Canine Adolescence is the transition from puppyhood to adulthood. This fascinating conversation with Sarah Stremming, who is a dog behavior coach and the host of the Cog Dog Podcast, addresses this pivotal age of young dogs. Sarah, Emily, and Libby discuss adolescent canine behavior and how to most effectively observe and address behaviors to nurture confident, healthy dogs. This is the second part of their conversation, so make sure you listen to Part 1 before diving in here. The trio also...

Canine Adolescence is the transition from puppyhood to adulthood. This fascinating conversation with Sarah Stremming, who is a dog behavior coach and the host of the Cog Dog Podcast, addresses this pivotal age of young dogs. Sarah, Emily, and Libby discuss adolescent canine behavior and how to most effectively observe and address behaviors to nurture confident, healthy dogs. They also discuss: How dogs’ responses to environments and caregivers can change during this transitional period ...

This is a replay of our 2021 interview with aggression expert Michael Shikashio. We are thrilled to present today’s guest, Michael Shikashio. Michael is a world-renowned expert on dog aggression and has an incredible dearth of information he generously shares, which is helpful for owners, rescuers, and trainers alike. In this conversation, Michael, Emily and Libby define aggression, discuss the ways aggression can present in different dogs (and the different levels of assessing their...

It is no secret that shelters can prove to be extremely stressful environments for dogs - even the friendlist, most easy-going dog can experience severe stress or fear in a shelter environment. In this incredible conversation, Emily, Libby and Tom Candy discuss how we can best support shelter dogs in and out of the shelter environment to build confidence, trust, and a sense of play. In this episode, they cover: How to work with dogs who display fearful behaviors in the shelter and kennel...

“What supplies do I need for fostering a dog?” “Should you use training tools on rescue dogs?” “What kind of harness should I get for my dog?” You have questions about fostering or adopting a dog, and we have answers! These are the tools and supplies we recommend for rescue dog fosters and adopters.  Emily and Libby are professionals who have been working in foster-based rescue for a long time, so they have accumulated a lot of “stuff” over the years. Don’t be intimidated by this list! While...

If you try one training method with your new rescue dog, try this one! This week, Emily and Libby speak with Kathy Sdao, world-renowned dog trainer, speaker, writer, and educator. Sdao’s accessible training technique, SMARTx50, is a powerful tool that distills behavior science into the lay person's terms, making it accessible for our human learners: dog rescuers, fosters and adopters. They discuss how to use SMARTx50 to help our dogs fit into our human world, and this conversation is lively...

Puppy socialization is critical for a dog’s healthy development, but what happens if there is a highly contagious respiratory illness being passed around the dog community? Emily and Libby address this current situation by re-airing this episode so you can make a good decision by weighing the costs and benefits of puppy socialization, and how to have healthy play with other puppies amidst illness. Some topics discussed are: The first 12 weeks of a puppy’s life are the "critical window"...

When SDR rescued a dog with hearing impairment, they turned to Tiffany Baker for her expertise on the most effective ways to work with deaf dogs. We hear about Blue throughout the episode as SDR’s case study, and in this episode Emily, Libby and Tiffany also cover topics like: How she uses control unleashed for deaf dogs Pattern games and why the framework of predictability is important for all dogs - especially deaf dogs “Up Down” Tactile cues for deaf dogs Pairing deaf dogs...

Libby and Emily sit down with Annie Phenix, an award winning author and trainer who is known for her methods that train for behavioral concerns without using fear, force, pain, or intimidation.  This conversation is underlined by the importance of trust, joy, and love in our relationships with our animal friends. They also talk about: Building trust with our dogs How we can use somatic therapy on our dogs Ways to work with new and foster dogs to reduce agitation, stress, and...

Have you ever dealt with a dog who experienced separation anxiety? Separation anxiety can present in dogs in myriad behaviors, and this can have a major impact not only on the dog but on the humans caring for those dogs. In this episode, Libby and Emily dig into this issue with Jenni Pfafman. Jenni is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer with years of experience working in-person and virtually with dogs who deal with separation anxiety. The conversation opens with a case study about a...

In this episode, Emily and Libby talk about their own rescue experiences, including “foster failures” and finding lifelong companions. At Summit Dog Rescue, we do things a bit differently; one of those things is how they advocate for modern ethical training methods backed by science. They talk about training faux pas that they used to use - methods that can even be harmful for the dog - because “it’s what people were doing.” They talk about why they use the methods they do and the proven...

Michelle Stern cares about supporting parents, supporting kids, and helping dogs feel safe emotionally and physically; these three passions position her perfectly to work with families who are integrating their dogs into homes with children. This episode will support any listener who is, or plans to, integrate their dogs and children together in a way that is healthy and balanced. In this conversation they also cover: The behavior changes that can occur as a dog adjusts to a home What...

 We’re kicking off Season 4 with SDR’s education coordinator, Deb Matlock. Deb explains humane education’s focus as one that promotes empathy and compassion; whether it’s about dog training or environmental issues, this way of education indicates a focus on how we connect in a way that develops empathy and compassion. Deb, Libby and Emily cover: How Humane Education can create a higher quality of life for dogs The Five Freedoms (standards of care for captive animals) The changing...

Hey listeners, we're back! We have some exciting episodes planned for this season, including interviews with Annie Phenix, Kathy Sdao, and more industry veterans as well as up-and-coming trainers and rescuers. Make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! And share with your rescue friends to make sure they don't miss it, either. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sdr7/support

In advance of releasing our much-anticipated Season 4 of the podcast, we're replaying some of our best conversations on Pod to the Rescue. Enjoy, and stay tuned - Season 4 drops on October 4, 2023! Why are dog behavior problems increasing in recent years? How do changes to their social bonds and environment affect rescue dogs? What does it mean to see our dogs as they really are: captive animals? In this thought-provoking episode, Emily and Libby speak with Kim Brophey about her...

Do you want to pet all the dogs? So do we! But we don’t… and here’s why. Emily and Libby welcome Elisheba Fay back to Pod to the Rescue to talk about petting our own dogs and dogs that are new to us, like foster dogs and newly placed rescue dogs. They talk about consent tests when petting dogs, dog body language, how to know if your dog wants to be petted, what to do about dogs who feel conflicted about human attention, and how to deal with your dog who won't leave you alone when you're busy...

Do you have a dog who is jumping and mouthing a lot? Plays a little too rough? Can’t calm down and uses his mouth as a default behavior? This episode is for you! Emily and Libby interview Ferdie Yau of Behavior Vets about the “Shelter Shorts” video series featuring Chewy, a shelter dog with a big arousal biting problem. Shelter Shorts from Behavior Vets:  Part 1 - Arousal Biting Pt 1: https://youtu.be/z0xAFKoOKIo Part 2 - Arousal Biting Pt 2: https://youtu.be/W0ByjxeHy58 Part 3 -...

What are we talking about when we talk about dog training? Why should we train our dogs, anyway? Is puppy class enough training for my dog? And what kinds of skills should we prioritize when training our rescue dogs? Emily and Libby discuss these questions and more with Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Eileen Koval, owner of Confident Canines in Las Vegas, Nevada. They talk about top skills for dogs to learn, including leave it, watch me, drop it, come, and “do nothing,” why it’s important...

Why are dog behavior problems increasing in recent years? How do changes to their social bonds and environment affect rescue dogs? What does it mean to see our dogs as they really are: captive animals? In this thought-provoking episode, Emily and Libby speak with Kim Brophey about her groundbreaking LEGS model of dog behavior, her new course, “The Dog’s Truth,” and why this information is crucial for shelters, rescues, and adopters. www.familydogmediation.com For transcripts, visit...

Going behind the scenes of what's going on in the dog rescue this spring and summer, Emily and Libby talk about labrador retriever/German shepherd mix puppies, a rehomed Brittany spaniel, canine adolescence, and why rescue doodles are both the easiest and hardest dogs to place... This conversation is just a snippet of the considerations we make when assessing and placing our rescue dogs!  Canine adolescence:...

This week, Emily and Libby interview Zazie Todd, PhD, about her new book "Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy." This episode (and the book!) is filled with tips and ideas for cat lovers seeking to provide the best life possible for their cat - from kitten raising to rescue and shelter cat enrichment. https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/home.html For transcripts, visit www.podtotherescue.com Credits: Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators). Original music by Mike...

Is your rescue dog afraid of fireworks? Or maybe you have a new dog, and you're not yet sure how they'll react. There's still time to help your dog feel more comfortable this year! Listen now to this re-released episode about noise phobia and the 4th of July. Also applies to fear of thunderstorms and other loud noises that scare your dog. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sdr7/support

We LOVE long lines, and we sing their praises every chance we get. So does Tricia Case, founder of Trailblazing Tails, makers of high quality leashes and long lines. We talk about the why, how, when, and where of long lines. Be sure to listen for a Trailblazing Tails coupon code! https://www.trailblazingtails.com/ For transcripts, visit www.podtotherescue.com Credits: Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators). Original music by Mike Pesci. Production and editing by James Ede of Be...

Burnout and compassion fatigue are all too common in animal care workers, but we don’t talk about it enough. Laura Henderson is a licensed professional counselor who has worked with the Denver Dumb Friends League as a consultant and mental health coach. She speaks with Emily and Libby about secondary trauma in shelter and rescue workers, how to spot compassion fatigue in ourselves, and ways we can use self-care to help lighten the heavy load we sometimes carry when working with animals. To...