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...

Whether you’re fostering or adopting, bringing another dog into your home is an exciting time! Dr. Patricia McConnell is back to talk with Emily and Libby about integrating multi-dog households. They discuss the common myths we face when bringing a second (or third or fourth) dog home, why that sweet rescue pup who was described as “good with other dogs” in the shelter is now growling at your resident dog, best practices for introducing new dogs to one another, and some skills to cultivate as...

Dogs bark for a reason. Sometimes, they’ve been bred to bark - sometimes, they’re simply communicating! In this episode, Libby and Emily break down barking: why dogs do it, how we can manage the behavior, and more. They break down bark collars, citronella, and how some of the ways we mitigate barking are ineffective at best and cruel at worst. You’ll walk away with practical and easy tips on how to work with dogs who present this behavior. The book Emily references is called Barking: The...

We put out the call: what are your questions about all things dogs, training, and rescue? You sure answered! Emily and Libby address listener questions like, “what do I do about resource guarding?” “How do I get a dog ready for a new baby?” And more. Show Notes:  www.podtotherescue.com https://www.dogwise.com/mine-a-practical-guide-to-resource-guarding-in-dogs/ http://lindsaywoodbrown.com/ Behavior Vets and Chewy the dog: https://youtu.be/3JYbtyAiC5g Family Paws YouTube playlist:...

In this episode, Libby and Emily sit down with Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Christopher Pachel. Dr. Pachel’s way of viewing our companion animals is spacious, generous, and compassionate. This is a conversation that has us considering the larger questions of animal behavior, the why of how we train, and more. Visit the Animal Behavior Clinic here.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sdr7/support

This is episode 2 of our response to the tragic Marshall Fire that devastated our beloved community.  Dog trainers Mary Angilly and Chrissy Messik speak with Emily and Libby about supporting your animals through the potential loss of home and routine after a natural disaster. Not only were Chrissy and Libby both directly impacted by the Marshall Fire, but they have some great tips for practical and emotional support through this post-fire time, which is applicable across situations that...

This episode is a response to the Marshall Fire on December 30, 2021. Emily and Libby speak with four guests: Jan McHugh-Smith of the Boulder Humane Society on how they supported response and recovery efforts Leslie Irvine a Professor of Sociology at CU Boulder who specializes in conceptions of the self and human-animal relationships Lisa Wieland on her experience of evacuating from the firestorm with her 2 dogs from SDR, her cat and her neighbor and neighbor's cat Natalie Riggs of...

Did you know that leash walking is not a natural behavior for dogs? It may be why your dog is inclined to rip your arm off during your walks! In this training basics episode, Libby and Emily talk about: why dogs pull on the leash the unbelievably cool statistics about your dog’s olfactory capabilities some techniques to work on with your dog Credits. Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators.) Original music by Mike Pesci. Graphic design, editing, and production by Alex Lee-Ammons...

Emily and Libby sit down with trainers and behavioral consultants Marge and Eileen about a much-anticipated topic: puppy socialization! Marge and Eileen talk about: The first 12 weeks of a puppy’s life are the "critical window" for socialization  What proper socialization is, and is not Why exposure alone is not socialization  Practical ways to help puppies form positive associations with the world around them What flooding is and why it’s problematic The dilemma of too much vs. too...

Jennifer Shryock wants dogs to happily coexist in families with children and babies. She is so passionate about this that she founded Family Paws, an organization that offers resources to dog-loving families. In this informative episode, she talks to Emily and Libby about: managing expectations about integration and transition differences between prepping for a dog or puppy practical tips and tricks too practice with foster dogs why dogs kissing babies actually might be your dog’s...

Miranda Hitchcock birthed her non-profit after seeing a major gap in accessibility for Spanish speakers in her Texas community. In this interview, Miranda and Libby talk about the non-profit Every Dog Austin, Miranda’s foray into dog behavior and training, and why it’s so important to offer training to a broader socioeconomic and linguistic spectrum. Miranda offers an important perspective regarding rescue and behavior, and how the conversation around the impact on people requires more...

Does your dog have BIG feelings? Are they easily excitable, or have a hard time calming down? If so - this episode is a MUST listen. Behavior Consultant Elisheba Fay has a wealth of information to share about arousal in dogs - what it is, what triggers it, and how to de-activate arousal. Seriously - this episode is practical, fascinating, and we are sure you will understand your dog better after listening. Elisheba Fay is a Certified Behavior Consultant through the International Association...

Training and Behavior Consultant Marissa has a breadth of experience in the dog rescue, shelter, and training worlds. In this conversation with Emily and Libby, they discuss the great potential of collaborations between shelters and rescues, how COVID has changed the rescue world, and so much more. We hope you enjoy this Tail from the Trenches! Credits. Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators.) Original music by Mike Pesci. Graphic design, editing, and production by Alex Lee-Ammons...

This episode follows Part 1 with Meridith Perry (which we recommend listening to prior to this episode!) Libby, Emily, and Meridith discuss transport day, decompression, and how the nature of rescue dogs is inherently mysterious: we often don’t know anything about the dog’s life prior to their rescue. This conversation is honest, open, and speaks to the true nature of the impact of this work on the folks on the other side.  Credits. Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators.) Original...

Welcome to our new series, Tails from the Trenches! In this episode, Libby and Emily speak to Meridith Perry of Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter in Mississippi. They share the ethos of rescuing animals, some of the difficulties that accompany the stress of making life-or-death decisions, and some solutions that could address the issues of home shortages and the proliferation of rescue dogs. Credits. Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators.) Original music by Mike Pesci. Graphic design,...

What happens when the dog that’s presented to you is not the dog you get - specifically, in the fostering stage? This episode focuses on that very question and is relevant to anybody who fosters rescue dogs or hopes to foster a dog in the future. Emily and Libby discuss current foster dogs, the impact of a shifting environment, and at the end they answer a listener question about door greetings and mat work. Credits. Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators.) Original music by Mike...

As humans, we need mental stimulation for our daily lives - it’s essential for our health. And, surprise: our dogs are the exact same way! Today’s guest, Sarah Walsh, is someone we refer to all the time in these episodes. In this episode, Sarah talks to Emily and Libby about enrichment: what it is, why it’s important, and how we can fold enrichment into our dog’s routines. Sarah has been training dogs and coaching clients professionally for the past 5 years, and has a particular interest in...

What does your dog do when the doorbell rings? In this episode, Emily and Libby lay out the possible ways your dog might respond when there’s someone at the door, break down the potential roots of different behaviors, and discuss ways to address and manage this behavior (hint: your behavior also plays a role in this!) Kim Brophey’s website: https://www.dogdoorcanineservices.com/ Klimb by Blue-9: https://www.blue-9.com/KLIMB Credits. Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators.) Original...

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 aggression), and so much more. Make sure to listen to the full episodes, as Michael...

We live in a world where humans are often viewed as the center, and our interests and desires and way of being is considered the norm. What would our world look like if we de-centered humans, and listened to the “more-than-human” voice? Deb Matlock is today’s guest. She is a nature-based spiritual arts guide and mentor, animal communicator, and ecologist. She also works at Summit Dog Rescue’s working on dog behavior and bonds. Deb, Em, and Libby talk about the number one way to go into...

The Fourth of July is not necessarily a happy holiday for our furry family members! In this Training Basics episode, Libby and Emily talk about ways to keep your dog safe and work with them to help them settle into their environment this holiday. https://www.podtotherescue.com/ https://www.facebook.com/PodToTheRescue https://www.instagram.com/podtotherescue/ Cog Dog Radio: https://thecognitivecanine.com/the-podcast-cog-dog-radio/ Behavior Vets on Facebook:...

Growing up, Mary Angilly always wanted to work with animals. Now, she is a professional full-time dog trainer and has a wealth of information to share with you. In this episode, she sits down with Emily and Libby to talk about what “management” is, why it makes dogs more adoptable, and how it is distinct from training. This episode will be especially relevant for folks who foster. Credits. Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators.) Original music by Mike Pesci. Graphic design, editing,...

This is the fourth and final episode in the “Food in Training” series. Hooray! We hope you have enjoyed learning how best to employ food in training your furry family member. In this episode, Emily and Libby cover the caveats of food in training. There are ways food can be counterproductive, and in this episode you'll learn all about what not to do when using food in training.

Your dog’s separation anxiety isn’t an unsolvable issue, even if it might feel that way sometimes. In this episode, Libby and Emily sit down with Jackie Johnston to talk all things separation. They define separation anxiety and how to identify it in your dog, why it’s natural and adaptive, and how we can work to help our dogs feel safe. Jackie Johnston is a certified separation anxiety trainer with a certificate in training and counseling. She works solely with separation anxiety, and her...

How do we shape what our dogs learn and what associations they make, so they can be good family dogs and companions? This episode is entirely dedicated to that question through the lens of Classical Conditioning. You'll learn how to help your dog create positive associations through the "Stuff-A-Dog Method" (Jean Donaldson) and the science behind it. Think of this as a learning tool instead of a training...