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Kids & Family

Enrichment for the Real World

You’ve dedicated your life to helping animals- just like us.

Emily Strong was training praying mantids at 7.

Allie Bender was telling her neighbor to refill their bird feeder because the birds were hungry at 2.

You’re an animal person; you get it.

We’ve always been animal people. We’ve been wanting to better animals’ lives since forever, so we made a podcast for people like us.

Join Emily and Allie, the authors of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, for everything animal care- from meeting animals’ needs to assessing goals to filling our own cups as caregivers and guardians.

Latest Episodes:

#76 - Katenna Jones: Build a Better Relationship With Your Cat May 13, 2024

Show notes

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
Making sure cats know what you’re offering them
Cultivating a cat-centric point of view
Why cats require precision training
Why suppression sometimes works, but still isn’t a good idea

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#75 - Lesley Gurule: Building Better Behavior Support in Shelters May 06, 2024

Show notes

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 rescues need more behavioral support
Improving inclusivity and support in sheltering by getting rid of dogmatic slogans
Why it’s so important to get pregnant moms and baby animals out of the shelter ASAP
Learn the language of the species you live with

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#74 - Q&A: Why Does My Dog Only Care Sometimes? Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

To wrap up Season 6, we're answering your questions! Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for this episode!

In this season's Q&A episode Emily, Allie, and Ellen talk about:

Why our pets sometimes react to things and sometimes don't
Tips for helping your pet enjoy paw care
Whether dogs can sleep in the bed

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#73 - How to Have Happier Vet Visits Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

Last week we talked with Dr. Valli Parthasarathy about cooperative care for all species, and this week Allie and Emily talk about how to have happier vet visits.

In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about:

Why Wants Vs. Needs conversations are important
Tips for thoughtful antecedent arrangement at the clinic
How to determine if your pet does better with you or going in the back with the vet staff

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#72 - Dr. Valli Parthasarathy: Cooperative Care for All Species Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

In this week's interview episode, we're joined by Dr. Valli Parthasarathy the owner of Synergy Veterinary Behavior in Portland, Oregon, where she helps families whose dogs, cats, birds, horses, and other species show problematic behaviors.

In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Valli talk about:

Common behavior issues in various species
Cooperative care for significant behavioral special needs
The ROI of sedation for medical procedures
Dr. Valli’s journey with a teenage Dutch Shepherd

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#71 - How to Trial Gut-Brain Health Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

Last week we heard from Dr. Tim Lewis and one of the topics we discussed was the biology of dogs. This week we’re going to dive further into trialing gut-brain health and talk about implementation with the animals in your life.

In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about:

Emily falling out of the space-time continuum
Nutrition is a study of one
Finding objective measures for a food trial

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#70 - Dr. Tim Lewis: The Biology of Dogs Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

In this week's interview episode, we are joined by Tim Lewis. Dr. Tim Lewis has a PhD in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studies a wide range of animals from turtles to domestic dogs.

In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Tim talk about:

Finding the balance between “save them all” and breed determinism
Retraining the amygdala
We all have 5 brains
Teaching calm

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#69 - How to Create an Efficient Enrichment Storage System Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

Last week we heard from Jungle Jordan Veasley about efficient enrichment storage systems. This week we're going to dive further into enrichment storage systems in the home.

In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about:

Allie's love of The Home Edit
Emily's rule of 3 when it comes to Kongs
How molehills are sometimes mountains

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#68 - Jungle Jordan Veasley: Improving Welfare for All Species Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

In this week's podcast episode, we're joined by Jungle Jordan Veasley, a zookeeper and wildlife educator. Jordan is doing such important work not only for the animals in his care but for humans too! Representation matters and he’s a living, breathing example of why.

In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Jordan talk about:

What sorcery this is?
Relating to other people when they’re not ready to hear what you have to say
Boxes are fun
Neurodiversity, diversity, and representation
Imagine how hard it would be to give a bear something

You can find the full show notes here.

#67 - Creative Solutions for Physical Exercise Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

Last week we heard from Lori Stevens and one of the topics we discussed was movement & exercise for behavioral therapies. This week we’re going to dive further into creative solutions for physical exercise and talk about implementation with the animals in your life.

In this implementation episode, Emily and Allie talk about:

Risk levels being on a spectrum
Do you need a new solution or a different version of a current solution?
Play as exercise

You can find the full show notes here.

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