Good morning and welcome to create with Heidi. I'm Heidi Kaisand, owner of hidden chick studio in Conrad, Iowa, and lover of all things creative. Each week here on create with Heidi, we like to cover topics that educate and inspire you about how people are being creative, whether it's quilting, scrapbooking, food, wool, or just hanging out with others who seem to have their creative Mojo grooving in all the right directions. We are excited to share these things with you. And each week, I love to start with a quote. And the one I found for today is from Anatole France, until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. And my guest today is Karman Hotchkiss and she is the editorial director for daily paws.com. Good morning, Karman, how are you?
The Power of Paws
Heidi Kaisand
Karman Hotchkiss
Good morning. I'm Excellent, thank you.
Heidi Kaisand
And when we started talking about the possibility of you coming on our radio show, was of course a no brainer that we would love to talk about our pets, our dogs and our cats in our lives. Because everybody that has a pet understands that connection that we have to animals, don't we?
Karman Hotchkiss
Absolutely. It's really as your quote says, It is part of our soul.
Heidi Kaisand
Absolutely. I just recently watched a movie. And you know, kind of a silly not to say silly, but Hallmark ish type movie. And the beginning the movie, The dog was hit by a car and then came back to be a part of the movie. And the young man that hit the dog said I never liked animals before. But he said when I saw the owner's face of what happened when that dog didn't make it through this, you know, being hit by a car. He understood the power of what those four legs and you know, and that that smile, whether it's a cat or a dog or you know, whatever, and their actions can take on a person. It's amazing how connected we can be.
Karman Hotchkiss
Yeah, you're making me tear up a little bit.
Heidi Kaisand
Oh, sorry. Sorry. Now, and I could hate I you know, I I've had my pets and my share of stories in the past. So I totally get that. I love this. Now I have to start by asking I you, you told me that you have a very important coworker. And I want to hear about your co worker.
Karman Hotchkiss
So you know, since I'm working at home for the last several months, my new co worker is my dog Pip. And we call her Pippi because, you know, that's the affectionate version of her name, and we just love her so much. And Pipi is an 80 pound lab. terrier mix. She's black, and she has a white stripe down her nose. And she snores louder than any other co worker I've ever had.
Heidi Kaisand
Oh, my and so so does she just curl up with you. I mean, next to you. You're sitting at the computer and the desk kind of thing. And she sits next to you.
Karman Hotchkiss
Yep, she she lays on the rug. And she has this talent for parking herself right behind my chair. So she's really making sure that I don't get up and take more breaks to the refrigerator than I really should because she's pinned me in there with my leg down where I can't roll over her.
Heidi Kaisand
or making sure that when you do take the refrigerator break that you are getting something for her to
Karman Hotchkiss
write. That's right. There's no way for me to sneak out of the room without her realizing it waking up
Heidi Kaisand
equal opportunity. And you know, I've heard people talking about their pets. It was hard for her to adjust with you coming home and working all the time. Like I've heard some people say their pets are more tired now. Because they they were sleeping all day long. And now they've got activity all day long.
Karman Hotchkiss
Yeah, I think that's happening a lot in our house. My husband has always worked at home. So this is a little bit less of a transition for pypi than it has been for other pets. But I certainly know that what you're saying has has happened. There's a TV commercial even I saw recently with wear the dog like everybody in the house says to the dog at a different time during the day like hey ralphie you want to go for a walk and the first three times the dogs like yeah, and about the fifth time the dog is like, oh my god. Oh,
Heidi Kaisand
yes, it could be it could be tiresome on them. Absolutely. Well give me a quick description of what daily paws calm Is that what you're working on.
Karman Hotchkiss
So Daily Paws is PA, Ws, paws as in dogs and cats, and we're a website for pet parents who really understand that pets are really a beautiful, important part of the family. And we want to help you give your pet their best life. So the website includes information on everything from health and nutrition and other kinds of care giving topic to training and behavior and enrichment. And then of course, like, you know, nobody can talk about pets without also having the parts of pet parenthood that make you smile, the silly cat videos and the crazy dog means and, and those entertaining pieces are also part of the brand. So we're kind of helping people enjoy pets, from the caregiving all the way through the entertainment value. Oh, and goodness,
Heidi Kaisand
they dogs do bring smiles and cats bring smiles to our faces. So we're gonna have more fun talking with you, Karman. We'll be back right after this break. Welcome back to create with Heidi and I am here today with the editorial director of daily paws.com. And that's dailypaws.com just like the paws on your dog and cat. I am with the editorial director Karman Hotchkiss and we're having fun talking about pets, and, and oh my gosh, the silly videos that are on Facebook and all, I'll say on the internet, all that kind of stuff can be so much fun. But did you know I did not know this until Karman informed me that January is National train your dog month. And a good well trained dog is is really or I mean, can be just a really good thing. So I'd love to hear more about how how important you think training is Karman.
Karman Hotchkiss
Yeah, you know that they dedicated a whole month to the topic. So it's an important part of being a great pet parent. And, you know, good training is really about helping your dog learn how to make you happy, and how to be part of your life with good manners that keep him safe, that keep other people safe. And that and I think the thing that sometimes gets lost in the word training is that it's really a process that creates a bond between you and your dog. Maybe not unlike teaching a child to so there's a beautiful, you know, creative moment that you're sharing, they're in making something together and watching somebodies the, their, their brain light up with new information. And, and really that's the same thing. When you're training your dog. It's an opportunity to spend time together and to teach your dog new things that will make you happy and that you can do together.
Heidi Kaisand
Yes. And, you know, I have gone through Dog Training once. And it was with a yellow lab that we adopted. And she was about 16 weeks old, somewhere in that ballpark. When I started to take her to training school. And oh Carmen, it is it's as much about training the odor as it is about training. I mean the animals mean she did great, although we came in fifth out of five animals in class. But, but I learned so much because you know you're talking about you know, the good manners and keeping them safe and all that. It was me understanding, even though I'd been around dogs before me understanding how those animals interact or how that dog might react to To another dog and how and how to, you know, it'll just do all that and Oh, goodness gracious. Yeah. I, I obviously didn't do well myself. But you know, that way she did all right, she she came out she was a good dog, she, she was a very good dog, but I think thank goodness, she came sort of, you know, how do you want to say had that training or in her own? Right, rather than having to depend on me. But anyway, so what? You know, okay, so then like, when I went to that training, I went, I physically took her and I went to a class with other dogs, is that when you talk about, you know, training methods, you know, how are people training animals these days?
Karman Hotchkiss
Yeah, it's, you know, like everything else, we're, we're pivoting and we're learning new things. There are a few places that I think are doing in person training. I, one of the people on my staff is a certified trainer. And when the weather was nicer through the summer, in the fall, she was doing classes outdoors at Gray's lake in Des Moines, doing some puppy school work there. But if you can't get your dog with other dogs, right now, there's still a lot of great resources online and books. And, of course, YouTube just seems like it was made for learning things, right. And a lot of great video resources. I think one of the things if you're looking for training resources, whether that's in person or through some not in person, venue, the thing that you really want to look for is a training program that talks about positive reinforcement. Okay. So, positive reinforcement is the the newest training method that science is telling us is the right way to train our dog. And, you know, I think a lot of times we think of training dogs as teaching them to obey. And really positive reinforcement is more teaching your dog how to learn things, and how to learn to respond and make you happy, and do what you ask of them, as opposed to a sort of like, shake your finger at them and tell them to be good. Sort of training.
Heidi Kaisand
Yes, yes. We all like positive reinforcement. And, and I'm, I'm actually thinking of a TV show. And I cannot say the name of the show at the moment, just because my brain won't think of it not because I couldn't say it. But were when one character was doing a bad habit, the other character, when they would get them to do what they wanted them to do, they would offer positive reinforcement, like with a piece of chocolate. And so the more she wore, she did the correct behavior, the more chocolate she got, and it and it was like she you know, she wanted the chocolate. So she I mean, it was that positive reinforcement, like, Oh, I'm doing something good. I'll get a good reward for this. And I'm assuming that's the kind of thing that even with dogs that are and cats do this tour, is it really just dogs?
Karman Hotchkiss
Yeah, cats absolutely can be there, cats are not quite as interested in pleasing us. They have a little bit more of their own agenda. But cats can absolutely be taught using positive reinforcement and, and clicker training, like those little like a little thing you hold in your hand and you click it when an animal does something that you want them to do. Yes, that can be incorporated in there. And in cats are actually very responsive to clicker training entries.
Heidi Kaisand
Isn't it? Yes. Again, positive reinforcement, who doesn't like positive reinforcement? So that is good. And and, again, I'm assuming that like, do you have? Do you have information on your website about positive reinforcement?
Karman Hotchkiss
Absolutely. A lot of good stories about like, what it is and how to get started, and then how to use it to teach your dog tricks or just good manner thing.
Heidi Kaisand
Oh, absolutely. Well, we're just having so much fun talking about our furry friends. We're gonna take a quick commercial break and we'll be back right after this. Welcome back to create with Heidi and we're having fun talking about training our dogs with positive reinforcement and the fun that pets can bring into our lives with Karman hotchkis. And she's the editorial director for dailypaws.com. And you're actually located out of Des Moines. Correct?
Karman Hotchkiss
Absolutely.
Heidi Kaisand
But can you be found on all the social media channels that most people are on as well?
Karman Hotchkiss
Yes, we are nationwide accessible, of course online and then on Facebook, on Instagram. And you can even sign up to get a weekly newsletter from us on have a dog version, a cat version. And if you're a multi pet household, we have a version for people with both
Heidi Kaisand
very good. Well as we were talking about positive reinforcement, I did think of a little story I have to share. So you know, people when they come to, to Hen and chicks studio in, in Conrad, for for the first few years up until about two years ago, we actually had store dogs. And we adopted Sasha and babe. They were four years old, and we adopted them actually, just a few months before I opened up hen and chicks studio. And I know my husband just thought I was crazy. And I said, it's okay though, they'll come to the store with me and their, their personalities were were just so much fun. And I could I could fill the rest of the show with, you know, antics of them. But the, the one that I just, you know, if you want to say it broke my heart, when when babe died, Sasha died first. And so then we had babe. And it was obvious that babe had kind of lived in the shadows of Sasha. And that saw her a few things that her personality started popping out, after Sasha left us. And one of them was that there was one particular customer, I'll call her name is Carol, I won't say her last name, because she might be listening. But she'll know who she is. She always kept treats in her pocket. And babe figured that out, and babe could recognize her voice. They would be in the back of the store, and she'd be sleeping, or you'd think she was sleeping so soundly, maybe there was even a little snoring kind of thing going on. But the minute Carol walked in the door, and said something. And I actually tested the theory out a couple of times, because I was like, is this really happening? And it we proved it, it was that they would come up, and she'd immediately sit beside Carol. And she'd wait. And then the treat would come out of the pocket. And you know, and so, eat that. And she would sit there or follow Carol around, and then sit down. And a couple of times, she would nudge Carol's pocket. Does she know there was she knew there'd be more than one treat Carol would never come with just one treat? And
Karman Hotchkiss
say yes, come on.
Heidi Kaisand
Yes, at a couple of times, a couple of times, Carol came in without a treat in her pocket. And oh my gosh, she had to run right back out to the car to get to the treats for babe, because they would be looking at her like what you have no treats for me. And, and then the minute Carol left, they would go back to get her bed and lay down. And there could be 100 more customers walking in the door that day. And it didn't matter. Because she knew there were no treats in their pockets. Just Carol's that is a wonderful story.
Heidi Kaisand
Yes. And it's that positive reinforcement, she you know, she knew that, that she'd get a treat if she was good. She just sat there and waited, there was sometimes a little drool coming down to the chin and stuff. But it's amazing how those animals It was really hard for us when both of them it was was difficult when one died. But we still had one more and so then when this when babe died, it was it was hard. I couldn't actually talk about it at the store very much because they are such a part of our lives. And it just it makes a difference in in all of our lives. And the kids of course want another dog but that I keep saying not right now because we're a little busy. So I think Don't you agree that people you have to be able to take care of that animal? You can't. I guess I feel that you can't just say oh, I'm gonna have another dog and then oh, I'm gonna Yeah, I'm gonna be gone 14 hours today, but that dog will just sit at home and wait for me.
Karman Hotchkiss
Yeah, you know, I used to say when I had a cat, because I'm kind of a cat person at heart. Don't tell my dog. But I said I need a dog. Who's inflatable. And when I drive away in the driveway, it just deflate and, you know, needs nothing until I pull back up the driveway. And then it inflates and meets me at the door like yeah, and unfortunately, pets just are not that way. And like you said, there's, there's the care of them. And then there's just that other time that you need to spend bonding with them socializing with them, playing games with them, keeping their brain occupied, so that they don't go try to make their own fun, like a couch cushions or the rug or, you know, when when dogs forget their good manners. And that happens sometimes, that can be traced back a lot to just a lack of stimulation and the time that we as, as pet parents should be spending entertaining and and enjoying things with our pets,
Heidi Kaisand
you bet. And dogs have. They have needs and requirements or jobs, that and in our house Recently, there was the discussion that, that we were watching a video of a cow herding dog and you know, sheep herding dogs, but those dogs really, really require a lot of work. Because if they're not busy doing their job, they can get upset, they can you know, really get upset. And so there's so many things carbon we could week, we absolutely could fill another couple shows, with the antics of our animals and stories and all of those kinds of things. And I'm so glad that you were able to join us here today. And I again want to say the website is daily paws, like a p aws.com, where everybody can find more information that we've been talking about. And thank you for joining us. And for everybody who needs more creative inspiration, be sure to visit Hen and chicks studio.com or come to Conrad and visit us and until next week, be creative