How 2 Dog

Just like people, dogs break their legs, cut their skin, and get things stuck in their throats. But do you know how to handle these emergencies? Experts believe all dog owners should — even if that means learning how to make your dog more comfortable until you can get them proper care. In this episode, we talk about injury care with Heather Davis and Dr. Lori Berardinucci.

The conversation around dog breeders is complex. What does it mean to be an ethical breeder? What are the dangers of puppy mills? And what can we do as future dog owners to ensure we’re working with the best team for our dog’s health and happiness? With guests, Jeanette Forrey and Barbara Cartwright.

Dr. Peter Venkman of Ghostbusters fame suggested that dogs and cats living together was a sign of the end times, but we think it can work! How should you introduce your dog to a new pet? How can you make sure your cat isn’t stressed out by the new pup? We cover practical tips and pet psychology to find the answers. With guests Dr. Karen London and Dr. Zazie Todd.

We discuss the origins, signs, avoidance and treatment of one of the most widespread health issues for dogs: Worms! Heartworm, ringworm, tapeworm, roundworm, whipworm. The whole menagerie. In this episode, Dr. Michael McLenahan and Dr. Araceli Lucio-Forster join us for a creepy-crawly conversation.

Over the past few years, puppy ownership has been on the rise and the holiday season is the perfect time to cover the fundamentals of bringing home a puppy. In this rerun, we cover puppy basics, including preparing your home for a new puppy and whether you should start crate training your new doggo. This is your Puppy 101. With guests, Sydney Bleicher and Brian Kilcommons.

We all know dogs love to play, but once you understand how a dog thinks, you realize there are certain do’s and don’ts for playtime with your pooch. Should you head to the dog park for zoomies? What toys are great for your dogs and what types of playtime behaviours should you avoid? Find out this episode, with guests, Robert Haussman and Dr. Lindsay Mehrkam.

What should you do when your dog runs away from home? How far do they roam? How long until you should start worrying? We cover tips for encouraging your dog to return home and review services that can help you find your dog. With Laura Caron, a trained Missing Animal Response (MAR) Technician and Kat Albrecht-Thiessen, director of the MAR Network.

How can we ensure we're doing our best for the mouth of our dogs? Find out with guests Dr. Jane Pegg and Dr. Danny DeRose Have you heard that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human mouth? The truth is even more surprising! There are many similarities between the mouths of dogs and people. Brushing. Snacks. Toothaches. How can we ensure we're doing our best for the mouth of our dogs? Find out with guests Dr. Jane Pegg and Dr. Danny DeRose.

What is an emotional support dog and how does its training compare to service dogs? Dogs can provide support through companionship and can help ease anxiety, depression and certain phobias. But who needs that service, who offers that service and how is the life and training of an emotional support dog different than that of other service dogs? With guests, Jeanette Forrey and Dr. Beth Daly.

Professional dog groomers are on the front lines of caring for your furry family members. Whether you're dealing with gum on their paws or getting ready to take the Westminster Kennel Club by storm, you need an amazing groomer in your corner. Sherri talks with Nadia Bongelli, the #1 ranked competitive groomer in Canada, about life behind the stage at dog shows and with Tanya Ellis, her once student and now owner of Pooches’n’Pals, about common myths and misconceptions when it comes to caring for your dog's coat.

Some dogs have jobs just like us. But what is life like for a dog with a serious job, and what is it like to work beside one of these talented doggos? This week we’re calling the cops! Sherri has two fascinating conversations with police dog handlers. First, Sgt. Jim Gourley of the Calgary Police Canine Unit talks about the service provided by their Unit’s canines and how the force has started publicly recognizing their contribution. Then, Marijke Barnson from the Western Cadaver Dog Association gives us a rare and touching look into the important work of cadaver dogs.

This week we’re talking about… talking! About how dogs communicate with us. Barks, growls, whimpers, tail wags, licks and looks; is a dog’s behaviour a manifestation of their emotions that we can decode, or will we always have a communication divide between them and humans? Sherri talks to trainer Jill Breitner, developer of the Dog Decoder App, about reading doggo body language. Then Sherri talks with trainer Sarah Hodgson, author of Puppies for Dummies, about the meaning behind barks and whether we should try to get our dogs to bark less often.

There's an old expression: It's best to let sleeping dogs lie. But what if your dog is having a nightmare? Should you wake them up? And how do we even know what dogs are dreaming about? Sherri talks with dog trainer Shaun Harnack about how to set up the best environment in our home for dogs to have restful sleeps. Then Sherri talks with Harvard psychologist Dr. Deirdre Barrett about dreams and what we think might be happening when a dog is snoozing. Do they count sheep? Listen to find out.

We've all heard that dogs have amazing senses. But what do we really know about how our doggos perceive the world? Sherri has a fantastic conversation with Dr. Peter' Skip' Scheifele, executive director of FETCHLAB, about all things related to hearing and dogs. Can they hear better than we do? Are dog whistles a real thing? And is there anything we can do to prevent or treat hearing loss in dogs? Peter would know–he's currently developing the world's first hearing aid designed specifically for dogs. There's so much for dogs to hear, and so much to hear about dogs.

We're all feeling the urge to travel these days. But what about our doggos? Is it safe to take our canines with us when we hit the road? And what about the tarmac? Sherri talks with aviation pilot and YouTube celebrity Captain Joe Diebolder about how (and when) to fly with your dog and Arlene Lebovic, owner of Your Dog Butler, about lessons learned from running a dog taxi service.

Over the past year, puppy ownership has been on the rise. It's a perfect time for Sherri and her guests to cover the fundamentals of bringing a puppy home. Sherri talks with Sydney Bleicher, director of training at Ultimate Puppy, about puppy basics and with esteemed dog trainer Brian Kilcommons about puppy behaviour and crate training. This is your Puppy 101.

Sherri Davis, Canada's Dog Master, is back for a second season of How 2 Dog to answer all your burning canine questions. Today, it's all about doggy consent. Sherri talks with a certified professional trainer Irith Bloom about reading your dog's comfort level in public situations and with Dr. Karen London about how to handle visitors. A must listen for anyone who has had to answer the question: Can I Pet Your Dog?

Adopting a mutt? Purchasing a purebred? What do prospective owners really need to consider when it comes to choosing the right breed of dog for their family? Dog expert Sherri Davis discusses all these topics and more, first interviewing Dani Dies, the Intake and Adoption Manager at the Toronto dog rescue, Coveted Canines. Later in the episode, Sherri sits down with her very own veterinarian of over 20 years, Dr. Matt Croskery, to chat about things to consider when deciding on the right breed and breeder for you.

Just like humans, dogs are susceptible to disease, parasites, and other pathogens – but did you know that there are some maladies that can be shared between our two species? Sherri Davis, Canada’s Dog Master, talks to Dr. Sarah Hamer about ways to prevent disease transmission. Then we hear from Dr. Anne-Lise Chaber and Dr. Susan Hazel who have been working on training dogs to sniff out illness in humans.

Do you think your pooch could be on a TV show? Do you have what it takes to be a wrangler yourself? Dog expert Sherri Davis gives an insider look at what it’s really like to train Diesel (aka Rex on the hit series Hudson & Rex). We also hear from Victoria Manson who has worked with Sherri for 10 years training and wrangling dogs. These two experts in their field explain that there’s more than meets the eye when getting a dog ready for the bright lights of stardom.