PetAbility Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Dogs are family — and these days, they’re welcome almost everywhere: cafés, breweries, stores, and even offices. But as our world becomes increasingly dog-friendly, some are wondering… have we taken it too far? In this episode, Chris chats with Lillian Ciardelli, ACAAB, and Amy Campbell, CPDT-KA, of Behave Atlanta, two canine behavior experts who help people and dogs navigate real-world settings with empathy, skill, and good manners.

Together, they unpack what happens when “dog-friendly” tips into “dog-frenzied,” how to balance freedom with respect, and why understanding natural dog behavior is the key to creating harmony in shared spaces. Whether you’re a dog lover, trainer, or business owner, this conversation will make you think about life with dogs in the modern world.

In This Episode We Explore:

• Why we’re seeing more dogs in public than ever before
• The difference between inclusion and entitlement
• Are we putting our own desires ahead of what’s best for our dogs?
• Natural dog behaviors vs. “bad” behaviors
• How to manage overstimulation and anxiety in public spaces
• Training tips for café- and brewery-ready pups
• Dog etiquette starts with human etiquette
• How to handle unwanted attention or off-leash encounters politely
• The growing concern over fake “service animal” claims
• The “social contract” of responsible dog ownership
• How trainers, vets, and business owners can model better behavior
• One simple mindset shift that benefits every dog and every person

Key Takeaway
Being truly “dog-friendly” isn’t about allowing dogs everywhere — it’s about creating spaces where dogs and people can coexist safely, respectfully, and happily.

Connect with Behave Atlanta
🌐 BehaveAtlanta.com

💬 Virtual behavioral consultations available

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Galen Myotherapy is a holistic, mindful approach that goes far beyond massage—helping dogs feel safe, understood, and pain-free while deepening the bond they share with their people. In this episode of PetAbility Podcast, Cathy and Chris explore this powerful form of canine bodywork with Lisa Buchanan, a certified Galen Myotherapist. Lisa explains how her gentle, evidence-informed, choice-led treatment protocols help dogs release tension, move more freely, and even improve behavior. Most importantly, listeners will discover why addressing a dog’s emotional and physical wellbeing together is the key to lasting comfort and mobility. 

Highlights include:

• What makes this therapy different from other canine bodywork approaches such as massage, chiropractic care, or physical therapy.
• Core principles of the Galen approach, including assessing posture, movement, and emotional cues.
• The types of dogs that benefit most — from puppies to seniors to dogs recovering from injury or surgery.
• How quickly guardians may see changes in their dog’s mobility, relaxation, and overall demeanor. 
• Insights to what a typical session involves - environmental changes, passive touching techniques, and movement/exercise.
• How practitioners identify tension or discomfort before starting treatment.
• Heartwarming success stories — dogs whose quality of life improved dramatically through this work.
• How pet owners and professionals can learn more or even pursue Galen Myotherapy training themselves.

For more information about Lisa, her business, and Galen Myotherapy, please visit these websites:

• Kinder K9 Mind & Motion
• Galen Myotherapy

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Anxiety is one of the most common—and heartbreaking—issues facing our pets today. In this comprehensive episode, Chris and Cathy explore the staggering prevalence of pet anxiety, common triggers, and a wide range of effective strategies to help our furry (and feathered) friends feel safe and secure.

Did You Know?

• Over 72% of dogs show anxiety-related behaviors
• 76% exhibited separation anxiety during the pandemic
• Cats, birds, and even exotic pets experience anxiety, too

From fear of fireworks to changes in routine, vet visits to mobility challenges, anxiety can stem from many sources. You’ll learn how age, pain, trauma, and socialization all play a role—and how to spot the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs of distress in dogs, cats, and birds.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Triggers: Loud noises, strangers, separation, mobility decline, and more
• Symptoms: From panting and pacing to aggression, hiding, and over-grooming
• Treatment Toolbox:
  • Behavior & enrichment techniques
  • Nutraceuticals, CBD, pheromones, flower essences
  • Prescription meds & complementary therapies
  • Safe spaces and calming products like Thundershirts and Calm & Cozy Cat Wraps
  • The critical role of veterinary input and behaviorists

🎙️ Plus, we highlight key PetAbility episodes on related topics—from gut-brain health connection (biome) and post-surgical behavior to calming tools and environmental enrichment.

Whether your pet is young or old, anxious by nature or triggered by circumstance, this episode is packed with practical, compassionate insights to help them live their best (and calmest) life.

👉 Takeaway: Anxiety is common—but manageable. With awareness, empathy, and the right tools, you can help your pet feel more secure every day. 

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

If you’re listening to PetAbility, then you’ve likely had a fantasy at some point in your life about having a rescue, likely for dogs, cats, or even farm animals. But I bet you never dreamed of having a fish rescue!! Dive in as fish rescuer extraordinaire, Gwendolyn Church of Friends of Philip Fish Sanctuary, tells us what it takes to properly care for fish while dispelling myths and bringing tons of compelling information about fish ownership to the surface. Her goal is that our fish not simply survive, but actually thrive in their homes! “Fishes are sensitive, intelligent animals who deserve so much more than we give them,” says Gwendolyn. Fish are different from ALL other animals because they have gills, fins, and live only in the water. However, these differences don’t mean that they are any “less than” our furry friends. So let’s make an o’fish-ial commitment to spread the word about our fish friends and the care they warrant!

To learn more about Friends of Philip Fish Sanctuary and support Gwendolyn's work, please go to their social media pages:
https://www.instagram.com/friendsofphilip_fishsanctuary/
https://www.facebook.com/friendsofphilip

Click here for the amazing video by GeoBeats Animals

To find a veterinarian who specializes in fish, go to The American Association of Fish Veterinarians

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Buddy’s downward dog stretch you see in the early morning is integral to his overall wellness. Stretching maintains or increases the flexibility of soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, etc.) and helps to prevent injury by prepping the body for activity. Proper flexibility makes any movement easier. Pets tend to lose flexibility as they age or as a result of an injury – both situations limit their ability to stretch on their own. As owners, we need to stretch our pets to help them move easier or heal faster. Listen to Cathy and Chris give tips on how to:

• Get your pet's cooperation for a stretching session;
• Warm up the tissue before stretching; 
• Stretch the major muscle groups; and
• Monitor different signals while stretching your pet.

Listen to this episode and stretch your mind so you can stretch your pet. Everyone will feel better!

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

What do you get when you take people and dogs of all shapes and sizes and ask them to race through an obstacle course? AGILITY! Of course, there's lots more to it than that, but agility is fundamentally about enhancing the relationship with your dog. Essentially, you learn to talk to one another!  You learn how to read their signals, motivate them, and communicate your desired outcome through verbal and non-verbal cues. Agility is a very versatile sport that can accommodate any team that wants to try it, but mostly it's tons of fun. You may choose never to compete (and most don't), but you can still reap the benefits of relationship building, physical exercise, mental acuity, confidence boosting, and enrichment - and that's just for you, not to mention your dog!! So go find an agility class near you and embrace the obstacles on the course!

To find Nolan, email her at iluvk9s@gmail.com or contact Riverside Canine Center in Nashua, NH.

To learn more about agility in general, search the following agility organizations:
AKC agility
CPE agility
NADAC agility
UKC agility
UKI agility
USDAA agility

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

So your dog has an injury? Lesson one: the nervous system is adaptable. Lesson two: don't be afraid to touch your pet! It does more than you might ever imagine. Whether it’s a neurologic or orthopedic injury, providing sensory input can help the body to heal faster and more fully. Sensory input is smell (a huge part of the dog's brain in devoted to this so give them something savory to smell), hearing (play a relaxing soundtrack), vision (bring them outside to watch the squirrels), taste (give them their favorite yummy treat) and touch - warmth/cool, massage, brushing, vibration, pressure, etc. Why is all this important? Because it changes your pet's brain to promote healing. By providing comfortable, novel, positive sensory experiences, we can impact our pet's ability to recover from trauma. Listen to Amie Hesbach, PT, DPT, MS, NCPT, CCRP, CCRT, CKTP, describe how new pathways between the brain and the body are created to teach old dogs new tricks given the right sensory input and environment!

To find Amie go to Empower Physio Pet or Empower Physio Teachable.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

What do you mean you've never had a pet tortoise? Well, neither have we! Listen to pet parent, Kasey Kuchinski, talk all about what its like having a tortoise for a pet. There's lots to ensuring that a tortoise like Ethel thrives. For Kasey and her husband, Dan, having Ethel is a match made in heaven. Every aspect of Ethel's care is addressed from diet to habitat to enrichment activities. You will be astonished at the amount you learn in this episode, from  plethora of fun turtle facts to one shocking revelation!

To find Ethel, go to EthelTheGlamourTort on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Chiropractic for pets? Yup, it’s a thing. A really good thing! If you notice that your pet is not moving quite right or is holding themselves oddly, chiro may be the answer. And its not what you may think in terms of snap, crackle, pop. It’s a very gentle manual technique that our furry family members are surprisingly amenable to. Why? Because it makes them feels better! Listen to Linda Rogers, DVM, describe what it looks like to perform this holistic technique, share the broad spectrum of conditions that chiropractic can positively impact, and what its benefits are. The science and art of chiropractic impacts the nervous system to alleviate pain, promote proper movement, and ultimately restore homeostasis. Like we said, veterinary chiropractic is a really good thing!

Click here to find Dr. Rogers at Integrative Animal Health Center.
For more information about veterinary chiropractic and to find an animal chiropractor near you, click American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) or International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) or American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA).

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Dogs navigate their environment through their amazing sense of smell. So why not utilize this natural gift through practicing nose and scent work with your canine companion?  It doesn't have to be formal or fancy, although there are classes and competitions aplenty. This relatively new sport (~2007) uses the canine olfactory system to solve problems and instill confidence. Moreover, EVERY dog can - and should - do this because it's what they are born to do! And when it comes to enrichment and gentle movement, this is an activity that senior dogs, physically disabled dogs, and blind or deaf dogs can master! Listen to Michele share what nosework is, how its trained, and its myriad of benefits.

Click here to find Michele and more info about nosework.
Click here for the National Association of Canine Scent Work.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...