Animal Radio for March 1, 2025
Cooking For Your Dog
Gayle Pruitt, The Dog-Gone Good Cookbook
 Feeling guilty about being unable to share your dinner with your canine companion? Worried about whether your leftovers are good for your pet? Why not cook something that both you and your dog can eat together? Nutritionist Gayle Pruitt joins us to talk about her book The Dog Gone Good Cookbook and share some of her favorite recipes. The recipes are human, canine, and kid friendly. They are also easy, even for the beginner cook!
In one part of her book, you will find recipes for you both you and your dog to share and another part includes recipes just for your dog. But Gayle doesn't advocate your dog eating at the table with you; they should have their own place. Some people may not agree with Gayle, but she feeds her dog before she feeds herself. This allows her to have a peaceful dinner with the "fed" dogs staying away from the table.
 Some included recipes:
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Fish Burgers with Parsley Dilled Mayonnaise
- Braised Turkey Soup
- Lamb Shanks with Figs and Blueberries
- Chicken Tenders with Coconut and Sesame Seeds
- Pumpkin Frittata
While Gayle lists foods that are good for your dog, she also lists foods that they should never have.
Author, Gayle Pruitt, has been a nutritionist/chef for many years.
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Pheromones In Puppy Training - Dr. Debbie
 So you just got a new puppy and you have all your training tools at the ready, the collar, leash and dog crate. But beyond that, do you have the one thing that can make your training tasks easier all around? Tap into your puppy's own sense of smell using canine pheromones and ease your new pup's training and transition into the home.
Pheromones are scent signals emitted by all animal species, including humans. Various pheromones work under the radar to influence the perceptions and behaviors of others within a species.
Shortly after whelping, a pheromone is emitted from the bitch's sebaceous (oil) glands located between the mammary glands. The pheromone, dubbed the canine appeasing pheromone, reassures the puppies, calms them and facilitates nursing. The bitch stops emitting this pheromone as the pups mature, but all dogs retain the ability to "read" this pheromone. Not only do older dogs recognize this pheromone, but it continues to have a natural calming effect on canines of all ages.
In veterinary behavior cases, the dog appeasing pheromone is used for dogs with noise phobias, car travel anxiety, separation anxiety and other fearful situations. Various forms are available including pheromone collars, plug in diffusers and sprays. The canine appeasing pheromone doesn't sedate the dog; rather it decreases fear and excitability.
The dog appeasing pheromone is also helpful for newly adopted puppies. Those first few days to weeks in a new home are full of changes for the pup faced with novel environments far from the comfort of mother and siblings. The dog appeasing pheromone has been shown to ease the transition of the pup into new home and improve sociability and training during a pup's critical socialization period.
Pheromone Research
For skeptics that need to see the proof in the studies, veterinary behavior studies have examined the positive influence of the dog appeasing pheromone. When comparing treatment responses for dogs with separation anxiety, the use of the dog appeasing pheromone equaled the benefit of the anti-anxiety medication, amitriptyline.
One study looked at 66 puppies as they settled into new homes after adoption. Approximately half of the puppies wore a pheromone collar and half wore a placebo. The study found that puppies wearing a pheromone collar displayed significantly fewer nuisance behaviors like vocalizations or scratching within 3 days of adoption. Pups wearing the pheromone collar woke their owner's less during the night and displayed fewer signs of distress and vocalizations throughout the course of the study.
The researchers concluded that pheromone collars helped both the pup and family. Pups were less stressed and adapted easier. By decreasing the pup's stress and fearful behaviors, the pet owners found a more enjoyable bonding experience with the new pup and faced less frustration through the training process.
 In another study, puppies 8 to 15 weeks were enrolled in an eight-week long puppy socialization and training class. Half wore a pheromone collar and the other half wore a placebo collar. The pups wearing the pheromone collar were calmer in the face of novel experiences and displayed less fear, anxiety, and aggression. In the end, the pups with the pheromone collar not only were less nervous, but had fewer behavioral problems and learned better. And a long-term effect on sociability was recognized in dogs up to one year after the class and study was completed.
Pheromones and My Pup
As a previous owner of a nine-week old Bouvier puppy named Nikki, I used both the pheromone collar and diffuser upon welcoming my new pup home. One day before bringing Nikki home, I placed a pheromone diffuser close to the puppy crate, where it would have maximum benefit during her first nights in the kennel away from mother and siblings. Immediately upon leaving the breeder's home, Nikki was fitted with a pheromone collar to serve as a source of reassuring pheromones that went everywhere she did. The pheromone collar became a tool in Nikki's socialization. It was on her when she met new people or animals, when she explored new environments and during puppy kindergarten class.
Did pheromones help in my pup's transition and training? The four hour drive home from the breeders was a dream, no crying or whining the entire trip. After returning home, Nikki never soiled in her kennel during the day or night. I'll admit I had my share of interrupted sleep in the first two weeks, but most of Nikki's night time wakes were for genuine elimination needs. Overall, her transition into the home was smooth and lacked the wailing, inconsolable cries of a stressed pup.
The canine appeasing pheromone isn't a magic bullet though. Nothing matches a quality pup obtained from a reputable breeder who focuses on health, genetics and early socialization. Likewise, pheromones do not replace the hard work and consistent training efforts that any new pet owner must provide. However, by adding the the canine appeasing pheromone to your new puppy training, you can help your pup become the best he or she possibly can.
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
 Police Received Porky Gift
Police in China might have been a little confused by a porky gift, but it turned out it was just a way for a local farmer to say thank you. A woman gave the police force a giant pig from her farm. She explained that the cops helped her out years ago after her husband died, and she was left to run the family farm on her own. She said she became very wealthy, and the pig was the least she could do, even if it took a while. She admitted many of the officers had probably moved on, but she said the cops who were there were just as deserving for the work they do in the area. A police spokesman said they were "very moved" by the gift.
 Steer Fetched $21,000
One Texas teen learned how to earn the big bucks. The teen took home nearly $21,000 for his steer at the sale during the Fort Worth Stock Show. Members of the Stock Show Syndicate, which raises millions of dollars for the show, began a bidding war on the teen's steer after they learned his father had passed away from brain cancer. Syndicate members said that the teen "deserved this" considering all he had been through. In addition to getting up before dawn to care for his cattle, the teen also helped take care of his dying father. While the teen was speechless after the final bid was cast, he later said he already had plans for the money. He planned on putting the money towards his future education at Texas A&M University. When asked what he would tell his father if he were at the show, he said, "Thanks for everything you taught me."
 Luck Of The Dog
A Utah man had his dog to thank for leading him to a winning lottery ticket. The man stopped at a gas station in Idaho to fill up, but his dog locked him out of his truck. During his 45-minute wait to get back in his vehicle, he decided to buy the lotto tickets he had to get anyway for himself and his fellow employees he had played with for many years. And, he was apparently destined to get stranded at that gas station, because he ended up buying what turned out to be the million-dollar winner. He and the rest of the group chartered a "fun bus" to make their way back to Idaho to pick up their winnings, which came to a little under $20,000 each when split 34 ways.
 Attacking Bunnies
Bunnies were attacking cars at Denver International Airport. Wildlife officials said the rabbits liked to chew on the insulator portion of ignition cables, and damage could sometimes run into the thousands of dollars. Fencing was installed and raptor perches were built for hawks and eagles. Meanwhile, local mechanics said coyote urine would repel rabbits when it was used as a coating on car wires
300 Rats Meant Eviction
A woman in Wisconsin faced eviction because of the 300 rats in her trailer. The woman had been keeping the extensive number of rodents in her trailer and apparently allowed them to run loose. She reportedly started collecting domesticated rats from pet stores and let them breed with wild rats. Eventually, the offspring took over the home. Health officials discovered the problem. They said the home was not capable to dispose of sewage properly and there was evidence of rat feces all over the property. The problem was so bad that officials had no choice but to capture the rats and demolish the house.
 Fox Bit Baby's Finger Off
A four-week-old baby in England recovered after a fox dragged him from his cradle and bit his finger off. The baby was taken to a hospital after the attack, which left him with a hand injury. The child was asleep when his mother heard a scream, then a heavy thud, as the baby was dragged to the floor. Reports said one of the boy's fingers was bitten off and had to be re-attached by surgeons. In response to the startling attack, London's mayor said more needed to be done to tackle the problem of urban foxes. At nighttime, it's not unusual to see the animals in the city scavenging for food.
 Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1317)
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