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Many pet parents focus on diet, exercise, and supplements to support their dogs’ health—but physical care is only part of the picture. In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms Podcast, we sit down with dog trainer and educator Tori Mistick to explore the critical role of canine enrichment and engagement in raising emotionally balanced, fulfilled dogs.

This conversation helps dog parents understand why unmet mental and emotional needs often show up as “behavior problems,” and how small, thoughtful changes to daily routines can dramatically improve a dog’s quality of life.

CHAPTERS:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:16 About Tori Mistick's
• 03:38 Limited podcast series about engagement
• 06:37 Engagement in a multi-dog home
• 09:24 Definition of enrichment
• 10:26 Variety is important to dogs
• 11:35 Food-based enrichment - treat trail mix
• 14:11 Sound/music + engagement
• 18:15 Enrichment + senior dogs
• 20:41 Novel enrichment - The Bubble Machine
• 26:34 Social engagement
• 32:12 Understanding limits/boundaries
• 35:05 It's not about trying them out / bonding+togetherness
• 37:35 Enrichment is good for pet parents too
• 39:40 Fetching a toy by name
• 41:44 The importance of choice
• 45:00 Dogs pay attention and learn from us all the time
• 49:02 Hemangiosarcoma (another commonality)
• 52:27 Wear Wag Repeat Society

LINKS DISCUSSED:

• Dog Enrichment with Tori Mistick Podcast: https://wearwagrepeat.com/dog-enrichment-podcast/
• Tori's website: https://wearwagrepeat.com/
• Tori's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToriMistick
• Get Tori's Dog Enrichment Activity Pack: https://wearwagrepeat.com/dog-enrichment-mental-activity-pack/
• Tori's Wear Wag Repeat Society for Petpreneurs: https://wearwagrepeat.com/society/
• Hemangiosarcoma Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A3h25H92G/

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Kimberly: Raw Feeder Life, RawFeederLife.com
• Erin Scott: Believe in Dog podcast, BelieveInDogPodcast.com
• Raw Feeder Life, Instagram.com/RawFeederLife
• Believe in Dog Podcast, Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms, Erin and Kimberly sit down with Dr. Steve Marsden — renowned holistic veterinarian and founder of Gold Standard Herbs — to talk about what it really means to raise dogs naturally. Dr. Marsden blends Eastern and Western veterinary medicine, and his integrative approach has helped countless dogs thrive through herbs, nutrition, and a deeper understanding of how the body heals.

We dive into how herbs can support digestion, immunity, inflammation, skin health, and emotional balance — and why traditional formulas still have a place in modern pet care. Dr. Marsden also shares how Gold Standard Herbs came to be, why sourcing and energetics matter, and how pet parents can confidently use herbs alongside conventional care.

CHAPTERS:

• When did Dr. Marsden know he wanted to become a veterinarian? (2:00)
• The experiences that led Dr. Marden to learn homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (4:23)
• What led Dr. Marsden to create the first direct-to-consumer line of Chinese pet herbal formulas? (17:13)
• Should Pet Parents be concerned about Chinese herbs interacting with medications or other treatments? (27:13)
• How long does it take for Chinese herbs to start working and make an improvement? (32:02)
• How important is our dog's diet compared to other treatments? (33:08)
• Why does the veterinary profession have such a bias against feeding fresh food? (38:14)
• What can Pet Parents incorporate from Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in caring for our dogs? (46:21)
• How to search the Ask Dr. Steve DVM Facebook Group (1:01:04)

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Ask Dr. Steve DVM Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1158575954706282

OUR BLOG/PODCASTS...

• Kimberly: Raw Feeder Life, RawFeederLife.com
• Erin Scott: Believe in Dog podcast, BelieveInDogPodcast.com

INSTAGRAM...

• Raw Feeder Life, Instagram.com/RawFeederLife
• Believe in Dog Podcast, Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.

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It’s our annual Thanksgiving Happy Hour on The Alternative Dog Moms! Erin and Kimberly pour a glass (or two) of Mamamango wine and go completely off-script — as friends do. Once a year, we put structure aside and let the conversation wander wherever our dog-mom brains take it.

This episode is full of laughs, real talk, and those “wait… how did we get here?” moments that only happen with your closest friends. And honestly? That’s the magic. It’s also wild to think that we’re wrapping up Season 4 of the podcast — and Season 5 is just around the corner.

In this cozy, slightly chaotic holiday hangout, we talk about:
• Life updates and dog mom confessions
• The random topics that come to mind when wine is poured
• What we’re grateful for this year
• Favorite moments from past seasons
• Excitement for what’s coming in Season 5

If you love relaxed, real-life dog mom energy, this is the perfect episode to unwind with — glass of Mamamango optional, but highly recommended.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom
• Instagram.com/RawFeederLife

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.