As we’ve done 14 times before—spanning the better part of five years–today’s program involved setting aside the usual “Talking Animals” format in order to present the show-length feature, “Ask The Trainer.” 
In each session of ATT, listeners are invited to call or email (or text) questions about their
dogs or cats. The Trainer these listeners have an opportunity to consult is Glen Hatchell, the retired Behavior and Enrichment Manager at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and veteran, accomplished dog trainer and behaviorist. He is also a former WMNF programmer, and occasionally guest hosts “Talking Animals.” In today’s edition, before taking the first listener question, Glen started to speak about the importance of eye contact with your dog(s), how to establish, cultivate, and reward it—and its virtues. It wasn’t long before the first listener call arrived—Cindy from Palm Harbor, regarding her Malinois–touching off a steady stream of calls (and emails)…Cindy’s question about the Malinois involved biting issues, to which Glen recommended seeing their veterinarian for labs, in case there’s medical reason 
behind the biting; he also suggested connecting with a certified trainer to help
mitigate the biting…Other questions for Glen included a woman who wanted to find a playmate for her one-year-old Chihuahua, and was seeking an array of ideas for how to go about doing so… And a guy who’d adopted a dog he’d been looking after since the owner fell ill—then later died—asking about three incidents (spanning four years) in which the dog attacked someone: the mailman, a worker cutting through their yard, and so on. Glen didn’t seem overly concerned, given the infrequency of the episodes, though thought consulting with their vet and or a behaviorist might be wise….in what represented the only cat question of the day, a listener texted, inquiring if it’s still “a thing to put cats on Prozac or some other psychiatric drug or maybe a sedative to calm them due to an incessant need to escape the house”… We present Ask The Trainer every two to three months, and you’re welcome to submit a question ahead of the next show via this website.
COMEDY CORNER: There was no Comedy Corner today.
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now:
