Enrichment for the Real World

Dealing with leash reactivity can really be a drag (only moderate pun intended 😂). Jokes aside, if you have a dog that does the whole barky, bitey, lungey thing on leash, to dogs, to people, or to the leaf that blew across the neighbor's roof, and you’ve been feeling like a failure, or are just really freaking tired of still working on this, grab a chair and join Ellen and Emily for today’s episode. 
We’re talking about 5 ways we see leash reactivity plans get f*cked up, and no, it’s not because anyone is bad at this. It’s because we’re complex humans, with complex lives, complex pets, and complex environments. We help clients be human and help their pets every day, and today, we’re sharing what we’ve learned. 

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ You’re interrupting more than reinforcing – If you’re doing more interrupting of the eruption than reinforcing chill beforehand, you might be teaching your pet that exploding is part of the sequence. 
2️⃣ Sessions need to be short – Probably even shorter than you expect. Triggers stacking IS happening, so keep it short, and use your escape routes liberally. 
3️⃣ You don’t know how or when to get out – Before making things hard, get really skilled in easier environments, and that means practicing knowing how and when to get out of Dodge. 
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

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You bought the “good” treats, you know, the all-natural, human-grade, $14-a-bag ones. You've got the *perfect* dedicated pouch after hours of research. You’ve studied your protocol. Shoot, at this point, you could probably coach your friends through it. 
And you have followed it with the devotion of a formerly gifted child who has to do everything right the first time, or the world will come crashing down. 
And your dog is still screaming at every dog, jogger, and suspicious mailbox on the block. 
In this episode, Allie and Emily see your perfectionism and your frustration, and meet you with empathy, compassion, a little sass, and at least 2 rambling, but important soapboxes. 
We’ll talk about why treats stall and walk you through some of the things we troubleshoot when things get stuck: threshold, treat value, timing, session length, and your own anxiety. Because addressing reactivity isn’t about a single moment; it’s about the whole picture.

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ Treats are only a part of the plan – If a pet is already too stressed, treats aren’t what they need; they need relief. 
2️⃣ Go back to basics before you panic – Threshold, treat value, timing, session length, and your own anxiety are places to reflect on.
3️⃣ Reactivity is a symptom – Not a character flaw, or even the primary issue. Look deeper.
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

More from Pet Harmony

Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

Subscribe & Review
If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us—and makes our tails wag every time. Thanks for being here! 💛
Get your Imposter Syndrome Toolkit for Trainers here: https://petharmonytraining.com/impostertoolkit/ 
Find some of Pet Harmony's ride or die brands, gear, and fitness equipment through our affiliate partner Paw Prosper. 
And yes, we promise we actually use this gear with our own pets. 💗
Check out Blue-9, FitPaws, Help 'Em Up Harness, and more at http://petharmonytraining.com/fitness
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You've been told your dog needs daily walks. We get it; everyone has. 
When you were a kid and wanted a dog, your guardians probably said something like, “Okay, but you have to make sure to feed, water, and walk them…”  
And that probably stuck with you until now. Maybe that routine has been great for all your past dogs, but your current dog, the one you love so deeply, is capital S Struggling, and you spend almost every walk trying not to cry. 
In this episode, Emily and Ellen hope you feel a little relief, and even a little liberated when they make their case that, no, not all dogs need walks. Instead, they will help you think through your goals, your needs, and what is actually going to work for you and your beloved companion. Because there are a whole lot of ways to get your dog the movement they need that don’t require busy streets, a flood of stress, and a miserable time. 

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ Movement can be joyful – Don’t stick with movement that leads to meltdowns; instead, find something that sparks joy.
2️⃣ Small things often – One more trip to the kitchen, lap around the dining room table, or stretch on the stairs will add up. 
3️⃣ Screw “No Pain, No Gain” – Just because it is easy doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. Seriously. 
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

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Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront.
As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases.

More from Pet Harmony

Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

Subscribe & Review
If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us—and makes our tails wag every time. Thanks for being here! 💛
Get your Imposter Syndrome Toolkit for Trainers here: https://petharmonytraining.com/impostertoolkit/ 
Find some of Pet Harmony's ride or die brands, gear, and fitness equipment through our affiliate partner Paw Prosper. 
And yes, we promise we actually use this gear with our own pets. 💗
Check out Blue-9, FitPaws, Help 'Em Up Harness, and more at http://petharmonytraining.com/fitness
As an affiliate, we earn a small commission based on purchases from this link.

In this Q&A episode, Allie, Emily, and Ellen tackle the questions they hear most often from clients, mentees, and the internet: Should I get another pet? How do I treat my pets fairly when they all need different things? And how do I actually bring a new animal home in a way that sets everyone up for success?
Of course, in true Q&A fashion, we may meander a bit (look, we are who we are 😂), but we packed this episode full of real-life examples, how we guide clients through the process, and reflection questions to help you answer these questions for yourself. 
Because while we are behavior consultants, we probably aren’t YOUR behavior consultant… at least not yet. 😉

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ Caregiving isn’t additive; it’s exponential – Budget, bandwidth, physical space, and the needs of every current household member all compound in ways most people don't anticipate. 
2️⃣ Different needs ≠ unfair treatment  – Meeting each pet as an individual is equity. Use the enrichment framework to stay grounded. 
3️⃣ Make your deal-breaker list before you meet the pet – Decide your non-negotiables before you're emotionally attached to a specific animal. Treat the first phase like a foster. It protects the animal, protects your existing pets, and protects you from shame-driven decisions later. 
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

Amazon Affiliate Storefront
Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront.
As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases.

More from Pet Harmony

Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

Subscribe & Review
If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us—and makes our tails wag every time. Thanks for being here! 💛
Get your Imposter Syndrome Toolkit for Trainers here: https://petharmonytraining.com/impostertoolkit/ 
Find some of Pet Harmony's ride or die brands, gear, and fitness equipment through our affiliate partner Paw Prosper. 
And yes, we promise we actually use this gear with our own pets. 💗
Check out Blue-9, FitPaws, Help 'Em Up Harness, and more at http://petharmonytraining.com/fitness
As an affiliate, we earn a small commission based on purchases from this link.

This week we’re joined by Kiki Yablon, behavior analyst, dog trainer, KPA faculty member, and general bad a**. Kiki’s incredible skills of observation, communication, and implementation are honestly inspiring. 

If you’ve found yourself running around in circles trying to figure out how to apply the science to your training, felt your eyes glaze over at jargon, or broken down trying to work while your dog yells at you, we promise, Kiki’s teaching brings a beautiful, practical, and applicable simplicity to behavior change. Tune in to hear Emily and Kiki talk about some real nerdy stuff, how “outside” skills help you as a dog trainer, and so much more (we get a little windy in this one 😂) 

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ Describe what you’re doing – Saying “I’m doing classical conditioning” leaves a lot open for interpretation. Instead, describe what you’re doing, and see how it opens you up to see other factors influencing your outcome. 
2️⃣DRO is time-based, not behavior-based – If you're reinforcing a specific alternative, that's DRA. DRO is about the absence of a behavior for a set interval.  
3️⃣ New behavior comes from old behavior – Learners don't start from scratch when something stops working. They pull from their history. A richer repertoire means more options before problem behaviors resurface. 
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

More from Pet Harmony

Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

Subscribe & Review
If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us—and makes our tails wag every time. Thanks for being here! 💛
Get your Imposter Syndrome Toolkit for Trainers here: https://petharmonytraining.com/impostertoolkit/ 
Find some of Pet Harmony's ride or die brands, gear, and fitness equipment through our affiliate partner Paw Prosper. 
And yes, we promise we actually use this gear with our own pets. 💗
Check out Blue-9, FitPaws, Help 'Em Up Harness, and more at http://petharmonytraining.com/fitness
As an affiliate, we earn a small commission based on purchases from this link.