Roam If You Want To with Ashley Hyatt

Welcome to Beers and Biscuits, a Dogcast for the rest of us! In this conversation, Karen and Nicole interview Ashley Hyatt (@stonybrookstudios), an artist and dog guardian. They discuss various topics, including Ashley's background in education and how it has influenced her approach to training her deaf dog, Bunji. They delve into the decision to adopt a deaf dog and the challenges of being a first-time dog owner and the considerations for adopting a rescue dog. She emphasizes the commitment to meeting a dog's needs and accepting and working with a dog's special needs. The discussion also covers understanding a deaf dog's sensitivities and advocating for their boundaries. Ashley shares the importance of respecting a deaf dog's agency and navigating other people's expectations. The power of play in training and behavior modification is discussed, as well as the use of an e-collar in training. This conversation explores the importance of reserving judgment and having constructive conversations within the dog training community. They emphasize the need for better communication and understanding between trainers and guardians. The conversation highlights the misconceptions and polarization surrounding different training methods and the importance of allowing guardians to share personal experiences. Episode Takeaways A background in education can provide valuable skills for training dogs, such as lesson planning, individualized instruction, and problem-solving Training a deaf dog requires creativity and alternative communication methods, such as sign language, and a focus on visual cues Taking a step back and allowing a dog to learn at their own pace can lead to a stronger bond and more successful training outcomes Adopting a deaf dog can be a rewarding experience, and it is important to embrace their unique needs and abilities Being a first-time dog guardian can present challenges, especially when adopting a rescue dog with special needs Play is a powerful tool in training and behavior modification, and the use of an e-collar should be approached with careful consideration Promote better communication and understanding between trainers and guardians Recognize the polarization surrounding different training methods and how that can negatively impact guardians Ashley Hyatt (Stony Brook Studios) is an Adventure Artist, certified educator, and traveler dedicated to visually documenting the experience of living and traveling outdoors through oil and pastel painting as well as printmaking. Inspiration for Ashley's work comes from time thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, mountain biking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, paddling the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, rock climbing in the northeastern and western United States, winter ski-packing excursions and even the beauty of her own backyard and her life with Bunji. We hope you enjoyed the conversation and please don’t forget to give your dog a biscuit from us. Until next time. Where you can find us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @beers.biscuits⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thetimelessdog⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@peterpiper_pickel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Ideas, Questions, Comments – Email us: ⁠⁠[email protected]