Enlightened By Dogs: Living with Cooperation, Not Obedience

What are the underlying triggers of unwanted barking? You know, the real reasons that make your dog bark like their life depends on it. It's natural for dogs to bark and we shouldn't try to silence them completely. But, if your dog is excessively barking, it can become a real problem – not just for you, but for your neighbors too! Understanding what triggers your dog's barking is vital if you want...

Humans talk. Birds sing. Dogs bark. Communication is natural and isn't something we can or should try to stop… but inappropriate barking can be a real bugbear for dog moms! Unwanted barking is a complaint almost every dog owner can relate to. But what is actually going on when your best friend starts speaking at something strange? And what can we do to manage ourselves and our dogs in these situat...

Have you considered the effect your mental state has on your dog? Not many people think about how their thoughts and mental state can impact their partnership relationship with their dog. Even if you have thought about it briefly, it's likely that you've just grazed the surface. If you're ready to take the next step towards developing a brilliant and loving partnership lifestyle with your dog, thi...

Do you know who you truly want to be and how you want to feel in your lifestyle with your dog? As dog moms, we're usually too busy focusing on the 'doing' part of being human that we often neglect the 'being' part of who we are as human BEINGS. Kathy shines some light on the hidden 'being' part of ourselves in this special episode of Enlightened By Dogs. She also shares some fun and simple exercis...

Do you want to build a stronger connection with your dog? Dogs and humans have lived side by side for centuries. However, "human" isn't a dog's first language. They're much better at speaking "dog" and using body language to communicate with us. So, how can you learn to effectively communicate with your dog? On this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy talks about the language of partnership, whi...

Looking for some fun activities to keep your dog entertained at home? Being stuck inside with your dog can be a lot of fun. But sometimes it can be super difficult to keep your pooch entertained, especially if they're a little hyper or just plain bored of being indoors all day! So, how can you help your dog burn off energy and have fun with them indoors? In this episode of the Enlightened By Dogs...

Stuck inside? Dogs driving you a little crazy? Whether there's a thunder storm outside or you're self-isolating because of the coronavirus (COVID-19), being stuck at home all day with a restless (and bored) dog can brew trouble. We're talking chewed up shoes, hysterical barking, constant whining for attention…. you get the picture. So, how can you keep your dogs (and yourself) entertained indoors?...

Do you ever feel frustrated with how you tend to respond to your dog's "bad behavior"? It can be difficult to conceal our frustration when our dog is reactive, distracted, stressed, anxious, worried or just… behaving badly. But we need to remember that this is how our dogs communicate with us. They express their feelings through their behavior, whether we like it or not. Thankfully, there is a way...

Are you feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed because of things like the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak? If so, you're not alone. The coronavirus outbreak is uncharted territory for many of us and the sudden change to how we live our lives can cause you to feel stressed, worried, anxious, or overwhelmed. It's totally normal to feel this way but as you might have guessed, if you're fee...

When your dog 'misbehaves,' what's your first emotional response? Do you feel annoyed, frustrated, or angry? It's okay to feel like this. Actually, it's pretty normal to feel frustrated when things turn belly side up. But what you might not realize is that your emotional response and reaction could be making the entire situation much worse. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy talks about...

Are you struggling with a reactive dog? If your dog gets over-excited, distracted, or anxious and won't listen to you, the Brilliant Partners Academy can help you be the partner your dog needs! The Brilliant Partners Academy is a holistic, positive, heart-connected partnership training program that equips you with the tools, knowledge, and support you need to develop a deeper bond and a trusting r...

Are you finding it hard to feel safe, calm, and happy during difficult times? COVID-19 has caused a great deal of fear, uncertainty, and upheaval around the world. Many of us are in self-isolation and quarantine with our stress buckets filled to the brim. However, even though it seems like the entire world is upside down, it's more important than ever that you and your dog are there for each other...

Do you give your dog the freedom to give their consent? Allowing your dog to give consent is so powerful because it helps to build trust between you and your best friend. A shift in our intention can change everything for our dogs and, in this special episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares how the power of consent can help build trust between you and your dog. You'll also get a peek inside a...

Are you being the calm leader and guide that your dog needs you to be? When things go south, our dogs look to us for guidance. Whether you realize it or not, you are role modeling for your dog. When you're stressed and anxious, your dog is stressed and anxious too. When you're calm and relaxed about a situation, your dog is much more likely to feel calm and relaxed too. But what happens when unexp...

Do you have a sensitive dog? A dog who is hypersensitive, nervous, or fearful around large crowds or when a fast car drives past? If you're nodding yes, you'll probably have a lot in common with Ulla Kjeldgaard and her Labrador, Bella. Bella had a hard time adjusting to busy city life. She didn't have a back garden or yard to run about in, which meant going out into the city was unavoidable for po...

Do you have a reactive or anxious dog? If your dog is reactive to triggers like other dogs, it can be really frustrating for both you and your dog. Your dog may feel fearful, worried or anxious about a certain situation, while you're trying your best to support and help them. Yet, nothing you try is working and it seems like their reactivity is getting worse instead of better. Kathy has seen this...

How can you train an "untrainable" dog? Do such dogs even exist? When Kathy met Maya, a six-month old border collie with a sweet temperament, she had already been re-homed three times and Kathy was her fourth. Each owner said the same thing as the last. Maya was out of control. She was "untrainable." Poor Maya had a rough time of it but thankfully, Kathy wasn't about to give up on her. She took wh...

Some of our most important life lessons come from our hardest dogs. We all have high and low points with our dogs and Kathy is no exception. Like the rest of us, Kathy has had her fair share of challenges and struggles throughout the years. But, instead of looking at them as 'mistakes,' or 'failures,' – she views them as important life lessons. It was these very same lessons that led Kathy on the...

Do you have a transactional or a relational lifestyle with your dog…and which is better? Dogs are socially intelligent beings and show human-like social cognition in a variety of ways. You can (and should) use that intelligence to form cooperative partnerships as a lifestyle with your dog. We have more in common with our dogs than we think. The concept of using our dogs social intelligence to deve...

Have you ever wondered what your dog is trying to tell you? Here's a hint - since your dog can't talk it out, they act it out. Dogs use body language like ear and eye position, body posture, facial expressions, and movement, to communicate with you. But, do you know how to listen to your dog? Just because dogs can't speak our language, doesn't mean that we can't learn theirs. Kathy is somewhat of...

Kathy has 3 mindset hacks that are going to help you become a better partner for your dog in this week's episode! What does she mean by "mindset hacks?" Kathy has a few partnership principles that she uses within her lifestyle to fast track or "hack" her way to a brilliant partnership with her furry friends, and she wants to teach them to you! In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy dives in...

Every morning Kathy pauses to stand in awe and wonder of her life with dogs and that's what she'll be talking about on today's episode of Enlightened By Dogs! Gratitude and Love are two topics you've definitely heard her address before, but what about Awe? What is it, how do we feel it, and why is it so important to enter into a state of awe every now and then? Prepare to be awestruck by the answe...

You've heard Kathy talk about how much we role model for our dogs, but in today's episode of Enlightened By Dogs, she and her special guest Cecile Ruelle are flipping that notion on its head and showing us how much our dogs role model for us as well! There is so much to learn at any given moment from our four legged friends, and it stands from being present and in the moment all the way to accepti...

Did you know that you are, indeed, the intentional creator of your own life? Really though! You can choose to bring things into your life, you can choose to get rid of things, you can even choose the thoughts you think! But how do you navigate such an important role? How do you ensure that you're creating the right things for you and the life you so desire? That's what Kathy's talking about on thi...

Have you ever decided to change your mindset? Did it work? Or did you find yourself back to the way you always have been within a couple of days? If you're lie a lot of us in the world, the second one sounds more like you. But why does it happen? Why does changing your mindset never actually work? It may come as a surprise to you that our behaviours, and our wish to change them come from different...