Enlightened By Dogs: Living with Cooperation, Not Obedience

We are replaying this deep and insightful episode of Enlightened By Dogs, where Kathy shares a story that many struggling dog moms will relate to. Hear how she overcame difficult challenges and learn how her hardest dog taught her the true meaning of living a joy-filled partnership lifestyle with dogs.

Some of our most important life lessons come from our hardest dogs. If it wasn’t for those challenges, Kathy tells us that she  would never have the experience, insight, and determination to become the better person she is today.

Phoenix taught her partnership lessons like how to be a loving leader for our dogs, how our emotional responses inform our dogs and how to communicate with our dogs the right way. 

Then there was the crucial life skill of the importance of taking responsibility for our own thoughts, emotions and actions. 

And, most of all, the importance of being patient.

Tune in to this candid episode that might just fill your eyes with tears…and your heart with hope.

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Today, we are replaying a compilation of inspiring tales from dog moms who faced various challenges with their reactive dogs and then completely turned things around.

From dogs barking incessantly at fences, reacting aggressively on leashes, fearing strangers, or simply refusing to move on sidewalks due to panic, these stories shine a light on hope. No matter the existing relationship with your dog - even if it's already good - there’s so much more!,

These dog moms embraced the partnership principles, and with a change in mindset that led to a trust-based approach, they transformed their relationships and their life with their dogs. 

Key Takeaways:

1. Importance of Partnership: Many dog moms who faced challenges with their dogs achieved transformation by adopting the 'partnership approach’. This approach focuses on mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation rather than traditional training methods.

2. Mental Shift Over Training: A recurring theme is the transition from trying to "fix" the dogs through intensive training sessions to changing one's mindset. By understanding and connecting with their dogs on a deeper level, many dog moms found that their dog’s behavior transformed, without intensive training.

3. Challenges Vary: Dogs can exhibit a range of unwanted behaviors, from aggression to fearfulness. Each story emphasizes that regardless of the nature of the challenge, there is hope for improvement and transformation through a trusting partnership.

4. Empathy and Understanding: In multiple stories, dog moms expressed a profound sense of empathy, both for their dogs and for other dog moms facing challenges. This sense of community and understanding underscores the shared experiences of dog moms.

5. Continuous Journey: While many stories highlight significant improvements, they also suggest that the journey with their dogs is continuous. The emphasis is on mutual growth, understanding, and exploring the depth of the bond between human and canine.

Listen to these live interview snippets and get inspired to nurture a partnership lifestyle with your own dogs. Their stories are testament to the transformative power of a partnership-driven approach.

Featured Stories:

1. BETTINA and Murphy:

Adopting Murphy, a deaf dog, posed numerous challenges for Bettina. Beyond his hearing impairment, Murphy was anxious and often acted out, leading to household disruptions. However, Bettina's shift towards a 'brilliant partnership' approach transformed their lives.

"I stopped trying to fix Murphy... The neighbor who was upset about our barking dogs last year asked me why he hasn’t heard my dogs barking now. BPA has been a life-changer for us."

2. ANYA and Zoe:

Zoe, a rescue, initially showed aggression towards other animals and would run away during walks. However, after participating in a partnership workshop, Anya discovered a new approach to their relationship.

"It feels like a mutual exploration of the love we share."

3. MARIANNE with Clover and Bowie:

Formerly leash-reactive Clover and over-enthusiastic Bowie made walks a challenge. Now, Marianne cherishes the harmony they share during their outings.

"Our walk today was perfect... It was about understanding and learning from each other."

4. SUE and Charlie:

Charlie, a rescue dog, was driven by fear and had a strong urge to chase, causing Sue physical injury. As a professional dog trainer, Sue realized the value of partnership over pure training.

“Moving from a transactional relationship to one based on heart-connection made all the difference... Partnership principles are now central to our lifestyle."

5. MARY and Flicka:

Flicka's overactive behavior was a cause for concern for Mary. Her dreams of agility and herding seemed distant. However, by adopting the partnership lifestyle, Mary and Flicka now enjoy a harmonious bond.

Quote: "We’re now deeply engaged in forming brilliant partnerships, cherishing every day."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Kathy Kawalec shares an intimate story about her border collie Maya, who had been rejected by three homes by the time she was six months old. Maya was labeled "untrainable" due to her uncontrollable and dangerous chasing habits. Experienced trainers struggled with her, but Kathy approached the situation differently.

Instead of focusing on training specific behaviors, Kathy prioritized establishing a strong foundation with Maya, emphasizing these key partnership principles:

1. Role modeling: Showing Maya the norms of living as a family and helping her adapt through classical conditioning.

2. Meeting Maya's needs: Ensuring she felt heard, had a sense of belonging, and felt she was contributing to the family.

3. Building trust: Not setting timelines for Maya's progress, but taking things day by day.

4. Decision-making: Using the clarity framework to guide choices, based on trust and desired outcomes.

5. The Partnership Dance Steps: Incorporating dance steps into their daily activities to foster connection and communication.

Once their foundation was strong, Kathy began Maya's sheepdog training. This once "untrainable" dog went on to become a finalist in national competitions and was ranked among the top 30 in North American border collie sheepdog standings.

The essence of their journey is a testament to the power of patience, understanding, and partnership. Kathy encourages others to adopt a similar approach, emphasizing the "95% Rule" (only asking your dog to do something if you're 95% certain they can do what you’re about to ask) and prioritizing deep listening and building a sense of belonging.

Kathy's story with Maya serves as an inspiration to believe in the potential of every dog, regardless of their past.

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Kathy is replaying this important episode featuring the journey she took with her sheltie from fearful to confident.  In this heartwarming and enlightening episode, Kathy reminisces about her journey with her Sable Sheltie, Haley, from the early 1990s. Beginning with a look at Haley's profound fear of strangers, the narrative evolves to reflect on the transformational nature of their bond. 

Despite the obstacles they faced, like Haley's unexpected chase after horses, Kathy employed her deep respect for animals, intuitive training methods, and a departure from conventional wisdom. 

Over the years, Kathy's philosophy has come full circle. While obedience, even when taught through positive reinforcement, was long seen as the gold standard, Kathy believes it's not the most compassionate way to connect with our dogs. She emphasizes that positive reinforcement training isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning. Introducing her progressive concept: partnership-centered cooperation. This method prioritizes living harmoniously with dogs without the confines of obedience training. 

Kathy's vision is clear: she sees this becoming the new norm and is on a mission to revolutionize the dog-human relationship, especially for dog moms who value cooperation over obedience.

Key Takeaways:

• Teaching My Dog Not to Come When I Called: How a Bad Decision Led to Loss of Trust

• Beyond Positive Reinforcement: While positive reinforcement has its merits, it’s merely a starting point in the evolution of harmonious living with dogs.

• Partnership-Centered Cooperation: Kathy's innovative philosophy emphasizes a life with dogs where obedience training takes a backseat, replaced by mutual understanding and trust.

• Patience and Time: Even when faced with challenging behaviors or situations, given enough patience and time, positive change can happen.

• The 95% Rule: Only ask your dog to do something when you're 95% sure they can. This rule, inspired by Haley, helps in ensuring success while building trust.

Recovering From Mistakes and Standing Up for What is Right: Haley's Lesson To Us

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Ever caught your dog looking into your eyes and felt they were trying to tell you something, but couldn't quite grasp their message? You try to listen, but deep down you continue to wonder what your dog is really trying to say.

Whether it's a simple need or a crucial warning, our four-legged friends communicate using body language, vocalizations, and various behaviors. While they can't 'speak human,' we often don't 'speak dog’ – creating misunderstandings that can lead to frustrations, meltdowns, over-arousal and other escalations that happen when there is a communication gap. 

In this episode, we dive into understanding these subtle "dog whispers" that are often overlooked. We'll uncover the importance of recognizing and honoring these signs to nurture a relationship based on trust and connection. From decoding 'bad behaviors' to recognizing early signs of discomfort, we'll discuss ways to strengthen your bond with your furry friend. 

Join us as we help you step into your dog's paws and see the world through their eyes, revealing the importance of trust and safety in your relationship.

Key Takeaways:

• What might seem like 'bad behavior' from dogs can actually be their way of communicating discomfort or stress.

• Listening and paying attention to early signs or 'whispers' from your dog can prevent ‘big emotional behaviors’ down the road.

• Prioritizing trust and understanding by listening to your dog's whispers leads to a harmonious relationship.

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

do we jump to conclusions, thinking that our dogs are refusing to listen or choosing to be difficult? This week’s podcast episode invites us to see our dogs in a new light - as beings HAVING a hard time, NOT giving us a hard time. It’s all about creating “a life of compassion, connection, and cooperation with our dogs. And everyone else in our life too!”

Tune in and explore how we can be more forgiving and understanding, not just towards our dogs but also towards ourselves.

3 Key Takeaways:

• Shift in Perspective: Viewing our dogs not as beings giving us a hard time but as beings having a hard time can revolutionize our approach to dog parenting, fostering a compassionate and understanding relationship.

• Pause-Breathe-Connect Approach: Before reacting to undesired behaviors, pausing to breathe and connect puts us in a better emotional place, enabling a calm and considered response to our dogs’ actions.

• Trust and Respect: Building a relationship based on trust and respect rather than control and obedience allows for a more harmonious and cooperative bond between dogs and their parents.

Quotes:

• “When we see our dog as HAVING a hard time, NOT giving us a hard time... we create a life of compassion, connection, and cooperation with our dogs. And everyone else in our life too!”

• “Our role as dog moms is to raise our dogs as intelligent beings with complex emotional needs... instead of needing to police, control, and shape them to be obedient.”

• “We are all doing the best we can...as we are learning, growing, and becoming. You ARE a good dog mom, and a brilliant human being, even when you sometimes do something you wish you hadn’t.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

In this episode, Kathy explores the profound connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions and the way they shape our lives with our dogs. We’re delving into how powerful our minds really are and how we can better utilize our brains to help us.

Our old ‘Lizzie’ brain often throws us off course, highlighting the hurdles and tough bits, convincing us to stick to the status quo, even when our hearts are yearning for change. Kathy encourages us to tap into our executive thinking brain to break through this resistance and to set our imaginative brains to work to discover ways to experience safe, calm, joyful, and enriching lives with our dogs.

In this heartfelt conversation, Kathy assists dog moms in recognizing the significant effects of synchronizing their thoughts and actions to nurture a more cooperative and trust-filled bond with their dogs.

3 key takeaways:

• You have the power to assign a particular executive task to your executive brain, and then follow through on the ideas that come out of that.

• Your primitive brain does not design your life. Your primitive brain keeps your life exactly the same.

• Overcoming the resistance of the primitive brain and employing executive thinking can help in creating a cooperative partnership with our dogs.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Your ‘Lizzie’ brain won’t help you design your brilliant partnership with your dog, it works to keep your life exactly the same, even if it sucks. Which brain are you going to listen to?”

• “We want to pose questions that are aligned with our vision of a dream life with our dogs, allowing our creative brain to assist in bringing this vision to reality.”

• “You have the power to follow through on the creative ideas that come from your wizard brain, instead of staying stuck from your lizard brain.”

• “You are the thinker of your thoughts, and you have the ability to create the kind of life that you want to live with your dogs with the power of your brain.”

In today’s heartwarming episode, we dive into the essence of consent and freedom in our relationship with our dogs. Reflecting on a coaching session from the Brilliant Partners Academy, we discuss how reimagining our approach towards dogs can build a deep-rooted trust and a cooperative partnership. 

Many of our dogs face anxiety at the vet and with difficult caregiving procedures, and this episode provides insights on handling those situations. The conversation revolves around allowing our dogs to have the agency of choice, creating an environment where they feel seen and heard. We unravel what it means to put on our ‘professional hat’, emphasizing a drama-free approach, ensuring our dogs know we have their backs. 

Peppered with personal anecdotes about Kathy’s dog, Sue, and the importance of reading our dog’s small gestures, this episode will resonate deeply with every dog mom. It’s about listening, understanding, and evolving our bond with our dogs.

3 key takeaways:

• Granting dogs the freedom of choice enhances trust and cooperation in the relationship.

• Stepping into a professional, no-drama role helps our dogs feel secure and supported.

• Recognizing and valuing the micro-moments of consent can have profound effects on our bond with our dogs.

Quotes:

"Allowing our dogs the freedom and agency to give consent helps foster a deep trust and willing cooperation."

"It's the intention of listening that matters. Showing our dogs that we truly hear them is what creates the level of trust needed for our dogs to give their consent."

"Those little moments where I allow my dog the freedom to give her consent are why she's so cooperative. It’s my intention she responds to more than anything."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

In this episode of the "Enlightened by Dogs" podcast, Kathy sheds light on what might be keeping us from having that trusting, heart-to-heart connection with our dogs. Often, without realizing it, we may be building walls between ourselves and our dogs, in spite of our true intentions.

Being stuck in our heads, worrying, or fearing mistakes can hinder the genuine connection that we crave. Kathy emphasizes the importance of being present, avoiding the busy-ness trap, and understanding our unintentional addiction to drama. Inspired by insights from her Brilliant Partners Academy, Kathy shares stories of dog moms who discovered the magic that unfolds when they shift their focus from overthinking to being present and open hearted. 

Listen in as Kathy urges us to re-evaluate our habits, breathe through challenges, and embrace the true essence of partnership with our dogs.

Key Takeaways:

• Building a heart-to-heart connection with our dogs often begins by fostering a similar connection with ourselves.

• Our own habits, including overthinking, excessive worrying, and keeping ourselves and our dogs too busy, can prevent deeper bonding.

• By recognizing and adjusting these patterns, we can pave the way for a more harmonious, cooperative relationship with our dogs.

• Focusing on heart-to-heart connections and embracing a "safe, calm, and happy" lifestyle leads to transformative relationships with our dogs.

Quotes:

"If we're stuck in our head, trying hard to not make a mistake, we’re building a wall between us and our dog instead of being connected heart-to-heart in the moment.” 

"As dog moms, we can get caught up in trying so hard to 'do it right'. All this overthinking creates unnecessary drama, taking us away from connecting with our dogs when they need us most."

"We often overthink, striving for perfection as dog moms. Yet, what a dog most needs is to feel connected, to feel like they belong, to be heard. It's not about getting everything right but about being present and open hearted."

"When you're obsessing over the 'right' way to be a good dog mom, I want you to breathe through that discomfort. Then decide: I'm going to quiet my mind, open my heart, and connect with my dog."

"When the focus becomes solely about doing things 'right,' it’s easy to overlook the genuine moments of heart connection that we really want."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Experiencing the true depth of connection with our dogs lies in understanding our own feelings and mindset.

This episode revolves around a pivotal thought: What if we could manifest the emotions we wish to experience in the future, right in this moment? And what would that mean for our future relationship and partnership life with our dogs?

It’s not about waiting for our dogs to behave a certain way to feel happiness or contentment, it’s about cultivating those feelings in the moment, today.

Often, we find ourselves in a cycle of waiting: "I'll be happy when my dog listens better." But could it be that by feeling happy and calm now, we pave the way for a lifelong harmonious relationship?

One of the most impactful takeaways from this conversation is the recognition of our power to choose our reactions. There exists a brief, transformative moment between an event and our response to it. By harnessing this moment, choosing understanding and compassion, we can fundamentally transform our relationship with our dogs.

Key Takeaways:

• Traditional dog training often misses the essence of a strong human-dog bond, emphasizing commands over connection.

• Embodying our future emotions in the present can dramatically shift our relationships with our dogs and our experiences.

• Between every stimulus and response lies a choice; harnessing this space empowers us to be brilliant partners to our dogs

Quotes:

"In the tiny space between what happens and how we react, there’s a powerful choice point that creates our dream life with our dogs."

"Choosing to respond with love and calm right now in this challenging moment might just be the secret sauce to a happy, cooperative life with your dog."

"How do you want your future to feel? Feel that today."

"All we ever have is NOW. The future we want is created NOW. The more we feel like the future brilliant partner we want to become NOW, the closer that future is to NOW."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

At the heart of every reactive behavior our dogs display is a stress spiral – a chain of emotions and misunderstandings. As dog moms, we often face challenges, especially when confronted with the seeming unpredictability of our dogs' reactions. But what if the key to resolving these reactions isn't in training your dog, but in retraining your brain?

We explore the powerful concept that taking responsibility for our own thoughts, especially during difficult experiences, can drastically change the dynamic with our dogs. The reactivity spiral isn't just about your dog's actions; it's a two-way street, influenced as much by your dog's behavior as by your own reactions. When we become more aware of our responses, we can start to influence the outcome, breaking free from the cycle that damages trust and confidence.

This shift in perspective and approach not only nurtures a deeper bond but also helps in fostering an environment where our dogs can thrive, free from reactivity and full of confidence.

Tune in to hear all about this and more, as Kathy guides you through her protocol.

3 Key Takeaways:

• The reactivity spiral in dogs is heavily influenced by our own thoughts and reactions during challenging moments.

• Taking responsibility for our own mindset can change the dynamic of our relationship, breaking the chain of negative reactions.

• Building trust and confidence with our dogs begins with self-awareness and a commitment to positive change.

Quotes:

"Change your response to change their response. Break free from the reactivity spiral and watch trust and confidence bloom with your dog."

"When we change our perspective, we don't just see our dogs differently; they begin to see the world differently too."

"What we choose to think and feel about an experience deeply influences how we react, creating a spiral that can either uplift or degrade our bond with our dogs."

"Dogs don't just hear what we say; they feel what we feel."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

In today's episode, we look at the world of natural communication and connection with our canine companions. Think back to when you first brought your pup home, that initial bond, the trust, and the love that started to flourish. However, as life happens, unpredictable and potentially traumatic events can strain that bond. So, how do we foster a relationship that ensures our dogs look to us as trustworthy during these scary experiences? 

Reflecting on the nature of dogs, puppies naturally gravitate towards their mother and littermates. It's instinctual. They seek warmth, protection, and food. As dog moms, we can and should continue to nurture this instinct, ensuring our dogs always feel that safety with us. 

Instead of focusing on traditional trained commands that might inadvertently teach our dogs to NOT seek us out, it's about embracing a different approach. Let's teach through understanding, patience, role modeling and true connection, much like how we'd guide a toddler. 

But what if a traumatic event occurs? Say, an unleashed dog approaches fast and hard, scaring our dog on a walk, or a sudden loud thunderstorm triggers panic or anxiety. The key takeaway is that OUR behavior during and after the traumatic event can profoundly affect recovery and the long term effect.  Guiding our dogs confidently and calmly back to safety and being their pillar of strength and comfort will foster even deeper trust.

In Kathy’s shared stories of her dogs Dallas and Luc, we learn how staying calm, being present, and offering refuge can turn traumatic instances into trust-building experiences. Much like how Dallas learned to seek comfort during loud noises, or Luc’s heartwarming natural attraction towards safety and love, our canine companions will easily learn they can always find solace in us.

3 Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• The natural instincts of dogs lean towards seeking comfort, warmth, and protection from us. Embrace and nurture this instinct rather than suppressing it with obedience and training.

• Our behavior during and after traumatic events can profoundly influence how our dogs recover and perceive similar future events.

• Proactively positioning ourselves as pillars of trust and safety, especially in situations that trigger reactivity or fear, can build a stronger, more resilient bond with our dogs.

Quotes:

"We want to demonstrate to our dogs that they can trust us by simply tapping into what's already natural to us and to our dogs."

"We can teach our puppies to move toward us for comfort and love and protection and all the things that meet their needs for thriving, including unconditional love, a strong feeling of belonging, and feeling safe."

"Those traumatic events, like the loud, scary thunder or fireworks that frightened my border collie, Dallas, resulted in even more trust between us. From our shared experiences, she learned to come to me for safety and comfort. Over time, she no longer panicked but looked to me for reassurance."

"How we behave during and after a traumatic event is more important than what actually happened during the traumatic event. It's the natural way that humans and dogs, as social animals, stay connected and seek connection."

"In times of potential danger, think of it as 'getting back to grazing.' Just as a matriarch in a herd would calmly role model to just start eating again after an alarm, we too should aim to restore a sense of calm and safety after an unexpected or unwanted incident."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

In this first episode of a three-part series, Kathy highlights the importance of building your dog’s social confidence. She uses a variety of scenarios to explain what it means and when it’s necessary to be an advocate for your dog.

The series takes a closer look at ways you can stay connected with your dog in awkward and somewhat unpleasant social situations.

Did you know that your puppy or young dog is at the most impressionable stage of their life?

They’re experiencing most things for the first time, which is thrilling! But it’s equally scary because unpleasant experiences can have a long-lasting impact on how they experience ordinary life events moving forward. So, we need to be intentionally mindful of our puppies and young dogs, until they’re confident and resilient enough to stand on their own paws.

In this episode:

• How to be an advocate for your dog in the face of social behavior and training pressure

• How to address well-meaning yet unwanted opinions about how you should handle and train your dog

• How to support your dog when there is pressure to be social

Quotes:

“We need to be exceptionally mindful about being a strong advocate for our puppies and young dogs because they are so impressionable until they’re confident, mature and resilient adults.”

“Our most important role as savvy dog moms is to build and protect trust and confidence in our dogs.”

“As loving dog moms, we are responsible for being the voice for our dog in any social environment and intentionally create experiences that nurture feelings of safety, confidence and trust.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

We often make unconscious decisions about what our dog’s unwanted behavior means, and then jump to conclusions and take actions based on those assumptions. But what if their behavior doesn’t mean what we think it means?

In today’s episode, we’re going to take a look at why dogs behave certain ways, and how we commonly respond to those behaviors, without even thinking much about it.

When you have greater clarity and a deeper understanding of what your dog does, why they do it, and how they respond to you, it helps plant seeds of trust – and all it takes is a perspective shift.

Kathy guides you through the common behaviors (and misunderstandings) through the lens of the Five Dog Personality Types, along with suggestions for reframes and a fresh perspective that will build more trust and cooperation between you and your dog!

In this episode:

• What negative thoughts are common for each personality type

• How understanding your dog’s personality can help you reframe your thoughts

• New thinking that leads to more trust and cooperation with your dog

• Three journal prompts to help you start reframing

Quotes:

“Recognizing that your dog has unique personality traits and quirks that express through their behavior is a crucial step to building a trusting, cooperative partnership with your dog.”

“When you have greater clarity and a deeper understanding of what your dog does, why they do it, and how they are likely to respond, it opens the door to a whole new world of connection and cooperation between you and your dog.”

“Reframing how you think about your dog’s ‘difficult’ behavior will lead to growing trust rather than leaking it.”

“If your dog’s behavior seems difficult and uncooperative, it may feel like your dog is deliberately giving you a hard time. But the truth is, your dog is having a hard time too.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

When we take a deeper look at what it means to walk in partnership with our dogs, we find opportunities for bonding, connection, mutual respect and kindness.

Most of us dog moms envision walking our dogs as an enjoyable experience … but that’s not always how it goes! 

For many dog moms, walking their dogs can be a stressful and frustrating experience, rather than a beautiful bonding opportunity.

But, what if walking with your dog was easy?

It sounds like a dream come true, right?

Join Kathy in this enlightening discussion about what it means to be a dog mom who has the mindset of walking in partnership … something that we do WITH our dogs … not something we do for our dogs, or to our dogs.

In this episode:

• Why you should ‘think like a mother’ when walking with your dog

• How to make walking with your dog easy

• Dogs provide a safe space to learn how to nurture a relationship of respect and kindness

Quotes:

“Guided by deep love for our dogs, we can learn how to better navigate the world as advocates for kindness, respect and empathy.”

“What if walking with our dogs was easy?”

“One of the magical things about living with and loving dogs is that they make it just a little bit easier to learn how to nurture beautiful relationships.”

“What if our leash was a tool of communication (not management), and a metaphor for the quality of our connection to be explored?”

Mentioned in this episode:

TED Talk by Yifat Susskind

Episode 81 of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast

Episode  94 of the Enlightened By Dogs Podcast

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy dives into using the power of your thinking to reach the full potential of becoming a brilliant partner with your dog. 

Sharing some of her favorite strategies, Kathy makes a case for taking responsibility for our thoughts, feelings, and actions as key for having a successful and happy relationship with our canine partners. 

Visualizing the life we want to have and having a balance between achieving and growing can help us better understand and connect with our dogs for lifelong partnership success, and for immediate happy feelings that we can share with our dogs. 

Get ready to change your life and become a brilliant partner for your dogs!

In this episode:

• 3 Strategies To Help You Become a Brilliant Partner for Your Dog

• Using Our Imaginations and Brains to Create the Life We Want

• Become the person who can, before you become the person who does.

• Success isn’t only about what you accomplish externally, but also who you become internally.

Quotes:

“We already have everything that we need to be brilliant, and so do our dogs.”

“The truth is that you and your dog are good enough, perfect enough, just the way you are…the same as an apple seed is already perfect.”

“Our subconscious beliefs are powerful and can either limit or expand our life with our dogs. If we don’t believe we can, then that is what becomes true.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

All behavior is communication, so how your dog responds to you (or doesn’t respond to you) is how they are trying to tell you how they feel in the moment. 

When your dog seemingly refuses to listen to you, it can be really frustrating. Sometimes, it can even feel like your dog isn’t listening to you on purpose, which makes you even more frustrated. 

Thankfully, Kathy knows just what you need to do to change your story from ‘my dog won’t listen’ to ‘my dog loves to listen’!

Now, the answer might not be what you expected!

To get your dog to listen to you, first, you’ve got to listen to your dog. 

Tune in for all the details in this insightful episode!

In this episode:

• The real reason why your dog won’t listen to you

• How to reframe your thoughts about your dog’s listening

• Why role modeling can help you guide behavior

• How to create a plan for when you feel that your dog isn’t listening to you

Quotes:

“When you believe that your dog is not listening, I would invite you to reframe that into: my dog has a need that isn’t being met.”

“We can teach our dogs how to communicate without escalating their behavior by listening to them in a different way.”

“If we’re going to step up as a trusted guide and role model for our dogs, then we’ve got to figure out a different way to be in the moment when they need us the most.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

In this episode Kathy will help you identify the root cause of your dog’s excessive barking, and guide you through the eight steps of her Bark Busting Protocol to prevent and rehab unwanted barking, the partnership way.

Pretty much every dog mom has a story of their dog’s over-the-top barking. Kathy certainly has a few stories of her own, and she shares the exact steps she took with unwanted barking with her own dogs in this episode.

So, what are the steps to getting on top of unwanted barking? What’s the real cause of it? And is it possible to stop it after the habit has already formed?

In this episode:

• A reminder that barking is normal and natural – but that doesn’t mean it is never problematic

• Why the first step in overcoming unwanted barking is a shift in our own perspective

• How to manage unwanted barking and understanding why dogs do it

• The four main categories of unwanted, over-the-top barking, and Kathy’s 8-Step Protocol

Quotes:

“If we yell at our dogs because they’re barking, they could very well interpret that as agreement and encouragement to continue barking.”

“Dogs bark - it’s their way of expressing - and we love that about them. That doesn’t mean that we have to love their crazy, over-the-top aroused, and inappropriate barking.”

“Instead of yelling or being frustrated at your dog’s excessive barking … be present, role model, and utilize the mirror effect that informs all social mammals how we do things in our family.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

We’re making it real with this episode!  It’s when we step into our place as trustworthy role models and loving leaders that our relationship with our dog truly blossoms.

When we and our dogs are feeling safe, calm and happy – Kathy calls that ‘being in the green zone’ – then we are able to connect, make better choices and interrupt the behavior spiral of stress that no one wants.

As Kathy emphasizes in this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, we need to move away from the desensitizing, counter-conditioning mindset of dog training that is so embedded in our culture and focus on the human-dog connection that leads to natural cooperation.

In this episode:

• Co-regulation is the key to strong relationships and helps to achieve a state of safety and connection.

• Reacting mindlessly to emotions can lead to being stuck in survival mode, so it is important to stay in the green zone.

• The Autonomic Nervous System plays an important role in creating trust.

Quotes:

“What greater joy is there than walking with your dog, enjoying nature. Watching your dog sniff and roll and see the light in their eyes and their tongues lolling out!”

“We’ve got the capacity, the capability and the responsibility to keep us and our dogs in the green zone.”

“Understanding co-regulation is essential and focusing on a trust-building partnership lifestyle is a great way to develop  between humans and dogs.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Are you getting in the way of building the future of your dreams with your dog?

When we welcome a dog into our lives, we usually dream of living in perfect harmony together with (preferably) no ‘unwanted behavior’. So, when things don’t turn out the way we thought they would, it’s easy to let ourselves get lost in a sea of negative thoughts.

We become so focused on everything that’s ‘wrong’ with our lives (and our dogs), that we forget to focus on what’s truly important.

While life can seem like an unpredictable journey with its share of successes and failures, it is key to pay attention when it comes to our emotions, actions, and ultimately, our experiences. 

Kathy’s advice? Adopt a "choose your own adventure" mindset to create the life you want with your dog and trust the process. Remain resilient and maintain an optimistic outlook in order to face life’s ups and downs. Practicing good listening without judgment and staying present are great tools for creating a healthy relationship with our dog or ourselves. 

So, in this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy challenges you to start focusing on the right things – things that will help you to create the dream life you’ve always wanted with your dog. She also shares some mindset hacks to help you get there!

Key Takeaways

• Pay attention to where your attention lies.

• Learn from mistakes and take a new approach if necessary.

• Life is a journey of successes and failures.

• Appreciate the highs and power through the lows.

• Focus on what is important and take the time to enjoy the good times.

Quotes:

“You and your dog are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time.”

“Life is like a camera. Focus on what’s important. Capture the good times. Develop yourself from the negatives and if things don’t turn out, take another shot.”

“One day, she realized that the only control she had was how she chose to handle things. So she made the decision to use courage, humor, and grace. She was the queen of her own life, and the choice was hers.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

In this guest edition of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy introduces Erin who tells us about her journey with her unexpectedly intense Border Collie, Jess.

Erin, a lovely member of the Brilliant Partners Academy, picked up Jess with the hope of love, joy and adventure. To start off with, things were really hard! Jess’ behaviors left Erin feeling anxious, stressed and even panicked at times.

It all started when they brought home a border collie bundle of joy they named Jess. The puppy was intense and without major 'issues', but Erin was feeling overwhelmed, anxious and often panicked. She was exhausted with worry about making mistakes and thousands of 'worse-case scenarios' played over and over in her mind. Every small behavior issue with the puppy felt BIG, and like a crisis for Erin. Buying books and enrolling in courses and looking for advice to 'fix' everything only left her feeling worried, exhausted and stressed out.

They are in a completely different place now, and Erin shared: "These days, I feel so much calmer and happier - I love life with my wee dog! We are doing great, we love each other and I know we can figure anything out together. We enjoy our walks and adventures and cuddles. I trust her so she is off lead and exploring so much more which she loves. My relationship with Jess is 90% joyful, loving and fun, rather than 90% worried, stressed, upset and frustrated like before."

There is so much to takeaway from this interview, so jump right in!

In this episode:

• How Erin’s constant worry and confusion about doing the right thing was lifted

• Dealing with an intense puppy brings more than expected

• How Erin and Jess rebuilt their life together, and now enjoy a safe, calm and happy relationship

Quotes:

“She was up every couple of hours through the night, wanting reassurance. I didn’t feel equipped to deal with that. Now I feel I know how to respond.”

“I’ve got a little way to go. But things don’t freak me out anymore. That’s the difference.”

“Trust what feels right for you. It might not be my approach. It could be something else.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

This week, Kathy turns the spotlight on a member of the Brilliant Partners Academy. Terri joins this Enlightened By Dogs episode to tell the tale of her beloved Bella and their shared transformation.

Terri’s life was turned upside down when they decided to adopt Bella from the local shelter...and quickly found out that EVERYTHING over-aroused her. Bella’s intensity and reactivity made almost everything in life seem impossible and they got into a red zone spiral they couldn't get out of. Terri was feeling angry, frustrated, embarrassed, and sad.

Today? Terri shares: "I never dreamed I would be hiking with BOTH of my dogs, enjoying nature without constantly scanning, and I love having the tools I learned in BPA to keep my little pack safe, calm and happy!"

Every dog has different needs, personality types, and complexities, and the learning process never really ends. In this episode, Terri shares her experiences with Bella and what she’s learned from being a BPA member.

Terri adopted Bella from a shelter and found herself stuck in a red zone spiral. She would never have dreamed of one day enjoying hiking with her. But through her own insights and BPA learning processes, she has helped Bella develop into the calmer dog she is today.

Tune in to this heartwarming story, and be sure to take notes for your own transformation with your dog!

In this episode:

• How Terri learned to deeply listen to her dogs’ needs

• Why sticking with BPA and the partnership lifestyle is crucial for Terri

• Why remaining calm helps your dogs remain calm, and how to do that

Quotes:

“I have to tell myself not to get tense because if I’m tense, she’s tense. If I’m calm, she’s calm.”

“If we’re sitting on the couch and I take a deep breath, Bella takes a deep breath too. I know she can mirror me.”

“I praised Bella anytime she wanted to be beside me. I was like: “You’re just such a wonderful dog,” and I just let my heart flow out with her.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

You may think that you’re listening to your dog’s wants and needs, but listening isn’t always what you think it is.

We all want to do what’s best for our dogs. However, sometimes, in the quest for a successful relationship, we can get stuck pursuing traditional training methods that just aren’t working. The reality is, truly listening to your dog can look very different from how you might have imagined it.

When you open up your mind and your heart to your partnership’s possibilities, that’s when things can really start to change ­– especially if you have a reactive dog.

Steph Taleb and her dog, Pow, are a perfect example of how real listening can build a strong, thriving partnership. Steph joined the Brilliant Partners Academy (BPA) back in 2018, looking for a better way to calm and bond with Pow. Their partnership now shows how far you can come when you invest in deeply listening, and in openness. This is their story. It’s a story that never gets old, it’s one of my listener favorites, and mine too!

In this episode:

• How Pow and Steph began their journey to a brilliant partnership

• What to do when traditional training doesn’t work

• Why Steph turned to the Brilliant Partners Academy

• How to embrace real listening

• Why expectations and compliance could be holding your relationship back

QUOTES:

“What it feels like to listen to her now is that there’s a flow between us. It’s a gentle flow of energy between us that is organic.”

“It was like a teacher-student relationship – now it’s a partnership.”

“My idea of what perfect was, of having a perfect dog, of trying to make her perfect, doesn’t even exist anymore.”

“Once I got rid of that pressure and that stress of compliance, then she wanted to come to me.”

“Open your mind. Listen to your heart. Your relationship with your dog will transform.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Bettina’s life was turned upside down when they decided to adopt Murphy, a deaf dog with OCD, after seeing his handsome face on a rescue website. It quickly became apparent that Murphy had a LOT more going on than a hearing impairment…

Bettina says…”We adopted Murphy knowing his deafness meant special needs, but quickly his OCD behaviors that included tearing out drywall and resource guarding turned our life upside down. Soon it was not only affecting us, but our other dogs too. Bear started reacting to moving cars and bikes and Mary was stressed and showing signs of growing anxiety. Then Bear and Murphy started fighting, so we had to keep them separated.

We couldn’t go for walks anymore and car rides to quiet places didn’t work either because the dogs were crazy in the car now. I felt trapped and ready to rehome Murphy to get our lives back.

Then I saw Kathy’s video and I thought ‘I’ve tried everything – training classes, private behavior sessions, reactive dog classes … I have nothing to lose’. 10 months later, I could take Bear and Mary in the car again, and we can go out for walks. All three dogs could be together in the house again.

I stopped trying to fix Murphy and we have a great partnership now. He turned into a real snuggle bug and we are helping him live life to the fullest.”

Bettina’s story is truly fascinating and on this special episode of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast, you’ll hear the full story of how a distressed family with three reactive fighting dogs restored their lives back to harmony. I hope you enjoy this inspirational story, it’s one of my favorites!

In this episode:

• Adopting Murphy into the family turned their life upside down.

• Was Murphy a lost cause? Would he need to be sent to a new home?

• How the family was able to come together as a unit and embrace a new way of living!

• Learning how to communicate with a dog who is deaf, and things that Bettina had never even considered!

Quotes:

 “The beauty of the Partnership Lifestyle is that it’s not just for our dogs, it’s also for us”

“The safe, calm, & happy protocol was a lifesaver… we haven’t had any family dog fights in two years”

“I think the dogs were becoming anxious and unruly because we didn’t know what to do, or how to be the loving leaders they needed.”

“Living a partnership lifestyle changed everything. We can drive them again! We can walk them again!”

“We weren’t even able to have them in the same room together, they are now lying on the couch together, they’re playing outside together”

“Our dogs don’t bark at the neighbors anymore”

“I never knew how to communicate with my dogs until I met you”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Living with a reactive dog can be a frustrating experience, and as a first-time dog mom, it can be an overwhelming and seriously confusing one as well.

In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy revisits a conversation she had with first-time dog mom Paulina Grzesinska-Mrozek.

Paulina was struggling with her dog Badi, who was very reactive to other dogs and people both in their apartment and on walks. Paulina struggled to understand Badi and couldn’t figure out why he always barked at other dogs, people and so many things. This caused Paulina to judge herself and to compare her dog with others, creating more frustration for both of them.

Today, their partnership is strong and built on trust and mutual understanding. Hear about Paulina’s experiences and how she used the BPA partnership principles to achieve this transformation.

In this episode:

• How Paulina initially struggled to understand Badi’s needs

• How Paulina and Badi have transformed their partnership together

• The partnership principles that Paulina found most useful

• How Paulina and Badi became role models for each other

Quotes:

“BPA had a big impact on me understanding Badi’s behaviors. Now when I just look at him, I know what he wants to communicate.”

“Now I understand him so much better. I learned how to listen to him.”

“I’m learning how to actually be there with him. When I catch myself going somewhere with my thoughts, I’m like, no, no, no, don’t worry about other stuff, you are here and now.”

“Our dogs are such great teachers if we just pay attention”

“The partnership lifestyle is like literally the best thing”

“I’m so grateful for all the lessons that he’s giving me, even though the beginning was super hard”

“I’m sometimes role modeling for him, but there are times when he’s role modeling for me”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

If you've been struggling with understanding your dog and feeling uncertain about knowing what the right thing to do is,  I have got an episode for you! We're featuring dog moms, my amazing and brilliant students who had the same questions as you, the same struggles as some of you, and the same worry, overwhelm, frustration, disappointment as many of us feel, at least at times. 

What I love about my students' stories is that they really paint a picture of what is possible and what it looks like to go from struggling, to feeling happy and enjoying life with their dogs.

And I have a feeling that you're going to be inspired and more confident about creating a heart centered life of partnership, connection, and cooperation with your dog. 

So, if you sometimes struggle as you try to understand your dog and create a meaningful connection with them … I want you to know that you’re not alone.

Many dog moms before you have struggled with confidence in the fact that they are doing right by their dogs. Naturally, once these feelings creep in, it becomes even harder to establish that incredible bond with their dogs.

In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy shares the testimonies of four different dog moms, who describe a range of different struggles and circumstances that mirror what most dog moms out there are braving through every day. It’s wonderful to see the transition from a place of little to no confidence up to the point where everything turned around for the better.

In this episode:

• How BPA dog mom Sandra Chilton and rough collie Nigella transitioned from anxiety to a confident partnership

• What it took for Alicia Martin to rebuild trust with her dachshund, Joey

• Marika Bertram’s transition from traditional dog training to a partnership mindset

• Ros Swallow’s path to a less reactive partnership with her dogs

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy Kawalec delves into the concept of understanding our dogs' behavior as communication, helping us to move away from frustration. She teaches us how to reframe our thoughts and reactions to our dogs when they don't seem to listen, and to see their actions as an unmet need rather than defiance. 

Kathy emphasizes the importance of connecting with our dogs on a deeper level by stepping into their paws and meeting them where they are. This episode offers valuable insights on how to create a stronger bond with our dogs and help them feel valued, loved, and understood, ultimately leading to a more attentive and responsive relationship.

In this episode:

• Reframe your thoughts and see your dog's behavior as communication of an unmet need.

• Connect with your dog on a deeper level and strive for connection instead of correction.

• Guide and role model your dog by being clear, patient, and engaging in a heart-to-heart connection.

Quotes:

"Behavior is communication, so we want to look underneath the surface for a deeper understanding of what’s really behind our dog’s behavior." - Kathy Kawalec

“Let's create a world where our dogs feel loved, valued, and like they truly belong in our family.”

 - Kathy Kawalec

"Instead of frustration, adopt the mindset of: Let's figure this out together. Let's break it down, and take one small step at a time." - Kathy Kawalec

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this episode of "Enlightened by Dogs," Kathy takes us on a journey into the captivating world of dog communication and behavior by listening to whispers. 

Together, we'll learn how understanding these subtle cues can significantly enhance the bond between you, the loving dog mom, and your canine companion. Discover the importance of recognizing your dog's "whispers" before they escalate into "shouts," and join Kathy as she shares three empowering tips to help you better understand your dog's behavior. 

By the end of the episode, you'll be better equipped to nurture trust, encourage calmness, and create a safe and happy space for your beloved dog, truly becoming their best friend.

Key Takeaways:

• 'Bad behavior' is often a cry for help: Dogs communicate their feelings through actions, and when they feel unheard or misunderstood, their behavior may escalate to get your attention.

• Pay attention to the signs: Recognizing your dog's subtle cues or "whispers" is crucial for understanding their emotions and building trust.

• Listen to your dog's whispers: Trust your dog when they show signs of unease or discomfort, and consciously make choices to create positive experiences that foster confidence and trust.

Quotes:

• "When trust runs deep, you and your dog can handle any experience together."

• "Remember this: your dog is not giving you an intentional hard time. They are having a hard time and need your help with a difficult situation."

• "All good relationships are based on trust. When your dogs feel safe, calm, and happy, they'll begin to trust you more and more."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this enlightening episode of "Enlightened by Dogs," host Kathy Kawalec explores the importance of communication as the foundation for building a successful, heart-centered relationship with your dog. Kathy delves into the various aspects of communication, including the exchange of information, ideas, and feelings between you and your dog.

Throughout the episode, Kathy emphasizes the importance of a dialogue loop, a two-way exchange between you and your dog that fosters understanding and cooperation. 

She shares insights on how humans often inadvertently teach their dogs to ignore them by focusing on training instead of cooperation, or by being distracted and incongruent. To build a strong partnership, Kathy encourages dog moms to be fully aware and consciously communicate with their dogs during every interaction.

Kathy also discusses the significance of nonverbal communication and the power of intention in enhancing the partnership with your dog. By understanding the intention behind your dog's choices and behaviors, you can develop a deeper bond and establish trust.

Key Takeaways:

1. Communication is essential for building a successful relationship with your dog and involves a dialogue loop that goes beyond just information exchange.

2. Be conscious of the impact of nonverbal communication and how it affects the bond with your dog.

3. Recognize and respect the intentions behind your dog's behaviors to foster a deeper understanding and connection.

4. Assess your dog's situation before expecting a response, just as you would for yourself.

5. Partnership with your dog develops through small moments of communication, intention, and understanding.

Quotes:

1. "One little moment at a time, one little decision at a time, one little communication at a time. That is how a partnership develops." - Kathy Kawalec

2. "Our reactive, distracted, unruly dogs are not giving us a hard time. They're having a hard time." - Kathy Kawalec

3. "In the quiet moments of understanding and connection, we find a love that speaks louder than words – the language of our hearts." 🐶❤️

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this episode, we’re digging deeper into what is happening when your dog is triggered, and how to interrupt meltdowns with a pause, breathe, connect technique.

Kathy explores the concept of using the natural biology of connection to help our dogs calm down, emphasizing the importance of meeting both our own and our dogs' social needs. As social animals, humans and dogs share many needs, including the needs to feel safe and connected. When these needs are met, trust and cooperation flourish, leading to a more harmonious relationship between you and your dog.

Kathy delves into the science behind the autonomic nervous system and how it influences our experiences of safety and connection, drawing from Steven Porges' polyvagal theory. She explains how our nervous systems are constantly seeking connection, and how this affects our dogs as well. Dogs have a calming effect on humans, but our own stress and anxiety can also impact our dogs' nervous systems, making them more reactive.

To foster a positive, heart-centered relationship with your dog, Kathy shares the importance of co-regulation, which lies at the heart of all positive relationships, including those with our dogs. By creating a safe and calm environment for ourselves and our dogs, we can build trust, develop connection, and grow a life of cooperation.

Finally, Kathy leaves listeners with a simple strategy for interrupting emotional meltdowns: pause, breathe, and connect. By focusing on a positive memory of your dog and remembering that they need your support, you can help yourself and your dog find calm during stressful moments.

Key Takeaways:

• Social needs of humans and dogs overlap, leading to a deep connection when both feel safe and connected.

• Our autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in our experiences of safety and connection, affecting our dogs as well.

• Co-regulation is the key to building trust, connection, and a sense of belonging in our relationships with our dogs.

• Our own stress and anxiety can impact our dogs' nervous systems, making it important to create a safe and calm environment for both of you.

• The simple strategy of pausing, breathing, and connecting can help interrupt emotional meltdowns and bring calm to both you and your dog.

Inspiring Quotes:

"We humans and our dogs are literally wired to connect; our hearts lead the way to facilitate that connection by sending signals to our body and to our brain that help us co-regulate in a way that creates an experience of safe, calm, and happy."

"Co-regulating connections invite a sense of belonging and safety, making the world feel like a safe, calm, and happy place by default."

"Pause, breathe, connect. When you feel yourself getting triggered by your dog's behavior or a circumstance that is too difficult, take a moment to pause, breathe deeply, and connect with a positive memory of your dog."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this week's episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy Kawalec debunks three common myths around dog obedience training and old thinking that keeps us and our dogs stuck in old unwanted behaviors. As a dog mom, you may have fallen for one, two, or even all three of these myths that have been holding you back from creating a brilliant life with your dog.

Kathy shares her experiences from 20+ years of coaching, mentoring, and instructing other dog moms, helping them achieve a level of success with their dogs they never thought was possible. She believes that focusing on transactions and training behaviors is not the most effective way to live successfully with dogs.

Instead, she suggests going right to the root cause of behaviors and meeting both your needs and your dog's needs as social mammals. Once you start focusing on understanding your dog and meeting their needs, you'll see real progress towards creating a fulfilling partnership with them.

If you're ready to change the way you approach dog behavior and create a brilliant partnership with your dog, tune in to this week's episode of Enlightened by Dogs.

Key takeaways:

• Waiting for everything to be perfect is not an option, and the longer you wait, the less likely you'll ever be to start.

• Partnership is the number one thing that can catapult you to a level of success with your dog.

• Focusing on transactions and training behaviors is not the most effective way to live successfully with dogs.

• Understanding and meeting both our needs as social mammals is the key to creating a life of brilliant partnership with our dogs.

• Letting go of limiting beliefs around dog obedience training culture and facing our fears around making changes are essential to living cooperatively with dogs.

Quotes:

“Most of us dog moms don’t want to learn how to become an expert dog trainer. What we really want is to live effectively, cooperatively, peacefully, and enjoyably with the dogs that we love.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

“Most of us dog moms don’t want to put all of our time and attention on being a dog obedience trainer. What we really want is to live cooperatively, peacefully, and happily with our dogs … and the good news is we don’t need obedience training to have that.”

"Partnership, not training, is the number one thing that has catapulted me to a level of success with my own dogs that I could never have imagined."

"Focusing on transactions and training behaviors is not the most effective way to live successfully with dogs, and doing that often leads to getting stuck in a difficult, reactive spiral of stress"

In this episode, Kathy leads a discussion about your dog’s personality traits, how that relates to their behavior, and why this matters. This deeper understanding of your dog's personality will foster a stronger bond and create a more cooperative environment between you and your dog.

By looking into the "shadow traits" that may be the hidden drivers of your dog’s more challenging behaviors, dog moms can gain a better sense of how to better communicate with their pup. 

To help dog moms reframe their dog’s behavior and traits, Kathy shares the special superpower traits each dog has that could be nurtured with the right understanding. These superpower traits include Organizers having the superpower of persistence, Sages the superpower of curiosity, and Explorers the superpower of driven. 

By better understanding and nurturing these traits, dogs can become more cooperative and patient, and dog moms will be able to see their dogs for the clever, intelligent, adventurous, strong and powerful dogs that really are underneath that difficult behavior! 

Ultimately, with this deeper understanding of your dog’s personality traits, a better connection and trust will develop, and a cooperative and brilliant life can be shared together.

Key Takeaways:

• Dogs communicate through their behavior and it is important for humans to look below the surface.

• Understanding a dog’s personality traits can open up communication and provide insight.

• Nurturing and understanding can lead to dogs being more cooperative and connected.

• Unlock your dog’s unique characteristics with The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Your Dog’s Personality Traits, Sensitivities, Superpowers, Exercise and Sleep Needs

Quotes:

“Getting curious about our dog’s behavior is a great launchpad to a deeper understanding so that we can break free of the spiral of doubt, difficulty, and disconnection that so often occurs.”

“Even when your dog is barking like mad, or pulling you hard, or running away when you call ... or jumping or mouthing or growling ... it's important to remember that they're communicating that there's something going on under the surface, and that's the only way they have in that moment to to communicate how they feel.”

“When we look under the surface for understanding the root causes of our dog's behavior, it's good to start with taking a look at their personality traits,  so that we can open softer, kinder, and easier communication and cooperation with our dog.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this episode, Kathy celebrates the connection between women and their dogs as a source of strength, vulnerability, and empathy. 

This unique approach draws from the power within, taking the focus away from outdated approaches of power-over and dominance to one of collaboration and connection. By fostering a partnership with our dogs, we are showing them the respect they deserve, and contributing to a new age of leading with love and empathy. 

Kathy shares her big “why,” and her inspiration to help dog moms to experience a full and happy life that brings them closer to their dogs. She talks about the true meaning of power and why it doesn’t mean what we’ve been conditioned to think it does.

If you’re ready to be inspired, and proud to be a dog mom, this is the episode for you!

In this episode:

• We are healing from generations of cultural and societal conditioning and working towards a more cooperative way of living with our dogs.

• By partnering with our dogs we can support them to be respected members of the family and the planet.

• Our sisterhood celebrates a connection with our dogs that is rooted in strength, vulnerability and empathy.

• Power has been historically defined in terms of strength and dominance, but now it is shifting toward our ability to achieve purpose and effect change through collaboration, connection, empathy, and love.

Quotes:

“Our sisterhood celebrates a connection with our dogs that is rooted in strength, vulnerability and empathy.”

“We are healing from generations of cultural and societal conditioning of ‘power over’ and working towards a more cooperative way of living with our dogs.”

“Becoming the badass, strong, soft, and wholehearted human that we are meant to be is inspired by our love for dogs.”

“Understanding the power of collaboration, connection, empathy, and love is the key to leading way to living in harmony with our dogs, and with each other.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this episode of "Enlightened by Dogs," host Kathy Kawalec invites you to explore your legacy as a dog mom and to consider how you can make a positive impact on the world through your relationship with your dogs. 

As conscious dog moms, we have the opportunity and a responsibility to create a better world for us and our dogs, and that's exactly what Kathy explores in this episode.

Drawing on the wisdom of Marianne Williamson and her own experiences, Kathy emphasizes the importance of connection and self-discovery in creating a fulfilling and meaningful life with our dogs.

Kathy discusses the unique partnership between humans and dogs, and how this partnership can lead to mutual growth and connection when approached with empathy, compassion, and a willingness to listen to our dogs' honest communication. 

She encourages listeners to choose a legacy of kindness and cooperation over control and obedience, and to embrace the feminine wisdom that recognizes the importance of connection, trust, and feeling safe in our relationships with our dogs.

In this episode, listeners will learn:

• The importance of connection and self-discovery in creating a fulfilling life with dogs.

• The value of honest communication and reflection in our relationships with our dogs.

• The power of choosing a legacy of kindness and cooperation in our relationships with our dogs.

Quotes:

"Connection is the energy that exists between two sentient beings when they feel seen, heard and valued."

"The gift of truth from our dogs is simple: we are on this journey together, and our hearts will lead the way toward a life of cooperation, connection, and love without condition."

"Interspecies cooperation does not come from training obedience, expecting compliance, controlling resources or transacting with rewards ... it comes from empathy, compassion, kindness, clarity, connection, feeling safe, and TRUST."

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

There are lots of things that can happen outside our home that can set our dogs off on a barking or reactive spiral that disrupts the peace. Landscapers, construction workers, things in the sky, oh my! The good news is that our dogs look to us for clues on how to behave, so when we are a solid role model, it can change everything!

In this episode, Kathy will share some real-life examples with her own dogs, where she was able to be a role model for her dogs and prevent reactive behavior from developing or escalating.

Because dogs easily mirror our behavior, that means that when we learn to be responsible for our own behavior, our dogs start to learn ‘how we do things’.  Kathy gives you three really clear examples that you use in your own life with your dogs.

In order for role modeling to work well with your own dogs, you'll need to start with some foundation principles. Take note of the four steps Kathy shares as your takeaway action steps to get started.

In this episode:

• Kathy gives a few personal examples of how she acts as a role model for her dogs

• Why we need to address our own behavior first

• Why giving our dogs the freedom to choose to follow our lead is so powerful

• 4 steps to get started being a role model your dog loves to follow

Quotes:

“My dogs know to look to me for guidance on how we respond to this unique situation.”

“When we role model for our dogs, we’re literally communicating with our thoughts, our emotions, and with our actions: this is no concern of ours.”

“Dogs naturally mirror our behavior. That means that we need to be responsible for our behavior.”

“All good relationships and partnerships are based on trust. When our dogs trust us to be good role models, they will follow our lead.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

What is the best thing to do when your dog is “protecting” you in an unwanted way that is damaging to you physically and emotionally?

Today Kathy is sharing a segment from a coaching call in from her Brilliant Partners Academy to discuss this exact situation…

This dog mom has a retired service dog who is feeling anxious right now, due to an allergy flareup, a new puppy in the family, and stress all around. Lola (the dog) has lately started overprotecting her human mom when delivery people come to their door. She is pulling really, really hard and almost pulling Diane out of her wheelchair.

Kathy works through the details and talks her student through the difference between when a dog is protecting us because it's clearly unsafe and we appreciate their protection, and when a dog is dangerously taking on a protective role unnecessarily.

What do we do? Well, there's this balance between permissive and clear and kind. We can focus on finding a balance that brings freedom and responsibility together, in order to create positive and lasting change in our family.

In this episode:

• Managing Lola's stress and anxiety, implementing self-care strategies, and supporting each individual in the family.

• Strategies for preparation in advance of deliveries, using an emergency rescue as needed, while focusing on long-term solutions.

• Understanding how to be a clear, kind & confident loving leader for your anxious dog who doesn’t know what to do about their emotions.

Quotes:

"It's easy to forget how hard it is to adjust to a new family configuration. Just like us, our dogs need time to adapt and recalibrate. It’s important to create a peaceful family dynamic during this time."

"Having strategies to maintain safety, calm and cooperation in advance will prevent explosive reactions from our dogs. It's important to be proactive and guide them in a calm, clear and positive way."

"Our dogs' behavior can often be a reflection of their physical and emotional state, so taking steps to help them feel better can lead to a happier and calmer home."

"Even though our dogs can't speak to us, they communicate their needs and feelings in other ways. It's important to listen and work together to find solutions that will help both us and our dogs."

“Being a loving leader for your dog requires clarity, kindness and love.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this episode Kathy talks about the importance of creating a deeper connection with our dogs as a way to avoid over-arousal. When dogs are keen about animals, she emphasizes that we should stay present, observe, and communicate with our dogs as we guide and support their development. 

Kathy is sharing a segment where she is coaching one of her students who has a young border collie who is showing keen interest in the sheep and horses on her farm. They work out how to best handle the situation right now, and how to prepare for future developments as her dog matures.

She also discusses the importance of adjusting our plan when things change and our dogs become keen to work or show signs of over-arousal. This means paying attention to subtle changes in behavior and body language that may indicate a shift in their mindset. 

By staying present, connected and responsive, you can help your dog feel supported and understood, which ultimately strengthens your bond and improves their ability to be cooperative.

Key takeaways:

• Staying connected, being mindful and present is important in building a deeper connection and more cooperation with our dogs.

• We should adjust our plan when our dogs become keen to work or show signs of over-arousal, and experiment with ways to manage daily routines in a way that keeps both us and our dogs from getting over-aroused.

• Dogs need our guidance and role modeling to successfully live together with us in different environments.

• Changes in a dog's behavior can signal their preferences or interests, so it's important to stay connected and pay attention to them.

• Working a herding dog requires patience, consistency, and confidence, but it can also bring excitement and keenness that will level off with time, maturity and your guidance.

• When a situation becomes too hard or over-arousing for the dog or the human, it's best to experiment and find new ways to stay together as partners without getting frustrated or angry. 

Memorable quotes:

“By approaching your interactions with your dog with mindfulness and intention, you can cultivate a deeper understanding and connection that will benefit both of you in the long run.”

“Noticing subtle changes in your dog’s behavior and body language that may indicate a shift in their mindset will help you to better support your dog before their behavior escalates into over-arousal.”

“Once your dog gets over-aroused or you get frustrated or angry, it’s simply not possible to think or learn or teach in that moment. Always do your best to get ahead of that with mindful consideration and planning.”

“When you stick with the plan, ultimately you’ll have a very keen, very confident dog who is also a really solid partner.”

“I need to be really present. I need to know what triggers me. I need to know myself and know when I need to change things in our routine so that it’s really easy for me to be present and able to best support my dogs at that time.”

“We are the hinge pin that makes everything work the way it’s supposed to, so it’s important to know ourselves well enough to plan ahead, before something ‘bad’ happens.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

Join us today as Kathy discusses the impact of reward-based obedience training on the relationship with our dogs. She explains how a transactional approach can damage trust and make cooperation difficult. 

The transactional dynamic of reward-based training can lead to power imbalances, erode trust, and cause stress and anxiety for dogs. On the other hand, building a partnership based on trust and love creates a natural and fluid dynamic where dogs are motivated to cooperate without being rewarded for performing specific behaviors.

Embrace a new way of living with your dog that prioritizes trust and love over obedience and rewards. 

In this episode:

• The problems with reward-based obedience training and the transactional dynamic it creates.

• The power imbalances that arise in a relationship that is focused on transactions.

• The benefits of a partnership-based approach that is built on love, connection and trust.

• The negative effects of compliance and obedience-based training include increased stress and anxiety levels, and decreased confidence and cooperation.

Quotable Moments:

"A reward-based transactional approach can erode the trust that forms the foundation of a positive relationship between a dog mom and her dog."

"Trust and mutual respect can reduce stress and anxiety levels in both the dog and the human."

"A partnership-based relationship allows the dog mom and their dog to work together as a team, rather than relying on traditional obedience training methods to encourage cooperation."

“We are culturally conditioned to believe that dogs aren’t capable of choosing to be loving, playful, well-behaved partners without being paid to be so. That is simply not true.”

~KATHY KAWALEC

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

In this episode, host Kathy Kawalec shares five tips on how you can deepen your love and connection with your dog. Through a story about a dog mom named Sarah and her dog who had a challenging past, listeners will learn how to implement the following tips in their own lives:

• How to spend quality time with your dog in small ways that matter

• Building trust with your dog by creating a safe and loving environment

• How to approach your relationship with your dog as a partnership

• Calming your dog's over-aroused behavior through cooperative activities

• Strategies for celebrating love and connection, patience and understanding

Kathy shares how each of these tips helped Sarah deepen her connection with her dog, and provides practical advice for listeners to start incorporating these tips into their daily routines. This episode is a must-listen for any dog mom looking to improve their relationship with their dog.

Listen now and learn how to “unleash the love and deepen the connection” with your four-legged companion!

QUOTES:

"A true bond with our dogs is built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect. It's a partnership that brings joy and happiness to both of our lives." - Kathy Kawalec

"When we approach our relationship with our dogs as a partnership, we're investing in their long-term well-being and happiness." - Kathy Kawalec

"Create a loving environment where your dog feels safe and confident. Your relationship will thrive." - Kathy Kawalec

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

“I want my dogs to wait at the gate or doorway and to take turns… Why?  Because I want to minimize chaos. I don't want dogs running into each other, hurting each other, or running into me and hurting me. I want some order, so we are all safe, calm, and happy.” This is Kathy’s example of a real-life scenario when she’s showing the framework for giving her dogs choices. 

This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is the continuation of the discussion that Kathy had in Episode 247. 

So if you haven’t listened to it yet, you might want to pause this, and go and listen to that episode. Then, come back here for more details and valuable information about the framework for providing your furry friends with real-life choices.

Kathy also shares some prime real-life examples of giving your dogs opportunities to say yes or no, and how to decide when an ask is necessary and when it’s not. She also explains the idea of how this whole chain of events works together so that you can easily use her framework  in your own life with your dogs.  

This is an exciting episode, so tune in! 

In this episode: 

• The real-life choices we give to our dogs 

• Giving your dog an opportunity to say yes or no

•  The protocol to connect, observe, and decide

Quotes:

“Even though I do want them to know they are responsible for waiting until I say their name to call them through, I don't ask my dogs to be in a certain relative position around the door or gate, nor do I ask them to assume a specific position of their body like sit/down … They get to choose.”

“Truly understanding the ‘why’ behind your asks, and then asking only when it’s relevant or important is a great way to ease unnecessary pressure that is a side effect of trained and cued obedience.”

“The more opportunities you give your dogs to say no, the more likely they are to say yes when it really matters.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

“The more opportunities I give my dogs to say no, the more likely they are to say yes when it's really important.” This is Kathy’s framework for giving dogs real-life choices in a way that works for everyone.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy talks about lifestyle choices, agency, responsibility, and freedom. She also shares some real-life examples of how this looks in real-life situations, with real dogs. 

For some dog moms, it could be their badge of honor to have a well-trained, obedient dog that always listens to what they’re told. But for Kathy, her badge of honor is that her dogs choose to be attentive, responsive, and responsible and that they trust her to be their guide in any situation. 

Also, Kathy emphasizes the importance of being clear on your “why’s,” explains in detail the little steps to connect, observe, and decide, and dives into the concept of “ask, don't ask, and prepare for the ask.” 

So to learn more about the framework of giving your dogs real-life choices that lead to a life of cooperation, tune in to this episode! 

In this episode: 

• Having attentive, responsive, and responsible dogs through living a partnership lifestyle
• The importance of being clear on your “why”
• The series of little steps: connect, observe, and decide
• Ask, don't ask, and prepare for the ask

Quotes:

We can have attentive, responsive, and responsible dogs by living a partnership lifestyle. 

My badge of honor is that my dogs choose to be attentive, responsive, and responsible and that they trust me to be their guide in any situation.

This principle of choice, responsibility, and freedom is good for anyone who wants to live an enlightened and connected life with their dogs.

What leads us to be able to create more cooperation is to give our dogs that feeling of being in control, that feeling of agency, that feeling of freedom – and that leads them to more responsibility.

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Are you a dog mom who struggles with leash reactivity? Kathy knows how stressful it is when you have a dog that pulls hard on the leash. Having a dog that is lunging toward (or away from) other dogs, moving objects, or anything that triggers them is not a pleasant experience for anyone. 

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares a real-life coaching call with a dog mom who was struggling with leash reactivity.  Her in-depth explanation of the process of walking as partners with your dog during this coaching session is going to change things with you and your dog! 

There are specific things that  you can do when your dog becomes reactive on the leash that will lead to walking as partners. One of the important things is to make an intentional choice about when and where to walk your reactive dog so that you are likely to have a great walk. 

Creating what Kathy calls “Green Zone Experiences” is what will help you and your dog to finally break free of the leash reactivity spiral that you are stuck in together.

To learn more about how, tune in!

In this episode: 

• A real-life coaching call with a dog mom 
•  Steps to the process of walking as partners with your dog 
• Strategies on how to deal with the leash reactivity of your dog

Quotes:

There are a lot of moving parts to learning how to walk as partners with our dogs. And we make so many mistakes, but we don't even realize we're making mistakes. 

The more green zone experiences we create, the more competent we get at staying really connected with our dog while we are walking together.

The earlier we notice first signs that our dog is starting to get uncomfortable or triggered by something, the more effective it is to keep our dogs and us in the green zone. 

The success we had yesterday is not necessarily the same thing that's going to bring us success today.

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

This is something  I always hear from many dog moms a lot of times. They keep on asking why their dogs don’t trust them, their dogs don’t allow them to support them and show them that everything is okay. 

Sometimes, we deal with some behavior challenges in our dogs where they are not calm, they are reactive, hyperactive, and even seem to be so anxious and worried. Then, since we love our furry friends very much, we tend to figure things out to help them. But, at the end of the day, you end up realizing that everything you did seems not to work out as you expected. 

So instead of helping your dogs with an approach that you think is appropriate and effective, the result that you’re getting is the complete opposite. 

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy wants to help you turn these things around and encourages you to make use of the insights she wants to share with you to change your partnership lifestyle with your dog. 

Kathy talks in detail about the actionable steps or a decision tree, and some valuable tips that you need to look into to give you an overview of how to regain trust with reactive dogs. She also touches on various valuable topics, like a partnership, building trust, loving leadership, and how to stop the trust and confidence leaks in your relationship with your dog. So tune in to learn more! 

In this episode: 

• The behavior challenges of our dogs
• Talking about the partnership, building trust, loving leadership, how to stop the trust and confidence leaks in your relationship with your dog
• Tips on how to regain trust with the reactive dogs

Quotes:

We love our dogs. Our life revolves around our dogs. And we want to do everything to help them to thrive and to feel good and to be happy. 

It is important to be a loving leader for our dogs and to provide some structure and some guidance and boundaries and how that really helps our dogs thrive. 

I think it's really important for us to learn how to be good leaders.

It's really up to us to take responsibility for being the kind of human that our dogs love to follow, love to listen to, and love to partner with. 

This sort of a foundational relationship or I call it a partnership, needs to happen and be well established before we start our specialty training. Because without this foundation in place, we end up developing struggles, issues, and miscommunications with our dogs that can get very frustrating

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

When we dig deeper under the surface, the REAL stories of reactive dogs are revealed. We too often negatively label dogs as reactive, as if that was a behavior they chose. Maya is a perfect example of a dog labeled as reactive, whose story revealed a much deeper understanding.

Maya's first three families thought she was untrainable ... a hopeless menace. 

"How bad could this dog's behavior really be, at only 7 months old" was Kathy’s first thought. 

The problem? She relentlessly chased anything and everything that moved: kids, bikes, cars, cats. sheep, cows ... you name it ... if it moved, she chased it. There wasn’t a fence or a leash that contained her, so she basically terrorized families and neighborhoods everywhere she went.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares the inspiring story of her dog, Maya, illustrating the power of partnership and opening  your mind and your heart to deeply understanding your reactive dog.

Kathy reveals her strategies on how she worked with Maya to start building trust right away. Her communication, management and mindset approaches are shared, including when she introduced her dog to what she calls “the dance”.

Within months, Maya’s old story of being a reactive dog was transformed into a new story of partnership, with a very happy ending!

In this episode: 

• Why digging under the surface of a dog’s behavior reveals their true story
• The inspiring story of “Maya” transforming from reactive to remarkable.
• Tips for working with your own ‘reactive’ dog

Quotes:

I did not even think about putting her (Maya) into a situation where her chase instinct would be triggered, where she would be able to rehearse her habit of disconnecting from her human. 

I focused on our partnership and our relationship first. So building trust and confidence was top of my list all the time.

It's important for us to first have a foundation that is built on trust and confidence and communication so that we know how to dialogue. If we don't have that, then it's really difficult to move forward without relying on transactions for everything.

Without having a solid trusting partnership, everything becomes transactional. And we don't want that. That's not why we have dogs in our life. 

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

When you and your dog get stressed, there are some simple ways to manage this stress response.  For example,  did you know that how we breathe influences our brain in multiple ways? 

Our breathing affects our perception, emotion, cognition, and even our mood. And breathing regulates arousal, attention, and stress responses…for both you and your dog.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy talks about the science of breathing, the importance of emotional contagion, and why coming back to balance is so important to our dogs. 

Being out in nature is a proven way to manage stress and it reduces neural activity in the part of the brain associated with anxiety and depression. Kathy shares her personal experience that demonstrates just how powerful breathing and connecting to nature can be.  

She includes her favorite breathing techniques that work really well to get calm, even after a meltdown when out on a walk with her dogs.

In this episode: 

• The science of our breathing style
• The emotional contagion
• The individual's behavior can heavily influence the behavior of others
• Spending time in nature reduces stress
• Breathing tips from Kathy

Quotes:

Our breathing affects our perception, emotion, cognition, and even our mood. And breathing regulates arousal, attention, and stress responses. 

A person's choice of words, voice inflection, facial feedback, body language, and sense of energy can all prompt emotional changes in those around them, whether their family members, friends, colleagues, strangers, or of course, our dogs.

Positive emotional contagion can bring about positive emotions in others, while negative social contagion can bring about negative emotions. Consider how this impacts our dogs.

Stimulating the vagus nerve has the powerful effect of slowing our heart rate. This is what helps us to relax and this is what also directly helps our dogs to relax. 

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

As dog moms, we are committed to keeping our dogs safe, calm and happy…but what about when someone does something  that  makes that really, really hard for us?

Loose dogs, fence running dogs, over-enthusiastic dogs, dogs that don’t give us enough space, and dogs that are allowed to be unruly and disrespectful in a way that challenges our dog … are all experiences that we are likely to encounter.

When those things happen, we have thoughts about that dog and their person, right? That’s normal. But, what if your thoughts initiate a reactivity spiral, and what if your thoughts are causing you and your dog to feel even worse than before?

We may not be able to control what other people (or their dogs) do … but we CAN get a grip on how we handle it.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy talks about the Thought Reframe Protocol that will rescue you from any of these situations with a few steps to follow.

She will also discuss in detail why you need to identify and decide to change your thoughts that are not serving you, plan for a new thought that is aligned with your vision for your life with your dog, and so much more! 

In this episode: 

• What to do about other people and their dogs
• The challenge to manage our own thoughts about ourselves
• Reframe your thoughts about others so that you can better help your dog
• Kathy’s  6-Step Thought Reframe Protocol 

Quotes:

"And the really cool thing is that this thought work is going to help you and your dog to connect, to bond, and to feel safe, calm, and happy a whole lot more often."

“Identify and decide to change a thought that is not serving the future you are creating.”

"Tell your brain to notify your consciousness when you have that thought so that's activating your RAS or Reticular Activating System."

"Plan for a new thought... A new thought that is reframed into one that aligns with your vision for the life that you want to have with your dog.

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type. 

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

People need to deal with the feeling in the body for them to experience healing. If we're suppressing things, and distracting ourselves when we have that feeling in our body, then we can't heal. We're just actually running away from it. 

This is part 2 of Kathy’s interview with Marika, an amazing dog trainer, one of her certified partnership coaches, and who loves to help dog moms in our community.

In this episode, Marika will help us understand the importance of letting our bodies feel in order to achieve healing and begin to heal the relationship with ourselves, which is the most important relationship we have. 

Marika also talks about the effect of regular exercise on our bodies to allow us to feel a sense of peace and discusses some important details on our vagus nerve, which is our muscle that will help us to be more resilient when things get tough and the stress level gets high. 

Learn more about Marika in her bio below.

Marika Bertram offers unique behavior and relationship consulting for dog families with a focus on holistic heart-centered coaching, that will teach you the art of dog listening so that you can communicate with your dog on a deeper level and enjoy a well-behaved dog without obedience training!

Website links: www.revyk9.com, Facebook and Instagram is ‘The Dog Listener.’ I offer in-person and virtual programs that vary from 2 kickstart sessions to 6-month programs for the full foundation and support through your journey of transformation with your dog.

In this episode: 

• Healing our reactivity loop
• Feel it to heal it
• Begin to heal a relationship with yourself

Quotes:

“The why behind it, or the why I act like this is really, I think, the first beneficial thing to understand to help you to heal.”

“You need to feel it to heal it.”

“So if we're not letting our bodies feel, if we're just suppressing things, and distracting ourselves when we have that feeling in our body, then we can't heal. We're essentially running away from it because that feels safer for our bodies than actually feeling pain.”

“And that's the normal thing to do until we become aware that it's actually not helping us in the long run. And there's a better way to deal with it.”

“Once I knew more information about how trauma, stress, and anxiety affect our body and how we didn't really have much control over it, it relieves that guilt for me, and the blame and the shame. And it started to allow me to begin to heal my relationship with myself.”

“If we can't accept ourselves or forgive ourselves, then we really can't help those around us.”

“We really have to put our own oxygen mask on first to be able to assist those around us. And that's what this comes down to, is acceptance of it's okay where we are. And I now know better, so I can do better.” 

“So what can start to heal this relationship is by accepting these feelings that our body and the overwhelm that we're feeling the trigger, it's there for a reason. It's to keep us safe. It's to protect us, and actually to help us heal.”

“Instead of paying attention to the feeling in our body, and listening, so it feels heard, we want to give it love and acceptance. So it feels that connection is craving.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

Stress can influence our experiences and success, and as a dog mom, it can also, in turn, affect our dogs and their behavior. 

This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is the first part of the 2-part episode with Marika Bertram, who is an amazing dog trainer, one of my certified partnership coaches, and who loves to help dog moms in our community. 

Marika shares her knowledge about stress, how to get stressed, and even how to deal with them. She also talks about the vagus nerve, some simple techniques that we could use to promote releasing that stress, and other important details on healing our reactivity loop. 

In addition, Marika also discusses the importance of dealing with the feeling in our body, not just the thoughts that we have so that it doesn’t keep getting stored as trapped energy in the body and keep reappearing each time we're triggered. 

Read more about Marika in her bio below.

Marika Bertram offers unique behavior and relationship consulting for dog families with a focus on holistic heart-centered coaching that will teach you the art of dog listening so that you can communicate with your dog on a deeper level and enjoy a well-behaved dog without obedience training!

Website links: www.revyk9.com, Facebook and Instagram is ‘The Dog Listener.’ I offer in-person and virtual programs that vary from 2 kickstart sessions to 6-month programs for the full foundation and support through your journey of transformation with your dog.

In this episode: 

• Marika's background 
• A better understanding of how stress influences experience and success 
•  Releasing stress from the body

Quotes:

“It’s important to understand not only our own behavior but also our dog's behavior and why we get triggered or why they also get triggered.  And it seems like they literally can't hear us.”

“A lot of people don't know why they get stressed. Even though maybe their lives aren't that stressful, they're still experiencing stress.”

“Our brain has to make sense of the feeling in our body. So it triggers thoughts in our brain and then we react to these thoughts.”

“If we only deal with the thoughts that we're having, and not the feeling in our body, it just keeps getting stored as trapped energy in the body and will keep reappearing each time we're triggered.”

“If we allow the body to release this trapped energy, we can then begin to heal, and our bodies will be less triggered…. And then it leads us to become more resilient and feel safe, calm, and happy.”

“When you're in survival mode, you don't need to be social, you don't need to be polite to those around you. Clearly, you're thinking about survival and safety. So you're going to do whatever needs to be done at that moment for your body to survive.’

“We can't force ourselves or our dogs back to the green zone when it's in the red zone.”

“So it's only once our nervous system feels safe that we can actually return to that green calm state, and go from survival to being more social, where we actually start to feel safer… Make better decisions and act more consciously and mindfully.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

If you are a dog parent, you may be familiar with various ways to strengthen the bond between you and your dog and to establish a strong connection over time. 

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy dives into the value of gratitude and appreciation and shares different research studies that show evidence of the immense benefits of connecting heart-to-heart with your dogs.  

Kathy talks about the important details of a study by the HeartMath Institute research team, a practice of the simple heart focus technique, and other relevant studies and shows their importance for you and your amazing four-legged furry friends. 

In this episode: 

• The value of gratitude and appreciation
• The interconnection of all life forms through a rich tapestry of intersecting magnetic fields
• The immense benefits of connecting heart-to-heart with dogs

Quotes:

“Gratitude is such a powerful amplifier of heart, energy, and love. And it's one of the quickest ways to offset stress, and to lift our mood.”

“Gratitude most definitely opens our mind in ways that are just simply life-changing.”

“Gratitude and appreciation are powerful emotions that activate the brain's reward pathways, feel-good hormones, and endorphins, all of which are known to greatly improve our outlook on life, among other things.” 

“Dogs are uniquely attuned to our emotional states, and they have been shown to display a notable capacity for empathy.” 

“A caring relationship between humans and their dogs is a prescription for wellness for all involved.” 

“We put so much focus on heart connections. And on us, the dog moms, learning how to become more brilliant by the day so that we can be the brilliant partner that our dogs need to thrive while we simultaneously get the immediate benefit of feeling good.”

LOVE TO LEARN MORE? 

Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.

Here are some next steps:

SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos

LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website:

https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/

GET STARTED work with Kathy:

https://dancinghearts.link/foundation

LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice:

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/

LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!  

Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Kathy has formed connections with many dogs in a variety of ways.  

But, in this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, she invites a special guest to explore a way of building bridges with our four-legged friends that you may have overlooked. 

This is part 2 of Kathy’s interview with the wonderful Marianne Magin, an artist, dog mom and Dancing Hearts partnership coach. 

In this part, she discusses how she helps people through their dog grief using her art, how she emotionally reacts to creating wonderful artwork for herself and others, and discusses her incredible card deck and children’s book! 

Read more in her bio below. 

Bio: 

Marianne Magin is a dog mom, a human mom and an artist. She is inspired by dogs! And loves animals and nature and has always drawn and painted since she was a young girl. She is also a certified Dancing Hearts Partnership coach. She loves to connect with animals, especially dogs through her custom watercolor portrait work, as well as working in other media. She has written and illustrated the award-winning children’s picture book, The Legend of Santa’s Sleighbells (written from a dog’s perspective). Plus, she has also created an oracle card deck of partnership inspiration cards. 

Links: 

Art - Artful Paw Designs and Pawprints of the Heart 

Partnership Inspiration Card Deck 

Book:  The Legend of Santa’s Sleighbells 

In this episode: 

• Dealing with dog grief through art 
• How Marianne responds to her art 
• Explaining her children’s book and card deck 

Quotes: 

“Grief feels like a loss of connection. But when we’re grieving, we’re really still connected.” 

“It’s a sacred time when I’m painting. And I’m doing it in a way which is going to help possibly heal somebody.” 

“Everybody should believe that they are an artist in whatever way they can connect to their art. If you do amazing paintings, that's amazing. If you just like to dance with your dog in your living room, that's great.” 

Want More of Kathy? 

• Brilliant Partners Academy  
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website 
• Facebook Community  

There are many ways to build strong connections with our dogs. Changing our behaviors, trying new experiences together and learning from our interactions with our dogs all help greatly. 

But art is another incredible way to build a bridge between us and our dogs. And it can be a beautiful process! 

This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is Part 1 of a 2-part episode with Marianne Magin, a wonderful artist, dog mom and certified Dancing Hearts Partnership coach who is hugely inspired by dogs and animals in her work. 

She details how her art helps her and her clients build stronger connections between themselves and their beautiful four-legged friends. 

Bio: 

Marianne Magin is a dog mom, a human mom and an artist. She is inspired by dogs! And loves animals and nature and has always drawn and painted since she was a young girl. She is also a certified Dancing Hearts Partnership coach. She loves to connect with animals, especially dogs through her custom watercolor portrait work, as well as working in other media. She has written and illustrated the award-winning children’s picture book, “The Legend of Santa’s Sleighbells” (written from a dog’s perspective). Plus, she has also created an oracle card deck of partnership inspiration cards. 

Art - Artful Paw Designs and Pawprints of the Heart 

Partnership Inspiration Card Deck 

Book:  “The Legend of Santa’s Sleighbells” 

In this episode: 

• Using art to connect with dogs 
• Marianne’s career 
• How creativity can be key to building strong relationships with dogs 

Quotes: 

“Art can be a bridge that could see you start to accept your dog.” 

“Sometimes I'll have somebody say to me: ‘My dog doesn't usually smile, but I've got these photos of him smiling in the photos with his mouth open and happy.’ They feel like there’s a connection.” 

“When you paint or when you draw or you do any art, you're bypassing your brain. I think you're using your brain in a way, but you're really tapping into your heart.” 

Want More of Kathy? 

• Brilliant Partners Academy  
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website 
• Facebook Community  

Kathy has preached the power of brilliant partnership for many years and practiced it with her dogs. In that time, she’s learned how important it is to give dogs room to bloom. 

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Beth Williams, licensed physical therapist and certified Dancing Hearts Partnership Coach, joins to discuss why giving dogs room to bloom is crucial to being a great dog mom. 

Kathy and Beth dive into the culture and expectations around giving dogs space, keeping them safe and the incredible international Yellow Dog Project. 

She recommends checking your own emotions and judgement, acknowledging dogs that need extra space and respecting all dogs’ boundaries! 

Here is Marianne’s poem, ‘All Dogs Look Good In Yellow’, featured in this episode: 

All dogs look good in yellow.  

All dogs want that grace.  

All dogs appreciate us asking 

Can we share your space?  

Big dogs can want to cuddle.  

But big dogs want space too.  

Little dogs are just like big dogs 

And medium dogs have the same view.  

Fluffy dogs look cute and cuddly.  

Short-haired dogs are soft and smooth.  

Hairless dogs are very tempting  

But they've all got the same groove.  

They all want us to ask them.  

They'd like a chance to say ‘yes’.  

Saying ‘no’ is another perfect answer.  

We just don't want to make it a guess.  

Because all dogs look good in yellow. 

All dogs give us back so much.  

So let's all respect and love them  

and always ask before we touch. 

In this episode: 

• Beth’s career and work 
• The Yellow Dog Project 
• Beth’s three tips for being a Brilliant Partner 

Quotes: 

“No dog should have to tolerate being approached and petted by strangers without being asked and without giving their consent.” 

“I use the tools in my toolbox so that me and my dog are starting from a place every day of feeling safe, calm, happy and confident.” 

“My goal in coaching is to help create those happy, harmonious dog houses to help people connect with their dogs, and to enjoy life together.” 

Contact Beth Williams: 

[email protected]

Want More of Kathy? 

• Brilliant Partners Academy  
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website 
• Facebook Community  

A life with dogs isn’t always plain sailing. Kathy knows that first-hand. They can challenge your patience with their behaviors time and time again. 

But, instead of working to outright fix those behaviors, it’s time to connect first. 

In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explains why connecting with your dogs, before anything else, makes magic happen.  

She explores the benefits of digging beneath the surface to truly understand your dogs and why it’s OK to regret how you’ve dealt with their challenging behaviors in the past. 

In this episode: 

• Making ‘connect first’ your mantra 
• Listening to your dog with compassion and curiosity 
• Why to stop focusing on correcting behaviors 

Quotes: 

“When we can dig under the surface for what's really going on with our dog. Well, that's when our life starts to change.” 

“If we continue to look at our dogs as a series of behaviors to shape, we miss getting to know our dogs fully and we certainly miss connecting to our dogs fully.” 

“Listening with compassion and curiosity is key to unlocking solutions for change.” 

Want More of Kathy? 

• Brilliant Partners Academy  
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website 
• Facebook Community  

Dogs behave “badly” all the time…Kathy definitely knows this first-hand.  

However, that “badness” doesn’t define our dogs. We live in a society where dogs are considered a set of behaviors rather than complex, sentient beings with emotions and social intelligence.  

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy explores the idea of “badness”. She explains how a brilliant partner mindset can help us reframe the way we consider our dog’s behaviors and create a life of compassion, connection and cooperation with our beloved companions. 

In this episode: 

• Why all dogs are good dogs, regardless of their behavior 
• Interrupting and reframing our thoughts around “bad” behavior 
• Becoming a brilliant partner through compassion and curiosity 

“When we embrace behaviorism as a dog mom, we end up seeing our dogs as a simple collection of behaviors, needing to be shaped, manipulated to suit our desires. This is instead of us considering our dog as a socially intelligent, emotionally rich sentient being who is in need of full expression, experience and development.” 

“There is an under-the-surface assumption of badness when we are in that type of thinking. That our dog is willingly choosing to make life hard for us. Then, there’s a more partnership approach.” 

“Underneath their sometimes-bad behavior, they're just good dogs. We are good, perfectly brilliant dog moms underneath our sometimes-bad behavior. That idea is revolutionary. It leads us to have a completely different framework to create a life of compassion, connection, and cooperation with our dogs.” 

Want More of Kathy? 

• Brilliant Partners Academy  
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website 
• Facebook Community  

Kathy has heard so many amazing stories about dog moms’ journeys with their dogs. But with any dog comes challenges. Kathy’s guests have been no strangers to those! 

Whether it’s barking at other dogs, going wild around food, pulling on the leash or being incredibly fearful, everyone has experienced setbacks – some common and some not so much. 

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy takes a look back at previous guest episodes and highlights how they’ve overcome challenges with their dogs.  

No matter what your situation with your dog, it’s important to have hope! 

In this episode: 

• Dealing with difficult situations with dogs 
• How to cope when you feel like giving up on your dog 
• Explaining The Premack Principle 

Quotes: 

“When I saw Dancing Hearts, I thought it sounds right up my alley. So I signed up for the free workshop and never looked back.” 

“I thought about my dog: ‘Are we meant to be together?’. There were signs we were meant to be together. Now, she’s taught me so much about myself and I can’t believe how far the two of us have come.” 

“I was using the Premack Principle. For anyone who doesn’t know about it, in the training world, your dog gets to have a reward that he wants, if he does something for you first.”

Want More of Kathy? 

• Brilliant Partners Academy  
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website 
• Facebook Community  

Kathy has connected and cooperated with so many dogs over the years. It’s something that dog parents long for.

We all want our dogs to feel safe, calm and happy. We want them to know that we have their backs. But how do you build that true connection and natural cooperation with your dogs?

In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explores the what, why and how of cooperation and connection. She explains how to nurture relationships through invitation and how it can enhance your relationships with your dogs.

In this episode:

• Building a heart connection with your dog
• How to open the pathway to connection
• Giving your dog agency to accept or reject invitation

Quotes:

“Extending an invitation to our dog fulfils that deep social need to belong and to bond and to be a part of a family group.”

“When we extend an invitation to another, the intention is that it’s an act of sharing love.”

“Our dogs see us as loving leaders that will keep them safe, calm and happy and will have their backs.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Kathy has spent so many years with so many dogs. They’ve all been wonderful. But they’ve all brought their own challenges.

It’s so easy to look to the future, to a time when these challenges are solved, and everything is OK. But the only way to become a true, brilliant partner for your dog is to cultivate calm, confidence and happiness today.

A dream life with your dog starts with you thinking like, feeling like and making the decisions of a brilliant partner.

As Kathy says in this Enlightened by Dogs episode, a great relationship with a dog stems from their dog parent adopting a growth mindset. As soon as you stop blaming external factors for things that go wrong or look to the future in hope they’ll be solved, you can begin to become a compassionate, empathetic role model for your dog.

In this episode:

• Building a dream life with your dog
• Dangers of a ‘cause-and-effect’ mindset for yourself and your dog
• How to stop blaming external factors when bad things happen

Quotes:

“Raising dogs in a way that nurtures their independent thinking, as we guide them toward understanding how we do things and supporting them to be responsible for doing their part, is more like enlightened parenting.”

“I need to feel love without condition for my dog so I'm like a love magnet so that my dog freely chooses to stay near me.”

“The more we feel like the future brilliant partner we want to become right now, the closer that future is to now.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

How do we become more deeply connected with our dogs? As Kathy explains, it’s when we step into our place as trustworthy role models and loving leaders.

When we are able to do that, we and our dogs are safe, calm and happy – we are in the green zone – which is what we all want from our life with our dogs!

As Kathy emphasizes in this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, we need to move away from the desensitized, counter conditioning mindset of dog training that is so our culture and focus on the human dog connection that inspires us to create legendary, enlightened partnerships.

In this episode:

• What it means to grow and leak trust
• How we are biologically wired for connection
• Why it’s important to recognize when you start to move out of the green zone

Quotes:

“We’ve got to get out of this dog training, counter conditioning mindset that is pervasive in our culture.”

“What greater joy is there than walking with your dog, enjoying nature. Watching your dog sniff and roll and see the light in their eyes and their tongues lolling out!”

“We’ve got the capacity, the capability and the responsibility to keep us and our dogs in the green zone.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Kathy has spent her life with so many wonderful dogs. Sadly, that means she’s experienced loss many times too.

The grief that dog moms experience is often uncontrollable and makes us feel a confusing mixture of emotions from sadness to longing.

But how do we deal with these feelings? How do we navigate the grief we feel when we lose our beloved dogs?

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy explains how she has dealt with grief after losing her companions over the years.

Tune in to this episode as she explores her own overwhelming emotions and delves into insights from psychologists and grief experts.

In this episode:

• Kathy’s experiences with grief over her dogs
• Advice from experts on grief
• How Kathy finds comfort in poetry

Quotes:

“When a person eventually adapts to a loss, grief is not over. It doesn't mean that we're sad for the rest of our lives. But it means that we adapt and that grief finds its place in our lives indefinitely, maybe forever.”

“Dog moms truly understand the depth of loss, longing and feeling lost.”

“When our beloved dog passes on, there is so much to process.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

When your dogs’ actions and responses don’t match your expectations, it can be so easy to obsess and worry about it.

You could be struggling to deal with their on-leash reactivity, their behavior around other dogs, or their incessant barking at the neighbors. It can sometimes feel like these frustrations consume every ounce of you!

Does any of this sound familiar? Kathy has experienced this first-hand and she has learned a few helpful techniques to get through it.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy explores how you can avoid stress, worry and obsession by letting go of expectation and approaching your dogs with love, curiosity and confidence.

Tune in for expert advice on how to trust the process and stop ‘white knuckling’.

In this episode:

• How to let go of expectations
• What allowed Kathy to let go and change her mindset
• Why you shouldn’t be desperate to achieve

Quotes:

“You will find joy right away if you give up some of those expectations and that need to control.”

“In your relationship with your dog, turn to this idea that you’re going to enjoy it, you’re going to show up as your authentic self, you’re going to let go of expectations and the need to control and you’re going to be present.”

“I started to think about my relationship with my dog. And I thought, this is not fun anymore. I have lost the joy in it. So, I said to myself, I'm just going to let go, and I mentally or energetically, just let go.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

It’s totally normal to experience ups and downs with our dogs. The good times come with the bad because, well…that’s just life!

There are so many factors that influence how we think, feel and respond from past experiences to expectations, our peers and our communities. Sometimes these things can also affect our relationships with our dogs.

However, there are ways we can minimize the negative effects of the bad times to help us achieve a better, more fulfilling life for ourselves and our dogs.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares four effective strategies to help you navigate through these ups and downs and build a brilliant partnership with your dog.

In this episode:

• How an optimistic outlook can impact you and your dog
• Focusing on accomplishments
• Setting presets to build a better future

Quotes:

“Hold onto the belief that you and your dog are always good enough just the way you are.”

“We have to become that person. That brilliant partner that is able to support our dog in a new way.”

“Who we become, as a result of sharing our life with dogs, is what brings true satisfaction, true pleasure, true happiness.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

As Brilliant Partners (BP), it’s so important to build a strong level of understanding with our dogs. Sometimes their behaviors challenge us or leave us feeling frustrated, but reaching a higher level of insight is so important to keep that bond unbreakable.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares 3 top tips on how to better understand your dog’s behavior, and addresses some common mistakes dog parents make when it comes to interpretating their dog’s actions.

She dives into what we can do to find relevant and suitable ways to reach that higher level of understanding.

In this episode:

• Reach a better understanding of your dog’s behavior
• Why difficult behavior can be a cry for help
• How to listen to your dog’s whispers

Quotes:

“Understanding your dog's behavior is crucial if you want to build a trusting, harmonious and deeply connected and cooperative relationship with your dog.”

“You can definitely learn to better understand your dog's behavior with more mindful attention, dedication, patience and presence in the moment.”

“Trust is so important because, when trust runs deep, you and your dog can handle almost any experience together. Together is better.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Being a Brilliant Partner (BP) is wonderful when you and your dog are in sync and you’re communicating flawlessly. But what happens when your dog flat-out refuses to listen? It’s something that all dog parents go through on their journey to brilliant partnership and that’s what Kathy discusses in this episode of Enlightened by Dogs.

To provide a deeper level of insight, Kathy shares a segment of a coaching call she did with dog mom Christina, who was experiencing a few issues with her pup. She talks about viewing behavior as communication, and how patiently practicing BP principles will eventually help both you and your dog feel safe, calm and happy.

In this episode:

• Why a change in perspective makes all the difference
• Kathy gives a detailed breakdown of the default position for walking
• How to ask Brilliant Partner questions instead of dog training questions

Quotes:

“Dogs don’t really have an opinion about the leash, the leash is what you make it to mean.”

“We put so much effort into leash walking, and not enough effort into walking as partners.”

“You and your dog need to collaborate as trusting partners to figure out how you can both meet your needs.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Mindset plays a huge role in the partnerships we have with our dogs. Sometimes we have to challenge our own thoughts and what we know to be ‘right’ in order to live a better life with them.

In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explains how tapping into our creative and executive brains can help us design the life we dream of having with our dogs.

Through defying what we know, we can find brand-new ways to build stronger relationships and a happier life for our dogs.

In this episode:

• Forming new ideas to keep your dog safe, calm and happy
• Using your creative brain to build bonds
• Challenging your own thoughts

Quotes:

“It's totally up to each of us to tap into the power of our brain, so that we can design the life that we dream of having with our dogs”

“Come up with some ideas for alternative activities you can do with your dogs to keep you safe, calm and happy.”

“Have your dog help with chores, turn on music and dance together, read to your dog. There are so many ways to actually tap into our creative brain that will change everything.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

One of the main lessons Kathy has learned from dogs over the years is that you can find the truth in your dogs’ reflections of your own behavior.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, she explores how we can become better dog moms through practicing compassion, kindness, empathy, and clarity.

Interspecies cooperation doesn’t come from heavy obedience training, compliance, and transacting. Kathy reveals the true recipe for cooperation and tips on how to build a stronger relationship with our beloved dogs.

In this episode:

• Why ‘together is better’
• How to build strong interspecies cooperation
• Finding a balance of traditional masculine and feminine qualities

Quotes:

“Dogs serve as our noses, our ears, and our courage when we need their assistance. We serve as their advocates in this human-centric life that we share. We are teachers, friends, and companions for one another.”

“This lifetime partnership that we have creates a magical circle of reciprocity like a perfect arrangement that holds the promise of guiding us humans to become ever more enlightened, through the pure reflection that our dogs mirror back to us.”

“Interspecies cooperation does not come from training, obedience, expecting compliance, controlling resources, or transacting. It comes from empathy, compassion, kindness, clarity, and it starts with us through self-awareness, mindfulness, and self-empowerment.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Kathy has shared many tales of the dogs she’s known over the years, but in this guest edition of Enlightened by Dogs, she introduces Erin who tells us about her journey with her Border Collie Jess.

Erin, a lovely member of the Brilliant Partners Academy, picked up Jess with the hope of love, joy and adventure. To start off with, things were really tough! Jess’ behaviors left Erin anxious, stressed and even panicked at times.

But through her own knowledge and progression, plus the help of the BPA, Erin and Jess’ relationship is now stronger than ever and, in just four months, she has settled perfectly into Erin’s family.

In this episode:

• How Erin’s constant worry was lifted
• Dealing with an intense puppy
• How BPA helped Erin and Jess enjoy a calmer relationship

Quotes:

“She was up every couple of hours through the night, wanting reassurance. I didn't feel equipped to deal with that. Now I feel I know how to respond.”

“I've got a little way to go. But things don’t freak me out anymore. That’s the difference.”

“Trust what feels right for you. It might not be my approach. It could be something else.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Throughout her career, Kathy has been in many different social situations with her dogs. Whether out in public, at the vet, or on a long hike, these social interactions can pose a few problems when people want to say ‘hi’ to your dog or treat your dog in ways you wouldn’t usually.

In these situations, it’s crucial to remain a calm, confident role model, stepping in as your dog’s voice to reassure them and provide them with comfort.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares two uncomfortable situations she and her dogs have found themselves in. She dissects these interactions, what made her and her dogs uncomfortable and provides top tips for dog parents on how to best deal with these kinds of encounters.

Tune in to the episode to hear Kathy’s advice.

To revisit one of Kathy’s latest, very special episodes about Maya, head to EBD219 – Maya, The Gift that Keeps on Giving.

In this episode:

• How to comfort your dog in challenging situations
• Why showing people calmly where they stand is key
• How to be the parent and advocate your dog’s needs

Quotes:

“When dogs are not eager to engage like this, it's always best to let them make the first approach on their own.”

“If you're a dog professional and you're advising dog parents to socialize and desensitize using outdated ideas, I hope that you reconsider.”

“It's okay to feel social pressure and still be the advocate that your dog needs you to be anyway.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Kathy has shared the stories of so many dogs she’s had the pleasure of knowing. But this week, she turns the spotlight on a member of the Brilliant Partners Academy.

BPA member, Terri joins Enlightened By Dogs to tell the tale of her beloved Bella and what she’s learned during her time with her.

Every dog has different needs, personality types, and complexities, and the learning process never really ends. In this episode, Terri shares her experiences with Bella and what she’s learned from being a BPA member.

Terri adopted Bella from a shelter and found herself stuck in a red zone spiral. She would never have dreamed of one day enjoying hiking with her. But through her own insights and BPA learning processes, she has helped Bella develop into the calmer dog she is today.

In this episode:

• How Terri listens to her dogs’ needs
• Why sticking with BPA is crucial for Terri
• Why remaining calm helps your dogs remain calm

Quotes:

“I have to tell myself not to get tense because if I'm tense, she's tense. If I’m calm, she's calm.”

“If we're sitting on the couch and I take a deep breath, Bella takes a deep breath too. I know she can mirror me.”

“I praised Bella anytime she wanted to be beside me. I was like: “You're just such a wonderful dog,” and I just let my heart flow out with her.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Kathy has used kindness, compassion and patience to form strong relationships with dogs for so many years. She has proven that even those that were deemed a “lost cause” can become attentive and loyal life partners.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares the story of Maya (aka Noodle). She takes us back to when Maya was seven months old and labeled “untrainable” by three families. Kathy oversaw Maya’s journey from a persistent dog who chased anything that moved to a responsive and devoted companion.

Listen to hear Kathy explore what she has learned from her time with Maya.

In this episode:

• How to stop doubting your decision when you take in a new dog
• Why traditional obedience training doesn’t work
• How an “untrainable” dog can become a life partner

Quotes:

“Keep your eye on the prize, stay the course and keep going, no matter what.”

“Each dog has been a gift rich in experiences, adventures and lessons that I could share with others to help ease their way with their dogs.”

“There's the common and debilitating mindset mistake of believing that your dog is uncooperative and is giving you a hard time. That all dogs should conform and all dogs should be trained to be obedient to identical standards.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Kathy has had the pleasure of building partnerships with all types of dogs. But sometimes, the most challenging relationships are the most rewarding.

Each dog she has spent time with has contributed to the way she lives and works. And Phoenix is certainly no exception.

In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy takes us back to the first moment she met the most challenging dog she’s ever known. Despite being controlling, excitable and highly sensitive, Phoenix was an incredible sheepdog and life partner. Kathy explains how the way Phoenix challenged her shaped her teaching and mindset forever.

In this episode:

• Dealing with a highly sensitive dog
• What makes a true partner
• How one moment with Phoenix changed Kathy forever

Quotes:

“All my dogs are teachers and healers for me and for others.”

“She put me in that position to make note of all the elements that were the core of what makes it possible to have a brilliant partnership with your dog and a brilliant life.”

“Just because you can teach a dog 152 tricks, it doesn't mean that you should.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Kathy’s partnerships with dogs have seen her experience laughter, joy, tears and heartache. But the overall emotion is pure love. A strong partnership with your dog means that love never falters.

In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares the story of Russell – the dog that taught her the meaning of true partnership. Kathy explains how she became Russell’s student and, eventually, his legacy, and shares heartfelt words she wrote after Russell’s sad passing back in 2011.

Listen to hear Kathy explore all the lessons she learned from Russell in their time together.

In this episode:

• How dogs can teach you where you’re going wrong
• Why you should be the partner your dog truly deserves
• The broad range of emotions you feel in partnerships with dogs

Quotes:

“I hadn't even cracked the surface of what it meant to be a good partner and a good handler up until then.”

“Whether you're doing dog sports, or agility or rally or obedience or whether you're just enjoying life with your good dog, commit to being the partner that your dog deserves, starting right now.”

“I'm reminded of the richness I have had living such a full life with dogs at my side for all of my life. And I can only get excited when I think about what is yet to come.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Sometimes, meeting a new dog with a new personality can make you question the methods you’ve tried over the years.

Throughout her career, Kathy’s relationships with different dogs have seen her mindset and approach evolve time and time again.

In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy takes us back around 30 years to the first time she met her long-term companion, Haley. This partnership opened Kathy’s eyes to finding new ways of building mutual trust with her dogs, and she explores how to apply that to your own brilliant partnership.

In this episode:

• How Kathy broke the mold with ‘kind leadership’
• How dogs will keep you constantly learning
• Lessons Kathy learned from Haley that she sticks by today

Quotes:

“Positive reinforcement training isn’t an end to the evolution of living together harmoniously with dogs. It’s a beginning.”

“I had worked so carefully to build her trust in me so she could use that trust as her courage to stand strong while allowing a stranger to touch her.”

“I learned that setting my dog and myself up for success made life so much easier for everyone.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Kathy’s journey with her dogs over the years has taught her so much. They've been her friends, healers, and confidants in so many things.

So, in this Enlightened by Dogs episode, she’s taking us back to where it all began. Kathy shares her experience with the first dog she lived alone with as an adult, Max. Losing him was the turning point that inspired her to explore a holistic approach to life.

In this episode, Kathy explains holistic living and shares how she pivoted to a holistic perspective, as well as a few success stories she’s experienced along the way.

In this episode:

• What it means to adopt a holistic approach to caring for our dogs
• The connection between health behavior and emotional balance
• How effective holistic tools and the partnership approach help balance your dog

Quotes:

“A holistic lifestyle that includes a natural diet, fresh air, sunshine, clean water, and appropriate exercise promotes overall good health and a strong immune system.”

“When your dog is in optimal physical condition, they’ll have the energy to focus, learn more readily and, of course, are less likely to be injured.”

“I do all I can to support a healthy gut, and a healthy immune system and love my dogs with all of my heart, which is good for both of us.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

But sometimes, our wants and goals end up overshadowing the most important part of the equation…our dogs. The result? It becomes more of a struggle to reach our desired outcomes and create a beautiful partnership with our dogs. So, in this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy invites us to really consider why we have dogs in our lives.

She also shares tips on how to keep our sights on what’s important and how to avoid falling down the rabbit hole of focusing solely on achieving goal after goal with our dogs.

In this episode:

• Why it’s important to know the main reason you want your dog in your life
• How our dogs help us remain present
• Kathy shares three ways to stay focused on what’s important

Quotes:

“Even when we're training our dogs in a really fun and positive game-centric way, we still somehow go down that rabbit hole of compliance.”

“It’s always important to fully embrace that idea that we can only start where we are and meet our dogs where they are.”

“When we bring in this idea of timelines, especially when it involves another being like our dog, it has the potential to get really achy, really fast.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Most of our dogs are reactive when it comes to grooming, visiting the vet or other unavoidable tasks. The truth is that most of these aren’t the most pleasant activities for our dogs.

But while we can’t blame our dogs for reacting, these are must-do tasks. We’ve got to find a way to carry them out so that our dogs are left safe, calm, and happy in the end. That’s where consent comes in.

In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explains how a shift in our intentions can change everything. Viewing the freedom to give consent as a must-have for our dogs helps unlock a whole new level of trust. She shares a coaching segment from the Brilliant Partners Academy, where dog-mom Penny asks for pointers on how to support her dog, who isn’t a fan of visiting the vet.

Kathy also demonstrates the trust-building power of allowing your dog to give consent through a personal story about her dog, Lucy.

In this episode:

• Why it’s important to embrace a brilliant partnership as a process
• What it means to step into your role as a professional
• How trust can lead to situations where your dog gives consent

Quotes:

“Allowing our dogs the freedom and agency to give consent as much as possible develops a deep trust, understanding, and next-level collaboration.”

“We need to give our dogs more empowerment and put them in situations that allow them to consent whenever possible.”

“When we approach things with the intention of inviting consent, so many things open up in our relationship with our dogs.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Dog greetings are such an important part of our dogs’ socialization process. But guess what? It’s also one of those things we dog parents don’t always understand.

While we’re all social beings, dogs approach greetings in a totally different way, and that’s what Kathy explores in the Enlightened by Dogs episode. She highlights the actions that count as greetings for dogs and discusses nine things to consider when facilitating dog greetings.

Kathy also shares some insights from research that’ll alter your perception of dog greetings altogether.

In this episode:

• The dynamics of dog-to-human and dog-to-dog greetings
• When you should let your dogs greet
• Kathy explains the partnership greeting protocol

Quotes:

“The first rule is that we greet only if all parties are feeling safe, calm and happy.”

“Unlike humans, dogs don't approach one another head-on. They prefer to take a soft approach that's more sideways and indirect.”

“Greetings should only happen politely, we want our dogs to know this is how we do things.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

We often think our dogs are giving us a hard time, but we never stop and think… maybe they are having a hard time!

What can we do to improve our relationships with our dogs and stop ourselves from thinking so negatively about them? Well, the answer lies in this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast.

Kathy explores some of the most common dog personality categories. She runs through a method of reframing your thought processes so you can avoid blaming your dogs when they aren’t behaving how you’d like them to. She also delves into how to personalize your training for your dogs’ specific traits and needs.

In this episode:

• Why it’s important to avoid patterns that lack trust with your dog
• Identifying your negative thoughts towards your dog’s behavioral patterns
• Shifting your perspective to allow more mutual trust between you and your pooch

Quotes:

“We have the capacity to truly love, unconditionally, our difficult dog.”

“Contemplate what your insight about your better understanding of your dog’s behavior might be. Journal on what this means for you and how it might change the things you do together with your dog.”

“That thought that there is something wrong with us or our dog leads us to the next line of thinking - that our dogs are giving us a hard time and choosing not to be cooperative.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

As a dog mom, you probably have a clear picture of the life you want to create with your dog. And that’s amazing because the trick to creating your ideal life is visualizing it first.

It only becomes an issue when we get stuck in that visualizing stage and neglect to start living that wonderful life in the here and now. That’s why in this episode, Kathy addresses some of the common myths and limiting beliefs that hold most dog moms back from creating the life they envision for themselves and their dogs.

She discusses the importance of honesty when relating with your dog and emphasizes the benefits of creating time to learn more ways to wholly connect with your dog.

In this episode:

• How obedience-based beliefs hold us back from a brilliant partnership
• Why it’s important to build new habits of forming connections with our dogs
• Kathy debunks three common myths about living cooperatively with our dogs

Quotes:

“Most of us don't want to learn how to become an expert dog trainer. What we really want is to live effectively, cooperatively, peacefully, and enjoyably with the dogs that we love.”

“Once our dog moms start focusing on digging under the surface for root causes and meeting their dog’s true needs as well as their own, things really start to turn around.”

“Following the roadmap to brilliant partnership gives you confidence that you are indeed traveling in the direction of your dream life with your dog.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

While the ultimate goal is to constantly be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to our dogs, the simple truth is that we’re only human. Stressful situations are part and parcel of everyday life, and we all succumb to them every now and then.

That’s why this episode of Enlightened by Dogs is all about various ways we can recover quickly when we get into difficult situations with our dogs. It all starts from a place of understanding.

Kathy explains the science behind what makes us feel safe or unsafe and how that affects our connection with our dogs. She also delves into a few ways we can pull ourselves back once we’re triggered and, in turn, keep our dogs safe, calm, and happy.

In this episode:

• How our natural system of connection and coregulation works
• Why social and cultural learning are vital to our relationship with our dogs
• Kathy shares strategies and tips for handling stressful situations

Quotes:

“With our very first breath, we’re on a quest to feel safe in our bodies, our environment, and in our relationships with others — all social animals have that built-in driver.”

“When we feel stressed or anxious, our nervous system slips into survival or defensive mode, and that’s what our dog's nervous system connects to.”

“When we calm ourselves, we’re literally making ourselves available for our dog's insides to connect with our insides. Then we can both feel safe, calm, and happy.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

There’s a lot of information floating around about what’s right and wrong for our dogs. While some of it is accurate, the rest could ultimately slow you down on that journey towards a brilliant partnership.

Kathy understands how easy it is to make mistakes that ultimately cost us down the road. So, in this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, she shares three things to avoid if you want to have a calm, cooperative, and connected dog.

Kathy explains why exercise isn’t the best cure for over-arousal and highlights the importance of sleep for both our dogs and us. She also grazes the topic of understanding our dogs and how it all starts with knowing their personality types.

In this episode:

• Why sleep, not more exercise, is the remedy for an over-aroused dog
• Kathy lists activities suited for each dog based on their personality type
• Why it’s vital to truly understand your dog

Quotes:

“More sleep and less exercise, less enrichment, less arousal, always equals more calm and more cooperative behavior.”

“It's your dog and their unique personality that determines what arousal level any particular activity is for them.”

“One thing I know to be true is that understanding your dog changes everything, and that leads to unconditional love and a trustworthy connection.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Behavior is communication. Since our dogs can’t tell us what they want or how they feel, they bark, growl, or pull away – especially when they feel unheard. And once a dog feels unheard, their behavior escalates from a whisper to a shout.

Since we want them to hear our whispers, it’s important that we learn to hear their whispers too.

On this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy delves into different dog personality traits and how they can open your eyes (and ears) to some of your dog’s innate behaviors. She also discusses “superpowers” based on each personality trait and how you can use that information to understand your dog better.

In this episode:

• Why it’s important to look beneath the surface of your dog’s behavior
• Kathy explores five common dog personality traits
• How each dog personality trait links with a superpower

Quotes:

“It's important to remember that when your dogs pull away or growl, they're communicating that there's something going on under the surface.”

“Though your dog's personality is expressed primarily as one type, it's common to see a strong secondary personality type express itself in different circumstances.”

“Getting curious about our dog's behavior is a great launchpad to a deeper understanding so we can break free of the spiral of doubt, difficulty, and disconnection that so often occurs.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

What’s causing the recent spike in reactivity among our dogs?

It’s easy to blame it all on the recent lockdown. After all, dogs everywhere were cooped up indoors without the opportunity to socialize and take in the world around them. While that’s one way to look at it, it’s not quite accurate, and Marika Bertram joins Kathy on this episode of Enlightened by Dogs to explain why.

She delves into the rise in reactivity, the common mistakes surrounding socialization, and how to turn things around.

Marika was originally born in Australia and moved to Canada ten years ago. Her journey in the dog world began after rescuing a very reactive Rottweiler mix named Sierra. She soon found herself very overwhelmed by her behavior and attempted to seek help from various trainers, without much success.

She became determined to learn how to help her by undertaking a number of professional dog training courses, which then led her from being a schoolteacher to helping others achieve harmony with their dogs.

After years of training people’s dogs, she kept searching for something more. Something just didn’t feel right, and there were so many dogs struggling even after being trained. In this time, she adopted two more dogs, one was a Rottweiler pup, and even after applying everything she learned, she still didn’t have the relationship she wanted and longed for.

Marika knew she had finally found what she was looking for when she found Kathy and her brilliant community, and the rest is history.

Listeners can find Marika on Facebook and Instagram by searching for ‘The Dog Listener’ or heading to www.revyk9.com.

In this episode:

• Common misconceptions surrounding socialization
• Why you should know your dog before attempting to socialize them
• How to kickstart the process of rethinking old socialization methods

Quotes:

“One big misconception floating around the dog world is that if you end up with this dog or puppy that's slightly reactive, you just need to expose them to more socialization.”

“You can do your best to create a positive experience for your puppy, but you don't have any control over what the next person or dog is going to do.”

“The existing model of socialization puts focus on our dog’s behavior instead of the ways we can create a sense of safety between us and them.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

For all of us, the end game is to build trust between our dogs and us and eventually learn how to live a good life together.

But before we get to that point, it’s important to accept where we are in that journey. Of course, no one likes to struggle, but once you accept where you are, it’s a lot easier to transcend to a place of cooperation and a trusting partnership.

In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy shares a segment of a Q&A session with two very related questions. She explains not only the importance of understanding your dog, but also explores how you can channel that into making mutually beneficial decisions. She also shares insights on how to expand your “green zone” to help your dog feel safe.

In this episode:

• Why it’s important to understand your dog’s perspective and make them feel heard
• How to implement your ‘in the moment’ plan and ‘get ahead of it’ plan
• Kathy shares tips on how to change an orange zone situation to a green zone situation

Quotes:

“The difference between how we react in uncomfortable situations and how our dogs react is that we can choose to leave or stay.”

“It's up to us to step up our game when it involves understanding our dog's perspective and making decisions that are more aligned with cooperation.”

“Your dog’s sense of safety is directly connected to how safe you feel.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Sometimes it’s comforting to know that you aren’t the only dog mom out there tackling a few bumps in the road on your partnership journey.

But it’s also empowering to know that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and you can have that brilliant partnership you always hoped for. To offer some guidance, Kathy shares segments from a Q&A session with real dog moms facing very real challenges.

She highlights the importance of being proactive and having a plan in place for uncomfortable situations. Additionally, she shares some tangible tips that can prevent your dog from getting triggered.

In this episode:

• Kathy shares a segment where she answers questions from dog moms
• How proactiveness maintains the connection between you and your dog
• Why being attentive and responsive is vital when your dog is easily triggered

Quotes:

“It's up to us to create the routine so that our dogs are getting as close to 18 hours of sleep as they can.”

“Planning ahead gives us the confidence to manage uncomfortable situations that may arise with our dogs.”

“While some dogs go from the red to green zone faster than others, they generally don’t make that transition quickly.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

How do you get your dog to feel safe and calm in your RV, apartment, or home? How do you get them to feel the same way while you’re out and about?

The answer lies in focusing on your inner circle of influence and making it a safe space for your dog. In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs Podcast, Kathy shares a segment from a recent Q&A session where she delves into how to create a safe inner circle of influence.

She discusses ways you can move your dog from the orange to the green zone. She also explains how you can expand your circle of influence at a pace that’s comfortable for your dog.

In this episode:

• Why we should focus on our inner circle of influence vs. what’s “out there”
• How experimentation helps create a safe space
• How to gradually expand our circle of influence

Quotes:

“The more that we focus on what’s out there, the more our dogs are going to focus on it too.”

“You need to take the leading role in creating that circle of safety and trust, so you’re better set up to work within your circle of influence.”

“Creating a circle of influence is all about crafting a different experience so your dogs feel safe inside your shared space.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Did you know that your thoughts and expectations for your dog can shape who they become?

If you believe that they’re too reactive or too difficult to live with, they eventually morph into that. A huge part of being a brilliant partner is accepting your dog for who they are.

But that’s not to say they’ll remain reactive or difficult to live with. Acceptance, patience, and love eventually make your dog the partner you want them to be. In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs Podcast, Kathy discusses how our subconscious reactions to the behaviors our dogs display can end up ‘setting them in their ways.’

She also highlights the importance of accepting our dogs for who they are while encouraging them to be the best versions of themselves.

In this episode:

• How your attitude and mindset influence your dog’s behavior
• What it looks like to accept your dog without judgement
• Why it’s vital to remember that behavior is communication

Quotes:

“Our dogs already accept us as perfect just the way we are, without judgement.”

“We don't judge a seed just because it's not a tree. We accept it as perfect, and it's in that kind of acceptance that our dogs can blossom into their full potential.”

“So often our dog's behavior triggers negative thoughts and emotions, and that’s because we're judging that behavior as inappropriate.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Being a loving and conscious dog mom isn’t always easy. Yes, you love your dog so much and you want to be the best dog parent you can be. However, sometimes it’s hard to remain patient and mindful when your dog seems to be doing everything but what you asked them to do.

When this happens, Kathy suggests trying your best to step back into the role of a mindful dog mom. It’s tough, but you can do it! In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares 13 mindful dog parenting partnership principles plus eight life-changing behavior tips to help you become a more mindful dog mom.

Does that sound good? If so, grab your headphones, take notes, and get ready for some life-changing tips that will bring you even closer to your wonderful dog.

In this episode:

• The 13 principles of mindful dog parenting
• Why you should actively try to become more mindful
• Why it’s important to speak to your dog in a respectful way
• The benefits of having a daily routine
• Why you shouldn’t compare your dog to other dogs
• The importance of having empathy as a mindful dog mom
• How to teach by example
• Why dogs thrive when they have a job
• How to live in the moment

CLICK HERE to open EBD in Apple Podcast app to leave your review

Once you post your review, enter the drawing at: dancinghearts.link/review

Thank you!

Quotes:

“Be responsible for your own mindset and actions. Develop awareness of yourself first.”

“If you develop awareness of your own responses and your own reactions, you'll soon be able to choose empathy and compassion when your dog really needs it.”

“Don't trade what you most want for short-term obedience.”

“Truly embrace the principle that your dog is not giving you have a hard time, they are having a hard time.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

We’re celebrating 200 episodes of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast with a very special announcement – so tune in to hear more about that!

I can’t believe we’ve hit 200 episodes! Time really does fly when you’re having fun. I want to thank each and every one of you for tuning in each week because without you guys, I wouldn’t be here making this show that has brought so many of us together.

As a special thank you, I’ve decided to take you behind the scenes of this very podcast and let you in on some interesting things that happen “behind the mic”.

I hope to continue spreading the word about living in cooperative partnership with our dogs, and I want you to help me! Please remember to subscribe to Enlightened By Dogs, leave a review, and share it with your friends – let’s keep growing this amazing community!

CLICK HERE to open EBD in Apple Podcast app to leave your review

Once you post your review, enter the drawing at: dancinghearts.link/review

Thank you!

In this episode:

• Interesting stats about the podcast – including the fact that we’ve had 250,000 unique downloads!
• The top 10 countries our listeners are from
• Our most popular podcast episodes (the top episodes may surprise you!)
• A few of my favorite reviews from loyal listeners
• The BIG announcement!

Quotes (featuring some of my fav reviews from listeners of the show)

“Great show! Kathy, the host of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast, highlights all aspects of pet health and more in this can't-miss podcast!”

“Thank you so much for the podcast and resources. It's so good to think about living and being with my dogs, not just about training.”

“These podcasts have answered so many questions from my husband and I. We've been so hyper-focused on training, we forgot to stop and just be with our wonderful dog.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Are you ready to become the best version of yourself and the human that your dog needs you to be?

Well, it all starts with inspired action. It’s one thing to seek guidance on how to become a wholesome person and a brilliant partner. But it’s another to actually take these insights and use them to build an amazing partnership.

On this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy takes us through a piece from a Brilliant Partners Academy training class. She shares four questions that will reveal the values you hold dearest and explains how you can use them to create a daily affirmation that will get you closer to the person you aspire to be.

In this episode:

• Why it’s not just important to listen but to take inspired action too
• Kathy shares four questions to help you discover the qualities you value most
• How to create an affirmation that reminds you how you want to live

Quotes:

“It takes inspired action every single day to live a brilliant life, and when we are more brilliant, our dogs automatically match us.”

“If you don't take action, nothing is going to change, and even if it does, it’ll not be nearly as much as it could’ve if you took inspired action.”

“When creating your affirmation, don’t overthink it. Follow your heart, your instincts, and your intuition.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Does leading a balanced life, whether on a personal level or with your dog, often seem out of reach?

Perhaps it’s time to look at balance from a whole new perspective. While finding balance, it’s important to look for it in the little moments and approach it more holistically. Balance is not a destination but a process that we all strive to achieve every single day.

Joining this episode of the Enlightened By Dog’s podcast, Beth Williams, P.T., A.P.T., weighs in on the concept of balance. She explores the different layers of balance and also explains how trust, support, and mindfulness can lead to a more balanced life for you and your dog.

Beth is a licensed physical therapist for both humans and animals. Inspired by her heart-dog Nitro’s successful recovery from hip surgery in 1999, she opened the K9 Wellness Center, an outpatient physical therapy clinic for dogs (and the occasional cat).  

During her career as a physical therapist for humans, Beth was a geriatric clinical specialist for 20 years, pursued advanced training in body work and movement education, and earned a master’s degree in counseling and educational psychology with an emphasis on service to the aging. 

She is also a licensed prayer practitioner with the Center for Spiritual Living in Reno, where she serves as a personal spiritual counselor, teaches classes, assists with Sunday services, provides hospital visitation, and officiates celebration of life ceremonies. 

Over the years, Beth has been uniquely trained to help people and their pets heal in body, mind, and spirit. The latest step in her evolution was completing the Dancing Hearts coaches’ training in May 2021. Since then, her contribution to the world has expanded to include healing relationships between people and their pets, spreading ripples of clear communication and cooperative living with our canine companions. Beth happily resides in Reno, Nevada with her beloved “pack”: husband Dave, brilliant canine partner KZ, Siamese cat Luna and several chickens.

You can reach Beth at k9wellnesscenter.com.

In this episode:

• Why you should approach balance as a dynamic process
• How balance is a vital part of our physical, mental, emotional, and relationship health
• How our balance impacts our dogs and vice versa
• Why leash walking our dogs is an activity that requires balance on both ends

Quotes:

“We strive to be those calm, responsible leaders who are willing to learn and then be able to help our dogs to learn.”

“Sometimes we just need that little action of somebody steadying us or giving us a little nudge, not shoving us over. It brings us right back into balance.”

“If we're living in partnership, and our dogs can trust us not to deliberately put them in situations where things are likely to go sour, then everybody can relax and try new things.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

What’s holding you back from living out your dreams of a perfect relationship with your dog?

Most time, it boils down to misinformation and limited beliefs drawn from the outdated obedience training culture. There’s lots of advice out there for dog parents looking to navigate the tricky parts of their relationship with their dogs.

But not all of them are right for you or your dog. Perhaps that’s why the life you’ve always dreamt of seems so unattainable.

In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy shares the five most common myths about living in cooperative harmony with dogs. She debunks these myths and highlights some of the great ways a partnership lifestyle could work instead.

In this episode:

• Why you shouldn’t let misconceptions ruin a brilliant partnership with your dog
• Kathy shares 5 common myths that prevent a wholesome partnership
• How to start building the perfect life with your dog

Quotes:

“The longer you wait until everything is perfect, the less likely you'll ever be to start. And that, my friend, is not an option.”

“Instead of focusing on transactions and training, let's go right to the root cause of all of these behaviors and meet our dogs’ needs as social mammals.”

“Exposing our dogs to things that trigger their fear doesn’t make them feel better any more than it would make you feel better if someone kept exposing you to things that make you uncomfortable.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Do you sometimes feel out of your depth as you try to understand your dog and form that meaningful connection with them?

Well, you’re not alone.

Many dog parents before you have struggled with confidence in the fact that they are doing right by their dogs. Naturally, once these feelings creep in, it becomes a bit harder to establish that incredible bond with their dogs.

In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy shares the testimonies of four different dog moms, who happen to be Brilliant Partners Academy students. They describe a range of different struggles and circumstances that mirror what most dog moms out there are braving through every day. It’s wonderful to see the transition from a place of little to no confidence up to the point where everything turned around for the better.

In this episode:

• How BPA dog mom Sandra Chilton and rough collie Nigella transitioned from anxiety to a confident partnership
• What it took for Alicia Martin to rebuild trust with her dachshund, Joey
• Marika Bertram’s transition from traditional dog training to a partnership mindset
• Ros Swallow’s path to a less reactive partnership with her dogs

Quotes:

“The key thing is to focus on what's easy — loving the dog that you've got, not the dog that you perceived you'd get.” - Sandra Chilton

“Because we're always thinking in this set up scenario versus real life, we just keep doing the same things over and over again, thinking something will change.” - Marika Bertram

“The power to change habits starts with us first, not with our dogs — it starts with us being aware, present, prepared, and also being okay if that plan doesn't work.” - Marika Bertram

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Every dog is unique.

But one of the common myths out there is that all dogs are more or less alike, and with the right obedience training, they’ll get their acts together, become more well-behaved and compliant.

What this mindset does is set us up for a world of disappointment because it turns out that “real-life behavior” is nothing like what happens at the training class. So, we end up believing there’s something wrong with us, our dogs, or both.

That’s why in this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy discusses the five different dog personality types — superpowers, quirks, and all. She goes on to explain how forcing our dogs into compliance could end up giving them a hard time, which in turn gives us a hard time. At the end of the day, the remedy is more clarity and lots of understanding.

In this episode:

• Why a one-size-fits-all training approach causes a leak in trust and confidence
• The common dog personality quirks, sensitivities, and traits
• Kathy introduces her Love, Trust, Grow challenge

Quotes:

“To start to shift our perspective and our mindset — which is what leads to having more trust, confidence, and cooperation — let's add a layer to understanding our dogs more wholeheartedly.”

“Your dog's personality is expressed primarily as one type. That said, it's common to see a strong secondary personality type that expresses regularly.”

“When we indulge in repeating unhelpful thoughts, they trigger our own defense system, and that makes us frustrated, impatient, anxious, and even reactive, so let's not do that.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Has anyone ever told you that exercise (and lots of it) is the best way to get your hyperactive dog to calm down?

Even a quick Google search would land you on a page that recommends rigorous workouts and tons of activities whenever your dog seems over-energetic. While exercise is vital to your dog’s general wellbeing, it’s not the key to calming them down when they’re triggered or simply acting out.

Fortunately, the solution is a lot simpler than you think — rest and understanding.

In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy is on a mission to debunk the myth that over-aroused dogs need more exercise. She shares a few reasons why dogs get over-aroused and how to handle them. She also breaks down the common dog personality types, their traits, and the physical activities best suited to them.

In this episode:

• What it truly means when your dog is over-aroused
• What the arousal protocol is and how to apply it in your dog’s life
• Kathy shares some tips to help you consider your dog’s personality type and needs

Quotes:

“More exercise means more arousal and more out of control behavior from your dog.”

“It's your dog and their unique personality that determines what arousal level any particular activity will do for them — that's why you need a custom plan.”

“The six hours in the protocol does not mean that you're supposed to entertain or enrich your dog or exercise them for six hours per day.”

Take the Quiz and Download Your PDF:

https://dancinghearts.link/dogquiz

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

What does a partnership lifestyle with your dog mean to you?

While it may vary from one dog parent to the other, it’s safe to say that there are a few underlying principles to look out for. Altogether, partnership with your dog involves more than a quid pro quo exchange on a daily basis.

It’s a state of coexistence where both you and your dog are intimately interdependent through a two-way flow of benefits and mutual responsibilities.

In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy shares some details about what a life of partnership is and what it means to her. She explores principles like clarity, kindness, and boundaries and highlights the importance of self-reflection and mindfulness in the partnership lifestyle.

In this episode:

• What makes your partnership with your dog masterful
• The importance of emotionally intelligent choices in partnerships
• How Kathy applies clearness, kindness, and boundaries in her personal life

Quotes:

“As loving dog parents, we understand that our dogs need unconditional support and consistent role modeling to learn key life lessons about acceptable behavior and responsible decision making.”

“A foundation of self-regulation, resiliency, and bonding is built moment by moment in ordinary life, shaping how we perceive the world around us.”

“A partnership lifestyle is a way of living that’s harmonious and respectful of one another with each partner is contributing to making the quality of our life together better and brilliant.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

A new year is always the perfect time for new beginnings, resolutions and meaningful reflections. Which makes it a great time to revisit what it means to be a leader for our dogs, beyond the stereotypical “boss” or “master” figures.

In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy highlights the benefits of approaching leadership from a platform of love. She also explains why good listening and genuine curiosity are vital to fostering an environment where both you and your dog feel safe, calm, and happy.

In this episode:

• Kathy shares the attributes of a loving leader
• Why good leadership is based on trust (not counter conditioning or desensitization)
• How good listening leads to mindful leadership

Quotes:

“Behavior is what you do, culture is how you learn to do it — so we're not born with culture and neither are our dogs.”

“A loving leader knows that a kind, confident leader doesn't command but asks and seeks cooperation — this eventually creates trust.”

“It’s proven that across species — including humans, dogs, and other social beings — the natural response to feeling safe is trust and cooperation.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

How you treat your dog and others is directly informed by who you are.

So, the next important question is, are you simply “who you are” or “who you truly want to be?”

The difference between the two lies in your genuine heart’s desires — what do you value? What qualities are actually important to you? The answer to these questions fuels your conscious intention to be the person you’ve always wanted to be.

In this episode of the Enlightened by Dogs podcast, Kathy discusses how understanding what’s important to you feeds into your relationship with your dogs, and others. She also shares simple prompts and contemplation exercises to get you started on the journey to discovering if you’re authentically you.

In this episode:

• How understanding your core values impacts your partnership with your dog
• How to be intentional about your desires
• Kathy shares simple contemplation exercises for discovering your heart’s desires

Quotes:

“Even with structured dos and don’ts, the effectiveness and results of what we do, and how our dog responds to that, is directly impacted by who we are when we are doing these things.”

“Whatever we think about the most, believe in the strongest, or imagine the most vividly becomes our experience — that's just the law of resonance.”

“Get more intentional with what you want to create in your life.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Naturally, you want your dog to feel safe, calm, and happy as much as possible. But stressful situations are part of life as we know it. Often, these situations affect you long before your dog gets triggered and end up provoking a cascade of thoughts that could sever your connection with your dog.

How do we control these thoughts and, in turn, ensure that our dogs don’t learn to be anxious or reactive in stressful situations? It all starts with a conscious decision to focus on the connection you share at that moment. In this episode, Kathy explores ways to guard your mind against bouts of unhealthy thoughts about others. She also explains the effect this has on your dog’s social skills and provides a six-step thought reframe protocol to tackle the issue at the root.

This episode brings a three-part series to an end. If you missed the first two, check out EBD188 and EBD189 to learn all about being an advocate for your puppy when it counts the most and how to support your dog through traumatic experiences.

In this episode:

• Why monitoring your thoughts is important for a trust-based partnership
• What life is like with a mindful approach (real life scenarios)
• Kathy’s six-step thought reframe protocol

Quotes:

“Disconnecting from our dogs in stressful situations can be avoided if we can identify the first thought that kicks off that cascade of unpleasant thoughts, then reframe it.”

“The effect of monitoring and changing our inner thoughts about others is monumentally life-changing — for both us and our dogs.”

“Identify and decide to change all thoughts that are not serving the future you’re creating for you and your dog.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

You want to protect your dog from traumatic situations just as you want to protect all your loved ones. But, as we all know, it’s not always possible to prevent bad things from happening. So, when an unfortunate incident does happen, how can you help your dog move past it?

Building your dog’s social confidence back up after a traumatic event requires a lot of trust from both you and your dog. In this episode, Kathy explores the ways in which you can work together to bank trust, grow confidence, and prepare against or recover from the effects of stressful situations.

This is the second episode of a three-part series, where Kathy shares how to build your dog’s social confidence. Part one was all about being an advocate for your puppy by creating affirming, confidence-building experiences. If you missed it, go ahead and listen to EBD 188 next.

In this episode:

• How to be your dog’s trusted partner
• What to do when a traumatic event happens
• Kathy’s trust-enhancing strategy for trauma recovery

Quotes:

“Spend real quality time with our dogs, not just entertaining or exercising them, but real connected fully present time being with them in all sorts of contexts, including play snuggling and learning together. All those things are banking trust hearts.”

“We can show our dogs that the scary thing is not going to harm us through our own behavior. That way, we're letting our dog know that we are keeping them safe.”

“How we behave during and after a traumatic event is more important than what actually happened during the traumatic event.”

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Did you know that your puppy or young dog is at the most impressionable stage of their life?

They’re experiencing most things for the first time, which is thrilling! But it’s equally scary because unpleasant experiences can have a long-lasting impact on how they experience ordinary life events moving forward. So, we need to be intentionally mindful of our puppies and young dogs, until they’re confident and resilient enough to stand on their own paws.

In this first episode of a three-part series, Kathy highlights the importance of building your dog’s social confidence. She uses a variety of scenarios to explain what it means and when it's necessary to be an advocate for your dog.

The series takes a closer look at ways you can stay connected with your dog, especially in awkward and somewhat unpleasant social situations.

In this episode:

• What being an advocate for your dog looks like
• How to address well-meaning yet unwanted opinions
• How to support your dog when you feel the pressure to be social

Quotes:

“We need to be exceptionally mindful with our puppies and dogs until they're solid and confident and mature adults.”

“Remember that behavior is communication, so look for opportunities to learn from difficult situations.”

“Sometimes an apology is warranted, so apologize briefly — but the idea is to stay connected with your dog and move on.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

It’s no secret that our dogs make us feel happy and safe, that’s one of the many reasons we’re on this partnership journey with them.

Have you ever wondered if we do the same for them?

The connection we share with our dogs is a two-way street, but it’s often easy to forget that their idea of ‘happy and safe’ is quite different from what we think it is.

In this episode of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast, Kathy explores the premise that we may be unintentionally keeping our dogs from doing things that keep them balanced.  She explains how allowing our dogs to “do what they do best” is beneficial to the partnership lifestyle.

In this episode:

• Kathy shares anecdotal research on how our stress affects our dogs
• What keeps dogs centered, happy, and thriving
• How to help your dog remain balanced in a stressful situation

Quotes:

“What dogs do best is to live in the moment and really experience what's happening around them.”

“We have this close connection and a tightly shared social intelligence that causes us to affect our dogs in a very significant way.”

“Dogs do things that humans don't do in this day and age, and they can help us with that if we allow them to.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

How do you react when your dog is triggered by external factors while you’re enjoying a walk together?

The answer is almost never the same across the board, however, a common mistake is to react to the trigger alongside our dogs. Unfortunately, we can’t guard our dogs against all the potential triggers in the world. What we can do is offer support.

In this episode of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast, Kathy explains how staying connected with our dogs in these situations can be beneficial. She also runs us through some useful tips for leash walking our dogs.

In this episode:

• How to support our dogs when they are triggered
• When and how to rely on the safe, calm, and happy protocol
• Why a dynamic partnership with our dogs is beneficial

Quotes:

“You are either a #winner or #learner, and learner equals winner.”

“The more experience we get, the more competent we get at staying connected with our dogs.”

“If we cannot feel safe, calm, and happy in situations our dog needs us to be, things won’t go well.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

Creating clear opportunities for our dogs to say yes or no brings us one step closer to that brilliant life we want with them.

This may seem a bit odd, especially since we live in a world where having a well-trained dog is considered a badge of honor. However, the true badge of honor is earned when our dogs choose to be responsible as opposed to being trained to be responsible.

Realizing they have a choice doesn’t only help our dogs feel more in control, it also introduces more trust into your partnership.

In this episode of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast, Kathy breaks down the process of giving our dogs the freedom to make choices. She also shares six choice protocols we can use to get our dogs involved when making decisions.

In this episode:

• What giving our dogs freedom looks like
• How to use choice protocols and clarity questions to give our dogs choices
• How freedom impacts our dog’s decision to say yes

Quotes:

“We can have attentive, responsive, and responsible dogs through living a partnership lifestyle.”

“Clarity helps create that feeling of agency, freedom, and responsibility.”

“This principle of choice, responsibility, and freedom is for anyone who wants to live an enlightened and connected life with their dogs.”

Want More of Kathy?

• Brilliant Partners Academy
• Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website
• Facebook Community

When did you last think about resiliency in terms of your partnership with your dog? Unfortunately for most people, the answer is "never".

Life tends to throw curveballs every now and then, both in the human and dog communities. How you deal with these unfortunate occurrences is a function of your resiliency. But what does this mean for your partnership with your dog?

In this episode of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast, Kathy explains the importance of resiliency in building a strong and successful partnership with your dog. She also explores various sources of your dog's resiliency and the elements that will help you build it.

In this episode:

• Where resilience comes from
• How to help your dog feel more resilient
• Tips from Kathy’s resiliency masterclass