Dog Chats
You love your dogs, but sometimes their behavior can be confusing, frustrating or even embarrassing. Join Emma Clifford, a CPDT certified dog trainer, and Kirsten Wojcik, an IAABC certified dog behavior consultant and Licensed Family Dog Mediator as they chat about behavior, ways to connect with dogs, how to build positive relationships and their journeys with their own dogs. Respected in their field for their creative approach to challenging dog behavior and finding ways to meet the needs of both families and their dogs, Emma and Kirsten offer practical advice and a bit of humor. To connect with your Dog Chats podcast hosts use these links: Emma: https://www.ecdogtraining.com Kirsten: https://www.kwhappydogs.com
Episodes
Remember when you were 14- years- old and you were a totally balanced, perfect teenager? Of course you don't...because how could you feel calm and confident when your world was changing and your body was taken over by alien hormones. It is the same for our adolescent dogs and in this episode, Emma and Kirsten share the science behind this challenging development stage while offering tips on how to support your struggling teen. D...
With her incredible wit and wisdom, special guest Alexis Davison offers insights into the importance of communication in the role of behavior change, the history of positive reinforcement training and how using the UnChase Protocol can help pets learn to live together and be safe alongside wildlife. Alexis is a professional mentor to both Emma and Kirsten. Ready to learn a bit about life and predatory action behavior patterns? L...
Now that the days are shorter and we are spending more time indoors with our dogs, it is time to cozy up for a Towel Dry, Hot Lava, scenting games and fun DIY enrichment activities. Your hosts Emma and Kirsten describe some of their favorite indoor dog games and offer tips about keeping your dogs busy and happy while growing your relationship together.
Visit us @dogchats_podcast on Instagram for more tips from this episode!
Does your dog communicate their fear or frustration through barking, lunging and snapping? Check out this new episode where Kirsten unravels some of the "why" and "how" behind these maladaptive behaviors. She offers a few tips for pet parents who are working to support their dogs and reminds us to start from a place of empathy and understanding for both dog and human clients.
In episode 14, The Podiversary Episode, Emma and Kirsten interview the professional pet sitter and dog walker, Lynes Downing, Jr. As our hosts share their own concerns about finding the right pet sitter when they travel, Lynes offers reassuring advice and wisdom about how to choose a good sitter, and how to set the sitter up for success.
Lynes can be reached at
His website www.petsitpro.o...
In this episode, Emma and Kirsten share their thoughts on the current research that defines the social systems of dogs. The amazing matrix of status, communication and relationships that are a part of our dogs' social environments is beautiful and complex. Let's unpack some of the misunderstood research about pack theory and dominance so we can examine our own relationships with our dogs in a meaningful way.
Suzanne Gollin, the Foster Care Coordinator at Marin Humane, has been working to connect animals in need with loving foster families for 23 years. Have you ever considered fostering a pet? In this episode, we walk you through the joyful process of fostering and hope to inspire some of you to bring a shelter pet into your home, if even for a very brief period. Emma and Kirsten both have "forever foster" pets in their homes, and w...
Analyzing dog body language brings us so much closer to understanding how our dogs are thinking and feeling. In this episode your hosts share their insights into how dogs communicate with humans and with other dogs. Having this knowledge gives you a chance to empathize and communicate better with your own dog.
recommended reading Dogs in Translation by Maue and Krauss Doggie Language by Lili ChinEmma and Kirsten had the incredible opportunity to chat with Marion Fitzgibbon, Marin Humane’s Humanitarian of the year recipient in 2008, for Episode 10. Marion is a champion of animal welfare who created and directs the Limerick Animal Welfare Sanctuary in Kilfinane, Ireland. She shares her inspirational story from helping stray dogs as an 8-year-old girl, to creating one of the largest and desperately needed animal shelters in...
We love our dogs so deeply, and they bring us so much joy and happiness. But unfortunately their time here on Earth is not long enough. When they are gone, the grief is raw and the pain is real. In this episode Emma and Kirsten recall stories of their past dogs' journeys from the joy when they joined their families, until their passing. With heart-felt emotion, support and advice in the areas of grieving and moving on, your ho...
With their easy-going, authentic conversation and genuine concern for both dogs and their guardians, Emma and Kirsten reveal what they have in store for you in 2023. In this episode, our hosts reflect on past training practices and the evolution of dog training as it has transitioned from control to choice. They answer questions about current changes in their profession, what inspires them and where they are heading.
The holidays are almost upon us and Kirsten and Emma have some thoughtful tips about how to keep our dogs healthy and happy during this special season. Also they offer creative ways to include our dogs in our rituals and traditions, while sharing some humorous stories about their own past holiday dog memories. Baking dog biscuits, preparing for holiday guests and thinking about the holidays from our dogs' perspective- Episode 7 wi...
Thinking about bringing a new dog or cat into your home and wondering how you can set your resident pets up for a successful transition? In this episode Emma and Kirsten share a few management tips, procedure advice and thoughtful insights about how to expand your pet family in a way that is positive for all the animals and humans involved.
Fall is in the air and kids are back in school, so we thought, why not find out what students want to know about dogs? Kids have such creative minds and fresh perspectives, and It seems to us that having more knowledge about dogs should be a priority. No Dog Left Behind. So we asked some local teachers to poll their students and gather up some questions, and the result is a podcast episode meant for adults and children alike. S...
Our dogs are so intelligent and perceptive. It is our task as their guardians to offer them sensory enrichment and engaging mental and physical stimulation. In Episode 4, Emma and Kirsten share practical tips and creative games designed to encourage your dogs to express their inherent canine behaviors through activities, puzzles and exercises you can do together to enrich both of your lives.
Camping with your dog can be so fulfilling if you are prepared and set up for a positive experience. Episode 3 discusses the incredible enrichment camping offers both dogs and their guardians, along with some practical advice of what to pack and what to consider when you pick a destination. And don't worry, Kirsten shares her strong feelings about Snowy Plovers and their "nesting rights," but she is really a bird lover at heart. ...
Wondering about which summer outings are fun from your dog's perspective and looking for ways to successfully include them on your adventures? This episode unpacks various dog-friendly treks and offers tips to help you be prepared and thoughtful about summer-time fun with your pup.
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.