Enrichment for the Real World

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 wond...

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 . You don't have to watch your dog slow down. You can be the reason they light up. Enrichment for Sen...

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 is...

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...

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 es...

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...

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 h...

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 'spe...

Last week we heard from Tiffany Chen and one of the topics we discussed was Empathy, Education, and Efficiency in Social Media. This week we’re going to dive further into transforming your relationships through good-faith conversations and talk about implementation with the animals in your life. In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about: Emily tattling on themselves Well, and Alli...

In this week's interview episode, we're joined by Tiffany Chen, the owner and founder of Pawsistant, LLC, a business dedicated to helping dog professionals grow their businesses via social media and content marketing.  In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Tiffany talk about: Why social media marketing isn’t usually the best thing to try to DIY The importance of meeting our lea...

Last week we heard from Scotti Harvey and one of the topics we discussed was being a mindful puppy-raiser. This week we’re going to dive further into successful puppy raising and talk about implementation with the animals in your life. In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about: Babies, and also, puppies It’s unrealistic for puppies to learn that everyone will greet them all the ti...

In today's interview episode, we're joined by Scotti Harvey. Scotti specializes in canine neonatal development and learning. Through her studies on puppy socialization, Scotti strives to mitigate behavioral issues through the careful implementation of strategic early-life experiences. By focusing on developing processing, coping, and communication skills, Scotti aims to foster courageous...

To help us kick off Season 8 of Enrichment for the Real World, we're joined by our very own Corinne Collier, a behavior consultant and Client Experiences Manager at Pet Harmony.  In this episode you're going to hear Emily and Corinne talk about:  Corinne and Emily fangirling over our own team Leadership and teaching aren’t zero-sum games Connection is the throughline to everything we do...

Can you believe that we're wrapping up Season 7? In this Q&A Episode, we're diving in and answering your excellent questions. In this episode, you'll hear Allie, Emily, and Ellen talk about:  Go to Enrichment Ideas for bad weather days  Cheap, apartment-friendly foraging activities  All things chewing  You can find the episode show notes here . You don't have to watch your...

Last week we heard from Kassidi Jones and one of the topics we discussed was Antiracism in Animal Welfare. This week we dive further into Building Safe Spaces for Humans and the implementation with the animals in your life. In this implementation episode, Emily and I talk about: How humans are animals too Safety vs. comfort Implicit biases are a thing You can find the full episode show notes here...

In this week's interview episode, we're joined by Kassidi Jones. Kassidi is a sixth-year Ph. D. candidate in African American Studies and English at Yale and the content creator behind the Instagram account @gingers_naps, which explores the relationship and history between Black Americans and animals.  In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Kassidi talk about: Education is empow...

Last week, we heard from Mara Velez, and one of the topics we discussed was how BEAR can help shelters. This week, we're going to dive further into enrichment for shelters and talk about implementation with the animals in your life. In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about:  Emily's love language, which I don't love sometimes Accepting a linear time frame and accep...

In this week's interview episode, we're so excited to have Mara Velez return to talk about the Shelter Playgroup Alliance's programs, and the newest addition, BEAR, Behavior & Enrichment Academy and Resources.  In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Mara talk about: SPA’s programs, and how they all fit together Cultivating company culture to promote success Kolb’s Exper...

Last week we heard from Eileen Anderson, and one of the topics we discussed was understanding sound sensitivities and phobias. This week, we're going to dive further into how to do a sound preference test, and talk about implementation with the animals in your life.  In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about:  How dog snoring is the cutest, most heart meltiest sound How Emily...

In this week's interview episode, we're joined by Eileen Anderson. Eileen does an outstanding job of striving for accuracy while making space for personal experience and anecdotal evidence. Eileen brings expertise in music, sound and acoustics to the dog training world.  In this week's episode you'll hear Emily and Eileen talk about:  When it comes to sound sensitivity, volume...

Last week, we heard from Kim Rose and one of the topics we discussed was what behavior consulting can learn from nutrition. This week, we're going to dive further into if it can have an effect, it can have a side effect, and talk about implementation with the animals in your life. In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about:  Relay racing and choosing violence When you do too g...

In this week's interview episode, we're reaching beyond the animal care industry and speaking with Kim Rose, a dually certified diabetes care & education specialist and nutrition support clinician who blends evidenced-based practice with lived experience and cultural inclusivity. There is so much we can learn from other fields when it comes to care of our pets, ourselves, and our cli...

In this week's implementation episode, Allie and Emily dive further into evaluating your environment for behavioral impact and talk about implementation with the animals in your life.  In this episode, you'll hear Allie and Emily talk about:  How our pet's senses aren't necessarily better or worse, just different  Bunny bathroom habits  Big Boy Oso fitting under Allie's de...

In this week's interview episode, we're joined by Katenna Jones. Katenna has a breadth of animal care and welfare experience under her belt, from shelter work to cruelty investigation, and for this episode, we're ecstatic Katenna agreed to talk about cats! In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Katenna talk about: New ways of thinking about pottying outside the litter box M...

Helping us kick off season 7 of Enrichment for the Real World, we're joined by our very own, Lesley Gurule. Lesley is a behavior consultant with Pet Harmony and Lesley thrives on demystifying unwanted behaviors, collaborating with pet parents, and approaching every animal as an individual with unique needs. In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Lesley talk about: Why shelters and re...