Hound Opinions

By Big Wags Chicago

Dogs are great. They're also weird, quirky, gross, challenging, loving and fun. Hosted by Bill Mayeroff (owner and Chief Canine Officer of Big Wags Chicago Dog Training and Dog Walking), Hound Opinions is a podcast about all things dog - from behavior to training to the trials and tribulations of dog guardianship ... and everything in between!

New episodes come out every other Thursday. Check them out here or wherever you get your podcasts!

Have a question or topic you'd like Bill to talk about on the pod? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com!

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Rescue Spotlight: The Beagle Freedom Project

Hound OpinionsFeb 23, 2023

00:00

48:11

All about resource guarding

Resource guarding is exactly what it sounds like – it’s when a dog guards something that it considers a resource. And it can be scary because dogs will go to great lengths to protect their resources, including snapping, nipping or biting at people or other dogs who they feel are trying to take their resource.

But what people often forget is that resource guarding is actually a pretty common and normal-ish behavior. And it gets even more tricky because so many different things can be considered “resources”. So how, then, do you deal with it? That's what this episode is all about!

DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play your voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with me and we'll go over your question together. That'll let me ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot me a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Apr 04, 202425:44

Pros and cons of crate training

We're talking crates this time, y'all!

I make no secret of the fact that I love crate training. But crating is also controversial. It’s not a magic bullet and if a dog isn’t taught how to be comfortable in a crate, it can have serious negative effects on their mental health and in fact can have negative effects on their physical health if they decide to try to get out of the crate and hurt themselves. So what’s the right answer?

That’s a good question! And it's why I'm doing this episode!

DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play your voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with me and we'll go over your question together. That'll let me ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot me a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Mar 07, 202425:41

Breed spotlight: Lancashire Heeler

We're learning all about the Lancashire Heeler today!

The Lancashire Heeler is the newest breed to join the American Kennel Club and I could think of nobody better to talk to than Sheryl Bradbury. Sheryl's the president of the United States Lancashire Heeler Club and the Nebraska Kennel Club. She gives us the inside scoop on the Lancashire Heeler and I even get her to talk a little trash and tell us why she thinks Lancashire Heelers should win the coveted Best in Show title.

DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play your voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with me and we'll go over your question together. That'll let me ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot me a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Feb 08, 202442:18

Bill's Foster Tales

Hound Opinions is back, baby!

That's right! The holiday hiatus is over and we're diving back into it by talking once again about fostering.

Since Thanksgiving, my spouse and I have fostered a couple dogs. That's part of why we got a house, after all. The first experience was not so great and I'll get into why in the episode. The second was pretty great. I wanted to talk about both of those experiences because they’re so different and they represent the real gamut of what fostering is like. It’s a tough experience and the fact that I’m a professional dog trainer who works with tough dogs every day doesn’t make me immune from having a tough time with a foster dog.

So sit back, relax and strap it down, because it's going to be a little emotional.

DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with me and we'll go over your question together. That'll let me ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot me a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Jan 25, 202437:08

Bonus episode - Keeping your dog calm and safe during holiday gatherings

Look! It's a bonus episode!

The pod is technically on hiatus, but I wanted to chat a bit about how to keep your dogs feeling calm and comfortable during holiday gatherings. It's too late to help with that turkey-based holiday, but we still have Hanukkah and Christmas and other winter seasonal gatherings coming up.

And just so you're not worried, the pod *WILL* be back in earnest next month!

DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with me and we'll go over your question together. That'll let me ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot me a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Dec 09, 202318:35

Parental guilt and you

It’s safe to say that we all want to do the best we can for our pups. We want to give them the best food. We want to make sure we’re closely monitoring their health so that they’re always healthy and comfortable. We want to make sure that they don’t’ find themselves in situations where they may feel uncomfortable and like they have to defend themselves.

But none of us are perfect. We’re not able to have our eyes on our dogs 24/7. We’re going to occasionally miss things (or think we’ve missed things) and occasionally, our dogs are going to find themselves in situations where they’re not comfortable, despite our best efforts.

And that, friends, is where parental guilt kicks in.

I’m very excited to welcome Alex Fliess back to the pod. Alex is a licensed clinical social worker in Chicago. After starting work in a group therapy practice in 2016, Alex went on to open their own practice – Three Tales Therapy – in 2018 and also co-owns Chicago Center for Sex and Wellbeing. I wanted to talk to Alex because they recently went through an incident with one of their dogs that led to a LOT of parental guilt and I thought they’d be perfect to break down how it works and how they handled it.

A quick note before we get into things. First, Hound Opinions will betaking a holiday break after this episode. In fact, this is likely to be the last episode of 2023. The plan is to resume season 4 in January.

DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with me and we'll go over your question together. That'll let me ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot me a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Nov 16, 202338:59

The Amazing World Of Guide Dogs

Guide dogs are amazing creatures. More amazing than we realize, in fact. We think of guide dogs as the dogs with the rectangular handles sticking up from their backs helping their handlers navigate a world they can't see.

And that's accurate, but it's also incomplete.

On the pod with me is Marin Baumer. In 2019, Marin was in a horrific car accident that left her totally blind. But with the help of her guide dog, Kegan, not only can Marin navigate the world around her, she’s also able to run, which is one of her favorite things to do. It's a fascinating conversation and I learned a ton about the capabilities of guide dogs.

DON'T FORGET: I want to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And I want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with me and we'll go over your question together. That'll let me ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot me a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Nov 02, 202351:29

Halloween tricks and treats

Oct 19, 202342:10

A dog park bar? No thanks!

There's a proposal in Chicago for a dog park with an attached bar. It will be a place, according to this piece on Block Club Chicago, where people can "“grab a beer at the concession-style stand, have a seat and work on their computer while their dog runs around and plays.” Here's the URL of the Block Club piece: https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/10/04/an-indoor-dog-park-with-a-bar-proposed-in-north-center/

This is just a mind-blowingly stupid idea. And that's what this episode is about. Bill talks about why mixing alcohol and lots of dogs is not only a bad idea, but also an incredibly dangerous one and why they're worried that if this place opens, dogs could get hurt ... or worse.

DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Oct 05, 202320:41

Why it's important to pay attention during walks ... and other thoughts

Sep 21, 202334:01

Some dog park thoughts - Part 2

This is the second and final installment of Bill's brief series on dog parks.

Last time, Bill talked about why dog parks aren't generally great places for dogs. But here's the problem: Even reactive dogs and other dogs who just wouldn't enjoy dog parks need exercise. And when you have a dog in a city like Chicago, getting them that exercise can be hard, especially if you don't work from home and/or have a dwelling space with a yard. So what's the reactive dog guardian to do?

On the pod with Bill is Kim Theobald. She's the owner and founder of Bosly's Backyard - a private, indoor playspace in Chicago where dogs can run around and play without being around other dogs. She launched Bosly’s in 2020 and worked her full-time job for about 2 ½ years while building up the business.

You can find Bosly's online at boslysbackyard.com and @BoslysBackyard on Facebook and Instagram.

DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sep 07, 202340:45

Some dog park thoughts - part 1

Quick trigger warning: This episode does talk a bit about a dog attack. It doesn’t get graphic and the dog who got attacked survives. But a dog attack is discussed, so be ready for it.

Everyone loves dog parks, right? Well, not quite. There's one very important group that doesn't often love dog parks: DOGS.

And it makes sense, right? Dog parks are often kind of the wild west, which can create situations that make dogs scared or nervous. And even if the dogs aren’t scared or nervous, energy runs high at dog parks. When you have that combination – nervous dogs and lots of energy – it’s a recipe for not-so-great things.

On the pod with Bill is Julie Iovine. She’s a lapsed journalist who’s now studying to be a dog trainer and is on the board of the Animals & Society Institute. She recently wrote a piece for the New York Times about why she’s not a fan of dog parks and how her thinking about dog parks evolved over time. She and Bill had a great conversation about dog parks and dog play.

Dog parks are one of Bill's favorite topics, so this is the first in a two-part series on dog parks. So make sure you check out the next episode in a couple weeks, too!

DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Aug 24, 202339:57

The Neverending Work of Chicago Animal Care and Control

Quick trigger warning: This episode does talk about euthanasia. Nothing graphic or disturbing, but the topic is discussed in no uncertain terms. So just be ready for it.

If you’ve been on social media and/or keeping up with your local news lately, you’ve probably seen lots of reporting about how animal shelters across the country are at capacity. And there’s no denying that shelters here in Chicago and elsewhere are in crisis.

On this episode, Bill talks with Armando Tejeda. He’s the public information officer for Chicago Animal Care and Control. He also functions as the executive assistant to the shelter director and manages CACC’s community outreach and social media.

Bill and Armando talk about what CACC does and what day-to-day life is like there, for both humans and animals. They also get into some numbers and talk about how the shelter is managing, despite being pretty much packed to the gills.

You can find CACC online at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cacc.html. You can also search for "Chicago Animal Care and Control" on all your favorite social channels.

DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠BlueSky⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Aug 10, 202339:03

Preparing to move with your dog

It's Season 4, y'all!

That's right. Hound Opinions is back and Bill has had a helluva couple months. They and their spouse, along with the dogs, moved from a two-bedroom apartment into a house. That's right, a whole house! It was one of the more stressful experiences of Bill's life.

But you know who else was stressed by it? Their pups - Chester and Bodhi. Moving is tough for dogs. In the Season 4 kickoff, Bill talks about how moving can affect your dogs and what you can do to make it as easy on them as possible. Spoiler: It will still be stressful for humans and dogs alike, but there are ways of helping your dogs get through it better.

DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And they want to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on Facebook, BlueSky, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Jul 27, 202327:58

Season 3 Finale - Fear and Socialization

It's the Season 3 Finale! The podcast is taking a break for a bit, but Season 4 will drop in mid-late July!

We’re talking about two of Bill's favorite topics today – fear and socialization. Why? Because there are a lot of misconceptions about those two things and how they affect dogs. And Bill wants to clear them up.

DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod next season. And he wants to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠.

Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠⁠Mastodon⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠⁠.

May 05, 202329:45

The Frustration Episode

Once again, it's just Bill.

This time, our podcaster extraordinaire talks about frustration. It's a normal human emotion. We all get frustrated at things - life, the universe, everything - and people - parents, kids, friends, romantic partners. It's just normal. Something else that's normal? Getting frustrated at your dog.

On this episode, Bill talks about frustration and how it can affect your relationship with your dog, as well as your training work. And he talks a bit about how even he - an experienced dog trainer and handler - gets frustrated with his pups from time to time.

DON'T FORGET: Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And he wants to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to ⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at ⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠.

Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠⁠Mastodon⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠⁠.

Apr 21, 202327:48

The Art Of Doing Nothing

It's just Bill this time around.

In this solo pod, we're talking about doing nothing. Doing nothing is hard for dogs. For humans, that's a weird concept, but it's an important one when it comes to training. In the first part of the episode, Bill talks about why the ability to do nothing is important and how to teach our dogs that skill. In the second part, Bill opens up about one of the harder realities of working in the dog walking biz - the fact that people and their dogs occasionally move away.

And Bill wants to answer YOUR training and behavior questions on the pod. And he wants to play your lovely voices asking those questions. You've got two options:

Use your audio recording app of choice to record yourself asking a training or behavior question and email it to podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠. Bill will then play it on the pod and answer it.
You can actually jump on a recording session with Bill and you'll go over your question together. That'll let Bill ask you follow-up questions and really dig deep into the issue. If that's the route you want to go, shoot Bill a quick email at podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠.

Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠www.bigwagschicago.com⁠. You can also find Big Wags on ⁠Mastodon⁠, ⁠Discord⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email ⁠podcast@bigwagschicago.com⁠.

Apr 06, 202325:46

Rebroadcast - Senior Dogs Are Awesome!

Hound Opinions is on a bit of a break this week. There'll be a new episode in two weeks, but in the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast of Bill's chat with Lisa Lunghofer of the Grey Muzzle Organization.

By the way, Bill's older pup, Chester, turns 13 next week! Because Chester's a mensch, he wants to use his Bark Mitzvah to do some good! So he's raising money for the Grey Muzzle Organization because senior dogs are the best. If you'd like to donate, that'd be awesome. Head on over to https://www.facebook.com/donate/910542973480995/.

Fact – senior dogs are awesome. There’s really nothing like a senior dog. They’re often happy to just spend time on the couch with you. They might let you sleep in on weekends. They don’t require super-long walks or play sessions to get their energy out.

What’s not to love, right?

But despite being amazing, senior dogs that wind up in shelters or rescues are often overlooked in favor of younger dogs and puppies. They’re some of the hardest dogs to adopt out. And that needs to change.

On the pod with Bill is Lisa Lunghofer. She's the executive director of ⁠The Grey Muzzle Organization⁠. The mission of The Grey Muzzle Organization is to improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries and other nonprofit groups nationwide.

Find The Grey Muzzle Organization online at ⁠GreyMuzzle.org⁠.

Mar 23, 202340:32

The spleen and cancer episode

This one's a bit personal for Bill. Trigger warnings: Talk of cancer and pet death.

In May of 2021, a mass was found on Bill's dog Chester’s spleen. A trip to the emergency vet and a splenectomy later (plus a couple days at the hospital), Chester was back home with a shaved belly and a badass scar from the surgery.

Luckily the mass was benign and Chester's still as ornery as ever. But what Bill realized is that he had no idea what spleens do, why they're so prone to masses and a particularly dangerous form of cancer known as a hemangiosarcoma and why the prognosis for a cancerous splenic mass is rarely good.

On the pod with Bill is Dr. Mark Byrum, DVM, DACVIM. He’s a veterinary medical oncologist at MedVet Chicago and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine as a medical oncologist. He talks to Bill all about hemangiosarcomas and explains just what spleens do and why it's possible for dogs to easily survive without them. He also talks more generally about cancer in dogs and cats.

Big Wags Chicago is online at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Mastodon, Discord, TikTok and Instagram under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

Mar 09, 202343:47

Rescue Spotlight: The Beagle Freedom Project

Trigger warning: This episode contains mentions of animals being used for pharmaceutical testing purposes, talk of animals being abused and animals dealing with issues of PTSD and the fallout that comes from surviving life in testing facilities.

We all know animal testing happens. But did you know that it doesn’t just happen on rats and mice? It happens on all sorts of animals, including dogs and cats. And when it comes to dogs, the breed of choice for testing, especially when it comes to toxicity testing for the pharmaceutical industry, is the beagle.

In this episode, Bill talks to Shannon Keith. She's the founder and president of the international non-profit Beagle Freedom Project. Throughout her career advocating for animals, she has been a voice for all animals on the streets, behind closed doors, in the courtroom and in state capitols.

Check out the Beagle Freedom Project at BFP.org and @BeagleFreedom on all your standard social channels.

Feb 23, 202348:11

Great Expectations

Sorry for the delay! But it's finally here!

Bill's by himself this time. On this episode, he chats for a bit about expectations and why letting go of some of the traditional ideas of what it means to have a “good” or “well-behaved” dog can make everyone happier.

Big Wags Chicago is online at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Mastodon, Discord, TikTok and Instagram under the handle @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

Feb 10, 202310:49

The tough decision to rehome a dog

Sometimes, rehoming a dog is the best decision for both you/your family and the dog. And there's nothing wrong with that. But it's never an easy decision. Nobody wants to feel like they're giving up on a dog, especially if that dog's had a tough go of things.

Bill's got another returning guest this time. Sara Polk is a lifelong dog lover and licensed mental health provider in El Paso, Texas. She’s also a very dear friend of Bill's who had to make the tough decision to rehome a dog that wasn’t a good fit for her family. On this episode, they talk about how she came to make that decision and how she ultimately realized it was the right one, even if it felt terrible to make.

Jan 26, 202357:02

Rescue Spotlight - Mission K9 Rescue

Mission K9 Rescue is a special kind of dog rescue. Based in Texas, Mission K9 is an animal welfare group dedicated to rescuing, reuniting, rehoming, repairing, and rehabilitating American working dogs. This includes military and contract working dogs, as well as retired police, TSA and other law enforcement dogs. Since 2013, the group has provided a wide array of medical and behavioral services to working dogs to offer them a comfortable and peaceful retirement.

In this episode, Bill chats with Bob Bryant. He's Mission K9's Chief Technology Officer and guardian to retired Military Working Dog Navy. Bill and Bob chat about why adopting a retired working dog isn't for everyone, but also why it's one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. They also get into some of the hard realities retired working dogs face.

Check out Mission K9 Rescue online at MissionK9Rescue.org. You can also find them by going to @MissionK9 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Dec 29, 202240:39

Holiday Question Grab Bag

Sorry for the delay. There were technical issues. It's the holidays and you fine folx have questions. So Bill's going to answer some of them. He talks about helping to introduce your dog to new people and gets into body language. He also talks about the most unusual cues he's seen dogs do and gets into why he never uses the term "command". Happy holidays!

Dec 16, 202218:07

A bit of Hound Opinions news

Bill's taking a bit of a holiday break this week. There'll be a new episode in a couple weeks. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, Bill is going to be putting together a live video event where he talks about dog body language and takes questions in real time. When he nails down a time, he'll announce it on Facebook, Discord and Mastodon. So get ready for that. It's going to be fun.

Dec 01, 202201:23

National Dog Show Preview with David Frei

It's almost time for the National Dog Show, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia!

On the pod with Bill this time is his first ever returning guest - longtime voice of the National Dog Show, David Frei. David and Bill preview the show and David shares his insights about the world of dog shows built over years of experience as an owner and handler of show dogs, as well as his experience as a judge and broadcaster.

The National Dog Show will be broadcast November 24 at noon on NBC. It's right after the Macy's parade ends. Don't forget to tune in to hear David Frei and his longtime partner John O'Hurley calling the action and to see all your favorite dog breeds and maybe a few you've never seen before!

Big Wags Chicago is online at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

Nov 17, 202239:55

Senior Dogs Are Awesome!

What’s not to love, right?

On the pod with Bill is Lisa Lunghofer. She's the executive director of The Grey Muzzle Organization. The mission of The Grey Muzzle Organization is to improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries and other nonprofit groups nationwide.

Find The Grey Muzzle Organization online at GreyMuzzle.org.

Nov 03, 202240:32

Deciphering dog body language

So much of dogs’ communication comes in the form of body language. Tails, ears, eyes, mouths … all of them hold clues to what a dog is thinking and feeling at any given time.

But one of the hardest parts about reading a dog’s body language is that it happens fast. So it’s easy to miss subtle signs that can give you an indication of what’s going on in a dog’s head. And that can lead to misunderstandings between people and dogs, which can be dangerous.

On the pod with Bill is Lili Chin. Lili is an artist, author and illustrator and the mind behind the fabulous website doggiedrawings.net and the book Doggie Language: A Dog Lover's Guide To Understanding Your Best Friend.

Oct 20, 202231:50

Season 3 Premiere! Charity Spotlight: Midwest Access Coalition

Welcome to Season 3, y'all!

Bill wanted to kick off the third season of Hound Opinions with something a bit different. But don't worry, he still talks about dogs a bit.

If you’ve been following on social media, then you know that since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the “supreme” court, Big Wags Chicago has been regularly donating a portion of the proceeds of each walk and training session to the Midwest Access Coalition and Chicago Abortion Fund. To open Season 3, Bill wanted to shout out one of those organizations doing some of the work to make sure women and all people with uteruses have access to safe, legal abortion. Let's not forget - Abortion is health care. Full stop.

On the pod this time are Veronica Mucha and Madison Lyleroehr of the Midwest Access Coalition. Veronica is a volunteer with the organization, as well as working in immigration as a paralegal manager. In addition to her dog, Nora, she has two cats – Percival and Gertrude. Madison joined the Midwest Access Coalition in 2016 as a client coordinator and now serves as the treasurer of the board. This is a cool group and they're doing awesome work. Check out the Midwest Access Coalition online at midwestaccesscoalition.org.

Oct 06, 202254:03

Season 2 finale! All about self-care!

It's the final episode of Season 2, folx! Hound Opinions will be taking a break for the month of September, but Bill will be back with Season 3 on October 6.

We see the term "self-care" tossed around a lot these days, especially on social media. Really, since the covid pandemic began, we've been talking about how important it is to practice. But the term "self-care" isn't particularly descriptive, is it? So it's hard to know what it actually entails.

That's why Bill wanted to do this episode. It's a dog-adjacent topic that's important because if you're not caring for yourself, it's tough to care for your dogs. And on the flipside, dogs can be a central part of your self-care regimens.

With Bill on the pod for the Season 2 finale is Sara Polk, LCSW-S. Sara is a very dear friend of Bill's from college (seriously, they each had a Beatles-themed radio show on their school's station) who is now a licensed mental health provider in El Paso, Texas, focused on providing trauma-informed care to survivors of crime and justice-involved youth. Outside of her day job, she's focused on giving her three rescue pups the lives they deserve. She's also an avid and award-winning cosplayer and all-around fantastic human.

Bill and Sara break down what self-care actually is and why it's important, as well as how dogs factor into it.

Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

Aug 25, 202247:23

What is the Fear Free philosophy?

It's the second-to-last episode of Season 2, y'all!

If you’ve been in certain veterinary offices or groomers, you might have seen some signage that says the clinic or groomer is “Fear Free Certified”. Ever wondered what that means? Fear Free is a philosophy dedicated to alleviating fear, stress and anxiety in pets by educating the people who care for them – including veterinarians, groomers, rescue and shelter staff and even pet parents – on how to provide their pets physical and emotional care to live happier, healthier and fuller lives.

On the pod with Bill is Mikkel Becker. Mikkel is the lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets and Fear Free Happy Homes as well as the host of the Happy Paws podcast. You can learn more about the Fear Free philosophy at fearfreepets.com and definitely check out Mikkel’s Happy Paws podcast by heading over to fearfreehappyhomes.com/podcast.

Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

Aug 11, 202245:57

Rescue Spotlight - It's a Pittie Rescue

This is the second in the Rescue Spotlight series. This time, we talk to Patty Sampson, who's on the board of It's a Pittie Rescue.

It’s a Pittie is entirely volunteer-run and is dedicated to rescuing, rehabbing and rehoming pitbull-type dogs. Find It’s a Pittie Rescue online at rescueapittie.org and by searching It’s a Pittie on social.

Jul 28, 202245:38

The foster life

The animal rescue world is in a bit of a crisis right now. If you Google “overcrowded shelters”, you’ll get recent news stories from all over the country about how shelters are packed to the gills with dogs and cats.

Shelters are already tough places for animals. They tend to be noisy. It’s hard for them to get the attention and enrichment that they need. The animals are under a lot of stress. They’re often in small enclosures for long stretches of the day. It’s not easy. And when this sort of overcrowding happens, it becomes even worse.

That’s why on this episode, we’re talking about fostering. Fostering animals is one of the best things you can do, especially in situations like we’re currently in. Bill's guest this time around is Ashley Gordon. She's been fostering dogs for Chicago's One Tail At a Time for about a year and a half. To date, she's taken in 12 dogs.

Jul 15, 202242:24

Rescue spotlight - Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation

This is the first in what we hope will be a recurring feature on Hound Opinions - Rescue Spotlight. It's always fun to shout out animal rescue organizations and the awesome work they do, and that's what Bill's doing this time.

On the pod this week is Erin Thompson. She's the marketing manager for Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation - the rescue founded in 1991 by White Sox manager Tony La Russa and his wife, Elaine. Since 1991, the Foundation has found families for more than 46,500 dogs and cats, performed more than 52,000 spay and neuter surgeries to combat overpopulation and 48 of their rescue dogs have become service dogs for military veterans.

Jun 30, 202245:53

Fireworks: The bane of every dog's existence

It's that horrible, horrible time of year. That's right, folks. We're talking about fireworks season. At best, fireworks are annoying and for your dogs, they can be downright terrifying.

On this episode, Bill talks about how to prep your house, your dog and yourself for fireworks and help make this terrible time of year a bit easier to handle.

Jun 16, 202215:38

The Sato Project - getting dogs from Puerto Rico's Dead Dog Beach into happy homes

There are an estimated 500,000 stray dogs roaming the streets and beaches of Puerto Rico. The island's shelter system is overwhelmed and with no access to food, fresh water, or veterinary care, many of these dogs are living daily lives of severe suffering.

Enter The Sato Project. The Sato Project is an organization dedicated to getting the stray dogs of Puerto Rico into happy, comfortable loving homes. On this episode, Bill talks to Tracy Warren, vice president of The Sato Project. Tracy talks about the work the organization does and gives some insight into the not-so-great circumstances a lot of the dogs come from (including a firsthand account of Dead Dog Beach - a Puerto Rican beach that for years has been THE spot for people to dump unwanted dogs). A quick content warning: While she doesn't go into graphic detail, this episode does contain talk of dogs that have been mistreated and abused. So be ready for it.

You can find The Sato Project online at thesatoproject.org and on Facebook at facebook.com/TheDeadDogBeachProject.

Jun 16, 202241:21

Sorry folks! Bill's sick this week.

Hey y'all! Bill's been fighting off some sort of plague - not covid - since last week and he just hasn't had the energy to get an episode together. He's really sorry and there'll be a new episode in two weeks. Thanks for being so understanding!

Jun 02, 202201:23

Rebroadcast - listener questions - from November 2021

Hound Opinions is taking a break this week. Enjoy this rebroadcast of the episode from Nov. 25, 2021 featuring listener questions. By the way, Bill's planning another episode like this, but he needs questions. Email 'em to podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

On this edition of Hound Opinions, Bill takes a few questions from listeners. He talks about how to help your dog deal with loud noises like thunder. He also gets a little heavy (trigger warning: pet death) when he addresses a question about how to know you're ready to adopt another dog after your dog passes away. He also gets into the pros and cons (spoiler: mostly cons) of dogs being off-leash.

Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

May 05, 202227:42

Demystifying CBD

There's not a huge amount of research into the effects of CBD on dogs. But Dr. Jennifer Weiss and Jeremy Dedic have done their share.

Jeremy and Jennifer are the minds behind Cubbington’s Cabinet – a Chicago-based purveyor of CBD products with the mission of improving the quality of life for people and pets by providing a trustworthy source for socially responsible, thoroughly tested and accurately labeled, hemp-derived CBD products. They sat down and chatted with Bill to hopefully demystify CBD a bit.

By the way, Jeremy and Jennifer were so kind as to offer listeners a 15% discount off a purchase at Cubbingtons - either in-store at 2015 W. Roscoe in Chicago or online at cubbingtons.com - when you use the coupon code HoundOpinions15 through May 31. They're also on Instagram at @cubbingtonscabinet and Cubbington, their official ambassadog, is @cubbington2therescue.

Apr 21, 202258:32

Making great dog photos

Dogs are great photo subjects. But they're also living creatures that like to move, which can make getting good photos of them hard. But you've come to the right place.

In this episode, Bill talks to Pulitzer prize winning photojournalist Scott Strazzante. He's been on the staff of the San Francisco Chronicle since 2014. His work has been featured in National Geographic and Mother Jones. And his book, Shooting from the Hip, a collection of iPhone Hipstamatic snaps from around the USA, was published in 2017.

Scott, who loves taking photos of dogs, talks about how to use your phone - that powerful little device everyone has in their pocket - to get the best photos possible of your fuzzy best friends. Check out his work at scottstrazzante.photoshelter.com or on Instagram at @ScottStrazzante.

Apr 08, 202235:42

David Frei - Ultimate dog guy

Most of y'all probably know David Frei as the voice of the National Dog Show and/or the Beverly Hills Dog Show. And he's both of those, but he's so much more. He's also the founder of Angel on a Leash, an organization that brings therapy dog and handler teams to visit anyone who might benefit from the special bond between a human and a dog.

Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

Mar 24, 202247:18

Spreading the positive reinforcement gospel with Mandy Boutelle

One of the toughest parts of being a positive reinforcement trainer is explaining to people why it’s more effective and what exactly it means. But Mandy Boutelle has figured out an unconventional way to do just that.

Mandy was a certified R+ dog walker and dog trainer before founding her clothing line, Woof Cultr. By putting the ideas and principles of R+ training on shirts and other items, it invites people to ask questions, which gives trainers the opportunity to have meaningful conversations about it. Woof Cultr can be found at woofcultr.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/woofcultr or on Instagram at @woofcultr.

Mar 10, 202238:22

Service dogs - redux

Welcome to Season 2 of Hound Opinons!

Bill's talked about service dogs before on the pod. And to kick off the second season, he's talking about 'em again!

This time, his guest is Joanne Moliski. Joanne is a 28 year old engineer and community organizer. She is a partially ambulatory quadriplegic who has uses her service dog, Scorpio, as her primary mobility support. Scorpio is 2-3 years old, half pit bull/half Pyrenees, and a very good boy.

Feb 24, 202249:28

Episode 9 - Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner

It's the finale of Season 1 of Hound Opinions, folx! But don't worry; season 2 will start in just two weeks!

For the Season 1 finale, Bill has a really cool guest. Dan Schachner (@danschachner) is best known as the guy getting peed and pooped on every year as the referee of the Puppy Bowl! But he’s also an advocate for dog rescue and foster, as well as an ambassador for the Sato Project, which rescues abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico. Catch Puppy Bowl XVIII on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. Central time on Animal Planet and streaming on Discovery+. And check out the Sato Project at thesatoproject.org.

Feb 10, 202244:14

Episode 8 - Life with a service dog

Service dogs are amazing. They can do so many impressive tasks that aid the lives of their disabled handlers.
On the pod this time is Ashley Bravin, an artist, disability advocate and service dog handler living in Glendale, California. She has a host of chronic illnesses and she’s been a service dog handler for nearly 7 years. She’s going to talk about all the tasks her dogs perform, as well as a bit about training service dogs. You can find her and her service dogs, Rosie and Rico, on Instagram, under the handle @insicknessandindog. Check it out!
Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find Big Wags on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

Jan 27, 202246:19

Rebroadcast of Episode 1 - Flying with your dog

Hound Opinions is taking a quick break this week, but Bill will be back next week (January 27) with a new episode. In the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast of the inaugural episode of Hound Opinions!

Flying with a dog can add a whole new set of complications to what is already often a stressful experience. But what if you want or need to travel with your dog? What's that like? How do you prepare your dog for it? How do you make the experience as easy as possible for yourself and your pup?

In the inaugural episode of Hound Opinions, I chat with Jenna Galowich (@jengalowich on Instagram) about her experience traveling internationally with her rescue dog, Charlie (@americandoginparis). Because Jenna splits her time between France and the United States, Charlie quickly became an international travel pro.

Big Wags Chicago is on the web at www.bigwagschicago.com. You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram at @bigwagschicago. Have a question you want answered in a future episode or just want to say hi? Email podcast@bigwagschicago.com.

Jan 20, 202237:24

Episode 7 - What is compassion fatigue?

Compassion fatigue is one of those terms that folks in the service industry like to use a lot. Compassion fatigue is the physical, emotional and psychological impact that comes from helping others. According to the American Psychological Association, it can cause, among a host of other things, burnout, depression and anxiety, as well as both physical and emotional exhaustion.

But what actually IS compassion fatigue? Why are folx in the service industry - like dog trainers, hair stylists and even therapists and doctors - so vulnerable to it? And how do you even know if you're suffering from it?

To answer those questions and more, Bill talks this time to Alex Fliess. Alex Fliess is a licensed clinical social worker in Chicago. After starting work in a group therapy practice in 2016, Alex went on to open their own practice – Three Tales Therapy – in 2018 and now also co-owns Chicago Center for Sex and Wellbeing.

Jan 06, 202240:19

Episode 6 - Zoey's living her best life

With the holidays coming up, it's time for a great story about a dog overcoming some difficulties to live her best life.

Zoey is an almost-13-year-old bloodhound with degenerative intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). On this episode, Bill talks to Zoey's guardian, Natalia Waclawska, about IVDD and how she makes sure that despite the physical limitations, Zoey lives her best life.

You can keep up with Zoey's adventures via social media, too. She's @Chitownhound on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Dec 23, 202134:37

Episode 5 - Life with reactive dogs

Life with a reactive dog can be tough, both for the reactive dogs and their people. If you've never had or spent time with a reactive dog, it can be hard to conceptualize and you might even think that reactive dogs can't have happy lives because they'll miss out on all the wonderful interactions with other dogs.

But that's just a myth. On this episode, Bill talks to Ashleigh and Carol, both of whom are guardians to reactive dogs. They'll talk about what life is like with a reactive dog and about how, despite the fact that their pups can't spend time with other dogs, they're still able to live their best, happiest lives.

Dec 09, 202137:48

Bonus - Listener questions!

On a special bonus edition of Hound Opinions, Bill takes a few questions from listeners. He talks about how to help your dog deal with loud noises like thunder. He also gets a little heavy (trigger warning: pet death) when he addresses a question about how to know you're ready to adopt another dog after your dog passes away. He also gets into the pros and cons (spoiler: mostly cons) of dogs being off-leash.

Nov 25, 202127:42