Pawdcast

It’s time to be inspired by the story of a veterinary hospital in Boston, Massachusetts that is so, so, so much more! Jean’s conversation with MSPCA-Angell spokeswoman Corinne Bourgoin outlines what is possible when leading animal welfare services and veterinary care operate under one legendary roof. This Massachusetts institution — often referred to as the “Mayo Clinic for animals” — has been around since 1868 and provides wraparound services for pets and the people who love them. 

You’ll be amazed by what you hear about how deep the impact on a community can be when the mindset around animal w...

We love dog-trepreneurs — especially smart women with big ideas that do good!

This is one of our favorite PawsGo Pawdcast episodes and one of the very first we recorded. Karen and Jean chat with Anne Tuccillo, founder of Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats.

As Anne was preparing to retire from federal service, she was also thinking about what the future would look like for her adult son, Bryan, who was aging out of special education services and facing limited employment opportunities.

Then their dog, Friday, helped lead them to the pawfect solution.

To...

Jean and Karen had the great pleasure of chatting with Dr. Zazie Todd, animal behavior expert and award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy and Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog.

Zazie is also the host of the second annual Bark! Fest, a virtual book festival for animal lovers. Co-hosted with Kristi Benson, Bark! Fest returns in September 2026 with an extraordinary lineup of authors and conversations.

The program explores animal behavior, veterinary science and history, along...

We’re bringing back the most popular episode of the PawsGo Pawdcast!

In this listener-favorite conversation, we explore Dr. Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol—a simple, structured approach designed to help dogs learn how to settle, stay calm, and remain comfortable as the world around them changes.

Whether you are helping an anxious dog, an excitable dog, a newly adopted dog, or simply want to build better focus and calm at home, this episode offers practical guidance you can begin using right away.

The Relaxation Protocol remains widely used by trainers, behavior professionals, foster...

Karen and Jean are absolutely giddy to welcome Pat Miller to the PawsGo Pawdcast—yes, they are definitely fangirling!

What if understanding how your dog thinks could transform the way you train—and the relationship you share?

Pat Miller, renowned trainer, behavior consultant, author, and founder of Peaceable Paws, joins us for a fascinating conversation about positive, force-free dog training.

Pat shares highlights from the newly revised edition of her bestselling book, The Power of Positive Dog Training, including new information on canine agency and cognition, fresh training tips and games, and updated reso...

Just in time for summer fun, Karen and Jean welcome Ben Jarvis and Nicki Wright of US Bark Rangers to the PawsGo Pawdcast.

Ben created US Bark Rangers, and Nicki helps lead its impressive and growing social media community. Together, they share how you and your dog can become BARK Rangers, explore dog-friendly National and State Parks, and support the public lands we all love.

From understanding where dogs are welcome to finding parks closer to home, this episode is all about getting outside, staying active with your dog, and discovering new adventures together.

It’s a holiday tradition at the PawsGo Pawdcast — Karen and Jean are joined once again by their friend and favorite storyteller, Andrew Hager, author of All American Dogs. This festive episode is packed with quick, fun presidential-pet stories perfect to share at holiday parties, as conversation starters, or to diffuse those inevitable tense dinner moments.

In this episode:

• Why are Scotties basically the official dog of Christmas? A little Fala history explains it all.

• How did pardoning a turkey become a Thanksgiving tradition? The quirky origins may surprise you.

• Rebecca the Raccoo...

Karen and Jean are joined by their friend and special guest Kathy Callahan, the puppy expert and author of the new book Old Dog, New Dog. Spoiler alert — Jean has a new puppy, the adorable Lenny!

Together, they dive into what it’s really like to bring a puppy into a home with an older dog. Kathy shares wisdom and warmth from her book — co-authored with senior-dog specialist Helen St. Pierre — offering practical tips and heartfelt advice on caring for dogs at both ends of life’s journey. She also introduces one of her favorite training games, “Ping Pong,”...

If you’re a PawsGo Pawcast listener, you know that Karen, one of our hosts, is also a founder of Aussie Rescue of the Mid Atlantic — a volunteer-run organization dedicated to helping Australian Shepherds in need find their forever homes throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

You can apply to adopt or volunteer at www.aussierescueofthemidatlantic.org.

Over the summer, PawsGo and Aussie Rescue of the Mid Atlantic participated in the Humane Society of Carroll County’s Woofstock event — a fun-filled community celebration of dogs, rescues, and the people who love them. (hscarroll.org)

It...

Karen and Jean are back and thrilled to welcome their friend Cara Achterberg, author of Who Will Let the Dogs Out! Cara who shares her urgent call to action for animal shelters, highlighting the range of experiences for dogs—from progressive shelters with strong staff and community support to high-kill and rural pounds where dogs are often overlooked.

Through over 150 visits to shelters and conversations with hundreds of animal professionals, Cara sheds light on these challenges and offers practical solutions. Her book is a primer for newcomers, an inspiration for advocates, and a guide to sc...

Let’s put this in the category of I can’t tell you how or why it works – only that it works.

In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen is joined by her friend, trainer and dog sport devotee, Tricia Lunde and author, journalist and dog enthusiast Roxanne Hawn.  Together they discuss the Relaxation Protocol for dogs that was developed by animal behaviorist, Dr. Karen Overall and why it’s a great tool for just about every dog owner.

Roxanne utilized the protocol and created a downloadable audio version that is SUPER easy to follow and poste...

Dog parkour is the hottest dog activity because ANY dog can do it ANYWHERE.  And unlike other dog sports or activities, there is no one to compete against.  Dog parkour is a combination of human parkour (google it) and canine agility. In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen and Jean chat with Abigail Curtis, the co-founder of the International Dog Parkour Association -- https://www.dogparkour.org/

 Dog parkour combines elements of human parkour and dog agility to create a fun and accessible activity for dogs and humans. For dogs, they get to experience the world through jum...

We’ve all seen the fliers – Lost Dog, Do Not Chase!  As dog owners, it fills us with a sense of personal dread and sadness for those searching for their dog.  So, if your dog is lost, what do you do and more important, what do you NOT do – besides not chasing it.  What’s the best tracking collar for your dog? 

In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen is joined by rescue friends Christine and Elizabeth in a conversation with Jill Barsky, an animal TRAPPER and as far as Karen, Christine and Elizabeth are concerned, a miracle work...

This episode of the pawdcast is dedicated to the veterinarians, vet techs and front desk personnel who keep our pets healthy but too often don’t get the recognition (or respect) they deserve.

Jean and Karen chat with Dr. Doug Mader a triple certified veterinary specialist who has been a veterinarian for over 30 years.  Currently based in the Florida Keys, Dr. Mader is a sought-after speaker and the author of three best selling medical textbooks.  But it’s Dr. Mader’s new book, The Vet at Noah’s Ark, and his desire to share his experience with a mainstre...

Andrew is a beautiful writer and a GREAT storyteller and his new book is a MUST for any dog lover or dog lover on your holiday gift list.

This FUN read is packed with historic photos and historic facts that bring to life different eras of our nation’s history through the pets owned by Presidents and their families.  You may be surprised by how many true animal lovers lived in the White House.  You may NOT be surprised at how many dogs played a role in Presidential careers.

Regardless of your political affiliation, you’ll lov...

If you have a reactive dog, live in an apartment, don’t necessarily care for dog parks, or simply want a new place that’s safe for your dog to run, sniff and explore – we’ve got a GREAT episode for you!   Put this in the category of things we wish we had created.  In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen is joined by her friend Karen Krieg for a conversation with the founder of Sniffspot https://www.sniffspot.com/

It was actually David Adams’ wife that came up with the idea for Sniffspot, an app and website that...

In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen and Jean chat with Stefanie Strackbein who specializes in canine enrichment.  Enrichment isn’t formal obedience or even organized sports.   Enrichment refers to an easy  activity or game to help dogs reduce stress, exercise their brains, and have a sense of control over their environment.  Examples of these games include tossing kibble on the lawn and inviting your dog to “find it” or folding up kibble or a high value treat in a towel and letting your dog figure out how to unfold the towel to find the treat – SUPER SIMPLE things, but FUN and...

What’s better than a vacation?  A vacation with your DOG!  In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen is joined by her friend Christine (a fellow Aussie owner) with a special interest in dog-friendly vacations. 

According to tripswithpets.com, 78 percent of Americans who have pets, travel with them. Sara Sokol, founder of Dogs Welcome, is working to make it easier for dogs and owners to find welcoming accommodations.

Sara, a dog lover from Bath, Maine, created Dogs Welcome as a Facebook Group to connect travelers with owners of pet friendly vacation rentals, small inns and bed a...

Dog Parks.  If you live in an urban area they are often a lifeline for owners eager to let their dogs run, play, and burn off a little steam. But dog parks also spark vitriol from owners, especially those who have had a dog injured (or attacked) while visiting one.

Not surprising, a successful dog park experience depends as much on the human as it does the dog.  And keep in mind, dog parks aren’t a fit for every dog.

In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen’s friend Elizabeth joins as a co-host, while...

This episode of the PawsGo pawdcast is dedicated to Karen’s sister, Wendy and her newly adopted dog, Dennis.

Late last year, Wendy lost her beloved dog Akira after 14 years together.  Wendy originally found Arkia on Craig’s List, a family was moving and looking to rehome her.  Wendy had never worked with a rescue before and found the process very frustrating.  Dogs that she saw on Facebook or websites never seemed to be available.  Her application was denied by multiple rescues because she didn’t have a fenced in yard.  And Wendy discovered several scams where unscrupulou...

Dr. Amanda Tinkle, project manager of the Dog Aging Project, is back to share some exciting updates about this massive canine health study design to help unlock the key to increasing the “healthspan” of our dogs.  Based on notes and feedback from “citizen scientists” who have enrolled their dogs in the program, Dr. Tinkle and her colleagues noticed comments and concerns about cognitive canine decline.  She chats with Karen and Jean (both owners of senior dogs) about the project’s new area of focus specifically on senior dogs,

Ironically, the Dog Aging Project didn’t set out to specially f...

In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen chats with Kenric Hwang, the founder of Max and Neo (www.maxandneo.com).  Kenric has created a revolutionary way to support rescues and shelters through donations of product, namely collars and leashes.  Based on a buy one, give one model, Max and Neo sells their high-quality products to consumers online.  So, for every product sold, Max and Neo makes a donation of those same products to a shelter or rescue.  Currently Max and Neo sends boxes of their products to 5,000 rescues and shelters three times a year.  Those boxes may contain collars, leashes, suppl...

Let’s be honest, as much as we love to be outside with our dogs, there are days when walks have to be cut short or you can’t swing a multi-mile hike.  In this episode of the pawdcast, Jean and Karen are joined by Dr. Laura Sharkey to discuss getting the most from a short walk and how to create enriching indoor canine activities. Dr. Sharkey is a certified professional dog trainer with a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and the owner of Woofs Dog Training Center in Arlington, Virginia.  The key to success for you and your dog, n...

Seeing possibilities in all animals, Columbus, Ohio based Speak for the Unspoken focuses its rescue efforts on special needs dogs and cats.  The animals that come into their foster-based rescue are visually and/or hearing impaired or have unique medical problems all due to bad breeding practices – think backyard breeders, hoarders and puppy mills.

In this episode of the pawdcast, Jean and Karen chat with Andrea Kochensparger, the executive director of Speak about the joys and challenges of rescue work and why the animals Speak brings into its program are truly special in every way!

Man...

YUP!  Crickets. They are the primary ingredient in Chippin dog treats.  Crickets are also more kind to the environment.  Consider this, it only takes 1 gallon of water to produce 1 pound of cricket protein.  But it takes 2,000 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef protein.  Crickets are also remarkably healthy for dogs (and humans, but we won’t push that idea too hard). 

In this episode of the pawdcast, Karen and Jean chat with Kathleen Wojtowitz, head of marketing for Chippin, a woman-owned small business that’s hellbent on providing delicious and nutritious dog treats and food while redu...

Happy New Year!  January is “National Train Your Dog Month” and in this episode of the pawdcast, Karen and Jean chat with Trevor Smith, of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). 

APDT was founded in 1993 by renowned veterinarian, animal behaviorist, dog trainer and writer, Dr Ian Dunbar.  With a goal of helping trainers improve their knowledge and skills through education, APDT provides an industry standard of excellence for the dog training profession.

With over 5200 members in 48 countries, APDT has grown to be the largest association of dog trainers world-wide.

It’s important to note t...

Can you think of a better gift?  What could be more cute and cuddly than 101 puppies?

In this episode of the pawdcast, Jean and Karen chat with their friend Kathy Callahan, aka the puppy whisperer, about her book 101 Rescue Puppies.

Kathy’s book is a delightful and heartwarming account of the 101 puppies she, her family and dogs have fostered over the years, through Homeward Trails, an all-breed dog and cat rescue based in Northern Virginia.

It was Kathy’s exposure to the puppies and their mothers that inspired her become one of the area’...

In this episode of the pawdcast, Jean and Karen chat with Jennifer Shryock, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and founder of Family Paws Parent Education (FPPE) the parent organization of two International licensed programs: Dogs & Storks® and Dogs & Toddlers™. FPPE provides specialized programs for new and expecting families with dogs and offers a wide range of support to families, dog professionals (including veterinarians) and childbirth professionals to support success between babies, toddlers and family dogs.

Founded in 2002, FPPE’s goal is to increase safety and reduce stress in homes with young children and family dogs.   Jen works with –...

As dog lovers we give thanks for our dogs on a daily basis.  They make us laugh, keep us active, provide companionship and comfort us when we are sad or sick.  In what is becoming a PawsGo holiday tradition, Andrew Hager, author and historian in residence at the Presidential Pet Museum, is back to share stories of dogs who are truly superheroes. 

Throughout history, dogs are credited with saving and improving the lives of humans.  Andrew joins Karen and Jean to share stories of some of his favorite dogs.  Among them – Sergeant Stubby, a stray bull terrier mix who...

In this episode of the PawsGo pawdcast, Karen and Jean chat with Cara Sue Achterberg – an author and animal welfare advocate.  This is Cara’s second visit with the pawdcast and she’s back with some very exciting news.

Inspired and supported by her work with Northern Virginia-based rescue Operation Paws for Homes, Cara has launched a new not for profit specifically to bring awareness and change to small municipal shelters and pounds, primarily in the south.  Through Who Will Let the Dogs Out https://whowillletthedogsout.org/  Cara’s goal is to connect those small rural shelters and pounds...

In June 2013, MaryBeth Powers noticed a lump the size of a golf ball on her dog Teddy’s snout.  Only two days later she heard the words no pet owner wants to hear, it was cancer.

​Teddy had a sarcoma (a malignant tumor of connective or other nonepithelial tissue). The vet’s orders were to “keep him comfortable, he had only about two, maybe four weeks to live”.   As Marybeth recounts in this episode of the pawdcast, keeping him comfortable, meant giving him five medications that left normally joyful Teddy severely sedated.

Marybeth was determined that Teddy w...

Boomer has been a fan of Lucky Dog Cuisine since he was a puppy 12 years ago.  In this episode of the PawsGo pawdcast, Karen chats with Dr. Janice Elenbaas, the founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine.  Lucky Dog Cuisine is a fresh, subscription-based dog food.  Long before there were countless “fresh” dog food ads filling our Facebook feeds, Lucky Dog was THE pioneer in fresh, healthy dog food.  It’s fair to say that Dr. Elenbaas created the path that others would follow.

Based on homemade food that her mother intuitively created for her family’s dogs and encouraged b...

We’ve discussed smiling leashes and leashes as equipment.  In this episode Karen and Jean chat with their friend Sandy Modell of Wholistic Hound Academy (https://www.wholistichound.com/ ) about collars.  Collars are more than a stylish accessory.  Unfortunately, some owners and trainers use collars for correction and discipline.  Sandy shares that even the seemingly innocent vibrating e-collars can have an adverse impact on your dog and your relationship.   And don’t get her started on prong collars!

Sandy also shares questions owners should ask potential trainers and red flags to look for before entrusting your dog and your...

You can thank Boomer and Poppy for this episode of the PawsGo pawdcast featuring Shameless Pets upcycled dog and cat treats.  Karen purchased the Tooth Berry Dental Treats because she liked that they were healthy and made from surplus, castoff or ugly food.  Boomer and Poppy LOVED them.  A quick google search revealed that the Shameless Pet story was another great example of really smart dogtrepreneurs, a healthy dose of social responsibility and a food obsessed dog.

James was a corporate food buyer for Target and Alex a food scientist for humans.  Mina is James’s puggle who ne...

This is a PawsGo pawdcast international edition featuring a conversation about the Smiling Leash Project-- https://www.smilingleash.com/     

Lyubov Elupova of Bulgari, Ena Kobentar of Slovenia and Leticia Sanchez Moral of Spain met at European Dog Training School led by Turid Rugass - http://en.turid-rugaas.no/   Rugass is world renowned trainer and behaviorist – many of her techniques support natural methods for canine/human communication which she calls calming signals.  

Loose leash dog walking is part of the Rugass philosophy – Ena, Lyubov and Leticia called it the smiling leash and have created an international movement f...

For baseball fans, it’s the World Series; for football, it’s the Super Bowl; if movies are your passion, it’s the Oscars.  For dog lovers the top competition is the Westminster Dog Show.  In this episode of the PawsGo pawdcast, Jean and Karen chat with Kristina Shaw Whetzel, a breeder of champion Australian Shepherds and Becky Lueth, a champion handler, who has wrangled and guided more than one prestigious pup through New York City and the rings of Westminster.  Karen and Jean chat with Kristina and ask how she knows a dog is “Westminster material” and what it means to a...

If you talk to your dog and SWEAR they understand what you’re saying – you will love this episode of the pawdcast.  Karen and Jean chat with Courtney Sexton, a doctoral research student in the George Washington University Department of Anthropology's Center for Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology and her research focused on canine communication.  Courtney recently launched the Dog Face Study (www.howdogstalk.org ).  A HUGE animal lover, Courtney designed the study to leverage increased understanding of dog behavior to make us better canine companions and inform what we know about the evolution of language, communication and social relatio...

In this episode of the pawdcast, Jean and Karen chat with Valerie Alfinito, a trainer who shifted her focus to creating handcrafted leather leashes and collars.  A true dogtrepreneur – Valerie founded Dog Sports Designs in the 1990s when her clients came to her training classes with bruised, cut and injured hands from their dog’s leashes.

To Valerie, leashes aren’t an accessory – they should be considered equipment and her handmade leather leashes will last your dog’s lifetime.

As Karen, Jean and Valerie discuss, while Valerie’s leashes can be found at Westminster and the World Agi...

Our friend Andrew Hager, the Historian in Residence at the Presidential Pet Museum, returns to the pawdcast for a fun conversation about Presidential pets during the holidays – remember Barney Cam?  Dogs AND cats have been featured on White House Christmas cards, videos, and visits from Santa for decades.  Andrew shares some of his favorite White House holiday pet stories. 

Karen, Jean and Andrew also chat about why the country is so captivated by Champ and Major, the Biden’s German Shepherds.  The First Dogs-Elect will certainly earn their place in history, with Major becoming the first rescue dog to l...

This episode of Healthy Chats originally aired on December 18 as a virtual Town Hall with a full focus on the Covid-19 vaccine.  The Town Hall was made available to anyone interested in attending via HealthCorps’ social media channels.   

The conversation between HealthCorps CEO Amy Braun and the panel of experts was  determined by questions submitted by those attending the virtual Town Hall.  Based on those questions, experts discussed the FDA's approval process and the distribution process; how states plan on providing the vaccine (such as who receives it after he...