Enlightened By Dogs: Living with Cooperation, Not Obedience
309 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 73 ratingsWelcome to our podcast where we dog moms discuss modern, enlightened dog parenting! Each week, we’ll take a dive deep into the human-dog connection and explore strategies that will inspire you to create connection and cooperation with your dog...no obedience training needed!
We meet up at the intersection where training and behavior meet Heart and Soul...and where we leave behind the 'power over' obedience training paradigm we inherited and lead the way to an enlightened 'power with' approach. Join us for an inspirational and educational journey as we explore what living in cooperative partnership with our beautiful dogs looks like in real life.
Brilliant Partners are kind, loving, calm, clear, confident, and cooperative ... and when WE learn how to be a Brilliant Partner, our dogs do too.
Kathy Kawalec is an author, writer, the founder of Dancing Hearts Dog Academy and creator of the Brilliant Partners Academy, The Foundation Formula, Herding Partners Academy, and Creative Alchemy Passion Plan.
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Episodes
EBD255 Cultivating Connection, Strength and Empathy
April 03, 2023 11:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBIn this episode, Kathy celebrates the connection between women and their dogs as a source of strength, vulnerability, and empathy. This unique approach draws from the power within, taking the focus away from outdated approaches of power-over and dominance to one of collaboration and connection. By fostering a partnership with our dogs, we are showing them the respect they deserve, and contributing to a new age of leading with love and empathy. Kathy shares her big “why,” and he...
EBD254 Our Legacy: Creating a Better World for Dogs and Their Women
March 27, 2023 11:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBJoin Kathy Kawalec in a heartfelt discussion on the importance of connection and creating a legacy of kindness and cooperation that will positively affect generations to come. In this episode of "Enlightened by Dogs," host Kathy Kawalec invites you to explore your legacy as a dog mom and to consider how you can make a positive impact on the world through your relationship with your dogs. As conscious dog moms, we have the opportunity and a responsibility to create a better world...
EBD253 Reactive or Role Model? Dogs Look to Us for Clues
March 20, 2023 11:00 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBThere are lots of things that can happen outside our home that can set our dogs off on a barking or reactive spiral that disrupts the peace. Landscapers, construction workers, things in the sky, oh my! The good news is that our dogs look to us for clues on how to behave, so when we are a solid role model, it can change everything! In this episode, Kathy will share some real-life examples with her own dogs, where she was able to be a role model for her dogs and prevent reactive behavior...
EBD252 When Your Dog is "Protecting You in a Damaging Way
March 13, 2023 11:00 - 25 minutes - 34.3 MBWhat is the best thing to do when your dog is “protecting” you in an unwanted way that is damaging to you physically and emotionally? Today Kathy is sharing a segment from a coaching call in from her Brilliant Partners Academy to discuss this exact situation… This dog mom has a retired service dog who is feeling anxious right now, due to an allergy flareup, a new puppy in the family, and stress all around. Lola (the dog) has lately started overprotecting her human mom when delive...
EBD251 How to Stay Connected and Avoid Over-Arousal When Your Dog Is Keen On Farm Animals or Wildlife
March 06, 2023 11:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBIn this episode Kathy talks about the importance of creating a deeper connection with our dogs as a way to avoid over-arousal. When dogs are keen about animals, she emphasizes that we should stay present, observe, and communicate with our dogs as we guide and support their development. Kathy is sharing a segment where she is coaching one of her students who has a young border collie who is showing keen interest in the sheep and horses on her farm. They work out how to best handle the ...
EBD250 How Reward-Based Obedience Training Damages Trust In Your Relationship with Your Dog
February 27, 2023 11:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBJoin us today as Kathy discusses the impact of reward-based obedience training on the relationship with our dogs. She explains how a transactional approach can damage trust and make cooperation difficult. The transactional dynamic of reward-based training can lead to power imbalances, erode trust, and cause stress and anxiety for dogs. On the other hand, building a partnership based on trust and love creates a natural and fluid dynamic where dogs are motivated to cooperate without bei...
EBD 249 Unleash the Love: Tips for Deepening Your Connection with Your Dog
February 20, 2023 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBIn this episode, host Kathy Kawalec shares five tips on how you can deepen your love and connection with your dog. Through a story about a dog mom named Sarah and her dog who had a challenging past, listeners will learn how to implement the following tips in their own lives: How to spend quality time with your dog in small ways that matter Building trust with your dog by creating a safe and loving environment How to approach your relationship with your dog as a partnership Calming your d...
EBD 248 Yes or No? The Framework for Giving Dogs Real-Life Choices Part 2
February 13, 2023 11:00 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MB“I want my dogs to wait at the gate or doorway and to take turns… Why? Because I want to minimize chaos. I don't want dogs running into each other, hurting each other, or running into me and hurting me. I want some order, so we are all safe, calm, and happy.” This is Kathy’s example of a real-life scenario when she’s showing the framework for giving her dogs choices. This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is the continuation of the discussion that Kathy had in Episode 247. So if ...
EBD 247 Yes or No? The Framework for Giving Dogs Real-Life Choices Part 1
February 06, 2023 11:00 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MB“The more opportunities I give my dogs to say no, the more likely they are to say yes when it's really important.” This is Kathy’s framework for giving dogs real-life choices in a way that works for everyone. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy talks about lifestyle choices, agency, responsibility, and freedom. She also shares some real-life examples of how this looks in real-life situations, with real dogs. For some dog moms, it could be their badge of honor to have a...
EBD 246 Break Free of The Leash Reactivity Spiral
January 30, 2023 11:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBAre you a dog mom who struggles with leash reactivity? Kathy knows how stressful it is when you have a dog that pulls hard on the leash. Having a dog that is lunging toward (or away from) other dogs, moving objects, or anything that triggers them is not a pleasant experience for anyone. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares a real-life coaching call with a dog mom who was struggling with leash reactivity. Her in-depth explanation of the process of walking as partners w...
EBD 245 Regaining Trust with Reactive Dogs
January 23, 2023 11:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBThis is something I always hear from many dog moms a lot of times. They keep on asking why their dogs don’t trust them, their dogs don’t allow them to support them and show them that everything is okay. Sometimes, we deal with some behavior challenges in our dogs where they are not calm, they are reactive, hyperactive, and even seem to be so anxious and worried. Then, since we love our furry friends very much, we tend to figure things out to help them. But, at the end of the day, you...
EBD 244 Revealing Stories of Reactive Dogs: "Maya"
January 16, 2023 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBWhen we dig deeper under the surface, the REAL stories of reactive dogs are revealed. We too often negatively label dogs as reactive, as if that was a behavior they chose. Maya is a perfect example of a dog labeled as reactive, whose story revealed a much deeper understanding. Maya's first three families thought she was untrainable ... a hopeless menace. "How bad could this dog's behavior really be, at only 7 months old" was Kathy’s first thought. The problem? She relentl...
EBD 243 Managing Stress for You and Your Dog
January 09, 2023 11:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBWhen you and your dog get stressed, there are some simple ways to manage this stress response. For example, did you know that how we breathe influences our brain in multiple ways? Our breathing affects our perception, emotion, cognition, and even our mood. And breathing regulates arousal, attention, and stress responses…for both you and your dog. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy talks about the science of breathing, the importance of emotional contagion, and why c...
EBD242 What To Do When Other People's Dogs Make it Hard for Your Dog
January 02, 2023 11:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBAs dog moms, we are committed to keeping our dogs safe, calm and happy…but what about when someone does something that makes that really, really hard for us? Loose dogs, fence running dogs, over-enthusiastic dogs, dogs that don’t give us enough space, and dogs that are allowed to be unruly and disrespectful in a way that challenges our dog … are all experiences that we are likely to encounter. When those things happen, we have thoughts about that dog and their person, right? Th...
EBD241 Healing Our Reactivity Loop with Marika Bertram
December 26, 2022 11:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBPeople need to deal with the feeling in the body for them to experience healing. If we're suppressing things, and distracting ourselves when we have that feeling in our body, then we can't heal. We're just actually running away from it. This is part 2 of Kathy’s interview with Marika, an amazing dog trainer, one of her certified partnership coaches, and who loves to help dog moms in our community. In this episode, Marika will help us understand the importance of letting our bodies f...
EBD 240 Healing Our Reactivity Loop with Marika Bertram (Part 1)
December 19, 2022 11:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBStress can influence our experiences and success, and as a dog mom, it can also, in turn, affect our dogs and their behavior. This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is the first part of the 2-part episode with Marika Bertram, who is an amazing dog trainer, one of my certified partnership coaches, and who loves to help dog moms in our community. Marika shares her knowledge about stress, how to get stressed, and even how to deal with them. She also talks about the vagus nerve, some ...
EBD 239 How Gratitude Enhances Bonding, Trust, and Connection with Our Dogs
December 12, 2022 11:00 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBIf you are a dog parent, you may be familiar with various ways to strengthen the bond between you and your dog and to establish a strong connection over time. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy dives into the value of gratitude and appreciation and shares different research studies that show evidence of the immense benefits of connecting heart-to-heart with your dogs. Kathy talks about the important details of a study by the HeartMath Institute research team, a prac...
EBD238 Art as Connection with Marianne Magin [part 2]
December 05, 2022 09:00 - 33 minutes - 51.6 MBKathy has formed connections with many dogs in a variety of ways. But, in this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, she invites a special guest to explore a way of building bridges with our four-legged friends that you may have overlooked. This is part 2 of Kathy’s interview with the wonderful Marianne Magin, an artist, dog mom and Dancing Hearts partnership coach. In this part, she discusses how she helps people through their dog grief using her art, how she emotionally reacts to creat...
EBD237 Art as Connection with Marianne Magin [part 1]
November 28, 2022 09:00 - 30 minutes - 47.6 MBThere are many ways to build strong connections with our dogs. Changing our behaviors, trying new experiences together and learning from our interactions with our dogs all help greatly. But art is another incredible way to build a bridge between us and our dogs. And it can be a beautiful process! This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is Part 1 of a 2-part episode with Marianne Magin, a wonderful artist, dog mom and certified Dancing Hearts Partnership coach who is hugely inspired by dogs...
EBD 236 Giving Dogs Room to Bloom with Beth Williams
November 21, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutes - 69.4 MBKathy has preached the power of brilliant partnership for many years and practiced it with her dogs. In that time, she’s learned how important it is to give dogs room to bloom. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Beth Williams, licensed physical therapist and certified Dancing Hearts Partnership Coach, joins to discuss why giving dogs room to bloom is crucial to being a great dog mom. Kathy and Beth dive into the culture and expectations around giving dogs space, keeping them safe ...
EBD235 Connection First
November 14, 2022 09:00 - 14 minutes - 25.5 MBA life with dogs isn’t always plain sailing. Kathy knows that first-hand. They can challenge your patience with their behaviors time and time again. But, instead of working to outright fix those behaviors, it’s time to connect first. In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explains why connecting with your dogs, before anything else, makes magic happen. She explores the benefits of digging beneath the surface to truly understand your dogs and why it’s OK to regret how you’ve dea...
EBD234 Dogs Are Not Just A Collection of Behaviors, And Neither Are You
November 07, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 27.6 MBDogs behave “badly” all the time…Kathy definitely knows this first-hand. However, that “badness” doesn’t define our dogs. We live in a society where dogs are considered a set of behaviors rather than complex, sentient beings with emotions and social intelligence. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy explores the idea of “badness”. She explains how a brilliant partner mindset can help us reframe the way we consider our dog’s behaviors and create a life of compassion, connecti...
EBD233 Dog Moms Share Their Stories of How They Turned Things Around with Their Difficult Dog
October 31, 2022 08:00 - 37 minutes - 51 MBKathy has heard so many amazing stories about dog moms’ journeys with their dogs. But with any dog comes challenges. Kathy’s guests have been no strangers to those! Whether it’s barking at other dogs, going wild around food, pulling on the leash or being incredibly fearful, everyone has experienced setbacks – some common and some not so much. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy takes a look back at previous guest episodes and highlights how they’ve overcome challenges with th...
EBD232 The What, Why and How of Connection and Cooperation with Your Dog
October 24, 2022 08:00 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBKathy has connected and cooperated with so many dogs over the years. It’s something that dog parents long for. We all want our dogs to feel safe, calm and happy. We want them to know that we have their backs. But how do you build that true connection and natural cooperation with your dogs? In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explores the what, why and how of cooperation and connection. She explains how to nurture relationships through invitation and how it can enhance your relatio...
EBD231 Your Dream Life with Your Dog Won't Happen Without THIS
October 17, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 18.1 MBKathy has spent so many years with so many dogs. They’ve all been wonderful. But they’ve all brought their own challenges. It’s so easy to look to the future, to a time when these challenges are solved, and everything is OK. But the only way to become a true, brilliant partner for your dog is to cultivate calm, confidence and happiness today. A dream life with your dog starts with you thinking like, feeling like and making the decisions of a brilliant partner. As Kathy says in this Enl...
EBD230 How To Naturally Connect with Your Dog and Why That Trumps Training
October 10, 2022 08:00 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MBHow do we become more deeply connected with our dogs? As Kathy explains, it’s when we step into our place as trustworthy role models and loving leaders. When we are able to do that, we and our dogs are safe, calm and happy – we are in the green zone – which is what we all want from our life with our dogs! As Kathy emphasizes in this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, we need to move away from the desensitized, counter conditioning mindset of dog training that is so our culture and focus on ...
EBD229 Navigating Grief and Lost Loves
October 03, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBKathy has spent her life with so many wonderful dogs. Sadly, that means she’s experienced loss many times too. The grief that dog moms experience is often uncontrollable and makes us feel a confusing mixture of emotions from sadness to longing. But how do we deal with these feelings? How do we navigate the grief we feel when we lose our beloved dogs? In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy explains how she has dealt with grief after losing her companions over the years. Tune in...
EBD228 How To Trust The Process and Stop White Knuckling
September 26, 2022 08:00 - 21 minutes - 29 MBWhen your dogs’ actions and responses don’t match your expectations, it can be so easy to obsess and worry about it. You could be struggling to deal with their on-leash reactivity, their behavior around other dogs, or their incessant barking at the neighbors. It can sometimes feel like these frustrations consume every ounce of you! Does any of this sound familiar? Kathy has experienced this first-hand and she has learned a few helpful techniques to get through it. In this episode of En...
EBD227 4 Strategies to Navigate the Ups and Downs of Life with Dogs
September 19, 2022 08:00 - 25 minutes - 35 MBIt’s totally normal to experience ups and downs with our dogs. The good times come with the bad because, well…that’s just life! There are so many factors that influence how we think, feel and respond from past experiences to expectations, our peers and our communities. Sometimes these things can also affect our relationships with our dogs. However, there are ways we can minimize the negative effects of the bad times to help us achieve a better, more fulfilling life for ourselves and our ...
EBD226 Insider Tips for Understanding Your Dog's Behavior
September 12, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBAs Brilliant Partners (BP), it’s so important to build a strong level of understanding with our dogs. Sometimes their behaviors challenge us or leave us feeling frustrated, but reaching a higher level of insight is so important to keep that bond unbreakable. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares 3 top tips on how to better understand your dog’s behavior, and addresses some common mistakes dog parents make when it comes to interpretating their dog’s actions. She dives into ...
EBD225 Truth Bomb. Dog is Having A Hard Time, Not Giving A Hard Time
September 05, 2022 08:00 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBBeing a Brilliant Partner (BP) is wonderful when you and your dog are in sync and you’re communicating flawlessly. But what happens when your dog flat-out refuses to listen? It’s something that all dog parents go through on their journey to brilliant partnership and that’s what Kathy discusses in this episode of Enlightened by Dogs. To provide a deeper level of insight, Kathy shares a segment of a coaching call she did with dog mom Christina, who was experiencing a few issues with her pup....
EBD224 Creative Thinking for Designing a Dream Life with Your Dog
August 29, 2022 08:00 - 25 minutes - 40.3 MBMindset plays a huge role in the partnerships we have with our dogs. Sometimes we have to challenge our own thoughts and what we know to be ‘right’ in order to live a better life with them. In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explains how tapping into our creative and executive brains can help us design the life we dream of having with our dogs. Through defying what we know, we can find brand-new ways to build stronger relationships and a happier life for our dogs. In this episo...
EBD223 The Gift of Truth From Our Dogs
August 22, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 20.3 MBOne of the main lessons Kathy has learned from dogs over the years is that you can find the truth in your dogs’ reflections of your own behavior. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, she explores how we can become better dog moms through practicing compassion, kindness, empathy, and clarity. Interspecies cooperation doesn’t come from heavy obedience training, compliance, and transacting. Kathy reveals the true recipe for cooperation and tips on how to build a stronger relationship wit...
EBD222 Life Lessons from An Intense Puppy with Erin and Jess
August 15, 2022 08:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBKathy has shared many tales of the dogs she’s known over the years, but in this guest edition of Enlightened by Dogs, she introduces Erin who tells us about her journey with her Border Collie Jess. Erin, a lovely member of the Brilliant Partners Academy, picked up Jess with the hope of love, joy and adventure. To start off with, things were really tough! Jess’ behaviors left Erin anxious, stressed and even panicked at times. But through her own knowledge and progression, plus the help of...
EBD221 Dog Advocacy and Social Pressure - Let's Do Better
August 08, 2022 08:00 - 21 minutes - 29.5 MBThroughout her career, Kathy has been in many different social situations with her dogs. Whether out in public, at the vet, or on a long hike, these social interactions can pose a few problems when people want to say ‘hi’ to your dog or treat your dog in ways you wouldn’t usually. In these situations, it’s crucial to remain a calm, confident role model, stepping in as your dog’s voice to reassure them and provide them with comfort. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares two...
EBD220 My Most Difficult Dog and Teacher with Terri and Bella
August 01, 2022 08:00 - 43 minutes - 66.2 MBKathy has shared the stories of so many dogs she’s had the pleasure of knowing. But this week, she turns the spotlight on a member of the Brilliant Partners Academy. BPA member, Terri joins Enlightened By Dogs to tell the tale of her beloved Bella and what she’s learned during her time with her. Every dog has different needs, personality types, and complexities, and the learning process never really ends. In this episode, Terri shares her experiences with Bella and what she’s learned fro...
EBD219 Maya, The Gift that Keeps on Giving
July 25, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutes - 36.2 MBKathy has used kindness, compassion and patience to form strong relationships with dogs for so many years. She has proven that even those that were deemed a “lost cause” can become attentive and loyal life partners. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares the story of Maya (aka Noodle). She takes us back to when Maya was seven months old and labeled “untrainable” by three families. Kathy oversaw Maya’s journey from a persistent dog who chased anything that moved to a responsiv...
EBD218 Phoenix- The Hardest Dog That Taught Me the Most
July 18, 2022 08:00 - 32 minutes - 50 MBKathy has had the pleasure of building partnerships with all types of dogs. But sometimes, the most challenging relationships are the most rewarding. Each dog she has spent time with has contributed to the way she lives and works. And Phoenix is certainly no exception. In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy takes us back to the first moment she met the most challenging dog she’s ever known. Despite being controlling, excitable and highly sensitive, Phoenix was an incredible sheepdog ...
EBD217 Russell - What It Means to Be the Legacy of a Great Dog
July 11, 2022 08:00 - 19 minutes - 32.3 MBKathy’s partnerships with dogs have seen her experience laughter, joy, tears and heartache. But the overall emotion is pure love. A strong partnership with your dog means that love never falters. In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares the story of Russell – the dog that taught her the meaning of true partnership. Kathy explains how she became Russell’s student and, eventually, his legacy, and shares heartfelt words she wrote after Russell’s sad passing back in 2011. Listen ...
EBD216 Haley, The Dog That Taught Me About Trust
July 04, 2022 08:00 - 27 minutes - 43.1 MBSometimes, meeting a new dog with a new personality can make you question the methods you’ve tried over the years. Throughout her career, Kathy’s relationships with different dogs have seen her mindset and approach evolve time and time again. In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy takes us back around 30 years to the first time she met her long-term companion, Haley. This partnership opened Kathy’s eyes to finding new ways of building mutual trust with her dogs, and she explores how ...
EBD215 Lessons from My Dog Teacher, Max
June 27, 2022 08:00 - 19 minutes - 26.8 MBKathy’s journey with her dogs over the years has taught her so much. They've been her friends, healers, and confidants in so many things. So, in this Enlightened by Dogs episode, she’s taking us back to where it all began. Kathy shares her experience with the first dog she lived alone with as an adult, Max. Losing him was the turning point that inspired her to explore a holistic approach to life. In this episode, Kathy explains holistic living and shares how she pivoted to a holistic per...
EBD214 Love Your Dog First and Your Goal Second
June 20, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 37.8 MBAs dog parents, we all want what’s best for our dogs. We want them to live up to their full potential and lead rewarding lives within our partnerships. But sometimes, our wants and goals end up overshadowing the most important part of the equation…our dogs. The result? It becomes more of a struggle to reach our desired outcomes and create a beautiful partnership with our dogs. So, in this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy invites us to really consider why we have dogs in our lives. She al...
EBD213 Drama-Free Consent and Cooperation with Dogs
June 13, 2022 08:00 - 33 minutes - 52.1 MBMost of our dogs are reactive when it comes to grooming, visiting the vet or other unavoidable tasks. The truth is that most of these aren’t the most pleasant activities for our dogs. But while we can’t blame our dogs for reacting, these are must-do tasks. We’ve got to find a way to carry them out so that our dogs are left safe, calm, and happy in the end. That’s where consent comes in. In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explains how a shift in our intentions can change everythin...
EBD212 Dog Meet-and-Greets Done Right
June 06, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 38.2 MBDog greetings are such an important part of our dogs’ socialization process. But guess what? It’s also one of those things we dog parents don’t always understand. While we’re all social beings, dogs approach greetings in a totally different way, and that’s what Kathy explores in the Enlightened by Dogs episode. She highlights the actions that count as greetings for dogs and discusses nine things to consider when facilitating dog greetings. Kathy also shares some insights from research th...
EBD211 Your Dog's Behavior Is Not What You Think
May 30, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 37.7 MBWe often think our dogs are giving us a hard time, but we never stop and think… maybe they are having a hard time! What can we do to improve our relationships with our dogs and stop ourselves from thinking so negatively about them? Well, the answer lies in this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast. Kathy explores some of the most common dog personality categories. She runs through a method of reframing your thought processes so you can avoid blaming your dogs when they aren’t behav...
EBD210 Why NOW Is the Best Time to Prioritize a Partnership with Your Dog
May 23, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 37.6 MBAs a dog mom, you probably have a clear picture of the life you want to create with your dog. And that’s amazing because the trick to creating your ideal life is visualizing it first. It only becomes an issue when we get stuck in that visualizing stage and neglect to start living that wonderful life in the here and now. That’s why in this episode, Kathy addresses some of the common myths and limiting beliefs that hold most dog moms back from creating the life they envision for themselves a...
EBD209 How to Bounce Back After a Difficult Experience with Your Dog
May 16, 2022 08:00 - 31 minutes - 48.5 MBWhile the ultimate goal is to constantly be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to our dogs, the simple truth is that we’re only human. Stressful situations are part and parcel of everyday life, and we all succumb to them every now and then. That’s why this episode of Enlightened by Dogs is all about various ways we can recover quickly when we get into difficult situations with our dogs. It all starts from a place of understanding. Kathy explains the science behind what makes us feel ...
EBD208 The Not-To-Do List - 3 Things to Avoid for a Cooperative and Connected Dog
May 09, 2022 08:00 - 27 minutes - 43.2 MBThere’s a lot of information floating around about what’s right and wrong for our dogs. While some of it is accurate, the rest could ultimately slow you down on that journey towards a brilliant partnership. Kathy understands how easy it is to make mistakes that ultimately cost us down the road. So, in this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, she shares three things to avoid if you want to have a calm, cooperative, and connected dog. Kathy explains why exercise isn’t the best cure...
EBD207 Navigating Personalities and Behavior as a Dog Mom
May 02, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 37.7 MBBehavior is communication. Since our dogs can’t tell us what they want or how they feel, they bark, growl, or pull away – especially when they feel unheard. And once a dog feels unheard, their behavior escalates from a whisper to a shout. Since we want them to hear our whispers, it’s important that we learn to hear their whispers too. On this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy delves into different dog personality traits and how they can open your eyes (and ears) to some of your dog’s...
EBD206 Sorting Out The Rise in Reactivity with Marika Bertram
April 25, 2022 08:00 - 45 minutes - 67.7 MBWhat’s causing the recent spike in reactivity among our dogs? It’s easy to blame it all on the recent lockdown. After all, dogs everywhere were cooped up indoors without the opportunity to socialize and take in the world around them. While that’s one way to look at it, it’s not quite accurate, and Marika Bertram joins Kathy on this episode of Enlightened by Dogs to explain why. She delves into the rise in reactivity, the common mistakes surrounding socialization, and how to turn things a...