Simplifying Shelter Behaviour

In this episode, Karen Deeds discusses box feeding (the "Dopamine Box"), a technique originally developed in the bite sport world that she has adapted for pet dogs, shelter animals, and behaviour modification. The method is simple in concept — teaching a dog to eat out of a box — but powerfully effective: the box becomes a contextual cue that triggers dopamine release through eating, building confidence, reducing anxiety, and creating positive associations with stressful environments. Karen has modified the approach for worried or reactive dogs by varying box types (opaque for sound-sensitive dogs, translucent or transparent for those working through visual triggers), and she highlights its practical value in shelters, where a cardboard box and some food can quickly help an overstimulated dog regulate. She also sees strong applications at the vet clinic and in apartments where owners can't control distance or trigger intensity. Real-world results include a dog that stopped hiding in a closet from bin lorries, a barn hunt dog managing arousal, and a shelter dog settling within minutes.About Karen DeedsKaren Deeds (CDBC) is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the IAABC and co-owner of Canine Connection. She has worked with thousands of pet dog owners, shelters, and rescue organisations, specialising in fear, anxiety, and aggression with a particular focus on reactive dogs.Links https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/48710

In this episode we discuss community interventions to support owners and animals in need as an alternative to traditional animal control models

In this thoughtful and compassionate episode, Helen St. Pierre explore one of the most meaningful, and often avoided, conversations in veterinary and pet care: what does a good death look like for an animal in hospice? Drawing from their experience, they walk listeners through a practical yet humane framework built around three core considerations: Function, Purpose, and Joy.Tom and Helen open by addressing the most observable measure of an animal's quality of life, physical function. They discuss how caregivers and veterinary teams should assess whether an animal can still eat, drink, breathe, and move without significant pain or distress. When an animal can no longer maintain baseline physical function, or when doing so causes suffering, it becomes a meaningful signal in end-of-life planning.The episode then moves into perhaps its most emotionally resonant segment: purpose. Tom and Helen explore the idea that animals often live with a sense of relational purpose, does the dog still greet its owner at the door, does the cat still seek companionship? When that spark of connection begins to fade and the animal withdraws from the relationships and routines that once gave its days meaning, this shift deserves careful attention.Tom and Helen close the framework with the most personal measure of all: joy. Can the animal still experience moments of pleasure, a favorite treat, a patch of warm sunlight, a gentle pat? They remind listeners that joy doesn't have to be constant to be meaningful, but when an animal can no longer access the small pleasures that once defined its daily life, caregivers are gently invited to consider whether continued life is a gift or a burden.Tom and Helen close by reminding listeners that choosing a good death for an animal in hospice is not an act of giving up, it is an act of profound love and advocacy. By returning to these three questions, can they function, do they have purpose, can they still feel joy, families and care teams are given a compassionate compass to guide one of the hardest decisions they will ever face.Links https://olddogsgotohelen.com

In this episode, we're joined by Jessica Wheatcraft, who shares her honest reflections on years spent working with reactive shelter dogs, those that lunge, bark, and snap at the world around them. Jessica talks through how her approach has evolved over time, what she wishes she'd known earlier, and why so many well-intentioned training efforts fall flat in the shelter environment. She offers a thoughtful look at what actually moves the needle for these dogs, and how the people around them play a bigger role than most realise. Whether you work in a shelter, volunteer on weekends, or have recently adopted a reactive dog, this is a conversation full of practical wisdom and hard-won insight. About Jessica Wheatcraft Jessica Wheatcraft is a canine behaviour specialist with years of hands-on experience working with reactive and hard-to-place shelter dogs. Passionate about bridging the gap between behaviour science and real-world shelter practice, she has dedicated much of her career to helping dogs that are often overlooked find and keep their forever homes. Jessica is known for her compassionate, honest approach and her commitment to supporting the people who work alongside these dogs every day.

This episode explores the multidimensional concept of quality of life (QoL) within animal shelters, emphasising its impact not only on dogs, but also on staff and adopters. Framed through a behavioural welfare lens, the discussion highlights the interdependence between canine wellbeing, human experience, and organisational outcomes.For dogs, QoL is positioned as more than the absence of distress, encompassing the presence of agency, predictability, social choice, and opportunities to engage in species-typical behaviours.The episode also addresses staff wellbeing as a critical, often overlooked component of shelter QoL. High workloads, emotional labour, and ethical stressors, particularly around euthanasia and capacity pressures, are identified as key contributors to burnout and empathic strain. The importance of psychologically informed workplace practices is emphasised, including training in behaviour, clear decision-making frameworks, and fostering a culture of support, autonomy, and reflective practice.Adopters are considered the third pillar of QoL, with a focus on setting realistic expectations and supporting successful human–dog relationships post-adoption. The discussion highlights the role of transparent communication, behavioural matchmaking, and post-adoption support in reducing returns and improving long-term welfare outcomes.Across all groups, the episode advocates for a shift from throughput-driven models to welfare-centred decision-making. Data-informed approaches, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous evaluation are presented as essential to sustaining improvements.About Kelly As the principal consultant for Kelley Bollen Consulting, LLC, Kelley works with animal welfare organizations to educate staff and volunteers about all things behavior to improve the quality of life for cats and dogs in shelters..   Kelley has a Master's Degree in Animal Behavior, is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC) and a professional member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).  Kelley is a nationally recognized expert in the field of shelter behavioral care and has worked with animal welfare organizations for over 20 years. Linkshttps://www.kelleybollen.com/abouthttps://www.humanenetwork.org/animal-shelter-behavior-course

In this episode we discuss the importance of integrating behaviour into all of our shelter practices, including how we can do this successfully, what some of the challenges are and what structures look like in a range of shelter operations with and without behaviour teams. About Dr. Herron Dr. Meghan Herron serves as the senior director of behavior, research and education at Gigi’s, a shelter organization dedicated to improving the lives of shelter dogs. Prior to this role, she spent over a decade as an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Ohio State University and currently holds an adjunct position with the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. She also holds adjunct teaching positions at the University of Florida, St. Matthews University, Lincoln Memorial University and Virginia PolyTech University. With extensive experience working with shelter and rescue animals in both the Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia areas, Dr. Herron has a deep commitment to behavior problem prevention and improving the quality of life and adoptability of shelter animals. As a published author and international speaker, she has delivered engaging, educational and evidence-based presentations to veterinarians, animal care professionals and pet owners across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Dr. Herron is the lead editor on the book “Decoding Your Cat” and a contributor to “Decoding Your Dog.” Her most recent work, “Introduction to Animal Behavior and Veterinary Behavioral Medicine,” a textbook designed to provide a strong foundation in animal behavior concepts, as well as an introduction to clinical behavioral medicine, is available now from Amazon and other major retailers. Dr. Herron graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in zoology and obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She then went on to complete a three-year residency program in behavioral medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and is now board certified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior. Links Gigi’s rescue - https://gigis.org

In this episode, we explore how dog shelter and rescue professionals can reshape public perception of muzzles, using one of the most powerful tools available: photography. While muzzles are often misunderstood as symbols of aggression, they are valuable tools for safety, training, enrichment, and responsible handling. The challenge isn’t the muzzle itself it’s the story the image tells.We’ll discuss how intentional, positive imagery can transform that narrative. From capturing relaxed body language and soft facial expressions to showcasing bright, well-fitted basket muzzles during enrichment walks or training sessions, the right photos can normalize muzzle use and build adopter confidence. By reframing muzzles through thoughtful visual storytelling, Daine has created the amazing book, Muzzled and Misunderstood. About Diane Gollowitzer Diane is an award-winning dog photographer based in Winchester, UK. She specialises in high-end wall art and provides a highly personalised service where everything is tailored to the dog's and the owner's needs. Her sessions are stress-free and a lot of fun, where the dogs are allowed to be dogs. Her philosophy is that everyone deserves artwork of their dog no matter if they are trained or not if they are allowed off lead or not, or if they are nervous, anxious, or reactive.Diane started a personal project where she photographs dogs who are wearing muzzles. The inspiration was her terrier, Deedee, who can be reactive and wears a muzzle on our walks. I want to break the stigma around muzzles and muzzled dogs. Diane then invited the guardians of the dogs to write letters to them about their relationship and experiences Links Diane’s Website- https://www.dogsinfocusphotography.comMuzzled and Misunderstood Book-https://www.amazon.co.uk/Muzzled-Misunderstood-Diane-Gollowitzer/dp/1910488747Muzzle Movement Discount Code- https://themuzzlemovement.com/?ref=fofhKIPajXn36l

In this episode, veterinary behaviourist Dr. Elise Christensen examines the role of underlying medical conditions in shaping animal behaviour within shelter environments. She discusses how pain, systemic illness, and stress-related physiological changes can manifest as behavioural concerns that are often misattributed to behaviour or training concerns. Emphasizing evidence-based assessment, Dr. Christensen underscores the importance of comprehensive medical evaluation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and informed behavioural interpretation. The discussion highlights behaviour as a critical indicator of health and welfare, with significant implications for clinical decision-making, risk assessment, and adoption outcomes in shelter medicine. About Dr. Elise Christensen Dr. C is a Cornell-trained veterinary behaviorist and every high school parent's nightmare: a pet psychiatrist. Brilliant, struggling animals are the only puzzles she wants to solve. If one of these Complex Pets is pushing you to the edge, you belong here. Her boutique veterinary behavior service blends the academic with the practical, helping families move from stuck to hopeful. So they can graduate faster. She lectures internationally to veterinarians, trainers, and shelter professionals, and partners with pediatricians and family doctors to help Amazing Pet People and their Complex Pets thrive together. Links https://www.drcvetbehavior.com/

Ep. 54 want more time, money and resources, here’s where to start. Behaviour edition with Leeron Liftik In this episode, we explore the journey of Leeron Liftik into shelter and rescue dog behaviour, shaped by early hands-on work in high-pressure shelter environments. Seeing how many decisions about dogs were made with limited evidence sparked a shift toward behavioural science and data-driven approaches. Leeron discusses how thoughtfully collected behaviour data can improve outcomes for dogs, reducing stress, supporting better adoption matches, and helping shelters make fairer, more consistent decisions. The conversation highlights the role of collaboration across stakeholders, from shelter staff and trainers to researchers and policymakers, and the importance of using data ethically, with the dog’s lived experience at the centre. Through small data based changes Leeron talks us through how he was able to create more time, money and resources for his teams, something we all strive to do! About Leeron Liftik Leeron Liftik is a dog trainer and behaviour specialist with a background in shelter and rescue environments. Their work focuses on understanding canine behaviour in high-stress contexts and improving outcomes for dogs through evidence-based training and assessment. Leeron has worked closely with shelters, trainers, and welfare organisations to support safer handling, better adoption matches, and reduced relinquishment. With a strong interest in the role of data in animal welfare, Leeron advocates for practical, ethical use of behavioural information to inform decision-making across the rescue sector. Driven by a commitment to both compassion and clarity, Leeron’s approach bridges hands-on training experience with behavioural science to help dogs and the people supporting them. Links Sourdough video! https://fb.watch/ECmzYwLKEv/?fs=e

In this episode, Tom is joined by Dr. Kim Brophey, applied ethologist, author, and founder of Family Dog Mediation®, for an in-depth conversation on the L.E.G.S.® model, Family Dog Mediation, and the Total Welfare Model. Together, they explore how moving beyond one-size-fits-all training and behaviour labels can transform outcomes for dogs and the people who care for them.Dr. Brophey breaks down the L.E.G.S. framework, Learning, Environment, Genetics, and Self, and explains how understanding the whole dog allows shelter and rescue professionals to make better assessments, reduce mislabelling, and support safer, more successful placements. The discussion highlights how Family Dog Mediation shifts the focus from “fixing” dogs to mediating between dogs, humans, and their environments.The episode also dives into the Total Welfare Model, emphasizing ethical, practical decision-making that balances individual dog welfare, public safety, and organizational capacity. Packed with real-world insight, this conversation offers shelter and rescue teams a more humane, sustainable approach to behaviour, advocacy, and long-term success.About Dr. Kim Brophey Kim Brophey, owner of The Dog Door Behavior Center, is an academically educated applied ethologist (member of The International Society for Applied Ethology), an awarded member (Outstanding Trainer of the Year 2009) of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers since 2000, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants since 2006, and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) since 2002. Kim is an established and well-respected leader in the dog training and behavior field , speaking locally and nationally at universities and conferences for 20 years. Kim has authored a ground-breaking book for dog owners to translate and deliver comprehensive canine science to the public - MEET YOUR DOG, developed a trademarked model of dog welfare and behavior - Dog L.E.G.S., and delivered a popular TED talk - "The Problem With Treating Your Dog Like a Pet".Kim's unique background and commitment to the whole picture of behavioral health from the integrated applied ethology perspective of dog behavior and welfare have positioned her as Asheville's most trusted, veterinarian referred, shelter and professional field active (serving on board of directors for the Asheville Humane Society and the IAABC), and community awarded (Voted "Best of WNC Dog Trainer" for 6 years).Kim Brophey specializes in complex problems such as fear, aggression, and anxiety and is consistently reviewed by clients as an invaluably compassionate and effective resource for understanding and solving serious behavior challenges that traditional dog training has failed to address. For those seeking assistance with basic puppy training, manners, and therapy and service dog training, Kim continues to provide expert council and services to meet those goals as well.LinksFamily Dog Mediation- https://www.familydogmediation.comConferences- https://legsinmotionconference.comTotal welfare app- https://www.totalwelfareapp.com BAT meets LEGS: Total Welfare for dogs and people-  https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/batlegs?ref=352ff9

In this episode, we’re joined by behaviour specialist Dr Liam Clay, whose research focuses on canine behaviour assessment, behavioural problems and adoption suitability in shelter environments.  Together, we unpack what behaviour assessments in shelters actually tell us about a dog and what they don’t.About Dr. ClayDr. Clay studied at the University of Queensland (UQ), from which he holds his honours in stress and behavioral problems and a doctorate in canine behavior assessment, behavioral problems, and adoption suitability. He also became the first veterinary technician specialist in behavior in Australia in 2020. Dr. Clay is the director of Future Proof Training Academy as well as Applied Animal Behaviour Consultants. He is an adjunct lecturer and researcher with the UQ School of Veterinary Science, where he researches and supervises students in the areas of canine behavior problems, shelter behavior, behavior assessments, One Health, and behavior therapy.

In this episode, veterinary behaviourist Dr. Sophie Liu dives into the complex world of shelter dogs and frustration-related behaviour, why it happens, how it looks, and what we can practically do to help these dogs cope and thrive. The conversation starts by unpacking what frustration actually is for dogs in a shelter setting: the emotional state that sits between “I want something” and “I can’t get it.” Dr. Liu explains how limited freedom, barriers (kennel doors, leashes, gates), unpredictable routines, and social isolation can all turn normal emotions into chronic frustration. We also discuss strategies to support frustrated dogs and how we can implement these successfully in shelter and rescues. About Dr. Sophie Liu As a veterinarian, published scientific author, and an accomplished dog trainer, Dr. Sophie Liu is a highly sought after behavior consultant and presenter. After receiving ACVB-resident training, Dr. Liu returned to her roots in Oakland, CA to provide a full range of services for East Bay dog owners. Dr. Liu knows that raising a puppy or a well-adjusted adult dog requires a perfect blend of a dog's genetic background + confident learning experiences + expert management. And it's actually extremely hard! So, for those owners who want the right start or are looking for help with a specific behavior problem, Dr. Liu has seen it all and is ready to help!

Ep.50 Simplifying Puppy Raising in Shelter and Rescue with Suzanne Clothier In this episode, Tom talks with Susanne Clothier about what it takes to raise behaviourally healthy puppies, with a focus on the special considerations for those growing up in rescue or shelter settings. Suzanne shares her experiences with supporting puppies’ emotional and social development, creating positive early experiences, and building a foundation for lifelong well-being.About Suzanne Clothier Suzanne Clothier’s work reflects a lifetime shared with dogs and many other animals, as well as her extensive professional experience.She has been working with animals professionally since 1977, with a deep, broadly varied background of experience. Her Relationship Centered Training (RCT™) approach has been helping people and dogs for more than 30 years. Blending heart and science, her deeply holistic approach to the dog and to the dog/human relationship is unparalled.An innovative trainer, Suzanne’s work has helped dogs and people around the world in countless ways. Her books, DVDs, article, assessment tools, training techniques and materials have been put to use in guide & service dog organizations, in animal assisted therapy, for every day pet owners, and by trainers, breeders, veterinarians, academics and in research.Links Suzannes Free Resources-https://suzanneclothier.com/articles-in-english/Enriched Puppy Protocall-https://suzanneclothier.com/shop/enriched-puppy-protocol/Other courses- https://suzanneclothier.com/product-category/courses/

About this episode In this episode, we discuss how to best support deaf dogs both in a kennel environment and how they move into their new homes. They explore how communication through visual and tactile cues can replace verbal signals,helping dogs feel secure and understood. The conversation highlights the importance of building a trusting relationship, creating consistency between caregivers, and offering gentle, structured support during transition. Caroline gives us some amazing practical tips as well as helping us possibly challenge our perceptions! About Caroline LewisCaroline is the founder of Help at Hand Dog Behaviour, and Deaf Not Difficult. a member of the International Companion Animal Network and the Dog Welfare Alliance. All meaning she is passionate about ethical force free methods, whilst ensuring standards are high for the welfare of dogs.She has always been around dogs, rescuing her first dog when she was 12 years old. Her two dogs – Molly, a Labrador Retriever and Morris a rescue, who is deaf are her inspirations to be the best she can be.Always wanting to fully understand dogs, and work in a force free way, led her to train with Sheila Harper and then Turid Rugaas to ensure she works at the deepest level possible. Her quest for the most up to date methods, fully backed with scientific research, means she only learns from likeminded people, including many elements of cpd with Dr Amber Batson.Whilst Caroline works with all dogs of all ages, she is known for the work she does in and around rescue centres advising on rehabilitation, behaviour, rehoming and always ensuring dogs are understood including those displaying complex behaviours. Combined with a huge passion for deaf dogs, running courses in the UK and internationally to remove them is conceptions, and show how amazing they are.Www.help-at-handdogbehaviour.com

Ep. 48 Gamification for Grooming with Victoria Shepherd In this episode we discuss Victoria journey to becoming a holistic grooming professional. A big passion for Victoria is gamification for grooming and she takes us through some of these games, and easy techniques to support grooming both in and out of the shelter!About Victoria Shepherd Originally from Salt, Staffordshire, Victoria returned to the UK in September 2020 after living in the US for nearly 30 years. She has had many careers over the years, including executive assistant, investor relations consultant, voice and on-camera talent for the official US Tourism website, as well as script-writer, video editor and video/podcast producer. It turns out that Happy Henry's! is what she was meant to be doing all along! Happy Henry's! started out as a passion project to get through COVID but has grown into way more than Victoria could have hoped for. Victoria is a Taking the Grrr Out of Grooming Dogs Approved Professional, a member of the Holistic Grooming Academy, a games-based trainer, and currently a DoGenius Canine Behaviour Level 4 student. She hopes to never stop learning and finding ways to help more dogs who struggle with navigating the world, both inside and outside of the grooming salon.Links! Victoria is kindly opening spaces on her holistic grooming course to shelters for free!https://happy-henrys.co.uk/sign-up-todayContact Victoria on [email protected] to arrange for the free course

This episode explores practical strategies for improving the daily lives of shelter animals through kennel enrichment. The discussion emphasizes how enrichment is not just about keeping animals entertained but about reducing stress, promoting natural Behaviours, and improving overall well-being—ultimately making them more adoptable.Key points include:·       Why enrichment matters: A kennel environment can be stressful and monotonous for animals. Enrichment provides mental stimulation, comfort, and opportunities for animals to express species-appropriate Behaviours.·       Types of enrichment: From food puzzles, scent games, and chew toys, to music, visual barriers, and soft bedding, shelters can use simple, low-cost tools to make kennels more engaging. Rotating enrichment items is highlighted as a way to keep things fresh.·       Role of staff and volunteers: Everyone in the shelter can contribute. Staff can integrate enrichment into daily routines (like feeding and cleaning), while volunteers can help create toys, run playgroups, or provide one-on-one interaction.·       Building a culture of enrichment: Success comes when enrichment becomes part of the shelter’s standard of care. Training staff and volunteers, sharing ideas, and celebrating creative solutions encourages consistency and innovation.·       Impact on outcomes: Animals with better enrichment show reduced stress Behaviours, increased sociability, and improved adoptability, which benefits both the animals and the shelter as a whole.The big take away here is enrichment doesn’t need to be complex—what matters most is consistency, creativity, and a team-wide commitment to improving the lives of animals in care. About Mik MoellerMik is a professional certified dog trainer. He worked at the San Francisco SPCA as the canine Behaviour specialist for 18 years. He has his CPDT-KA and his CBCC –KA certifications. He is a recognized expert in shy/fearful dogs, reactive dogs meaning those dogs who bark and lunge on leash and canine enrichment. Mik graduated from the renowned San Francisco SPCA Dog Training Academy in 1999 and awarded special certification for dog-dog aggression in 2002 by Jean Donaldson. Mik frequently writes articles and lectures both nationally and internationally on leash reactivity, canine body language, dog play, canine enrichment and scent games, dog park etiquette and how to work with shy/fearful dogs. He also developed and taught the Reactive Rover dog training classes.His teaching motto is you can teach an old dog new tricks and he brings a sense of humor to his classes to help the two legged students learn to understand their dogs Behaviour and provide tools to help them get the Behaviour they want in a positive, force-free, fun environment. Links AHS Behaviour- https://www.azhumane.org/pet-Behavior-tips/Moeller Dogs- https://www.facebook.com/p/Moellerdog-100054231800397/Contact- [email protected]

About this episode Join us as we delve into Dr. Erica Feuerbacher’s groundbreaking work in applied animal behavior. In this episode, we explore how what we often consider simple—like petting—can deeply influence a shelter dog’s emotional well-being and adaptability. From reinforcement theory to practical applications in rescue environments, we'll explore how science supports more thoughtful, humane interactions with dogs in shelters—and ultimately improves their welfare and outcomes. we also discuss Eric's over research into pair housing dogs, separation related issues and more! About EricaI am an Associate Professor of Applied Animal Welfare and Behavior in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. I teach students about learning, behavior, and welfare of animals, especially focusing on dogs and horses. My lab’s research focuses on what maintains the human-dog relationship, how animals learn, and how best we can train them.I earned my Ph.D. in Psychology (Behavior Analysis) at the University of Florida, in the Canine Cognition & Behavior Lab, under the tutelage of Dr. Clive Wynne. My dissertation focused on dogs' preferences for types of human interaction, the special relationship between owners and their dogs, and what human interactions function as reinforcers for dog behavior.I earned my Masters in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas under the guidance of Jesus Rosales-Ruiz and his lab the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals. My thesis investigated concept formation in domestic dogs in the natural environment.I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and have worked as an animal behaviorist at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in San Mateo, CA. 

In this episode, we sit down with renowned trainer Grisha Stewart to explore how Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT)can be applied to support shelter dogs. We dive into the foundations of BAT and how it helps dogs build resilience, reduce reactivity, and make better choices in challenging environments.Together, we unpack practical tools such as set-ups that create safe learning opportunities, lead handling skills that support calm communication, and the importance of recognizing a dog’s threshold to prevent overwhelm. Grisha also explains how to spot and nurture glimmers—the subtle signs of curiosity and comfort that guide progress.Whether you’re a shelter worker, volunteer, or dog lover, this conversation offers valuable insights into using BAT to improve the welfare and adoptability of dogs in care.About Grisha Stewart Grisha Stewart is a kinship tender, visionary author, international keynote speaker, dog trainer, community grief ritualist, and song leader based in Oregon, USA, devoted to nourishing belonging and care for all beings. She is the Grisha behind the Grisha Stewart Academy (surprise) and a founder of the Stellar Village community network.Grisha is of European ancestry, specifically Scotland, England, France, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, according to family lore and DNA tests. In her 20+ years as a professional dog trainer, she is best known for her Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) technique for dog socialization and reactivity/aggression rehabilitation (more on that below). In 2001, Grisha founded Ahimsa Dog Training, which grew to be Seattle's largest and most popular dog training company. "Ahimsa" is a Buddhist doctrine of nonviolence to all living beings, which reflects Grisha's focus on more collaborative methods to promote the well-being of dogs and their humans.LinksGrishas Birthday Sale- https://school.grishastewart.com/pages/birthdaysale/?ref=352ff9Shelter Scholarship at GSA- https://school.grishastewart.com/bundles/rescue?ref=352ff9Grisha Reading BAT 2.0 with download book- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/abc-bat?ref=352ff9BAT 3.0- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/evolution?ref=352ff9Lead skills with Grisha and Mike Shikashio- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/ropes?ref=352ff9How to Human- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/human?ref=352ff9

In this episode I’m joined by Kat Creagh an animal welfare scientist who reviews policies and procedures for a large uk animal welfare charity. In this discussion we tackle some of the complicated questions around capacity to care and how we can best support the behavioural health of animals we are helping! There is no perfect solution to this problem and one of the discussions that continually kept appear is the importance of having discussions as individual organisations about our aims, hopes and ability. This episode will pose some questions to help start the conversation around this difficult but hugely important topic City dogs conference September! I think we can all agree that the shelter constitutes a difficult environment for behaviour modification! In September I'm going to spend a whole day discussing how we can maximise success in shelter and rescue but also take our learning and apply it to dogs outside of the shelter to improve behavioural health for all. Ill be discussing emotional assessments, problem solving tools and how we best support the dogs in our care to get long lasting, welfare boosting behavioural change to boost rehoming and prevent relinquishment Join Me, @ZazieTodd and @MalenaDeMartini for Three amazing days of workshops. Join us online, or in person in Toronto Canada from Friday the 26th to the 28th of September.In August the dogs in the city conference is also 20% off using the following code CITYDOGS link in captions!

In this episode Tom and Andrew Hales explore what it means to approach emotional experiences with Compassion Acceptance Knowledge and Empathy. Focusing on how we can take care of ourselves and those around us Andy explores the CAKE model and how it can impact the work we do in shelter and rescue, before moving on to discuss resilience, support and most importantly looking after ourselves to ensure we can turn up everyday and be the person we need to be, with no negative affect on ourselves! About Andrew Hale Andrew Hale BSc, ISCP.Dip.Canine.Prac is a Certified Canine Behaviourist. He is the behaviour consultant for Pet Remedy, and proud to be an expert advisor for Canine Arthritis Management and a Kids Around Dogs Trainer. He also works to support many dog welfare and rescue organisation. With a background in Human Psychology, Andrew is passionate about exploring the emotional experience that lies behind behaviour, both in dogs and the humans around them. Andrew has played a leading role in the UK Dog training and behaviour community, having been the chair of the Association of INTODogs, and was the driving force behind the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter. In 2020, Andrew started Dog Centred Care (https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogcc) which focusses on supporting a dog led, emotionally centred, approach to providing the best care and support for dogs and their caregivers. On this platform, he has been hosting on-line conversations with some of the world’s leading scientists, researchers, trauma experts, dog professionals and veterinarians. These conversations are credited with helping transform the perceptions and language around dog training and behaviour.

Ep. 42 How do we Choose the Doggy in the Window, Decision Making of Adopters with Lawrence Minnis. In this episode we discuss Lawrence’s research looking at decision making of adopters. This important topic matches perfectly to behaviour as our end goal is getting dogs successfully rehomed. Join us as we look at reasons adopters select dogs, how we can support adopters and tips for reviewing and improving your own adoptions practices as an organisation and individuals About Lawrence Lawrence is a 2nd year PhD student in the Animal Behavior & Cognition Lab, under Dr. Doris Bitler-Davis. Born and raised in Southeast Washington, D.C., he attended North Carolina A&T State University for a degree in business management. He commissioned in the Army in 2004, as an Military Intelligence officer. He was stationed in Germany and deployed to Iraq, but a neurological illness during deployment ended his active duty career. During his 18-month rehabilitation, he participated in the inaugural session of the Dog Tags training program with the Washington Humane Society in DC, which covered dog training techniques, behavioral assessments, and animal care & management. During his time within the program, he developed strong interests in animal behavior and animal social dynamics related to leadership. His diverse interests include leadership studies, human perception of canine behavior, human-canine interaction benefits and attachment levels, and neuroimaging study. His current research efforts are intended to benefit the humane animal adoption community. He is currently developing theory on the animal adoption decision-making process and planning a research study that will several humane adoption centers in the DC Metro area. Links https://psychology.gmu.edu/people/lminnis the research group- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556634178861

Ep.41 the Look at That Game for Reactivity in Shelter with Kim Palermo In this episode I’m joined by Kim Palermo to took about the look at that game. There are many reasons why our dogs bark and lunge at stimuli in the environment, and there are also many methods and philosophies that are meant to “fix” this behavior. But what if you could go beyond fixing? What if you could actually have a conversation with your dog about the environment and their triggers? And help them change from being a reactor to a reporter? Control Unleashed, founded by Leslie McDevitt, is best known for the Look At That Game (LAT). Because of its popularity, at times this game has been misinterpreted and improperly taught in ways that either prevent it from working or actually build more arousal. Certified Control Unleashed Instructor Kim Palermo discusses a step-by-step process to build a LAT skill that is fluent, calming, and effective in the shelter environment. About Kim Palermo BlueDog founder and trainer Kim Palermo (she/her) has been training dogs personally for 25 years and professionally for over 10 years. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor, a Level 1 TAGteacher, and an AKC Canine Good Citizen & S.T.A.R. Puppy evaluator. She has a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire with a minor in Animal Behavior and Psychology. Kim has only ever wanted to work with animals. She grew up surrounded by many pets of all different shapes and sizes, raised litters of puppies, competed in horse shows and dog shows, and has been working in the pet industry since she could get a job. In 2008, she followed her dream and started BlueDog as a solo dog walker. Very soon she became so busy that she began hiring employees to help her, and in 2011 she pursued her lifelong passion for training dogs by opening BlueDog’s very first training facility in Andover. Since then, Kim continues to grow and improve her business and expand her knowledge endlessly. Kim is a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor and specializes in dogs that have big feelings about the world around them. She is the CU Teaching Assistant for a worldwide dog training school, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, has taught CU in dog sports workshops, and presented in the Control Unleashed Conference. Her passion is helping other trainers pursue their dreams. She is a mentor for the Control Unleashed certification process, a CATCH Canine Trainers Academy mentor, and has mentored a number of local trainers directly through BlueDog who have gone on to have successful careers in their field. Kim actively trains for and competes in Rally-Obedience and Obedience, also trains for Nose Work, Agility, and Herding with her two sports dogs, Jane her Collie and Walt her Miniature Poodle, and occasionally competes in a few other sports like FastCat and Barn Hunt. She owns three other dogs: two Collies named Reese and Lincoln and a Golden Retriever named Fern, as well as a clicker trained cat named Fig. She is the vice president of the Collie Club of New Hampshire, working towards building more opportunities for performance sports for Collies. During her free time she likes to escape to the woods to hike, is a beekeeper, raises a flock of chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guinea hens, and dreams of the day when she has a farm. Links Kim’s current classes https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/people/786-people/faculty/43971-kim-palermo Leslie’s episode. https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ea6VTImAPcnlXilJYunij

In this episode I’m joined by Sarah Ellis and Vicky Halls from International Cat Care. During the show we discuss ICCs approach to Cat Friendly Care, how we can improve welfare, rehoming and support for the Cats in our shelters and rescues. Shelters and rescues can be stressful places for all animals, but Cats in particularly can often struggle in silence. Learn from two of the leaders in the cat welfare and behaviour space how we can identify Cats who are struggling and what steps we can take to improve overall welfare both in care and beyond.About Dr. Sarah Ellis Sarah’s interests span the behaviour and welfare of the domestic cat. She has a BSc in Zoology and Psychology from the University of Bristol (UK), a Post-Graduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling from the University of Southampton (UK) and a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast (UK) which focussed on improving the welfare of cats housed in homing centres. Sarah spent eight years at the University of Lincoln (UK) as a post-doctoral research scientist working on numerous projects involving animal welfare assessment and furthering our understanding of cat behaviour and the cat-human relationship. Since 2015, Sarah has divided her time between her role at charity ‘International Cat Care’ as Head of Cat Wellbeing and Behaviour and working an an independent feline welfare educator, writer and consultant. About Vicky Halls I have been working closely with cats since 1988 and specifically as a Cat Behaviour Counsellor from 1994 to 2019, treating behaviour problems in cats both in the UK and abroad. I am also an international bestselling author of 7 cat behaviour books for the cat-owning public and co-author of a number of veterinary textbooks.I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse and member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors. I am also a Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council. I also have a diploma in person-centred counselling and am a Registered Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.Links https://icatcare.org/cat-advice/unowned-cats https://icatcare.org/courses/cat-friendly-homing-foundations Sarah’s paper on barriers to play: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124003277

Ep. 39 Research to Support Welfare with Dr. Lisa Gunter In this episode we dive into some of the amazing research of Dr Lisa Gunter and her Colleagues. Dr Gunters contributions to the field have a massive positive impact on dogs in shelter and rescue, from improving perception and rehomability to reducing stress there’s some great practical implementations of research to take away from this episode. About Dr. Lisa Gunter Lisa Gunter, PhD, MA, CBCC-KA is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech in the School of Animal Sciences and directs the Companion Animal Research & Education (CARE) Lab. Lisa’s research explores the behavior and welfare of companion animals, specifically our interactions with them, as it relates to animal sheltering, behavioral issues, and training.Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Coastal Carolina University and the Maddie’s Fund Research Fellow at Arizona State University and managed the ASU/VT Maddie’s Nationwide Fostering Study. Lisa earned her PhD and MA degrees in the behavioral neuroscience and comparative psychology program at Arizona State University in the Canine Science Collaboratory.Over her academic career, she has investigated owner-support programs that provide temporary care for pets; weeklong fostering, temporary stays, & short-term outings for shelter dogs; canine housing, social interaction, and barking interventions in the animal shelter; behavioral indicators of canine welfare; relinquishment and post-adoption interventions; and the genetic breed heritage and breed labeling of shelter dogs. Before beginning her graduate studies, she worked for nearly a decade with pets in animal shelters and with dogs and their owners. She was a behavior consultant and trainer in San Francisco, teaching group classes and consulting with owners experiencing issues of fear, anxiety, and aggression with their dogs. Her interest in canine behavior began in 2002 as an animal shelter volunteer, training dogs in basic skills and assisting in shelter dog playgroups. That interest grew into a professional career where she managed the behavior programs of several shelters throughout the West.Her academic and professional experiences led Lisa to co-found Wagfield Academy, an online dog training and behavior resource for owners (which was acquired by the Humane Society of the United States Pets for Life program), and the Institute for Shelter Dogs with Dr. Erica Feuerbacher, where they combine the latest in shelter research with the current best practices in workshops for staff and volunteers. Seven years ago, she founded and annually organizes the Canine Science Symposium in San Francisco, which disseminates the latest applied canine science to practitioners from across the country.Links Lisa’s Website https://www.lisamgunter.comLisa’s Research https://www.lisamgunter.com/researchVirginia Techs Program https://sas.vt.edu/academics/graduate-program.htmlCanine Science Symposium https://www.caninesciencesymposium.com 

Ep. 38 Supporting Rehoming to Homes with Children with Michelle Stern.This week we look at what we can do before, during and after rehoming, to support a dog moving from shelter or rescue into a home with children. Wether existing children or a growing family join myself and Michelle as we discuss green and red flags for the dog and the homes. How to best prepare a dog and how we can support the transition with the aim of a happy life for all of the familyAbout Michelle Stern Michelle Stern cares about supporting parents, supporting kids, and helping dogs feel safe emotionally and physically; these three passions position her perfectly to work with families who are integrating their dogs into homes with children. This episode will support any listener who is, or plans to, integrate their dogs and children together in a way that is healthy and balanced.Michelle Stern is a certified professional dog trainer, dog behavior consultant, certified family dog mediator, mom, and former classroom teacher. Her podcast is the Pooch Parenting Podcast, and you can learn more at PoochParenting.net.Links and resources Free Workshop for Shelters and Dog Rescues: Successful Dog Placements in Families with Kids: https://poochparenting.net/workshop-for-rescues-placement-with-kids/New Adoption Dog Handbook for Families with Kids: https://poochparenting.net/adoption-dog-handbook-for-families/Reward charts https://fb.watch/zzswT-tYAT/?

In this episode I’m joined by Dr Findy Wills, a vet behaviourist with a passion for shelter and rescue dogs. Findy joins the pod to talk about differing attachment styles and how we can support these in shelter and rescue, and gives us some insights into her PHD studies that are currently underway, About Findy Dr Findy started as a small animal veterinarian in Newcastle NSW after graduating from the University of Sydney with first class honours. She has since been servicing the area for the past 15 years. In 2017, Dr Findy furthered her studies in animal behaviour with the University of Edinburgh, UK and graduated with a Masters degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour. Let's Talk Paws Veterinary Behaviour Services was established with the goal of supporting human-animal relationships by providing owners with an understanding of behaviour from an animals' perspective and options for additional pharmaceutical support. ​Apart from seeing private patients, Dr Findy has extensive experience in shelter rehabilitation work and regularly provides her consultancy and post adoption services to RSPCA NSW and Greyhounds as Pets NSW. This continued interest in post adoption support has motivated her to undertake a PhD candidature with the Psychology Department at the University of Sydney, researching the role and application of attachment styles in the rehoming of shelter dogs. ​You can find out more about Findy Herehttps://www.letstalkpaws.com.au/about-dr-findy.html

In this episode I’m joined by Jess Feliciano to look at how using food in training maybe more complicated than it seems! Off the back of her amazing presentation at Micheal Shikashios’ aggression in dogs conference, we discuss four main ways that’s treats might be the enemy! As well as the great friend we know they can be. We look atbackward conditioning and poison cue Oops moments false sense of security Reinforcement of undesirable behaviour And how these four categories can affect our use of treats in shelter and rescue to maximise success. About Jess Jess started out her career by volunteering at a local, crowded shelter in NJ in 2004. She was immediately drawn to the aggressive and fearful dogs – the ones who sat in their cages because no one wanted to touch them. She wondered why the dogs acted that way and how she could change their behavior to make them more adoptable. From there, a passion grew.Jess has continued to work as both a staff member and a volunteer at a number of different shelters and rescue groups in NJ and FL. In addition, she's worked in the veterinary field as a nurse since 2006. The combination of these two careers has allowed her to gain experience working with THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dogs of various breeds and personalities.Her private training career started in 2006 where she continued her passion for working with aggressive and fearful dogs, particularly ones who were at risk of being euthanized. Although she loves all dogs (and all animals in fact, as she's vegan!) she holds a special place for nationally blacklisted breeds such as Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Wolf Hybrids, Pit Bulls, Akitas, Dobermans, Chow Chows, etc. These misunderstood dogs are the ones who need an advocate the most!LinksMichael shikashio vip- https://aggressivedog.thinkific.com/bundles/the-aggression-in-dogs-ultimate-access-membershipJess insta - https://www.instagram.com/rotndogtraining/Jess website- https://rotndogrehab.wixsite.com/rotndogtraining

in this episode Carm Aufderheide Joins me to talk about how we can become conflict Olympians. Working in shelter and rescue can often lead to difficult, emotionally charged situations. Being able to handle these to the best of our abilities can really aid welfare by gaining a better understanding of struggles, pressure and behaviour from the owners point of view. Carm discusses how we can create safe environments for people, Understand our own emotions and those of others and how we can support ourselves as well as owners. About Carm I’m Carmaleta Aufderheide, but I mostly go by Carm. Before working with dogs, I had a rich NICU nursing career and raised a family. I then returned to graduate school to earn my master’s degree in conflict and dispute resolution (CRES). During my time in CRES, I conducted research investigating the impacts of the human-animal bond with vulnerable populations that sealed my future as a professional dog trainer. After completing CRES, I graduated from the Karen Pryor Professional Dog Training Academy (KPA-CTP), and soon after earned my Certified Professional Dog Training credentials (CPDT-KA). Since 2016, I’ve helped improve communication and repair strained relationships for hundreds of people and their dogs. After 6 years of helping clients and their dogs reach their training goals ranging from obedience, therapy prep, canine good citizen prep, and fear reactivity...it was separation anxiety cases that continually held my attention. The difficulty of these cases was unparalleled with poor resolution. Traditional training often fell short and I wanted more for my clients, so I invested in more education and earned my Certified Separation Anxiety Training credentials under the mentorship of Malena DeMartini, a world leader on separation anxiety.

Ep. 34 Smelly Toys are Best with Skylar Howard.In this episode Skylar joins me to discuss her recent paper looking at if scent improves dog’s interactions with toys. Improving the use of toys is a great way to improve enrichment but also in terms of where to focus resources and funds! Skylar investigated this topic as part of her master’s degree and breaks down the paper and results for us to see the practical impact the study can have!About Skylar HowardSkylar is the dog behaviour coordinator at the Lewis and Clark humane society, where she is able to successfully utilise the knowledge gained on her MS Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare master’s Degree which she studied with Dr. Lisa gunter and Dr Erica Feuerbacher at Virginia Tech. Links LCHS-https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=lewis%20and%20clark%20humane%20societyThe paper- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159124002314?dgcid=author

In this episode were joined by Devan Amundsen to discuss successful ways of introducing our shelter and rescue dogs to adopters dogs. Introductions can be tricky, often with a lot of pressure attached due to the potential loss of a good home, accidental fights or unsuccessful re-homes .Devan does an amazing job of exploring the multifaceted aspects of this topic and provides great tips for making doggy dating a success.About Devan https://www.animalwelfareunited.com/about_1/about-devan

Ep. 32 cross collaboration and community programs with Beverly McKee In this episode we look at how cross collaboration and community programs can help support animals, guardians and community’s to improve welfare and behaviour. Beverly joins us to talk about different types of community programs, how they were set up and what impact they have had in the city of Toronto. About Beverly McKee Beverley is the Program Manager, Public Training Services and Care Support at Toronto Humane Society. She is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. She is also a Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer Professional, a Fear Free Shelter Graduate, a Living and Learning With Animals Graduate under Dr. Susan Friedman, and serves as Secretary, Board of Directors for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Beverley and her Toronto Humane Society adopted Australian Cattle Dog Luke train and compete regularly in Sporting Scent Detection and Rally Obedience and have achieved numerous sporting dog titles. Links https://www.torontohumanesociety.com https://fearfreepets.com/about/what-is-fear-free/ Woodgreen uk community programs- https://woodgreen.org.uk/help-and-support/

Ep. 31 Prognosis Setting for Behaviour and Welfare in Shelters with Dr. Wailani Sung In this episode join me and Dr.Sung as we discuss how we can set prognosis for our behaviour and welfare cases to support decision making and planning in shelter and rescue animals. Dr Sung did an amazing job of navigating this difficult conversation, providing several tips and suggestions around identifying prognosis, tracking progress, and working together to achieve best outcomes for each individual in our care. About Dr. Sung Dr. Wailani Sung has a passion for helping owners prevent or effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals, enabling them to maintain a high quality of life. Dr. Sung obtained her Master’s degree and Doctorate in Psychology, with a special interest in animal behavior from The University of Georgia. Upon completion of these graduate programs, she obtained a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, then board certification in veterinary behavioral medicine. Dr. Sung currently provides behavioral consultations at the Behavior Specialty Service located at Joybound People and Pets located in Walnut Creek, California.  She does not consider any patient or problem hopeless, and her treatment protocols are based on scientific information about animal behavior, psychopharmacology, and learning theory. Dr. Sung also contributes to the management and treatment of the behavioral needs of the shelter pets at Joybound People and Pets. Dr. Sung frequently lectures on managing common behavioral issues and consults with veterinary practices to design programs and train staff in best practices for making vet visits less stressful and developing treatment protocols for patients with behavioral issues. Dr. Sung also provide consultations to shelter and rescue organizations. Dr. Sung is a co-author of the book, “From Fearful to Fear Free," in which she collaborated with America’s veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, veterinary colleague Dr. Lisa Radosta, and renowned trainer, Mikkel Becker.  Dr. Sung also co-authored a chapter in “Decoding your Cat” coming out July 2020. Dr. Sung has been a contributor to the magazines, Healthy Pet and Happy Paws, and the websites, PetCoach and PetMD. Dr. Sung has written chapters for the following veterinary textbooks: Behavior of Exotic Pets, Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior, 2nd Edition and Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline: 7th edition. Dr. Sung is also an advisory member of Fear Free Pets. She is a Fear Free certified speaker. Dr. Sung was interviewed on the documentary, Cat Tales by NOVA. Links Joybound- https://joybound.org Bay Area vet behaviour- https://bayareavetbehavior.com/about/ FAS scores -https://fearfreepets.com/fas-spectrum/ Camp Maddie Inc Dr sung- https://forum.maddiesfund.org/campmaddiebehavior

Ep 30. Holistic Approach to Reactivity with Dante Camacho About this episode Dante joins me on the podcast to discuss his holistic program for dogs who show reactivity type behaviours, including lundging barking and growling. When we consider the difficulties in working with dogs who show reactive behaviours, particularly in the difficult shelter or rescue environment, we know it can be a big challenge. In this episode we discuss how we can set our dogs and care givers up for success, where we use a range of exercises and adjustments both in the presence of and away from the triggers to help move towards improvement in behavioural health. Dante lets us in to the key elements of his program and the reasons he found these important and useful when working with reactive dogs. About Dante Dante Camacho is a professional dog trainer, international presenter and has been involved in dog training since 1998, this quickly became a passion and took him to a never-ending adventure (including leaving college to become a full time dog trainer) of constant learning. He was one of the first to introduce the use of clicker training in Brazil, "I was fascinated by the tool and all that I was able to accomplish with my dogs very early in my career", and went on to work with dog owners privately for the first years of his dog training career. In 2000 he fell in love with dog sports and started teaching his own dogs in agility and freestyle. In agility he became a reference in positive training in Brazil, teaching seminars, being cited in magazines, websites and numerous TV appearances. he ended up representing Brazil in 4 FCI Agility World Championships as well as 2 European Open and 2 America’s & Caribbean. In freestyle (Dog Dancing) he performed initially in Brazil, first in dog shows but soon in TV shows and fairs, he became a member of the Superdogs Team (Canada) and performed his Dancing routines in shows throughout the country and also in the USA. Dante is an invited teacher at Rio Preto University where he teaches dog behaviour and training for the post graduate degree course on "Animal Behaviour and Well being". He's an online instructor with several online courses (all in Portuguese so far, sorry....) available on his platform with over a thousand students, ranging from professional dog trainers to committed dog owners. He's also developing his own certification course for dog trainers in his country. Links Dante has a holistic reactivity course on the Grisha Stewart academy, this course includes recorded live coaching which is beneficial to watch and learn from. https://school.grishastewart.com/bundles/holistic-reactivity-1-and-2?ref=352ff9 Dante’s awesome instagram https://www.instagram.com/dantedogworks/?hl=enf

Ep. 29 Functional Enrichment, how to do More Than Just Stuff a Kong with Emily Lewis. In this episode I am joined by Emily Lewis to talk about functional enrichment. We cover how we can use enrichment to support our behaviour modification plans and how we can craft specific enrichment programs for the dogs in our care that support behaviour as well as welfare. About Emily • 22 years of professional experience as a dog trainer, shelter behaviour consultant and veterinary technician • Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants • Ten years of experience in shelters doing behavior evaluations, dog to dog testing, creating enrichment and training plans, and counseling adopters • Specializes in a wide variety of behavior issues, including human directed aggression Emily loves working with pet parents and their dogs to strengthen the human animal bond through positive training. Over the last 20+ years she has worked with a variety of breeds from terriers to mastiffs to mutts. She has experience with rescue dogs and the unique issues they face - and is the proud owner of three of her very own. She has also owned and trained deaf, blind, and physically impaired dogs, and this is an area close to her heart.

Episode 28 Free support groups for compassion fatigue and empathetic strain Join us this week as we talk about compassion fatigue and empathetic strain with Dr Melissa Trevathan-Minnis. Mellisa and her colleagues are running a study looking at the success of support groups for supporting empathetic strain, whilst this is a study it also provides Free support sessions for animal welfare professional so please check out the information below and book onto these sessions to support yourself and others in this field. https://sites.google.com/view/animalgroup/home About Melissa Trevathan-Minnis. I am a therapist, a professor, a researcher/writer, and an animal advocate. I have worked in a variety of settings both clinically and academically which are listed below. Check out my publications page to learn about my book, articles, and book chapters. Education: PhD Counseling Psychology-University of Houston (APA Accredited) BA-Psychology-Texas Tech University Clinical Positions: -Private Practice- Dr. Melissa Trevathan-Minnis, PLLC -Flatwater Foundation-Austin, TX -The Women's Growth Center- Baltimore, MD -Loyola University Maryland Counseling Center-Baltimore, MD -Towson University Counseling Center-Towson, MD -Ben Taub General Hospital Psychiatric Services-Houston, TX -University of St. Thomas Counseling and Disability Center-Houston, TX -Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Administration Hospital -University of Houston Clear Lake Counseling Center Academic Positions: -National University Faculty, Dissertation Chair, Gender and Sexual Fluidity Specialization Lead Faculty-San Diego, CA -Goddard College Faculty, Internship Coordinator, Sexual Orientation Concentration Coordinator Human Animal Interactions Studies Coordinator-Plainfield, VT -McDaniel College Adjunct Faculty-Westminster, MD Additional Training: -Animal-Assisted Counseling Academy at Texas State University -Consortium for Animal-Assisted Therapy at University of North Texas: Animal-Assisted Therapy Training -Pet Partners Handler Course -Gottman Couples Counseling Level II -Gottman Advanced training in Affairs and Infidelity -Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Links https://www.drtrevathanminnis.com/ https://www.nu.edu/degrees/jfk-psychology/faculty/melissa-trevathan/ the support group- https://sites.google.com/view/animalgroup/home

*New Episode- Greif and Loss with Dr. Tara Quinn* In this episode we cover another difficult reality of working in shelter and rescue. Join myself and Dr. Tara as we discuss all aspects of grief and loss, including bereavement and more. this episode discusses some difficult ground so feel free to take your time, skip past it or do whatever you need for yourself (a key theme of the conversation). Sadly, it can certainly feel like shelter is a difficult place to work currently and I am personally very grateful for the work Dr. Tara and her network does with Shelters and Rescues to support their staff and volunteer’s. About Dr. Tara Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo is a Chartered and HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council) Registered Counselling Psychologist and Associate Fellow of The British Psychological Society. She has over 20 years’ clinical experience and uses her in depth knowledge of mental health and disability and human behaviour, to inform her clinical work. Her purpose is helping people to understand and manage their emotional wellbeing and empowering them to. She specialises in helping people formulate both new and longstanding conditions and helping people take a fresh look at longstanding issues. She believes in robust evidenced based assessment and treatment. She takes pride in her approach combining compassionate and evidenced based practice in order to empower people to create a core shift in managing the difficulties they face. She specialises in supporting people following adverse life experiences. Dr Quinn-Cirillo has a special interest in bringing the principles of psychology to communities to help them cope with adversity and support each other with mental wellbeing. She achieves this through her media work and philanthropic and humanitarian projects she is involved in. She regularly appears in a variety of media outlets including TV and Radio and print publications. Dr Quinn-Cirillo is also a Psychological First Aid Responder with the British Red Cross. About Human Animal Welfare Alliance An innovative and unique alliance spearheaded by Psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo and fully supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG). Utilising the skills and passion of mental health professionals, as well as those in the animal welfare sector, to create a core shift in how the emotional health of those working in animal welfare is addressed and protected. We aim to create a direct, measurable, and hugely positive impact on the animal welfare sector in the UK. What we Provide We are developing the UK’s first Emotional Health Toolkit specifically for animal welfare workers. This will be digital and include a variety of resources to help staff manage their emotional health. Hosting emotional health safe spaces for shelter workers.These are supportive & informative sessions for UK based shelter staff to help them think through the current issues they are facing in their work & the impact this may be having on their own emotional health & wellbeing. We provide a safe & compassionate space for staff to be heard & for us to then identify their future support needs. We want to introduce staff to evidenced based effective psychological models to empower them to effectively manage stressors & demands impacting their emotional & physical health. Providing targeted mental health training sessions on topics including stress, anxiety, overwhelm & burnout, and vicarious trauma. Offer 1:1 telephone debrief calls as required for staff members in individual rescue organisations during discrete traumatic events. Utilising a trauma informed approach with the aim of reducing emotional distress and increasing psychological safety. Links Dr T- https://drtara.co.uk/ HAWA- https://drtara.co.uk/hawa/ Chronically Under Touched — Why I Waited 12 Months for A Hug-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi_hm0-zrgk&t=3s Blue cross pet loss support- https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss

Ep. 26 Shelter Assessments the Good the Bad and the Ugly with Dot Baisly About this Episode In this podcast episode, I’m Joined by Dot Baisly, Executive Director of the IAABC and all-round shelter expert, to discuss the critical topic of dog behaviour assessments. Dot and I explore the importance of accurately evaluating dogs to ensure their suitability for adoption and to enhance their chances of finding forever homes. The conversation delves into various assessment methods, highlighting both behavioural observations and environmental factors that can influence a dog's behaviour and how we can best collect and utilise this data. Assessments is one of the most discussed areas of shelter and rescue behaviour. This conversation serves as an introductory podcast episode, with further episodes coming soon! During this episode we cover, what assessments are, different types of assessments and why we might use them, gathering information at different parts of the dogs journey and how to use this information to support the individual moving forward. About Dot Dot Baisly is the Executive Director for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Dot also holds a master’s degree in Animal Behavior from Tufts University and is a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC), certified cat behavior consultant (CCBC), and certified shelter behavior specialist (CSBS). Most recently she was the director of behavior for Northeast Animal Shelter where she built a behavior program and transformed the organization’s approach to behavior as a result of her leadership. Prior to this she was also the lead behavior staff at the SPCA of Westchester and then the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Dot also worked as a consultant for Paws With A Cause, working with service dogs and the clients they serve for over 10 years. She has been working in animal welfare, veterinary care and behavior for over 20 years, both in animal welfare and rescue organizations and as a private consultant. Dot has consulted with private clients since her initial certifications, working with owned cats and dogs on a regular basis. In her private practice, Dot specializes in working with dogs and cats exhibiting significant behavioral concerns, including human-directed aggression. She also provides consultations to shelters across the country where she has evaluated dogs, educated staff and volunteers and continues to be recognized as a key leader in the animal welfare and shelter behavior community where she is sought out for her expertise, compassion, and skill in leading change efforts. Links Building Better Bonds- https://www.buildbetterbonds.com/ IAABC- https://iaabc.org/ No better than flipping a coin- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787816300697#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20means%20that%20even%20under,the%20basis%20of%20such%20test Adopter- dog interactions at the shelter: Behavioral and contextual predictors of adoption -https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=QzzG6YUAAAAJ&citation_for_view=QzzG6YUAAAAJ:u-x6o8ySG0sC Preference assessments and structured potential adopter-dog interactions increase adoptions - https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=QzzG6YUAAAAJ&citation_for_view=QzzG6YUAAAAJ:p2g8aNsByqUC

Bark! The Science of Helping your Anxious, Fearful and Reactive dog with Zazie Todd In this episode we are joined by Zazie Todd author of Wag, Purr and now Bark! These books do a great job of combining stories, science and tips and tricks for owners and care givers. In this episode we talk about Bark! The what’s, whys and how’s. Exploring the book, Zazie’s reasonings behind it and how she hopes it will help explain the things they need to know. To make living with an Anxious, fearful, or reactive dog. About Zazie Todd Zazie Todd, PhD, is an animal behaviour expert and award-winning writer who loves nothing better than helping people resolve issues with their pets. She covers dog training and behaviour, cat behaviour and training, animal welfare, the relationship between people and their pets, and books about companion animals. Todd is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. Her highly-anticipated third book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, will be published in October 2024. Todd is the go-to pet expert for many media outlets and has been mentioned in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Daily Telegraph, The Atlantic, Newsweek, The Globe and Mail, The Vancouver Sun, CBC Radio, Radio New Zealand, and many more. She is the creator of Companion Animal Psychology which she started in 2012 to explore the ways in which science can help us to have happier cats and dogs. The Animal Book Club followed in 2016. Todd's podcast, The Pawsitive Post in Conversation, is co-hosted with Kristi Benson and features interviews with authors, scientists, dog trainers, and cat behaviourists. Links Zazies Site- https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/about-zazie-todd-and-companion-animal.html Books- https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/p/books.html Hey that’s mine with Jean Donaldson https://open.spotify.com/episode/1XmKKmdczRb8N8j3C5BiPM?si=8zAG9vCpTp2QAmJ342oUBA Safe haven- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18F46cSRFA/?mibextid=UalRPS Red amber green for owner expectations- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/13wS437hxx/?mibextid=WC7FNe Grisha Stewart academy bites and fights panel- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/dogbitesfights?ref=352ff9 Bark fest- https://youtu.be/mJyQ7S2XCm4?si=B6RIZwOTz0BYw074 Dog behaviour conference- https://www.vsdogtrainingacademy.com/dog-behavior-conference/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=speaker&utm_campaign=dbc&utm_term=Tom&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Ea34iYTU8Rm5ZqpJMq0dBZ9P0V6T4rExkBzCxdyYlbxl4JdtA-0dY2P0_aem_lCmGNZuTYaLtZIdhVxMqeA

Summary In this episode we look at different ways we can support the transition from the shelter/resuce to the home, specifically for our feline friends. We know that cats can often be sensitive to changes in their environments so as a shelter, and adopter we want to take supportive steps to assist our cats be successful in their new homes. About Katenna Jones Animal Behavior is not a new field for Katenna nor a hobby turned into a career - it's all she's ever done. While earning a bachelor’s degree in biology, she became a shelter volunteer in 1998, then went on to earn a Master's in Psychology, with a focus on animal behavior, from Brown University. Katenna is Rhode Island's only Associated Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and is also a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, and is Certified Fear Free. Katenna works virtually with families and their cats and dogs and also provides professional development and coaching services locally, internationally, and online. The has recently relocated to the Syracuse, NY area where she will offer in-person services as soon as she is settled. Links https://www.feliway.co.uk/ https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/cat-advice/cats-sense-smell https://www.jonesanimalbehavior.com/ https://www.jonesanimalbehavior.com/articlesandrecordings https://school.grishastewart.com/bundles/noseworkcatsbundle?omnisearch__query=cat https://hippocampusonline.com/all-courses/

Resilience Framework for Shelter Dogs In this episode we are joined by Bobbie Bhambree (CDBC, CPDT-KA) and Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) to discuss resilience in shelter dogs and more specifically how we can use the resilience framework to support rescue dogs. The Resilience framework is an amazing creation from Bobbie and Dr Kathy Murphy, that can be used to take a holistic approach to supporting mental and physical wellbeing. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stressful events and supports dogs in a stressful experience and environments, so we know this is super important when were working in a shelter environment! We want to help our dogs to do as well as possible in our space so that we can support their adoption as quickly as possible. If you enjoyed this episode and you want to have a look at a specific case study of the resilience framework in a shelter environment you can join me on 20th of October with educanine use code SSB for 10$ off! https://educanine.thinkific.com/courses/tom-candy About Bobbie Bobbie started her career in 2003 as a pet behavior counselor with the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. While there, she implemented behavior modification programs for dogs who had been surrendered by the public or seized by Humane Law Enforcement. In 2007, Bobbie joined the Humane Society of Westchester, spending the next nine years as their shelter trainer. She created and implemented training and enrichment programs for the dogs, counseled adopters, trained volunteers, participated in community outreach programs, and performed evaluations. In 2016, Bobbie joined the North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington, NY as the Director of Pet Behavior. During her tenure there, she managed a team of canine and feline trainers who focused on developing behavior modification and enrichment programs for the animals in the shelter. She also deployed for the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team to work in the field, supporting the team with dog fighting busts, puppy mill cases, and hoarding cases. In addition to this work, she founded and directed her own company, DogCentric Dog Training, helping people whose pet dogs experienced a wide spectrum of canine behavior issues. About Ferdie Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) is an animal trainer and wildlife biologist helping families in Westchester since 2009. Ferdie has been working with animals from penguins to pit bulls since 2003 and specializes in treating complex behavior cases, drawing on his experience and skills refined through decades of practice. In addition, he is a former ecologist for New York City with a Master’s in Conservation Biology from Columbia University. In his free time, Ferdie studies NYC's urban coyotes with the Gotham Coyote Project – his intricate knowledge of urban coyotes gives him a unique perspective of canine behavior. His compassionate and multi-disciplinary approach incorporates principles from ethology, psychology, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience. The upshot: Ferdie's positive training makes an often overwhelming and challenging process safe and fun…while empowering you to create a happier life for your dog. Links Ferdie- https://sitsnwiggles.com/ Resilience Framework- https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/the-resilience-rainbow/ Pattern Games-https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pgxfbWoN9OxGS3jDsXVOm LATTE pattern game- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/latte?ref=352ff9 Pattern games Trauma- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/patterns?ref=352ff9 Camp Maddie Behaviour- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljXtG02rYYk Puppy resilience- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/pandemic?ref=352ff9 Ttouch and Bat together, empowered Body awareness-https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/ttouch-bat?ref=352ff9 CATCH Canine!- https://catchdogtrainers.com/ Worry less Wag more https://open.spotify.com/show/6ynv2qT8xwzARLtAhgQNrQ

ABA in shelter dogs with Dr. Susan Friedman About this Episode In this episode we discuss Applied Behaviour Analysis, what it is and how we can use it to support dogs in our shelters. Join myself and Dr. Friedman as we discuss general ABA principles and how ABA can aid us in behaviour modification. Including problem solving reactivity and a case study of a cocker spaniel who’s worried about his harness. About Dr. Susan Friedman Dr. Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D. is a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University. Susan has co-authored chapters on behaviour change in five veterinary texts, and her popular articles have been translated into 17 languages. She teaches seminars and courses on animal learning online (How Behavior Works: Living & Learning With Animals), with students from 63 countries so far. Susan also consults with zoos and animal organizations around the world. She was appointed to the F&WS California Condor Recovery Team from 2002 – 2010, after which time the team was retired due to the success of the birds in the wild. She is the Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Committee of American Humane Association (AHA) Film and TV Unit, and a member in good standing of ABAI, ABMA, IAATE and IAABC Links https://www.behaviorworks.org/ Susan Friedman: Why Animals Need Trainers Who Adhere to the Least Intrusive Principle https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/hierarchy?ref=352ff9

Intro In this episode we talk about ways we can physically enrich our dogs outside of the normal walk structure, I’m joined by Andrea and Kyla from City dogs in Canada to talk about alternatives to walking for our shelter dogs and dogs in homes and how this effects our dog’s day to day lives. Key themes Enrichment, Arousal management, Opening up the world About Andrea and Kyla Andrea’s specialties lie in helping dogs and their guardians navigate the canine-human relationship to assure success in training no matter the age of your dog nor the issue at hand. Andrea’s main goal is to make training fun, effective and motivating for dogs and humans through evidence-based training methods. Each dog is looked at as an individual; what works for one may not work for another. With Andrea’s experience and education, she has a variety of ways to achieve training goals focusing on setting up you and your dog for success, utilizing what motivates your dog and effective communication. Andrea Dinan and City Dogs was the recipient of the following awards through the International Positive Dog Trainers Association:Dog Training Excellence Award, Excellence in Boarding and Sitting Award Andrea also received the Toronto Star’s Reader’s Choice Platinum Award in 2021 for Dog Training. Andrea is also the Founder of EduCanine, Kyla is a passionate and dedicated dog trainer with a deep love for animals. Her journey in the world of dogs began in 2015 where she worked in several dog daycares in Toronto, immersing herself in the world of canine behavior and training. Inspired by her experiences, she ventured into entrepreneurship and successfully established her own dog walking business, while earning her dog training designation through the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy. Continuing to follow her passion for making a positive impact on animals’ lives, Kyla dedicated three years of her career to the Toronto Humane Society. There, she served as a certified animal trainer, working tirelessly to rehabilitate and train animals in need, ensuring their successful adoption into loving homes. Driven by her commitment to providing the most effective and ethical training methods, Kyla has sought out additional training and certifications to enhance her expertise. She completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs course, demonstrating her dedication to understanding and addressing complex behavioral issues. Kyla also completed the Fear Free Trainer and Fear Free Shelter Trainer courses, emphasizing her compassionate approach to working with animals. Through her experience, education and dedication, Kyla is committed to helping both dogs and their humans build strong bonds and live harmoniously together. Links Dog Parkour General introduction- https://fb.watch/uv2Tx7K4Xm/ UK association- https://www.dogparkouruk.com/ International- https://www.dogparkour.org/ Urban Herding https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/treibball-this-sport-isnt-just-for-herding-breeds/ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7kSQ4pRRYOtp6U_la9rYMb4kParLkycE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_31T5tUrU https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1066014770704332 Other Links https://citydogs.ca/ https://educanine.org/ Dogs in city conference- https://educanine.org/2024-conference The rescue plan - https://educanine.org/the-rescue-plan Kyla- https://consideringcaninebehaviour.ca/about https://www.instagram.com/considering_canine_behaviour/

*Rex in the City! Considerations for the Rescue dog with Melissa McCue-McGrath* In this episode were joined by Melissa McCue-McGrath, author of Considerations for the City dog, to discuss the overlap with rescues/shelter and city and urban environments for our dogs. We know that the dream home in the country are few and far between for our rescue dogs so understanding what considerations we should be making, as well as how we can look to support our dogs who go to live in the city! About Melissa Melissa McCue-McGrath is a dog trainer, behavior consultant, presenter, and author. She earned her dog training certification through CCPDT in 2008 and has been working with dogs in sports, manners, and behavior since 2005. She served as the co-training director of the New England Dog Training Club, the oldest AKC obedience club in the United States, from 2012 – 2023. She is most proud of the work she did that allowed her and her dog, Captain Love, center stage to talk nerdy about dogs for three weeks to thousands of visitors to the Museum of Science in Boston in February 2020. She has focused her work in recent years on the effect of the environment on companion dogs and wrote the book, “Considerations for the City Dog.” She is the creator and host of the BewilderBeasts podcast (now in its sixth and final season) and has been invited to speak about dogs at Tufts, MIT, Barks form the Bookshelf, Raising Canine, the Pet Professional Guild and more. Her approach to training, which is evident in all the classes she teaches at AWS, is based on humor and science. Links https://melissamccuemcgrath.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5O9eHnj4VnB695MRiJeKmQ the book-https://melissamccuemcgrath.com/store/

Supporting pain management in rescue dogs with Dr. Hannah Capon This week we are talking about pain management and shelter dogs, we look at how we can identify pain in dogs in our care, make changes to support painful dogs and working along side veterinary professionals to best help dogs who maybe in pain or discomfort. Pain has a large negative effect on welfare and dog behaviour, so we are really grateful to Dr. capon for joining us and all the work Dr, C and her team do with canine arthritis management. Remember! The amazing CAM team are offering rescue and shelter dog adopters free access to the owners course, to give dogs being adopted out with painful conditions the best opportunity. About Dr. Hannah Capon Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS, winner of the 2019 Ceva Vet of the Year and finalist in the 2019 Petplan Vet of the Year is a first opinion veterinary surgeon in the UK. Recognised for her tireless work on Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) an online education and support service for owners of arthritic dogs and professionals that care for them. CAM began as a simple Facebook page in 2015 where Hannah would promote earlier identification and thorough multimodal management plans. Now it boasts a flourishing service run by a team of veterinary professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to help owners. CAM has become an unstoppable force. A respected website full of downloads, like the unique Home Safe tool (#itsmyhometoo), A large social media presence through Facebook, Instagram and twitter. An online shop stocking awareness merchandise, owner education and other canine essentials. An education provider for first opinion practices, as well as dog groups, paraprofessionals and owners. An inspirational campaign group to raise awareness of the serious nature of this disease (#yourdogmoreyears) CAM has worked with numerous industry partners but are especially proud of recent work with Hills Pet Foods and their UK OA roadshow, where they educated 300 vet nurses at 6 events around the UK. Hannah currently works at Greenside Veterinary Practice, Scotland, where she is working in regenerative medicine and rehabilitation, as well as exploring novel ways we can improve management of this common debilitating disease Links https://caninearthritis.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/share/X8z8X4CcdcgZVmq1/?mibextid=LQQJ4d- CAM Facebook page https://youtube.com/@caninearthritismanagement?si=fU5yC4X1j8M0APwN Cam YouTube!

*New podcast alert- making difficult decisions in shelters and rescue with Amanda kowalski* In this episode we discuss a very difficult but important topic around difficult decision making, including euthanasia. This is not an easy conversation to have but we know is a reality of rescue and shelter life. Recognizing and respecting the difficulties these cases and decision making is key for us to bring a supportive shelter network. Join myself and Amanda Kowalski as we discuss approaching euthanasia decisions in multiple ways drawing on a wealth of experience. At the start at this podcast, I also introduced our new discount code for the PPG British Isles simplifying30 which gives you 30% off the in-person summit October 3-6th 2024. If this episode is a difficult listen, please reach out to a trusted person or friend, for more tips on emotional wellbeing for animal welfare professionals you can listen to episode 12 with Tamsin Durston. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2txO0lMkJND7sbU4iW8Dlm?si=_SAi3Xf1QmWjixEf7LBUVg Loosing lulu can also be a great resource as well as the blue cross helpline in the uk About Amanda As San Diego Humane Society’s vice president of animal welfare, Amanda ensures consistency and excellence in all of our animal welfare services, facilities and staff and guest experiences. Amanda is dedicated to animals and has a passion for research, education and collaboration. She is known for loving “crazy ideas” and encourages her team to innovate, be creative and think big. Amanda specialized in behavioral care in shelters for more than 15 years before taking on this role, including seven years leading our Behavior Center, which has helped more than 4,000 shelter animals — who otherwise would have been out of options — since its beginning in 2013. She also played a crucial role in designing the new state-of-the-art Behavior Center facility, which opened in 2019 as the first of its kind in California and was the first vice president of behavior programs at San Diego Humane Society. Amanda holds a Master of Science in animals and public policy from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University along with a certificate in Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington. She is a certified animal welfare administrator (CAWA) through the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, a Fear Free-Certified Professional Trainer, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and the vice president of the board of directors for the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Links PPG British Isles summit https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/pet-professional-guild-british-isles-summit-2024/ San Diego humane https://www.sdhumane.org Five domains https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7602120/ https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/a-life-worth-living/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2jUI-30LZHFyRncXNTeosL2HLGFzKuboS6g9Qu_WhAaOQsHrp6q_PRYy4_aem_K-_yW0O_2Ba8D3XSPcKkHA Resources for community grief https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/grief-ritual-resources?ref=352ff9 Developing Behaviour modification programs in difficult environments https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/behaviorplans?ref=352ff9 How to human- thrival skills for people who love dogs https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/human?ref=352ff9 Emotional wellbeing for animal welfare professionals https://open.spotify.com/episode/2txO0lMkJND7sbU4iW8Dlm?si=_SAi3Xf1QmWjixEf7LBUVg Loosing Lulu https://www.facebook.com/share/1VdCjwkb9HGnFDiz/?mibextid=K35XfP Blue cross pet loss helpline https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss

Improving photos to promote shelter animals This week we are joined by Jessica McGovern to talk about how we can improve the quality of our photos in order to improve rehoming and reach of our shelter animals. Not strictly a behaviour topic but still super important when rehoming trickier or longer stay animals. We discuss top tips for pictures and videos, and how to get others involved in taking great pictures! About Jess Jessica McGovern FBIPP FSWPP is a Creative working at the highest level in business, marketing and photography through her multiple successful businesses surrounded by an epic hand-picked full-time team. As a CIM Level 6 qualified multi-channel strategic marketer, established graphic designer, 2018 nominee for CodeGirls, one of Hull’s Inspirational Women in Tech and multi-award-winning photographer across a number of different genres, Jess is skilled over a wide variety of mediums. Having achieved three Fellowships to date, over 200 image recognitions in international competition, launched and developed the renowned online photography tuition platform “That Tog Spot”, and had work published in a number of different online and offline publications, Jess is also a petrent to the dogs Pippi, Alfie, Bryt and Ren, along with her horse, Tuna. A non-stop whirlwind of quick wit and a fierce desire for students to develop and grow, she’s helped over 500,000 photographers to improve, and counting. You can contact the team to book Jess to speak, teach or judge Links! The website- https://thattogspot.com/about/ YouTube!- https://youtube.com/@thatphotographyspot?si=4hVLX2Ss_exGheS9 https://youtu.be/TVPAUzoYmyU?si=2eLRficYj9jXYf2f Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/share/tiYMNo2wf96XxGsL/?mibextid=K35XfP

*New Episode! Separation related behaviours in shelter dogs- with Malena DeMartini* This week we discussed separation related problems with one of the leading experts, Malena De Martini. Separation related problems are one of the most difficult problem behaviours we face, and this is even truer when we consider the shelter and rescue environment In this episode we discuss what are separation related behaviour, how we can assess them in shelter and what plans we can come up with to support and work with dogs facing these issues. Malena and her team are also collecting information about dogs in shelter with seperation issues and what support YOU think you need complete th survey here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfodyugvOJ3M6suADfBfYhFncowOXNkkHDQii0OQKhbBfUjvQ/viewform?usp=send_form About Malena Malena DeMartini is a Certified Trainer and Counselor (CTC) and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) – Since 2001, she has specialized exclusively in canine separation anxiety, having worked hundreds of cases and constantly innovating to find better ways to treat the condition and support guardians, other trainers, rescues, and shelters. Malena is renowned worldwide for her success in helping countless dogs (and the people who love them) overcome this debilitating behavior issue. Malena is the founder of the prestigious Separation Anxiety Certification Program (SACP), which has graduated hundreds of Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers (CSATs) across the globe. She oversees a team of top separation anxiety trainers, as well as organizing and leading ongoing professional development opportunities for her international network of CSATs. For dog guardians, Malena has created Mission: POSSIBLE, an online self-paced course that has proven to be an invaluable resource in the industry with an immeasurable success rate. She is also passionate about offering educational opportunities for other dog professionals. Links Support for shelter- https://malenademartini.com/support-for-shelters/ Survey for shelter staff- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfodyugvOJ3M6suADfBfYhFncowOXNkkHDQii0OQKhbBfUjvQ/viewform?usp=send_form Free mini seperation shelter course- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/separationanxietyrescue?ref=352ff9

Control unleashed for Cats This episode builds on the previous episode but focuses more on our feline friends! Beth shares her experience of using CU pattern games with shelter cats helping them throughout their rescue journey. This week we are talking about one of my favourite toolbox hacks to use with Shelter dogs that is. The controlled unleashed pattern games! In this episode we delve into how pattern games can be used to support several situations and behaviours we often see in shelters! So whether you are new to pattern games or have experience with them your bound to find this conversation interesting and useful! In the next episode we will be diving more into CU for shelter Cats with Beth Brown! So remember to subscribe for updates Podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ea6VTImAPcnlXilJYunij Podcast on apple https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/simplifying-shelter-behaviour/id1713209314 About Beth brown Ear To Tail is owned and run by Beth Brown out of her hometown of Houston, Texas. Beth got her start in behavior consulting and training at a local shelter and has never looked back from there. She loves working with all animal species, but specializes in dogs and cats. The more she learns about animal behavior, the more she loves it, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with the world. She has since decided she can help more animals by starting her own business and being more flexible with the clients and animals she works with. Her goal is to improve the relationships of all the members of the family she’s working with and help them find solutions that are functional for their every day life without feeling like a burden. Beth holds several professional certifications, which sets her apart as one of the most qualified behavior experts. She is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). In addition, she specializes in separation anxiety and is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and is passionate about the power of Leslie McDevitt’s Control Unleashed pattern games, and was certified by Leslie as a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI). In addition, she is committed to using fear free and positive reinforcement techniques, and is also a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP) and a member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG). Links! If you want to find out more about control unleashed, you can look at the links below or check out https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/patterns?ref=352ff9 and for LATTE https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/latte?ref=352ff9 Please note in the episode we talk about friends of control unleashed, unfortunately Leslie’s group got hacked! The new group can be found here https://www.facebook.com/groups/419113494071244/ Beth’s new webinar will be advertised here soon https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/

This week we are talking about one of my favourite toolbox hacks to use with Shelter dogs that is. The controlled unleashed pattern games! In this episode we delve into how pattern games can be used to support several situations and behaviours we often see in shelters! So whether you are new to pattern games or have experience with them your bound to find this conversation interesting and useful! In the next episode we will be diving more into CU for shelter Cats with Beth Brown! So remember to subscribe for updates If you want to find out more about control unleashed, you can look at the links below or check out https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/patterns?ref=352ff9 and for LATTE https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/latte?ref=352ff9 About Leslie McDevitt Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, TAGteach Level 2, is the author of the internationally popular Control Unleashed series of books and DVDs published by Clean Run Productions. Her books have been translated into many languages; people all over the world have learned how to use her science-based and empowering methods to help companion, performance, and working dogs learn how to function optimally without stress in very challenging environments. Leslie also certifies qualified trainers to teach her program and is proud of her Certified Control Unleashed Instructors all over the world. If you have a dog that worries about stuff—other dogs, people, noises, dog show judges, the unexpected—Leslie has many fun counter-conditioning games just for you. Leslie is a popular conference speaker and has held two Control Unleashed conferences with Clean Run. Links! Please note in the episode we talk about friends of control unleashed, unfortunately Leslie’s group got hacked! The new group can be found here https://www.facebook.com/groups/419113494071244/ Leslie is Hosting the unleash the rainbow conference along side Bobbie Bhambree and Kathy Murthy’s resilience rainbow! Which we have in an up-and-coming episode, for more information check here https://www.unleashtherainbow.com/ Leslie and some previous podcast guests Dr. Pachel and Mike shikashio are all hosting a case study webinar at the end of the month https://aggressivedog.thinkific.com/courses/YouDon'tKnowJack!TroubleshootingComplexCases and Finally Leslie will be attending the ppg summit in the uk in October! https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/pet-professional-guild-british-isles-summit-2024/ use code PPGBI15 for 15% off if you work in shelters

In this episode we are joined by Marissa Martino (paws and reward) to discuss how we can track our behaviour programs to make sure they are having the correct impact to help animals move through the rehoming and sheltering system. Marissa has a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area, and is the host of the paws and reward podcast! A great resource for dog lovers, shelter folk and trainer and behaviour staff https://pawsandreward.com/meet-marissa/