#82 - Mara Velez: How BEAR Can Help Shelters

#82 - Mara Velez: How BEAR Can Help Shelters

Author: Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training June 24, 2024 Duration: 1:04:33
In this week's interview episode, we're so excited to have Mara Velez return to talk about the Shelter Playgroup Alliance's programs, and the newest addition, BEAR, Behavior & Enrichment Academy and Resources. In this episode, you’re going to hear Emily and Mara talk about: SPA’s programs, and how they all fit togetherCultivating company culture to promote successKolb’s Experiential Learning CycleThe difference between safety and comfortThe importance of mindfulness in teaching and ...

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
#153 - Why Dogs React Suddenly: Trigger Stacking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:15
Ever have one of those days where your dog absolutely loses their mind over something they handled fine yesterday, and you're left standing there like, “Cool, cool, cool, love this for us, what just happened?” That wasn’…
#152 - Advocating for Your Anxious Dog as an Anxious Human [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:52
Advocating for your dog sounds simple, but it sure isn’t always easy. Your heart races, your brain goes blank, and a stranger (or family member 🙃) is giving you unsolicited advice while your dog is already at threshold.…
#151 - Labels: Helpful or Harmful? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:29
Labels are everywhere: reactive dog, bad pet parent, confident trainer, resilient learner. They’re meant to simplify things, and while they can be helpful, sometimes they do the opposite. In this episode, Emily and Ellen…
#150 - If You Aren’t Doing It, It's Not Doable [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:38
Hi, do you keep telling yourself, “I know what to do, I just need to actually do it?” Welcome. In this episode, Emily and Tiffany unpack a hard (and oddly relieving) truth: when something isn’t happening, it’s usually a…
#149 - The Dangers of “Enrichment” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:25
When we say The Dangers of “Enrichment”, the air quotes are doing a lot of work. In this episode, Emily and Ellen unpack how things labeled as enrichment can actually aggressively miss the mark. From the “more is better”…
#148 - You’re Getting Enrichment Wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:45
You’re getting enrichment wrong. Yeah, we said it. (Lovingly.) In this episode, Emily and Allie unpack why enrichment so often feels overwhelming, guilt-inducing, or impossible to “do right.” Spoiler alert: it’s not beca…
#147 - Old Skill, New Scenario: Using What You Already Know [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:17
If your first response to a new behavior challenge is “I need to learn something new,” this episode is for you. Ellen and Emily talk about why “new” isn’t always the answer, and how to make the most of the skills already…
#146 - Try It: Create Your Enrichment Menu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:04
Ever find yourself staring at your pet thinking, “What do we even do for enrichment again?” Same. Today we’re walking through how to build your pet’s Enrichment Menu: a simple, sanity-saving list of activities you alread…
#145 - Q&A: Dog Sociability [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:25
This week’s episode is built entirely from your questions! And honestly, we love that. Listener Q&As are some of our favorite conversations because they give us a window into what real pet parents and pros are navigating…
#144 - Learning Over Threshold? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:39
Ever try to teach your dog something new only to realize both of you are way too stressed to even remember your own names? Same. In this episode, Emily and our newest Pet Harmony team member, Veronica Garcia, dive into t…