Behind the Scenes of Puppy Bowl with Victoria Schade, Dog Trainer and Author

In this episode of Ask the Vet, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus welcomes Victoria Schade, a professional dog trainer, author, and longtime lead puppy trainer/wrangler for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl. With decades of experience helping dogs and their families thrive, Victoria shares behind-the-scenes insights from one of television’s most beloved animal events — and offers practical advice pet parents can use every day.

Topics include:

• What goes on behind the scenes to keep Puppy Bowl puppies safe, comfortable, and happy
• How Victoria’s training approach creates positive, low-stress experiences for puppies on set
• Why she decided to adopt Boris ("Mr. Pickles") after last year's Puppy Bowl
• How dog training has evolved over the years
• What new puppy parents should focus on in the first few months at home
• The most common mistake new pet parents make and how to avoid it
• Simple training tips that can make an immediate difference
• Victoria's journey from dog trainer to novelist
• Her newest novel, Fated Skates

Also on this month's show:

• Trending animal story about a rare case of adoption in the wild, where a young orangutan stepped in to raise her sister
• Animal news, including a pair of endangered owls who accidentally traveled by cruise ship from Florida to Spain; a funeral for a beloved train station cat that drew hundreds of mourners; and new research showing how our own emotions can influence the way we interpret a dog’s feelings
• Pet Health Listener Q&A: Persistent eye discharge in a kitten; a dog who won't go outside when it's raining; and when shedding becomes a health concern for pet rabbits

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email askthevet@amcny.org to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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