Hound Opinions
55 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsDogs are great. They're also weird, quirky, gross, challenging, loving and fun. Hosted by Bill Mayeroff (owner and Chief Canine Officer of Big Wags Chicago Dog Training and Dog Walking), Hound Opinions is a podcast about all things dog - from behavior to training to the trials and tribulations of dog guardianship ... and everything in between!
New episodes come out every other Thursday. Check them out here or wherever you get your podcasts!
Have a question or topic you'd like Bill to talk about on the pod? Email [email protected]!
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
All about resource guarding
April 04, 2024 08:30 - 25 minutes - 58.9 MBResource guarding is exactly what it sounds like – it’s when a dog guards something that it considers a resource. And it can be scary because dogs will go to great lengths to protect their resources, including snapping, nipping or biting at people or other dogs who they feel are trying to take their resource. But what people often forget is that resource guarding is actually a pretty common and normal-ish behavior. And it gets even more tricky because so many different things can be conside...
Pros and cons of crate training
March 07, 2024 09:30 - 25 minutes - 58.8 MBWe're talking crates this time, y'all! I make no secret of the fact that I love crate training. But crating is also controversial. It’s not a magic bullet and if a dog isn’t taught how to be comfortable in a crate, it can have serious negative effects on their mental health and in fact can have negative effects on their physical health if they decide to try to get out of the crate and hurt themselves. So what’s the right answer? That’s a good question! And it's why I'm doing this episode!...
Breed spotlight: Lancashire Heeler
February 08, 2024 09:30 - 42 minutes - 96.8 MBWe're learning all about the Lancashire Heeler today! The Lancashire Heeler is the newest breed to join the American Kennel Club and I could think of nobody better to talk to than Sheryl Bradbury. Sheryl's the president of the United States Lancashire Heeler Club and the Nebraska Kennel Club. She gives us the inside scoop on the Lancashire Heeler and I even get her to talk a little trash and tell us why she thinks Lancashire Heelers should win the coveted Best in Show title. DON'T FORGET: ...
Bill's Foster Tales
January 25, 2024 09:30 - 37 minutes - 85 MBHound Opinions is back, baby! That's right! The holiday hiatus is over and we're diving back into it by talking once again about fostering. Since Thanksgiving, my spouse and I have fostered a couple dogs. That's part of why we got a house, after all. The first experience was not so great and I'll get into why in the episode. The second was pretty great. I wanted to talk about both of those experiences because they’re so different and they represent the real gamut of what fostering is like...
Bonus episode - Keeping your dog calm and safe during holiday gatherings
December 09, 2023 14:30 - 18 minutes - 42.5 MBLook! It's a bonus episode! The pod is technically on hiatus, but I wanted to chat a bit about how to keep your dogs feeling calm and comfortable during holiday gatherings. It's too late to help with that turkey-based holiday, but we still have Hanukkah and Christmas and other winter seasonal gatherings coming up. And just so you're not worried, the pod *WILL* be back in earnest next month! DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play...
Parental guilt and you
November 16, 2023 09:30 - 38 minutes - 89.2 MBIt’s safe to say that we all want to do the best we can for our pups. We want to give them the best food. We want to make sure we’re closely monitoring their health so that they’re always healthy and comfortable. We want to make sure that they don’t’ find themselves in situations where they may feel uncomfortable and like they have to defend themselves. But none of us are perfect. We’re not able to have our eyes on our dogs 24/7. We’re going to occasionally miss things (or think we’ve misse...
The Amazing World Of Guide Dogs
November 02, 2023 08:30 - 51 minutes - 118 MBGuide dogs are amazing creatures. More amazing than we realize, in fact. We think of guide dogs as the dogs with the rectangular handles sticking up from their backs helping their handlers navigate a world they can't see. And that's accurate, but it's also incomplete. On the pod with me is Marin Baumer. In 2019, Marin was in a horrific car accident that left her totally blind. But with the help of her guide dog, Kegan, not only can Marin navigate the world around her, she’s also able to ...
Halloween tricks and treats
October 19, 2023 08:30 - 42 minutes - 96.5 MBIt's almost Halloween! And while you should absolutely enjoy the holiday, it can be tough on your pups. Bill tackles a few Halloween-themed topics this time around. They start off talking about how to help your dog get used to wearing a costume, but cautions that if your dog REALLY isn't into it, don't force the issue. From there, they talk about how to help your pup get used to people ringing your doorbell for candy all night and finish up with some safety tips for your dogs. DON'T FORGET:...
A dog park bar? No thanks!
October 05, 2023 08:30 - 20 minutes - 47.4 MBThere's a proposal in Chicago for a dog park with an attached bar. It will be a place, according to this piece on Block Club Chicago, where people can "“grab a beer at the concession-style stand, have a seat and work on their computer while their dog runs around and plays.” Here's the URL of the Block Club piece: https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/10/04/an-indoor-dog-park-with-a-bar-proposed-in-north-center/ This is just a mind-blowingly stupid idea. And that's what this episode is about. Bi...
Why it's important to pay attention during walks ... and other thoughts
September 21, 2023 08:30 - 34 minutes - 77.8 MBIt's just Bill this time. In this solo pod, Bill talks about why you REALLY should pay attention to your dog during a walk ... along with a sub-rant about retractable leashes. Spoiler: They're the worst. And in the second segment, Bill talks about the importance of microchipping your dog and tells the story of how they helped a happy husky find his way home. DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking tho...
Some dog park thoughts - Part 2
September 07, 2023 08:30 - 40 minutes - 93.3 MBThis is the second and final installment of Bill's brief series on dog parks. Last time, Bill talked about why dog parks aren't generally great places for dogs. But here's the problem: Even reactive dogs and other dogs who just wouldn't enjoy dog parks need exercise. And when you have a dog in a city like Chicago, getting them that exercise can be hard, especially if you don't work from home and/or have a dwelling space with a yard. So what's the reactive dog guardian to do? On the pod wi...
Some dog park thoughts - part 1
August 24, 2023 08:30 - 39 minutes - 91.4 MBQuick trigger warning: This episode does talk a bit about a dog attack. It doesn’t get graphic and the dog who got attacked survives. But a dog attack is discussed, so be ready for it. Everyone loves dog parks, right? Well, not quite. There's one very important group that doesn't often love dog parks: DOGS. And it makes sense, right? Dog parks are often kind of the wild west, which can create situations that make dogs scared or nervous. And even if the dogs aren’t scared or nervous, energy...
The Neverending Work of Chicago Animal Care and Control
August 10, 2023 08:30 - 39 minutes - 89.4 MBQuick trigger warning: This episode does talk about euthanasia. Nothing graphic or disturbing, but the topic is discussed in no uncertain terms. So just be ready for it. If you’ve been on social media and/or keeping up with your local news lately, you’ve probably seen lots of reporting about how animal shelters across the country are at capacity. And there’s no denying that shelters here in Chicago and elsewhere are in crisis. On this episode, Bill talks with Armando Tejeda. He’s the publ...
Preparing to move with your dog
July 27, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 64 MBIt's Season 4, y'all! That's right. Hound Opinions is back and Bill has had a helluva couple months. They and their spouse, along with the dogs, moved from a two-bedroom apartment into a house. That's right, a whole house! It was one of the more stressful experiences of Bill's life. But you know who else was stressed by it? Their pups - Chester and Bodhi. Moving is tough for dogs. In the Season 4 kickoff, Bill talks about how moving can affect your dogs and what you can do to make it as ea...
Season 3 Finale - Fear and Socialization
May 05, 2023 08:00 - 29 minutes - 68.1 MBIt's the Season 3 Finale! The podcast is taking a break for a bit, but Season 4 will drop in mid-late July! We’re talking about two of Bill's favorite topics today – fear and socialization. Why? Because there are a lot of misconceptions about those two things and how they affect dogs. And Bill wants to clear them up. DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod next season. And he wants to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two ...
The Frustration Episode
April 21, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 63.6 MBOnce again, it's just Bill. This time, our podcaster extraordinaire talks about frustration. It's a normal human emotion. We all get frustrated at things - life, the universe, everything - and people - parents, kids, friends, romantic partners. It's just normal. Something else that's normal? Getting frustrated at your dog. On this episode, Bill talks about frustration and how it can affect your relationship with your dog, as well as your training work. And he talks a bit about how even h...
The Art Of Doing Nothing
April 06, 2023 08:00 - 25 minutes - 59 MBIt's just Bill this time around. In this solo pod, we're talking about doing nothing. Doing nothing is hard for dogs. For humans, that's a weird concept, but it's an important one when it comes to training. In the first part of the episode, Bill talks about why the ability to do nothing is important and how to teach our dogs that skill. In the second part, Bill opens up about one of the harder realities of working in the dog walking biz - the fact that people and their dogs occasionally mo...
Rebroadcast - Senior Dogs Are Awesome!
March 23, 2023 08:00 - 40 minutes - 35.5 MBHound Opinions is on a bit of a break this week. There'll be a new episode in two weeks, but in the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast of Bill's chat with Lisa Lunghofer of the Grey Muzzle Organization. By the way, Bill's older pup, Chester, turns 13 next week! Because Chester's a mensch, he wants to use his Bark Mitzvah to do some good! So he's raising money for the Grey Muzzle Organization because senior dogs are the best. If you'd like to donate, that'd be awesome. Head on over to https:/...
The spleen and cancer episode
March 09, 2023 09:00 - 43 minutes - 100 MBThis one's a bit personal for Bill. Trigger warnings: Talk of cancer and pet death. In May of 2021, a mass was found on Bill's dog Chester’s spleen. A trip to the emergency vet and a splenectomy later (plus a couple days at the hospital), Chester was back home with a shaved belly and a badass scar from the surgery. Luckily the mass was benign and Chester's still as ornery as ever. But what Bill realized is that he had no idea what spleens do, why they're so prone to masses and a particul...
Rescue Spotlight: The Beagle Freedom Project
February 23, 2023 09:00 - 48 minutes - 110 MBTrigger warning: This episode contains mentions of animals being used for pharmaceutical testing purposes, talk of animals being abused and animals dealing with issues of PTSD and the fallout that comes from surviving life in testing facilities. We all know animal testing happens. But did you know that it doesn’t just happen on rats and mice? It happens on all sorts of animals, including dogs and cats. And when it comes to dogs, the breed of choice for testing, especially when it comes to t...
Great Expectations
February 10, 2023 21:34 - 10 minutes - 24.8 MBSorry for the delay! But it's finally here! Bill's by himself this time. On this episode, he chats for a bit about expectations and why letting go of some of the traditional ideas of what it means to have a “good” or “well-behaved” dog can make everyone happier. Big Wags Chicago is online at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Mastodon, Discord, TikTok and Instagram under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to sa...
The tough decision to rehome a dog
January 26, 2023 09:00 - 57 minutes - 131 MBSometimes, rehoming a dog is the best decision for both you/your family and the dog. And there's nothing wrong with that. But it's never an easy decision. Nobody wants to feel like they're giving up on a dog, especially if that dog's had a tough go of things. Bill's got another returning guest this time. Sara Polk is a lifelong dog lover and licensed mental health provider in El Paso, Texas. She’s also a very dear friend of Bill's who had to make the tough decision to rehome a dog that was...
Rescue Spotlight - Mission K9 Rescue
December 29, 2022 09:00 - 40 minutes - 93 MBMission K9 Rescue is a special kind of dog rescue. Based in Texas, Mission K9 is an animal welfare group dedicated to rescuing, reuniting, rehoming, repairing, and rehabilitating American working dogs. This includes military and contract working dogs, as well as retired police, TSA and other law enforcement dogs. Since 2013, the group has provided a wide array of medical and behavioral services to working dogs to offer them a comfortable and peaceful retirement. In this episode, Bill chats ...
Holiday Question Grab Bag
December 16, 2022 02:49 - 18 minutes - 41.5 MBSorry for the delay. There were technical issues. It's the holidays and you fine folx have questions. So Bill's going to answer some of them. He talks about helping to introduce your dog to new people and gets into body language. He also talks about the most unusual cues he's seen dogs do and gets into why he never uses the term "command". Happy holidays! Big Wags Chicago is online at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Mastodon, Discord, TikTok and Instagram under the han...
A bit of Hound Opinions news
December 01, 2022 09:00 - 1 minute - 1.95 MBBill's taking a bit of a holiday break this week. There'll be a new episode in a couple weeks. Stay tuned. In the meantime, Bill is going to be putting together a live video event where he talks about dog body language and takes questions in real time. When he nails down a time, he'll announce it on Facebook, Discord and Mastodon. So get ready for that. It's going to be fun. Big Wags Chicago is online at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Mastodon, Discord, TikTok and I...
National Dog Show Preview with David Frei
November 17, 2022 09:00 - 39 minutes - 33.5 MBIt's almost time for the National Dog Show, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia! On the pod with Bill this time is his first ever returning guest - longtime voice of the National Dog Show, David Frei. David and Bill preview the show and David shares his insights about the world of dog shows built over years of experience as an owner and handler of show dogs, as well as his experience as a judge and broadcaster. The National Dog Show will be broadcast November 24 at noon on NBC. It's...
Senior Dogs Are Awesome!
November 03, 2022 08:00 - 40 minutes - 35.5 MBFact – senior dogs are awesome. There’s really nothing like a senior dog. They’re often happy to just spend time on the couch with you. They might let you sleep in on weekends. They don’t require super-long walks or play sessions to get their energy out. What’s not to love, right? But despite being amazing, senior dogs that wind up in shelters or rescues are often overlooked in favor of younger dogs and puppies. They’re some of the hardest dogs to adopt out. And that needs to change. On t...
Deciphering dog body language
October 20, 2022 08:00 - 31 minutes - 28.1 MBSo much of dogs’ communication comes in the form of body language. Tails, ears, eyes, mouths … all of them hold clues to what a dog is thinking and feeling at any given time. But one of the hardest parts about reading a dog’s body language is that it happens fast. So it’s easy to miss subtle signs that can give you an indication of what’s going on in a dog’s head. And that can lead to misunderstandings between people and dogs, which can be dangerous. On the pod with Bill is Lili Chin. Lili...
Season 3 Premiere! Charity Spotlight: Midwest Access Coalition
October 06, 2022 08:00 - 54 minutes - 47.2 MBWelcome to Season 3, y'all! Bill wanted to kick off the third season of Hound Opinions with something a bit different. But don't worry, he still talks about dogs a bit. If you’ve been following on social media, then you know that since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the “supreme” court, Big Wags Chicago has been regularly donating a portion of the proceeds of each walk and training session to the Midwest Access Coalition and Chicago Abortion Fund. To open Season 3, Bill wanted to shout ou...
Season 2 finale! All about self-care!
August 25, 2022 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBIt's the final episode of Season 2, folx! Hound Opinions will be taking a break for the month of September, but Bill will be back with Season 3 on October 6. We see the term "self-care" tossed around a lot these days, especially on social media. Really, since the covid pandemic began, we've been talking about how important it is to practice. But the term "self-care" isn't particularly descriptive, is it? So it's hard to know what it actually entails. That's why Bill wanted to do this epi...
What is the Fear Free philosophy?
August 11, 2022 08:00 - 45 minutes - 43.7 MBIt's the second-to-last episode of Season 2, y'all! If you’ve been in certain veterinary offices or groomers, you might have seen some signage that says the clinic or groomer is “Fear Free Certified”. Ever wondered what that means? Fear Free is a philosophy dedicated to alleviating fear, stress and anxiety in pets by educating the people who care for them – including veterinarians, groomers, rescue and shelter staff and even pet parents – on how to provide their pets physical and emotional...
Rescue Spotlight - It's a Pittie Rescue
July 28, 2022 08:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBThis is the second in the Rescue Spotlight series. This time, we talk to Patty Sampson, who's on the board of It's a Pittie Rescue. It’s a Pittie is entirely volunteer-run and is dedicated to rescuing, rehabbing and rehoming pitbull-type dogs. Find It’s a Pittie Rescue online at rescueapittie.org and by searching It’s a Pittie on social. Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you wa...
The foster life
July 15, 2022 08:00 - 42 minutes - 31.9 MBThe animal rescue world is in a bit of a crisis right now. If you Google “overcrowded shelters”, you’ll get recent news stories from all over the country about how shelters are packed to the gills with dogs and cats. Shelters are already tough places for animals. They tend to be noisy. It’s hard for them to get the attention and enrichment that they need. The animals are under a lot of stress. They’re often in small enclosures for long stretches of the day. It’s not easy. And when this sort...
Rescue spotlight - Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation
June 30, 2022 08:00 - 45 minutes - 41.1 MBThis is the first in what we hope will be a recurring feature on Hound Opinions - Rescue Spotlight. It's always fun to shout out animal rescue organizations and the awesome work they do, and that's what Bill's doing this time. On the pod this week is Erin Thompson. She's the marketing manager for Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation - the rescue founded in 1991 by White Sox manager Tony La Russa and his wife, Elaine. Since 1991, the Foundation has found families for more than 46,500 dog...
Fireworks: The bane of every dog's existence
June 16, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 19.2 MBIt's that horrible, horrible time of year. That's right, folks. We're talking about fireworks season. At best, fireworks are annoying and for your dogs, they can be downright terrifying. On this episode, Bill talks about how to prep your house, your dog and yourself for fireworks and help make this terrible time of year a bit easier to handle. Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question ...
The Sato Project - getting dogs from Puerto Rico's Dead Dog Beach into happy homes
June 16, 2022 03:21 - 41 minutes - 35.6 MBThere are an estimated 500,000 stray dogs roaming the streets and beaches of Puerto Rico. The island's shelter system is overwhelmed and with no access to food, fresh water, or veterinary care, many of these dogs are living daily lives of severe suffering. Enter The Sato Project. The Sato Project is an organization dedicated to getting the stray dogs of Puerto Rico into happy, comfortable loving homes. On this episode, Bill talks to Tracy Warren, vice president of The Sato Project. Tracy ta...
Sorry folks! Bill's sick this week.
June 02, 2022 08:00 - 1 minute - 1.95 MBHey y'all! Bill's been fighting off some sort of plague - not covid - since last week and he just hasn't had the energy to get an episode together. He's really sorry and there'll be a new episode in two weeks. Thanks for being so understanding! Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email [email protected].
Rebroadcast - listener questions - from November 2021
May 05, 2022 08:00 - 27 minutes - 30.7 MBHound Opinions is taking a break this week. Enjoy this rebroadcast of the episode from Nov. 25, 2021 featuring listener questions. By the way, Bill's planning another episode like this, but he needs questions. Email 'em to [email protected]. On this edition of Hound Opinions, Bill takes a few questions from listeners. He talks about how to help your dog deal with loud noises like thunder. He also gets a little heavy (trigger warning: pet death) when he addresses a question about ho...
Demystifying CBD
April 21, 2022 08:00 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBThere's not a huge amount of research into the effects of CBD on dogs. But Dr. Jennifer Weiss and Jeremy Dedic have done their share. Jeremy and Jennifer are the minds behind Cubbington’s Cabinet – a Chicago-based purveyor of CBD products with the mission of improving the quality of life for people and pets by providing a trustworthy source for socially responsible, thoroughly tested and accurately labeled, hemp-derived CBD products. They sat down and chatted with Bill to hopefully demysti...
Making great dog photos
April 08, 2022 08:00 - 35 minutes - 27.3 MBDogs are great photo subjects. But they're also living creatures that like to move, which can make getting good photos of them hard. But you've come to the right place. In this episode, Bill talks to Pulitzer prize winning photojournalist Scott Strazzante. He's been on the staff of the San Francisco Chronicle since 2014. His work has been featured in National Geographic and Mother Jones. And his book, Shooting from the Hip, a collection of iPhone Hipstamatic snaps from around the USA, was p...
David Frei - Ultimate dog guy
March 24, 2022 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBMost of y'all probably know David Frei as the voice of the National Dog Show and/or the Beverly Hills Dog Show. And he's both of those, but he's so much more. He's also the founder of Angel on a Leash, an organization that brings therapy dog and handler teams to visit anyone who might benefit from the special bond between a human and a dog. Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you w...
Spreading the positive reinforcement gospel with Mandy Boutelle
March 10, 2022 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBOne of the toughest parts of being a positive reinforcement trainer is explaining to people why it’s more effective and what exactly it means. But Mandy Boutelle has figured out an unconventional way to do just that. Mandy was a certified R+ dog walker and dog trainer before founding her clothing line, Woof Cultr. By putting the ideas and principles of R+ training on shirts and other items, it invites people to ask questions, which gives trainers the opportunity to have meaningful conversat...
Service dogs - redux
February 24, 2022 09:00 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBWelcome to Season 2 of Hound Opinons! Bill's talked about service dogs before on the pod. And to kick off the second season, he's talking about 'em again! This time, his guest is Joanne Moliski. Joanne is a 28 year old engineer and community organizer. She is a partially ambulatory quadriplegic who has uses her service dog, Scorpio, as her primary mobility support. Scorpio is 2-3 years old, half pit bull/half Pyrenees, and a very good boy. Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschic...
Episode 9 - Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner
February 10, 2022 09:00 - 44 minutes - 43 MBIt's the finale of Season 1 of Hound Opinions, folx! But don't worry; season 2 will start in just two weeks! For the Season 1 finale, Bill has a really cool guest. Dan Schachner (@danschachner) is best known as the guy getting peed and pooped on every year as the referee of the Puppy Bowl! But he’s also an advocate for dog rescue and foster, as well as an ambassador for the Sato Project, which rescues abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico. Catch Puppy Bowl XVIII on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. Central...
Episode 8 - Life with a service dog
January 27, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutes - 39.8 MBService dogs are amazing. They can do so many impressive tasks that aid the lives of their disabled handlers. On the pod this time is Ashley Bravin, an artist, disability advocate and service dog handler living in Glendale, California. She has a host of chronic illnesses and she’s been a service dog handler for nearly 7 years. She’s going to talk about all the tasks her dogs perform, as well as a bit about training service dogs. You can find her and her service dogs, Rosie and Rico, on Insta...
Rebroadcast of Episode 1 - Flying with your dog
January 20, 2022 09:00 - 37 minutes - 33.1 MBHound Opinions is taking a quick break this week, but Bill will be back next week (January 27) with a new episode. In the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast of the inaugural episode of Hound Opinions! Flying with a dog can add a whole new set of complications to what is already often a stressful experience. But what if you want or need to travel with your dog? What's that like? How do you prepare your dog for it? How do you make the experience as easy as possible for yourself and your pup? I...
Episode 7 - What is compassion fatigue?
January 06, 2022 09:00 - 40 minutes - 34.5 MBCompassion fatigue is one of those terms that folks in the service industry like to use a lot. Compassion fatigue is the physical, emotional and psychological impact that comes from helping others. According to the American Psychological Association, it can cause, among a host of other things, burnout, depression and anxiety, as well as both physical and emotional exhaustion. But what actually IS compassion fatigue? Why are folx in the service industry - like dog trainers, hair stylists and...
Episode 6 - Zoey's living her best life
December 23, 2021 09:00 - 34 minutes - 22.6 MBWith the holidays coming up, it's time for a great story about a dog overcoming some difficulties to live her best life. Zoey is an almost-13-year-old bloodhound with degenerative intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). On this episode, Bill talks to Zoey's guardian, Natalia Waclawska, about IVDD and how she makes sure that despite the physical limitations, Zoey lives her best life. You can keep up with Zoey's adventures via social media, too. She's @Chitownhound on Facebook, Instagram and Ti...
Episode 5 - Life with reactive dogs
December 09, 2021 09:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBLife with a reactive dog can be tough, both for the reactive dogs and their people. If you've never had or spent time with a reactive dog, it can be hard to conceptualize and you might even think that reactive dogs can't have happy lives because they'll miss out on all the wonderful interactions with other dogs. But that's just a myth. On this episode, Bill talks to Ashleigh and Carol, both of whom are guardians to reactive dogs. They'll talk about what life is like with a reactive dog and ...
Bonus - Listener questions!
November 25, 2021 09:00 - 27 minutes - 30.7 MBOn a special bonus edition of Hound Opinions, Bill takes a few questions from listeners. He talks about how to help your dog deal with loud noises like thunder. He also gets a little heavy (trigger warning: pet death) when he addresses a question about how to know you're ready to adopt another dog after your dog passes away. He also gets into the pros and cons (spoiler: mostly cons) of dogs being off-leash. Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wag...