Animal Radio is LIVE from SuperZoo Las Vegas
Since 2003, Animal Radio has been showcasing the latest toys, gadgets and technology available for your pet. Be ready, because it's time again for our New Pet Product Special from SUPERZOO 2025, the pet industry's largest pet retail trade show event in North America, located in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. SuperZoo is an essential event for global pet industry professionals, offering valuable knowledge, networking opportunities, and access to the latest products. We will be featuring the latest gadgets as well as cutting-edge technology for your pets. And the best part? We have giveaways for your pet before they're on the shelves in your pet store!
Following are some of the items we are showcasing:
Rocky Keever, DOG For DOG
DOG for DOG'S mission is simple. For every item sold, they donate an item to help a dog in need. The animals in need are shelter animals, animals with rescue groups and even the animals of homeless people. Hal Abrams tried one of the Peanut Butter Dogbars, and even though he liked it, it's really for dogs! When we are on the go, we like having nutrition bars readily available, and now you can have one just for your dog. Dogs love peanut butter, so they thought they'd make one that not only tastes great, but is also good for them! Made with all natural ingredients, with no sugar, salt, soy or hydrogenated oils. It simply has peanuts, golden flaxseed and palm fruit oil, everything that your dog needs for their skin and oat, as well as digestive system. Their bars and peanut butter contain basic human quality ingredients made in the USA.
Pete Brace & Betsy Berge, Merrick
Merrick has 21 offerings in their high protein Perfect Bistro line. Pete Brace states the food is something, "We think the cats will lick their whiskers for!" They have a whole bistro menu, because Merrick knows that our pets want what we want. Cats can be somewhat finicky, so variety is the name of the game. In the 21 menu items, you will find three different textures as well. These include, shredded, pate or sliced. Pete feels that both taste and texture matter when it comes to our cats. He also knows that a high protein, nutritious food matters to our cats as well. But that's not all; they also have foods for different issues. These include foods formulated for weight management and hairballs.
Joe Messner & Emilye Schmale, Petmate
Petmate acquired the companies JW Pet and Chuckit, two leading toy lines. When asked what products she would take home to her own pet, Emilye Schmale stated the See & Extend in the travel category. The See & Extend is a fantastic carrier that has a top that pops up. It also has a side that un-zips to extend the carrier for more room. Once you reach your destination, this allows you to let your pet have a little ore room, while being safely contained. This is a very versatile carrier great for planes, car travel or just visiting friends. Joe Messner tells us one his favorites brands is WETNoZ, famous for their very contemporary designed scoop bowls. The line includes carriers, collars, leashes and bedding.
Grant Berry, Zukes
From the beginning, it has been essential that Zuke's treats are formulated with only natural ingredients providing the specific nutrients your cat's or dog's needs. But early on, their fledgling team realized Zuke's was about much more than healthy treats. Instead, they consciously created a company focused on exploring and adventuring with your dog and about the love you get from your cat. One product is the Skinny Bakes, which is an oatmeal and barley based vegan product. The Skinny Bakes are low in calories, at only 10 calories per treat. Another product included flavors of their number one seller, Mini Naturals, which includes Delicious Duck; Tender Pork; Fresh Peanut Butter Formula; Roasted Chicken Recipe; Savory Salmon Recipe; and Wild Rabbit.
Gordie Spader, Kurgo
We previously covered a story on Animal Radio about the significant failure rate of car restraint systems for pets. 
Kurgo has been very involved in the safety factor of animal restraints from the beginning and has in fact moved the whole industry forward in how the testing of these restraints is done. The Kurgo harnesses have been crash tested at a rate of 35 miles per hour. Kurgo has also been involved with the Center For Pet Safety in testing restraints. The results show not only Kurgo, but other manufacturers as well, all who are working very hard to test their products for safety, with a crash-test-dog that was created for these tests. Currently, there are no requirements or specifications for auto safety devices for animals, so one is being created from scratch. Kurgo worked with both the Center for Pet Safety and Subaru. Their goal is to get people and dogs out traveling together as safely as possible. Kurgo continues to push forward on the safety side in offering crash-tested harnesses and an enhanced strength Tru-Fit Harness with the nesting buckles, which are really the safest and the easiest to use. They also have new designs on their hammocks, seat covers and booster seats.
See more great New Pet Products and Honorable Mentions
How to NOT Train a Dog - Dr. Debbie
One day I was walking my dog in a community area and encountered a lady with two Shih Tzus. As we approached, her dogs rallied with barking and tugging on their leashes. I asked if her dogs were friendly, so as to decide if we could approach. The lady scowled, embraced her still barking dogs and grumbled, "Do they look like they're friendly?"
Realizing this dog owner was more unsociable than her dogs, I decided to vamoose, but not before I envisioned this blog topic - how pet owners mold unsocial dog behavior.
Unwanted doggie behavior such as lunging and barking on the leash become established when the dog owner hasn't made it clear what the appropriate behavior is, fails to correct and redirect to a more suitable behavior, or simply reinforces the undesirable behavior through actions or words. Face it - there aren't bad dogs, just poorly trained ones.
Avoid making these top 5 training mistakes:
1. Secluding Your Dog in the Backyard
Keeping your dog in lock down almost guarantees problem behaviors will develop such as biting, inter-dog aggression and phobias to anything from noises to car travel. Isolated dogs lack the experience and confidence when faced with novel situations while socialized dogs adapt easily.
I see it all the time - the dog owner prides herself in keeping her dog safe. "I didn't want Fido to catch any diseases as a pup, so I didn't let him out of our backyard till he was a year old." The overwhelming fear of infectious diseases like parvovirus causes some well-meaning owners to confine their new dog or puppy to the limits of house and yard. Even more extreme is never allowing a puppy to step foot outside until after their last puppy vaccinations! Puppies are most adaptable to new experiences between 6 and 16 weeks - this is the time to expose them to unfamiliar places, people and animals.
That doesn't mean you should take your eight week old puppy to dog parks, but rather to use good sense selecting low dog traffic areas and visiting with family and friends outside of the home that have properly vaccinated pets.
2. Skipping Obedience Training
Going to school is a must for any new dog to a home, whether a puppy or adult. No two dogs are the same, and each learns differently. Formal obedience training is a useful tool to gently reaffirm who's in charge and sets the rules in the house. Statistics show that dogs that go through formal obedience training are less apt to develop behavior problems and be relinquished to shelters.
3. Reinforcing Fear at the Veterinary Office
In the exam room I cringe when I see a dog owner comforting a nervous, fearful or aggressive pet. That "good boy" and pat on the head reinforces your dog's behavior, making it more likely that on the next hospital visits he'll behave the same, or worse. Some problem behaviors escalate making it difficult for the veterinary staff to examine or treat the animal. This may mean additional costs for sedation or anesthesia for routine medical needs.
It's natural for a pet owner to want to reassure a pet when he is frightened and it can be difficult to hold back the urge to soothe him. However, the best strategy is to ignore those fearful behaviors in the vet office. Don't be tempted to kiss, snuggle or hold Fido on your lap when he is misbehaving. Rather, place the dog on the floor, refocus your dog's attention to you, and cue him to "sit" or "lie down."
4. Not Using Food as a Reward
Food shouldn't just be for the taking. Don't leave food out for your dog to graze whenever he wants and don't give treats just for the sake of giving a treat. Present food and treats as a reward for good behavior such as sitting quietly, going to a pillow, or performing a trick or obedience work. This places you at the top of the household hierarchy. You become the provider of great edibles in the house, and your dog will be motivated to listen to your requests in other situations.
We all love to spoil our dogs and give treats at times. But be sure to give treats for a reason, or you will have a spoiled doggie brat on your hands.
5. Not Exercising Your Pet Enough
Inadequate exercise can result in obesity and boredom and may lead to problem behaviors like separation anxiety, destructive chewing and excessive barking. Dogs should get 30 to 60 minutes of sustained physical activity each day for optimum mental and physical benefit. And no - letting Buffy run around the backyard during the day is not adequate exercise.
Not all breeds are cut out for all exercise - a Labrador may enjoy retrieving games or swimming, a Jack Russell terrier may thrive with jogging or Frisbee, while a Basset hound will be satisfied with a leash walk.
Your dog can't be a well-adjusted, socialized canine citizen without you, so as the pet owner, you should take an active role in training. Put the time in, and you'll be thanked many times over with an outgoing, friendly canine pal that can accompany you on life's adventures.
Featured veterinarian known as "Dr. Debbie" on national pet radio program, Animal Radio. Ebook author of "Yorkshire Terriers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Pugs: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; "Mini Schnauzers: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend"; and "Shih Tzu: How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend." Dr. Debbie's books.
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Animal Radio News with Stacey Cohen
Even The Experienced Shouldn't Stick Their Head In A Crocodile's Mouth
An animal trainer in Thailand learned the hard way that even eight years of experience doesn't make sticking your head in a crocodile's mouth completely safe. The trainer went face-to-face with one of the reptiles during a popular show at a crocodile farm in Bangkok. But things took a turn for the worst when the croc suddenly chomped down on the trainer's head. The trainer was thrashed around for a couple seconds before the animal let go and went back into the water. But other than injuries on his face and neck, the trainer walked away relatively unscathed. This was supposedly the first time any incident like this has occurred at the farm.
What Is A Zonkey?
An illicit tryst between a zebra and a donkey produced a love child like no other. The zonkey was born into the gap between two worlds. His dad was a brawny zebra rescued from a failing zoo. His mom was a sassy female from a breed of endangered donkeys in Italy. They were never supposed to be together. The owner built a fence to separate the two animals. But somehow, in the golden light of a field in Florence, love flowered. It had the head of a donkey and the legs of a zebra and it made zebra sounds
Los Angeles Freeway Closed Down So Ducks Could Cross
Motorists heading through the Griffith Park area of Los Angeles had to slow down while driving on the Golden State Freeway for a nature break. The CHP said traffic came to a halt on the Southbound 5 near Fletcher Drive so a momma duck and her ducklings could cross lanes of the freeway. The birds were apparently on their way to the nearby L.A. River. Duck crossings in the past have caused several freeway accidents, not to mention plenty of traffic jams.
Horse Rider Turned Away At Drive-Thru - So She Brought Horse Into Restaurant
A British woman was saddled with a fine after bringing her horse into a McDonald's restaurant. The woman initially tried to ride the animal through the drive-thru, but was turned away. She then brought the horse inside the fast food joint, where it promptly did it's "business" on the floor. A McDonald's spokeswoman said the sight and smell of the incident "caused obvious distress" to customers trying to enjoy their meals. She added that the health and safety of their customers is a priority, which is why they refuse to serve people on horseback, and any other customers not in a car, at the drive-thru.
World's Largest Intact Dinosaur Tail
Paleontologists from Mexico unearthed the world's largest intact dinosaur tail. The fossil was 16 feet long and had a record 50 connected vertebrae. It was found in northern Mexico and was apparently buried for up to 72 million years. The fossil is believed to belong to a hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur, though the exact species wasn't determined.
Spider Caused Man To Crash Truck
A Washington man claimed his encounter with a spider caused him to crash his pickup into a semi truck. The man "freaked out" when he caught sight of the spider crawling up the back of his leg as he drove. He then began swatting at the eight-legged creature, causing him to collide with the back of a semi truck. While the crash caused serious damage to his truck, he came away from the wreck with only a scratch on his head and shoulder. He chalked up his good fortune to a higher power, saying that he had "some angels" watching over him. Meantime, the driver of the semi was unharmed.
Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1341)
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