Enrichment for the Real World

Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training
  • 5.0 (50)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Updated Weekly

You've dedicated your life to helping animals- just like us.  Emily Strong was training praying mantids at 7.  Allie Bender was telling her neighbor to refill their bird feeder because the birds were hungry at 2.  You're an animal person; you get it.  We've always been animal people. We've been wanting to better animals' lives since forever, so we made a podcast for people like us.  Join Emily and Allie, the authors of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, for everything animal care- from meeting animals' needs to assessing goals to filling our own cups as caregivers and guardians. 

  1. 1d ago

    #184 - Perfectionism is Your Enemy

    Perfectionism is a fickle little creature. It doesn’t always show up as striving for exact perfection. Sometimes, it’s the little bouts of waiting for the next “right” thing.  Waiting for winter when the streets are calm to work on leash skills.  Waiting until spring, when the weather is nicer because it’s too cold.  Waiting to find the “right” treat for the training session. The next “right” thing is usually just a short wait away, so why not wait for that “best” time?  In this episode, Emily and Ellen talk about how perfectionism has gotten in their way, how it shows up for their clients and mentees, and why we live by “good enough to get going.” If you’ve found yourself waiting for the “right” time, you may find this episode helpful. From two formerly “burned-out overachievers” to you. TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways  1️⃣ Perfectionism can be a hidden stalling tactic – Waiting for the perfect plan or moment doesn’t change anything. If you want change, you have to do. 2️⃣ “Perfect” doesn’t exist – You can spend a decade trying to make the “perfect” plan, and still, life is going to throw something at you that you never could have predicted.  3️⃣ Doing gets you information – The more information you have, the closer you can get to a robust, effective, “practically perfect” plan. You’ll still need to make adjustments, but it will be small tweaks instead of big changes. For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here. Amazon Affiliate Storefront Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases. More from Pet Harmony Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/ Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛

    #184 - Perfectionism is Your Enemy

  2. Sep 9

    #183 - Beccy Hughes: There's No Wrong Way in Animal Care

    In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Pet Harmony’s newest consulting team member Beccy Hughes! With decades of animal care and training experience, Emily and Beccy talk about the wonderful, windy story behind Beccy’s skills. From college, to a career in marine mammal training, to finding herself struggling with pet conflict in her own home, to realizing she can help pet parents too, Beccy’s journey here highlights there’s no wrong way in animal care. Join Emily and Beccy for a discussion on learning when the path is anything but straight and narrow, how enrichment and a safe learning environment makes a world of difference for all living creatures, and why there’s no right way into animal care or to care for your animals. TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways  1️⃣ Learning is a cycle, not a checklist – Consuming without application and refinement means you aren’t learning new skills, you’re just downloading information.  2️⃣ Enrichment for… goats? – Enrichment is for everyone, including goats! Beccy talks about how providing an enriching environment it’s about stopping goats from being goats, rather giving them safe ways to goat.  3️⃣ A winding path helps more than you think – From sea lion shows to dog training, Beccy’s route wasn’t a straight line, and every stop along the way taught her something new. Her journey is exactly what makes her skillful now.  For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here. Amazon Affiliate Storefront Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases. More from Pet Harmony Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/ Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛 Picture this: a client walks in with reactivity, separation anxiety, and a resource guarding component nobody mentioned in the discovery call.  Instead of panicking, you think, "Ooh, this is a fun one." That's what a framework that flexes with you, your clients, and their pets gets you, and that's what PETPro teaches. Doors are open now. Take the next step toward a better 2027 at petharmonytraining.com/petpro

    #183 - Beccy Hughes: There's No Wrong Way in Animal Care

  3. Sep 2

    #182 - What If You Used the Enrichment Framework on Yourself? 4 Real Stories

    Enrichment is just for pets. It’s for the humans too. It’s for pet parents trying to keep their cool while their dog parkours around the house or their cats who keep making biscuits on their chest at 3 in the morning. It’s for the pet professional who is building the multi-layer plan for a family going through one of the worst weeks of their lives, or welcoming home a new puppy who will send their routine into chaos.  In this episode, our PETPro mentors, Allie, Emily, Tiffany, and Ellen show that once you learn how to use the Pet Harmony Enrichment Framework for your pet, you can flip the script and use it for your own enrichment plan. From color-coded stress scales to caring for chronically ill bodies, you'll hear how the same framework we use for our pet’s welfare and wellbeing works just as well on burnout, chronic illness, and everyday overwhelm.  TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways  1️⃣ Humans have species-typical behavior too – From chewing, to walking, to sleeping, to social engagement, humans also have species-typical behaviors that we can work to bolster. 2️⃣ Competency takes practice, not innate talent – The four stages of learning unconscious incompetence → conscious incompetence → conscious competence → unconscious competence) apply to self-care too. 3️⃣ Small sustainable changes beat dramatic short-term overhauls – Start with one small thing at a time, and you may find bigger life changes at the end.  For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here. Amazon Affiliate Storefront Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases. More from Pet Harmony Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/ Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛 Picture this: a client walks in with reactivity, separation anxiety, and a resource guarding component nobody mentioned in the discovery call.  Instead of panicking, you think, "Ooh, this is a fun one." That's what a framework that flexes with you, your clients, and their pets gets you, and that's what PETPro teaches. Doors are open now. Take the next step toward a better 2027 at petharmonytraining.com/petpro

    #182 - What If You Used the Enrichment Framework on Yourself? 4 Real Stories

  4. Aug 26

    #181 - Sneak Peek! What's New in the Pet Harmony Enrichment Framework

    It’s been seven years since Canine Enrichment for the Real World came out, and you know what, you learn a lot in 7 years. After teaching hundreds, if not thousands, of people how to use the Pet Harmony Enrichment Framework, Allie and Emily kept seeing the same breakdowns happen in the same places, and decided it was time to update the framework. Because when you know better, you do better.  Behind the scenes, with our PETPro members, we’ve been trialing and evaluating the update, and now, we’re releasing it into the wild.  In this episode, they walk through exactly what changed, why the framework isn't meant to be linear even though it has to be taught that way, and what it actually looks like to move through the updated steps.  TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways  1️⃣ A framework isn’t a checklist – Checklists are linear and tell you exactly what to do, they are “done, not done”. A framework is flexible and non-linear, allowing you to work through real life. 2️⃣ The Enrichment Framework isn’t just for “behavior problems” – It’s about creating an empowering environment for any living creature.  3️⃣ It works even when there isn’t a “problem” to solve – Allie walks through her plan for Oso, her aging senior dog, and how this framework crafts a plan that gives Oso dignity in his old age. For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here. Amazon Affiliate Storefront Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases. More from Pet Harmony Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/ Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛 Picture this: a client walks in with reactivity, separation anxiety, and a resource guarding component nobody mentioned in the discovery call.  Instead of panicking, you think, "Ooh, this is a fun one." That's what a framework that flexes with you, your clients, and their pets gets you, and that's what PETPro teaches. Doors are open now. Take the next step toward a better 2027 at petharmonytraining.com/petpro

    #181 - Sneak Peek! What's New in the Pet Harmony Enrichment Framework

  5. Aug 19

    #180 - 5 Things That Burn Out Pet Professionals

    You didn’t get into animal care work because you wanted an easy career. You got in because you care about animals and the people who love them, well past the point of convenience and ease. In this episode, Emily and Ellen name five patterns we see (and have personally lived) that wear pet professionals down: no client boundaries, no safe space for hard conversations, no clear direction, skipping real self-care, and not believing in yourself. We’re talking about what’s actually happening to good, committed people in a field with no real standards, no shared training path, and very little permission to talk about the hard things. This isn’t an easy episode, but addressing these challenges is what’s kept Pet Harmony and our mentees in this field for the long haul.  TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways  1️⃣ Boundaries can be systems, not willpower – Structural fixes (like an automated scheduler that just doesn't offer the hours you don't want) hold up better than having to say no over and over in the moment. And it still counts. 2️⃣ Isolation and shame feed each other in a loop – Guarding yourself out of fear of looking imperfect only deepens the isolation. The way out is finding people you can be honestly not-okay with.  3️⃣ Self-care is about protecting future you – Not spa days. It's completing your stress response cycle so today's choices don't become a debt your future self has to pay.  For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here. Amazon Affiliate Storefront Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases. More from Pet Harmony Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/ Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛 Picture this: a client walks in with reactivity, separation anxiety, and a resource guarding component nobody mentioned in the discovery call.  Instead of panicking, you think, "Ooh, this is a fun one." That's what a framework that flexes with you, your clients, and their pets gets you, and that's what PETPro teaches. Doors are open now. Take the next step toward a better 2027 at petharmonytraining.com/petpro

    #180 - 5 Things That Burn Out Pet Professionals

  6. Aug 12

    #179 - My Dog Is Burning Me Out

    “I did not sign up for this.”  It’s the one little sentence that flashes in your brain as you clean up another accident, watch your dog blow up over the sounds of a car door three blocks away, or spend yet another Friday night at home alone.  It’s one little sentence that sends you, and pet parents all over the world, into the pit of guilt, despair, and shame.  This week, Emily is joined by Valerie Bogie, Veterinary Social Worker, Pet Harmony team member, and overall empathetic badass. Valerie walks through what caregiver burden, burnout, and compassion fatigue actually are (versus normal stress), why "just push through it" makes things worse, and what to do instead. If you’ve ever found yourself crying in the bathroom over your pet’s behavior, you’re not alone, and there is help out there.  TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways  1️⃣ You’re not alone – New research found that among dog owners managing behavior challenges, 78% met criteria for elevated caregiver burden, 53% reported feeling alone, and 40% reported social isolation.  2️⃣ Pushing through doesn’t build resilience, for you, or your pet – Life is a rollercoaster, and you need the release at the top, not just to keep climbing… forever. 3️⃣ "Name it to tame it" is a real thing – One small thing at a time will lead to large lasting changes. For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here. Amazon Affiliate Storefront Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases. More from Pet Harmony Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/ Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛 Picture this: a client walks in with reactivity, separation anxiety, and a resource guarding component nobody mentioned in the discovery call.  Instead of panicking, you think, "Ooh, this is a fun one." That's what a framework that flexes with you, your clients, and their pets gets you, and that's what PETPro teaches. Doors are open now. Take the next step toward a better 2027 at petharmonytraining.com/petpro

    #179 - My Dog Is Burning Me Out

  7. Aug 5

    #178 - Amelia Nagoski: Burnout

    You’re tired. You’re deep in your soul, day in and day out, exhausted. In a world where everything is hard, the stress keeps on coming, and pushing is applauded while resting is punished, may we introduce you to Dr. Amelia Nagoski, D.M.A., co-author, with her sister Emily, of the New York Times bestselling Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle and the Burnout workbook. In this episode, we talk about: why “just relax” is useless advice, why burnout hits caregiving professions so hard, and what it really means to “do self-care” on a deep, functional level.  It’s not an exaggeration to say that Drs. Amelia and Emily Nagoski changed our lives, the way we work with people, the way we view behavior consulting, and how we care for our pets. Wrapping up their impact on us in a short podcast description feels disingenuous, so instead, we’ll just say we hope this helps you too. TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways  1️⃣ The stressor and the stress are separate things – You need to deal with the stress in your body, not just get away from the stressor.  2️⃣ Change comes from groups, not heroes – Taking turns, sharing the labor, is how we effect lasting change.  3️⃣ You matter – That’s it. That’s the takeaway. For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here. Amazon Affiliate Storefront Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases. More from Pet Harmony Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/ Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛 Picture this: a client walks in with reactivity, separation anxiety, and a resource guarding component nobody mentioned in the discovery call.  Instead of panicking, you think, "Ooh, this is a fun one." That's what a framework that flexes with you, your clients, and their pets gets you, and that's what PETPro teaches. Doors are open now. Take the next step toward a better 2027 at petharmonytraining.com/petpro

    #178 - Amelia Nagoski: Burnout

  8. Jul 29

    #177 - When You Can't Give Your Dog What They Want

    We’ve all been there. The standoff where your dog is dancing and staring, waiting for you to do the thing, and you’re trying to negotiate a different plan. Maybe it’s 105 outside, and the heat has reached dangerous levels. Maybe wildfires have made the air unbreathable. Maybe it’s hurricane season, and you’re watching rocks fly through the sky. Or maybe it’s Monday, and you’re doing your Sunday routine.  While you know why it’s different, your dog is just staring, waiting for you to follow the rules, and has no interest in a different plan. This week, Emily and Allie talk about how to use enrichment, not reason, to help your dog meet their needs, even when their entire routine is knocked off kilter.  TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways  1️⃣ Match the need, not the activity – A walk could meet many needs at once: physical and mental exercise, social time, sniffing, agency. Once you know what your dog gets out of it, you can introduce alternatives much more successfully.  2️⃣ Frustration is valid – For both you and your dog. Instead of building it, redirect to something that works for both of you. It isn’t a bribe. It’s saying, “How about this instead?” 3️⃣ Make an enrichment menu – It makes it easier to remember what acceptable activity swaps are, like maybe walks can be interchanged with tug + snuffle mat. For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here. Amazon Affiliate Storefront Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront. As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases. More from Pet Harmony Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro 📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/ Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛 Picture this: a client walks in with reactivity, separation anxiety, and a resource guarding component nobody mentioned in the discovery call.  Instead of panicking, you think, "Ooh, this is a fun one." That's what a framework that flexes with you, your clients, and their pets gets you, and that's what PETPro teaches. Doors are open now. Take the next step toward a better 2027 at petharmonytraining.com/petpro

    #177 - When You Can't Give Your Dog What They Want
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Trailer

5
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

You've dedicated your life to helping animals- just like us.  Emily Strong was training praying mantids at 7.  Allie Bender was telling her neighbor to refill their bird feeder because the birds were hungry at 2.  You're an animal person; you get it.  We've always been animal people. We've been wanting to better animals' lives since forever, so we made a podcast for people like us.  Join Emily and Allie, the authors of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, for everything animal care- from meeting animals' needs to assessing goals to filling our own cups as caregivers and guardians. 

Information

  • Creator
    Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    185
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Enrichment for the Real World
  • Show Website
    Enrichment for the Real World

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