Adoption is not the finish line.

It’s not a rescue story wrapped up with a bow.

It’s the start of something sacred if you stay long enough to witness it.

This episode is for the newly adopted, the recently rescued, the ones who just opened their homes and hearts and are wondering why it feels heavier than they expected.

You were told they’d settle in 3 days, then 3 weeks, then 3 months.

But what about 3 years?

What about 30 minutes ago when they finally took a nap in the same room as you?

The 3-3-3 rule oversimplifies a process that’s anything but simple.

Decompression isn’t a timeline. It’s an unfolding.

Detox isn’t passive. It’s loud, messy, sometimes painful.

And too many dogs are returned or rehomed because we rush a soul that just got dropped into unfamiliar territory.

In this episode, we go there:

• Why “adopt don’t shop” culture isn’t enough

• The difference between stress shedding vs. behavioral red flags

• What it really means when your dog “just started doing that”

• Why walking them too soon can backfire and what to do instead

• How to use Whisper Walks and green space instead of overstimulating neighborhoods

• What your Heart Note will say at the end: did you wait for them, or rush them?

This is the one I needed you to hear in the quiet.

Late-night.

Headphones in.

No distractions.

Because this isn’t about obedience. It’s about observation.

It’s about leadership through love not control.

You said yes to this dog.

Now say yes to their pace.

To their fear.

To their breakthrough.

Because if you keep them home truly keep them you might just meet the dog they’ve always been underneath all that noise.

🖤

If this spoke to you, do one thing before you go:

Rate. Review. Share.

Let the world know that behavior matters and so does sticking around long enough to see what unfolds.

New here? Follow @adiashanee on social media, and don’t forget:

Wherever you take your podcasts, you’ll find us.

Because this isn’t just a podcast.

It’s a movement.

And we’re just getting started.

This isn’t just a reintroduction it’s a reckoning.

In this short but soul-stirring episode, Adia Shanee returns to the mic to speak directly to the guardians, the feelers, the ones who’ve been told they’re too emotional or “doing it wrong.”

This episode is not about tips it’s about truth.

It’s not a dog training podcast it’s a movement.

Listen in as Adia reflects on the real reason Behavior Matters exists, shares the story that changed everything, and dares you to stop asking “How do I fix my dog?” and start asking “What have I misunderstood?”

Because the leash isn’t the only thing that needs to loosen your guilt does too.

It’s shorter than usual. But it says everything it needed to.

For the ones who know behavior matters—on both sides of the leash.

If this moved you, rate the show, leave a comment, or share it with someone who gets it. Your voice helps others find theirs.

Episode 6 – The Soul Has Left the Body: When Obedience Becomes Suppression

Hosted by Adia Shanee

What if the dog everyone calls “good”… is actually just surviving?

In this emotional, truth-filled episode, Adia Shanee unpacks the silent cost of obedience—and how the soul can quietly leave the body while the world claps for stillness. From real-life stories of shut-down dogs to a powerful moment in a Petco aisle, this is a raw callout of suppression, aversive tools, and the commercial systems profiting from pain.

This episode is a wake-up call for every guardian.

You’ll never see “good behavior” the same again.

🎧 What’s inside:

• Real stories: Dakota, Sable, Toby, and Delilah

• Suppression vs. connection

• PetSmart + Petco’s role in selling pain

• Guardian Reflection + Challenge

• Why behavior isn’t the enemy—it’s the invitation

💬 If this episode moved you:

📈 Please rate the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this.

Your support helps amplify this message—and gets it into the hands of the guardians who need it most.

“Good dogs are often quiet dogs. And quiet dogs are often just forgotten ones. Let’s stop forgetting them.”

#BehaviorMattersPodcast #AdiaShanee #GuardianEra #SuppressionIsNotSuccess #DogTrainingTruth #DogBehavior #PetSmart #Petco #ModernDogNeeds

You’re not just a dog owner—you’re a modern-day guardian.

And that comes with a different kind of responsibility… and a different kind of weight.

In this deeply honest episode, Adia explores what our dogs are really carrying—and how often, it’s not just theirs.

It’s ours too.

She dives into what decompression actually means, why behavior isn’t about obedience, and how the dogs in our homes are absorbing more than we realize. You’ll leave with grounded truth, emotional clarity, and practical shifts you can make today to lead your dog more intentionally.

Because when you regulate—you lead.

When you slow down—they can too.

And when you choose presence over performance, everything begins to change.

🎙️ Want to suggest a topic or be a guest?

Email: [email protected]

👉🏾 Don’t forget to follow the show and leave a review—it helps this movement grow and helps more guardians feel seen.

#BehaviorMattersPodcast #ModernGuardian #TraumaInformedCanineCare #DecompressionMatters #TheGuardianEra

When life is heavy, behavior still matters. A solo episode on burnout, guardianship, and finding stillness in nature when you have nothing left to give.”

This episode wasn’t planned. It wasn’t polished. It was necessary.

After a tough week filled with emotional fatigue, family stress, and the heavy weight of behavior cases, I almost didn’t record. But that’s exactly why I had to.

In this raw solo episode, I talk about what it means to show up when you’re not okay—and how our dogs often become the quiet therapists we didn’t know we needed. I share the emotional toll of professional burnout, the reality behind the work I do, and how Nature Therapy reminded me that stillness can be medicine.

This isn’t about fixing your dog.

It’s about finding yourself again.

And remembering that even when you feel like you’ve got nothing left to give…

your presence still matters.

🎧 Questions, guest requests, or topics you’d love me to cover?

Email: [email protected]

I’d love to hear from you.

🎧 Episode 3 – Confused Canine = Chaos

When dogs are confused, chaos follows. In this episode, Adia Washington is joined by guardian and parent Cyndi Bruner to unpack the behavioral fallout of mixed signals, inconsistent routines, and outdated training methods.

We dive into the science of learned helplessness, household miscommunication, and what it really means to build connection—not just control. Whether you’ve got one dog or three, this conversation is your wake-up call.

—

Hosted by Adia Washington, The Canines Consultant

Learn more at thecaninesconsultant.com

IG: @thecaninesconsultant

If you love your dog deeply but still feel like you’re missing something, this episode is for you. We explore how your emotional presence—not perfection—is what your dog truly needs. Through real-life stories and grounded insight, we talk about showing up with clarity, calm, and connection. Because behavior isn’t just about your dog—it’s about you, too.

In this very first episode of Behavior Matters, Adia Washington, Licensed Family Dog Mediator, Canine Behavior Consultant and founder of Woof Houze Academy and The Canines Consultant, invites you into the heart of her mission: to change the way we understand behavior—starting with connection, not control. This isn’t your average dog podcast. It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s rooted in something deeper than obedience cues or quick fixes.

Adia shares her personal journey and the truth behind why this show exists. You’ll hear how the canine-human relationship has shaped her work, her philosophy, and her belief that behavior is a conversation—one we’ve been taught to ignore.

Whether you’re a pet parent, trainer, or just a woman trying to lead with more clarity and compassion, this space is for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why Adia created Behavior Matters
• The difference between managing behavior and understanding it
• What it means to lead with connection, not control
• Why this show centers women and emotionally intelligent leadership
• What to expect in upcoming episodes

Join the Conversation:

Follow along and share your thoughts on Social Media to connect deeper.

Subscribe so you never miss a moment—because Behavior Matters.