In this episode of Tuesday Talks with Ruby Reese, Killian sits down with Glen Patten, founder of Pawprints Cremation, for a gentle and genuinely important conversation about a topic that does not get nearly enough attention.

Glen shares how a combination of personal loss, a gap in the market and a deep love for animals led him to establish Ireland's first individual pet cremation service in 2011. He walks through the full process - from collection and traceability to the return of ashes - and explains the rigorous licensing and inspection requirements that govern the service. The conversation also covers the wide range of keepsakes available, from paw prints and nose prints to jewellery containing ashes, and why even planning ahead while a pet is still alive can make an enormous difference when the time comes.

Glen shares some remarkable stories from over a decade of supporting families - including rushing to complete a cremation for a family visiting from the UK who could not leave Ireland without their pet - and offers practical advice on what to look for when choosing a cremation provider.

A quietly powerful listen for any dog owner.

Websites & Social Media

Pawprints Cremation
Website: pawprintscremation.ie
Instagram: @pawprintscremation

Ruby Reese
Website: ruby-reese.ie
Instagram: @rubyreeseofficial

dognutrition.ie
Website: dognutrition.ie
Instagram: @dognutrition.ie

Please Note: In the interest of keeping episodes conversational and entertaining we will make broad generalisations that may not reflect you, your situation or your pet. If you have any concerns please consult a certified professional who will assess your individual needs.

In this episode of Tuesday Talks with Ruby Reese, Killian is joined by Sorcha Delargy, lead vet and practice partner at Village Vets Raheny, for a practical and reassuring conversation about fear free veterinary care.

Sorcha explains what the fear free approach actually means - caring for animals in the least stressful way possible while still delivering excellent medicine - and why it is a win for pets, owners and vets alike. She walks through the signs of stress and anxiety to look out for in dogs and cats, what owners can do at home and on the day to help, and how her team approaches consultations differently to build trust and keep animals calm.

The conversation also covers the importance of starting positive vet experiences from puppyhood, how fear free becomes even more important as dogs age, and why a fear free approach never means avoiding necessary treatment - just delivering it in a more thoughtful and planned way.

A genuinely helpful episode for anyone who has ever felt anxious about bringing their pet to the vet.

This episode is sponsored by Village Vets, caring for pets across Ireland since 1980. Find out more at villagevets.ie.

Websites & Social Media

Village VetsWebsite: villagevets.ie
Instagram: @villagevets.ireland @villagevetsraheny

Ruby Reese
Website: ruby-reese.ie
Instagram: @rubyreeseofficial

dognutrition.ie
Website: dognutrition.ie
Instagram: @dognutrition.ie

Please Note: In the interest of keeping episodes conversational and entertaining we will make broad generalisations that may not reflect you, your situation or your pet. If you have any concerns please consult a certified professional who will assess your individual needs.

In this episode of Tuesday Talks with Ruby Reese, Killian is rejoined by Suzi Walsh, animal behaviourist and founder of dogbehaviour.ie, for a wide-ranging and genuinely enjoyable conversation about the importance of play for dogs.

Suzi unpacks what play actually means - and why it looks different for every dog depending on breed, age, history and personality. She explains how play supports brain development, emotional regulation and bonding, and what the science tells us about what happens in the brain during play. The conversation covers solo play, interspecies play, and the often underestimated value of playing directly with your own dog.

Suzi also addresses some of the biggest misconceptions around play - including the myth that dogs should want to play with every dog they meet, the problems with over-relying on fetch, and why a tired dog is not always a happy one. She shares how play features in her behaviour modification work and why mixing up activities - particularly those that involve sniffing and problem-solving - is so important for mental wellbeing.

A warm, practical and thought-provoking listen for every dog owner.

Websites & Social Media

Suzi Walsh - dogbehaviour.ie Website: dogbehaviour.ie Instagram: @dogbehaviour.ie

Ruby Reese Website: ruby-reese.ie Instagram: @rubyreeseofficial

dognutrition.ie Website: dognutrition.ie Instagram: @dognutrition.ie

References:

Affenzeller, N., Palme, R. & Zulch, H. (2017). Playful activity post-learning improves training performance in Labrador Retriever dogs. Physiology & Behavior.

Beerda, B. et al. (1997). Manifestations of chronic and acute stress in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Beerda, B. et al. (1998). Behavioural, saliva cortisol and heart rate responses to different types of stimuli in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Horváth, Z. et al. (2008). Affiliative and disciplinary behaviour of human handlers during play with their dog affects cortisol concentrations in opposite directions. Hormones and Behavior.

Miller, S. L. et al. (2022). The importance of evaluating positive welfare characteristics and temperament in working therapy dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

Rooney, N. J. & Bradshaw, J. W. S. (2003). Links between play and dominance and attachment dimensions of dog–human relationships. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.

Rossi, A. et al. (2018). Hormonal correlates of exploratory and play-soliciting behavior in domestic dogs. Frontiers in Psychology.

Shiverdecker, M. D., Schiml, P. A. & Hennessy, M. B. (2013). Human interaction moderates plasma cortisol and behavioral responses of dogs to shelter housing. Physiology & Behavior.

Sipple, N. et al. (2021). Intraspecific and interspecific attachment between cohabitant dogs and human caregivers. Integrative and Comparative Biology.

Chmelíková, E. et al. (2020). Salivary cortisol as a marker of acute stress in dogs: a review. Domestic Animal Endocrinology.

Please Note: In the interest of keeping episodes conversational and entertaining we will make broad generalisations that may not reflect you, your situation or your pet. If you have any concerns please consult a certified professional who will assess your individual needs.