Peggy interviews Mandy Kimmer, the public information officer for Orange County, Florida Parks and Recreation. They discussed the county's dog parks.

In this episode, Peggy spoke with Mandy Kimmer, the public information officer for Orange County, Florida Parks and Recreation. Mandy shared her nearly 19-year career with the county and discussed the history of Orange County's park system, which has grown from early family donations in the 1920s to now encompassing 114 parks, trails, and facilities serving 1.5 million residents and 200,000 daily visitors. They discussed the 14 dog parks throughout the county, which are fenced areas with separate spaces for large and small dogs, costing approximately $170,000 to install, and Mandy explained how these parks are important for residents who live in apartments or have limited outdoor space for their pets. The conversation also covered safety considerations, including restrictions at certain parks due to alligators and other wildlife, and Mandy emphasized that Orange County is a very dog-friendly destination for both residents and tourists.

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This podcast discussed the importance of professional certification in the dog training industry.

This episode of "All My Children Wear Fur Coats" featured Bradley Phifer, Executive Director of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), discussing the importance of professional certification in the dog training industry. Bradley explained that while anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, CCPDT provides independent credentialing through three levels of certification (CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, and CBCC-KA) that require 300 hours of hands-on experience and demonstrate competence through both knowledge and skills assessments. He highlighted how social media and the pandemic have changed dog ownership, making pet owners more knowledgeable but also creating challenges with behavior issues in dogs that were sheltered during COVID-19. Bradley emphasized that potential dog owners should ask certified trainers about their credentials, experience with specific breeds, training methods, and observe training sessions before hiring someone, noting that CCPDT's website offers a directory to help find certified professionals in any area.

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Peggy Hoyt interviewed Fiona Dobbrick, co-founder and CEO of Collagenie, about their certified organic collagen wellness products for pets. Fiona explained that Collagenie offers three types of certified organic meal toppers for pets: joint and mobility support, skin and coat health, and whole body boost blends. She discussed the benefits of collagen for pets, particularly supporting joint health and mobility, and emphasized that the products can be used preventatively rather than just for treating symptoms. Fiona shared challenges of bringing the Australian-made product to the US market, including compliance differences and shipping delays, but noted they are working with NASC (National Animal Supplements Council) to gain certification. She predicted that pet parents will increasingly adopt preventative wellness approaches over the next five years, following human health trends. The conversation concluded with information about Collagenie's upcoming product launches, including a functional range and dental chews, and a current 15% discount offer on their website.

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