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:

#106 - Dr. Kelly Ballantyne: Combating Caregiver Burden Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

We've said it before and we'll say it again- it's hard to care for individuals who need specialized care, and that includes pets with behavior challenges! In this episode, Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Kelly Ballantyne provides tips for combating caregiver burden, discusses the link between pain and behavior, and gives up-to-date information on anti-anxiety medication for adolescent animals.

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#105 - But, Like, What Even Is Training, Anyway? Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

We talk about training a lot. But, like, what even IS training? Does it have to involve a treat pouch and clicker? Or, perhaps, could it involve Allie bear crawling up a platform and nothing more? Check out today's episode to find out.

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#104 - Ayoka Bubar: Dog Sports as Enrichment Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Flyball, Agility, Tracking, Rally Obedience, Trick Titling, Conformation, Herding, Mondioring, Obedience, oh my! If you're into canine sports or looking to learn more about them, Ayoka is your person. Get ready to step into the world of R+ dog sports!

You can find the full episode show notes here.

#103 - Adaptations for [Human] Accessibility Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Every human experiences and operates in the world in a unique way. That means that the way each person cares for their pet will be unique, too! So, how do we make adaptations for humans to successfully work with and enrich their pets? Tune in to this episode to find out!
You can find the full episode show notes here.

#102 - Gabrielle Johnson: Disability Justice in Animal Welfare Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

The animal training industry is typically on board with non-human learners being individuals and meeting those individuals where they are when it comes to training. But what about our human learners?

In this episode, Gabrielle Johnson talks about how we can meet our human learners where they are and how to support disability justice in the animal welfare industry.
You can find the full episode show notes here.

#101 - How to Reduce Harm in Our Industry Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

In this implementation episode, Allie and Emily delve deep into harm reduction within the pet professional industry. The discussion includes stories of Allie's Flight Cue skills, the importance of accountability, and the intricacies of managing difficult situations gracefully. Learn about the concepts of politeness versus consideration, the importance of safe and supportive communities, and practical steps to reduce harm effectively. This episode comes with a blanket content warning: in talking about harm reduction, we talk about harm, including physical, mental, and emotional. If you're not in the space to consume this content, we encourage you to sit this one out. You can always come back later!
You can find the full episode show notes here.

#100 - Laura van Dernoot Lipsky: Trauma Stewardship for Pet Professionals Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

In this week's interview episode, we're joined by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, the founder of the Trauma Stewardship Institute and author of 'Trauma Stewardship' and 'The Age of Overwhelm'.
In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss the importance of trauma stewardship and harm reduction. Laura shares insights on reframing self-care, the interconnectedness of our lives, and the significance of systemic approaches in improving the quality of life for pets, their people, and the professionals who support them. Listeners will learn about recognizing signs of burnout, the impact of disenfranchised professions, and fostering compassionate accountability within communities.
Join us as we explore these crucial topics and how to enhance well-being in our professional and personal lives.
You can find the full episode show notes here.

#99 - Tiffany Holmes: Living with Pets with Behavior Challenges Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

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 wonderful of living with a pet with extreme behavior challenges. Whether you want to better understand what your clients or loved ones are going through with their pets or you want to feel less alone, you'll love Tiffany's story about the 4-legged love of her life, Petey.
You can find the full episode show notes here.

#98 - Q&A: E-Collars Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

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.

#97 - How to Tell if Your Dog Enjoys Going to Daycare Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

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 isn’t a daycare dog
When you turn a corner and your dog realizes where they are
The Eeyore thing
Stalling vs. resignation
Emily’s a fun ruiner

You can find the full episode show notes here.

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