#170 - Q&A: How to Multi-Pet Household

#170 - Q&A: How to Multi-Pet Household

Author: Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training June 8, 2026 Duration: 57:34
In this Q&A episode, Allie, Emily, and Ellen tackle the questions they hear most often from clients, mentees, and the internet: Should I get another pet? How do I treat my pets fairly when they all need different things? And how do I actually bring a new animal home in a way that sets everyone up for success? Of course, in true Q&A fashion, we may meander a bit (look, we are who we are 😂), but we packed this episode full of real-life examples, how we guide clients through the process,...

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
#139 - Plentiful Enrichment: Creating a Full Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
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: 56:11
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: 58:50
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: 15:03
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: 1:14:40
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: 22:18
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: 48:05
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…
#132 - Are You Self-Sabotaging? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:43
Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “Either I have to do X, or Y terrible thing will happen”? Welcome to dichotomous thinking, one of the sneakiest forms of self-sabotage we fall into. In this episode, Allie and Emily u…
#131 - Why Training Mechanics Aren't Enough [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:53
You can have the fanciest training plan in the world—but if you skip the “soft” skills, you’re building on shaky ground. This week, Allie and Emily dive into the four soft skills that make everything else work: observati…
#130 - Mike Agruss: A Nuanced Approach to Dog Bite Advocacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:59
Content Warning: This episode does include discussion of dog bites. When a dog bite happens, emotions run high—fear, guilt, anger, confusion. In today’s episode, host Emily Strong is joined by Mark Agruss, a personal inj…