Hound Opinions

A Hound Opinions Update

Hi y'all! So ... you've probably figured it out by now, but the "hiatus" that the podcast has been on is becoming permanent. I explain why in this final update for y'all.

PUPPIES! ... or not?

Puppies are great, right? Who wouldn't want a puppy? Well, I wouldn't. I'm talking the pros and cons of puppies this time around. Big Wags Chicago is online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Importance of Trusting Your Gut

On this episode, I’m talking about the importance of picking the right people for you and your dog. And the importance of trusting your gut. Big Wags Chicago is online a

Of Cars, Vomit and Expecting the Unexpected

Trigger warning: There is talk of vomit in this episode. Take a trip with me to just outside of Madison, Wisconsin where I learned a hard lesson about Lenny and her feel

The Importance of NOT Training Your Dog

Sorry this is two weeks late. Life got away from me a couple weeks back. But I'm back to the podcasting grind. Training is important for your dog. But you know what's m

How to help dogs make friends ... or not

We've all had this thought: My dog needs a friend. But ... does your dog really need a friend? That's what we talk about in this episode. Spoiler: The answer is a very

The Lenny Lessons

We're back, baby! That's right, it's Season 6 comin' atcha! This time, I'm talking about some of the cool stuff I've learned from Lenny in her short time with us. Spoile

Season 5 Finale - The Importance of Putting Your Own Oxygen Mask on First

It's the Season 5 finale, y'all! The pod's going on a break, but Season 6 will kick off May 8. It's a short but important finale. If you're not taking care of yourself,

The Underdog Community Project

There’s no denying that pet care is expensive. Pet guardianship should not be only for those with means. The benefits of having pets – both physical and psychological –

The Importance of Language

Language matters when it comes to our dogs and their behavior. Why? Because language - and specifically the language around dog training/behavior - can affect how our rel

In Defense of the Foster Fail

So a while back, I did an episode talking about how fostering is super important and that the rescue world would probably grind to a halt if everyone who fostered simply

The Importance of Being a Dog

Merry everything! Sometimes dogs need help learning how to dog. What does that mean? Well, basically, it is that sometimes, dogs need to figure out how to simply functio

Pets as gifts? Probably not.

Happy holidays, everyone! We're gettin' festive on Hound Opinions this time around. This is a gift-giving time of year and for families that are looking to add a pup to

Lap of Love/Veterinary Hospice

Trigger warning: Lots of talk of pet death. Ok, y'all. It's gonna be heavy today. We’re talking about veterinary hospice and euthanasia. Specifically, we’re talking abou

All About Decompression

Decompression is incredibly important for your dog's mental and physical health. But what is it exactly? And when does a dog need to decompress? And how do you help a dog

The Importance of Pet Dental Health

Sorry for the delay. But I think the wait will be worth it. On the pod with me this time is Dr. Matt Lemmons, DVM and we dive into the world of pet dental health. We tal

Even more of Eris' foster tales

This time around, I’m talking about one of the hard parts of fostering – letting go when it's time for your foster to leave you. It's gonna be a bit emotional ... again.

Eris' Foster Adventures Part Deux

Well, y'all, it happened again! My family and I became foster parents! We're fostering a husky named Damien for Anti-Cruelty here in Chicago. The cool thing about foste

The right to pet guardianship: A vaguely anti-capitalist screed

Strap in, folx. We're getting political this time around. One of my biggest pet peeves is the fact that pet guardianship is getting more and more expensive. Money shoul

The Importance of Just Being With Your Dog

Ok, it's just me again. And it's a short but poignant episode. This time around, I talk about the importance of just being with your dog. What does that mean? You'll have