Steve Dale, the Chicago-based pet behavior expert, appeared on WGN Radio with host John Landecker on Dec. 9, 2025 at 08:14 PM CST to discuss his new children’s book, Ask The Dog. In a WGN Radio segment, Dale introduced the title and discussed that the book is available for pre-order through its publisher, BeaLu Books.

The on-air conversation tied together three principal parties in the book’s launch: the author, the local radio platform and the independent publisher. BeaLu Books is the publisher of Ask The Dog and offers the book for purchase and pre-order.

The segment’s placement in an evening slot served a practical purpose: those hours on WGN frequently feature interviews and book promotions, offering a direct line to listeners who follow culture, local authors and family-oriented content. The broadcast functioned as both a promotional opportunity and an informational forum, situating Ask The Dog within broader conversations about pet behavior and child safety around animals.

Understanding dog behavior helps owners respond appropriately to dogs’ body language and needs, which reduces misunderstandings and stress and leads to more harmonious, cooperative interactions. That theme underpins Dale’s work and is a central element of Ask The Dog, which aims to make basic behavior cues accessible to families and caregivers. The role of dogs is associated with owner management practices.

Alongside promotion of the book, Dale and related materials discuss broader issues around dog behavior and safety.

For deeper scientific context about animal behavior and human–animal relationships, readers can consult third-party materials such as pet-safety guides and scientific research summaries.

Discussion around the book can be placed in the broader context of the high prevalence of dog ownership in the United States. Various surveys estimate that roughly 45–51% of U.S. households own a dog, with recent figures from organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Pet Products Association falling in that general range. Those figures underscore the potential audience for books that explain interactions between children and pets.

Effective ways include involving children in age-appropriate daily pet-care tasks (feeding, grooming, cleaning up) so they learn that animals depend on them for consistent care and routines, a point that dovetails with the practical exercises and family-focused activities included in Ask The Dog. The book’s orientation toward caregivers and youngsters places emphasis on routine, responsibility and recognition of behavior cues rather than technical training methods.

ABC7 Chicago published a story titled “Pet expert Steve Dale teaches kids to ‘Ask the Dog’ in New Book.” For listeners and readers who want to hear the full conversation or read the original coverage, the ABC7 dispatch is cited as the primary source.

The radio appearance and the publisher preorder announcement together illustrate a coordinated local launch strategy: an author with subject-matter expertise uses an established broadcast platform to reach an interested audience while directing sales to a named independent publisher. For families and caregivers interested in additional reading or source material on pet safety and behavior, the broadcast and subsequent coverage included pointers to externally published research and nonprofit resources.

Listeners interested in the original report can refer to the source noted below for the full account of the broadcast and the preorder announcement.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.