next? So we're creating enrichment and exercise activities for dogs at the show. We also have a doggy derby, which is a takeoff on dachshund racing. And I mean it's for all dogs, not just dachshunds. Not just corgis, but for mixed breeds too. So we have engagement in enrichment activities that put smiles on pet owners' faces. And truth be told, there's nothing better than seeing a happy dog. I mean, you come home at the end of the day,

Speaker 3 (13:26):

It's sort of like an amusement park for dogs in a way.

Speaker 4 (13:30):

Yeah, an amusement park on steroids. There's so much stimulation coming through. True. And you look at the big trade shows out there, such as Global Pet Expo, and that's where people in the trade go, but what are the hardcore pet lovers in this world? What do they do for a weekend of fun?

Speaker 3 (13:49):

And

Speaker 4 (13:49):

That's what we've tried to create.

Speaker 3 (13:50):

And I'm so glad we have on the show today because I often tell my friends and family about how awesome Global Pet Expo is, and then they want to know why they can't come. So your show is the answer

Speaker 2 (14:01):

And you throw Chris under the bus and say it's all his fault.

Speaker 3 (14:05):

I wanted to ask you Eric. Animals at events obviously are a lot of fun, but they also can pose some unique challenges, everything from logistics to safety to stress. So how does Super Pet Expo ensure that the pets are comfortable, ensure that everybody's having fun, including the dogs?

Speaker 4 (14:27):

It's a great question. We've been very fortunate. And to say that we have never had a major incident with pets at our show is something we're really proud of. At any pet event you go to, whether it's the local hardware store, you bring your dog with you, or it's the local pet meetup or it's at the dog park or the doggy daycare, there's an inherent risk there. If your dog's not good around other dogs, don't bring them to Super Pet Expo. Give them a comfort level to get them there. But our team is all prepared for that. And so there's a number of logistical things, but first and foremost, it starts with educating the staff. And we look for dogs that are aggressive and some dogs that if we see 'em walk into the lobby of the convention center and they're lunging, they're having some anxiety.

(15:16):

It doesn't mean they're a bad dog, but maybe they're just not comfortable in that environment. But it's rare. We see that. And we also see bringing all these dogs together, it doesn't matter what kind of dog they are. A friendly dog is a friendly dog. And pet owners, I've said this before, I'll say it again. They're the coolest people on the planet. They're the people I want to hang with. And so if somebody has an aggressive dog or a dog that's not so good in front of people, generally they don't bring it to the show. But one of the fun parts of our show that I love talking about is we have four full-time pooper scoopers at every show.

(15:54):

And I'll share the quick story. I was talking to my kids and they're young and they're all looking forward to working at Super Pet Expo, whether it's being a ticket taker or whatever. And so I made a list of the jobs that they could have, and they said, oh no, dad, we're not doing pooper scooping. And then I explained to them, they said, well, how do we get paid? And I explained how they get paid and that the pooper scoopers get a $50 bonus for each show. And they both said, dad, I'm in. I'm So, I'm teaching young to be motivated by a paycheck.

Speaker 2 (16:26):

Yep. Everyone's got a price, right? Everyone's got a price.

Speaker 4 (16:29):

I love thought. That's my line. You're stealing it, Chris.

Speaker 2 (16:32):

Yep. Well, before we let you go, I want to ask you one more question. And we've got a lot of listeners who may be interested in attending, and it might be their first time attending an event like this. And as somebody who does Global Pet Expo every single year and does a bunch of trade shows, these things can be incredibly overwhelming. It could be a lot. It's oftentimes the biggest event that anybody's ever been to, especially for your first timers. So for those out there who may be listening, interested in coming, and it's going to be their first time, what tips do you have for them to make it as enjoyable as possible and ease all their anxieties away?

Speaker 4 (17:12):

That's a great question. Look, we're a place where there's a lot of people, there's a lot of animals. It can create a lot of stress. So what I recommend is take your dog on a walk before you come to the show. That's just going to take the stress away from the dog or the animal, whatever it is. We have people bring dogs, cats, birds. I'm struggling for the name. What's the Fruit Loops bird? That's on the Fruit Loops. Oh,

Speaker 3 (17:39):

Macaw. Is that a Macaw? No,

Speaker 4 (17:40):

It's not on Macaw. It'll come to me. Oh,

Speaker 3 (17:43):

A two can

Speaker 4 (17:44):

Can two can Sam. Thank you. So we have a guy that comes to the show every year with a two can, and it's like the hit of the show. But what do you do to prepare? You got to go in there and you have to make sure your dog's already been on a walk. Okay? Because that's going to take the pressure off. And there's so many activities for dogs to do that instantly when they get in there, they're going to meet other pet owners. They're going to gravitate towards other dogs. We have a great thing we created called a Paw Prince booth. And when you think about taking a dog's paw and you have their hand and you dip it in a paint, and then you create a paw print that's a ton of fun and dogs like it, and that gives you a great memory of your dog right there that you can take home.

(18:28):

And we don't even charge extra for it. But when you visit super pet expo.com, you can see all the different features. I just scratched the service here. We have a pet fashion show called The Celebrity Catwalk has nothing to do with cats. It's all about dogs dressing up and pet owners dressing up like their dogs. We have a reptile section. Last year we had a real fun thing. We had the world's smallest dog at the show. The dog could fit inside of a men's tennis sneaker. We have a cat show, so there's something for everyone at Super Pet Expo. And one of our biggest hits, we did it last year for the first time, and we're bringing it back this year, is we're doing a pet influencer panel. How do these people get 7 million followers? How does that happen? Well, we all know that it's the power of social media, whether it's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, people love seeing videos and pictures of

Speaker 3 (19:23):

Dogs. That's going to be a busy session for sure.

Speaker 4 (19:25):

Yeah, and it's a long time,

Speaker 3 (19:26):

Eric. Oops, sorry. I just want you to remind us what the date is for this next show and the location.

Speaker 4 (19:33):

So we're coming up in just about a month, January 9th through 11th. We're in Edison, New Jersey is just north central June jersey. It's easy to get to. We have people that come from up to three or four hours away, and you can find all the details on Super pet expo.com.

Speaker 3 (19:48):

Fantastic. Well, Eric, it's great to see you again, and I'm so glad that you are still doing what you do best, and you're just such a great showman and pets and people who are all the better for it.

Speaker 4 (20:00):

Thank you for having me. It's a privilege to be with you guys today.

Speaker 2 (20:03):

Yep. We'll see you in Edison.

Speaker 4 (20:05):

You got it. Take care, guys.

Speaker 3 (20:12):

It really is a fun show.

Speaker 2 (20:14):

Yeah, I feel like I need to make the trip. Edison is about two and a half hours from me. I don't have a dog. I have a baby.

Speaker 3 (20:27):

Yeah, well,

Speaker 2 (20:28):

It's like some things fit some things don't. Giant ball pit sounds real nice. It

Speaker 3 (20:33):

Does, right? Giant

Speaker 2 (20:34):

Ball pit sounds real, real nice.

Speaker 3 (20:36):

I go on your behalf.

Speaker 2 (20:38):

Yes, on my behalf. But that means you have to do the dog agility course.

Speaker 3 (20:42):

Oh yeah. I've got to chase the bunny tail.

Speaker 2 (20:46):

Chase the bunny. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was going to do it in high heels too, so

Speaker 3 (20:52):

That's a good excuse for me to buy some new sneakers. So I'll do it.

Speaker 2 (20:55):

There we go. And it is my absolute pleasure to introduce Michael Hill, the owner and lead trainer of Michael Hill dog training in Los Angeles where he specializes in personalized relationship-based dog training programs for family pets, working dogs, and show dogs alike. With experience working internationally across Canada, the uk, Mexico, and more. Michael brings a global perspective to the human canine bond certified as an A KC canine good citizen evaluator and is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, while also bringing media experience via appearances on Good Day DC NBC, California Live. And more Michael's philosophy centers on communication, behavior and enrichment helping owners and dogs thrive together by understanding each other and building clear enjoyable routines. Michael, thank you so much for taking some time out of your very busy schedule to join us today.

Speaker 5 (21:55):

It is absolutely my pleasure. Thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (21:58):

Absolutely. So let's start with your motto there and that emphasis on communication, which I think a lot of people are going to have different definitions on what it means to communicate with your dog. So beyond commands, what is communication and how does this mindset shape successful training?

Speaker 5 (22:19):

I love that question. I think for me, there has always been kind of met with, as a dog trainer, that means commands and that's how you teach your dogs to do things for you. But for all of us, dogs are a member of our family. And so for the people who we love as humans, we invest our time and our experience with them in understanding how they work, what things matter to them, that kind of nonverbal communication is really impactful in our human relationships, but that's really the foundation for every dog relationship. So for most of my clients, I'm being called in to help them better enjoy life with a dog or add a dog to their life. But the takeaway is they want to have all the benefits of dog as a family member in their home. So I try to help whatever the specific family relationship scenario looks like and break that down into ways where we can better understand both what you internally are feeling and maybe responding to, and also what's going on with your dog so that we can get past so many of those miscommunications that I think are the foundation for any problem somebody is running up against.

Speaker 3 (23:32):

And speaking of those family relationships and how they differ, you work with a lot of different types of dogs, just regular family, pet dogs, show dogs, working dogs. So do you adapt your approach depending on the dog's role, or are the approaches the same? What does that look like?

Speaker 5 (23:57):

Yeah, so I think there is definitely a foundational component that is always the same. Every dog has their basic needs that have to be there in order to achieve any goal. However, based on those specific kind of expectations, if a dog is expected to perform on a set, there's a lot more distractions and a lot more challenges than the average family dog. So I think they all start with the same place, but then there is a little bit more of an investment and a requirement in the dog that might be a show dog who is going to be traveling and on the road and around strangers and in these kind of high stress environments and finding a way to not only just get them through it, but to maintain long-term thriving in that kind of environment where the dog not only is performing but enjoying the performance and it's adding to their life, not taking away from it.

Speaker 2 (24:54):

And in one of your video series, life With Dogs, you talk a lot about this concept of resilience and mental health for dogs. And as a elder millennial male, I'm just beginning to talk about my own mental health. I don't know if I'm ready to start thinking about my dog's mental health. So can you share what does that mean? What's a resilience mean? How can owners at home support their dog's mental health?

Speaker 5 (25:23):

I think most of us are kind of in a position in life where we're starting to see that with change. We are kind of either faced with an opportunity to panic and give up or problem solve and evolve. And I think that's hardwired in nature. And although it might be uncomfortable at first, I think it really enriches and adds to both our human and the dog's lives. So for my experience as a human, I think the more that we are challenging ourselves and growing, we are able to then be able to unlock more experiences and do more with our lives. I think the same thing applies with a dog. So even though a dog might like routine and they do need stability, they do need a secure attachment. Sometimes I think we might cut our dog short by not giving them the chance to embrace manageable discomfort and learn how to accomplish problem solving skill sets that not only help them mentally and emotionally, but also physically in the long run as well.

Speaker 3 (26:28):

Yeah. Michael, we have this segment in our show where we answer two listener questions and we see some of the same questions coming up time and time again. So for example, people that have dogs have a common issue of either leash pulling or jumping or inappropriate barking separation anxiety. So when you're working with a new client the first time you meet with them and their dog, what are some of the first things that you assess before you build that training plan?

Speaker 5 (26:57):

Yes. I think when I'm coming into a home, I'm really not rushing into fixing the problem in that first meeting. Sometimes that's the expectation, but at the beginning, I like to kind of remind people we don't know each other. I don't know anything about you or your dog. If I'm going to be helpful here, the more information I have, the better. So I want to find out as much background information about the dog, specifically any experiences or training attempts that we've done either independently or with somebody else, not for judgment, but for understanding what has worked and what hasn't. And then I'm also really trying to understand the humans and their perceptions of their dog, their expectations of what is normal. There are so many differences on what somebody thinks a dog should or shouldn't do in their home. And the reality is we do have the ability to decide what we want our dog to be able to do and not do in our home, but we also kind of have to layer that in with your dog's needs and learning styles and also just your individual kind of talent as somebody working with dogs.

(28:08):

I think dog training is both art and science where there are fundamental concepts that are essential, but there is also a little bit of an art form, kind of like a musician who has the theory but then also has that sense and maybe that inner kind of talent that's naturally there. So we want to look at in that home, which of those areas can I motivate and can I activate on both the dog and the human to start building in some progress? So rather than looking at fixing the issue from the beginning, what I want to break down is for this specific home and family, how can I set up a manageable kind of working area where we are mostly succeeding with challenge On the day-to-day basis, failures are inevitable, but if you are walking and your dog is dragging you the entire time you walk or reacting the entire time you walk, or you're leaving them only once in a while and it's just mayhem when you leave them, then the ratio of successes is not going to produce anything lasting.

(29:14):

And so you're just kind of habituating failure. So if a dog is pulling on a walk, one of the things we might need to work on is just your basic technique of how you're communicating with your dog on a leash in a way that's clear, in a way that's fair in a way that your dog is interested in working with. And that also might have to pare down the distraction. So even if you think your dog needs a ton of exercise, we might need to start with doing a little bit of a reset and working in your home or your yard teaching the skillset before we're proofing it with those distractions. So there's a lot of variables that play into that, and that's where I don't think there's any one journey for a dog or a family. And I think that's really important to keep in mind that it doesn't really matter what your end goal is, but we need to focus on today where is a productive place for me to put my focus and my work and be okay with the fact that your dog's still a living thing and we might need to modify in real time.

Speaker 2 (30:05):

Yeah. It seems like you're only half dog trainer and the other half is people trainer. You got to, you should have an honorary psychology degree from some prestigious university. I can only imagine in LA the personalities that you deal with I'm sure are bright, vibrant, and very diverse. But speaking of such la, it's a busy place. And there's a lot of people in Los Angeles, places like la, Chicago, New York, these very busy environments where it can be challenging to own a dog. It's very distracting. It's not a lot of easy access to green space, and it might be difficult to walk at certain times of day or at night. So how do you approach this sort of urban lifestyle in your training, and how do you make sure dogs and people are set up for success in a busy high energy life?

Speaker 5 (31:08):

I have always lived in urban environments, and what I realized from early on is that although there is real challenge there, and it requires significant adaptation for our dogs, which we need to be aware of, it also has the potential to give them such a more enriching life. When you see a dog raised as a service dog, it might look kind of unnatural to raise them as a puppy with certain expectations and not just letting them free and be a dog in some capacities, but when they get to that point where they can handle all the distractions and lead somebody who's visually impaired, they derive so much purpose and motivation from that. And I think that's why dogs can perform a skillset like that independently and consistently. So with pet dogs living in an urban environment, we want to be mindful of those challenges for sure.

(32:02):

But that same kind of mentality of finding where we can be productive and starting there is key. So if a busy cafe is a challenge, don't force that part at the beginning. It might be worthwhile to get distance and give your dog time to acclimate at a manageable kind of distraction level, but the key is to have them normalized to that level of distraction. There is a little bit of being in these kind of environments, which is just based on desensitization. So you can practice all you want in the home, you have to get out into the world, but when you're getting out into the world, focus on an on-ramp. So working at the distance where your dog is mostly successful and then building from there, but making it a practice of everyday outings and continuing to push your dog to experience more of the city.

Speaker 3 (32:56):

Yeah, I love your kind of the theme is the on-ramp and just taking it step by step and not having these unrealistic expectations for change.

Speaker 5 (33:05):

I think that's how we work as people. If you want to work out at the gym, you can have this vision for what you want to do, but you muscles will only do so much. So if you keep pushing it to failure, you'll injure yourself.

Speaker 3 (33:18):

True. So true. So Michael, this has been awesome. Where can we find you if we want to learn more about your training methods? And I think you offer a foundations course on your website, is that right? Yes.

Speaker 5 (33:29):

I have a kind of overall foundations course on my website that you can access on Vimeo. My website, Instagram and TikTok are all Michael Hill dog training, so the foundations courses there. And then on social media, I kind of post regular media and instructional videos as well too.

Speaker 3 (33:46):

Excellent. Fantastic. We

Speaker 2 (33:47):

Will be sure to check it out.

Speaker 5 (33:49):

Sounds great. Thank

Speaker 3 (33:50):

You, Michael.

Speaker 5 (33:51):

Absolutely. My pleasure. Thank you guys.

Speaker 3 (33:56):

You know what my takeaway is from that interview?

Speaker 2 (33:59):

You should move to la

Speaker 3 (34:01):

He is so good looking.

Speaker 2 (34:03):

I was going to say that is the most, I was going to say during the intro, arguably the most handsome guest we've ever had on the show.

Speaker 3 (34:11):

No kidding. I know. When I was doing show prep, I'm like, who's this male model posing as a dog trainer?

Speaker 2 (34:16):

It was tough. I felt like I had to be tabbed out during the interview, otherwise I was going to get flush. Smart and handsome though. Lots of really great tips. And he gives away a lot of freebies on the socials. So if you're struggling with your dog's behavior or you want to become sort of your own at-home dog trainer, check out that content at Michael Hill.

Speaker 3 (34:42):

Hey Chris, I found one thing. You don't need a credit card for this holiday season.

Speaker 2 (34:46):

That sounds amazing. What is it Kristen? Tell me I need to know

Speaker 3 (34:50):

Is the dog TV app. Yes, that is right. Dog TV has an app, you just download it for free and you can watch all kinds of awesome content for your dog. Well, I shouldn't say you can watch it with your dog or just your dog can watch it. And you can also see all kinds of cool shows like ours on pet's ed life.

Speaker 2 (35:08):

Yes, absolutely. Yeah. Right now for the rest of the holiday season, you get hat on over to the app, two hours of pause and relax stuff for your dog. There's some stuff on there for cats, or if you're looking for more shows like ours, you could check out all the human grade content on the other side of things. And if you're feeling like upgrading to the paid version of dog TV to get access to all of their content through the holiday season, it is 50% off. So now is your chance. Don't wag your tail at the sales opportunity, the product of the week. It's time for our product of the week. And pay close attention, folks, because Christmas is coming up and these can be some great gift ideas for your pet owning loved one. So Kristen, you want to kick this off?

Speaker 3 (35:59):

Yeah, sure. And I'm excited about this one. I think I might have recommended this product last year at this time. And this is the perfect week to purchase this product. It is the dog chew advent calendar by our friends at Himalayan. Now obviously Grayson already has his advent calendar from Disney, but they actually have advent calendars for pets too. So Himalayan is the company that makes those dog chews that are made from cheese and Nepal, and basically it's just a countdown to Christmas. I think it has 12 days, not 25. So you don't have to start it right on December 1st. But it's just a great little way to have a daily moment with your pet during the holiday season and keep them looking forward to Advent calendar, treat time. And it's also a good time to maybe use the treat as a training tool. Maybe you're having guests come over for the holidays and you want to work on your dog's manners. Use the advent treat for that. Also, just so you know, Himalayan natural chews do not have any fillers or unnecessary additives, so they're super healthy and you can get it on Amazon for about 25 bucks.

Speaker 2 (37:16):

Nice. Yeah, and when you get to the little nub, you can microwave it and it puffs out.

Speaker 3 (37:19):

Oh yeah. It's

Speaker 2 (37:20):

Cool. Yeah, I love those things.

Speaker 3 (37:22):

I was reading somewhere that you should soak it in water first, but I've always just put it in the microwave. Do you know anything about the soaking it in water first?

Speaker 2 (37:30):

No, but I'm sure it's fine either way. I don't worry about that kind of nuance. I just don't get preoccupied in soaking my cheese puffs before I microwave it. I guess I don't allow that. I don't allow that to stress me out. I've moved past that.

Speaker 3 (37:47):

What is your Papapa product?

Speaker 2 (37:50):

My papapa product is not necessarily for folks in my neck of the woods this time of the year, but maybe more towards you, Kristen. And where my in-laws live in South Carolina,

(38:02):

Dog walking season kind of doesn't end the way it does up here in the north where dog walking becomes like dog sprinting. And how quickly can we get this over with when it gets really cold? But nonetheless, it does get rainy and crummy down south during the winter months and colder. And your dog may not be as comfortable, especially if they're shorthaired and have a thinner coat or if they're tiny, teeny, teeny, teeny tiny. And I've talked about this brand a bunch before because I love their stuff and it's so good. It's like buy it for life quality from rough, rare wear, rough,

Speaker 3 (38:37):

Rough, rare,

Speaker 2 (38:37):

Rough wear, rough wire. Oh, that's a real rough wear there. Chris. The only thing rough is Chris's speaking voice to me, but this is their sun shower, dog raincoat and weather jacket. So it's a little bit a heftier than you might assume. It's more than a Ong show. And it's collared at the top, so it goes up their neck, has an attachable little hood, a little spot. It goes all the way down there, but has a little spot for their tail to come out. And it's not complicated to put on. It's all Velcro. You sort of just get 'em into the hug and get it around their stomach comes in a bunch of different colors, comes in a bunch of different sizes. It is just a great, if you're going to be taking one of those little hikes and it's December, January, and around you, that usually means misty cold, 50 degrees, just slightly miserable, and you've got a shorthaired, maybe like a bully mix or something like that.

(39:39):

There's a great little addition to keep him comfortable, especially if you like to do those longer walks. In these cooler months, you want your dog to be nice and prepared. Or if you do, you live by a lake and you do the colder lake sidewalks and the dog is going to go splashing. Or you do the beach in the colder months and the dog is going to wind up splashing. You just want to make sure that they stay nice and warm and dry. So it's a great little product. MSRP right now for $65. Buy it, do it.

Speaker 3 (40:15):

I think I'm going to get one for Tulip because she has several sweaters, but when it's raining or drizzling or snowing, the sweater obviously can get wet.

Speaker 2 (40:23):

She's

Speaker 3 (40:24):

One of those dogs that if she goes outside and she feels it hitting her fur, she doesn't want any part of it. So think

Speaker 2 (40:31):

Well, they do make an extra extra small, so hopefully that fits. Alright, cool. Q and a. Alright, Kristen, it's time.

Speaker 3 (40:41):

Our favorite part, right?

Speaker 2 (40:43):

Our favorite part of the show. That's right. We're going to answer two questions from our lovely audience, and I know what you're thinking. How do I get my question answered by Chris and Kristen? Well,

Speaker 3 (40:54):

You're a mind reader.

Speaker 2 (40:56):

Yeah, I am. I'm here. I could see into your brains through the radio waves. You're just going to head on over to pets at life.org/podcast. Scroll on down to the bottom of the page and you'll see a little form where you could submit your question. Or if you're feeling as brave as somebody about to ask Mr. Michael Hill on a date, you can record a voice memo and you may hear your question played live on the show. So without further ado, let's get right into it. And our first question comes from Ben in Austin, Texas. Thank you Ben for your question. And Ben asks, my dog listens perfectly at home but completely ignores me at the park or around other dogs. What's the best way to train him to focus when there are distractions everywhere? Kristen, I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if we had a world-class dog trainer on the podcast to answer this question? And thankfully we do. We do. So welcome back Michael Hill, who has done us the honor of answering Ben's question. So Michael, what do you think?

Speaker 5 (42:11):

I'm here for you, Ben. So I think this is a really common question, and I think the first starting kind of mindset to have is dogs are usually going to gravitate to their own kind and species more than us. They love us, but that is their species. So if we're kind of wanting to bridge the gap a little bit and shift the dog's focus to us more so than the rest of their environment, what I like to do is start at the beginning with any dog where we make every situation just about our relationship first. So sometimes with socialization, people are instructed to go greet all the people and all the dogs, go to the dog park and have your dog have all the dog friends. And some dogs can handle that perfectly fine. But for many dogs, that becomes overstimulating and they just tune you out because you're the one who lives with them all day every day.

(43:05):

What I want to do at the beginning is make other dogs and other people, or whatever's distracting and exciting a good thing, but because they were neutral and got rewarded from me. And that helps them learn to develop more impulse control and focus because no matter how smart a dog is or how much working ability they have, they have to work that part of their brain that has a feeling and is still able to handle that feeling and maintain control of their reactions. So whenever we are going to have a greeting with another dog, just ask for that moment of calm and connection, no matter how long it takes as the starting point before any social interactions, and that helps to strengthen that ability for your doc.

Speaker 3 (43:45):

Awesome. Thank you, Michael. Well, there you have it, Ben. Your expert answer. Okay, Chris, so we have another question and I think it's a cat question, so I'll give you the first stab at it and then if I have anything to add, I will. Alright, this one's from Raphael in Miami. So Raphael says, I'm thinking about adopting. Oh, nope. Back it up. Back it up. Sorry,

Speaker 2 (44:08):

Back it up

Speaker 3 (44:09):

Back. Back it up. Alright, this one comes from Melissa in Chicago and Melissa says, my cat keeps meowing loudly at night even though she's fed and healthy, what could be causing this and how can I help her settle down?

Speaker 2 (44:25):

Well Melissa, your first issue is that you have a cat. Yeah. So a contrary to popular belief, cats are not nocturnal. I've talked about this a bunch. They're most active at dusk.

Speaker 3 (44:42):

I was going to use that word,

Speaker 2 (44:44):

It's such a good word. My little SAT word.

(44:47):

So if they are really, really, really active at night, night, like pitch black night, it may be a sign that their circadian rhythms off. But most indoor cats do have a bit of an off rhythm. They're not outside, they're not hunting. They're fed on a regular schedule. Some just general tips from a non trainer or non-vet guy on a podcast who's had cats all of his life. Don't let them get used to being in your room. Make your room your room and give them engagement toys and activities that they can do in their own space. Scratching post, I like to get the little cat wand and shove it into the couch cushion at night. So it kind of just stands there. That's a good idea. Spot at it's good idea. And there's all sorts of automated cat toys nowadays. If you have an automated feeder, a little midnight snack of dry food, never killed anybody's cat and can settle them down if they're feeling really, really, really famished. Typically, cats want to eat twice a day, once it dawned once at dusk, but they're animals and they get hungry and they're going to complain about it. And finally, if they're scratching all the time or doing the zoomies, they're not getting enough stimulation during the day. So during your waking hours, make sure you spend a half hour playing with your cat. It's fun. They like it, you'll like it and you'll all be better off for it.

Speaker 3 (46:14):

Great advice, Chris. I like the idea of the midnight snack and also too, depending on what your feeding times are, you might want to push that second feeding time later to right before you go to bed, because after they eat they tend to be a little bit more sleepy. But yeah, great advice, Chris. So good luck, Melissa.

Speaker 2 (46:33):

Good luck, Melissa. And that brings us to the end of our show.

Speaker 3 (46:40):

The tail end.

Speaker 2 (46:42):

The tail end. I feel like, what's it from the Grinch where they're like three more days still Christmas. I feel I want to do that at the end of the show. Only three more shopping weeks of Christmas. Get on it folks. If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping yet, then you're like me, and that's okay.

Speaker 3 (47:03):

Yeah. Hey, if you are not already watching us on YouTube, you just missed the handsome Michael Hill. So get on YouTube and check us out. You can also find our podcasts, as you know, anywhere. Podcasts are, I almost said, sold wherever you get your podcast. Yeah,

Speaker 2 (47:21):

I don't think we ready to sell this thing yet.

Speaker 3 (47:23):

Yeah, I know, right? And you can watch this on dog TV too, so there's no excuse. Tell your friends about us and yeah, like Greg Chris said, get to that shopping

Speaker 2 (47:33):

And we'll be back next Tuesday with another amazing episode. So until then, be kind to yourself and be kind to your pets and we'll see you in a week.

Speaker 3 (47:43):

Oh, and remember, ugly Christmas sweater season is for dogs too.

Speaker 1 (47:48):

Pets Add Life, your guide to the latest in Pet Trends products and the joy of the human animal Bond with Kristen Levine and Chris Bonafide, powered by the American Pet Products Association and Dog tv.