0:28

Anyone that knows me knows that I love dogs more than people most of the time.

0:32

And that's why I can't wait for you to meet today's guest.

0:34

She was born in North Bay, Canada. You've seen her on The Late Show with David Letterman, Nickelodeon, The CW, multiple NBA

0:36

and NFL halftime shows.

0:43

She came fifth on America's Got Talent and has the number one dog training app on iOS and

0:43

Android.

0:50

It's Sarah Carson. I've obviously known you for a little bit.

0:53

I follow your stuff online. I love watching all your travels.

0:57

or your dogs, cats, any other animals that seem to appear, you are the animal whisperer.

1:03

I wish you lived in my house, to be honest, because I have three dogs who don't listen to

1:03

me, but they're wonderful.

1:08

I them to bits. They're all rescues. Rescued me more than me rescuing them.

1:13

But how did you get started?

1:15

In the beginning, I didn't have a whole lot of friends.

1:18

I wasn't super social. I felt really out of place and kind of an outcast.

1:23

And my family got a little Cocker Spaniel puppy.

1:26

and he basically just took over my entire life and became my entire personality.

1:31

So I basically started doing that. I had my spaniel, we started trick training and agility and I got into all the various dog

1:32

sports and I initially just did it because it was a fun thing to do and I felt like every

1:44

time I came home the dog was excited to see me and I enjoyed spending time with him.

1:48

You know, just basically companionship, but I wanted to do more and so I started to train

1:48

other people's dogs.

1:54

And I got into, like you said, sometimes there's random animals on my feed.

1:59

I've trained chipmunks, I've trained cats, all of the things.

2:03

So I kind of just got super invested and involved in dog training that way.

2:08

I went through some school for training and I kind of got to understand a little bit just

2:08

basic dog training skills, know, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, all of

2:19

those things. And then I got hero.

2:21

So I got a border collie who...

2:24

honestly changed my life. And with him, and I know you've been on ADT and ADT the champions, but what kind of

2:26

happened or maybe it was Hiro that took you from training dogs to competing to performing

2:39

on stage? Because there's such different situations to be in.

2:43

Like I get nervous enough going on stage.

2:45

I can't imagine having a dog go on stage with you.

2:47

And you know, I know they're super well trained, but is there a part of you that sometimes

2:47

is like, well,

2:53

something could happen or has anything ever happened like unexpected?

2:57

So, Hiro was a unicorn.

3:00

I was never nervous about how he was gonna do at all in any environment.

3:04

He was just perfect. But now that I have six dogs that are not Hiro, it is very stressful.

3:11

Like I just had a gig that I had done in the past and this one didn't work out.

3:15

So they just booked me for the fall and I'm sitting here like the dog that I used

3:15

previously is retired now.

3:21

And I don't know what these new dogs are going to do in that kind of environment.

3:24

So it is a very, very stressful situation, but basically the jump from competing and just

3:24

training people's dogs was David Letterman.

3:32

went on stupid pet tricks. It was just before he retired.

3:35

I want to say a couple of years before Letterman retired.

3:37

And then I got a call asking if I wanted to move to the United States, cause I'm Canadian

3:37

and start performing for a living.

3:44

And that was kind of my introduction to it.

3:47

And I came to the U S with.

3:49

no clue what I was gonna do, no clue where I was gonna live, not a clue as to what routine

3:49

I was gonna do.

3:55

Like I just had a really good dog and a really good relationship with him and I knew we

3:55

could do it.

3:59

So that's kind of, at the very beginning, that's how that kind of panned out.

4:03

I know how that feels a little bit as someone who is not from the US but lives here now

4:03

and just packing two suitcases and going, let's see what happens when I get there.

4:13

You know what, worst scenario, you can always go home.

4:15

If it doesn't work out, you can always go back but.

4:18

When you're offered these opportunities, you have to just take them and run with them

4:18

because you never know where you're gonna end up and what's gonna happen.

4:25

You've lived a whole life.

4:28

You've had so much go on and I love watching your two little cats that you've been

4:28

training.

4:32

my gosh, I'm obsessed. You're making me want a cat again.

4:35

I'm like, I need a little one. I need a little, I don't know.

4:38

We'll see, we'll see. So how was your experience with AGT?

4:42

Like a fellow Got Talent person but.

4:45

Britain's Got Talent, I know it can be stressful, I know it's a lot and you have I think a

4:45

lot more rounds on America's Got Talent, but how did that come about and the ups and downs

4:54

through that whole experience? I mean I'm super grateful, I'll start out by saying that, super grateful for the

4:55

experience and the opportunities that they gave me and especially like one of the dogs

5:02

that I was on the show with has passed, so just being able to have those memories with him

5:02

is just awesome and.

5:08

So that experience alone was worth every anxiety attack and mental breakdown that I went

5:08

through.

5:13

But the show really, is a long running show that is a train that has basically been

5:13

derailed that is just going through the tracks.

5:23

So it is a lot to deal with, especially with someone that has dogs on the show.

5:28

I personally never really felt like the dogs were super welcome.

5:31

I think that they... go towards like magicians or singers or group acts that are really easy to communicate

5:32

with and organize.

5:40

But like a dog, like you said, that dog could go on stage and be scared of something and

5:40

not want to perform.

5:44

And that did happen to me in the semi -finals.

5:47

I had to switch dogs last minute and thankfully it worked out, but they're animals and you

5:47

really can't control that.

5:54

So the entire experience was a lot and I do feel like I learned a lot from it, especially

5:54

with myself and my dogs, but it was worth every...

6:02

every moment. How did your life change after AGT?

6:05

you feel like career wise it was a real boost that it opened doors for you?

6:09

How was it afterwards? I mean any form of attention like that is going to open up some doors.

6:16

I got some really cool opportunities but it did for me at least didn't really do a whole

6:16

lot because COVID happened and then I feel like COVID was just a really big reset button.

6:26

So I did it. got a whole bunch of opportunities, went back and did Champions and then COVID happened.

6:33

And so I didn't see any form of anything because of that.

6:37

Anybody that was hiring was obviously no longer hiring.

6:39

So nobody was really looking for live entertainment at all.

6:43

Yeah. What did you do during that time? Were you just, okay, I'm gonna be home and I'm gonna keep training?

6:47

Cause it's not like you can just take a break.

6:49

Like with a lot of us we took a break on ourself, but I don't think you can really do that

6:49

with dogs.

6:53

Do you feel like you have to train them at? every day to keep everything.

6:57

Do they remember everything? How does that The dogs are like, they're a 24 hour job.

7:01

Even if I'm not training them, I still have to care for them.

7:05

So thankfully, like my dogs live in a kennel, so they have that separate space for

7:05

themselves.

7:09

But I mean, they come in the house and they do dog things.

7:12

We go on hikes, we do training, all that stuff.

7:14

But yeah, during COVID, I was not able to take a break from dogs.

7:17

But because I wasn't working, I was able to write a book.

7:20

So basically, I spent the entire year writing a book.

7:23

I have it. I have your app too, but we'll get to that.

7:26

But for anyone that doesn't know, tell us about your book.

7:28

For anyone that hasn't seen it. Yeah, so I was reached out by the publisher asking if I would be interested and I had

7:29

always really wanted to write a book.

7:35

So I went ahead and did it and it's called Super Dog Tricks and it covers basic obedience,

7:35

puppy stuff, leash walking, crate training, and then all of the tricks that you've seen me

7:45

do with my dogs. So it is the super, super cool thing that I was able to wrap in a bow for people to take

7:46

home and like you said, put on yourself and...

7:53

Hopefully teach your dogs the new tricks. So that's for anyone.

7:55

If you have a new puppy, you have an older dog, that's for anyone.

7:59

It's not just someone that wants to get into what you're doing on such a big scale, it's

7:59

more for everyone.

8:05

Yeah, it's just a great way to bond with your dog.

8:07

just taking five to 10 minutes a day, using your dog's meals just to teach them sit or

8:07

shake a paw or roll over, that kind of stuff will help build that relationship.

8:16

100%. I think most of your dogs have been border collies, right?

8:19

Am I right in saying that? So are there certain breeds that are...

8:22

somewhat easier to train or do you usually work with set ones?

8:26

I know obviously size as well, like mine are tiny, they're like four pounds.

8:29

So they have a bit of a restriction on what they can do.

8:33

I take her agility training though, but she has like a little tiny ramp, not this huge

8:33

thing.

8:36

my gosh. She tries, but yeah, why border collies?

8:40

It really just comes down to, it's a job.

8:45

So I wouldn't get a Pomeranian and if the dog didn't want to do the job, keep it and force

8:45

it to do the job.

8:52

getting a Border Collie, was like, this is a working dog, these dogs live to work.

8:55

And I have had, I've had four Border Collies that didn't want to do it.

8:58

They could learn all the tricks because they love learning.

9:01

But once you put them on a stage in front of people, they're like, this is for me.

9:04

But I do have one golden retriever, but he's not your average golden retriever.

9:08

So he's a field golden, he's bred for hunting, and he's crazier than the Border Collies.

9:14

He lacks brain, but he has the stamina and the energy and like.

9:19

the work ethic like a border collie.

9:21

it really just comes down to finding a dog that wants to do the job.

9:24

It's so funny to say Pomeranian, because I have one falling asleep next to me who always

9:24

has to be with me.

9:29

Will follow me around, go to the toilet.

9:31

She's like right there. like, I two minutes, two minutes apiece.

9:35

I love you. But yeah, I literally found her on the street near my house, like wandering around.

9:40

They find me. I don't need to go look in.

9:43

They'll just turn up at my front door, them. I always hear about like the cat distribution.

9:48

Like, know how it's like, they've chosen me today.

9:50

And then there's just a stray cat. I've never heard of dogs doing that.

9:53

So that's a new one for me. Yeah, it's ridiculous, be honest.

9:56

Like, I love her to bits. They're all older now.

9:58

Like, my oldest now is, she turned 17 this year.

10:01

I mean, roughly, this her last year. 10, 17, she's been doing pretty well.

10:06

She, like, lost some of her sight this year. So that's been, like, biggest thing, even more so than her heart.

10:12

She has a heart murmur in large part.

10:14

So she's on meds every day. She... sounds like she smokes a pack a day with her cough.

10:18

But in the grand scheme of things, she's doing very well.

10:22

She still uses the dog door and like, like, now I've got a stroller for her to take her

10:22

outside.

10:27

Cause I feel guilty cause I can't walk her cause she just falls off the curb and it's

10:27

like.

10:31

Yeah. Seventeen is impressive.

10:33

Yeah. Like, and then my other one, my con is what?

10:36

12, maybe 13. No teeth.

10:38

had to remove all of her teeth. They were all rotten in her mouth, all this stuff.

10:43

So. I'm the first one that has one those dogs that I've got something wrong with them.

10:47

The geriatric dogs. Literally.

10:50

They're living forever though. I'm like, this is great.

10:52

because my oldest is my first dog ever.

10:55

I've never had dogs before, so I didn't know what I was doing when I got her.

11:00

I went into a pet store to buy treats for a friend's dog and they had like adoption day.

11:04

And I was like, here's that little dog. Let's just look.

11:07

No one ever just has a Nobody does.

11:10

I had no idea. Didn't have a clue.

11:13

And then they got her out for me and she sat on my lap and just didn't move.

11:17

And I'm crying and like, you hear the story and like all the past and whatever.

11:22

And I'm like just bawling, bawling, bawling.

11:26

And then yeah, she came home. I was like, you're coming home.

11:28

I have no idea what to do with you.

11:31

You learn. And she picked me, I think.

11:34

It was meant to be, but I love dogs.

11:37

It's the only reason I want to get a bigger house is so I can just adopt more dogs.

11:41

But that's. That's my dream one day.

11:44

Keep adopting the old dogs that are, know, cause it's tough when they're older.

11:49

Everyone wants to puppies. Okay. So tell us about your app, why the app, how did that come about?

11:54

How do you even start that kind of thing to go, I'm going to put this out to the world.

11:58

Yeah. So I, again, I knew that I wanted to do an app.

12:02

I thought that it would be a really creative, unique way for people that have a busy

12:02

schedule or are stuck at home.

12:08

to bond with their dogs and do something with their dogs.

12:10

So I actually got an email from Mike and Alice, they're the developers on the app, and

12:10

they basically had created the app, they had it all completed, and they just needed a dog

12:20

trainer. And so it was just the perfect opportunity for us to get together and make it happen.

12:25

We released it. The day my audition aired for America's Got Talent, and it's grown a lot since then, but

12:26

it is, I mean, it's been app of the day several times on the App Store for iOS.

12:36

It's won awards for Google Play Store, so it's doing pretty well, and we're just really

12:36

excited to build a community on there and help some dog owners out.

12:43

How did you decide what sort of things you were gonna put on there?

12:46

Obviously there's certain things that everyone needs to know.

12:49

Even if you wanna learn the basics, just to be able to go out in the world with your dog,

12:49

go to the dog park, things like that.

12:54

For someone that's just like trying to get by, trying to get their dog to do the bare

12:54

minimum, like how do you divide all that kind of stuff?

13:01

So the app initially started out with just tricks.

13:03

It was very, very basic, but it was just tricks, just the stuff that you were gonna see me

13:03

do on America's Got Talent.

13:08

And then it did grow into crate training, leash walking.

13:12

Now we have like a full on puppy program.

13:15

So when you get a puppy, you can go on there and follow step by step what you should be

13:15

doing each week to make sure that your puppy has success.

13:21

It started out as just a simple.

13:24

let's teach our dogs to sit, down, stay, shake a paw, and now you can go on there and

13:24

learn nose work and dock diving and agility and a whole bunch of stuff.

13:32

There's a lot of dog trainers out there. I see little clips here and there pop up on my Instagram, but what do you think sets your

13:34

training apart from others that are out there?

13:41

So I always tell people, and I've said this even like before my book and before my app,

13:41

the proof isn't the dog.

13:48

If you're trying to get your dog trained by someone

13:51

can't demonstrate with their own dog what they're trying to teach you, kind of a red flag.

13:58

So I think that what sets me apart is that I've had so many successful dogs.

14:03

Even the dogs I've rehomed to pet homes, they've been very successful.

14:07

They can do all the behaviors. They're just not cut out for my lifestyle and the traveling and the performing and the

14:09

constant change of environment.

14:13

But they were all very well trained and could do a...

14:16

boatload of things. So I just really think the proof is in the dogs and I know Hero is extremely special, but

14:18

I've been able to basically do it again with every single dog I've owned.

14:25

Have you ever taken like other people's dogs?

14:27

Will people come to you and like, please train my dog for whatever reason, whether it's

14:27

within like performing or magic or just needing that bit of help for whatever reason.

14:37

Do they come to you for that still now? I have, I've done boarding trains here and there.

14:41

I don't typically do it on regular basis just because of my own travel schedule.

14:46

But in the fall or the winter months particularly, I'm not very busy.

14:50

So I'll do board and trains here and there. It's definitely case by case basis.

14:55

I'm not gonna say I don't enjoy it, but it is a lot of work, especially when somebody is

14:55

dropping their dog off from across the country and you're trying to communicate with them.

15:04

what you're teaching the dog and how they need to keep it up and all that stuff.

15:07

So it is a lot of work and it's very stressful, but I still do it from time to time.

15:10

I guess you only have a certain amount of time too.

15:13

It's not like it's just, let's see how long it takes.

15:15

It's like, we've got a weeks or a month or whatever.

15:18

And it's like, we've got to get this done because you need to go home.

15:22

Yeah, exactly, exactly.

15:25

So I mentioned earlier, I obviously have all rescue dogs.

15:29

I didn't get them when they were puppies. They've all been older.

15:31

I think the youngest was

15:33

two when I got here, the next one was six, the other one was like 11 when I got here.

15:38

Yeah, and there's definitely been some struggles along the way with training.

15:42

I've not pushed them because, you know, they're not coming on stage with me.

15:45

We're not really traveling very much anymore.

15:47

Like I used to take my two backstage, so they, had the same carrier, they would like go in

15:47

and like, they had their spot.

15:53

it was consistent. They knew like, okay, we go to work, there's the dressing room, there's the noise of the

15:54

stage.

15:59

So they're very, very good. But.

16:01

Do you have any advice on someone who is adopting a dog that's slightly older, like a

16:01

rescue dog and how to, like I was trying to take my oldest to PetSmart or somewhere like

16:14

that to do training and it was really difficult.

16:16

She was scared of the clicker that they had.

16:19

We had to like reverse everything.

16:21

So she would do something, then we put the name or the word to the.

16:26

the action, you couldn't go near her, you couldn't touch her, it was a lot in the

16:26

beginning.

16:32

She was really scared of men, it was all these things.

16:34

So it was a very slow process and just spending a lot of time cuddling and being like,

16:34

see, this is safe.

16:40

But do you have any advice for someone? Because you have some amazing rescues in Vegas, but there's a lot of dogs that are

16:42

returned because it is hard.

16:49

I think people are still under the impression, even to this day, that they can go to a

16:49

shelter, get a dog, and it's going to be perfect.

16:55

Dogs are not robots. Dogs are their own individual little selves.

16:59

And I always try and tell people, you're going to adopt a dog, it's really important to

16:59

maybe just test the dog out.

17:05

There are a whole bunch of simple tests you can do, noise tests, people tests, dog tests,

17:05

just to make sure that you know what you're signing up for.

17:12

Because like you said, a dog is basically a lifetime commitment for the dog.

17:16

Dogs live a very long time, sometimes 17 years, and you need to know what you're signing

17:16

up for.

17:21

so I, like personally, yes, I do this for a living, so I'm looking for very specific

17:21

qualities, but I wouldn't take a fearful dog.

17:28

I wouldn't take a reactive dog.

17:30

Sometimes those are things you can work through, but sometimes it's also things that you

17:30

just have to manage.

17:34

So it's just really important to know what you are getting into.

17:38

And knowing that it's okay to say no if you're not in the right situation to accept that

17:38

into your life, because it's a lot of work.

17:45

And I mean, coming from somebody who has to manage a border collie that will kill another

17:45

dog, it's a lot of work.

17:53

Yeah, I've definitely messaged you a few times where I'm like, I need help, I don't know

17:53

what to do.

17:57

It is tough because I wanna do the best for my dogs.

18:01

If I'm looking after anyone else's dogs, I'm always the call.

18:03

They think because I've got three that I'm like, I'll just take them all in, which I do do

18:03

it, I'm a sucker.

18:07

But it's difficult to manage them.

18:09

At least you know, at least you know you're a sucker.

18:13

I know, I'm like, here we go again. And they're always the ones to, like I have a friend's dog I look after now and again

18:14

who's blind and diabetic.

18:21

Like they're always got something going on.

18:23

I'm like, no. So having to learn how to give him the shots and stuff.

18:26

It's such beautiful dogs though. But yeah, have you ever had a moment throughout your career, whether it's in personal life

18:27

or work life where you thought, you know what, maybe this isn't for me.

18:36

Maybe this is too much, too many dogs, too much responsibility.

18:40

Has it ever just? been like that maybe this isn't the right path for me anymore.

18:44

And if so, how have you felt inspired or been motivated to push through that and be like,

18:44

no, I love this, this is what I wanna do.

18:52

So I've been doing this for about 14 years now.

18:55

And I feel like I know that this is what I was meant to do, but I definitely have felt

18:55

burnt out at some events or competitions or whatever it is that I get into with my dogs.

19:07

And honestly, the best way to get through that is just.

19:10

to one, feel the emotions, never bottle that up, and two, just to talk about it.

19:14

So I have several friends that I will call or text and just talk about stuff like that.

19:20

But I am, like I'm nearing the end, and I know I am.

19:24

I want change, I want something different.

19:26

I've been taking care of dogs for the past 14 years and driving 40 ,000 miles a year.

19:33

And so it's a lot, and I know like...

19:36

Most people fly and those people would probably say the same thing.

19:39

Like they're sick of flying and they're ready to drive. And like, I've done the flying thing and the driving thing.

19:43

So I'm just done. But I do still own an RV and like I finally do have a house.

19:48

So I've, I've really enjoyed being home, but yeah, the, the performing aspect of my life,

19:48

I think is slowly coming to an end.

19:55

Like maybe, I don't know in the next few years, we'll see what will change, but it's just

19:55

a matter of loving what you do and then knowing when it's time to stop.

20:05

which is not a bad thing. You have to take care of yourself at the end of the day.

20:09

So I definitely believe change is good.

20:12

You do things as long as you want to do them as long as you feel good doing it.

20:16

I feel like the pandemic was definitely a time for me and a lot of performers.

20:20

I knew that we had to take a step back and be like, wait, this could be it for us.

20:25

What else can we do? What else do we love?

20:28

And some had to take like early retirement because there were no shows to go back to and

20:28

they were kind of at that age of

20:35

almost retiring and got thrown into it a little earlier.

20:38

What would you do if you weren't performing and traveling as well?

20:42

I still enjoy the training aspect of things. So I probably would take on some sort of training career path where it's just one dog at a

20:44

time and it's light and easy and I can still find it fun.

20:53

Because when you have so many dogs, it can become really overwhelming and you kind of just

20:53

lose that joy.

20:57

I get asked all the time, like, I do to get out of that and there really is no easy

20:57

answer.

21:02

It really is just you gotta get up, gotta take care of the dogs and you gotta force

21:02

yourself to do the job, which is basically what people that do nine to fives do.

21:10

So it's the same thing, even if you're an entrepreneur and you're doing it yourself.

21:13

Are you at six now? Six dogs, two cats.

21:16

That's it. And a partridge and a pear tree.

21:18

Six is a lot. Say you have five at one time.

21:21

Do you get to that point and then go, okay, they're all at a very well behaved, well

21:21

trained place, I can now bring in another one?

21:29

Or have you ever brought in two brand new? I've always had the rule of I don't get another dog until the previous one is trained.

21:36

And I think the closest I got was I brought in two puppies at the same time, but one of

21:36

the puppies was not staying.

21:41

So it really wasn't that bad.

21:43

And then I got Joker, he was eight months when I got him.

21:47

I had him for about four months. five months maybe and then I got another dog but that dog was a year and a half and so I

21:49

never got two dogs that like were very green at the same time like yes the puppies were

21:59

but one wasn't stangs it wasn't as difficult but yeah typically the rule is don't get

21:59

another one until the previous one is trained.

22:06

On that note though have you ever trained a dog and

22:10

they've kind of reversed in their training?

22:12

Does that ever happen? I'm gonna say it really depends on the dog's age because dogs will mature, go through fear

22:13

periods and growth spurts and all of that stuff.

22:19

Hawkeye is probably the best example. Hawkeye can do every trick in the book.

22:23

He has a beautiful walking handstand. He can jump rope.

22:26

He can do all this stuff, but he visibly does not enjoy it.

22:29

And that happened over time. But there were signs when he was younger that I could definitely read that he was not

22:31

gonna be a trick dog.

22:36

But as he got older and matured,

22:39

he 100 % shows that he does not wanna be doing the thing.

22:42

So I think like in that regard, yes, it definitely can happen.

22:46

And then when it comes to that point, because obviously like you said, it is your work, it

22:46

is your business, you've gotta travel like everyone, we've all gotta pay the bills.

22:55

So then you just looking for nice homes for these dogs?

22:59

Like do you have people that you know? Like how have you dealt with that?

23:03

And how do you deal with that? inside.

23:06

I get attached to other people's dogs that aren't even mine.

23:08

So how do you handle that one? Well, I will say that it gets easier.

23:13

Every dog that I've placed goes with friends and family.

23:16

So it's not like I never see them again. The biggest thing for me is I used to have a dog named Loki.

23:21

did America's Got Talent and then he got sick at about two years old.

23:24

I spent well over $30 ,000 trying to figure out what was wrong with him.

23:28

The conclusion was he had an undiagnosed autoimmune disease.

23:31

And when his steroids stopped working and I had to euthanize him,

23:35

I withdrew my emotions when it comes to dogs.

23:38

I am nice to them. I take care of them.

23:40

I make sure they have everything that they need, but that is it.

23:43

And it is very hard to connect with a dog after losing Loki.

23:48

Like it is something that I still to this day can't really explain, but ever since that

23:48

moment, they're my coworkers, they're my teammates, they're my family, but I know that

23:59

they're just there and they could leave me at any point.

24:02

So when I do place a dog, I know that they're going to the best place possible.

24:06

Like I'm actually about to place the dog in March and my friend Rachel straight up asked

24:06

me, she's like, how much do you want for him?

24:13

And I'm like, I want you to cover his vet bills when they happen.

24:15

That's it. You know, I don't want anything for him.

24:17

I just want him to have a good loving home and that's it.

24:20

I yeah, it's definitely, I hate to say it's easy, but for me it really is.

24:24

I get to see them and I know where they are at all times.

24:27

But ever since losing Loki, I will never love a dog like I did then.

24:32

But no, but I get it. get like, it's, know, I, thankfully, touch wood, I still have hopefully a few more years

24:34

with my oldest, but I've been there for other friends, like who've lost their dogs and it

24:46

just breaks your heart. But, know, it's one, not positive, but I guess one way I try look at it is, you know, I

24:47

see so many older, like humans in pain at an older age who just suffer and have to get on

24:59

with it. At least. if there is suffering happening in an animal, you can stop the suffering, which is like a

25:00

really messed up kind of thing to think about.

25:07

But it's true. Like, was And Loki 100 % could have lived for probably another, maybe year, but he was

25:08

dying.

25:13

Like, it was bad. Yeah. Yeah, it was really bad.

25:16

And like, Hiro right now, Hiro's 13.

25:18

He has a heart condition. He's got valley fever.

25:20

He's doing fine, like you said, about your old pupper.

25:24

he's hacking. He sounds like he's a smoker.

25:26

One of his elbows is like really bad arthritis, but

25:29

He's happy, he's fine, he doesn't care.

25:32

But the moment that it becomes clear, I have no problem stepping in.

25:36

And the family that he's with, same thing. It's like the moment that he tells us he's not comfortable.

25:41

Okay? But as of right now, he doesn't have a care in the world.

25:44

It's blowing my mind. I get more upset about it than I think, she just gets on with it.

25:48

She just gets on with life, she gets on with... the day, like she's sleeping a lot more.

25:51

When I'm like, let's go for a walk. She still like sits up like, am I coming?

25:54

Am I coming? I'm like, get in the stroller, let's go.

25:57

And now that person walking around, everyone's like, he's crazy lady with the dogs again.

26:01

I'm like, yeah, I'm doing my best.

26:03

So, Devonnie mentioned you've got your two cats.

26:07

Like, why?

26:09

Why did you bring cats into the mix? When did that happen?

26:12

Why did that happen? I got my first cat, Goose.

26:15

He was about three when I adopted him to be a mouser.

26:18

for my property I was at. And he did his job great.

26:21

He'd bring in full bunnies with no heads and he'd bring in birds and eat them and there'd

26:21

be feathers all over my living room.

26:27

He did his job great. And then when I left California, I took him because I was just so bonded to this cat.

26:35

He's not a cat, he's a dog. He is, whenever there's a dog, he can do all the dog tricks.

26:39

He's very motivated, he's super friendly. So I took him and he also became really good friends with Hawkeye.

26:44

So they just love each other. My friend.

26:47

breeds these genettas, they're mostly Bengal, and I just fell in love.

26:51

I was like, I need a male, and I think goose will like a buddy.

26:54

And let me tell you, cats are whole different thing.

26:57

Like, they're terrible. Cats are terrible.

27:00

I've had a few cats in the past, I live with people that have cats.

27:03

I was so naive. they're so cute, they're so lovely.

27:06

But you forget that they, like with the dogs.

27:09

you know, just nothing on the floor. That is my rule with anyone that's in the house, nothing goes on the floor.

27:13

Don't leave your bag on the floor. Abby has stolen many granola bars out of my bag in the past.

27:17

Now we have a nothing on the floor rule and then cats come in and I'm like, why is there a

27:17

cat on my counter, on my fridge, on my, they're everywhere.

27:28

So my two cats are basically dogs.

27:30

Goose meows 24 seven to communicate.

27:33

I don't know what he's saying, but he tries.

27:35

they're just, they're so much fun.

27:38

They're honestly my entertainment. So like the dogs are my coworkers and everything.

27:42

My cats are my pets. So they literally get away with murder.

27:46

So when you got Goose, then was he already trained to like do that?

27:50

Or you had a No, they were getting rid of him because he was doing it.

27:54

Yeah, it worked out great. I believe they lived on like a bird sanctuary or something and he was eating the birds so

27:55

they couldn't keep him.

28:00

You know, he came with the -

28:03

I don't want to say the aggressiveness, but he knew what a cat was supposed to do and he

28:03

did it well.

28:07

I'm getting like a little notification saying cats.

28:10

My camera at home is telling me my cats are doing something and yeah.

28:14

have cameras so can spy on them when you're not there.

28:17

Yes. Yeah. Cause cats you can leave. Like they have like an automatic feeder and an automatic like litter box and all that

28:19

stuff.

28:23

So they basically have their own room in my house.

28:25

Like there's yeah. Cats detected. Yep.

28:28

There we go. Can you go outside with them? Like they just stay with you?

28:31

How does that work? Goose used to when we were in California, but I live in the country and I just don't want

28:33

anything to happen to him I mean like I and like Maverick is really into the outdoors.

28:43

I won't do it Can you even train a cat to like I would say so you could be I would just

28:43

probably leash train them at a really young age Yeah, it's just I got goose when he was

28:52

about three so I just haven't even thought to do that He can walk on a leash.

28:57

I have lots of videos of him walking through towns and stuff

29:00

That's so funny to me. Cause just from having cats, trying to get a harness near them.

29:05

don't have that much experience. I'm not a trainer.

29:08

I do my best in any situation.

29:11

And once again, like I've had like cats in the past who were rescues.

29:14

I remember having one that was very, I hate to say aggressive because it sounds mean.

29:19

I call them spicy. I said the spicy.

29:21

He was extra spicy.

29:23

But yeah, such a cat. And it was such a weird thing because he wanted so much love, but then.

29:29

he hit a point where he was like, don't, and then he was over it.

29:33

And it was really like, just having to gauge where that limit was of like, okay, you get a

29:33

little stretch, that's it, here's some food and like not pushing that.

29:42

not gonna lie with my dogs, I'm like, cuddle me, stay with me and cuddle me.

29:47

And they just want their piece. They're like, mom, enough, leave me alone.

29:50

I'm not here to be, know, cuddle to death.

29:52

But yeah, he took a lot of work and like gaining the trust and knowing that we -

29:58

you know, nothing bad was going to happen. So I he was left in like an apartment complex or something like that.

30:03

And people just left and yeah, it's, it's pretty awful.

30:06

Like the, I used to volunteer at Nevada SPCA here and just the stories, all these things

30:06

you find out.

30:13

And there isn't one thing here that I wish there was.

30:16

It's so difficult when you find a dog or a cat.

30:19

because I found a few like Willow being one and then I found another one when I was

30:19

walking them.

30:25

I was walking on the street with my three a few years ago and this other one just joined

30:25

us and I was like, no, nope, nope, nope.

30:30

I've got three, we're not doing this again.

30:33

Nope.

30:35

Like literally had to make a decision and being like, this isn't happening right now.

30:39

And like took my others home, put them in my car.

30:41

Cause I was like, I don't know. You know, you don't know if they have their shots and all this stuff, right?

30:45

And put them in my car and then like, I don't know what to do.

30:48

It was like a Sunday night, ran to the closest vet so they could check if you had a chip

30:48

or anything.

30:53

No chip, no collar. And I'm like, what is going on with these people that, you know, they just don't do these

30:54

things for their dogs.

30:59

And there's nowhere to take them at night.

31:01

I was like, I guess this dog's staying with me tonight.

31:03

I drove around the neighborhood just looking for people that looked like they'd lost a

31:03

dog.

31:07

And yeah, it was a real show. It was an older couple and he were like out walking, looking for him.

31:11

And I was like, I went and got them a collar and stuff.

31:14

they're like, yeah, he keeps like taking it off.

31:16

my gosh. how do they not like know this stuff or why are you not being told this that wherever

31:18

you're getting your dog from it's unfortunate but yeah I wish we had that here where there

31:26

was a place where anytime a day if you find a dog or a cat you can take it somewhere.

31:32

I could never imagine not keeping my dogs, my puppy, my loves but like things happen right

31:32

when people can't look after them anymore or they get sick or family members

31:44

They have to go somewhere and it's a shame there isn't somewhere 24 hours that can just

31:44

look after them because I feel like it's so difficult because I've tried to help people

31:54

rehome their pets in the past and it's not that easy unless you're doing it like direct

31:54

person to person.

31:59

There is quite a good community here at least, a lot of good shelters.

32:03

My two were from the same one, which they brought me.

32:07

I got Abby and then two years later, think it was two years later, they were like, we have

32:07

another dog for you.

32:12

was like. I don't need one. I have one already.

32:16

She was an angel too. Was great off the leash, would just walk with me.

32:21

Was so well behaved. Soon as I said her name, she would just stop and I was like, okay.

32:25

So once we got over the fear, I couldn't believe how good she was.

32:29

I was, I'm spoiled with her completely.

32:32

Walk backstage with me. Like she, I'd take her everywhere.

32:36

Like be in the car with me, let's go wherever we're going.

32:38

And then little Minnie arrived.

32:40

They're like, we have a little one. She looks just like your other one.

32:43

She is nothing like my other one. She is not spicy, but she's got an attitude.

32:48

She's a lot of trouble. my gosh.

32:51

She's not like a yappy one, thank goodness.

32:54

She doesn't live up to that stereotype, but she stands up for herself, all four and a half

32:54

pounds of herself.

33:00

but they'll get you those rescues.

33:02

They know, they can smell it on you. They're like, she'll take a few more.

33:05

I love the name of your podcast. think it's fantastic.

33:09

If people know me, it's very fitting.

33:11

But yeah, it was kind of born out of a, you know, I had Hot Mess the show, which I

33:11

produced for a few months last year.

33:18

I use the term all the time, hot mess, because I mean, same as you, like people see us on

33:18

stage or see us performing or, you know, competing or whatever we're doing.

33:27

And they see this very finished product.

33:29

and I don't think people realize the amount of work that goes into it.

33:33

They just, they just find it easy. Some people just find their calling, but there's still so much work that goes into it, you

33:35

know, physically, emotionally, mentally, like in every area.

33:45

Some of the episodes and some of the solo content is more about kind of the behind the

33:45

scenes of that.

33:52

And it's like, yeah, I go up on stage and throw a smile on and everything's wonderful, but

33:52

then I don't get to have.

33:58

like a bad day. It doesn't matter what's going on at home.

34:00

Doesn't matter. I'm going through my divorce like, all right, throw on a happy face.

34:04

Let's go entertain a few hundred people in Vegas.

34:08

it's I've been there. I know. And it's tough to juggle.

34:11

You really have to compartmentalize and be like, I will deal with that feeling later.

34:16

Right now, this is about these people. They paid to see me do X, Y, and Z.

34:21

They have not paid to give me therapy right now.

34:23

or watch me have a meltdown, so here we go.

34:26

It's a new thing, it's fun. This week's been all like people that I kind of know or friends, because I've never been

34:27

on this side, asking the questions and it's a bit daunting.

34:36

Luckily I'm editing everything so I can be bad and like learn.

34:40

It's just new, I'm just putting it out there.