In this episode of the "Enlightened by Dogs" podcast, Kathy sheds light on what might be keeping us from having that trusting, heart-to-heart connection with our dogs. Often, without realizing it, we may be building walls between ourselves and our dogs, in spite of our true intentions.   Being stuck in our heads, worrying, or fearing mistakes can hinder the genuine connection that we crave. Kathy emphasizes the importance of being present, avoiding the busy-ness trap, and understanding our...

Experiencing the true depth of connection with our dogs lies in understanding our own feelings and mindset.   This episode revolves around a pivotal thought: What if we could manifest the emotions we wish to experience in the future, right in this moment? And what would that mean for our future relationship and partnership life with our dogs?   It’s not about waiting for our dogs to behave a certain way to feel happiness or contentment, it’s about cultivating those feelings in the moment,...

At the heart of every reactive behavior our dogs display is a stress spiral – a chain of emotions and misunderstandings. As dog moms, we often face challenges, especially when confronted with the seeming unpredictability of our dogs' reactions. But what if the key to resolving these reactions isn't in training your dog, but in retraining your brain?   We explore the powerful concept that taking responsibility for our own thoughts, especially during difficult experiences, can drastically...

In today's episode, we look at the world of natural communication and connection with our canine companions. Think back to when you first brought your pup home, that initial bond, the trust, and the love that started to flourish. However, as life happens, unpredictable and potentially traumatic events can strain that bond. So, how do we foster a relationship that ensures our dogs look to us as trustworthy during these scary experiences?    Reflecting on the nature of dogs, puppies naturally...

In this first episode of a three-part series, Kathy highlights the importance of building your dog’s social confidence. She uses a variety of scenarios to explain what it means and when it’s necessary to be an advocate for your dog.   The series takes a closer look at ways you can stay connected with your dog in awkward and somewhat unpleasant social situations.   Did you know that your puppy or young dog is at the most impressionable stage of their life?   They’re experiencing most...

We often make unconscious decisions about what our dog’s unwanted behavior means, and then jump to conclusions and take actions based on those assumptions. But what if their behavior doesn’t mean what we think it means?   In today’s episode, we’re going to take a look at why dogs behave certain ways, and how we commonly respond to those behaviors, without even thinking much about it.   When you have greater clarity and a deeper understanding of what your dog does, why they do it, and how...

When we take a deeper look at what it means to walk in partnership with our dogs, we find opportunities for bonding, connection, mutual respect and kindness.   Most of us dog moms envision walking our dogs as an enjoyable experience … but that’s not always how it goes!    For many dog moms, walking their dogs can be a stressful and frustrating experience, rather than a beautiful bonding opportunity. But, what if walking with your dog was easy? It sounds like a dream come true, right? ...

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy dives into using the power of your thinking to reach the full potential of becoming a brilliant partner with your dog.    Sharing some of her favorite strategies, Kathy makes a case for taking responsibility for our thoughts, feelings, and actions as key for having a successful and happy relationship with our canine partners.    Visualizing the life we want to have and having a balance between achieving and growing can help us better...

All behavior is communication, so how your dog responds to you (or doesn’t respond to you) is how they are trying to tell you how they feel in the moment.  When your dog seemingly refuses to listen to you, it can be really frustrating. Sometimes, it can even feel like your dog isn’t listening to you on purpose, which makes you even more frustrated.  Thankfully, Kathy knows just what you need to do to change your story from ‘my dog won’t listen’ to ‘my dog loves to listen’! Now, the answer...

In this episode Kathy will help you identify the root cause of your dog’s excessive barking, and guide you through the eight steps of her Bark Busting Protocol to prevent and rehab unwanted barking, the partnership way.   Pretty much every dog mom has a story of their dog’s over-the-top barking. Kathy certainly has a few stories of her own, and she shares the exact steps she took with unwanted barking with her own dogs in this episode.   So, what are the steps to getting on top of...

We’re making it real with this episode!  It’s when we step into our place as trustworthy role models and loving leaders that our relationship with our dog truly blossoms.   When we and our dogs are feeling safe, calm and happy – Kathy calls that ‘being in the green zone’ – then we are able to connect, make better choices and interrupt the behavior spiral of stress that no one wants.   As Kathy emphasizes in this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, we need to move away from the desensitizing,...

Are you getting in the way of building the future of your dreams with your dog?   When we welcome a dog into our lives, we usually dream of living in perfect harmony together with (preferably) no ‘unwanted behavior’. So, when things don’t turn out the way we thought they would, it’s easy to let ourselves get lost in a sea of negative thoughts.   We become so focused on everything that’s ‘wrong’ with our lives (and our dogs), that we forget to focus on what’s truly important.   While...

In this guest edition of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy introduces Erin who tells us about her journey with her unexpectedly intense 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 hard! Jess’ behaviors left Erin feeling anxious, stressed and even panicked at times.   It all started when they brought home a border collie bundle of joy they named Jess. The puppy was...

This week, Kathy turns the spotlight on a member of the Brilliant Partners Academy. Terri joins this Enlightened By Dogs episode to tell the tale of her beloved Bella and their shared transformation.   Terri’s life was turned upside down when they decided to adopt Bella from the local shelter...and quickly found out that EVERYTHING over-aroused her. Bella’s intensity and reactivity made almost everything in life seem impossible and they got into a red zone spiral they couldn't get out of....

You may think that you’re listening to your dog’s wants and needs, but listening isn’t always what you think it is.   We all want to do what’s best for our dogs. However, sometimes, in the quest for a successful relationship, we can get stuck pursuing traditional training methods that just aren’t working. The reality is, truly listening to your dog can look very different from how you might have imagined it.   When you open up your mind and your heart to your partnership’s possibilities,...

Bettina’s life was turned upside down when they decided to adopt Murphy, a deaf dog with OCD, after seeing his handsome face on a rescue website. It quickly became apparent that Murphy had a LOT more going on than a hearing impairment…   Bettina says…”We adopted Murphy knowing his deafness meant special needs, but quickly his OCD behaviors that included tearing out drywall and resource guarding turned our life upside down. Soon it was not only affecting us, but our other dogs too. Bear...

Living with a reactive dog can be a frustrating experience, and as a first-time dog mom, it can be an overwhelming and seriously confusing one as well.   In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy revisits a conversation she had with first-time dog mom Paulina Grzesinska-Mrozek.   Paulina was struggling with her dog Badi, who was very reactive to other dogs and people both in their apartment and on walks. Paulina struggled to understand Badi and couldn’t figure out why he always barked...

If you've been struggling with understanding your dog and feeling uncertain about knowing what the right thing to do is,  I have got an episode for you! We're featuring dog moms, my amazing and brilliant students who had the same questions as you, the same struggles as some of you, and the same worry, overwhelm, frustration, disappointment as many of us feel, at least at times.  What I love about my students' stories is that they really paint a picture of what is possible and what it looks...

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy Kawalec delves into the concept of understanding our dogs' behavior as communication, helping us to move away from frustration. She teaches us how to reframe our thoughts and reactions to our dogs when they don't seem to listen, and to see their actions as an unmet need rather than defiance.    Kathy emphasizes the importance of connecting with our dogs on a deeper level by stepping into their paws and meeting them where they are. This episode...

In this episode of "Enlightened by Dogs," Kathy takes us on a journey into the captivating world of dog communication and behavior by listening to whispers.    Together, we'll learn how understanding these subtle cues can significantly enhance the bond between you, the loving dog mom, and your canine companion. Discover the importance of recognizing your dog's "whispers" before they escalate into "shouts," and join Kathy as she shares three empowering tips to help you better understand your...

In this enlightening episode of "Enlightened by Dogs," host Kathy Kawalec explores the importance of communication as the foundation for building a successful, heart-centered relationship with your dog. Kathy delves into the various aspects of communication, including the exchange of information, ideas, and feelings between you and your dog. Throughout the episode, Kathy emphasizes the importance of a dialogue loop, a two-way exchange between you and your dog that fosters understanding and...

Subhead: Deepen your connection with your dog by understanding the art of communication Description: In this enlightening episode of "Enlightened by Dogs," host Kathy Kawalec explores the importance of communication as the foundation for building a successful, heart-centered relationship with your dog. Kathy delves into the various aspects of communication, including the exchange of information, ideas, and feelings between you and your dog. Throughout the episode, Kathy emphasizes the...

In this episode, we’re digging deeper into what is happening when your dog is triggered, and how to interrupt meltdowns with a pause, breathe, connect technique. Kathy explores the concept of using the natural biology of connection to help our dogs calm down, emphasizing the importance of meeting both our own and our dogs' social needs. As social animals, humans and dogs share many needs, including the needs to feel safe and connected. When these needs are met, trust and cooperation...

In this week's episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy Kawalec debunks three common myths around dog obedience training and old thinking that keeps us and our dogs stuck in old unwanted behaviors. As a dog mom, you may have fallen for one, two, or even all three of these myths that have been holding you back from creating a brilliant life with your dog.   Kathy shares her experiences from 20+ years of coaching, mentoring, and instructing other dog moms, helping them achieve a level of success...

In this episode, Kathy leads a discussion about your dog’s personality traits, how that relates to their behavior, and why this matters. This deeper understanding of your dog's personality will foster a stronger bond and create a more cooperative environment between you and your dog.   By looking into the "shadow traits" that may be the hidden drivers of your dog’s more challenging behaviors, dog moms can gain a better sense of how to better communicate with their pup.    To help dog moms...