Animal Radio for April 19, 2025
A Life With Soulful Chickens
Lauren Scheuer, Once Upon A Flock
 Lauren Scheuer had a flock of chickens, or what she sometimes called a herd. She also had a terrier dog named Markey, who along with herself, had to learn how to live in backyard harmony with her chickens.
When Lauren obtained her chickens, she selected them by their color, as to what would look good wandering around her garden. She was planning on eventually eating them, and looked forward to gathering eggs up until then. Lauren's chickens provided her with many unfertilized eggs, as there was no Rooster in her henhouse. Lauren told us that if eggs were fertilized, and you gathered them right away, you would never have known it. However, Lauren wasn't planning on turning them into pets. But you know what happens when you name animals - they become pets! Lauren is now a vegetarian.
Lauren's chickens had more extreme personalities than any other pets she owned, and they were all different. Hatsy was the flock's leader; Lucy was a "Buddha" chicken; Pigeon was a fixer-upper chicken; and then she had the evil Buff Orpington named Lil' White. Lauren stated she didn't know why Lil' White would kill her if she could and that she was a sociopath chicken.
There was so much drama in Lauren's flock, that all she had to do was pull up a little stool, sit down with her girls, and watch what happened. Lauren stated, "They talk like a bunch of old ladies having tea."
In order to have chickens, all you need is a little backyard. You also need to know if your town or city allows them. If your town or city doesn't allow chickens, Lauren said you needed to, "Storm Town Hall and change the rules!"
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Talk To Your Dog
Regal.ai/dog
 A few weeks ago, we were turned on to the Regal AI Dog hotline, which is really cool. So Hal just had to call it for his dog. He wanted to find out why Meatball has been chasing the cats.
This is an AI hotline, and what that means is that you're going to actually have a conversation with, let's just say, your dog or any AI agent for that matter.
You can ask them questions and they'll respond with whatever knowledge they know through AI. Now, we can't explain how AI works, but we can tell you the Regal AI Dog hotline is a lot of fun.
So we're going to call for Meatball. What kind of dog is Meatball? He's a bulldog. And taking a hint from our conversations with dogs the last week and the week prior, Hal is going to try to throw him off this time, and we'll see how AI reacts.
But before we call the hotline, we want to let you know that Regal.AI built these AI agents. They do it for businesses all across the country. And we're heading over to the website, which is Regal.AI/dog, to talk to our dog.
You can also try out any of the 15 main breeds for yourself on their hotline for free.
Regal.ai: This call will be recorded.
Meatball: Oh, you recorded, eh? Blimey, that's a bit posh. Just don't go put me on some fancy podcast or nothing. Anyway, let's sort this out. What's the name you call me?
Hal: Wait a second. You don't know your own name?
Meatball: Ah, names. Who needs them anyway? Back in my day, we got by just fine without all this formal nonsense. More important question. What's on the menu for today?
Hal: Well, tacos tonight. It's always tacos tonight.
Meatball: Tacos, eh? Sounds a bit fancy for a bulldog like me. Back in my day, we had a proper roast or a good pie. But I reckon a taco could do the trick. Any chance of a little taste for me?
Hal: Of course.
Meatball: Now we're talking. Strictly for quality control, of course. So what's all this fuss about Taco Tuesday? Is it just an excuse for a party or something?
Hal: Around here, it's tacos every day.
Meatball: Every day, you say? Blimey, that's living the dream. I could get used to that tacos for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Hal: Sure! Can you go fetch my slippers?
Meatball: Fetch your slippers? Now that's a right laugh! I'll give it a go, but I can't promise I won't just plop down on them instead. Slippers are just begging for a bulldog's bum, isn’t it? Anyway, I reckon I've been talking your ear off. Don't forget our little taco plan, eh? Cheers, mate.
I did not realize Meatball was that smart. He doesn't look it, so who knew?
If you want to talk to your dog, or don't have a dog but you want to talk to one, head on over to Regal.AI/Dog. Just pick a dog, any dog, and it’s free.
Regal.ai. builds AI agents, just like the dog you heard, for all kinds of businesses. And if you want to learn more, you can head on over to their website. But definitely try out the 15 dog breed hotlines for yourself for free!
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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
 DEC Said Bigfoot Doesn't Exist
An upstate New York man with a fervent belief in Bigfoot appealed to the President to ban the hunting of the elusive creature in the Empire State. The man wrote a letter to the President, "respectfully" seeking his assistance in enacting a ban on those attempting to track down and kill Bigfoot. He had previously failed in his quest to get the Department of Environmental Conservation to enact such a ban. DEC officials turned down his request on the grounds that Bigfoot doesn't exist.
Woman Didn't Pay For Cockatoo's Foul Language
A Rhode Island woman didn't have to pay for her cockatoo's foul language. Police dropped a citation against a woman whose cockatoo reportedly used profanity directed at her neighbor. Originally, the police gave the woman a citation after the neighbor's repeated complaints. She decided to fight the fine and took her case to the Superior Court. Authorities say they dropped the charge because it would be a waste of city resources to enforce the relatively small fine.
 Dog Hit Pedestrian With Car
Police said a dog that was left in an unattended vehicle knocked it into gear and the car struck a pedestrian. The pedestrian was found lying in the street. Police said the car had been left running when the dog inside pushed it into drive, causing it to slowly start moving. Police said the pedestrian tried to stop the car before it hit a parked truck, but was unsuccessful and was caught between the two vehicles. He hit his head, fell to the ground and was found unconscious. He was treated at a hospital for his injuries.
 Is Your Cat Finicky Or Food Obsessed?
Cats with finicky appetites are not uncommon. In fact, after going through the frustration of refused meal offerings, untold numbers of kitty guardians will often go to extremes, searching for a cat food brand that whets the appetite of the furry family member. Cat guardians wait in anticipation with fingers crossed while kitty sniffs at the food dish, praying that the new flavor will entice them to chow down with gusto and letting out an audible sigh of relief when the offering is acceptable. Due to the great lengths pet owners go, these cats can be considered difficult to feed. On the other paw, however, cats that frequently prowl around the dining room table who look for and accept scraps might be considered easier to feed. Despite being easier to feed, though, these kitties may be suffering from a condition called food obsession, or "psychogenic abnormal feeding behavior." In a study, veterinarians found that some cats that behave aggressively at meal time, exhibiting behaviors such as growling and hissing or trying to seize the can of cat food out of the guardian's hand, may also be showing signs of food obsession. Since the veterinarians were not able to arrive at any medical condition to explain his behavior, one cat was diagnosed with the first confirmed case of food obsession. The veterinarians prescribed a treatment plan, which would hopefully remedy the cat's food compulsion. It included prohibiting his guardians from eating in front of them, a regularly scheduled playtime and also instructing them at other times to ignore him, but to reward him for calm behavior. After five months of faithfully following the veterinarian's instructions, the treatment plan appeared to have been highly successful. The cat no longer showed any abnormal behavior at the sight of food and it remained relaxed at the owner's meals. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
 Man Retrieved Son's Finger From Dog's Stomach
A Florida man got credit for quick thinking after a caged dog bit his eleven-year-old's finger off. According to a police news release, the boy stuck his left hand through slots in the cage trying to pet the dog. The animal bit him, completely severing his pinky finger. The boy's father immediately pulled the dog from the cage and shot it then cut into the dog's stomach, retrieving the finger all while waiting for paramedics to arrive. The boy was hospitalized, where doctors indicated damage to the finger was too severe for reattachment.
 Pet Speed Dating
Dating these days has gone to the dogs; at least it did one night at the Cumberland County SPCA's Pet Speed Dating event. The shelter designed the event to give the pet-loving public a simple way to get up close and personal with many of the dogs and cats available for adoption. Much like speed dating events for humans, visitors spent the evening getting to know various animals during five-minute intervals while cycling through different stations set up throughout the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter. During those short sessions, potential owners had the chance to connect with their possible future pets without the bars of a kennel between them. Employees and volunteers were also on hand at each station to introduce the animals and answer any questions. Adoption applications could be submitted before and during the event. The event drew great interest and delivered four adoptions, with three dogs and one cat finding homes.
 Listen to the entire Podcast of this show (#1324)
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