Enrichment for the Real World
You've dedicated your life to helping animals- just like us.
Emily Strong was training praying mantids at 7.
Allie Bender was telling her neighbor to refill their bird feeder because the birds were hungry at 2.
You're an animal person; you get it.
We've always been animal people. We've been wanting to better animals' lives since forever, so we made a podcast for people like us.
Join Emily and Allie, the authors of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, for everything animal care- from meeting animals' needs to assessing goals to filling our own cups as caregivers and guardians.
Episodes
134 episodes
#133 - How to Incorporate Kids Into Your Pet's Enrichment Plan
Parenting is already a full-time job, and when you add pets into the mix, things can feel overwhelming. But what if your kids could actually help make pet care easier and more fun? In this episode, Emily is joined by fellow Pet Harmony consulta...
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Season 11
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Episode 133
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45:13
#132 - Are You Self-Sabotaging?
Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “Either I have to do X, or Y terrible thing will happen”? Welcome to dichotomous thinking, one of the sneakiest forms of self-sabotage we fall into. In this episode, Allie and Emily unpack how binar...
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Season 11
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Episode 132
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51:52
#131 - Why Training Mechanics Aren't Enough
You can have the fanciest training plan in the world—but if you skip the “soft” skills, you’re building on shaky ground. This week, Allie and Emily dive into the four soft skills that make everything else work: observation, curiosity, flexibili...
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Season 11
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Episode 131
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47:02
#130 - Mike Agruss: A Nuanced Approach to Dog Bite Advocacy
Content Warning: This episode does include discussion of dog bites. When a dog bite happens, emotions run high—fear, guilt, anger, confusion. In today’s episode, host Emily Strong is joined by Mark Agruss, a personal injury attorney...
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Season 11
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Episode 130
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1:06:08
#129 - Q&A: All About Anxiety in Dogs
Wondering if your dog will “grow out of” anxiety? Or if a sit-stay will solve their fear of strangers? This Q&A episode clears up the most common misunderstandings about anxiety in dogs and gives you the tools to actually help.Allie,...
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Season 11
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Episode 129
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39:21
#128 - Try it: How to Find Indoor Activities for Dogs on Hot Days
When the temperatures soar, it can feel like your only option is to survive summer with the AC cranked up and a bored dog staring at you, but we’ve got your back. In this "Try It" episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily shares ...
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Season 11
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Episode 128
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13:54
#127 - Summer Enrichment Activities
Summer heat getting in the way of your enrichment goals? You’re not alone. In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Allie and Emily break down their favorite summer enrichment activities into three easy categories: indo...
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Season 11
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Episode 127
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43:25
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#126 - Sarah van Herpt: Healing Bears, Changing Minds
What does it take to rehabilitate hundreds of bears and build an enrichment-forward sanctuary from scratch? In this episode, we dive into the world of moon bears, sun bears, shrimp paste, and cultural change with Sarah van Herpt, Director of Ve...
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Season 11
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Episode 126
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54:46
#125 - Does Comforting My Pet Reinforce the Fear?
You’ve heard it before: “Don’t comfort a scared dog, you’ll just reinforce the fear.” But… is that true? In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Allie and Emily break down the science behind fear, behavior, and reinforcement ...
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Season 11
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Episode 125
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33:25
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#124 - Try It: How to Use Sound Enrichment Without Regretting It Immediately
Sound enrichment is often touted as a magic solution for everything from masking triggers to helping pets chill out—but what happens when the “soothing” soundscape turns into sensory overload for you? In this episode of Enrichment for ...
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Season 11
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Episode 124
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12:03
#123 - Pet Firework Safety & Security Tips
The Fourth of July might be a favorite for humans, but for many pets, it’s more like a horror movie. From hiding in bathtubs to bolting through doors, the fallout from fireworks can be intense and dangerous. And hey, we know what yo...
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Season 11
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Episode 123
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34:11
#122 - Lili Chin: About Dog Breeds
How much can a dog’s breed really tell you? In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, illustrator and author Lili Chin (she/her) returns to talk about her newest book, Dogs of the World: A Gallery of Pups from Purebreds to ...
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Season 10
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Episode 122
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50:30
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#121 - Try it: Learn Your Pet's Ladder of De-Escalation
We talk a lot about recognizing when our pets are becoming more stressed. But what about when they’re calming down? In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily Strong walks you through a practical and insightful skill: iden...
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Season 10
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Episode 121
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15:38
#120 - Why Your Pet Needs a Safe Space (and How to Make One)
Whether your pet is overwhelmed by the doorbell, a new houseguest, or the invisible ghosts that apparently live in the laundry room, having a safe space can make a world of difference. In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, ...
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Season 10
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Episode 120
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46:38
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#119 - Try it: Teach "Go To A Safe Space" From Behind a Barrier
In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily Strong shares two ways to teach your dog to go to a safe space from behind a barrier—a skill that supports emotional regulation and improves outcomes for both aggressive ...
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Season 10
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Episode 119
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9:16
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#118 - Amber Quann: Biofeedback, Beer, & Backpacks
What do biofeedback, brewery manners, and doggy backpacks have in common? Amber Quann, CEO and Head Trainer at Summit Dog Training, weaves them together beautifully in this episode of Enrichment for the Real World. Host Emily Strong an...
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Season 10
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Episode 118
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1:19:21
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#117 - Training an Aggressive Dog Safely: The Ins and Outs of Protected Contact
In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Allie Bender and Emily Strong chat about the use of protected contact including what it is (and no, it isn’t just putting up a gate or a fence), how to adjust your plan based on needs and progre...
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Season 10
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Episode 117
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43:08
#116 - Try It: Budget-Friendly Enrichment from Everyday Items
When it comes to enrichment, we often think we need fancy tools, expensive toys, or complicated activities—but what if the best enrichment was sitting in your recycling bin? In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily Stron...
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Season 10
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Episode 116
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17:58
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#115 - Present Over Perfect: Enrichment That Matters
Episode Overview:Raise your hand if you've ever felt like you’re not doing enough for your pet. 🙋♀️🙋♂️ Whether you're a devoted pet parent or a seasoned pro, enrichment burnout is real—and it’s sneaky. In this episode o...
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Season 10
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Episode 115
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1:01:16
#114 - Sami Griffin: Beyond Performative - Effective Gender Inclusivity for Pet Professionals
What does gender inclusivity have to do with pet behavior consulting? (Spoiler: everything.) In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily Strong (she/they) chats with Sami Griffin (they/them), a cat and dog behavior consulta...
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Season 10
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Episode 114
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53:44
#113 - Q&A: Enrichment Overload- When Is It Too Much?
Ever find yourself second-guessing if you’re “doing enrichment right”? You’re not alone—and this episode is here to clear things up. In this Q&A session, Allie Bender (she/her), Emily Strong (she/they), and Ellen Yoakum (she/her) tackle rea...
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Season 10
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Episode 113
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38:53
#112 - Try It: Teach Your Dog "Find It" From Scratch
Looking for an easy way to enrich your dog’s life and support your behavior goals? “Find It” might be your new favorite go-to. In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily Strong (she/they) walks you through exactly...
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Season 10
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Episode 112
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17:17
#111 - Scent Work for Dogs: Enrichment That Supports the Whole Household
Simple, flexible scent games that help your dog thrive—and give you a well-earned breather.If you’ve ever needed your dog to do something enriching without needing your full attention, or wanted to build your relationship...
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Season 10
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Episode 111
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41:50
#110 - Q&A: Enrichment Strategies for Pets with Allergies
Anyone who has a pet with allergies knows that it can be rough to create an enrichment strategy that fits their needs. Depending on the type and severity of that allergy there can be a lot of restrictions. In this episode, we discuss the allerg...
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Season 9
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Episode 110
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35:07
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#109 - Assessing Risk for the Safety Enrichment Category
We're asked all the time about enrichment that isn't related to food. Well, here we are, folks! Today's episode is all about the safety category of enrichment. We'll discuss how to perform a risk assessment for your pet's enrichment strategy.&n...
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Season 9
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Episode 109
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56:22
