Today's Topic: Did you know that dog groomers touch and see family pets twenty times more often than a veterinarian does?

Knowing this, how can the role of the dog groomer be elevated in the dog wellness ecosystem to further support the health and longevity of our dogs?

That's why we invited the the CEO and co-founder of Well Groomed Pets, a premium dog grooming franchise offering the industry’s most comprehensive approach to wellness, Michael Hill, to the podcast to discuss his transition from the dentistry industry to the dog grooming industry, why he wants to elevate the dog groomer's role in the dog wellness ecosystem, the types of data points he wants to gather on dog wellness during every grooming interaction, how his groomers balance efficiency with well-being, what he looks for when looking for a local groomer, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Michael Hill is the CEO and Co-Founder of Well Groomed Pets, spearheading innovation in pet care. Michael’s passion for animal welfare grew after the loss of a beloved family pet that succumbed to cancer—a loss that may have been avoided with early intervention. Combining his desire to provide preventative care for pets with his entrepreneurship and business acumen, he launched Well Groomed Pets, knowing that pet groomers touch and see family pets twenty times more often than a veterinarian does. Under his leadership, Well Groomed Pets has revolutionized pet grooming services, prioritizing quality and convenience while providing a comprehensive nose-to-tail wellness check for every pet seen.

Connect With Michael Hill

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

Today's Topic: When you adequately prepare your dog for a visit to the vet, it can reduce stress for all parties (dog, dog parent(s) & vet staff) and contribute to an overall smoother experience at the vet.

But what is the best way to prepare, and how do you know you're doing all that you can to make the vet experience as positive as possible for your dog?

That's why we invited the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois, Laura Monaco Torelli, to the podcast to discuss the differences between husbandry training and cooperative care, how dog parents can better advocate for their dogs at the vet clinic, specific proactive training tips to help your dog remain calm during vet visits, her advice on preparing dogs for common procedures like blood draws, vaccines, and nail trims, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Laura Monaco Torelli is the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois. Her career began in 1991 with Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, where she was part of the animal care team for beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, river otters, and penguins. After nearly a decade at the Shedd, she moved on to the San Diego Zoo and then Brookfield Zoo as a lead supervisory trainer. During her time in the zoo community, Laura worked with a wide variety of species, including primates, large cats, birds of prey, horses, parrots, tree kangaroos, giraffes, red pandas, and dogs.

Laura is a faculty instructor of Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior, and serves as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Susan G. Friedman’s Living & Learning with Animals online course. She has been an invited speaker for numerous conferences that include the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, Midwest Veterinary Conference, Penn Vet Working Dog Conference, ClickerExpo, and the Aggression in Dogs Conference.

Connect With Laura Monaco Torelli:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

Other Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

• Julie Benson (Made artwork on behalf of Laura's dog, Santino)
• Living & Learning with Animals: A Super Short Course in the Science and Practice of Behavior Change by Dr. Susan G. Friedman
• Laura's Appearance on The Bitey End Of The Dog Podcast
• The Spectrum of Fear, Anxiety and Stress - Fear Free Website
• Low Stress Handling® University CE Online Courses

Today's Topic: As positive reinforcement dog training continues to grow in popularity, so has the awareness around the different types of dog treats available to help you train your dog.

But what are dog treats, exactly? What are the regulatory requirements, if any, around dog treats to ensure that you're giving your dog something nutritious, delicious and safe? And how has the increasingly fickle and discerning demands of today's dog parents affected the types of dog treats available today?

That's why we invited the founders of Fig & Tyler, an NYC-based premium treat company that makes treats using 100% meat and fish sourced and processed in the USA, Karen Schwichtenberg and Ilya Seglin, to the podcast, to discuss what their initial vision was when creating their treat company, what they saw and valued in each other as partners, how they executed to take their idea and turn it into a company, what dog treats actually are, and so much more!

Guest Bio: Karen Schwichtenberg and Ilya Seglin are co-founders of Fig & Tyler, a premium dog treat company based in New York City. Long-time friends, they often talked about how hard it was to find high-quality, healthy dog treats made from recognizable ingredients. So, five years ago they took the leap and started the brand and named it after their beloved dogs.

Connect With Fig & Tyler:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

Other Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

• Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog For Optimum Health
• Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball, Large
• Blog Post: Dogs Would Rather Work For Food