Find Your Perfect Dog Match with Hands2Paws
In this episode, Isabel and Elizabeth Menegon, Founder of the Hands2Paws App, chat about what factors families should consider before choosing a dog breed. They discuss how little planning often goes into a family's efforts to get a new dog. Liz shares that, often, families do more research for an upcoming vacation than they do when getting a family pet. Not a good look!
Isabel and Elizabeth agree that breed is an important factor to consider, as is size, temperament, activity level, and more, before choosing a dog. Watch as they play games, share anecdotes, and come to the conclusion that there is a perfect dog for everyone; finding it just takes time, patience, and an effective tool like the Hands2Paws app.
Listen to Episode #108 Now:
BIO:
Elizabeth Menegon spent her career in the hotel industry until covid struck NYC in March 2020. Determined to make the best out of a difficult situation, and while struggling to find products to cure her dry skin, she launched her all-natural, small batch skincare company, SugarSkinn. Always having had a love for dogs, Elizabeth created a product for dog’s paws called Pawsome Paw Balm that not only helped cure dry, cracked puppy paws, but gave back to animal shelters in her area through a portion of proceeds. This project sparked a passion for another entrepreneurial journey and prompted Elizabeth to find a way to help dogs in a more meaningful way. Through many conversations and much research, Elizabeth uncovered one of the biggest issues that lead to dogs being surrendered to shelters—mismatched owners and dogs. Hands2Paws was born in 2022 and has quickly grown to be loved by breeders, animal shelters and dog lovers of all kinds.
Transcript:
00:00:01.900 --> 00:00:03.480
Announcer: This is Pet Life Radio.
00:00:03.920 --> 00:00:05.040
Announcer: Let's talk pets!
00:00:22.668 --> 00:00:26.748
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Welcome to Covered In Pet Hair, a boozy show for pet lovers on Pet Life Radio.
00:00:26.988 --> 00:00:36.828
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I'm your host, Isabel Alvarez Arata, and today I have the pleasure of having a drink and a chat with an app creator that helps dog lovers find the right dog for them.
00:00:37.328 --> 00:00:41.908
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I will tell you all about her and introduce you as soon as we come back from these messages from our sponsors.
00:00:45.488 --> 00:00:47.428
Announcer: Take a bite out of your competition.
00:00:48.008 --> 00:00:52.448
Announcer: Advertise your business with an ad in Pet Life Radio podcasts and radio shows.
00:00:52.768 --> 00:00:59.688
Announcer: There is no other pet-related media that is as large and reaches more pet parents and pet lovers than Pet Life Radio.
00:00:59.968 --> 00:01:16.148
Announcer: With over 7 million monthly listeners, Pet Life Radio podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms and our live radio stream goes out to over 250 million subscribers on iHeartRadio, Audacy, TuneIn and other streaming apps.
00:01:16.288 --> 00:01:25.368
Announcer: For more information on how you can advertise on the number one pet podcast and radio network, visit petliferadio.com/advertise today.
00:01:27.528 --> 00:01:30.648
Announcer: Let's Talk Pets on petliferadio.com.
00:01:40.152 --> 00:01:41.732
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Welcome back to Covered In Pet Hair.
00:01:41.752 --> 00:01:48.772
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I'm your host, Isabel Alvarez Arata, and today I have the pleasure of having a drink and a chat with a pet parent, an entrepreneur.
00:01:48.912 --> 00:01:53.432
Isabel Alvarez Arata: She's an adventure seeker, a foodie, a coffee lover and a tea drinker.
00:01:53.772 --> 00:01:57.052
Isabel Alvarez Arata: She's a truth seeker that was born and raised in Connecticut.
00:01:57.332 --> 00:02:02.712
Isabel Alvarez Arata: She's dog mom to an adorable seven-year-old Italian greyhound named Vanessa.
00:02:03.112 --> 00:02:11.332
Isabel Alvarez Arata: She's founder of the Hands2Paws App that matches humans to the right purebred or rescue dog.
00:02:11.572 --> 00:02:13.732
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Her name is Elizabeth Menegon.
00:02:13.752 --> 00:02:14.812
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Welcome, Elizabeth.
00:02:14.832 --> 00:02:16.512
Isabel Alvarez Arata: It's so good to have you on the show.
00:02:16.752 --> 00:02:17.712
Elizabeth Menegon: Thank you.
00:02:17.712 --> 00:02:18.172
Elizabeth Menegon: Thank you.
00:02:18.192 --> 00:02:18.632
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Thank you.
00:02:18.652 --> 00:02:19.752
Elizabeth Menegon: This is so exciting.
00:02:20.432 --> 00:02:23.552
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Well, I want to get to know you and everything that makes you tick.
00:02:23.572 --> 00:02:30.212
Isabel Alvarez Arata: But before we get into your story and the story of your app and how it helps dog lovers, I want to introduce our drinking game today.
00:02:30.232 --> 00:02:37.492
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So anybody at home participating in our drinking game, anytime you hear this word, "the secret word is lifestyle".
00:02:38.152 --> 00:02:42.772
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Make sure you take a drink of whatever you're enjoying, but please be over 21 in the US to partake.
00:02:43.112 --> 00:02:45.632
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Never drink and drive and always drink responsibly.
00:02:45.872 --> 00:02:48.932
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So what are you having on this warm afternoon?
00:02:48.952 --> 00:02:50.132
Elizabeth Menegon: A little vodka.
00:02:50.152 --> 00:02:51.492
Isabel Alvarez Arata: A little vodka?
00:02:52.112 --> 00:02:56.352
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Do you have a favorite vodka brand or you kind of...
00:02:56.452 --> 00:02:58.932
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, it's actually, it's really interesting.
00:02:58.952 --> 00:03:05.552
Elizabeth Menegon: There is a vodka that it's very hard to get and it's from the Hudson Valley and it's made from apples.
00:03:07.252 --> 00:03:11.112
Elizabeth Menegon: It really is hands-down better than a potato vodka.
00:03:11.472 --> 00:03:12.572
Elizabeth Menegon: It's really incredible.
00:03:12.752 --> 00:03:13.672
Elizabeth Menegon: It's really delicious.
00:03:13.692 --> 00:03:15.432
Elizabeth Menegon: So I try not to partake too much.
00:03:15.752 --> 00:03:19.652
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes, of course, because if it goes down like water, forget it.
00:03:19.772 --> 00:03:32.812
Elizabeth Menegon: Then you wake up the next day and then you think of all the people you drunk texted that you dated, like your ex-boyfriend, and you're like, oops, I think I did that, but I thought it was a dream.
00:03:33.052 --> 00:03:39.912
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes, we have all done that, but yes, I encourage everybody to put the phone away before you start indulging.
00:03:39.932 --> 00:03:42.292
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Well, I'm actually keeping it pretty simple today.
00:03:42.312 --> 00:03:47.232
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I'm having a little bit of vodka myself with passion fruit juice.
00:03:47.252 --> 00:03:49.452
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So it's refreshing.
00:03:49.512 --> 00:03:52.672
Isabel Alvarez Arata: It's kind of light, kind of refreshing, but it's still a little boozy.
00:03:52.692 --> 00:04:01.372
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So cheers to you for being on the show, because we're going to talk about choosing the right dog for our lifestyle, for our home, for our family.
00:04:01.692 --> 00:04:04.952
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I want to introduce this game called Dog Factor.
00:04:05.312 --> 00:04:14.812
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So this game is based on a list that I got from masterclass.com that outlines six factors to consider when choosing a dog.
00:04:15.152 --> 00:04:19.492
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I want your opinion on why these factors matter.
00:04:19.612 --> 00:04:20.452
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Are you ready to play?
00:04:21.192 --> 00:04:22.132
Elizabeth Menegon: I am ready to play.
00:04:22.252 --> 00:04:23.012
Isabel Alvarez Arata: All right, here we go.
00:04:27.352 --> 00:04:27.932
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Size.
00:04:28.052 --> 00:04:29.112
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Why is that important?
00:04:29.452 --> 00:04:30.512
Elizabeth Menegon: Size matters.
00:04:30.872 --> 00:04:31.392
Isabel Alvarez Arata: It does.
00:04:31.892 --> 00:04:33.392
Elizabeth Menegon: It certainly does.
00:04:35.312 --> 00:04:39.072
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Why does it matter to the dog-seeking family?
00:04:39.432 --> 00:04:40.152
Elizabeth Menegon: It depends.
00:04:40.392 --> 00:04:41.972
Elizabeth Menegon: It can depend on your lifestyle.
00:04:42.352 --> 00:04:45.832
Elizabeth Menegon: Let's say you love to travel and you like to take your pet.
00:04:45.992 --> 00:04:49.192
Elizabeth Menegon: You cannot take a pet on a plane that's over 20 pounds.
00:04:49.972 --> 00:04:53.152
Elizabeth Menegon: So it either goes in the undercarriage or you leave it at home.
00:04:53.792 --> 00:05:01.752
Elizabeth Menegon: Some people do a lot of summer camping trips where they like a bigger dog that keeps the kids company.
00:05:01.852 --> 00:05:03.552
Elizabeth Menegon: It makes people feel safe.
00:05:04.012 --> 00:05:11.092
Elizabeth Menegon: So size matters because with size can come grooming, drooling.
00:05:11.772 --> 00:05:13.772
Elizabeth Menegon: Small can come with barking.
00:05:14.252 --> 00:05:17.132
Elizabeth Menegon: So size is just a portion of it.
00:05:17.632 --> 00:05:20.532
Elizabeth Menegon: There's a few other factors that go with it, but size matters.
00:05:21.012 --> 00:05:21.552
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I agree.
00:05:21.632 --> 00:05:22.432
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Size matters.
00:05:22.852 --> 00:05:25.672
Isabel Alvarez Arata: With two young children, I can tell you the size matters.
00:05:25.712 --> 00:05:33.912
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I know that all dogs bite, but my concern for a big dog versus a small dog and their bite obviously matters to me.
00:05:34.352 --> 00:05:45.632
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So I always tell my kids every dog bites, but I'm much more careful around my big dog, for example, than I am around maybe a smaller dog just because of the damage they can cause.
00:05:45.852 --> 00:05:47.412
Isabel Alvarez Arata: But again, all dogs can bite.
00:05:47.592 --> 00:05:50.532
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Alright, next one, next factor to consider is schedule.
00:05:50.552 --> 00:05:53.332
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Why is considering a family's schedule important?
00:05:53.552 --> 00:05:58.992
Elizabeth Menegon: If you're busy, leaving a dog at home all day is not a good idea.
00:05:59.612 --> 00:06:23.432
Elizabeth Menegon: So if you're a really busy family and you have a dog that you take with you, if you're a soccer mom and you go to a game and you go to games on the weekend and you bring your spring or spaniel or whatever dog you have, the busier you are, you want to consider is this a dog that's going to enjoy all of these events.
00:06:23.712 --> 00:06:26.712
Elizabeth Menegon: Because leaving a dog at home all day is just not fair.
00:06:26.732 --> 00:06:29.672
Elizabeth Menegon: Creating a dog all day is just not fair.
00:06:29.932 --> 00:06:31.812
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Agreed, agreed, 100%.
00:06:32.072 --> 00:06:36.312
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Alright next factor is activity level, the family's activity level.
00:06:36.332 --> 00:06:37.092
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Why does that matter?
00:06:38.052 --> 00:06:41.652
Elizabeth Menegon: Well, I can tell you my activity level, which is close to none.
00:06:42.172 --> 00:06:46.972
Elizabeth Menegon: So I have a dog that loves to sit on my lap.
00:06:47.252 --> 00:06:53.312
Elizabeth Menegon: She could care less if it's raining, if it's sunny out, she's happy staying and really doing nothing.
00:06:53.332 --> 00:06:54.692
Elizabeth Menegon: She's very sedentary.
00:06:55.132 --> 00:07:07.992
Elizabeth Menegon: So if you're an active family and you do things together, you go hiking, you want to bring an animal that's going to be able to keep up, not an animal like mine who would rather be carried around in a backpack.
00:07:08.332 --> 00:07:09.632
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Right, absolutely.
00:07:09.652 --> 00:07:10.812
Isabel Alvarez Arata: How about breed?
00:07:10.832 --> 00:07:11.952
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Why does breed matter?
00:07:11.972 --> 00:07:13.552
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And you know this better than most.
00:07:14.072 --> 00:07:16.752
Elizabeth Menegon: Breed, let's just get down to it.
00:07:16.992 --> 00:07:19.272
Elizabeth Menegon: Breed is everything.
00:07:19.752 --> 00:07:31.112
Elizabeth Menegon: You do a disservice to an animal that is not conducive to your lifestyle, your expectations, your needs, and it's not a good match.
00:07:31.312 --> 00:07:35.392
Elizabeth Menegon: And when a not a good match comes, issues then come with that.
00:07:35.752 --> 00:07:39.092
Elizabeth Menegon: You've got kids that are disappointed, you have behavioral issues with pets.
00:07:39.552 --> 00:07:43.692
Elizabeth Menegon: So it's the breed, and that's why the app was created.
00:07:43.712 --> 00:07:49.972
Elizabeth Menegon: The type of breed, there's over 220 breeds that are recognized.
00:07:51.212 --> 00:07:54.832
Elizabeth Menegon: And the American Kennel Club does the recognizing, the recognition of these animals.
00:07:55.212 --> 00:08:08.472
Elizabeth Menegon: So out of 220 breeds, there are some amazing breeds that people just don't know about because they're stuck in the designer dog, doodle, anything, and that's just not the case.
00:08:08.492 --> 00:08:16.772
Elizabeth Menegon: There are wonderful animals that are out there that are a wonderful fit, as opposed to an overbred puppy mill dog.
00:08:17.632 --> 00:08:22.572
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes, I just released an episode about puppy mills and the dangers of puppy mills.
00:08:22.592 --> 00:08:41.772
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So if you're not familiar, please, I will link it right here so you can check out that episode too, but please go check that out because Joanna Closter is the guest that I interviewed and she and I discussed the really sad parts and the liability that these puppies can become down the line for the family that buys them without knowing what they're getting.
00:08:42.272 --> 00:08:43.972
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Next one is age.
00:08:44.312 --> 00:08:44.652
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Age.
00:08:44.672 --> 00:08:46.112
Isabel Alvarez Arata: How does age matter?
00:08:46.652 --> 00:08:47.092
Elizabeth Menegon: Age.
00:08:47.092 --> 00:08:50.412
Elizabeth Menegon: So you would be talking about then adoption, correct?
00:08:50.632 --> 00:08:51.052
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes.
00:08:51.872 --> 00:08:53.412
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Or not.
00:08:53.972 --> 00:08:54.512
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Or puppies.
00:08:55.172 --> 00:08:56.472
Elizabeth Menegon: Well, so here's the thing.
00:08:56.492 --> 00:08:58.752
Elizabeth Menegon: So let's say, let's just talk about adoption.
00:08:59.012 --> 00:09:02.572
Elizabeth Menegon: The age of a dog adoption is really up to you.
00:09:03.392 --> 00:09:15.192
Elizabeth Menegon: If you're a little bit older and you don't want a puppy, a dog that's maybe 10, you don't want to have an animal that's going to outlive you.
00:09:15.672 --> 00:09:21.432
Elizabeth Menegon: That's why it's never good to give an elderly person a puppy because there's other issues there.
00:09:23.352 --> 00:09:29.952
Elizabeth Menegon: But usually, when you get a puppy, a puppy should not leave its mother until it's 12 weeks old.
00:09:31.072 --> 00:09:31.612
Elizabeth Menegon: Period.
00:09:31.892 --> 00:09:34.612
Elizabeth Menegon: A lot of these puppy mill dogs are taken too early.
00:09:35.092 --> 00:09:39.592
Elizabeth Menegon: So people that go into pet stores are buying animals that are far too young.
00:09:40.072 --> 00:09:42.692
Elizabeth Menegon: And the reason why they do that is they have a shelf life.
00:09:43.432 --> 00:09:45.132
Elizabeth Menegon: Nobody wants an eight-month-old puppy.
00:09:45.152 --> 00:09:46.532
Elizabeth Menegon: They want a three-month-old puppy.
00:09:46.792 --> 00:09:50.732
Elizabeth Menegon: So they take them away at six weeks old, sometimes even earlier.
00:09:51.292 --> 00:09:53.152
Elizabeth Menegon: So it's a family decision.
00:09:53.172 --> 00:09:56.372
Elizabeth Menegon: You have to be ready to manage a puppy.
00:09:56.552 --> 00:10:05.572
Elizabeth Menegon: And that comes with chewing on slippers, peeing on the floor, taking them outside, learning them to walk on the leash.
00:10:05.632 --> 00:10:06.612
Elizabeth Menegon: It's like a baby.
00:10:06.972 --> 00:10:10.692
Elizabeth Menegon: It's malleable and you need to do everything.
00:10:10.712 --> 00:10:15.432
Elizabeth Menegon: And if you don't do it right, you can end up with a lot of issues, a lot of problems.
00:10:15.652 --> 00:10:16.152
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Absolutely.
00:10:16.172 --> 00:10:21.672
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And I actually think it's sometimes harder than a baby because babies you can bring with you.
00:10:21.692 --> 00:10:23.992
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Puppies you can't always bring with you.
00:10:24.072 --> 00:10:28.432
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So you're like forced to be in two places at once at times with a puppy.
00:10:28.532 --> 00:10:29.772
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I am not a puppy person.
00:10:29.792 --> 00:10:33.192
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I think they're adorable and wonderful and I love to see them on social media.
00:10:33.212 --> 00:10:36.392
Isabel Alvarez Arata: But I in this home probably will never have a puppy.
00:10:36.412 --> 00:10:38.432
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I love an old dog.
00:10:38.492 --> 00:10:39.832
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I love an adult dog.
00:10:40.012 --> 00:10:45.392
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And after a certain age, I'm happy to train and help and guide.
00:10:45.412 --> 00:10:49.232
Isabel Alvarez Arata: But that puppy period is just way too much for me.
00:10:49.452 --> 00:10:50.472
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I just don't enjoy it.
00:10:50.712 --> 00:10:53.732
Elizabeth Menegon: Well, you know, my mom said something once, which is very true.
00:10:53.752 --> 00:10:57.912
Elizabeth Menegon: You never buy a dog for your children because you always end up taking care of it.
00:10:58.092 --> 00:10:59.232
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes, absolutely.
00:11:00.172 --> 00:11:04.112
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Your kids will make a lot of promises, but they're not going to see any of them through.
00:11:04.132 --> 00:11:06.952
Elizabeth Menegon: Oh, they're going to tell you, oh, mom, I'm going to walk the dog.
00:11:06.972 --> 00:11:11.532
Elizabeth Menegon: And when they have to go out at 9 at night, like who's going to put their 10-year-old kid at night?
00:11:11.852 --> 00:11:13.892
Elizabeth Menegon: Or it's pouring rain on a Sunday morning.
00:11:13.952 --> 00:11:18.372
Elizabeth Menegon: It just doesn't work unless your kids are a little bit older.
00:11:18.712 --> 00:11:19.072
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes.
00:11:19.592 --> 00:11:23.012
Elizabeth Menegon: Where they understand the commitment and the responsibility.
00:11:23.412 --> 00:11:25.512
Elizabeth Menegon: But yeah, no, doesn't work.
00:11:26.232 --> 00:11:30.352
Elizabeth Menegon: I say that when I wanted a brand new 10-speed bike and I left it out in the rain.
00:11:30.372 --> 00:11:31.292
Elizabeth Menegon: Of course I did.
00:11:31.712 --> 00:11:33.212
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Of course you did, yes.
00:11:33.732 --> 00:11:36.412
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Oh, we have a way of destroying everything we touch.
00:11:36.572 --> 00:11:43.072
Isabel Alvarez Arata: All right, well, the last one, the last factor that masterclass.com thinks we should consider is history.
00:11:43.472 --> 00:11:44.732
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Why do you think that matters?
00:11:45.392 --> 00:11:48.032
Elizabeth Menegon: Most people are buying dogs based on what they look like.
00:11:48.292 --> 00:11:48.612
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes.
00:11:48.972 --> 00:11:53.492
Elizabeth Menegon: So they're not interested, and dogs are being bred, by the way, as a commodity.
00:11:53.892 --> 00:11:58.252
Elizabeth Menegon: It's like coming up with a new handbag or a new shoe or a new car.
00:11:58.592 --> 00:12:01.792
Elizabeth Menegon: So dogs now are solely being bred for aesthetics.
00:12:02.112 --> 00:12:16.452
Elizabeth Menegon: So history is important with a rescue, but I wouldn't apply it to pure breeds because if you're buying a dog online, you either know or you don't know that it's coming from not a very good source.
00:12:16.812 --> 00:12:18.412
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And if you know, you don't care.
00:12:18.552 --> 00:12:19.732
Elizabeth Menegon: And if you know, you don't care.
00:12:19.892 --> 00:12:21.792
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Thank you for participating in that game.
00:12:21.812 --> 00:12:24.112
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I actually want you to tell us those questions.
00:12:24.112 --> 00:12:26.592
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I read online that it is 14 questions.
00:12:26.612 --> 00:12:27.112
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Am I right?
00:12:27.132 --> 00:12:27.792
Elizabeth Menegon: 12.
00:12:28.092 --> 00:12:28.592
Isabel Alvarez Arata: 12.
00:12:29.012 --> 00:12:29.692
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I'm sorry.
00:12:29.932 --> 00:12:31.292
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So it's 12 questions.
00:12:31.352 --> 00:12:32.212
Isabel Alvarez Arata: What are they?
00:12:32.232 --> 00:12:34.572
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And what is the goal of the app?
00:12:34.812 --> 00:12:38.132
Elizabeth Menegon: Ooh, well, we're not going to tell you all of them because then it would be no fun.
00:12:39.412 --> 00:12:47.392
Elizabeth Menegon: So what the algorithm does is based on your answers to the questions, the algorithm goes through over 220 breeds.
00:12:48.012 --> 00:12:49.512
Elizabeth Menegon: There are no designer dogs.
00:12:49.772 --> 00:12:50.732
Elizabeth Menegon: There are no mixes.
00:12:50.752 --> 00:12:52.572
Elizabeth Menegon: These are all pure breed dogs.
00:12:53.352 --> 00:12:56.652
Elizabeth Menegon: So size is one, right?
00:12:56.972 --> 00:12:57.532
Elizabeth Menegon: Grooming.
00:12:58.892 --> 00:12:59.112
Elizabeth Menegon: Ah.
00:12:59.472 --> 00:13:01.912
Elizabeth Menegon: People never think about grooming.
00:13:02.232 --> 00:13:07.932
Elizabeth Menegon: You can get a beautiful dog and not realize that it needs to be cut every six weeks.
00:13:08.652 --> 00:13:11.052
Elizabeth Menegon: Nail trimming, all of that.
00:13:11.152 --> 00:13:15.892
Elizabeth Menegon: But the grooming, some of these animals have cuts.
00:13:15.912 --> 00:13:19.092
Elizabeth Menegon: Like a cocker spaniel has a certain cut.
00:13:19.452 --> 00:13:24.572
Elizabeth Menegon: If you don't cut it, it doesn't have to look like a show dog, but there's still grooming involved.
00:13:24.892 --> 00:13:25.232
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Right.
00:13:25.532 --> 00:13:28.052
Elizabeth Menegon: So grooming is, do you want to brush a dog?
00:13:28.292 --> 00:13:29.692
Elizabeth Menegon: Do you want to shed him?
00:13:30.172 --> 00:13:30.572
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Right.
00:13:30.832 --> 00:13:32.832
Elizabeth Menegon: Huge, huge.
00:13:33.172 --> 00:13:35.492
Elizabeth Menegon: My dog barely sheds.
00:13:35.672 --> 00:13:35.972
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Right.
00:13:36.032 --> 00:13:38.112
Elizabeth Menegon: If she does, it's like eyelashes.
00:13:38.832 --> 00:13:43.632
Elizabeth Menegon: Get a husky, get a corgi where you look like you just fell out of the dryer.
00:13:44.012 --> 00:13:45.672
Elizabeth Menegon: The lint trap, you're full of hair.
00:13:45.692 --> 00:13:46.572
Elizabeth Menegon: Mm-hmm.
00:13:46.592 --> 00:13:47.132
Elizabeth Menegon: Drooling.
00:13:47.552 --> 00:13:48.972
Elizabeth Menegon: How about drooling?
00:13:49.492 --> 00:13:54.172
Elizabeth Menegon: My friend had a baby and her husband comes home with a mastiff.
00:13:54.932 --> 00:13:58.952
Elizabeth Menegon: She loved the dog, but she said, she's like, why would you do this to me?
00:13:58.952 --> 00:14:02.612
Elizabeth Menegon: I'm like holding a baby in like a washcloth, cleaning up the drool.
00:14:03.132 --> 00:14:05.712
Elizabeth Menegon: It drooled on the walls, on the floor.
00:14:06.252 --> 00:14:09.232
Elizabeth Menegon: It was so big that it could put its head on the countertop.
00:14:09.632 --> 00:14:13.232
Elizabeth Menegon: It was drooling all, literally all over her entire house.
00:14:13.252 --> 00:14:17.292
Elizabeth Menegon: She said, if I had known, this dog would never have come into the home.
00:14:17.592 --> 00:14:19.072
Elizabeth Menegon: So barking.
00:14:19.572 --> 00:14:24.372
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes, huge especially depending on where you live.
00:14:24.692 --> 00:14:26.232
Elizabeth Menegon: You fall in love with a beagle.
00:14:26.412 --> 00:14:30.952
Elizabeth Menegon: You're gonna end up with a notice from the management company that you're gonna have to leave your apartment.
00:14:31.412 --> 00:14:36.792
Elizabeth Menegon: They're incessant, incessant barking that will be going on when you leave your apartment.
00:14:36.832 --> 00:14:40.512
Elizabeth Menegon: So these are things people need to factor.
00:14:41.032 --> 00:14:42.772
Elizabeth Menegon: Mental stimulation.
00:14:43.212 --> 00:14:46.612
Elizabeth Menegon: Nature created animals to do something.
00:14:46.952 --> 00:14:47.252
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Right.
00:14:47.532 --> 00:14:55.312
Elizabeth Menegon: So if you have a herding dog, let's say a corgi, those are big in apartments because people think they're adorable.
00:14:55.632 --> 00:14:57.632
Elizabeth Menegon: It's the wrong dog for an apartment.
00:14:58.132 --> 00:14:59.252
Elizabeth Menegon: It's a herding dog.
00:14:59.272 --> 00:15:00.672
Elizabeth Menegon: It needs a job.
00:15:01.172 --> 00:15:07.752
Elizabeth Menegon: So now you've got a dog that you wonder why it's like nipping at the kids and taking the pillows off of the sofa.
00:15:08.132 --> 00:15:09.392
Elizabeth Menegon: It has an urge.
00:15:09.672 --> 00:15:11.792
Elizabeth Menegon: It can't do what it's supposed to do.
00:15:12.192 --> 00:15:14.732
Elizabeth Menegon: You interpret that as anxiety.
00:15:15.192 --> 00:15:21.752
Elizabeth Menegon: Next thing you know, you're going to a vet and getting medication for a dog that should be living in the suburbs.
00:15:22.132 --> 00:15:22.512
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Right.
00:15:23.492 --> 00:15:40.732
Elizabeth Menegon: So those questions, mental stimulation, grooming, shedding, barking, size, if all of that makes a difference and all of that pulled together, then gets the right dog for you.
00:15:41.072 --> 00:15:44.792
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Do people actually say like, yes, I want a barker ever?
00:15:45.092 --> 00:15:47.872
Elizabeth Menegon: No, because you're answering questions.
00:15:48.252 --> 00:15:51.192
Elizabeth Menegon: You're not telling the app what you want.
00:15:51.452 --> 00:15:51.872
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Got it.
00:15:51.952 --> 00:15:54.312
Elizabeth Menegon: In other words, it'll say barking level.
00:15:55.032 --> 00:16:00.692
Elizabeth Menegon: So, if you want like no barking, you get a sheep-a-ino who doesn't bark, right?
00:16:00.912 --> 00:16:02.392
Elizabeth Menegon: So, there are breeds that don't bark.
00:16:02.532 --> 00:16:06.192
Elizabeth Menegon: Or do you want a dog that just lets you know, like the mailman's at the door?
00:16:06.472 --> 00:16:08.152
Elizabeth Menegon: Or a more vocal dog?
00:16:08.372 --> 00:16:09.512
Elizabeth Menegon: And then there's like excessive...
00:16:10.612 --> 00:16:11.552
Elizabeth Menegon: Yeah, exactly.
00:16:11.572 --> 00:16:29.332
Elizabeth Menegon: So, this dog, for instance, this Italian Greyhound, because I live in an apartment and I used to live in the Caribbean, so she's used to different environments, but I've always, when she started to bark, if she heard someone, I would tell her to be quiet.
00:16:29.592 --> 00:16:33.852
Elizabeth Menegon: So, you know, this dog doesn't bark a lot because I didn't encourage it.
00:16:34.152 --> 00:16:34.472
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Right.
00:16:34.872 --> 00:16:41.832
Elizabeth Menegon: Living in an apartment, if she heard someone in the hallway, she may bark a little bit, and then I would be like, and then she would just stop.
00:16:42.172 --> 00:16:49.952
Elizabeth Menegon: Where my mom's Italian Greyhound, because she lives in a house, she can see out the window, so she's more active and more stimulated.
00:16:50.452 --> 00:17:00.752
Elizabeth Menegon: But as a rule, they are not incessant barkers, where a beagle is, or a husky is a howler, or a schnauzer.
00:17:01.292 --> 00:17:03.992
Elizabeth Menegon: If barking is an issue, that's right.
00:17:04.012 --> 00:17:08.172
Elizabeth Menegon: If barking is an issue, that's something that most people never think about.
00:17:08.632 --> 00:17:15.672
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Until it's too late, until like you said, they have issues with their management company or their neighbor, et cetera, et cetera, for sure.
00:17:15.692 --> 00:17:17.452
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Tell me about this app.
00:17:17.672 --> 00:17:24.792
Isabel Alvarez Arata: What inspired you to create it, and what is so important to you about what you do with it?
00:17:26.172 --> 00:17:33.552
Elizabeth Menegon: So I think it was a couple of things that sort of came together that sort of took me on this journey.
00:17:34.392 --> 00:17:39.592
Elizabeth Menegon: And the journey was really, it started with COVID actually.
00:17:39.612 --> 00:17:50.972
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, going through COVID in New York City and being quarantined and being quarantined alone with my dog was, you know, you get inside your head.
00:17:51.712 --> 00:17:55.572
Elizabeth Menegon: And I spent a lot of time really thinking about just life.
00:17:56.052 --> 00:18:04.192
Elizabeth Menegon: And I realized that I had wasted a lot of time in my life and I wanted my COVID story to be a good story.
00:18:04.252 --> 00:18:10.052
Elizabeth Menegon: I wanted something really good to come out of that experience because I could have been sick.
00:18:10.172 --> 00:18:12.712
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, I have friends who lost family members.
00:18:13.092 --> 00:18:14.952
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, I have a brother, I have a mom.
00:18:14.972 --> 00:18:15.932
Elizabeth Menegon: We all made it.
00:18:15.932 --> 00:18:19.172
Elizabeth Menegon: We're statistically, we could not have.
00:18:19.412 --> 00:18:21.112
Elizabeth Menegon: So that was sort of going on in my head.
00:18:21.412 --> 00:18:32.352
Elizabeth Menegon: And then I started realizing that, you know, I'm walking in the city and I'm looking at these people that were quarantined and now they're getting out and their dogs are just all over the place.
00:18:32.732 --> 00:18:34.772
Elizabeth Menegon: And I was noticing the trend.
00:18:35.172 --> 00:18:39.712
Elizabeth Menegon: Doodle dogs, doodle anything, corgis, frenchies.
00:18:39.812 --> 00:18:43.752
Elizabeth Menegon: I just was noticing miniature Australian shepherds.
00:18:43.952 --> 00:18:45.452
Elizabeth Menegon: That's not a department dog.
00:18:45.792 --> 00:18:50.292
Elizabeth Menegon: So I thought, Jesus, you know, what is wrong with, why are people getting these dogs?
00:18:50.412 --> 00:18:52.512
Elizabeth Menegon: This is like, you know, what I'm saying to myself.
00:18:52.952 --> 00:19:01.672
Elizabeth Menegon: So I left the city because I have a business and which by the way, the dog industry, that's like not my thing.
00:19:01.812 --> 00:19:05.432
Elizabeth Menegon: Like I thought this was gonna be a side hustle and it like took over my entire life.
00:19:06.252 --> 00:19:17.872
Elizabeth Menegon: But when I, so I moved to the city in June and in August, this was over two years ago, in August, I think I had parked my car.
00:19:18.232 --> 00:19:26.172
Elizabeth Menegon: So from the parking garage to the lobby, to the mail room, to my apartment, I saw three miniature Australian shepherds.
00:19:26.512 --> 00:19:27.432
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Oh my Lord.
00:19:27.992 --> 00:19:37.732
Elizabeth Menegon: And I think I was yelling to my, I think I was yelling out loud to myself as I'm opening the door and I'm like, what the F is wrong with people?
00:19:38.212 --> 00:19:39.772
Elizabeth Menegon: Why are people getting these dogs?
00:19:40.052 --> 00:19:41.132
Elizabeth Menegon: Isn't there an app?
00:19:41.152 --> 00:19:43.192
Elizabeth Menegon: Isn't there something that should be telling these people?
00:19:43.452 --> 00:19:46.552
Elizabeth Menegon: I literally was saying that as I'm like going into my apartment.
00:19:46.912 --> 00:19:48.032
Elizabeth Menegon: It was on a Wednesday.
00:19:48.052 --> 00:19:48.872
Elizabeth Menegon: I'll never forget it.
00:19:49.052 --> 00:19:54.012
Elizabeth Menegon: So I literally started to search and there was nothing available.
00:19:54.492 --> 00:19:55.032
Elizabeth Menegon: Zero.
00:19:55.052 --> 00:19:57.872
Elizabeth Menegon: I like some deep dark place.
00:19:57.892 --> 00:20:05.372
Elizabeth Menegon: I found something that asked me like four questions that were completely irrelevant or not necessary.
00:20:05.392 --> 00:20:09.612
Elizabeth Menegon: Don't ask me about paper training because that's, you have to paper train every dog.
00:20:10.192 --> 00:20:18.492
Elizabeth Menegon: So it was really bizarre and it recommended two dogs that I would never have in an apartment, which was a Jack Russell and a Labrador Retriever.
00:20:18.852 --> 00:20:19.112
Isabel Alvarez Arata: No.
00:20:19.432 --> 00:20:25.632
Elizabeth Menegon: So I realized that this was a huge problem and I'm a responsible dog owner.
00:20:25.912 --> 00:20:29.092
Elizabeth Menegon: People are buying animals solely based on what's trending.
00:20:30.212 --> 00:20:35.832
Elizabeth Menegon: And that's when I started this journey and said, there needs to be an app because there is none.
00:20:36.252 --> 00:20:39.032
Elizabeth Menegon: I saw a problem and I had a solution.
00:20:39.352 --> 00:20:39.952
Isabel Alvarez Arata: That's amazing.
00:20:39.972 --> 00:20:41.492
Elizabeth Menegon: And that's where the journey started.
00:20:41.812 --> 00:20:42.612
Isabel Alvarez Arata: That's amazing.
00:20:42.632 --> 00:20:46.872
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Congratulations, because that takes a lot of conviction and a lot of, what is it called?
00:20:46.912 --> 00:20:48.332
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Like, just-
00:20:48.332 --> 00:20:50.352
Elizabeth Menegon: Well, there's drive and determination.
00:20:50.532 --> 00:20:54.892
Elizabeth Menegon: And I think, so going back to that, I'm stuck in my head in COVID in New York City.
00:20:55.352 --> 00:20:56.512
Elizabeth Menegon: I don't have children.
00:20:57.132 --> 00:21:02.312
Elizabeth Menegon: I wanted to leave something when I am no longer on this planet that made a difference in the world.
00:21:03.232 --> 00:21:09.172
Elizabeth Menegon: And that all came with just self-realization and just saying, wow, you know, I don't have kids.
00:21:09.612 --> 00:21:11.352
Elizabeth Menegon: I want to, what, I'm going to die tomorrow.
00:21:11.372 --> 00:21:12.172
Elizabeth Menegon: And like, what?
00:21:12.512 --> 00:21:13.572
Elizabeth Menegon: I was nice to people.
00:21:13.832 --> 00:21:16.032
Elizabeth Menegon: Like, I really wanted to do something that mattered.
00:21:16.212 --> 00:21:18.672
Elizabeth Menegon: So this is 100% personal.
00:21:18.852 --> 00:21:20.512
Elizabeth Menegon: That's why the app is free.
00:21:20.792 --> 00:21:22.112
Elizabeth Menegon: I don't have investors.
00:21:22.652 --> 00:21:27.592
Elizabeth Menegon: I completely fund the app and everything that goes with it.
00:21:27.932 --> 00:21:31.532
Elizabeth Menegon: And it was all about getting people to do the right thing.
00:21:31.592 --> 00:21:33.792
Elizabeth Menegon: And then I took the app one step further.
00:21:34.032 --> 00:21:35.772
Elizabeth Menegon: So I'll tell you that when you want to know.
00:21:36.092 --> 00:21:37.072
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I do want to know.
00:21:37.092 --> 00:21:38.032
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Tell me now.
00:21:38.572 --> 00:21:41.152
Elizabeth Menegon: So, recommending reads for people.
00:21:41.172 --> 00:21:45.952
Elizabeth Menegon: So what happens with the app is you answer the questions and then it'll populate a list.
00:21:46.312 --> 00:21:47.752
Elizabeth Menegon: So then you can look through the list.
00:21:48.392 --> 00:21:53.972
Elizabeth Menegon: And when you click on the image of the dog, let's say you were matched with a Boston Terrier, you can read about it.
00:21:54.192 --> 00:21:57.452
Elizabeth Menegon: But then when you click on the image again, are you ready for this?
00:21:57.892 --> 00:22:02.932
Elizabeth Menegon: It brings you to the Boston Terrier Club of America.
00:22:03.372 --> 00:22:09.152
Elizabeth Menegon: Every breed in this country has their own, it's called a parent company.
00:22:09.472 --> 00:22:13.112
Elizabeth Menegon: They have their own breed association website.
00:22:13.652 --> 00:22:16.012
Elizabeth Menegon: I send people directly to them.
00:22:16.032 --> 00:22:21.732
Elizabeth Menegon: They can look for litters, dog shows, rescues.
00:22:21.992 --> 00:22:25.012
Elizabeth Menegon: Every pure breed has their own rescue group.
00:22:25.552 --> 00:22:32.472
Elizabeth Menegon: You can even adopt a retired show dog that is six or seven years old.
00:22:33.372 --> 00:22:40.632
Elizabeth Menegon: It didn't make sense for me to create an app that recommended a dog that you can now go buy in a pet store.
00:22:40.812 --> 00:22:41.572
Elizabeth Menegon: It was foolish.
00:22:41.932 --> 00:22:46.612
Elizabeth Menegon: I wanted to say, here's a breed, and this is where you need to go to get it.
00:22:47.092 --> 00:22:51.312
Elizabeth Menegon: So that is what makes this incredibly unique.
00:22:51.332 --> 00:22:55.892
Elizabeth Menegon: And I have to tell you, there was no app, and I am female.
00:22:56.332 --> 00:22:59.452
Elizabeth Menegon: I'm just putting a shout out there to women over 50.
00:22:59.792 --> 00:23:06.032
Elizabeth Menegon: We are not all about leaky bladders and sweats and headaches, right?
00:23:06.372 --> 00:23:08.592
Elizabeth Menegon: Like, you know what I mean?
00:23:09.372 --> 00:23:13.352
Elizabeth Menegon: You don't need to put us out to pasture because we have, you know, there's no use for us.
00:23:13.592 --> 00:23:16.412
Elizabeth Menegon: You'd be surprised at what we can do.
00:23:16.472 --> 00:23:18.052
Elizabeth Menegon: And I am very proud.
00:23:18.192 --> 00:23:23.412
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I completely applaud the fact that you had this vision and that you're doing the right thing.
00:23:23.432 --> 00:23:27.052
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Not only providing the information, but the resources.
00:23:27.072 --> 00:23:32.072
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So, pet parents who are getting the wrong pet, you have no excuse.
00:23:32.192 --> 00:23:40.052
Isabel Alvarez Arata: There is literally no excuse for making that huge mistake that we all made at some point in the 80s because we didn't know any better.
00:23:40.072 --> 00:23:41.532
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Like, there is no excuse now.
00:23:41.772 --> 00:23:43.012
Isabel Alvarez Arata: People have the resources.
00:23:43.032 --> 00:23:43.852
Isabel Alvarez Arata: They have the app.
00:23:43.872 --> 00:23:45.452
Isabel Alvarez Arata: They have the contacts.
00:23:45.472 --> 00:23:46.452
Isabel Alvarez Arata: They have the lists.
00:23:46.692 --> 00:23:48.272
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And now it's time to do better.
00:23:48.272 --> 00:23:54.492
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So thank you for giving pet parents the opportunity to do the right thing and to do better.
00:23:54.512 --> 00:23:56.172
Elizabeth Menegon: To do better and do the right thing.
00:23:56.212 --> 00:23:58.852
Elizabeth Menegon: I bought a dog at a pet store 25 years ago.
00:23:59.192 --> 00:23:59.872
Elizabeth Menegon: I didn't know.
00:23:59.892 --> 00:24:02.092
Elizabeth Menegon: I didn't really understand.
00:24:02.392 --> 00:24:04.492
Elizabeth Menegon: The poor thing, she was absolutely adorable.
00:24:04.652 --> 00:24:09.312
Elizabeth Menegon: She came from a puppy mill and she was full of skin allergies and issues.
00:24:09.332 --> 00:24:13.192
Elizabeth Menegon: And the vet said it was all breeding and she was from a puppy mill.
00:24:13.532 --> 00:24:24.632
Elizabeth Menegon: So, you know, I've walked in those shoes, but I also have a dog that came from a breeder who breeds show dogs, but she was too small.
00:24:24.992 --> 00:24:28.612
Elizabeth Menegon: She was bored with what's called a DQ, a disqualifier.
00:24:29.132 --> 00:24:30.812
Elizabeth Menegon: She didn't meet the breed standard.
00:24:31.112 --> 00:24:33.432
Elizabeth Menegon: That's also something people don't realize.
00:24:33.852 --> 00:24:36.552
Elizabeth Menegon: And look, she hasn't made one peep since we've chatted.
00:24:36.792 --> 00:24:38.632
Elizabeth Menegon: She was sleeping on my lap the whole time.
00:24:39.252 --> 00:24:42.772
Isabel Alvarez Arata: She has this little smile on her face that I just adore.
00:24:43.612 --> 00:24:49.612
Elizabeth Menegon: So, you know, it is more expensive to buy a dog at a pet store than it is to get a dog from a breeder.
00:24:49.892 --> 00:24:53.432
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And most people don't even know because they're not doing enough research.
00:24:53.452 --> 00:24:54.992
Isabel Alvarez Arata: They're not looking into it enough.
00:24:55.012 --> 00:25:02.272
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Well, I want to talk more about breeds specifically and your experience with helping people choose the right breed for them.
00:25:02.472 --> 00:25:03.832
Isabel Alvarez Arata: But we need to take a break right now.
00:25:03.852 --> 00:25:04.952
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Let's listen to our sponsors.
00:25:04.972 --> 00:25:09.912
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And when we come back, Elizabeth is going to help us navigate apartment dogs.
00:25:09.952 --> 00:25:16.432
Isabel Alvarez Arata: For all of those of you who currently lives in apartments, and don't have a plan on leaving the apartment life, we will be right back.
00:25:19.392 --> 00:25:21.052
Announcer: Molly, here's your dinner. Zeus, that's not your food!
00:25:25.612 --> 00:25:27.712
Announcer: Don't let that happen to your precious cat.
00:25:27.912 --> 00:25:31.152
Announcer: Elevate your cat's eating experience with the Cat Tree Tray.
00:25:31.392 --> 00:25:36.772
Announcer: The Cat Tree Tray keeps your cat's food off the floor and conveniently located on the cat tree.
00:25:37.212 --> 00:25:39.172
Announcer: It's the perfect way to eat.
00:25:39.732 --> 00:25:47.152
Announcer: It's a beautiful wrought iron tray that easily attaches to your cat tree and keeps dogs and other critters out of your cat's dish.
00:25:47.512 --> 00:25:49.372
Announcer: A must for multi-pet households.
00:25:49.652 --> 00:25:53.632
Announcer: There's a 6-inch tray for large bowls and a 4-inch tray for smaller bowls.
00:25:54.052 --> 00:25:56.772
Announcer: Purchase your Cat Tree Tray today.
00:25:57.072 --> 00:26:01.292
Announcer: Go right now to www.cattreetray.com That's www.cattreetray.com That's www.cattreetray.com.
00:26:26.012 --> 00:26:27.832
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Welcome back to Covered in Pet Hair.
00:26:27.852 --> 00:26:41.732
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I'm your host, Isabel Alvarez Arata, and today I'm speaking to Elizabeth Menegon, who is the founder of the Hands to Pause app that helps people find the right breed and dog for their family.
00:26:41.850 --> 00:26:54.690
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So today I want, now that we've already talked about the app and how you conceived it and all that, I want to play a second game with you, Elizabeth, and this is called This Not That Apartment Dog Edition.
00:26:54.750 --> 00:27:05.830
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So I'm going to give you a list of breeds and you're going to tell me if you agree with readersdigest.com that these would make for good apartment dogs.
00:27:06.150 --> 00:27:06.750
Isabel Alvarez Arata: If it's a-
00:27:06.770 --> 00:27:08.030
Elizabeth Menegon: You're going to get me in trouble.
00:27:08.630 --> 00:27:15.930
Isabel Alvarez Arata: If it's a good option, you say this works and if you don't think it's a good option, you say not that.
00:27:16.290 --> 00:27:17.850
Elizabeth Menegon: Okay, and then you have to take a drink.
00:27:17.870 --> 00:27:18.790
Elizabeth Menegon: Is that how that works?
00:27:19.070 --> 00:27:21.610
Isabel Alvarez Arata: If you want to take a drink, you can definitely take a drink.
00:27:21.630 --> 00:27:22.390
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I'll be drinking too.
00:27:25.730 --> 00:27:30.430
Isabel Alvarez Arata: The first one is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
00:27:30.910 --> 00:27:35.030
Elizabeth Menegon: A lovely breed, absolutely adorable, very sweet.
00:27:35.550 --> 00:27:40.190
Elizabeth Menegon: There's a few medical things you have to consider, but yes, I agree with that.
00:27:40.250 --> 00:27:41.930
Elizabeth Menegon: But can I put a but in there?
00:27:41.950 --> 00:27:42.890
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes, of course.
00:27:43.410 --> 00:27:57.050
Elizabeth Menegon: Okay, if you live in a city and you took your shoes off, left your socks on, walked around the block and went back up to your apartment, didn't take off your socks and went and got into bed, how would you feel?
00:27:57.470 --> 00:28:02.490
Elizabeth Menegon: The King Charles Spaniels, they have really hairy paws.
00:28:03.050 --> 00:28:10.990
Elizabeth Menegon: And when you walk them in the city, you get a whole bunch of hangers-on and some funkiness in their paws.
00:28:11.230 --> 00:28:12.830
Elizabeth Menegon: It's just the way they are.
00:28:13.450 --> 00:28:16.030
Elizabeth Menegon: You have to be diligent when you bring them in.
00:28:16.670 --> 00:28:20.690
Elizabeth Menegon: You literally walk them over to the kitchen sink and wash their feet.
00:28:21.050 --> 00:28:28.030
Elizabeth Menegon: If you don't mind that, my dog has no hair in her feet, but I would take her the minute I walked in my apartment and put her in the sink.
00:28:28.950 --> 00:28:30.890
Elizabeth Menegon: Very sweet dog.
00:28:30.930 --> 00:28:35.530
Elizabeth Menegon: Nice dog for an apartment, living very friendly, but you have to think about the paws.
00:28:35.870 --> 00:28:37.210
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yep, that's a good point.
00:28:37.230 --> 00:28:38.310
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Very good point.
00:28:38.330 --> 00:28:40.030
Elizabeth Menegon: Very hairy.
00:28:40.130 --> 00:28:41.590
Isabel Alvarez Arata: The next one is a Great Dane.
00:28:41.730 --> 00:28:43.870
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Is that a good apartment dog or not that?
00:28:44.690 --> 00:28:52.710
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, believe it or not, bigger dogs in apartments do well because they don't require the exercise.
00:28:53.550 --> 00:29:01.230
Elizabeth Menegon: In New York City, if you have a studio, your Great Dane is like a sofa and a dog.
00:29:01.390 --> 00:29:01.970
Elizabeth Menegon: They're big.
00:29:02.290 --> 00:29:07.930
Elizabeth Menegon: And with that comes, you don't need like a poop bag when you're walking a Great Dane.
00:29:07.950 --> 00:29:12.230
Elizabeth Menegon: You need like a reusable shopping bag.
00:29:13.430 --> 00:29:18.310
Elizabeth Menegon: You have to be ready to pick up like firelog loads on the sidewalk.
00:29:19.070 --> 00:29:21.790
Elizabeth Menegon: So if you don't...
00:29:21.810 --> 00:29:26.910
Elizabeth Menegon: And God forbid, I mean in New York City, you take a dog to a park and you don't clean up after it.
00:29:26.930 --> 00:29:29.310
Elizabeth Menegon: There's like the mad mob behind you.
00:29:29.810 --> 00:29:34.870
Elizabeth Menegon: So it's swinging that huge bag of dog poop.
00:29:35.230 --> 00:29:38.110
Elizabeth Menegon: If you don't mind that, beautiful breed.
00:29:38.250 --> 00:29:39.550
Elizabeth Menegon: They don't live very long.
00:29:39.990 --> 00:29:44.390
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, Great Danes, boy, if they're 10, that's old.
00:29:45.510 --> 00:29:47.110
Elizabeth Menegon: But it's the size.
00:29:47.510 --> 00:29:50.310
Elizabeth Menegon: If you don't mind the size, terrific dog.
00:29:50.430 --> 00:29:57.030
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yeah, I'm a little claustrophobic, so I feel like in a tiny house with a huge dog, I'd be kind of on edge.
00:29:57.050 --> 00:30:01.110
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So that wouldn't work for me, but I know a lot of people make it work and they are great dogs.
00:30:01.450 --> 00:30:02.650
Isabel Alvarez Arata: How about a pug?
00:30:02.850 --> 00:30:04.690
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Good apartment dog or not that?
00:30:05.930 --> 00:30:07.610
Elizabeth Menegon: Oh, pugs are sweet, yes.
00:30:08.150 --> 00:30:09.470
Elizabeth Menegon: Nice apartment dog.
00:30:09.790 --> 00:30:11.130
Elizabeth Menegon: Again, it's interesting.
00:30:11.770 --> 00:30:13.490
Elizabeth Menegon: There's medical issues with pugs.
00:30:13.710 --> 00:30:17.810
Elizabeth Menegon: They're brachiocephalic, so they're flat-faced.
00:30:18.390 --> 00:30:21.150
Elizabeth Menegon: Actually the same with the King Charles Spaniel.
00:30:21.850 --> 00:30:23.750
Elizabeth Menegon: They have an issue too with breathing.
00:30:24.290 --> 00:30:28.430
Elizabeth Menegon: So these are not dogs you want to take out on a hot summer day in New York City.
00:30:29.050 --> 00:30:37.310
Elizabeth Menegon: But as far as size, like tote, put them in a bag, bring them, it's also a nice low-maintenance.
00:30:37.730 --> 00:30:39.270
Elizabeth Menegon: There's no grooming involved.
00:30:39.790 --> 00:30:42.290
Elizabeth Menegon: They're a great breed, but they have a lot of breathing issues.
00:30:42.730 --> 00:30:45.530
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Especially because of the breeding, right?
00:30:46.110 --> 00:30:48.410
Elizabeth Menegon: If you say French Bull, I'm going to have a heart attack.
00:30:49.590 --> 00:30:52.130
Isabel Alvarez Arata: No, I was going to say Boston Terrier.
00:30:52.270 --> 00:30:53.250
Elizabeth Menegon: They're feisty.
00:30:53.330 --> 00:31:00.050
Elizabeth Menegon: They can be feisty little dogs when you socialize a dog a lot and get them used to people and noises.
00:31:00.430 --> 00:31:02.430
Elizabeth Menegon: But a Boston Terrier is a nice dog.
00:31:02.590 --> 00:31:03.850
Elizabeth Menegon: Yeah, I would agree with that.
00:31:03.890 --> 00:31:04.770
Elizabeth Menegon: Easy to groom.
00:31:05.150 --> 00:31:06.590
Elizabeth Menegon: You don't have the furry feet.
00:31:07.010 --> 00:31:09.230
Elizabeth Menegon: Again, you can have breathing issues.
00:31:09.490 --> 00:31:16.370
Elizabeth Menegon: They can also have eye issues because the sockets, even with the pug, they have a shallower eye socket.
00:31:16.730 --> 00:31:21.950
Elizabeth Menegon: I don't know the technical term, but if you've ever noticed, you've seen pugs that have one eye.
00:31:22.690 --> 00:31:25.850
Elizabeth Menegon: They can have eye issues or an eye can pop out.
00:31:26.450 --> 00:31:27.710
Elizabeth Menegon: But yeah, I would agree with that.
00:31:27.890 --> 00:31:29.710
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Okay, how about a Havanese?
00:31:30.230 --> 00:31:33.850
Elizabeth Menegon: That's a longer-haired dog, so there is some grooming and brushing.
00:31:34.270 --> 00:31:38.490
Elizabeth Menegon: Again, you've got the furry, you know, the, let me wear my socks around the block.
00:31:39.130 --> 00:31:39.970
Elizabeth Menegon: You've got that dirty.
00:31:39.990 --> 00:31:44.930
Elizabeth Menegon: Yeah, you have the dirty feet, so you've got to deal with all of that hair.
00:31:45.450 --> 00:31:46.530
Elizabeth Menegon: It's a nice dog.
00:31:46.550 --> 00:31:52.690
Elizabeth Menegon: Probably, I probably wouldn't have thought of that breed, but it's a little bit bigger, so it's manageable.
00:31:52.710 --> 00:31:54.150
Elizabeth Menegon: Don't forget, we live in a city.
00:31:54.510 --> 00:32:00.830
Elizabeth Menegon: Most people, well, now it's a little different, but you hop in an Uber, you hop on the subway, you hop in a taxi.
00:32:00.850 --> 00:32:03.850
Elizabeth Menegon: You want something that you can transport.
00:32:04.090 --> 00:32:05.430
Elizabeth Menegon: You want to go shopping.
00:32:05.450 --> 00:32:06.970
Elizabeth Menegon: They're easier.
00:32:07.250 --> 00:32:10.310
Elizabeth Menegon: That's why you see a number of smaller dogs suggested.
00:32:10.610 --> 00:32:11.570
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Yes, it makes sense.
00:32:11.910 --> 00:32:12.610
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Dachshunds.
00:32:12.970 --> 00:32:13.690
Elizabeth Menegon: Cute dog.
00:32:13.710 --> 00:32:15.170
Elizabeth Menegon: A Dachshund is a very sweet dog.
00:32:15.390 --> 00:32:16.830
Elizabeth Menegon: They can have skin issues.
00:32:17.290 --> 00:32:19.230
Elizabeth Menegon: They're not for everyone, but yeah.
00:32:19.530 --> 00:32:22.690
Elizabeth Menegon: Size-wise, low maintenance as far as grooming.
00:32:23.130 --> 00:32:25.230
Elizabeth Menegon: It's just personality may be difficult.
00:32:26.190 --> 00:32:28.250
Elizabeth Menegon: But yeah, another great dog size-wise.
00:32:28.570 --> 00:32:32.810
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Last one, talking about difficult personalities, a Chihuahua.
00:32:35.190 --> 00:32:36.350
Elizabeth Menegon: Oh my goodness.
00:32:36.370 --> 00:32:44.270
Elizabeth Menegon: Well, if you actually get the right Chihuahua, first of all, the Chihuahua you actually see is nothing like what a pure breed Chihuahua looks like.
00:32:44.290 --> 00:32:47.690
Elizabeth Menegon: You'd be absolutely shocked because they don't look anything like that.
00:32:47.970 --> 00:32:50.110
Elizabeth Menegon: But yes, Chihuahuas are sweet.
00:32:50.450 --> 00:32:51.710
Elizabeth Menegon: They can be territorial.
00:32:52.610 --> 00:32:55.190
Elizabeth Menegon: They can pick one person, a poodle's like that.
00:32:55.430 --> 00:32:56.770
Elizabeth Menegon: But they're very sweet.
00:32:56.850 --> 00:32:58.690
Elizabeth Menegon: And that's strictly size.
00:32:58.850 --> 00:33:00.210
Elizabeth Menegon: You're speaking size-wise.
00:33:00.530 --> 00:33:01.490
Elizabeth Menegon: They're a sweet dog.
00:33:01.730 --> 00:33:02.210
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Perfect.
00:33:02.250 --> 00:33:03.050
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Great job.
00:33:03.070 --> 00:33:19.910
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Okay, so even the idea of going from zero pets to one pet or one pet to two pets requires a lot of thinking, consideration, a lot of time looking for the right pet, not just impulse buying or rescuing a pet.
00:33:20.110 --> 00:33:22.910
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Does the app ever say, no, there is no dog for you?
00:33:23.470 --> 00:33:24.830
Isabel Alvarez Arata: It's not the right time.
00:33:25.130 --> 00:33:29.170
Elizabeth Menegon: No, actually, it doesn't say, by the way, do you really want a dog?
00:33:29.190 --> 00:33:30.170
Elizabeth Menegon: Do you have the money?
00:33:30.250 --> 00:33:31.950
Elizabeth Menegon: Or are you just being impulsive?
00:33:32.210 --> 00:33:35.450
Elizabeth Menegon: Did you have three glasses of wine and decide to buy a dog?
00:33:36.770 --> 00:33:38.350
Elizabeth Menegon: Which I only do on Sephora.
00:33:38.490 --> 00:33:42.810
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, you have a drink and then you go shopping and then you go, why did I buy these tweezers?
00:33:43.210 --> 00:33:50.290
Elizabeth Menegon: We spend more time in this country researching restaurants and where to go on vacation than buying a dog.
00:33:50.690 --> 00:33:53.070
Elizabeth Menegon: And a dog is a 15-year commitment.
00:33:53.410 --> 00:34:01.770
Elizabeth Menegon: We are inundated with doodles and ads and all these designer dogs.
00:34:01.870 --> 00:34:06.550
Elizabeth Menegon: And what's happening is people are creating science experiments.
00:34:07.230 --> 00:34:11.130
Elizabeth Menegon: They're breeding dogs to get the look, right?
00:34:11.150 --> 00:34:14.970
Elizabeth Menegon: The Puggle actually was a puppy mill creation.
00:34:15.270 --> 00:34:18.690
Elizabeth Menegon: They want that next, oh my god, we love this.
00:34:19.090 --> 00:34:20.210
Elizabeth Menegon: This is a great dog.
00:34:20.430 --> 00:34:24.070
Elizabeth Menegon: Like the Pomsky, a Pomeranian and a Husky.
00:34:24.510 --> 00:34:27.310
Elizabeth Menegon: So it looks like a Pomp, but it's marked like a Husky.
00:34:27.750 --> 00:34:28.570
Elizabeth Menegon: What a nightmare.
00:34:28.590 --> 00:34:30.190
Elizabeth Menegon: You've got two different personalities.
00:34:30.790 --> 00:34:42.230
Elizabeth Menegon: So, you know, if people would stop buying what's in, I mean, you can do a whole show on, you know, the psychological approach to why people have to keep up with the Joneses.
00:34:42.530 --> 00:34:44.290
Elizabeth Menegon: That's a whole other conversation.
00:34:44.810 --> 00:34:47.130
Elizabeth Menegon: So there are beautiful breeds out there.
00:34:47.150 --> 00:34:50.250
Elizabeth Menegon: You can get that you don't need to get a doodle.
00:34:50.430 --> 00:34:54.210
Elizabeth Menegon: A doodle is marketed as hypoallergenic.
00:34:54.350 --> 00:34:56.750
Elizabeth Menegon: There's no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.
00:34:57.090 --> 00:35:02.990
Elizabeth Menegon: And a breeder who breeds show dogs will never say hypoallergenic because you can be allergic to the dander.
00:35:03.450 --> 00:35:05.410
Elizabeth Menegon: You can be allergic to the saliva.
00:35:05.990 --> 00:35:09.190
Elizabeth Menegon: A dog can lick your hand and now you've got hives.
00:35:10.190 --> 00:35:13.490
Elizabeth Menegon: That's a marketing tool to sell the dogs.
00:35:13.750 --> 00:35:19.710
Elizabeth Menegon: Oh my god, the guy, his name has left my head, who created the doodle in Australia.
00:35:19.990 --> 00:35:22.350
Elizabeth Menegon: And he said he created Frankenstein.
00:35:23.430 --> 00:35:30.350
Elizabeth Menegon: So he has to live with that, with the regret of creating that, but people are getting it because it's in.
00:35:31.190 --> 00:35:32.550
Elizabeth Menegon: Other people have it.
00:35:32.910 --> 00:35:33.850
Elizabeth Menegon: Huge mistake.
00:35:33.870 --> 00:35:38.110
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, buying an animal, I love a miniature bull terrier.
00:35:38.430 --> 00:35:39.750
Elizabeth Menegon: It's like a five-year-old child.
00:35:40.650 --> 00:35:43.550
Elizabeth Menegon: I don't have the room for it, and I would never buy one.
00:35:43.930 --> 00:35:48.970
Elizabeth Menegon: I love them, but I can't give them what they need, and that's why I don't have one.
00:35:49.490 --> 00:35:56.170
Elizabeth Menegon: So it's what do you want versus what can you handle and what is the outcome?
00:35:56.190 --> 00:36:02.930
Elizabeth Menegon: You know, if I sat here with you, and I had a dog that was bouncing off the walls here, that wouldn't work for me.
00:36:03.830 --> 00:36:05.830
Elizabeth Menegon: But I have a dog that's asleep on my lap.
00:36:06.350 --> 00:36:06.630
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Right.
00:36:06.730 --> 00:36:09.990
Elizabeth Menegon: So it's all what works in your lifestyle.
00:36:10.270 --> 00:36:16.090
Elizabeth Menegon: If you want to get a dog, because you know your marriage is in the dumpster, that's not a reason to get a dog.
00:36:16.790 --> 00:36:22.030
Elizabeth Menegon: If you want to get a puppy for your kids because they saw one on TV, that's not the reason.
00:36:22.270 --> 00:36:25.490
Elizabeth Menegon: Because it's a living, breathing creature.
00:36:25.970 --> 00:36:28.350
Elizabeth Menegon: And here's another statistic I'll share with you.
00:36:28.430 --> 00:36:37.050
Elizabeth Menegon: 60%, okay, 60% of owners surrenders to shelters are wrong breed and medical conditions.
00:36:37.450 --> 00:36:45.450
Elizabeth Menegon: Because these animals originated from pet stores and backyard breeders and puppy mills being sold online.
00:36:46.090 --> 00:36:53.250
Elizabeth Menegon: They find out the animal's ill, they don't have the money, so they bring it to a shelter and say, oh, we're moving and we can't take the dog.
00:36:53.430 --> 00:36:58.950
Elizabeth Menegon: Then they vet it and they realize it has a heart issue and it's $10,000 in surgery.
00:36:59.230 --> 00:37:07.470
Elizabeth Menegon: If 100 people downloaded the app and got the right breed, that's 100 people less that would be going to a shelter and dumping off a dog.
00:37:07.730 --> 00:37:08.430
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Bravo.
00:37:08.450 --> 00:37:09.850
Isabel Alvarez Arata: It's so true.
00:37:09.850 --> 00:37:11.270
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Don't do this to yourself.
00:37:11.290 --> 00:37:13.950
Isabel Alvarez Arata: So tell us, how can my audience learn more about the app?
00:37:13.970 --> 00:37:14.630
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Where do we get it?
00:37:15.150 --> 00:37:19.770
Elizabeth Menegon: So the app is available on the Apple Store and Google Play.
00:37:20.050 --> 00:37:21.430
Elizabeth Menegon: It's a free download.
00:37:21.670 --> 00:37:24.810
Elizabeth Menegon: You can also go to our website at Hands2.
00:37:24.910 --> 00:37:28.210
Elizabeth Menegon: It's the number 2, hands2paws.com.
00:37:28.230 --> 00:37:29.410
Elizabeth Menegon: You can download it there.
00:37:29.870 --> 00:37:35.350
Elizabeth Menegon: You can follow us on Instagram, which is hands, underscore, 2paws.
00:37:35.910 --> 00:37:39.130
Elizabeth Menegon: We not only put a lot of information, but dog stuff.
00:37:39.510 --> 00:37:41.650
Elizabeth Menegon: When should you wash a dog bowl?
00:37:41.870 --> 00:37:45.110
Elizabeth Menegon: Dog clipping, what happens if your dog rips a toenail out?
00:37:45.350 --> 00:37:51.690
Elizabeth Menegon: We focus on all things that are a reflection of responsible pet ownership.
00:37:52.070 --> 00:38:00.810
Elizabeth Menegon: Download the app, go through the questions, do it as a family, do it, take two drinks, do it again and see if it's the same.
00:38:00.870 --> 00:38:02.950
Elizabeth Menegon: It's almost like a dating app, right?
00:38:03.230 --> 00:38:05.210
Elizabeth Menegon: You have to get your head in the right head space.
00:38:05.430 --> 00:38:06.890
Elizabeth Menegon: But it gets people thinking.
00:38:07.110 --> 00:38:10.450
Elizabeth Menegon: It gets you thinking, saying, I would never think about barking.
00:38:10.730 --> 00:38:13.150
Elizabeth Menegon: And they're like, oh hell no, I don't want to dog that barks.
00:38:13.570 --> 00:38:17.670
Elizabeth Menegon: So it's fun to download and see your matches.
00:38:18.150 --> 00:38:22.170
Elizabeth Menegon: And it's available in Canada and it's also available in the UK.
00:38:22.750 --> 00:38:23.710
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Congratulations.
00:38:23.710 --> 00:38:30.270
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I just want to propose a toast to you for creating the app that I will use the next time I'm in the market for a dog.
00:38:31.370 --> 00:38:32.930
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Thank you for being my guest.
00:38:33.170 --> 00:38:33.890
Elizabeth Menegon: Thank you.
00:38:33.930 --> 00:38:34.970
Elizabeth Menegon: Thank you so much.
00:38:34.990 --> 00:38:39.410
Elizabeth Menegon: And thank you for letting me be a part of your platform.
00:38:39.710 --> 00:38:43.370
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I also want to propose a toast to my executive producer, Mark Winter.
00:38:43.390 --> 00:38:47.270
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Thank you, Mark, for these awesome opportunities to chat with awesome people.
00:38:47.670 --> 00:38:48.910
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And to our audience.
00:38:48.930 --> 00:38:56.790
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Thank you audience for joining us for these conversations, for joining us and doing the right thing by your future pets and your current pets.
00:38:56.810 --> 00:39:00.770
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And thank you to Vanessa, my adorable canine guest over here.
00:39:00.790 --> 00:39:02.030
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I'm going to pin to her.
00:39:02.050 --> 00:39:03.690
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Vanessa, you have been such a doll.
00:39:03.730 --> 00:39:05.590
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I am so happy to have met you.
00:39:05.650 --> 00:39:06.970
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I love your little smile.
00:39:07.550 --> 00:39:10.310
Isabel Alvarez Arata: And one day maybe I will give you a squeeze in person.
00:39:10.330 --> 00:39:11.850
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Oh my god, she's so cute!
00:39:14.690 --> 00:39:15.910
Elizabeth Menegon: She's so easy.
00:39:16.090 --> 00:39:17.790
Elizabeth Menegon: She travels on a plane.
00:39:18.030 --> 00:39:19.430
Elizabeth Menegon: You never know she was there.
00:39:19.450 --> 00:39:20.730
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I adore her.
00:39:20.750 --> 00:39:21.630
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I don't even know her.
00:39:21.730 --> 00:39:23.490
Isabel Alvarez Arata: I just want to propose a toast to everybody.
00:39:23.510 --> 00:39:27.110
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Here's to a life covered in pet hair because there's no better way to live.
00:39:27.130 --> 00:39:27.630
Isabel Alvarez Arata: Cheers!
00:39:28.130 --> 00:39:35.850
Isabel Alvarez Arata: To learn more about Covered In Pet Hair, please visit coveredinpethair.com or petliferadio.com Thanks for watching and I'll see you next time.
00:39:36.590 --> 00:39:37.690
Announcer: Let's Talk Pets.
00:39:38.050 --> 00:39:39.450
Announcer: Every week on demand.
00:39:40.070 --> 00:39:42.650
Announcer: Only on petliferadio.com