Enrichment for the Real World

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Dr. Andrzej (Andy) Ogrodny, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), also known online as Dogtor Andy. Dr. Andy is a board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist, with a knack for making complex medical topics approachable, digestible (pun intended), and accessible. 
Dr. Andy and Emily dig into how "normal" lab work can still mean something's wrong for that particular animal, why trends matter more than snapshots, and why owner observations (even the ones that feel silly or unscientific) are some of the most valuable data a vet (or a behavior consultant) can get.

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 
1️⃣ "Normal" isn't the same for every animal – Ranges may tell you what’s “normal” for the population, but we need to know what’s typical for this individual. We need to look at trends rather than snapshots. 
2️⃣ Your observations are data, not paranoia – Bringing in your own notes isn't being extra; it's advocacy. The “small” details often provide big insight to practitioners. 
3️⃣ A second opinion isn't a betrayal of your regular vet – It’s just adding someone else to the care team.
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

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More from Pet Harmony
Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

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If you’ve ever lay away at night running through the list of everything you didn’t do for your pet today… welcome to the club. 
In this episode, Emily and Tiffany discuss why “enough” feels impossible, what “basic” care actually means, and how to build a plan that works on any day, even your hardest. If you’re ready to build a sustainable life with your pet, and even teach your pet to meet their own needs, rather than needing to do it for them, give this one a listen. 

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ Meeting basic needs is enrichment, full stop  – Basic needs aren't just food, water, and shelter. Across all 14 welfare categories, if your animal's needs are being met, that's enrichment. 
2️⃣ You're probably measuring yourself against an imaginary standard – Your baseline isn't a failure just because it's not utopia. 
3️⃣ Set up your environment so your pet can meet some of their own needs – A prepped enrichment menu and a thoughtfully arranged space (a backyard sensory garden, a bed by a sunny window…) mean you don't have to be the sole source of enrichment on your hardest days. 
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

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Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront.
As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases.

More from Pet Harmony

Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

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If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛

Last episode, Emily and Ellen talked about how perfectionism can keep you stuck waiting for the “right” time, circling the perfect plan. And when Plan A is the only plan you have, then every stumble feels like a catastrophe.
In this episode, Allie and Emily talk about why troubleshooting is perfectionism’s worst nightmare. They explore why adjusting your plan isn’t failure, why finding what’s not working is exciting, and how embracing troubleshooting makes a big difference for pets and their people.

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ Adjusting the plan is the plan – Behavior change requires iteration. Plan to troubleshoot.
2️⃣"Works for everyone" is a red flag – Everyone is a unique individual with unique needs, preferences, histories, and behavior. 
3️⃣ One thing at a time – Change one thing at a time, document the outcomes, and adjust based on observations.
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

Amazon Affiliate Storefront
Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront.
As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases.

More from Pet Harmony

Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

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If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛

Perfectionism is a fickle little creature. It doesn’t always show up as striving for exact perfection. Sometimes, it’s the little bouts of waiting for the next “right” thing. 
Waiting for winter when the streets are calm to work on leash skills. 
Waiting until spring, when the weather is nicer because it’s too cold. 
Waiting to find the “right” treat for the training session.
The next “right” thing is usually just a short wait away, so why not wait for that “best” time? 
In this episode, Emily and Ellen talk about how perfectionism has gotten in their way, how it shows up for their clients and mentees, and why we live by “good enough to get going.” If you’ve found yourself waiting for the “right” time, you may find this episode helpful. From two formerly “burned-out overachievers” to you.

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ Perfectionism can be a hidden stalling tactic – Waiting for the perfect plan or moment doesn’t change anything. If you want change, you have to do.
2️⃣ “Perfect” doesn’t exist – You can spend a decade trying to make the “perfect” plan, and still, life is going to throw something at you that you never could have predicted. 
3️⃣ Doing gets you information – The more information you have, the closer you can get to a robust, effective, “practically perfect” plan. You’ll still need to make adjustments, but it will be small tweaks instead of big changes.

For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

Amazon Affiliate Storefront
Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront.
As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases.

More from Pet Harmony

Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

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If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Pet Harmony’s newest consulting team member Beccy Hughes! With decades of animal care and training experience, Emily and Beccy talk about the wonderful, windy story behind Beccy’s skills. From college, to a career in marine mammal training, to finding herself struggling with pet conflict in her own home, to realizing she can help pet parents too, Beccy’s journey here highlights there’s no wrong way in animal care.
Join Emily and Beccy for a discussion on learning when the path is anything but straight and narrow, how enrichment and a safe learning environment makes a world of difference for all living creatures, and why there’s no right way into animal care or to care for your animals.

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways 
1️⃣ Learning is a cycle, not a checklist – Consuming without application and refinement means you aren’t learning new skills, you’re just downloading information. 
2️⃣ Enrichment for… goats? – Enrichment is for everyone, including goats! Beccy talks about how providing an enriching environment it’s about stopping goats from being goats, rather giving them safe ways to goat. 
3️⃣ A winding path helps more than you think – From sea lion shows to dog training, Beccy’s route wasn’t a straight line, and every stop along the way taught her something new. Her journey is exactly what makes her skillful now. 
For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

Amazon Affiliate Storefront
Find products we recommend at the Pet Harmony Amazon Storefront.
As an Amazon Associate, Pet Harmony earns from qualifying purchases.

More from Pet Harmony

Pet Parents: enrichment ideas and practical behavior tips
📸 Instagram & Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Pet Pros: relatable moments and support for your work with pets and their people
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @petharmonypro

📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://petharmonytraining.com/join/

Subscribe & Review
If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe and review. It helps more pet parents and pros find us. Thanks for being here! 💛