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Join Kathy Kawalec in a heartfelt discussion on the importance of connection and creating a legacy of kindness and cooperation that will positively affect generations to come.   In this episode of "Enlightened by Dogs," host Kathy Kawalec invites you to explore your legacy as a dog mom and to consider how you can make a positive impact on the world through your relationship with your dogs.    As conscious dog moms, we have the opportunity and a responsibility to create a better world for us and our dogs, and that's exactly what Kathy explores in this episode.   Drawing on the wisdom of Marianne Williamson and her own experiences, Kathy emphasizes the importance of connection and self-discovery in creating a fulfilling and meaningful life with our dogs.   Kathy discusses the unique partnership between humans and dogs, and how this partnership can lead to mutual growth and connection when approached with empathy, compassion, and a willingness to listen to our dogs' honest communication.    She encourages listeners to choose a legacy of kindness and cooperation over control and obedience, and to embrace the feminine wisdom that recognizes the importance of connection, trust, and feeling safe in our relationships with our dogs.   In this episode, listeners will learn:   The importance of connection and self-discovery in creating a fulfilling life with dogs. The value of honest communication and reflection in our relationships with our dogs. The power of choosing a legacy of kindness and cooperation in our relationships with our dogs.   Quotes:   "Connection is the energy that exists between two sentient beings when they feel seen, heard and valued."   "The gift of truth from our dogs is simple: we are on this journey together, and our hearts will lead the way toward a life of cooperation, connection, and love without condition."   "Interspecies cooperation does not come from training obedience, expecting compliance, controlling resources or transacting with rewards ... it comes from empathy, compassion, kindness, clarity, connection, feeling safe, and TRUST."  

There are lots of things that can happen outside our home that can set our dogs off on a barking or reactive spiral that disrupts the peace. Landscapers, construction workers, things in the sky, oh my! The good news is that our dogs look to us for clues on how to behave, so when we are a solid role model, it can change everything!   In this episode, Kathy will share some real-life examples with her own dogs, where she was able to be a role model for her dogs and prevent reactive behavior from developing or escalating.   Because dogs easily mirror our behavior, that means that when we learn to be responsible for our own behavior, our dogs start to learn ‘how we do things’.  Kathy gives you three really clear examples that you use in your own life with your dogs.   In order for role modeling to work well with your own dogs, you'll need to start with some foundation principles. Take note of the four steps Kathy shares as your takeaway action steps to get started. In this episode:   Kathy gives a few personal examples of how she acts as a role model for her dogs Why we need to address our own behavior first Why giving our dogs the freedom to choose to follow our lead is so powerful 4 steps to get started being a role model your dog loves to follow Quotes:   “My dogs know to look to me for guidance on how we respond to this unique situation.”   “When we role model for our dogs, we’re literally communicating with our thoughts, our emotions, and with our actions: this is no concern of ours.”   “Dogs naturally mirror our behavior. That means that we need to be responsible for our behavior.”   “All good relationships and partnerships are based on trust. When our dogs trust us to be good role models, they will follow our lead.”  

What is the best thing to do when your dog is “protecting” you in an unwanted way that is damaging to you physically and emotionally?   Today Kathy is sharing a segment from a coaching call in from her Brilliant Partners Academy to discuss this exact situation…   This dog mom has a retired service dog who is feeling anxious right now, due to an allergy flareup, a new puppy in the family, and stress all around. Lola (the dog) has lately started overprotecting her human mom when delivery people come to their door. She is pulling really, really hard and almost pulling Diane out of her wheelchair.   Kathy works through the details and talks her student through the difference between when a dog is protecting us because it's clearly unsafe and we appreciate their protection, and when a dog is dangerously taking on a protective role unnecessarily.   What do we do? Well, there's this balance between permissive and clear and kind. We can focus on finding a balance that brings freedom and responsibility together, in order to create positive and lasting change in our family.   In this episode:   Managing Lola's stress and anxiety, implementing self-care strategies, and supporting each individual in the family. Strategies for preparation in advance of deliveries, using an emergency rescue as needed, while focusing on long-term solutions. Understanding how to be a clear, kind & confident loving leader for your anxious dog who doesn’t know what to do about their emotions.   Quotes:   "It's easy to forget how hard it is to adjust to a new family configuration. Just like us, our dogs need time to adapt and recalibrate. It’s important to create a peaceful family dynamic during this time."   "Having strategies to maintain safety, calm and cooperation in advance will prevent explosive reactions from our dogs. It's important to be proactive and guide them in a calm, clear and positive way."   "Our dogs' behavior can often be a reflection of their physical and emotional state, so taking steps to help them feel better can lead to a happier and calmer home."   "Even though our dogs can't speak to us, they communicate their needs and feelings in other ways. It's important to listen and work together to find solutions that will help both us and our dogs."   “Being a loving leader for your dog requires clarity, kindness and love.”  

In this episode Kathy talks about the importance of creating a deeper connection with our dogs as a way to avoid over-arousal. When dogs are keen about animals, she emphasizes that we should stay present, observe, and communicate with our dogs as we guide and support their development.    Kathy is sharing a segment where she is coaching one of her students who has a young border collie who is showing keen interest in the sheep and horses on her farm. They work out how to best handle the situation right now, and how to prepare for future developments as her dog matures.   She also discusses the importance of adjusting our plan when things change and our dogs become keen to work or show signs of over-arousal. This means paying attention to subtle changes in behavior and body language that may indicate a shift in their mindset.    By staying present, connected and responsive, you can help your dog feel supported and understood, which ultimately strengthens your bond and improves their ability to be cooperative.   Key takeaways:   Staying connected, being mindful and present is important in building a deeper connection and more cooperation with our dogs.   We should adjust our plan when our dogs become keen to work or show signs of over-arousal, and experiment with ways to manage daily routines in a way that keeps both us and our dogs from getting over-aroused.   Dogs need our guidance and role modeling to successfully live together with us in different environments.   Changes in a dog's behavior can signal their preferences or interests, so it's important to stay connected and pay attention to them.   Working a herding dog requires patience, consistency, and confidence, but it can also bring excitement and keenness that will level off with time, maturity and your guidance.   When a situation becomes too hard or over-arousing for the dog or the human, it's best to experiment and find new ways to stay together as partners without getting frustrated or angry.  Memorable quotes:   “By approaching your interactions with your dog with mindfulness and intention, you can cultivate a deeper understanding and connection that will benefit both of you in the long run.”   “Noticing subtle changes in your dog’s behavior and body language that may indicate a shift in their mindset will help you to better support your dog before their behavior escalates into over-arousal.”   “Once your dog gets over-aroused or you get frustrated or angry, it’s simply not possible to think or learn or teach in that moment. Always do your best to get ahead of that with mindful consideration and planning.”   “When you stick with the plan, ultimately you’ll have a very keen, very confident dog who is also a really solid partner.”   “I need to be really present. I need to know what triggers me. I need to know myself and know when I need to change things in our routine so that it’s really easy for me to be present and able to best support my dogs at that time.”   “We are the hinge pin that makes everything work the way it’s supposed to, so it’s important to know ourselves well enough to plan ahead, before something ‘bad’ happens.”  

Join us today as Kathy discusses the impact of reward-based obedience training on the relationship with our dogs. She explains how a transactional approach can damage trust and make cooperation difficult.    The transactional dynamic of reward-based training can lead to power imbalances, erode trust, and cause stress and anxiety for dogs. On the other hand, building a partnership based on trust and love creates a natural and fluid dynamic where dogs are motivated to cooperate without being rewarded for performing specific behaviors.   Embrace a new way of living with your dog that prioritizes trust and love over obedience and rewards.    In this episode:   The problems with reward-based obedience training and the transactional dynamic it creates. The power imbalances that arise in a relationship that is focused on transactions. The benefits of a partnership-based approach that is built on love, connection and trust. The negative effects of compliance and obedience-based training include increased stress and anxiety levels, and decreased confidence and cooperation.   Quotable Moments:   "A reward-based transactional approach can erode the trust that forms the foundation of a positive relationship between a dog mom and her dog."   "Trust and mutual respect can reduce stress and anxiety levels in both the dog and the human."   "A partnership-based relationship allows the dog mom and their dog to work together as a team, rather than relying on traditional obedience training methods to encourage cooperation."   “We are culturally conditioned to believe that dogs aren’t capable of choosing to be loving, playful, well-behaved partners without being paid to be so. That is simply not true.”   ~KATHY KAWALEC  

In this episode, host Kathy Kawalec shares five tips on how you can deepen your love and connection with your dog. Through a story about a dog mom named Sarah and her dog who had a challenging past, listeners will learn how to implement the following tips in their own lives: How to spend quality time with your dog in small ways that matter Building trust with your dog by creating a safe and loving environment How to approach your relationship with your dog as a partnership Calming your dog's over-aroused behavior through cooperative activities Strategies for celebrating love and connection, patience and understanding   Kathy shares how each of these tips helped Sarah deepen her connection with her dog, and provides practical advice for listeners to start incorporating these tips into their daily routines. This episode is a must-listen for any dog mom looking to improve their relationship with their dog.   Listen now and learn how to “unleash the love and deepen the connection” with your four-legged companion!   QUOTES:   "A true bond with our dogs is built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect. It's a partnership that brings joy and happiness to both of our lives." - Kathy Kawalec   "When we approach our relationship with our dogs as a partnership, we're investing in their long-term well-being and happiness." - Kathy Kawalec   "Create a loving environment where your dog feels safe and confident. Your relationship will thrive." - Kathy Kawalec   LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

“I want my dogs to wait at the gate or doorway and to take turns… Why?  Because I want to minimize chaos. I don't want dogs running into each other, hurting each other, or running into me and hurting me. I want some order, so we are all safe, calm, and happy.” This is Kathy’s example of a real-life scenario when she’s showing the framework for giving her dogs choices.    This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is the continuation of the discussion that Kathy had in Episode 247.    So if you haven’t listened to it yet, you might want to pause this, and go and listen to that episode. Then, come back here for more details and valuable information about the framework for providing your furry friends with real-life choices.   Kathy also shares some prime real-life examples of giving your dogs opportunities to say yes or no, and how to decide when an ask is necessary and when it’s not. She also explains the idea of how this whole chain of events works together so that you can easily use her framework  in your own life with your dogs.     This is an exciting episode, so tune in!  In this episode:    The real-life choices we give to our dogs  Giving your dog an opportunity to say yes or no  The protocol to connect, observe, and decide   Quotes:   “Even though I do want them to know they are responsible for waiting until I say their name to call them through, I don't ask my dogs to be in a certain relative position around the door or gate, nor do I ask them to assume a specific position of their body like sit/down … They get to choose.”   “Truly understanding the ‘why’ behind your asks, and then asking only when it’s relevant or important is a great way to ease unnecessary pressure that is a side effect of trained and cued obedience.”   “The more opportunities you give your dogs to say no, the more likely they are to say yes when it really matters.” LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/   

“The more opportunities I give my dogs to say no, the more likely they are to say yes when it's really important.” This is Kathy’s framework for giving dogs real-life choices in a way that works for everyone.   In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy talks about lifestyle choices, agency, responsibility, and freedom. She also shares some real-life examples of how this looks in real-life situations, with real dogs.    For some dog moms, it could be their badge of honor to have a well-trained, obedient dog that always listens to what they’re told. But for Kathy, her badge of honor is that her dogs choose to be attentive, responsive, and responsible and that they trust her to be their guide in any situation.    Also, Kathy emphasizes the importance of being clear on your “why’s,” explains in detail the little steps to connect, observe, and decide, and dives into the concept of “ask, don't ask, and prepare for the ask.”    So to learn more about the framework of giving your dogs real-life choices that lead to a life of cooperation, tune in to this episode!    In this episode:    Having attentive, responsive, and responsible dogs through living a partnership lifestyle The importance of being clear on your “why” The series of little steps: connect, observe, and decide Ask, don't ask, and prepare for the ask   Quotes:   We can have attentive, responsive, and responsible dogs by living a partnership lifestyle.    My badge of honor is that my dogs choose to be attentive, responsive, and responsible and that they trust me to be their guide in any situation.   This principle of choice, responsibility, and freedom is good for anyone who wants to live an enlightened and connected life with their dogs.   What leads us to be able to create more cooperation is to give our dogs that feeling of being in control, that feeling of agency, that feeling of freedom – and that leads them to more responsibility. LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Are you a dog mom who struggles with leash reactivity? Kathy knows how stressful it is when you have a dog that pulls hard on the leash. Having a dog that is lunging toward (or away from) other dogs, moving objects, or anything that triggers them is not a pleasant experience for anyone.    In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares a real-life coaching call with a dog mom who was struggling with leash reactivity.  Her in-depth explanation of the process of walking as partners with your dog during this coaching session is going to change things with you and your dog!    There are specific things that  you can do when your dog becomes reactive on the leash that will lead to walking as partners. One of the important things is to make an intentional choice about when and where to walk your reactive dog so that you are likely to have a great walk.    Creating what Kathy calls “Green Zone Experiences” is what will help you and your dog to finally break free of the leash reactivity spiral that you are stuck in together.   To learn more about how, tune in!   In this episode:    A real-life coaching call with a dog mom   Steps to the process of walking as partners with your dog  Strategies on how to deal with the leash reactivity of your dog   Quotes:   There are a lot of moving parts to learning how to walk as partners with our dogs. And we make so many mistakes, but we don't even realize we're making mistakes.    The more green zone experiences we create, the more competent we get at staying really connected with our dog while we are walking together.   The earlier we notice first signs that our dog is starting to get uncomfortable or triggered by something, the more effective it is to keep our dogs and us in the green zone.    The success we had yesterday is not necessarily the same thing that's going to bring us success today. LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

This is something  I always hear from many dog moms a lot of times. They keep on asking why their dogs don’t trust them, their dogs don’t allow them to support them and show them that everything is okay.    Sometimes, we deal with some behavior challenges in our dogs where they are not calm, they are reactive, hyperactive, and even seem to be so anxious and worried. Then, since we love our furry friends very much, we tend to figure things out to help them. But, at the end of the day, you end up realizing that everything you did seems not to work out as you expected.    So instead of helping your dogs with an approach that you think is appropriate and effective, the result that you’re getting is the complete opposite.    In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy wants to help you turn these things around and encourages you to make use of the insights she wants to share with you to change your partnership lifestyle with your dog.    Kathy talks in detail about the actionable steps or a decision tree, and some valuable tips that you need to look into to give you an overview of how to regain trust with reactive dogs. She also touches on various valuable topics, like a partnership, building trust, loving leadership, and how to stop the trust and confidence leaks in your relationship with your dog. So tune in to learn more!  In this episode:    The behavior challenges of our dogs Talking about the partnership, building trust, loving leadership, how to stop the trust and confidence leaks in your relationship with your dog Tips on how to regain trust with the reactive dogs   Quotes:   We love our dogs. Our life revolves around our dogs. And we want to do everything to help them to thrive and to feel good and to be happy.    It is important to be a loving leader for our dogs and to provide some structure and some guidance and boundaries and how that really helps our dogs thrive.    I think it's really important for us to learn how to be good leaders.   It's really up to us to take responsibility for being the kind of human that our dogs love to follow, love to listen to, and love to partner with.    This sort of a foundational relationship or I call it a partnership, needs to happen and be well established before we start our specialty training. Because without this foundation in place, we end up developing struggles, issues, and miscommunications with our dogs that can get very frustrating LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

When we dig deeper under the surface, the REAL stories of reactive dogs are revealed. We too often negatively label dogs as reactive, as if that was a behavior they chose. Maya is a perfect example of a dog labeled as reactive, whose story revealed a much deeper understanding.   Maya's first three families thought she was untrainable ... a hopeless menace.    "How bad could this dog's behavior really be, at only 7 months old" was Kathy’s first thought.    The problem? She relentlessly chased anything and everything that moved: kids, bikes, cars, cats. sheep, cows ... you name it ... if it moved, she chased it. There wasn’t a fence or a leash that contained her, so she basically terrorized families and neighborhoods everywhere she went.   In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy shares the inspiring story of her dog, Maya, illustrating the power of partnership and opening  your mind and your heart to deeply understanding your reactive dog.   Kathy reveals her strategies on how she worked with Maya to start building trust right away. Her communication, management and mindset approaches are shared, including when she introduced her dog to what she calls “the dance”.   Within months, Maya’s old story of being a reactive dog was transformed into a new story of partnership, with a very happy ending!   In this episode:    Why digging under the surface of a dog’s behavior reveals their true story The inspiring story of “Maya” transforming from reactive to remarkable. Tips for working with your own ‘reactive’ dog   Quotes:   I did not even think about putting her (Maya) into a situation where her chase instinct would be triggered, where she would be able to rehearse her habit of disconnecting from her human.  I focused on our partnership and our relationship first. So building trust and confidence was top of my list all the time.   It's important for us to first have a foundation that is built on trust and confidence and communication so that we know how to dialogue. If we don't have that, then it's really difficult to move forward without relying on transactions for everything.   Without having a solid trusting partnership, everything becomes transactional. And we don't want that. That's not why we have dogs in our life.  LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

When you and your dog get stressed, there are some simple ways to manage this stress response.  For example,  did you know that how we breathe influences our brain in multiple ways?    Our breathing affects our perception, emotion, cognition, and even our mood. And breathing regulates arousal, attention, and stress responses…for both you and your dog.   In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy talks about the science of breathing, the importance of emotional contagion, and why coming back to balance is so important to our dogs.    Being out in nature is a proven way to manage stress and it reduces neural activity in the part of the brain associated with anxiety and depression. Kathy shares her personal experience that demonstrates just how powerful breathing and connecting to nature can be.     She includes her favorite breathing techniques that work really well to get calm, even after a meltdown when out on a walk with her dogs.   In this episode:    The science of our breathing style The emotional contagion The individual's behavior can heavily influence the behavior of others Spending time in nature reduces stress Breathing tips from Kathy   Quotes:   Our breathing affects our perception, emotion, cognition, and even our mood. And breathing regulates arousal, attention, and stress responses.    A person's choice of words, voice inflection, facial feedback, body language, and sense of energy can all prompt emotional changes in those around them, whether their family members, friends, colleagues, strangers, or of course, our dogs.   Positive emotional contagion can bring about positive emotions in others, while negative social contagion can bring about negative emotions. Consider how this impacts our dogs.   Stimulating the vagus nerve has the powerful effect of slowing our heart rate. This is what helps us to relax and this is what also directly helps our dogs to relax.  LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

As dog moms, we are committed to keeping our dogs safe, calm and happy…but what about when someone does something  that  makes that really, really hard for us?   Loose dogs, fence running dogs, over-enthusiastic dogs, dogs that don’t give us enough space, and dogs that are allowed to be unruly and disrespectful in a way that challenges our dog … are all experiences that we are likely to encounter.   When those things happen, we have thoughts about that dog and their person, right? That’s normal. But, what if your thoughts initiate a reactivity spiral, and what if your thoughts are causing you and your dog to feel even worse than before?   We may not be able to control what other people (or their dogs) do … but we CAN get a grip on how we handle it.   In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy talks about the Thought Reframe Protocol that will rescue you from any of these situations with a few steps to follow.   She will also discuss in detail why you need to identify and decide to change your thoughts that are not serving you, plan for a new thought that is aligned with your vision for your life with your dog, and so much more!  In this episode:    What to do about other people and their dogs The challenge to manage our own thoughts about ourselves Reframe your thoughts about others so that you can better help your dog Kathy’s  6-Step Thought Reframe Protocol    Quotes:   "And the really cool thing is that this thought work is going to help you and your dog to connect, to bond, and to feel safe, calm, and happy a whole lot more often."   “Identify and decide to change a thought that is not serving the future you are creating.”   "Tell your brain to notify your consciousness when you have that thought so that's activating your RAS or Reticular Activating System."   "Plan for a new thought... A new thought that is reframed into one that aligns with your vision for the life that you want to have with your dog. LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

People need to deal with the feeling in the body for them to experience healing. If we're suppressing things, and distracting ourselves when we have that feeling in our body, then we can't heal. We're just actually running away from it.  This is part 2 of Kathy’s interview with Marika, an amazing dog trainer, one of her certified partnership coaches, and who loves to help dog moms in our community.   In this episode, Marika will help us understand the importance of letting our bodies feel in order to achieve healing and begin to heal the relationship with ourselves, which is the most important relationship we have.    Marika also talks about the effect of regular exercise on our bodies to allow us to feel a sense of peace and discusses some important details on our vagus nerve, which is our muscle that will help us to be more resilient when things get tough and the stress level gets high.    Learn more about Marika in her bio below.   Marika Bertram offers unique behavior and relationship consulting for dog families with a focus on holistic heart-centered coaching, that will teach you the art of dog listening so that you can communicate with your dog on a deeper level and enjoy a well-behaved dog without obedience training!   Website links: www.revyk9.com, Facebook and Instagram is ‘The Dog Listener.’ I offer in-person and virtual programs that vary from 2 kickstart sessions to 6-month programs for the full foundation and support through your journey of transformation with your dog.   In this episode:    Healing our reactivity loop Feel it to heal it Begin to heal a relationship with yourself   Quotes:   “The why behind it, or the why I act like this is really, I think, the first beneficial thing to understand to help you to heal.”   “You need to feel it to heal it.”   “So if we're not letting our bodies feel, if we're just suppressing things, and distracting ourselves when we have that feeling in our body, then we can't heal. We're essentially running away from it because that feels safer for our bodies than actually feeling pain.”   “And that's the normal thing to do until we become aware that it's actually not helping us in the long run. And there's a better way to deal with it.”   “Once I knew more information about how trauma, stress, and anxiety affect our body and how we didn't really have much control over it, it relieves that guilt for me, and the blame and the shame. And it started to allow me to begin to heal my relationship with myself.”   “If we can't accept ourselves or forgive ourselves, then we really can't help those around us.”   “We really have to put our own oxygen mask on first to be able to assist those around us. And that's what this comes down to, is acceptance of it's okay where we are. And I now know better, so I can do better.”    “So what can start to heal this relationship is by accepting these feelings that our body and the overwhelm that we're feeling the trigger, it's there for a reason. It's to keep us safe. It's to protect us, and actually to help us heal.”   “Instead of paying attention to the feeling in our body, and listening, so it feels heard, we want to give it love and acceptance. So it feels that connection is craving.”   LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.   Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

Stress can influence our experiences and success, and as a dog mom, it can also, in turn, affect our dogs and their behavior.    This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is the first part of the 2-part episode with Marika Bertram, who is an amazing dog trainer, one of my certified partnership coaches, and who loves to help dog moms in our community.    Marika shares her knowledge about stress, how to get stressed, and even how to deal with them. She also talks about the vagus nerve, some simple techniques that we could use to promote releasing that stress, and other important details on healing our reactivity loop.    In addition, Marika also discusses the importance of dealing with the feeling in our body, not just the thoughts that we have so that it doesn’t keep getting stored as trapped energy in the body and keep reappearing each time we're triggered.    Read more about Marika in her bio below.   Marika Bertram offers unique behavior and relationship consulting for dog families with a focus on holistic heart-centered coaching that will teach you the art of dog listening so that you can communicate with your dog on a deeper level and enjoy a well-behaved dog without obedience training!   Website links: www.revyk9.com, Facebook and Instagram is ‘The Dog Listener.’ I offer in-person and virtual programs that vary from 2 kickstart sessions to 6-month programs for the full foundation and support through your journey of transformation with your dog.   In this episode:    Marika's background  A better understanding of how stress influences experience and success   Releasing stress from the body   Quotes:   “It’s important to understand not only our own behavior but also our dog's behavior and why we get triggered or why they also get triggered.  And it seems like they literally can't hear us.”   “A lot of people don't know why they get stressed. Even though maybe their lives aren't that stressful, they're still experiencing stress.”   “Our brain has to make sense of the feeling in our body. So it triggers thoughts in our brain and then we react to these thoughts.”   “If we only deal with the thoughts that we're having, and not the feeling in our body, it just keeps getting stored as trapped energy in the body and will keep reappearing each time we're triggered.”   “If we allow the body to release this trapped energy, we can then begin to heal, and our bodies will be less triggered…. And then it leads us to become more resilient and feel safe, calm, and happy.”   “When you're in survival mode, you don't need to be social, you don't need to be polite to those around you. Clearly, you're thinking about survival and safety. So you're going to do whatever needs to be done at that moment for your body to survive.’   “We can't force ourselves or our dogs back to the green zone when it's in the red zone.”   “So it's only once our nervous system feels safe that we can actually return to that green calm state, and go from survival to being more social, where we actually start to feel safer… Make better decisions and act more consciously and mindfully.” LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.   Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/ 

If you are a dog parent, you may be familiar with various ways to strengthen the bond between you and your dog and to establish a strong connection over time.    In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy dives into the value of gratitude and appreciation and shares different research studies that show evidence of the immense benefits of connecting heart-to-heart with your dogs.     Kathy talks about the important details of a study by the HeartMath Institute research team, a practice of the simple heart focus technique, and other relevant studies and shows their importance for you and your amazing four-legged furry friends.    In this episode:  The value of gratitude and appreciation The interconnection of all life forms through a rich tapestry of intersecting magnetic fields The immense benefits of connecting heart-to-heart with dogs   Quotes:   “Gratitude is such a powerful amplifier of heart, energy, and love. And it's one of the quickest ways to offset stress, and to lift our mood.”   “Gratitude most definitely opens our mind in ways that are just simply life-changing.”   “Gratitude and appreciation are powerful emotions that activate the brain's reward pathways, feel-good hormones, and endorphins, all of which are known to greatly improve our outlook on life, among other things.”    “Dogs are uniquely attuned to our emotional states, and they have been shown to display a notable capacity for empathy.”    “A caring relationship between humans and their dogs is a prescription for wellness for all involved.”    “We put so much focus on heart connections. And on us, the dog moms, learning how to become more brilliant by the day so that we can be the brilliant partner that our dogs need to thrive while we simultaneously get the immediate benefit of feeling good.” LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.   Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/

Kathy has formed connections with many dogs in a variety of ways.   But, in this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, she invites a special guest to explore a way of building bridges with our four-legged friends that you may have overlooked.  This is part 2 of Kathy’s interview with the wonderful Marianne Magin, an artist, dog mom and Dancing Hearts partnership coach.  In this part, she discusses how she helps people through their dog grief using her art, how she emotionally reacts to creating wonderful artwork for herself and others, and discusses her incredible card deck and children’s book!  Read more in her bio below.  Bio:  Marianne Magin is a dog mom, a human mom and an artist. She is inspired by dogs! And loves animals and nature and has always drawn and painted since she was a young girl. She is also a certified Dancing Hearts Partnership coach. She loves to connect with animals, especially dogs through her custom watercolor portrait work, as well as working in other media. She has written and illustrated the award-winning children’s picture book, The Legend of Santa’s Sleighbells (written from a dog’s perspective). Plus, she has also created an oracle card deck of partnership inspiration cards.  Links:  Art - Artful Paw Designs and Pawprints of the Heart  Partnership Inspiration Card Deck  Book:  The Legend of Santa’s Sleighbells  In this episode:  Dealing with dog grief through art  How Marianne responds to her art  Explaining her children’s book and card deck  Quotes:  “Grief feels like a loss of connection. But when we’re grieving, we’re really still connected.”  “It’s a sacred time when I’m painting. And I’m doing it in a way which is going to help possibly heal somebody.”  “Everybody should believe that they are an artist in whatever way they can connect to their art. If you do amazing paintings, that's amazing. If you just like to dance with your dog in your living room, that's great.”  Want More of Kathy?  Brilliant Partners Academy   Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website  Facebook Community  

There are many ways to build strong connections with our dogs. Changing our behaviors, trying new experiences together and learning from our interactions with our dogs all help greatly.  But art is another incredible way to build a bridge between us and our dogs. And it can be a beautiful process!  This episode of Enlightened by Dogs is Part 1 of a 2-part episode with Marianne Magin, a wonderful artist, dog mom and certified Dancing Hearts Partnership coach who is hugely inspired by dogs and animals in her work.  She details how her art helps her and her clients build stronger connections between themselves and their beautiful four-legged friends.  Bio:  Marianne Magin is a dog mom, a human mom and an artist. She is inspired by dogs! And loves animals and nature and has always drawn and painted since she was a young girl. She is also a certified Dancing Hearts Partnership coach. She loves to connect with animals, especially dogs through her custom watercolor portrait work, as well as working in other media. She has written and illustrated the award-winning children’s picture book, “The Legend of Santa’s Sleighbells” (written from a dog’s perspective). Plus, she has also created an oracle card deck of partnership inspiration cards.  Art - Artful Paw Designs and Pawprints of the Heart  Partnership Inspiration Card Deck  Book:  “The Legend of Santa’s Sleighbells”  In this episode:  Using art to connect with dogs  Marianne’s career  How creativity can be key to building strong relationships with dogs  Quotes:  “Art can be a bridge that could see you start to accept your dog.”  “Sometimes I'll have somebody say to me: ‘My dog doesn't usually smile, but I've got these photos of him smiling in the photos with his mouth open and happy.’ They feel like there’s a connection.”  “When you paint or when you draw or you do any art, you're bypassing your brain. I think you're using your brain in a way, but you're really tapping into your heart.”  Want More of Kathy?  Brilliant Partners Academy   Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website  Facebook Community  

Kathy has preached the power of brilliant partnership for many years and practiced it with her dogs. In that time, she’s learned how important it is to give dogs room to bloom.  In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Beth Williams, licensed physical therapist and certified Dancing Hearts Partnership Coach, joins to discuss why giving dogs room to bloom is crucial to being a great dog mom.  Kathy and Beth dive into the culture and expectations around giving dogs space, keeping them safe and the incredible international Yellow Dog Project.  She recommends checking your own emotions and judgement, acknowledging dogs that need extra space and respecting all dogs’ boundaries!  Here is Marianne’s poem, ‘All Dogs Look Good In Yellow’, featured in this episode:  All dogs look good in yellow.   All dogs want that grace.   All dogs appreciate us asking  Can we share your space?   Big dogs can want to cuddle.   But big dogs want space too.   Little dogs are just like big dogs  And medium dogs have the same view.   Fluffy dogs look cute and cuddly.   Short-haired dogs are soft and smooth.   Hairless dogs are very tempting   But they've all got the same groove.   They all want us to ask them.   They'd like a chance to say ‘yes’.   Saying ‘no’ is another perfect answer.   We just don't want to make it a guess.   Because all dogs look good in yellow.  All dogs give us back so much.   So let's all respect and love them   and always ask before we touch.  In this episode:  Beth’s career and work  The Yellow Dog Project  Beth’s three tips for being a Brilliant Partner  Quotes:  “No dog should have to tolerate being approached and petted by strangers without being asked and without giving their consent.”  “I use the tools in my toolbox so that me and my dog are starting from a place every day of feeling safe, calm, happy and confident.”  “My goal in coaching is to help create those happy, harmonious dog houses to help people connect with their dogs, and to enjoy life together.”  Contact Beth Williams:  beth@k9wellnesscenter.com Want More of Kathy?  Brilliant Partners Academy   Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website  Facebook Community  

A life with dogs isn’t always plain sailing. Kathy knows that first-hand. They can challenge your patience with their behaviors time and time again.  But, instead of working to outright fix those behaviors, it’s time to connect first.  In this Enlightened by Dogs episode, Kathy explains why connecting with your dogs, before anything else, makes magic happen.   She explores the benefits of digging beneath the surface to truly understand your dogs and why it’s OK to regret how you’ve dealt with their challenging behaviors in the past.  In this episode:  Making ‘connect first’ your mantra  Listening to your dog with compassion and curiosity  Why to stop focusing on correcting behaviors  Quotes:  “When we can dig under the surface for what's really going on with our dog. Well, that's when our life starts to change.”  “If we continue to look at our dogs as a series of behaviors to shape, we miss getting to know our dogs fully and we certainly miss connecting to our dogs fully.”  “Listening with compassion and curiosity is key to unlocking solutions for change.”  Want More of Kathy?  Brilliant Partners Academy   Dancing Hearts Dog Academy Website  Facebook Community