030 - How Yeast Overgrowth Affects Your Pup With Julie Anne Lee DCH RCSHomIt seems like there’s an endless stream of dogs that come into our stores with skin irritation that causes them to chew, nibble and scratch at themselves relentlessly. Oftentimes, they’ve already gotten a diagnosis that their dog has allergies, but many of the treatment options they’ve been given aren’t working as they should be. In many of these cases, we discover that although the dog may have allergy-like ...

#029 - The Journey From Wolfdog Owner to Wolfdog Advocate With Georgina De CaignyThe first time I met a real life Wolfdog it was a magical experience. I started to imagine that one day I might share my home with a Wolfdog. I mean, how cool would it be to have a wild-looking pet that was actually domesticated like a dog?? But the more I learned about the Wolfdog, the more I realized that these animals are not just like dogs. They’re not fully domesticated, and not fully wild and many Wolf...

#028 - Should You Buy Pet Insurance?One of the most common questions we get asked in our pet food stores is, “What do you think about pet insurance?” And, I’ll be honest - I have a lot of feelings about pet insurance! In our household, we pay over $400/month for pet insurance for our three, large breed dogs. AND it’s almost a monthly occurrence that we get an email notifying us that one or more of the dogs’ premiums have gone up. So, is it worth it? Would we do things differently now if ...

#027 - The Best Time to Spay or Neuter Your Pup With Dr. Wanda Vockeroth DVMToday’s topic is a little bit controversial. I know that people have very strong opinions about spaying and neutering dogs and some of today’s conversation might not align with the beliefs amongst the general population of dog owners. No matter your thoughts on the matter, we can all agree that spaying and neutering your pup is the surest way to ensure that no unwanted puppies are born. Nobody wants unwanted pupp...

#026 - 7 Easy Ways to Give Your Pup More Freedom of ChoiceChances are you’ve never really thought about how many choices you make in one day. And, if you’re lucky, you’ve never had to consider what it might be like to start having your choices taken away from you. What would it be like to live a life where everything you do is determined by someone else? When you get up, when you go to the bathroom, when and what you eat, when you can go outside or socialize with friends. Havin...

#025 - The Problem With Off-Leash Parks With Natasha MazacMost pup parents believe that visiting off-leash parks with their canine companion is a right of passage. But, what if I told you that dogs suitable for attending public off-leash parks may actually be the exception, not the rule?Today’s guest is Natasha Mazac. Natasha is a certified professional dog trainer and head of behaviour at Dogma Training in Calgary, Alberta Canada. In this episode, we’re going to discuss the many reasons...

#024 - Dog Dental Disease and How to Prevent and Treat itDid you know that over 80% of dogs over the age of 3 have some form of active dental disease? This staggering number makes dental disease the most prominent of all diseases in dogs. The saddest part of this statistic is that in most cases, dental disease in dogs can be prevented! Of course, like many diseases, genetics plays a role, but in the majority of cases simple, preventative measures can totally inhibit dental disease progre...

#023 - Pets and Domestic Violence With Mandi PrattDid you know that 48% of victims of domestic violence delay leaving their abuser because they aren’t sure where to find safety, with their pet? In honour of Domestic Violence Awareness month, my guest today is Mandi Pratt from Greyboy Pet Prints. Mandi once had to flee a domestic violence situation with her child and cat and now she’s a domestic violence advocate that speaks and teaches on this topic.In today’s episode Mandi is going to share ...

#022 - Dexas MudBuster [Review]The MudBuster is a game changing paw washing system for home, hiking, the beach, the dog park, or anywhere your pup’s feet get messy. Add a little water to the MudBuster, insert the paw, and twist the MudBuster to remove dirt and debris. #weratedogstuffdotcom#weratedogstuffIn this episode we'll discuss:The features of the MudBusterThe pros of cons of the MudBusterWhy you need a MudBuster if your dog has allergiesHow many BrindleBerries the MudBuster r...

#021 - 10 Healthy Toppers You Can Add to Any Dog FoodOne of the easiest things a pet parent can do to improve their dog’s health is to add fresh food toppers to their dog’s food. Although fresh toppers benefit ALL dogs, no matter the diet they’re on, they’re perhaps most important for a dog that’s fed a processed diet, like kibble. In this episode I'll give you a list of healthy toppers you can easily add to your dog’s food, and teach you how each of them will benefit their health.Holly's qua...

#020 - Pomppa ToppaPomppa VS Hurtta Extreme Warmer Dog Jackets [Review]Winter is coming ⚔️ ❄️, so I thought I would review my two favourite winter dog coats - the Pomppa ToppaPomppa and the Hurtta Winter Warmer. This will be the first of many dog product reviews! Please feel free to let me know if you like the format, or if you have any suggestions for the reviews going forward; I'd love to hear them! #weratedogstuffdotcom#weratedogstuffIn this episode we'll discuss:The features of...

#019 - Hiring an End-of-Life Dog Photographer With Sarah ErnhartSometimes it seems like we wake up one day and our dogs are old and grey. Other times, their lives are cut short by accident or illness. In any case, ensuring we have keepsakes and memorials of our dogs can be what gets us through the tough days that follow their passing. One way we can memorialize our pets is through professional photography. Today’s guest is Sarah Ernhart from Sarah Beth Photography and Pet Memo...

#018 - My Personal Experience With In-Home EuthanasiaLosing a beloved pet is never easy! However, my experience with in-home euthanasia definitely made the transition easier for our family when our two dogs Brindel and Porter passed away.Join me to learn more about our very personal experience with in-home euthanasia and what you can expect from the process. Holly's qualifications include:Certified Pet Food Nutrition SpecialistAssisting pet parents with holistic health and nutrition for 15+ y...

#017 - Creating a Sensory Yard for Your Dog With Taylor McDonaldSome might say a Sensory Yard is the ultimate form of enrichment for a companion dog, and the good news is you don't need a ton of space, time or money to create one! In this episode I'm interviewing Taylor McDonald who's the creator of the Bindi’s Bucket List platforms! Located in Ontario Canada, Bindi's Bucket list aims to create and inspire with recipes, enrichment inspiration, and tips and tricks on how to create a happier li...

#016 - The Many Benefits of Feeding a Raw Diet to Your DogWhen I opened my first Tail Blazers - Health Food Store for Pets in 2006, raw food diets for dogs and cats were somewhat controversial. In fact, I remember people peeking their heads into our store, seeing our giant walk in freezers, and being really, truly confused. “Is this a store for pets, or people”, they’d ask. Despite the fact that raw diets have been, and continue to be, vilified, and many have attempted to scare pup parents in...

#015 - What is Separation Anxiety? With Drae BakerDoes your dog start to pant or pace while you’re getting ready for work, or bark and destroy the house once you’ve gone? If so, he may have separation anxiety. This particular topic hits close to home for me as I have a dog with separation anxiety and to say he’s made our lives “challenging” is an understatement. Grizz has not spent any time alone since we had a major incident involving some extensive damage to our home. If this all sounds too...

#014 - Are Beef Cheek Rolls Rawhide, Rebranded?Pup parents everywhere are talking about the latest TikTok craze – Beef Cheek Rolls!Although they’ve been around for awhile, many people are just discovering these long lasting, affordable and palatable chew treats!Now, along with the popularity of these treats come the skeptics, which is a GOOD thing! I’m always in favour of pet parents asking questions and fact finding before feeding anything to their beloved cats and dogs.I always say that as ...

#013 Meet the Brand - Champion Pet Foods with Lauren HoinesIMPORTANT UPDATE: Champion Pet Foods has been acquired by Mars Petcare. Mars will be taking control of the company in Q1 or Q2. Once the acquisition has been completed, I can no longer endorse this brand and will be removing the products from our store shelves. Do you ever wonder how your favourite brands got started, or are you curious to learn more about them and what they do? Those of you familiar with my background know that ...

#012 - 10 Reasons Why Your Dog May be a Picky Eater and What to do About itHas your dog always been a picky eater, or have they become one recently and you’re left frustrated and scratching your head?Hardly a day goes by without someone coming into our store looking for help finding food for their picky eater. Most of these dogs are on high quality, highly palatable food, so what is causing this frustrating habit of rejecting food?In today’s episode I’m going to talk about the many reasons yo...

#011 - How to Choose a Responsible Dog Breeder with Barbara WalmerDo you know the difference between a breeder doing things responsibly for the breed, their breeding dogs, and their puppies and those that are in it strictly for the money?For this episode I’ve enlisted Behaviour Consultant, Professional Dog Trainer and Golden Retriever breeder, Barbara Walmer, from Good As Gold Training in Calgary to help you choose a responsible dog breeder. It’s our hope that after having listened to th...