Counter surfing is 100% natural for a dog; and 100% frustrating for that dog's human! In this episode, we start with the traditional approaches to this challenge, offering our takes on the classic management and training ideas that work best. But be sure to stay for the second half, when we dive into a much more satisfying and long-lasting way to deal with an incorrigible counter surfer: provide "legal" foraging activities. Rather than forbidding the fundamental canine desire to forage for food, encourage it. There are lots of fun and easy ways to give dogs everyday chances to find their own food. Do that enough, and you'll find those counters lose their allure.

In this special episode, ethologist Kim Brophey joins us to talk about the science showing just how sadly isolated our pet dogs have become, and — on the upside — the beautiful impact that a small, stable group of canine peers can have on this innately social species. A new scientific paper, "Disconnected Lives: Social Networks and Emotional Regulation in Domestic Dogs," jumpstarted this fantastic conversation that's filled with small, doable ways you can start helping your dog to have some fellow travelers as they navigate life here on Planet Human.

(We highly recommend reading the fascinating paper by Agnieszka Grynkiewicz — a fellow Family Dog Mediator! — Anna Reinholz, and Kamil Imber out of the University of Warsaw.)

In this very special episode, THE Patricia McConnell talks with us about her fantastic debut novel, Away To Me. What happens when the world's favorite canine behaviorist decides to write a murder mystery? Think Agatha Christie meets All Creatures Great and Small. We were lucky enough to read an advance copy of this absolute page-turner, and even luckier to get to spend time chatting about dogs with one of the people we admire most. We know you'll enjoy this conversation. (You can pre-order Away To Me wherever you like to buy your books!)