Paws & Reward Podcast

Ep 86: Setting and Keeping Boundaries with Annika McDade Oct 25, 2024

In episode 86, Marissa Martino interviews Annika McDade to discuss how establishing clear boundaries with friends, family, and strangers can help protect your dog’s progress, support their behavior, and preserve your relationship with them. From politely managing unsolicited advice to ensuring others respect your dog’s needs, we’ll discuss why advocating for your dog is essential for their comfort and security. Learn how to confidently communicate what your dog requires, whether it’s space, routine, or respect, and how those boundaries benefit not only your dog’s behavior but also your bond with them. Join us for practical tips on handling those tricky social situations while keeping your dog’s best interests at heart!

Ep 85: Decompression and Transition Support for your New Dog with Emily Wolf Oct 16, 2024

In episode 85, Marissa Martino interviews Emily Wolf of Summit Dog Rescue and Brilliant Pup Behavior to discuss how we can set up our dogs for success when bringing them home for the first time. They discuss what to consider before choosing a new dog or puppy, how to help them transition to your lifestyle with ease, and ways to introduce new elements into their experience slowly. Whether you’re adopting a puppy or welcoming an older dog, this episode talks about the much-needed perspective and support to make the transition easy.

Ep 84: It Takes a Village: Collaboration Between Veterinarians & Trainers with Dr. Ariel Fagen Sep 30, 2024

In episode 84, Marissa Martino interviews Dr. Ariel Fagen about how collaboration between professionals can create a more effective behavior modification journey for dogs and their people. They explore the roles that trainers, veterinarians, veterinary behaviorists, and pet parents play in shaping a dog’s success, and how working together can provide a more holistic approach. Whether you’re a pet owner or a professional, this episode offers valuable insights on creating a unified support system to better understand and meet dogs’ behavioral needs, ensuring long-term success and well-being.

Ep 83: Separation Anxiety: The Guardian's Experience with Karishma Warr Sep 17, 2024

In episode 83, Marissa Martino interviews Karishma Warr of Calm Canine Academy about separation-related behaviors and their impact on the caregiver. They begin by defining what separation-related behaviors are, exploring the subtleties of each category, and discussing the common overlaps that many dog guardians encounter. The conversation then shifts to the key concepts of the behavior modification process, providing listeners with an understanding of what this journey entails. Finally, drawing from Marissa’s personal experience with her own dog and Karishma’s work with clients, they delve into the emotional impact on caregivers and share strategies for self-support throughout the process.

Ep 82: Using Long Lines with Tricia Case Sep 07, 2024

In episode 82, Marissa Martino interviews Tricia Case to talk about her love of designing amazing leashes to navigate the world with our dogs. They talk about the reasons for using long lines, what to consider when using them, and the skills needed for everyone to enjoy their walks. She also offers a discount for our podcast listeners!

Tricia Case is the founder of Trailblazing Tails. She is driven to make the world a better and safer place for children and dogs, and build products that consider the dog's wants, needs, and emotions.

She founded Trailblazing Tails as a dog running service in Los Angeles, CA, and quickly realized how little she knew about the practical application of behavior training. She has devoted her life to learning about dogs and their behavior. She furthers her education through professional conferences, her professional community, classes, and every dog she meets!

Ep 81: Exploring the Emotional Experience Part 3 with Annika McDade: Control Aug 21, 2024

In episode 81, Marissa Martino interviews Annika McDade in this three-part series about the emotional experience of caring for, living with, and loving our dogs. In part 3 of the series, they explore the many ways we try to control ourselves, our dogs, others, and the situation as we navigate life with our dogs.

Annika McDade is the Founder of Canine Connection Training & Coaching. She is a triple-certified Behaviour Consultant & Life Coach with a passion for helping people connect to themselves, their dogs and their deepest desires. She is a multidimensional being with a compelling history as a world traveler, wolf trainer, energy worker and ever learner.

She combines the unique balance of science-based dog training with self-development, holistic wellness & spiritual curiosity when working with her clients. Her desire is to create a space where you can come as you are. A place where you can feel supported & understood, and explore the teachings your dog brings forward for you in your life.

Annika is invested as much in the transformation of her clients as she is in their pets. With a strong belief that our dogs come into our lives for a reason, she feels if we remain curious, open-hearted & self-aware, our dogs have much to teach us, about us.

Ep 80: Exploring the Emotional Experience Part 2 with Annika McDade: Grief & Hope Aug 13, 2024

In episode 80, Marissa Martino interviews Annika McDade in this three-part series about the emotional experience of caring for, living with, and loving our dogs. In part 2 of the series, they explore the many ways grief shows up while caring for our beloved dogs. They also explore the intersection of grief and hope, why it's critical for us to feel our experience, and where we focus our mind.

Annika McDade is the Founder of Canine Connection Training & Coaching. She is a triple-certified Behaviour Consultant & Life Coach with a passion for helping people connect to themselves, their dogs and their deepest desires. She is a multidimensional being with a compelling history as a world traveler, wolf trainer, energy worker and ever learner.

She combines the unique balance of science-based dog training with self-development, holistic wellness & spiritual curiosity when working with her clients. Her desire is to create a space where you can come as you are. A place where you can feel supported & understood, and explore the teachings your dog brings forward for you in your life.

Annika is invested as much in the transformation of her clients as she is in their pets. With a strong belief that our dogs come into our lives for a reason, she feels if we remain curious, open-hearted & self-aware, our dogs have much to teach us, about us.

Ep 79: Exploring the Emotional Experience Part 1 with Annika McDade: Guilt Aug 05, 2024

In episode 79, Marissa Martino interviews Annika McDade in this three-part series about the emotional experience of caring for, living with, and loving our dogs. In the first episode, they explore the prevalent emotion of guilt. Marissa and Annika share their personal experiences with guilt in their relationships with their dogs. They also provide common pet parent examples and ways to support yourself through this emotion.

Annika McDade is the Founder of Canine Connection Training & Coaching. She is a triple-certified Behaviour Consultant & Life Coach with a passion for helping people connect to themselves, their dogs and their deepest desires. She is a multidimensional being with a compelling history as a world traveler, wolf trainer, energy worker and ever learner.

She combines the unique balance of science-based dog training with self-development, holistic wellness & spiritual curiosity when working with her clients. Her desire is to create a space where you can come as you are. A place where you can feel supported & understood, and explore the teachings your dog brings forward for you in your life.

Annika is invested as much in the transformation of her clients as she is in their pets. With a strong belief that our dogs come into our lives for a reason, she feels if we remain curious, open-hearted & self-aware, our dogs have much to teach us, about us.

Ep 78: "Manage It!" with Juliana DeWillams Jul 29, 2024

Join Marissa Martino interview Juliana DeWillams of JW Dog Training talk about the critical skill of behavior management. Juliana and Marissa define management, share some examples of what active and passive management strategies look like with your dog, and how these strategies can help support your dog's behavior and your relationship.

Juliana is the Owner and Head Trainer at JW Dog Training. She has been training dogs since 2014 after she graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy.

Juliana enjoys applying her knowledge of canine behavior and the science of learning when working closely with pet parents to improve their dog's behavior. Watching the training plan strengthen the bond between owner and dog -- whether it's a puppy, adolescent, or adult dog-- is her favorite part of the job.

You can regularly catch Juliana on TV, radio, and online programs. She has shared her dog training expertise on WTOP and Good Day DC, and she was a regular guest on The Pet Show with Dr. Katy for many years. Juliana currently co-hosts the Live from The Ranch online broadcast with Ken Ramirez. She has also provided quarterly free seminars and webinars for dog owners through the non-profit Your Dog's Friend.

Ep 77: The Antidote to Empathetic Distress with Jessica Dolce Apr 16, 2024

In episode 77, Marissa Martino interviews Jessica Dolce about a very important topic in our profession, compassion fatigue, or what we're now calling it - empathetic distress. We explore what empathetic distress is, why it is common to experience as a caregiver, and what to do to avoid burnout.

This episode is for anyone who cares and feels a lot and takes care of animals (and their people), whether you're a dog trainer, animal welfare professional, or a devoted pet parent.

Jessica Dolce, MS CCFE, is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator, receiving her training from TEND Academy. She brings more than 20 years of experience working with and for animals to The Compassion in Balance® Program, her online education platform for animal welfare professionals. Jessica is also an instructor at The Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida and has worked with organizations around the world such as the IAABC, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, HSUS, Animals Asia, and the ASPCA. She holds a Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education degree and certificates in mindfulness facilitation, positive psychology coaching, and Mental Health First Aid. She lives in Maine with her husband, dogs, cats, and ducks.

Ep 76: The Art and Neuroscience of Puppy Socialization with Dr. Kathy Murphy Apr 01, 2024

In episode 76, Marissa Martino interviews Dr. Kathy Murphy on the art and neuroscience of puppy socialization. Dr. Murphy explores some common myths about puppy socialization, explains what is happening from a neuroscience perspective, why that matters to us (and the puppies), and how to support our puppies during this critical time. It's a MUST listen! Get ready for some mindset shifts.

Dr Kathy Murphy (BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS) is a veterinary surgeon and neuroscientist. Dr Murphy founded and is now the Director of, Barking Brains Ltd (a neuroscience outreach platform for the animal behavior and training community), which focuses on translating neuroscientific information into practical and useful information for people interested in animal behavior. To maximize the impact of her diverse interests and skill set, Dr. Murphy teamed up with Behavior Vets in 2022 when she took up the position of Chief Scientific Officer, now the CEO. Dr Murphy lives in the UK with her husband Elliot and their 4 dogs.

Ep 75: Embracing your Dog as your Mirror with Annika McDade Mar 17, 2024

In episode 75, Marissa Martino interviews Annika McDade to discuss the healing power of our canine relationships. Both Annika and Marissa have a passion for encouraging pet parents to see their relationship with their dogs as an opportunity for personal development. They get vulnerable during this episode and share how their dogs have presented growth opportunities in not-so-ideal ways. They present innovative thoughts about incorporating this work into the training process and encourage listeners to think beyond dog training.

Annika McDade is the Founder of Canine Connection Training, a well-recognized, Vancouver-based dog training company. She is a triple-certified Behaviour Consultant and Human Coach with a passion for facilitating a conscious connection between dogs and their people. Her greatest desire is to dive deeper into supporting the human end of the leash. Annika combines a unique balance of science-based knowledge, self-development, and spiritual curiosity when working with clients.

Ep 74: Supporting Frustrated Shelter Dogs with Tom Candy Feb 26, 2024

In episode 74, Marissa Martino interviews Tom Candy about shelter dogs that experience frustration. They discuss the 3 R's - Risk assessment, Reduce (management strategies), and Resolve (behavior modification and teaching skills). Tom provides examples of interventions that he and his team implement to reduce a dog's stress level in the shelter environment.

A passion for animal welfare and training led Tom to undertake a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in bio-veterinary science and a Master of Science degree in clinical animal behavior from the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom. Since graduating, Tom has been working at Dogs Trust as a training and behavior advisor, eventually working in seven rehoming centers before being promoted to senior training and behavior advisor, where he supports the training and behavior teams across the southwest United Kingdom. Tom is responsible for supporting and advising managers and training and behavior advisors on matters relating to behavioral concerns, and for helping to promote higher levels of welfare for dogs.

Tom is a Certified clinical animal behaviorist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council in the United Kingdom, and a Certified canine behavior consultant and Certified shelter behavior specialist with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Ep 73: Stranger-directed Aggression with Lisa Mullinax Feb 12, 2024

In episode 73, Marissa Martino interviews Lisa Mullinax to discuss stranger-directed aggression. Lisa defines the difference between reactivity and aggression. She talks about the reasons why these cases are high stakes and how to support both the dog and the client. Lisa also shares how she builds custom behavior plans for ultimate success.

Lisa Mullinax is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She utilizes positive reinforcement strategies with all dogs and adapts the lessons and exercises to each dog, depending on their needs. Lisa helps dogs and their humans overcome training and behavior challenges through the use of practical, positive strategies. Lisa previously managed the behavior programs at Seattle Humane and Denver Dumb Friends League, developed a new behavior program for the Sacramento SPCA, and consulted for multiple animal shelters throughout Northern California.

Ep 72: Building Successful Training Plans with Allie Bender Jan 29, 2024

In episode 72, Marissa Martino interviews Allie Bender of Pet Harmony to discuss the nuanced skill of building successful training plans for our clients and their beloved dogs. During this episode, they discuss why sustainable training plans are so important, the common mistakes most trainers make, and how to collaborate with the client for additional success.

Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony Animal Behavior & Training, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and co-host of the Enrichment for the Real World Podcast. Through Pet Harmony, Allie helps pets who display maladaptive behaviors and their people have a more harmonious household all over the world. She also empowers and educates other current and aspiring behavior professionals to provide outstanding services to their clients.

Ep 71: The Nuts and Bolts of Cooperative Care with Dr. Sophie Liu Jan 15, 2024

In episode 71, Marissa Martino interviews Dr. Sophie Liu about cooperative care, a process offering choice and agency to our animals when it comes to training for husbandry procedures. Marissa and Dr. Liu met through a mutual client who needed support for her dog in a veterinary setting. During this episode, they break down the training process as best they can so the listeners can imagine how to try this at home. They discuss how and why they make certain training decisions along the way in the hopes of highlighting their thought process to answer pressing questions most clients have.

Dr. Sophie Liu is a veterinarian practicing behavior medicine and is a passionate dog trainer and sports competitor. She provides behavior consultations through her business, Oakland Canine, and she currently shares her life with 2 Dobermans, 1 Taiwan rescue dog, and a very patient husband.

Ep 70: The Highly Sensitive Pet Parent with Brooke Nielsen Jan 04, 2024

In episode 70, Marissa Martino connects with Brooke Nielson, a licensed therapist, writer, speaker, and teacher on the topic of Highly Sensitive People, and in this case, Highly Sensitive Pet Parents. Brooke explains what the Highly Sensitive Person is, the research behind the term, and the characteristics that people may embody if they identify this way. They also discuss how this may impact your relationship with your dogs (and others) in both positive and challenging ways. Brooke's goal is to help people embrace these qualities and utilize this knowledge to understand themselves and their needs.

Ep 69: The Balance Between Welfare and Training with Sarah Stremming Dec 18, 2023

In episode 69, Marissa Martino interviews her dear friend, Sarah Stremming of the Cognitive Canine on the topic of balancing welfare and training for our dogs. Spoiler alert, Sarah feels strongly that both meeting your dog's needs and teaching them high-level training skills are equally as important. Sarah discusses how teaching these skills can increase both the dog's and the pet parent's welfare - making that a win-win for everyone!

Ep 68: Joyful Recalls with Jenni Pfafman Dec 04, 2023

In episode 68, Marissa Martino interviews Jenni Pfafman, a certified behavior consultant, on how she teaches her clients to have a joyful, rock-solid recall. Jenni lives in Crested Butte, Colorado, where almost every pet parent is active on trails and wants off-leash reliability and a whiplash recall. This episode covers the many concepts Jenni teaches her clients so they view the world through their dog's perspective to set everyone up for training success. They also dive into the many exercises Jenni teaches her clients to get that fast, joyful recall we're all looking for!

Ep 67: Mood Matters with Karin Pienaar Jul 13, 2023

In episode 67, Marissa Martino interviews Karin Pienaar, of the The Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE). During the episode, Marissa asks Karin about her new book, Mood Matters: MHERA: An Innovative Assessment Approach to Animal Emotionality in the Treatment of Behaviour Problems. Karin defines emotions and the 7 emotional systems. Karin shares her framework, MHERA, which is an acronym that stands for: Mood State, Hedonic Budget, Emotional, and Reinforcement Assessments.

Karin has been working in the field of animal behavior therapy since 1997 and completed her Diploma in Animal Behaviour in the UK with The Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE).

After more than 20 years of consulting with dog and cat owners, Karin now focuses mainly on managing The Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE) International, presenting the COAPE Diplomas and MHERATM Practitioners course, as well as lecturing and mentoring students.

She heads the Enrichment Partnership Program between COAPE International and several captive wildlife facilities, where she and her team develop enrichment programs to promote the behavioral and emotional health of animals, as well as implement consent-based training to facilitate stress-free husbandry and medical procedures in captive wildlife.

Ep 65: Listen, then Train with Kathy Sdao May 29, 2023

In episode 65, Marissa Martino and Kathy Sdao talk about a necessary topic for pet parents and pet professionals: listening. Some questions that are addressed during the episode include:

What are the three levels of listening?
Why is silence so important?
How could our own best intentions be getting in the way of truly listening?
When should we educate -vs- empathize? Can we do both?

Kathy Sdao, she/her, is the owner of Bright Spot Dog Training in Tacoma, WA. She is one of the original faculty members of the Karen Pryor Academy ClickerExpo. She has trained animal actors, written for The Clicker Journal and the Seattle Times, consulted with Guide Dogs for the Blind and with Susquehanna Service Dogs.

Kathy has taught more than 300 seminars, workshops, conference presentations & webinars, enjoying these opportunities to share her passion for the incredible power of positive-reinforcement training, confirmed over decades of working with dozens of species.

Ep 64: Resolving Conflicts Between Dogs and Cats May 15, 2023

In episode 64, Marissa Martino speaks with Naomi Rotenberg about resolving conflicts between your dog and cat. Some questions that are addressed during the episode include

What expectations do we have for our pets that may or may not be realistic? How can we adjust our expectations?
Does the environment factor into behavior issues?
Can we find solutions for a more harmonious household
How can we address all of our pet’s needs without drastically changing our homes and lives?

Naomi Rotenberg, she/her, is the owner of Praiseworthy Pets and focuses on the cat-dog interspecies relationship. She helps pet clients all over the world enjoy a household where cats and dogs coexist safely and peacefully. She also provides coaching for other pet professionals who want another pair of eyes on their cat-dog cases.

Ep 63: Assessing Canine Risk with Lisa Mullinax May 08, 2023

In episode 63, Marissa and Lisa Mullinax discuss their risk assessment methods both for animal shelters and their private practices. Determining whether a dog will be at risk of doing harm to another can be a difficult process and one that needs a compassionate, nuanced, and multi-tiered approach. Their risk assessment perspective gives them a comprehensive look at the dog’s environment and the many factors that can affect their behavior. Join them as they discuss the many factors they consider when assessing risk in dogs.

Ep 62: Exploring Grief with Belinda Breen Apr 10, 2023

On episode 62, Belinda Breen, a dog behavior professional currently earning her doctorate in clinical psychology, and Marissa Martino talk about an important topic: grief. It shows up in so many different ways in our relationships with our dogs and therefore it’s important that we shine a gentle light on it.

Whether we are saying goodbye to a beloved pet, making a hard rehoming decision, or letting go of how we thought life would be with our dog, we discover there’s an abundance of grief when opening our heart to another living creature.

They discuss the five stages of grief, why community is important during this process, and how to show up for others going through a difficult time.

Ep 61: Building the Relationship You Want with Your Dog Apr 03, 2023

In episode 61 of the Paws & Reward Podcast, Marissa is joined by her clients and colleagues, Kelly Ferber, Tiffany Chen, and Jenni Pfafman, all of whom recently took my Reflective Relationship Program. A 3-month program where we explore ourselves through the relationship with our dogs. This program cultivates the necessary human end of the leash skills for successful training sessions, sustainable behavior change, and connected relationships. to help you build a better relationship with your dog. Every other week, a new module is released with recorded webinars highlighting one of my 6 connection principles. There is homework to help take what you learn and bring it into action. The following week we all meet in a live community video call where we discuss the homework, learn from one another, and grow together in the community!

Ep 60: Navigating Difficult Decisions: A Story about Rehoming with Tara Stillwell Mar 31, 2023

Listen to Marissa Martino chat with Tara Stillwell, a licensed family dog mediator about the challenging topic of rehoming a beloved pet. Tara was brave enough to come onto the podcast to discuss her recent rehoming experience with her dog, Eva. Marissa and Tara decided to discuss this topic on the podcast to shine some light and grace on the controversial topic of rehoming. The goal is to avoid the shame that we experience, or unfortunately, receive from others regarding the very painful and layered decision. Listen with an open heart.

Ep 59: Compassionate Communication for Behavior Consultants with Lisa Mullinax Mar 27, 2023

In Ep 59, Lisa Mullinax and Marissa discuss compassionate communication and how to have hard conversations in the most empathetic and effective ways. What leads to these difficult topics? How can we be better listeners? And what can we do when we come up against our own ethical boundaries? They share stories from the shelter world as well as personal experiences while recognizing they, too, are still learning and growing.

Ep 58: The Fear Free Movement and Why it Matters for Your Dog with Tabitha Kucera Mar 20, 2023

In episode 58, Marissa chats with Tabitha Kucera, a registered veterinary technician and certified positive reinforcement behavior consultant about the Fear Free Movement. They discuss why keeping data about your pet's emotional experience is so important for their well-being and how you can do it accurately using the FAS (Fear, Anxiety, Stress) scale.

Ep 57: Exploring Canine Exercise with Liza Radar Dec 05, 2022

In episode 57 of the Paws & Reward Podcast, I speak with Liza Radar about their canine exercise framework and their unique approach toward exercise and physical enrichment. During the episode, Liza introduces their exercise framework. The framework includes four elements: 1) Physical Exercise, 2) Mental Exercise, 3) Low Intensity, and 4) High Intensity. We discuss the details of each element and how you can create an individualized canine exercise program for your dog.

Ep 56: Reactivity Set-Up Considerations Nov 21, 2022

In episode 56 of the Paws & Reward Podcast, join Marissa Martino and Sarah Stremming as they dive into the nuances behind the different scenarios for setting up training sessions for leash reactivity. Trainers and behavior consultants routinely use setups as part of their approach when treating reactivity, but the details and considerations are rarely discussed.

Ep 55: The Resilience Rainbow with Bobbie Bhambree-Wirkmaa Nov 07, 2022

In episode 55 of the Paws and Reward Podcast, Marissa and Bobbie Bhambree-Wirkmaa, director of behavior services and a certified dog behavior consultant at Behavior Vets, discuss the Resilience Rainbow and cultivating resilience in our dogs. Resilience is the ability to adapt successfully to, or recover quickly from, stressful events, situations and conditions. What are the 7 domains of resilience conditioning and why are they important for our dogs to learn?

Ep 54: Attachment Styles and the Human-canine Bond with Grisha Stewart Oct 24, 2022

On episode 54 of the Paws and Reward Podcast, Marissa speaks with Grisha Stewart about attachment styles and the human-canine bond. Grisha is an author, international speaker, dog trainer, and online dog school facilitator based in Oregon. Grisha specializes in dog reactivity which led her to design and launch her book Behavior Adjustment Training, also known as B.A.T to help dog owners work on these issues in a more comprehensive and humane way. Recently, she's been working on B.A.T 3.0, focusing on attachment theory and how a secure or insecure attachment impacts our relationship with our dogs.

Ep 53: Critical Thinking with Emily Strong Oct 10, 2022

In episode 53, Marissa speaks with Emily Strong about a necessary and possibly under-utilized skill for all behavior consultants to exercise and teach their clients- critical thinking. Critical thinking is defined as the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. Critical thinking is to be done objectively—meaning without influence from personal feelings, opinions, or biases—and focuses solely on factual information. How can we be sure we are thinking critically and what are some common pitfalls? Critical thinking skills are essential if we want to make informed decisions. It impacts all aspects of our lives.

Ep 52: Cooperative Care with Laura Monaco Torelli Sep 26, 2022

Join Marissa Martino and Laura Monaco Torelli for a conversation about cooperative care. Laura has a ton of experience working with many different species, teaching and training them complex, difficult behaviors. I had the pleasure of working with her on cooperative care techniques with Sully as he aged. Her compassionate approach towards the dog and the caregiver is amazing. During this episode, we discuss what cooperative care looks like, how to support the dog, and how to support the caregiver.

Ep 51: Building Community with Claire Goyer Sep 14, 2022

Join Marissa Martino and Claire Goyer for a conversation about building community. Claire works for Grisha Stewart's Amazing Online Academy, where she builds community and helps people shine. Working in the dog training profession can be isolating at times for a variety of reasons. It's critical to be able to develop a community to support yourself. If you're a trainer, hobbyist, or pet parent, this episode is a must to help you feel less alone in raising and caring for dogs and their people.

Ep 50: Eat, Pray, Dogs with Sarah Stremming Sep 05, 2022

Join Marissa Martino and Sarah Stremming to discuss Marissa's recent solo trip to Peru. They discuss what the street dogs of Peru taught Marissa about life, how both Sarah and Marissa are integrating these concepts, and their invitation to pet parents and trainers. Sneak peek: What is the gift and opportunity in allowing all behavior and emotions?

Ep 49: Building a Strong Relationship Between Your Dogs with Sarah Stremming Aug 22, 2022

In episode 49, Sarah Stremming and I will be talking about the necessary strategies used to strengthen and maintain a healthy relationship between the dogs in your home. Some of the topics we discuss involve proactive management strategies to prevent inter-household aggression, ways to increase your observation skills, and training skills to teach your dogs to achieve harmony. Sarah Stemming is the owner of The Cognitive Canine and podcast host of Cog-Dog Radio.

Ep 48: Let's have TEA and CAKE with Andrew Hale Aug 08, 2022

Join me as I speak with Andrew Hale (Bsc, ISCP.Dip.Canine.Prac), the owner, principal trainer and behaviorist at Train Positive in the UK, about emotional awareness and how that applies to dog training.

Both animals and humans have individual emotional care needs. They both need validation, positive reinforcement, and permission to make mistakes. Working with dogs can show us how to be more emotionally available to others. Listen to the episode to learn more about what we can learn from dogs and their emotional experience, switching from a task-oriented approach to a care-oriented approach, and Andrew's acronyms TEA and CAKE!

Ep 47: The Humane Hierarchy with Dr. Chris Pachel Aug 01, 2022

In episode 47, Dr. Chris Pachel and I will be talking about The Humane Hierarchy for both our dogs and their people. The Humane Hierarchy is a framework that trainers, behavior consultants, and veterinary behaviorists use when working with their clients. It's an ethical approach, inviting professionals to develop a behavior modification plan rooted in least intrusive, minimally aversive options.

Since I love listening to Dr. Pachel explain this framework, I knew he’d be the perfect guest for the show. As we discuss each step of the Humane Hierarchy, we provide examples of what it would look like in real life. This episode is for both pet professionals and pet parents.

Ep 46: Pain and Behavior with Ursa Acree Jul 25, 2022

I am so excited to announce the launch of season 3. The first episode starts with Ursa Acree! She is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and Fear Free Certified Trainer. She is the Training Manager at Behavior Vets in Colorado where she works collaboratively with vet behaviorists and veterinarians specializing in pain. Together they treat the animal holistically addressing the animal’s emotional, physical, and behavioral needs. This is why she was the perfect guest to bring on the podcast to discuss just how often pain is affecting our dogs and their behavior.

Ep 45: A Tribute to Sully and a Lesson in Grief May 13, 2022

Join Marissa Martino in this bonus episode where she talks about her experience with grief as she says goodbye to her best friend of 13.5 years, Sully. This episode is a tribute to the lessons he taught her (even at the last moment) and their special relationship. Marissa hopes all pet parents will find solace and comfort through her words. Sharing our lives with dogs is such a beautiful gift and we can all agree that there isn't enough time.

Ep 44: The Many Hats a Dog Trainer Wears with Jenna Teti May 02, 2022

In Episode 44, Marissa is joined by her friend and colleague Jenna Teti of Think Smart Dog Training to discuss what their roles as dog trainers and behavior consultants entail. What does the title of “dog trainer” encompass? What’s expected of them and how can they meet those expectations? For pet parents, knowing what to expect from a good trainer and consultant is key to finding the right fit for you.

Ep 43: Inter-household Aggression with Michael Shikashio Apr 18, 2022

In episode 43 of the podcast, Marissa invites Michael Shikashio on the podcast to talk about inter-household aggression. During this episode, Michael defines what inter-household aggression is, what his favorite management strategies are, and what every pet parent that is experiencing this concern should know. They also discuss how they as behavior consultants determine risk in each case and how to support the pet parent through this challenging situation.

Ep 42: Muzzle Up with Amy Creaven Apr 04, 2022

In episode 42, Marissia is joined by Amy Creaven to discuss the importance of muzzle training for your dog. Amy Creaven is a recovering ICU nurse and has been a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner since 2010. Prior to COVID-19, she worked with all types of canine behavioral cases privately. Currently, she is a work-from-home mother of two non-fur children and one amazing furry sidekick the Marvelous Ms. Moya as well as a multitude of chickens. Amy also teaches positive reinforcement rattlesnake avoidance workshops and a Fear Free Handling and Cooperative Care lab to the veterinary students at Colorado State University.

Ep 41: The Play Way and Thresholds with Dr. Amy Cook Mar 21, 2022

In Episode 41, Marissa is joined by Dr. Amy Cook as they discuss the best ways to play with our dogs. As many listeners might know, Amy is the creator of the Play Way, a wonderful framework used to help pet parents drop in, connect, and play with their dogs. One might think they don’t need help learning how to play with their dog, but trust me, you most likely do!

Ep 40: Exploring Resentment with Dr. Jessica Higgins Mar 07, 2022

In Episode 40, Marissa is joined by Dr. Jessica Higgins, host of the Empowered Relationship Podcast. They will be discussing resentment in our relationships- both human and canine. Dr. Jessica Higgins holds two graduate degrees in psychology, two coaching certifications, and over 20 years of experience helping clients achieve successful results. She helps people navigate the terrain of long-lasting intimacy more skillfully and mindfully. Through her coaching and online course, clients transform pain into love and connection. That type of connection can be found in all relationships. Many pet parents experience resentment from time to time. What can we do to be proactive in our relationships and heal from resentment?

Ep 39: Getting Through the Teenage Period with Lisa Mullinax Feb 21, 2022

In episode 39 of the podcast, Marissa and Lisa Mullinax will be talking about how to get through the teenage period with our dogs. Adolescence can be hard on both the dog and the pet parent. Behavior can change quickly from snuggly puppy to energetic teen who loves to push the boundaries. Marissa and Lisa give advice about how to handle this challenging stage without creating a bigger problem for the future.

Ep 38: Rethinking "Obedience" with Ursa Acree Feb 07, 2022

In episode 38, Marissa is joined by Ursa Acree, a certified dog behavior consultant, to explore the topic of rethinking obedience: what are we really training for? Obedience is defined as compliance with an order or submission to another's authority. It’s important to remember that language can be very powerful. The words we choose have the ability to influence expectations regarding our dogs and their behavior. In this episode, Marissa and Ursa will be discussing why the word “obedience” can be problematic, how it influences us as dog owners, and ways to rethink how we train our dogs.

Ep 37: Training Your Deaf Dog with Terrie Hayward Jan 24, 2022

On today’s episode, Marissa and Terrie Hayward talk about the training process for deaf dogs and dogs with hearing loss. Since Marissa is less experienced in this area, she thought Terrie would be the perfect person to speak to on this subject. Her book "A Deaf Dog Joins the Family" is an invauable resource and Marissa urges anyone with a deaf or hard of hearing dog to check it out!

Ep 36: Thank You for Barking with Kiki Yablon Jan 10, 2022

Join Marissa Martino interview Kiki Yablon about barking! So many pet parents reach out to trainers and behavior consultants in hopes to reduce or even stop their dog’s barking behavior. And, let's face it, barking can be startling to our nervous systems, and according to us, it’s not a socially acceptable behavior, even though, well, they are dogs?! In this conversation, we tackle the reasons dogs bark and how to help them find other ways to communicate with us.

Ep 35: The Value of Neutral in Dog Training Dec 27, 2021

Join Marissa Martino as she interviews her client and dear friend, Liz, aka Titan’s mom. Marissa has been wanting to highlight clients on the podcast and Liz was the perfect choice! Liz shares her experience of the behavior modification process from her lens. They discuss how important our mindset is during this process, specifically, how important it is to celebrate neutral responses from our dogs instead of getting hung up on only looking for positive responses.

Ep 34: The Power of Relaxation with Dr. Chris Pachel Dec 13, 2021

Join Marissa Martino interview Dr. Chris Pachel as he shares the process and benefits of teaching relaxation to his canine clients. They start off the episode defining what relaxation is, discuss existing protocols, and why this is such a critical skill for the patients in his behavior practice. Dr. Pachel walks us through specific examples and how he integrates this exercise into the behavior modification plan for individual dogs. It’s a MUST listen!

Ep 33: Ditching Training Resolutions with Sarah Stremming Dec 06, 2021

Join Marissa and Sarah Stremming of Cog-Dog Radio discuss why you should ditch your training resolutions. Wait - what?!?! Isn’t this a dog training podcast? Hear us out! We definitely want to encourage you to train with your dog(s). And, we also want to help you alleviate some of the pressure that a “new year, new you” attitude brings. In this episode, we talk about why resolutions quickly fail and what to do instead!

Ep 32: Building Canine Resilience with Dr. Patricia McConnell Nov 29, 2021

On episode 32 of the podcast, Marissa is thrilled to speak with one of her heroes, Dr. Patricia McConnell. She is not one that needs a formal introduction since she’s a household name when it comes to behavior and training, has written so many books Marissa has lost count, and has made such an innovative impact on our profession! Today we will be discussing how to build resilience in our dogs and ourselves.

Ep 31: What is a LIMA Being? Nov 15, 2021

In Episode 31, Marissa is joined by her fellow colleagues and co-founders of LIMA Beings, Dr. Chris Pachel, Lynn Ungar, Barrie Finger, and Kathy Sdao. They discuss the drive behind their triggers and what hooks them. As we try to discover the things that make us reactive, we can learn to let things go. We react to situations in certain ways and because of those reactions we can become stuck. We can learn to accept that if/when we make mistakes, we can always stop, go back, and make edits.

Ep 30: Real Behavior Change for Reactive Dogs with Sarah Stremming Nov 01, 2021

Join Marissa as she speaks to Sarah Stremming about real behavior change. What are the steps toward achieving true change and how do you know you've been successful? When working with your dog on a challenging behavior, real change can feel impossible. With the right tools and support, the end goal becomes much more possible.

Ep 29: "All of It Belongs" and Embracing our Humanity with Christie Catan Oct 18, 2021

In episode 29, Christie Catan and Marissa Martino discuss how dogs help us embrace our humanity. They explore what it means to say “All of it Belongs” when life throws us curveballs, especially in training. When working with our dogs, feelings of frustration, impatience, or anger are normal. We tend to either push these feelings away or allow them to take over. How can we look at these feelings in a more productive way? Can we accept them and embrace the concept of belonging?

Ep 28: Imposter Syndrome with Sarah Stremming Oct 11, 2021

In episode 28, Sarah Stremming joins Marissa to discuss imposter syndrome and how it impacts all of us either as pet parents or dog training professionals. What can we do to combat this feeling of inadequacy and how can we help others overcome their doubts?

Ep 27: Our Relationship to Control with Juliana DeWillems Oct 04, 2021

In the first episode of season two, Juliana DeWillems and Marissa Martino explore their relationship to control as pet parents. A lot of pet parents call trainers and behavior consultants looking for help and in need of control. And that makes total sense, however, they hope to offer a new perspective on the podcast today.

Ep 26: Taking Your Pup into the Great Outdoors with Amber Quann and Charissa Carvell Jul 19, 2021

In the last episode of Season One, Marissa interviews Amber Quann of Summit Dog Training in Fort Collins, CO and Charissa Carvell of Alpine Behavior and Training in Glenwood Springs, CO about preparing your dog for the great outdoors! This is one of Marissa's favorite topics since she fell in love with hiking and being outside through her dog Sully. They discuss why taking your dogs out in nature is important, what skills you should teach your dogs to be safe while on the trail, and how being in the moment can strengthen the human-canine bond.

Ep 25: The Punishment Fallacy with Michael Baugh Jul 02, 2021

Join Marissa Martino interview Michael Baugh as they discuss what a LIMA-based (least intrusive, minimally aversive) behavior consulting approach looks like for our human and canine learners. Marissa and Michael also discuss why they avoid using punishment-based behavior modification strategies since they can lead to fear, frustration, and/or aggression from the dog, remove necessary warning signs, and create a fractured relationship between the dog and the pet parent.

Ep 24: Observing Our Process and Moving Forward with Matt Beisner Jun 21, 2021

Join Marissa Martino interview Matt Beisner of The Zen Dog in Los Angeles, CA, and the Nat Geo WILD and Disney Plus show Dog: Impossible. Together they explore the gifts the process and experience of training dogs and their people have to offer, from being a part of the dog's learning process while offering them agency, to co-creating solutions with our clients, to being brave enough to observe ourselves during this process and making the necessary changes to shape into the people and behavior consultants we long to be.

Ep 23: Getting a New Puppy with Debbie Martin Jun 10, 2021

Join Marissa Martino interview Licensed Veterinary Technician, Debbie Martin on her journey of getting a new puppy. We discuss when the time is right, how to integrate the puppy into a household with other dogs, and how to plan ahead before the puppy arrives. Having a puppy is a lot of work and there is a lot to prioritize. Debbie shares what she is working on and why she has chosen this training plan for her border terrier, Chip!

Ep 22: Dealing with the Puppy Blues May 24, 2021

Join Kayla Fratt and Marissa Martino talk about puppy blues, what it is, why it happens to many pet parents, and how to take care of everyone involved during this very important time of your dog's life. It's very common for people to be so excited about getting a puppy and it's even more common for that excitement to quickly turn into overwhelm. You are not alone! Listen to this episode for efficient strategies during this time.

Ep 21: Burnout and Why it Matters for You and Your Dog with Emily Nagoski May 10, 2021

Join Marissa Martino and Sarah Stremming interview Emily Nagoski, co-author of Burnout: the secret to unlocking the stress cycle. Burnout is the book for people who feel overwhelmed and not enough, despite all their efforts. Marissa and Sarah really resonated with this book on so many levels and wanted to talk to Emily about the parallels in the book and the work they do with their dogs and clients.

Ep 20: Help! My Dog Bit Someone with Lisa Mullinax Apr 26, 2021

Join Marissa Martino and her dear friend Lisa Mullinax discuss what to do when your dog bites someone. In episode #9: Living with your Difficult Dog, Lisa and Marissa briefly mention their individual experiences where their dogs escalated to biting. During this episode, they go into detail about their personal experiences, what they learned, and how they moved forward with their dogs. They also share many ideas for pet parents to consider after they experience their dog biting someone.

Ep 19: Preparing our Dogs to be Alone with Malena DeMartini-Price Apr 13, 2021

As we start to see a small light at the end of the Covid tunnel, and as things slowly resume to our "new normal" and people leave the house more and more, Malena and I thought it would be helpful for our listeners to hear ways to prepare your dog (and yourself) for more alone time.

Ep 18: Support for Reactive Dog Clients with Rachel Laurie Harris Mar 29, 2021

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Rachel Laurie Harris of A Good Feeling Dog Training about reactivity. Marissa and Rachel talk about the many, necessary skills both the pet parent and dog need in order to be successful in navigating this behavior concern. Some of these skills include training mechanics, reading body language, staying connected during the walk, and teaching the dog to eat in the presence of scary stimuli. And some of these skills (we think the most important ones) include self-love and compassion for both you and your dog, especially during moments of regression.

Ep 17: The Importance of Enrichment with Emily Strong & Allie Bender Mar 16, 2021

Having dogs in our lives can be such a gift, and at times, it can be hard. Whether you’re raising a puppy and living off very little sleep, or walking a dog that barks and pulls on leash, or living with a dog that suffers from anxiety. These situations can cause a lot of stress for everyone involved. In today’s episode, Allie Bender and Emily Strong of Pet Harmony Animal Behavior & Training, and I are going to explore what enrichment is and how you can mend a fractured relationship through these activities.

Ep 16: Expectations of our Dogs Through the Lens of Research with Erin Jones Mar 01, 2021

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward catch up with Erin Jones of Merit Dog Training in Christchurch, New Zealand. Erin is a certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant. She is currently getting her PhD at the University of Canterbury. In today's episode, we discuss her current research focused on the human-dog relationship, humane training, and the concepts surrounding canine consent. Tune in to listen about how our expectations impact our training and relationships with our dogs.

Ep 16: Expectations of our Dogs Through the Lens of Research with Erin Jones Mar 01, 2021

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward catch up with Erin Jones of Merit Dog Training in Christchurch, New Zealand. Erin is a certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant. She is currently getting her PhD at the University of Canterbury. In today's episode, we discuss her current research focused on the human-dog relationship, humane training, and the concepts surrounding canine consent. Tune in to listen about how our expectations impact our training and relationships with our dogs.

Ep 16: Expectations of our Dogs Through the Lens of Research with Erin Jones Mar 01, 2021

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward catch up with Erin Jones of Merit Dog Training in Christchurch, New Zealand. Erin is a certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant. She is currently getting her PhD at the University of Canterbury. In today's episode, we discuss her current research focused on the human-dog relationship, humane training, and the concepts surrounding canine consent. Tune in to listen about how our expectations impact our training and relationships with our dogs.

Ep 15: What Training Dogs Teaches Us About Life with Sarah Stremming Feb 15, 2021

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward catch up with Sarah Stremming of the Cognitive Canine. During this episode, they each share three life lessons they have learned from training their own dogs, working with clients and their dogs, and making careers of being behavior nerds. They share their challenges and successes regarding training, relationships, and life.

Ep 14: Human Behavior Change with Grisha Stewart Feb 01, 2021

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Grisha Stewart about modifying human behavior. It's critical to understand how to modify human behavior since our behavior affects our dog's behavior. During the episode, they identify specific human behaviors that are important for communication and training success for you and your dog. They also talk about strategies to help you achieve these behaviors. Marissa and Grisha even explore this concept as it relates to our behavior in relationships with ourselves and others!

Ep 13: Being an Advocate for Your Dog with Juliana Willems Jan 18, 2021

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Juliana Willems of JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting talk about what it means to be your dog's advocate. We explore our experiences being advocates for our dogs and talk about what makes this job necessary and challenging at times. We offer a list of considerations for our listeners so they can develop their own advocacy plan when engaging with strangers, practitioners, and family members. Find your voice and build trust with your dog today!

Ep 12: The Good Enough Dog with Nancy Tucker Jan 04, 2021

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Nancy Tucker talk about her brainchild, The Good Enough Dog. Join us as we explore why we place so much pressure on ourselves and our dogs, and how reframing our thoughts from "the good" dog to the "good enough" dog is one of the most powerful things we can do for ourselves and our canine companions.

Ep 11: Supporting Everyone's Needs with Kayla Fratt Dec 21, 2020

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Kayla Fratt of Journey Dog Training discuss how to provide your dog with the necessary daily enrichment while also taking into consideration what you need from the relationship as a pet parent. They share 6 different ways you can meet your dog's needs. They also share a list of questions to consider, inviting you to personalize this content to support you and your dog!

Ep 10: Supporting your Dog's Physical Body with Lori Stevens Dec 07, 2020

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Lori Stevens. Lori is a professional dog trainer, canine fitness trainer, and animal massage practitioner. Lori specializes in supporting the aging dog; however, this podcast is for dogs of all ages! During the episode, we discuss how to proactively take care of your dog's physical body from the start. Lori shares several ways to support our aging dogs gracefully while also preparing us emotionally.

Ep 9: Living with Difficult Dogs with Lisa Mullinax Nov 24, 2020

Living with a dog that requires a lot of training and management can be really hard on the pet parent. Most people did not bring a dog into their home to take on a training challenge. Join Marissa Martino interview Lisa Mullinax, a behavior consultant in Seattle, discuss what life is like living with challenging dogs and what to do in order to support yourself during the training process. A must-listen for all pet parents!

Ep 8: The Story of Raising a Puppy Nov 10, 2020

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview one of her favorite clients. Noelle walks us through her journey raising Finn, her goofy Vizsla puppy. Noelle talks about her favorite parts of raising a puppy, how she got through the challenges, and what she learned about herself throughout the process.

Ep 7: Taking Care of Yourself to Enhance the Human-Canine Bond with Emily Tronetti Oct 27, 2020

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Emily Tronetti of Coexistence Consulting in Bellevue, WA. They discuss two of their favorite topics: the human-canine bond and how to care for ourselves so we can support our best friends.

Emily is an anthrozoologist as well as a certified dog trainer. Emily shares the most recent research on the human-canine bond and how these amazing creatures are so in tune with us. Because of that, it's so important to take care of ourselves in order to support the relationship!

Ep 6: Your Dog's Emotional Threshold with Sarah Stremming Oct 13, 2020

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Sarah Stremming of Cognitive Canine in Washington. In today's episode, they discuss how to work with your dog's emotional threshold during training. In order to make progress in our training sessions, we have to push at our dog's emotional edge in a safe way. But how far is too far and how do you know when we have passed the dog's threshold?

Sarah is a dog trainer, dog agility and obedience competitor, and dog behavior consultant. She travels the globe helping dogs and handlers understand each other better. She also has a well-known podcast Cog-Dog Radio that you should check out.

Ep 5: Separation-Related Behaviors with Jackie Johnston Sep 29, 2020

Today’s episode includes Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward interview Jackie Johnston, from Believe in Your Dog on separation-related behaviors, such as isolation distress and separation anxiety. Join them as they discuss what separation-related problems are, the best way to treat them, and what the process entails.

Ep 4: Nonviolent Communication for Everyone with Kathy Sdao Sep 15, 2020

Join Marissa Martino interview one of her favorite mentors in the animal training industry, author of Plenty in Life is Free, Kathy Sdao. During the episode, they discuss what Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is and how we can use these principles when communicating with our canines and our loved ones.

This approach resonates so much with Marissa and Kathy as it parallels and complements their shared philosophy when it comes to communicating and training with our dogs.

Ep 3: Kids and Dogs Living in Harmony with Kirsten Kinsella Sep 01, 2020

Join Marissa Martino interview Kirsten Kinsella, a therapy dog trainer that works with children in NYC. Kirsten shares the tips and tricks that she uses to facilitate successful interactions between kids and dogs and the 5 things you can do today to build better bonds.

**Please note: If you are a parent navigating the relationship between your kids and a dog that is displayed fear-related behaviors or even threat displays such as growling or snapping toward your children, this episode is not for you. Please visit the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (iaabc.org) website to search for a certified trainer near you in order to address this behavior concern safely.

Ep 2: Healthy Dog Play with Mara Velez Aug 16, 2020

Join Marissa Martino interview Mara Velez of the Shelter Playgroup Alliance discuss what healthy and safe inter-canine interactions look like. This is a crucial topic for all pet parents to be aware of and pay mind to throughout their dog’s entire life. Mara shares how to facilitate safe interactions, what behaviors to be aware of, and when to intervene to keep play safe and positive.

Ep 1: 4 Strategies to Support You During the Training Process with Dr. Pachel Aug 16, 2020

The training process, no matter how simple it can seem at times, can be a daunting task for pet parents. Join Marissa Martino interview Dr. Chris Pachel, veterinary behaviorist, share a few strategies to help support our pet parents through the behavior modification process.

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