Dog Chats

Does your dog communicate their fear or frustration through barking, lunging and snapping?  Check out this new episode where Kirsten unravels some of the "why" and "how" behind these maladaptive  behaviors.  She offers a few tips for pet parents who are working to support their dogs and reminds us to start from a place of empathy and understanding for both dog and human clients.

Whether you just got a new puppy, or are introducing a new dog to your home and world, you will love Emma's pearls of wisdom about the significance of socialization,  independence and getting support from a professional.  Like usual, Emma makes a complex topic easy to understand as she offers a few important tips for pet parents.   ecdogtraining.com  website ec_training  instagram emma13clifford@i...

In episode 14, The Podiversary Episode, Emma and Kirsten interview the professional pet sitter and dog walker, Lynes Downing, Jr. As our hosts share their own concerns about finding the right pet sitter when they travel, Lynes offers reassuring advice and wisdom about how to choose a good sitter, and how to set the sitter up for success.     Lynes can be reached at  His website www.petsitpro.org O...

In this episode, Emma and Kirsten share their thoughts on the current research that defines the social systems of dogs. The amazing matrix of status, communication and relationships that are a part of our dogs' social environments is beautiful and complex.  Let's unpack some of the  misunderstood research about pack theory and dominance so we can examine our own relationships with our dogs in a me...

Suzanne Gollin, the Foster Care Coordinator at Marin Humane, has been working to connect animals in need with loving foster families for 23 years.  Have you ever considered fostering a pet?  In this episode, we walk you through the joyful process of fostering and hope to inspire some of you to bring a shelter pet into your home, if even for a very brief period.  Emma and Kirsten both have "forever...

Analyzing dog body language brings us so much closer to understanding how our dogs are thinking and feeling.  In this episode your hosts share their insights into how dogs communicate with humans and with other dogs. Having this knowledge gives you a chance to empathize and communicate better with your own dog. recommended reading Dogs in Translation by Maue and Krauss Doggie Language by Lili Chin

Emma and Kirsten had the incredible opportunity to chat with Marion Fitzgibbon, Marin Humane’s Humanitarian of the year recipient in 2008, for Episode 10.  Marion is a champion of animal welfare who created and directs the Limerick Animal Welfare Sanctuary in Kilfinane, Ireland .  She shares her inspirational story from helping stray dogs as an 8-year-old girl, to creating one of the largest and d...

We love our dogs so deeply, and they bring us so much joy and happiness.   But unfortunately their time here on Earth is not long enough.  When they are gone, the grief is raw and the pain is real.  In this episode Emma and Kirsten recall stories of their past dogs' journeys from the joy when they joined their families, until their passing.  With heart-felt emotion, support and advice in the areas...

With their easy-going, authentic conversation and genuine concern for both dogs and their guardians, Emma and Kirsten reveal what they have in store for you in 2023.   In this episode, our hosts reflect on past training practices and the evolution of dog training as it has transitioned from control to choice.   They answer questions about current changes in their profession, what inspires them and...

The holidays are almost upon us and Kirsten and Emma have some thoughtful tips about how to keep our dogs healthy and happy during this special season. Also they offer creative ways to include our dogs in our rituals and traditions, while sharing some humorous stories about their own past holiday dog memories.  Baking dog biscuits, preparing for holiday guests and thinking about the holidays from...

Thinking about bringing a new dog or cat into your home and wondering how you can set your resident pets up for a successful transition?  In this episode Emma and Kirsten share a few management tips, procedure advice and thoughtful insights about how to expand your pet family in a way that is positive for all the animals and humans involved.

Fall is in the air and kids are back in school, so we thought, why not find out what students want to know about dogs?  Kids have such creative minds and fresh perspectives, and It seems to us that having more knowledge about dogs should be a priority.  No Dog Left Behind.  So we asked some local teachers to poll their students and gather up some questions, and the result is a podcast episode mean...

Our dogs are so intelligent and perceptive.  It is our task as their guardians to offer them sensory enrichment and engaging mental and physical stimulation.  In Episode 4, Emma and Kirsten share practical tips and creative games designed to encourage your dogs to express their inherent canine behaviors through activities, puzzles and exercises you can do together to enrich both of your lives.

Camping with your dog can be so fulfilling if you are prepared and set up for a positive experience.  Episode 3 discusses the incredible enrichment camping offers both dogs and their guardians, along with some practical advice of what to pack and what to consider when you pick a destination.  And don't worry, Kirsten shares her strong feelings about Snowy Plovers and their "nesting rights," but sh...

Wondering about which summer outings are fun from your dog's perspective and looking for ways to successfully include them on your adventures?  This episode unpacks various dog-friendly treks and offers tips to help you be prepared and thoughtful about summer-time fun with your pup.

Emma and Kirsten give you a bit of their background into why they were inspired to work as dog behavior professionals and they share some fun stories about their own dogs.  They point out that dog training philosophy and the socio-cultural perspective of our pet dogs today is so different from their childhood memories of 70's dogs.   A few wise tips and some witty repertoire in this episode will g...