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 to teach your dog to influence their environment and control outcomes, and how to avoid dog training mistakes.

This rich conversation was inspired by Eileen’s blog post, “Does My Dog Need Training?” https://www.confidentcaninesdogtraining.com/post/does-my-dog-need-training

For transcripts, visit www.podtotherescue.com 

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/podtotherescue/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PodToTheRescue!

Credits: Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators). Original music by Mike Pesci. Production and editing by James Ede of Be Heard.

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 www.podtotherescue.com 

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/podtotherescue/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PodToTheRescue!

Credits: Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators). Original music by Mike Pesci. Production and editing by James Ede of Be Heard. Our webmaster is Nadia Magallon of Rewarding Dog Training.

[Breed description handouts coming soon! Check back on our website.]

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: https://blog.smartanimaltraining.com/2013/09/09/surviving-our-dogs-adolescence/

Puppy Socialization: https://www.podtotherescue.com/puppy-socialization.html

Arousal in Dogs: https://www.podtotherescue.com/understanding-arousal.html

For transcripts, visit www.podtotherescue.com 

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/podtotherescue/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PodToTheRescue!

Credits: Libby Felts and Emily Wolf (Hosts and Creators). Original music by Mike Pesci. Production and editing by James Ede of Be Heard.

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 Pesci. Production and editing by James Ede of Be Heard.

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 Heard.

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 learn more about Laura Henderson and her work or to contact her for workshops: https://www.laurahendersoncounseling.com/

More compassion fatigue resources: https://jessicadolce.com/resources/

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score

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 Heard.

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 a multi-dog guardian.

To learn more about Dr. Patricia McConnell, visit her website: https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/about-patricia/

ASPCA webinar: https://www.aspcapro.org/webinar/20140129/multi-dog-households#video-player

Parallel walking: https://youtu.be/sZVJyE-KLS0

Trauma, Decompression, and Going Slow with Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB: https://www.podtotherescue.com/dr-patricia-mcconnell1.html

Management with Mary Angilly CTC, CPDT-KA: https://www.podtotherescue.com/management.html

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 Heard.

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 Sound of the Language.

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: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsDoHZeiT2t5qQTZ0SYtvatDGr23IqrUz

https://www.familypaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FPPE-Dog-Baby-Sheet-sm.pdf

https://fearfreepets.com/

Leslie McDevitt’s Pattern Games: https://youtu.be/Mtn-BeI9lHE