#162 - Choice, Control, Agency, and Predictability

#162 - Choice, Control, Agency, and Predictability

Author: Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training April 13, 2026 Duration: 1:10:19
You've heard the buzzwords: agency, choice, control, predictability. But if you've ever tried to implement all of them at once and you know it can feel like trying to juggle 100 balls. Emily and Allie break down why agency isn't a pass/fail ethical litmus test, but rather a set of individual dials you can turn up or down depending on your learner, your context, and your real-life constraints. Whether you're working with a rescue dog who's never seen an open door as an option, a senior pup nav...

Ever since she was seven years old, Emily Strong was figuring out how to train praying mantids, while her co-host Allie Bender was advocating for hungry birds at her neighbor's feeder by age two. If that kind of deep-seated drive to connect with animals sounds familiar, then you're exactly who they're talking to. Enrichment for the Real World is a conversation between these two lifelong animal people, brought to you by Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training. They built this podcast for anyone who has ever felt that innate pull to improve the lives of the creatures in their care, whether they're family pets, classroom companions, or rescue animals. In each episode, Emily and Allie, the authors behind "Canine Enrichment for the Real World," move beyond theory to discuss practical, actionable strategies. You'll hear them break down the real-world applications of enrichment and behavior science, making it accessible for families, pet owners, and animal enthusiasts of all ages. The discussions are grounded in experience and empathy, focusing on creating deeper understanding and healthier relationships between humans and animals. Tune in for thoughtful, often humorous, and always compassionate guidance that helps you apply these concepts in your daily life, making the well-being of animals a natural and integrated part of your world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Enrichment for the Real World
Podcast Episodes
#142 - Enrichment Guilt: When Enough Doesn't Feel Like It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:16
Do you ever feel like you’re not doing enough for your pet? Yeah… us too. But you know what? You’re probably doing way more than you give yourself credit for. In this episode, Allie and Ellen get real about “enrichment g…
#141 - Gratitude, But Not The Toxic Kind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
Let’s be real: sometimes, being told to “just be grateful” when things are hard feels… gross. We get it. Gratitude can be helpful, but not when it’s used to slap a smiley face sticker over real pain. In this episode, All…
#140 - Try it - Strategies for Frantic Feeders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:59
Does your dog lose their mind the second food appears? In this episode, Emily walks through a simple, science-based strategy to help “frantic feeders” relax around food. Learn how to use food to make food less exciting (…
#139 - Plentiful Enrichment: Creating a Full Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:20
What does it really mean to give our pets an abundant life? Emily and Claire unpack common myths around enrichment and abundance, where well-intentioned positive reinforcement can slip into coercion, and where saying no…
#138 - What Horror Films Teach Us About Behavior [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:19
What do horror movies and your pet’s sense of safety have in common? More than you’d think. This week, Ellen and Emily get delightfully spooky as they unpack how elements that make horror films terrifying, like the light…
#137 - All Work And No Play Makes Everyone a Dull Critter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:58
So many of us (pet parents and pros) get tangled up in “shoulds”. My dog should behave better. I should know how to fix this. People shouldn’t think my dog is “bad.” But what if some of the hardest parts of living with o…
#136 - Try It: New Cue, Same Trick (and Why It Matters) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:49
What if you could teach your pet not just one way to understand a cue, but multiple ways — or even help them notice their own body as a signal? That’s the magic of cue transfers, and in this episode, Emily breaks down ho…
#135 - Trick or Treat? When Enrichment Isn't Enriching [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:48
Sometimes enrichment doesn’t go the way we planned. Maybe the activity is too easy, too hard, too arousing, or just plain unsustainable. In this episode, Allie and Emily pull back the curtain on the common pitfalls that…
#134 - Try It: Identify Your Home's Grumble & Growl Zones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:03
Ever notice your pet getting tense in certain spots around your house? Spaces like the hallway, under the table, or right next to you on the couch? Those tricky spaces might actually be grumble or growl zones. In this ep…
#133 - How to Incorporate Kids Into Your Pet's Enrichment Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:13
Parenting is already a full-time job, and when you add pets into the mix, things can feel overwhelming. But what if your kids could actually help make pet care easier and more fun? In this episode, Emily is joined by fel…