It's Training Cats and Dogs! – Details, episodes & analysis

How can the human side of pet training - understanding and addressing our emotions and mental state - contribute to a stronger bond with our animals and more effective training process?

In this chat with fellow pet professional Marissa Martino, we talk about...

• why it's not just about teaching behaviors and working through training plans
• how her dog Peru met the love of her life, a cat named Harold
• what parallels there are between your work with your pet and your work with yourself
• why "self care" most likely isn't the way to go

Timestamps:

0:00:00 - Pet Relationship Feelings and Stories

Marissa and I play two truths and a lie... I lose (shocker)

0:05:00 - From the Shelter to A Home

Marissa and I discuss strategies for helping clients adopt dogs with a history of living with cats, shelter evaluations, and their ability to predict behavior.

0:13:05 - Introducing a Dog to a Cat

We discussed introducing cats and dogs, active management, safety, and the joy of watching them become friends.

0:29:53 - Hold Space in Pet Training

Clients learn to accept their situation, set boundaries, measure success, and celebrate attempts to transform with their animal.

0:39:23 - Resourcing Yourself vs. Self-Care (and Fun!)

Marissa and I discuss resourcing ourselves, shifting mindset, and strengthening relationships with animals.

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Check out this episode's show notes for Marissa's full bio and contact info, as well as pictures of Peru and Harold - praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/65

If you're a pet professional...

Check out my mentorship and consulting options - I can be a second set of eyes on one of your current cat-dog clients... or you can shadow some of my cases!

And if you love the podcast and want to support me as I continue to create new episodes, join the other cat-and-dog people in the Podcast Supporters space inside the Cat and Dog Coexistence Club! Go to praiseworthypets.com/support-the-podcast to learn more ❤️

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

In some cases, you can be doing ALL the right things to help your pets coexist, but everyone is still stressed and unable to live together peacefully.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of pressure on well-meaning pet parents who are struggling. And that really sucks.

In my chat with fellow pet professional Gia Savocchi, we talk about:

• how external pressures might cause people to keep their pets in a less-than-ideal situation
• the unhealthy double-standard: adoption = good, rehoming = bad
• how to intervene in conflicts between your animals (instead of relying on one to stand up for themselves)
• why educating the general public about normal dog and cat behavior is so important

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Check out this episode's show notes for Gia's full bio and contact info, pictures of her pets, bonus content, and the resources we mentioned - praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/64

If you're a pet professional...

Get in touch with Naomi to get a second set of eyes on one of your current cat-dog cases with a Pet Pro Strategy Session!

And if you love the podcast and want to support me as I continue to create new episodes, join the other cat-and-dog people in the Podcast Supporters space inside the Cat and Dog Coexistence Club! Go to praiseworthypets.com/support-the-podcast to learn more ❤️

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

What is involved in taking cats and dogs who can't even look at each other to being able to spend time together as housemates?

In this episode, Naomi walks through the general process she uses to help her clients' cats and dogs learn to coexist.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why helping each animal feel safe is always the first step
• what types of behaviors both your cats and dogs need to know
• why you can't "just train the dog to leave the cat alone"

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Find links to all the resources I discussed in this episode and some bonus content in the full show notes: praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/55

And if you love the podcast and want to support me as I continue to create new episodes, join the other cat-and-dog people in the Podcast Supporters space inside the Cat and Dog Coexistence Club! Go to praiseworthypets.com/support-the-podcast to learn more ❤️

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

P.S. Here's Kerry's website - kerrypinnisicounseling.com (but she wants me to make sure you know that she isn't currently taking new clients for ongoing therapy, but if you are already in long term individual therapy and would like to work with her for EMDR or Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, you can reach her through the website)

When you've got an intense, chase-y dog and some scared cats, how do you prioritize your training projects? In this Dog and Cat Chat, I explain why (in Jenna's case), I suggested that she focus on addressing the cats' skittishness first before tackling her dog's intense reactions to seeing the cats move.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why two kittens might be better than one
• how to make seeing the other animal less of an event (when they are absolutely apart)
• how to help nervous cats explore their territory (and why it was priority #1 for Jenna)

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Find links to the resources I discussed in this episode and some bonus content in the full show notes: praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/54

Sign up for your own Dog and Cat Chat!

Go to praiseworthypets.com/chat to book your own this free mini-coaching session.

And if you love the podcast and want to support me as I continue to create new episodes, join the other cat-and-dog people in the Podcast Supporters space inside the Cat and Dog Coexistence Club! Go to praiseworthypets.com/support-the-podcast to learn more ❤️

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

What are the first things you should do when you bring a kitten home to live with your adolescent dog? In this chat with fellow pet professionals Josh and Mandy Boutelle, we talk about how they helped their new kitten, Fig, quickly settle into life with their exuberant dog, Fern.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• how they started creating positive experiences for the pets as soon as Fig came home
• why they waited a week before posting online that Fig had joined their family
• what signs indicated that Fern might be able to coexist with a cat
• why they didn't keep Fig and Fern separated for long
• why kittens and potted houseplants don't mix

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Check out this episode's show notes for Mandy and Josh's full bios and contact info, pictures of Fig and Fern, bonus content, and the resources we mentioned - praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/53

If you're a pet professional...

Get in touch with Naomi to get a second set of eyes on one of your current cat-dog cases with a Pet Pro Strategy Session!

And if you love the podcast and want to support me as I continue to create new episodes, join the other cat-and-dog people in the Podcast Supporters space inside the Cat and Dog Coexistence Club! Go to praiseworthypets.com/support-the-podcast to learn more ❤️

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

You bring a new pet home and you're keeping them separated from your resident pet like everyone says to do... but what are the next steps?!

In this Dog and Cat Chat, I give Agnes a plan of action for Daisy, her young, prey-drivey dog and Chrys, her newly adopted chill-dude orange cat.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why scheduling time for your cat to have the full run of the house (often) is important
• why an "airlock" of barriers is essential
• why the goal is NOT to get the animals closer to each other
• what to do if the plan "doesn't work"

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Find links to the resources I discussed in this episode and some bonus content in the full show notes: praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/52

Sign up for your own Dog and Cat Chat!

Go to praiseworthypets.com/chat to book your own this free mini-coaching session.

And if you love the podcast and want to support me as I continue to create new episodes, join the other cat-and-dog people in the Podcast Supporters space inside the Cat and Dog Coexistence Club! Go to praiseworthypets.com/support-the-podcast to learn more ❤️

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

In this inaugural "What the hell is...?" episode, Naomi gives her cousin Kerry the skinny on the concept of cat testing.

This episode is for you if...

➔ your dog was "cat tested" in the shelter or rescue

➔ your dog wasn't "cat tested" in the shelter or rescue

➔ you don't know what "cat testing is"

➔ you just like the sound of the phrase "cat testing"

What you'll hear in this episode:

• what cat testing is (sort of)
• how it can help predict your dog's behavior around cats (sort of)
• what you can do with the information you get from cat testing (sort of)

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Find links to the resources I discussed in this episode and some bonus content in the full show notes: praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/51

And if you love the podcast and want to support me as I continue to create new episodes, join the other cat-and-dog people in the Podcast Supporters space inside the Cat and Dog Coexistence Club! Go to praiseworthypets.com/support-the-podcast to learn more ❤️

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

P.S. Here's Kerry's website - kerrypinnisicounseling.com (but she wants me to make sure you know that she isn't currently taking new clients for ongoing therapy, but if you are already in long term individual therapy and would like to work with her for EMDR or Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, you can reach her through the website)

This baby podcast is now 50 episodes old 🤯 That's kind of a big deal!

Let's celebrate with some of my super deep (and also a bit silly) musings about:

• how this podcast came to be
• why I'm doing this whole thing in the first place
• what's next in the world of "It's Training Cats and Dogs" aka even more awesome-ness
• when the podcast will be back - and how it will be even better than ever!

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Sign up to be a podcast supporter here!

P.S. Whether you've been here since episode 1 or if this is your first foray into the coolest podcast out there - thank you so much for listening!

It's been a wild ride so far, and I can't wait to keep bringing you informative, motivating, and funny content every week!

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

If you've ever wondered whether your cat is teasing your dog for the fun of it or deliberately antagonizing the dog to get a rise out of them (and attention from you), this episode is for you.

In this Dog and Cat Chat, Chelsea and I come up with a plan to teach her mischievous cats how and when to give their reactive dog brother some space.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why "see cat ➔ eat cookie" isn't totally working
• how "annoying little brother syndrome" affects your training plan
• how to help your dog feel that his warnings are being listened to
• why a dog that is reactive to things outside needs to be able to de-stress inside

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Find some bonus content in the full show notes: praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/49

Sign up for your own Dog and Cat Chat! Go to praiseworthypets.com/chat to book your own this free mini-coaching session.

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)
• DM me on Instagram - tell me what you liked about the episode, questions you have, or suggestions for the podcast
• tell a friend about It's Training Cats and Dogs - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁

If someone says their cat acts "like a dog"... do you know exactly what they mean? Is having a "dog-like" cat considered ::better:: than having a cat-like cat?

In this chat with fellow trainer Matt Schimsky, we talk about society's stereotypes about cats vs. dogs (and why they affect our relationships and willingness to train with our animals).

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why Matt didn't like cats (until he lived with them)
• how his experience with "dog-like" cats has affected the way he train
• what crucial step you need to include in your pets' exercise and enrichment routine (that you're probably missing right now)

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Check out this episode's show notes for Matt's full bio (and pictures of Howl) - praiseworthypets.com/podcast-shownotes/48

If you're a pet professional... Get in touch with Naomi to get a second set of eyes on one of your current cat-dog cases with a Pet Pro Strategy Session!

😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶 😺❤️🐶

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me spread the word to other cat-and-dog people! You can:

• subscribe to the podcast
• leave a review on Apple Podcasts
• DM me on Instagram
• tell a friend about it - there's no link, cause that's a real life kind of thing 😁