The Leashed Mind Podcast, Mental Health & Dog Training

In episode 15 of Season 2 I had an enlightening conversation with Jess Adam, a licensed professional counselor and a professor of counseling psychology, who specializes in integrating mental health support into the dog training industry. Jess shares her insights on the essential role of emotional well-being for dog trainers, explaining how mental health impacts their work and the animals they trai...

In Season 2, Episode 14 of  we delve into the Agnieszka Janarek's    journey of Tromplo's creation and its founder's challenges in the realm of mental health. Initially, Tromplo operated on Facebook, where she  connected with dog trainers and enthusiasts, but soon realized the limitations of social media for business. Evolving from a Facebook group, Tromplo was formally launched in 201...

In Season 2, Episode 13  we invite Jaime and John Caponetta from Pawsome University whose lives revolve around their love for dogs and each other.  Their paths crossed in a fairytale-like moment at an animal shelter, leading to both a professional and romantic partnership. Together, they navigated challenges from workplace dynamics to personal tragedies, like the loss of their beloved dog, Opal, s...

In episode 12 of season 2, host Mandy Boutelle engages in an insightful conversation with Colleen Pelar, a veteran dog trainer and an expert in combating burnout and compassion fatigue among pet professionals. Colleen recounts her journey, which began in dog training in 1991, leading up to her current focus on mental health for pet professionals. She opens up about the personal challenges that cat...

In Episode 11 host Mandy Boutelle engages in a profound dialogue with Karishma Warr from Calm Canine Academy. This episode, rich with personal anecdotes and shared experiences, delves into the intricacies of dog training, mental health, and personal growth. Mandy and Karishma explore the significance of positive reinforcement, empathy, and acknowledging neurodiversity in dog training, while Karish...

In Episode 10 of Season 2, your host Mandy Boutelle engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Tressa Fessenden-McKenzie, a seasoned professional in the dog training and shelter world. As Tressa shares her journey, listeners are taken through her transformation from a Petco trainer to her pivotal role as the former Behavior and Training Manager at East Bay SPCA in Oakland, California. After...

In the 9th episode of Season 2, host Mandy Boutelle invites Molly Kelsey, the founder of the Cat Counsellor in Auckland, New Zealand, for a deep dive into cat behavior consultation. Molly shares her intriguing transition from a veterinary nurse to a cat behavior specialist, sparked by her experiences with a unique foster kitten. She emphasizes the criticality of recognizing and catering to each ca...

In Episode 8 of Season 2 your host Mandy Boutelle has a fun and inspiring conversation with Hannah Branigan is an enlightening journey through the challenges and triumphs of being neurodivergent in the dog training business world. Hannah, known for her podcast "Drinking From the Toilet," shares her unique perspective on navigating business ownership while managing neurodiversity. We delve into top...

In Episode 7 of Season2, your host Mandy Boutelle engages in a profound conversation with Lorenzo Fox, lead trainer at Synergy Veterinary Behavior in Portland, Oregon. Lorenzo shares his unique journey in the world of positive dog training, delving into his work with animals, particularly dogs with complex behavior issues. His discussion highlights the significance of understanding the underlying...

In Episode 6 of Season 2 your host Mandy Boutelle engages in an enlightening conversation with Andre Yeu from When Hounds Fly. Andre, a seasoned dog trainer, shares the remarkable journey of growing his business to five locations across two cities, managing a team of 10 full-time and 12 part-time employees. His ability to sustain passion, professionalism, and care for his clients, himself, and his...

In Episode 5 of Season 2 your host Mandy Boutelle welcomes Hayley Martinez from Nakama Dog Training. Haley shares her remarkable journey from launching a pet-sitting business at 15 to evolving into a professional dog trainer. Her specialty lies in addressing aggression, anxiety, and fear-related issues in dogs, a field demanding both skill and empathy. Haley candidly discusses her shift from balan...

In Episode 4 of season 2, your host Mandy Boutelle welcomes Sarah Stremming, a renowned dog behavior consultant and podcaster. Their conversation revolves around Sarah's holistic approach to dog training and her personal journey, highlighting how she navigated the challenges of the pandemic. Sarah shares her experiences and coping strategies, emphasizing the importance of mental wellness and self-...

In Season 2, Episode 3 your host Mandy Boutelle invites Erin Marion, a certified professional dog trainer specializing in working with deaf, blind, and disabled dogs, for a heartwarming conversation. Erin, a close friend of Mandy's, delves into her transition from running a dog hiking business to passionately training special needs dogs. She shares the rewards and challenges of her unique professi...

In Episode 2 of Season 2 your host Mandy Boutelle welcomes Mikkel Becker from Fear Free Pets for a compelling discussion that continues the themes explored in the previous episode with Karen Chapdelaine. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of the dog training industry, shedding light on its transition from a competitive to a more collaborative environment, especially post-2020. Man...

Season 2, Episode 1, your host Mandy Boutelle engages in a heartfelt conversation with Karen Chapdelaine, a renowned dog trainer known for her empathetic approach. Karen, shares her unique journey in the dog training world, highlighting the importance of showcasing both triumphs and challenges. This episode delves into the refreshingly honest perspective of normalizing the struggles and flaws inhe...

Welcome back to The Leashed Mind Podcast, Mental Health & Dog Training! We are BACK in action for Season 2, which is kicking off on January 2nd, 2024. Join host Mandy Boutelle as we embark on the second season of the Leash Mind podcast, where the worlds of dog training and mental health intersect. This season promises engaging and thought-provoking discussions tailored for dog care professiona...

In this season finale, Mandy takes a step back to appreciate how far the podcast has come since the debut on April 4th, and dive into some profound lessons learned along the way. Join your host for this intimate one-on-one session where she shares 10 key things she wish she knew earlier as both a pet professional and business owner. This episode is a deep dive into the wisdom gleaned from our expe...

A quick note - there are brief mentions of euthanasia and suicide. In our second-to-last episode Mandy is joined by Annie Phenix, the founder of The Official Midnight Dog Walkers Club, Facebook group - a vibrant community dedicated to owners and trainers of reactive and aggressive dogs. Our conversation goes further into Annie’s journey of establishing the Phenix Advocacy Center, aimed at prioriti...

A quick note - we do discuss the sensitive subject of behavioral euthanasia and euthanasia in general extensively in this episode. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of animal shelter work and behavior training with, Ashley Devine from Mannered Misfits. Ashley offers an invaluable perspective from their six-year stint working in an animal shelter and their experience in the shelter's beh...

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of success and its complex relationship with comparison. Mandy shares her own unique perspectives on success and offers a fresh perspective, emphasizing that success isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. She dismantles the societal stereotype that success is solely tied to income, number of clients, or constant busyness. She encourages listeners to refra...

In this episode Mandy sits down with Marissa Martino, of Paws & Reward. They delve into a deep conversation about the intersection of dog training, business, and mindfulness. Marissa shares her unique approach to dog training, emphasizing the importance of building a meaningful relationship between dogs and their owners. From managing stress to navigating the sometimes challenging terrain of m...

Content Warning: This episode does include a discussion of mental illness, depression and suicide. In this episode I am joined by Tabitha Kucera from Chirrups and Chatter for a lively conversation about mental health, business management, and setting up the antecedents for yourself. The episode teems with laughter while tackling weighty topics, such as mental illnesses, disabilities, imposter synd...

In this episode I have a really wonderful chat with Claire Anderson CPDT-KA, FDM, SAPT, FFCP of Mutt Sense regarding being more mindful when navigating not only running our business, but also in how we show up for our clients, their dogs, our animals and most importantly....ourselves. We discuss growth in our careers, learning from less than ideal situations with business and clientele, figuring o...

This is a different kind of episode from our usual! Back in early April I was experiencing a lot of overwhelm with....projects piling up, an impending surgery that I knew was going to derail my usual flow for 2+ months, and not feeling like I would be able to get all the things done, in a timely manner...which caused me to work harder and longer - working on days off, not giving myself adequate br...

In this episode I have a chat with Dr. Chris Pachel of Animal Behavior Clinic & Instinct Dog Training & Behavior, Portland. This episode is FILLED with so many juicy relatable nuggets and also just so much laughter and joy that Dr. Pachel tends to always bring to the table. He and I really dig into what setting boundaries within your business can and should look like, how that can help pro...