We talk a lot about recognizing when our pets are becoming more stressed. But what about when they’re calming down? In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World , Emily Strong walks you through a practical and insightful skill: identifying your pet’s ladder of de-escalation. It’s the crucial flip side to recognizing escalation, and it is just as important for supporting your pet’s full stress recovery. Emily breaks down a six-step process to help you recognize when your pet is moving toward ...
Jun 30, 2025•16 min•Season 10Ep. 121
Whether your pet is overwhelmed by the doorbell, a new houseguest, or the invisible ghosts that apparently live in the laundry room, having a safe space can make a world of difference. In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World , Emily and Ellen break down why safe spaces aren’t just cozy corners—they’re essential tools for helping our pets (and us!) navigate stress in all its forms: tolerable, chronic, and toxic. You'll learn what makes a safe space effective, why avoiding stress isn't th...
Jun 23, 2025•47 min•Season 10Ep. 120
In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World , Emily Strong shares two ways to teach your dog to go to a safe space from behind a barrier —a skill that supports emotional regulation and improves outcomes for both aggressive and behaviorally healthy animals. You'll learn when and why Pet Harmony uses this technique (spoiler alert: a lot!), how it supports protected contact and training distance, and what you need to get started. This episode is all about creating safe, achievable wins, no mat...
Jun 16, 2025•10 min•Season 10Ep. 119
What do biofeedback, brewery manners, and doggy backpacks have in common? Amber Quann, CEO and Head Trainer at Summit Dog Training, weaves them together beautifully in this episode of Enrichment for the Real World . Host Emily Strong and guest, Amber Quann dig into the nuances of dog relaxation, not just as a one-size-fits-all goal, but as a spectrum that requires thoughtful practice and an understanding of what each individual dog needs to get there. Whether you’re curious about how to help you...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 10Ep. 118
In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Allie Bender and Emily Strong chat about the use of protected contact including what it is (and no, it isn’t just putting up a gate or a fence), how to adjust your plan based on needs and progress, tips to avoid the temptation to rush, and advice to ensure that you’re not just relying on barriers to prevent a bite—but setting up everyone for success. Using a detailed case study of a dog named Archie, Allie and Emily share how his family used diff...
Jun 02, 2025•44 min•Season 10Ep. 117
When it comes to enrichment, we often think we need fancy tools, expensive toys, or complicated activities—but what if the best enrichment was sitting in your recycling bin? In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World , Emily Strong (she/they) shares how you can use everyday household items—yes, even your trash—to bring joy, engagement, and behavioral diversity into your pet’s life. You'll learn why pets might ignore new enrichment items at first (hint: it’s not personal!), how to safely ex...
May 26, 2025•19 min•Season 10Ep. 116
Episode Overview: Raise your hand if you've ever felt like you’re not doing enough for your pet. 🙋♀️🙋♂️ Whether you're a devoted pet parent or a seasoned pro, enrichment burnout is real—and it’s sneaky. In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World , Emily (she/they) and Pet Harmony Behavior Consultant Claire Horvat (she/her) explore how perfectionism, comparison traps, and even well-meaning advice can lead to overwhelm. They dive into how cognitive biases—like the Nirvana fallacy and wis...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 10Ep. 115
What does gender inclusivity have to do with pet behavior consulting? (Spoiler: everything.) In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World , Emily Strong (she/they) chats with Sami Griffin (they/them), a cat and dog behavior consultant with a passion for creating safer, more inclusive spaces—for pets and their people. Sami helps us move beyond surface-level performative action into real, effective inclusivity that doesn’t just sound good, but does good. From busting myths around sex and gende...
May 12, 2025•54 min•Season 10Ep. 114
Ever find yourself second-guessing if you’re “doing enrichment right”? You’re not alone—and this episode is here to clear things up. In this Q&A session, Allie Bender (she/her), Emily Strong (she/they), and Ellen Yoakum (she/her) tackle real questions from listeners who are curious (and maybe a little confused) about enrichment. They break down common concerns like: 👉 Are some behaviors “bad,” or just not helpful for my goals? 👉 Can too much enrichment actually hurt my pet? 👉 How can I te...
May 05, 2025•39 min•Season 10Ep. 113
Looking for an easy way to enrich your dog’s life and support your behavior goals? “Find It” might be your new favorite go-to. In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World , Emily Strong (she/they) walks you through exactly how to teach “Find It” from scratch—even if your dog has never done scent work before. You’ll get a step-by-step guide that starts with clear floors and easy wins, then builds up to more complex searches. But this episode isn’t just about tossing treats—it’s about being s...
Apr 28, 2025•18 min•Season 10Ep. 112
Simple, flexible scent games that help your dog thrive—and give you a well-earned breather. If you’ve ever needed your dog to do something enriching without needing your full attention, or wanted to build your relationship through fun, sniffy games, this episode is your new best friend. In this week’s episode of Enrichment for the Real World , Allie Bender and Emily Strong unpack the magic of scent work—and how it supports your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being and makes your life...
Apr 21, 2025•42 min•Season 10Ep. 111
Anyone who has a pet with allergies knows that it can be rough to create an enrichment strategy that fits their needs. Depending on the type and severity of that allergy there can be a lot of restrictions. In this episode, we discuss the allergy journies we've gone on with our own dogs and how we've created enrichment strategies around allergy restrictions. After that, we tie in how we can measure success for allergy kiddos and non-allergy kiddos. You can find the full episode show notes here . ...
Mar 24, 2025•36 min•Season 9Ep. 110
We're asked all the time about enrichment that isn't related to food. Well, here we are, folks! Today's episode is all about the safety category of enrichment. We'll discuss how to perform a risk assessment for your pet's enrichment strategy. You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Spaces For Home and On-The-Go, is enrolling! Head to petharmonytraining.com/safespace to learn more and grab your spot....
Mar 17, 2025•57 min•Season 9Ep. 109
What the heck is a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behavior? Find out in this week's episode with Debbie Martin! Plus, sound sensitivities, risk assessments, and puppy socialization. Buckle up! You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Spaces For Home and On-The-Go, is enrolling! Head to petharmonytraining.com/safespace to learn more and grab your spot....
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Season 9Ep. 108
This one's for the pet professionals! Clients are integral to what we do and that means we need to make sure they're well-supported throughout the journey. In this episode, we explore the foundations of exemplary client care, including some tips to help you better support your clients even more. You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Spaces For Home and On-The-Go, is enrolling! Head to petharmonytraining.com/safespace to learn more and grab your...
Mar 03, 2025•38 min•Season 9Ep. 107
We've said it before and we'll say it again- it's hard to care for individuals who need specialized care, and that includes pets with behavior challenges! In this episode, Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Kelly Ballantyne provides tips for combating caregiver burden, discusses the link between pain and behavior, and gives up-to-date information on anti-anxiety medication for adolescent animals. You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Sp...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 9Ep. 106
We talk about training a lot. But, like, what even IS training? Does it have to involve a treat pouch and clicker? Or, perhaps, could it involve Allie bear crawling up a platform and nothing more? Check out today's episode to find out. You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Spaces For Home and On-The-Go, is enrolling! Head to petharmonytraining.com/safespace to learn more and grab your spot....
Feb 17, 2025•52 min•Season 9Ep. 105
Flyball, Agility, Tracking, Rally Obedience, Trick Titling, Conformation, Herding, Mondioring, Obedience, oh my! If you're into canine sports or looking to learn more about them, Ayoka is your person. Get ready to step into the world of R+ dog sports! You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Spaces For Home and On-The-Go, is enrolling! Head to petharmonytraining.com/safespace to learn more and grab your spot....
Feb 10, 2025•55 min•Season 9Ep. 104
Every human experiences and operates in the world in a unique way. That means that the way each person cares for their pet will be unique, too! So, how do we make adaptations for humans to successfully work with and enrich their pets? Tune in to this episode to find out! You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Spaces For Home and On-The-Go, is enrolling! Head to petharmonytraining.com/safespace to learn more and grab your spot....
Feb 03, 2025•30 min•Season 9Ep. 103
The animal training industry is typically on board with non-human learners being individuals and meeting those individuals where they are when it comes to training. But what about our human learners? In this episode, Gabrielle Johnson talks about how we can meet our human learners where they are and how to support disability justice in the animal welfare industry. You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Spaces For Home and On-The-Go, is enrolling...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Season 9Ep. 102
In this implementation episode, Allie and Emily delve deep into harm reduction within the pet professional industry. The discussion includes stories of Allie's Flight Cue skills, the importance of accountability, and the intricacies of managing difficult situations gracefully. Learn about the concepts of politeness versus consideration, the importance of safe and supportive communities, and practical steps to reduce harm effectively. This episode comes with a blanket content warning: in talking ...
Jan 20, 2025•46 min•Season 9Ep. 101
In this week's interview episode, we're joined by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, the founder of the Trauma Stewardship Institute and author of 'Trauma Stewardship' and 'The Age of Overwhelm'. In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss the importance of trauma stewardship and harm reduction. Laura shares insights on reframing self-care, the interconnectedness of our lives, and the significance of systemic approaches in improving the quality of life for pets, their people, and the professionals who suppo...
Jan 13, 2025•34 min•Season 9Ep. 100
Living with a pet who has behavior challenges is a unique experience. It's hard, frustrating, and full of tears all while being lovely, funny, and wonderful. And, what we've found, is that you can't truly get it unless you've lived it. Today's guest, Pet Harmony's own Tiffany Holmes, gets it. In this episode, Tiffany discusses the good, the bad, the ugly, and the wonderful of living with a pet with extreme behavior challenges. Whether you want to better understand what your clients or loved ones...
Jan 06, 2025•51 min•Season 9Ep. 99
We're wrapping up season 8 with another Q&A episode! In this episode, you'll hear Emily, Allie, and Ellen talk about: E-collars, and vibration collars, and what's the difference Nuance Emily's million-dollar Shark Tank idea You can find the full episode show notes here . Ellen's 4-week live course, At Ease: Safe Spaces For Home and On-The-Go, is enrolling! Head to petharmonytraining.com/safespace to learn more and grab your spot....
Nov 18, 2024•38 min•Season 8Ep. 98
Last week, we heard from Renato Zanetti with Isa Daduato translating, and one of the topics we discussed was how to make dog daycares enriching. This week we’re going to dive further into how to tell if your dog enjoys going to daycare and talk about implementation with the animals in your life. In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about: The broad applicability even if your dog isn’t a daycare dog When you turn a corner and your dog realizes where they are The Eeyore thing Stall...
Nov 11, 2024•24 min•Season 8Ep. 97
We're excited to bring you an extra special interview episode this week! In our first bi-lingual episode, we are joined by Renato Zanetti, a Zootechnician who has a master's degree in veterinary medicine and animal welfare. He is a Brazilian pioneer in the use of management, free of aversive and punitive stimuli, focusing on the emotions of animals. His philosophy is: “A dog should leave the daycare better than when it arrived”. And a very special thank you to Isa Dadauto, for connecting us with...
Nov 04, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 8Ep. 96
Last week we heard from Ryan Cartlidge and one of the topics we discussed was Building Community Through Crucial Conversations. This week we’re going to dive further into how to identify your own ladder of escalation and talk about implementation with the animals in your life. In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about: The single biggest problem in communication Oso’s ladder of escalation The Silly Putty Situation. Trademark pending. Emily seeing deep into Allie's soul to call o...
Oct 28, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 95
In this week's interview episode, we're joined by Ryan Cartlidge, the founder of the Animal Training Academy, ATA. He has been working internationally since 2007, as a professional trainer across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US. He now works with both teams and individual trainers around the world, supporting those who work with both domestic pets and exotic animals. His goal is to help all trainers enhance their skills and make their biggest possible positive impact in the work they ...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Season 8Ep. 94
Last week we heard from Thea Harting and one of the topics we discussed was Rabbit Speed Dating. This week we’re going to dive further into When You Can’t Be Your Own Consultant and talk about implementation with the animals in your life. In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about: When should you and when shouldn’t you be your own consultant How Allie's therapist just tells her things that she already knows and she loves her for it Why this episode is happening You don’t want a ...
Oct 14, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 93
Thea Harting, also known as the Badass Bunny Rescuer , is a rabbit behavior consultant based in Brooklyn, NY. Thea is passionate about improving companion rabbit well-being and welfare, focusing on pair bonding, enrichment, low-stress handling techniques, and cooperative care. As an active volunteer for shelters and rescues for over a decade, her favorite activity is facilitating rabbit 'speed dates' to determine partner compatibility. Her approach to rabbit bonding emphasizes agency, mutual con...
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 8Ep. 92
