DogCast Radio
Home Episodes Articles Blog Breed profiles Book reviews Photos Contact

Episode 296 - how dogs and pets teach us kindness

296_DogCast_Radio.mp3

Released Sat January 18, 2025
Length: 0:34:18
Download MP3 (56.3MB)
(To save MP3 file, right click and select 'Save Target As')

Kim Lengling and how pets teach us kindness

Kim Lengling is a veteran, a pet lover, and a podcaster too with her podcast
Let Fear Bounce - Tossing out nuggets of hope.

She’s also a fellow lover of canines and caffeine! So Kim and Julie had a lot of fun!

Kim has a wealth of experience living with dogs and many other pets, and she knows the joy they bring, and the lessons they teach us. Her book, 15 Ways Pets Teach us Kindness Kim shares 15 beautiful reflections on how pets gently remind us to slow down, forgive more, love deeper, and be kind to ourselves and those around us.

From tail wags to purring snuggles, our pets offer unconditional love, patience, and a powerful presence that can shift even the hardest days. Each short chapter is paired with a simple kindness prompt to help you carry their lessons into your own life, one paw print at a time.

You can find out more about Kim at her website and on Instagram.

You can hear Julie's interview in Kim's podcast, Letting Fear Bounce on You Tube.

Let us know what lessons your pets have helped you learn.

Dog News

Friend of the show, clinical behaviourist Rachel Rodgers and her team at Nose To Trail have won yet another well deserved award!

Rachel and the team are starting the new year having been named Best Dog Behaviour & Enrichment Services 2025 at the SME News awards. The award recognises Nose to Trail’s commitment to ethical, evidence-based training and enrichment, supporting both dogs and their people through thoughtful, welfare-led approaches. Rachel, Founder of Nose to Trail said “Winning the award over the Christmas period makes the recognition particularly meaningful, reflecting a year of hard work, collaboration, and continued dedication to improving canine wellbeing across the region.”

You can read the full info at the DogCast Radio blog.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed divided public attitudes in the UK towards crossbreeding flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs. The UK public disagrees on whether crossbreeding improves or worsens the health, appearance and temperament of flat-faced dogs, with preferences relating to cute appearance and companionship often outweighing health concerns when owners decide which dog to acquire. These RVC findings provide novel and important insights into the beliefs of the UK public that can help address the ongoing serious dog welfare issues linked to breeding for extreme conformation and low genetic diversity in popular purebred flat-faced breeds.

Read the full reserach in our blog post here.

If you want to make 2026 happy and healthy for your dog, the team at Acme Kennels. have come up with some new year's dog resolutions. .

To truly improve dogs’ lives this year, the responsibility lies with their owners to set the right resolutions – so the ACME Kennels training specialists have shared what they should involve.

From walks and training to playtime and diet, dogs rely on their owners for almost everything, so setting resolutions around their care can make 2026 healthier and happier for pets.

Sharing

296 - how dogs and pets teach us kindness

Kim Lengling, author, veteran, pet lover, podcaster, canine and caffeine fan, shares her thoughts on how pets teach us kindness, as well as well as having a lot of fun chatting with Julie! We also bring you news of the latest award friend of the show Rachel Rodgers has won, the latest RVC research into brachycephalic crossbreeding, and New Year's Resolutions to make your dog happy and healthy in 2026.

189 - The Dog Healers and War Dogs Remembered

In this episode you can hear Mark Winik talk about his debut novel, The Dog Healers, and listen to Julia Robertson explain why she founded the charity War Dogs remembered. Plus there's the DogCast Radio News, and what Mischief the German Spitz puppy has been up to.

188 - Service Dogs UK and Roxie the Doxie Finds Her Forever Home

In this episode you can hear about Service Dogs UK, a fantastic charity which trains assistance dogs to support veterans of any service - military personnel, police, firefighters, paramedics and the coastguard - who develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to their job. Also, listen to Dr Jody A Dean, a clinical psychologist talk about how her book, Roxie the Doxie finds her Forever Home, is helping children understand and talk about adoption and other family issues. Plus the DogCast Radio News and some thoughts on the alpha dog myth.

187 - Muffins Halo and Chorley Fun Dog Show

In this episode you can hear about Muffin's Halo for Blind Dogs, and what motivates people to enter their dog in a fun dog show. In the DogCast Radio News, listen to stories about the latest dog related research. Plus there's a new member of the DogCast Radio team!

186 - Maxwell Muir on wolves

In this episode you can hear trainer, behaviourist, writer, broadcaster and wolf expert Maxwell Muir talk about what wolves mean to him personally, their plight in a modern world, and his hopes for their future. Plus we have the DogCast Radio News.