Enlightened By Dogs: Living with Cooperation, Not Obedience

Latest Episodes:

EBD147 What Personality Traits Trigger Your Dog's Behavior? Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

One of the most common mistakes that dog moms make is fundamentally misunderstanding their dog's behavior. Your dog has an innate personality and unique needs. When these get misinterpreted, it can lead to your dog responding in a negative way.

A misunderstood dog can be very difficult to live with. They may show anxious, defensive, or withdrawn behaviors like guard-barking or being on excessive alert. They can become worried about leaving you, suspicious of strangers, or shut down when they face pressure. A misunderstood dog's behavior can feel very extreme, but there are some practical steps that you can take to avoid these difficulties and restore peace and calm.

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy helps you gain clarity about your dog's personality. She reveals the five different personality profile types and explains how your dog prefers to communicate their personality through their behavior. She also shares how understanding and accepting your dog's personality can lead to a happier partnership.

In this episode:

Why understanding your dog's personality is key to a calm and peaceful relationship
The typical behaviors of a misunderstood dog
The five personality types and what their traits are
How understanding your dog's behavior can restore balance

Read the blog post on this topic.

Quotes:

"When dogs are misunderstood, they can become defensive, anxious, intolerant, agitated, worried, overprotective, withdrawn, impatient, timid, fearful, or suspicious."

"Behavior is communication. A dog who feels unheard can quickly escalate from a whisper, to a scream."

"Understanding how your dog's personality affects their behavior begins by answering the question, 'what is your dog's personality profile type?'"

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD146 Trigger Exposure is the Worst Way to Help Reactive Dogs Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

How can you truly help your reactive dog?

I feel really passionate about this topic. Why? Because I hear so many stories of dog moms and dog families struggling with reactive dog training that just doesn't work for them.

Often, the advice from the dog training world isn't helpful. It can result in dog moms feeling demoralized, guilty, or even like failures. But I want you to know that it doesn't have to be this way!

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares a new approach to reactive training and the story of Ros and her two reactive Vizslas, Phoebe and Myrtle. Ros thought she was doing her best to help them with traditional training, but it was only when she took a more contemporary approach that they could truly live a safe, calm, and happy life together.

In this episode:

A BPA member's journey from reactive to safe, calm, and happy
The challenges of life with a reactive dog
Why reward-based trigger conditioning training fails
How your emotions affect your dog's behavior
What embracing trust could do for your partnership

Read the blog post on this topic.

Quotes:

"Creating a circle of safety and trust is what helps our dogs to accept all things."

"Exposing our reactive dogs to their triggers is the worst way to help them."

"When we stay calm, present, and are a loving leader and a solid role model, our dogs seem to magically respond by calming down and following our lead."

"I want to inspire you to rethink the old, outdated methods around repeated exposure, hyper-vigilance, and getting dogs used to things that trigger them by distracting them from how they really feel."

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD145 Using Your Intuition to Better Understand Your Dog Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

What if I told you there was a way to bypass the language barrier that you experience with your dog? Well, I believe that anyone who seeks to be a better communicator with their dog can achieve this by getting in touch with their intuition.

Your intuition is a powerful way to receive and send communication with not just your dog, but all beings. From a holistic perspective, there are so many benefits to being intentional with your intuition and using it to guide you. But, when it comes to connecting with your dog, this method of communication opens up bigger and better possibilities for your partnership to thrive.

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares how tapping into your intuition can help you build the safe, calm and happy life that you dream of living with your dog. She also shares eight tips for embracing your intuition and approaching animal-to-animal communication.

In this episode:

How living a holistic lifestyle sets a foundation for better communication
Why balance is key to your wellbeing
How to communicate beyond the physical senses

Read the blog post on this topic.

Mentions:

Quotes:

"We have the ability and the responsibility to go directly to the source and bypass the language barrier that we experience with our dogs."

"You should be comfortable, willing and happy to use your intuitive senses to communicate with your dog."

"We can tap into our intuitive communication to help resolve undesired behaviors, physical imbalances and illnesses."

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD144 The Difference Between Invitation and Expectation and Why It Matters Feb 15, 2021

Show notes

When you share a partnership lifestyle with your dog, you invite them to be a part of, or join in with, things that you do. But, when you extend an invitation to your dog, are you considering what your expectations are?

Sharing a partnership lifestyle with your dog starts with offering invitations to connect and engage. Invitations are a brilliant way to open up space and bond. However, it's important to understand how to extend an invitation to your dog and what role your expectations have in working towards a successful partnership.

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy discusses why your expectations and intentions behind the invitations matter. She also dives into why it's important to make space for a two-way dialogue to create a genuine, authentic connection.

In this episode:

What it means to invite your dog to connect with you
Why your intention and expectations are key parts of a brilliant partnership
How to extend an open-hearted invitation that your dog will love to accept!

Read the blog post on this topic.

Quotes:

"The very act of inviting opens the pathway to connection."

"Extending an invitation to our dog fulfills that deep social need to belong, bond, and to be a part of a family group."

"Having an open-hearted expectation means that we are respectful and honoring of our dogs' feelings, thoughts, and circumstances."

"Any invitation's intention is an act of sharing love."

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD143 Are Your Thoughts Sabotaging Your Progress? Feb 08, 2021

Show notes

Are your thoughts getting in the way of you living a safe, calm, and happy life with your dog?

Without realizing it, your thoughts around safe, calm, and happy, could be the very thing that stifles your progress! Whenever you try to make real change happen in your life (even if it's positive change), your primitive brain often steps in and makes you question everything.

So, what can you do about it? And, how can you override your primitive brain so that it stops getting in the way of your progress with your dog?

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy talks about how your thoughts around the safe, calm, and happy principle can impact your progress. She also digs deeper into human nature and reveals how you can override the primitive brain's resistance to change so that it stops getting in the way of you and your dog's progress towards a loving partnership!

In this episode:

Understanding that you are in control of your thoughts
How the primitive brain sabotages your progress
How to override the primitive brain and start making positive change in your life
Assignments to help you and your dog live a safe, calm and happy life

Read the blog post on this topic.

Quotes:

"The more impatient you are to fix your dog's unwanted behaviour, the longer it will take."

"You have the power to assign a particular executive task to your executive brain, and then follow through on the ideas that come out of that."

"Your primitive brain does not design your life. Your primitive brain keeps your life exactly the same."

"You are the observer of your thoughts…and you have the ability to filter your thoughts."

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD142 Understanding Dog Greetings Feb 01, 2021

Show notes

What do different dog greetings really mean?

Have you ever wondered why your dog greets you the way they do? Why do they get so excited when you come home? Why do they jump up, spin around in circles, or clobber you with their front paw?

As dog moms, most of us fully embrace whatever way our dogs choose to greet us. Of course, we might find it cute and adorable when our dogs jump up to greet us. However, guests might not appreciate your dog hurling themselves at them when they walk through the door.

We often have difficulty understanding how to handle our dog's greetings, so let's talk about it! In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares some of her best tips to help you better understand your dog's greetings. She also reveals how you can learn to manage greetings so that both parties feel safe, calm, and happy using The Greeting Protocol from the Brilliant Partners Academy!

In this episode:

Why dog greetings must meet their social needs
Four rules to consider before letting your dog greet others and vice versa
How to adjust the way you and your dog greet one another
How to use The Greeting Protocol to manage safe, calm, and happy greetings between your dog and other dogs or humans
Interesting statistics about dog greetings

Read the blog post on this topic.

Quotes:

"If your dog is already over-aroused, over-excited and is already disconnected from you, you have to skip the greeting."

"You are responsible for managing the greeting."

"Greetings should only happen if you and your dog are connected, attentive, and responsive to one another."

"Dogs prefer to play with other dogs that are similar to themselves."

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD141 Boundaries Around Biting Jan 25, 2021

Show notes

Setting boundaries for our dogs is so important, especially when it comes to biting from excitement or over-arousal. A lot of the misunderstanding comes from the idea of setting boundaries because boundaries mean strict restrictions, right? Well, not exactly.

When setting boundaries for your dog, you actually help to build trust. You see, the one thing that our dogs need to trust us is the same thing we often get wrong, and it's time to change that.

As a dog mom of two Border Collies who had "excitement biting issues," Kathy understands the frustration associated with a dog who tends to bite when they are too excited. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares two personal stories of how she set boundaries with her two Border Collies, Luc and Kate. She then wraps up the episode by sharing four key tips to help you too. Enjoy!

In this episode:

Why dogs need boundaries
How Kathy got her Border Collie puppy to stop biting
What behavior from Kathy stopped her excitable dog from charging and biting
How to set boundaries for your dog in a way that builds trust
Four tips to help calm you and your dog

Quotes:

"Boundaries allow both partners to feel comfortable and positive."

"I really want dogs to try to figure things out for themselves and communicate in a way that that's really clear."

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD140 Alert Barking, Car Chasing, and Sky Hawking, Oh My! Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

Living in partnership with our dogs comes with lots of highs and lows. We create memories together that we cherish, and we continue to grow closer as brilliant partners. However, it's not all rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes, our dogs like to express themselves in ways that some people would deem "naughty."

This type of behavior ranges from barking at perceived dangers that we know are safe, trying to chase moving cars, or barking hysterically at airplanes and birds in the sky.

When our dogs behave like this, we know that there is an underlying reason for it. Perhaps they bark at the delivery man because they want to protect the yard from strangers. Or, maybe they bark at hawking birds because they want to scare off potential flying predators. Believe me when I say that dogs have their reasons for alert barking, car chasing, and howling at the sky!

However, as dog moms who strive to live in partnership with our dogs, we know that we can handle this behavior through role modeling as our dogs' leading partners. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares what role modeling for our dogs looks like and how it can help calm our dogs when they start barking at things that are of no threat!

In this episode:

Why role modeling for our dogs is so important
What it really means to live in partnership with our dogs
Why you should meet your dog where they are
How to deal with alarm barking and motion sensitivity
The key steps to the role modeling protocol
… and so much more!

Read the blog post on this topic.

Quotes:

"I think of living in partnership as an ongoing dialogue"

"We can tap into our dog's social intelligence"

"It's always better when dogs can figure something out on their own"

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD139 Power Over is Not Our Thing Jan 11, 2021

Show notes

Where does your empowerment come from?

Empowerment does not come from placing yourself above others but from your strength, vulnerability, and empathetic nature. Whenever a new year or season in life begins, many people reflect on their life's purpose. They want to discover why they're here on this planet and find meaning in what they're doing with their lives.

As dog moms, we might be thinking about how we live with our dogs. We learn alongside them, and we thrive together in partnership. It's not about gaining power over our dogs. It's about being brilliant partners and learning to live together in peace and harmony.

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares her big "why," which is to empower dog moms to live a full and happy life that brings them closer to their dogs. She talks about the true meaning of power and why it doesn't necessarily mean what we've been conditioned to think it does.

If you're in the mood to feel inspired and proud to be a dog mom, this is the episode for you!

In this episode:

Where true empowerment comes from
What empowers us as dog moms
Why it's true that dog moms embody universal love
The relationship between women and power
The true meaning of power

Read the blog post on this topic.

Quotes:

"I like to empower dog moms to live a full, rich, and happy life with their dogs."

"We're brave, even when we're afraid. We rescue but we're not rescuers. We're survivors, but we are not victims."

"There is a way to cooperatively live with our dogs as a family group successfully, where we all thrive, and we can all be safe and happy."

"Power is the ability to achieve purpose and affect change."

Mentions & Links

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.

EBD138 When You're Afraid to Walk Your Reactive Dog Jan 04, 2021

Show notes

Is your dog so out of control that you're afraid to walk them on a leash?

There's nothing more stressful than walking an unruly and reactive dog who could pull, lunge, or bark hysterically at any minute. If you're struggling with this problem with your dog, Kathy wants to help you change your story so that you and your dog can come together in a loving partnership.

So, for this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy has taken a few lessons from a recent coaching session she had with a lovely member of BPA, who was having a hard time walking her very large and reactive dog!

Kathy helped her discover the baby steps to help her get back to enjoying the dream life she wants to share with her wonderful dog. You can listen in and take all of these lessons and apply them in your own life with your dog, especially if your dog is difficult to walk with on the leash!

If you want to find out how to prepare to walk your dog mentally, how to avoid trigger stacking, and what to do in the moment when your dog reacts, this is the episode for you!

In this episode:

Why the Arousal Protocol is so important
Why you need to give your dog space and peace to rest
How putting your dog in uncomfortable situations can make them even more reactive
How to reduce your dog's stress and build their confidence and trust in you
What to do when your dog reacts

Read the blog post on this topic.

Quotes:

"Look at it from your dog's perspective."

"Prove to your dog that you care about how they feel, and you're not going to ask them to do things that are too hard"

"The longer we stay in the wrong environment, the more likely stress is going to build."

Want More of Kathy?

To read the blog post on this topic and to explore other episodes, click here.