Pod to the Rescue

We are thrilled to present today’s guest, Michael Shikashio. Michael is a world-renowned expert on dog aggression and has an incredible wealth of information he generously shares, which is helpful for owners, rescuers, and trainers alike.

In this conversation, Michael, Emily and Libby define aggression, discuss the ways aggression can present in different dogs (and the different levels of assessing their aggression), and so much...

July 4th can be terrifying for pets — especially dogs with noise sensitivities. Fireworks and thunderstorms trigger stress, fear, and sometimes dangerous flight responses in our four-legged friends. In this live mini episode, we talk about why dogs are afraid of fireworks and thunder, how to recognize signs of fear (even the subtle ones!), and strategies for keeping pets calm and safe.You’ll learn how to spot canine stress signals,...

Bringing a new foster or adopted dog into your home is exciting—but when you already have a resident dog, the introduction process requires careful planning. In this episode, we chat with behavior consultant and friend of the pod Elisheba Fay, and dive into strategies for setting both dogs up for success, especially when working with foster or rescue dogs whose histories may be unknown.

We cover what to consider before bringing a ne...

Why is my puppy biting so much? This is a question we get a lot from fosters, adopters, and clients. We’re here to help! Puppy biting is normal, but you don’t have to become a chew toy for your new rescue puppy. In this episode, Emily, Jenni, and Libby discuss everything puppy biting: why puppies bite, how to prevent puppy biting, and how to train your puppy not to bite so much. (Hint: it’s all in the prevention!)

🐶 In this epi...

Dog reactivity is one of the most challenging behavior issues we face in dog rescue, but there is hope for reactive dogs! We’ve helped lots of reactive foster and rescue dogs over the years, and so has Renée Erdman of Bravo Dog Behavioral Health. In this episode, we sit down to talk about reactivity: what it is, what it isn’t, and how to help your dog.

🐶 In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What is reactivity in dogs?

• How is it dif...

Raising a puppy can be one of the most fun and rewarding parts of dog rescue, fostering, and adoption, but it can also be one of the most challenging. We get it, and so does our guest, Kathy Callahan. Kathy has raised a lot of rescue puppies, and her latest book, Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog, provides a life-changing framework for anyone bringing a puppy into their home — as well as practical tips for puppy training and soc...

What makes rescue dogs unique — and why do they sometimes struggle with behavior issues? In this episode of Pod to the Rescue, we explore the behavior of rescue dogs through a trauma-informed, science-based lens. In this season opener, hosts Emily, Jenni, and Libby discuss why we still have a lot to say about rescue dog behavior!

We break down why understanding dog behavior is essential for adopters, foster caregivers, and shelter a...

We’re back with Season 5 of Pod to the Rescue, the podcast for dog lovers, fosters, rescuers and adopters who want to understand and support their dogs better. This season, we’re diving into some of the most-requested dog behavior topics: how to help a reactive rescue dog, managing aggression between two dogs at home, and safely introducing a newly adopted dog to your cat.

As always, we approach these tough behavior issues with a re...

Season 4 Wrap and What’s to Come

Emily and Libby wrap this season with an exciting announcement, a rescue update from Summit Dog Rescue, a new co-host, and a glimpse of what’s to come in Season 5. Thank you so much for tuning in to this season of Pod To The Rescue, and we’ll see you soon!

For transcripts, visit www.podtotherescue.com

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/podtotherescue/ and Facebook https://ww...

Canine Adolescence is the transition from puppyhood to adulthood. This fascinating conversation with Sarah Stremming, who is a dog behavior coach and the host of the Cog Dog Podcast, addresses this pivotal age of young dogs. Sarah, Emily, and Libby discuss adolescent canine behavior and how to most effectively observe and address behaviors to nurture confident, healthy dogs. This is the second part of their conversation, so make su...

Canine Adolescence is the transition from puppyhood to adulthood. This fascinating conversation with Sarah Stremming, who is a dog behavior coach and the host of the Cog Dog Podcast, addresses this pivotal age of young dogs. Sarah, Emily, and Libby discuss adolescent canine behavior and how to most effectively observe and address behaviors to nurture confident, healthy dogs. They also discuss:

• How dogs’ responses to environme...

This is a replay of our 2021 interview with aggression expert Michael Shikashio.

We are thrilled to present today’s guest, Michael Shikashio. Michael is a world-renowned expert on dog aggression and has an incredible dearth of information he generously shares, which is helpful for owners, rescuers, and trainers alike.

In this conversation, Michael, Emily and Libby define aggression, discuss the ways aggression can present in differ...

It is no secret that shelters can prove to be extremely stressful environments for dogs - even the friendlist, most easy-going dog can experience severe stress or fear in a shelter environment. In this incredible conversation, Emily, Libby and Tom Candy discuss how we can best support shelter dogs in and out of the shelter environment to build confidence, trust, and a sense of play. In this episode, they cover:

• How to wo...

“What supplies do I need for fostering a dog?” “Should you use training tools on rescue dogs?” “What kind of harness should I get for my dog?” You have questions about fostering or adopting a dog, and we have answers! These are the tools and supplies we recommend for rescue dog fosters and adopters. 

Emily and Libby are professionals who have been working in foster-based rescue for a long time, so they have accumulated a lot of “st...

If you try one training method with your new rescue dog, try this one! This week, Emily and Libby speak with Kathy Sdao, world-renowned dog trainer, speaker, writer, and educator. Sdao’s accessible training technique, SMARTx50, is a powerful tool that distills behavior science into the lay person's terms, making it accessible for our human learners: dog rescuers, fosters and adopters. They discuss how to use SMARTx50 to help o...

Puppy socialization is critical for a dog’s healthy development, but what happens if there is a highly contagious respiratory illness being passed around the dog community? Emily and Libby address this current situation by re-airing this episode so you can make a good decision by weighing the costs and benefits of puppy socialization, and how to have healthy play with other puppies amidst illness. Some topics discussed are:

When SDR rescued a dog with hearing impairment, they turned to Tiffany Baker for her expertise on the most effective ways to work with deaf dogs. We hear about Blue throughout the episode as SDR’s case study, and in this episode Emily, Libby and Tiffany also cover topics like:

• How she uses control unleashed for deaf dogs

• Pattern games and why the framework of predictability is important for all dogs - especially deaf dogs

...

Libby and Emily sit down with Annie Phenix, an award winning author and trainer who is known for her methods that train for behavioral concerns without using fear, force, pain, or intimidation.  This conversation is underlined by the importance of trust, joy, and love in our relationships with our animal friends. They also talk about:

• Building trust with our dogs

• How we can use somatic therapy on our dogs

• Ways to work wit...

Have you ever dealt with a dog who experienced separation anxiety? Separation anxiety can present in dogs in myriad behaviors, and this can have a major impact not only on the dog but on the humans caring for those dogs.

In this episode, Libby and Emily dig into this issue with Jenni Pfafman. Jenni is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer with years of experience working in-person and virtually with dogs who deal with separat...