Enlightened By Dogs With Kathy Kawalec

If we’re not willing to laugh at ourselves sometimes, things won’t be that great! In this episode I confess that I taught my dog to pee in the house! It wasn’t done purposefully, and it took an alarming amount of attempts from Sue to show me the error of my ways! What I thought was a loving glance from my beautiful dog, and a connection we shred staring into each other’s eyes was actually her telling me that she needed to go! It wasn’t the most obvious of signs, and once I figured it out, Sue had a few more surprises waiting for me! How did we sort it all out? Click play and tune into the episode to learn about my approach to correcting my mistake!   In This Episode Contemplation while cleaning up the mess It happened again! What the heck? Peeing on the couch one month later What those beautiful loving eyes meant to Sue How many times does it take a person to get the message? Creating a meaningful dialogue with your dogs Do you have any confessions?   “I doubled down on my efforts to stay focused and be att

If you have a dog, there’s a chance you enjoy both the companionship, and the challenges. But what happens when you encounter obstacles that threaten happiness for the both of you? In this episode Kathy is sharing her tips and insights on how to create a deeply happy and thriving partnership with your dogs   In This Episode Collaborating with your dog to solve problems Paying attention to your intention Learning from your dog Approaching the world with a beginner’s mind Being a positive and loving leader   “When you think about having partnership with your dogs, life changes in an amazing way” “If we don’t set an intention every single day then we are just going to get caught up in life’s challenges” “We are indeed a transmitter but we’re also a receiver” “We know that we don’t know what we don’t know” “Feel heartfelt appreciation for your dog”   More Kathy! www.enlightenedbydogs.com

More and more listeners are tuning in to the show! As a thank you, Kathy is sharing her gratitude practice with you. It’s been proven that gratitude is shown to have a positive impact psychologically, socially and physiologically, and so there are perks to putting a gratitude practice into action. Especially when it can create a great relationship between you and your dog! Kathy takes you through her step by step guide to gratitude, and teaches you how to create a permanent imprint for those times when things get tough!   In This Episode The perks of feeling gratitude Counting your blessings, and attracting more blessings Paying it forward Kathy’s gratitude practice guide! Raven’s Rescue Fund   “Being grateful can help people cope with stress” “Everything has a vibration” “Get in touch with a genuine, heartfelt feeling of gratitude every day” “We are infecting others with our love and gratitude” “Your gratitude has no expiration date”   More Kathy! www.enlightenedbydogs.com

It’s important to reconnect and stay in touch with what really matters most. In this episode, I read a love letter from my heart to my dogs. I also invite you to share what you would say in a letter to your dog!   In This Episode Spreading the message that our dogs are amazing A letter to my dogs, from my heart to your ears Aspiring to be the kind of person your dog needs most What would you write in a letter to your dogs?   “I hope it inspires you to get in touch with what your dogs mean to you” “I will keep on aspiring to be the person you see in me” “I will keep on guiding every lover of dogs who connects with me to be the kind I person that their dogs see in them” “What would you write to your dogs?”   More Kathy! www.enlightenedbydogs.com

We’re talking about the single most powerful and effective dog training tool available. Do you know what it is? Communication. Our communication, both verbal and non-verbal, has so much power to create amazing and functional relationships. But without using the right language for you and your dog: accomplishing anything is impossible! This episode goes into the brilliance and power of using communication to build a strong and healthy partnership with your dog.   In This Episode What exactly is communication? The circle of understanding and cooperation Is speech or movement more important when training? Maximizing your chances for success   “Communication is an exchange, it’s not a one way flow” “High pitched, repetitive sounds inspire action” “Slow, low, soothing sounds are calming for dogs” “Human speech as a defined language is not a native language to a dog” “We want to gather feedback from our dog” “Puppies have a lot of things to figure out about life” “We’ll become happy and brilliant partners the bet

Why does your dog jump up on guests? Why do they chase sheep (or cars) without any regard to the rules? Why do they refuse to lie down when you want them to? It could be that they have their own secret agenda! More likely is that they need help from you and can’t seem to get it! Listen in and find out why your dog is misbehaving, and how you can finally solve your frustrations!   In This Episode The challenges and frustrations we experience with our dogs Our dog’s secret agenda How our dogs communicate with us Sometimes your dog won’t listen for a good reason How sheep gathering taught a valuable lesson about listening to your dog 5 steps to reaching success in frustrating situations   “When we can’t train away the problem, we might ultimately conclude that our dog has her own agenda” “They want to feel that they belong” “Dogs thrive when they are a contributing member of a well functioning family” “It’s just feedback” “The dog was not misbehaving, the dog was simply begging for help”   More Kathy! www.enli

There are 6 words that change the lives of professional athletes, children, lovers, friends and yes: even our beloved dogs! In this episode we talk about what those words are, and why they have such a profound impact on both the person saying them, and the one hearing them!   In This Episode Dogs under pressure 6 words that change everything How do they apply to the world of dogs?   “Well intentioned dog enthusiasts put all sorts of pressure on their dogs” “Was I the dog equivalent of one of those nightmare parents?” “I love to watch you play” Read the articles! https://www.huffpost.com/entry/six-words-you-should-say-today_b_3863643 http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/more-family-fun/201202/what-makes-nightmare-sports-parent More Kathy www.enlightenedbydogs.com  

It all starts with the best of intentions. We all want what’s best for our dog, but it’s inevitable that your dog will be afraid of something. Once you find what it is, how do you go about handling it? This episode is all about using the Law of Attraction, and a few key concepts to navigate fear without damaging the trust you and your dog share!   In This Episode Universal Law Attracting scary monsters Raven and the water monster More trust, less fuss Key concepts   “Just say no” “Like attracts like” “What exactly do you want to attract more of?” “Focus on the heart to heart connection with your dog” “I did not try to train or condition her”   More Kathy! www.enlightenedbydogs.com  

Have you ever had one of those life experiences with your dog that will help you be a better person, but makes you frustrated in the moment? Such is life with dogs! Partnership is about ever-increasing levels of good communication. Getting deeper into understanding and what I call the ‘dialog loop’ is what this episode is about. It's filled with tips and examples on how to accomplish this feat!   In This Episode What can trip us up with our dogs The process of acquiring profound understanding Luc's interesting challenge Developing great communication, and a solid foundation What is your successful outcome? 5 steps to help you and your dog every day   “At the heart of it is … the process of acquiring profound understanding and knowledge about our dogs, about ourselves and how we interact and respond to one another." “He was very willing to take my direction, to listen, to please me, but he would disregard his good instinct in the process and I needed to find a way to balance that.” “Should I do what I think

Would you step over a $10 bill to pick up a penny? It’s unlikely, but what if that penny were the beginning of a trail to unimaginable riches. That’s the premise of today’s episode of Enlightened By Dogs. Kathy takes us through some of the stories of her Brilliant Partners, and the deeply rooted successes they are having with their dogs!   In This Episode The Penny Trail Sally’s tale and tears of joy Jane’s coaching take away Helen’s subtle shift Jennifer’s quick note Brilliant Dog Partner Precepts   “Find your own penny trail” “He thanked me for the relief from the pain he had been feeling” “Let me speak to you in a way I know you understand” “The answer is to pay more attention to my dog, and not the environment” “He chose to stay, and focused on the task at hand” “We work together” “Be Brilliant”   More Enlightened By Dogs! www.enlightenedbydogs.com

Do you ever feel like you need superpowers to manage everything in your life? This episode goes deep into how to be our dog’s superhero! We fulfill the role as a parent, a teacher, a coach, a dog partner in activities that we do together, like dog sports, therapy, and work. We are our dog’s friend and companion, and we are our dogs' student. That is a lot of hats to wear!  There is a lot of complexity to our relationship with our dogs, and I think that complexity is one of the reasons that we have difficulty in some situations. First realizing that we are fulfilling all those different roles, then understanding what they are is a great place to start. In This Episode The roles we play in our dog’s life Becoming a good teacher What qualities matter to you and your dog? Being a true friend to your dog   “We fulfill the role as parent, teacher, coach, partner in all the activities we do together” “We can also into overwhelm and get stressed, and that can make our life more challenging than it needs to be” "

Trust and trustworthiness is on Kathy’s mind today, and Deb Bauer is here to talk about it. Deb is an amazing woman who is contributing to the world of dogs on so many levels. She’s an expert on dog behaviour, as well as holistic healings. She runs a Program called Both Ends of The Leash, where shelter dogs get a second chance in a very unique way. She shares her story of giving up control, and giving rr dog a reason to trust her.   In This Episode Shocking reactions to puppy class Trying everything and getting nowhere Taking off the trainer hat How to be trustworthy   “I did all the things you’re ‘supposed to do’ as a trainer” “He felt like he had to take matters into his own hands” “I stopped trying to fix my dog” “It takes a lot of courage to try something”   More Kathy! www.enlightenedbydogs.com

Today Kathy talks about getting distracted. Your dog gets distracted, you get distracted: this episode covers why it happens and what we can do about it. Over the past 30 years, lots of dogs have visited here at my farm for life skills training, behavior transformation, herding training and more. There is LOTS of distraction. Oh, the smells and sights on a farm! If the critters themselves weren't distracting enough ... there's the sheep poop…the horse poop…the chicken poop…it’s heavenly for the dogs and hellish for their person. (yes, there is lots of poop on a farm, and you know how much dogs love poop) With all this personal experience with distraction from both sides of the counter, I have cracked the code on the Root Cause of Distractions. And, I have figured out how you can keep your dog focused in all circumstances. Are you ready? Listen to today's episode!     In This Episode What happens when the flow of information stops between us and our dog The dialogue loop and tips to improve it Why the ownnes

Sue is a dog behaviorist with a story to tell! When she first took Charlie home, he was shy and playful. Out of nowhere he became fearful of almost everything. Conversely, he also chased animals of all sizes!! He was like Jekyll and Hyde! He was the star of his training classes, but in the outside world? He was a completely different story.   In This Episode Charlie’s unexpected fearful side Trying everything and getting nowhere Charlie finds a farm and sheep - and life falls apart The recommitment to Charlie What do I want, what does Charlie want? The factors that resulted in a happy, well behaved Charlie   “Charlie was going to be part of our family and do everything with us” “He was a working dog, and he needed a job” “Yes, you’re stressed, How can I help you now?” “We had to start having fun again” “I didn’t train him to stop chasing animals, he stopped because we have a partnership” “I am your loving partner, how can we work through this together?” “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should”   Regist

Do you need your dog to down/stay on a mat? Or are you willing to exchange that for something much more amazing? Today’s episode goes deep into what we truly desire from our dog’s behavior, and why we might be taking a more difficult approach than necessary.   Listen in as Kathy takes is through the process to trading away the things we truly want, for the things we want right now.   In This Episode Why we dog enthusiasts have dogs in our lives Trading what you want right now, for what you want most Kathy’s dogs have a hilarious vet visit that ends in a great teaching moment What do you want from your dog?   “The question is: are you willing to be the human your dog needs?” “Who says that your dog must be an obedience robot ... the dog gods?” “Our dogs are all different, and that’s okay” “Always ask yourself: Why do you think you want that from your dog?” “Partnership happens because your dog understands their responsibility and looks to you for positive, loving leadership ... and does that because of who y

A reactive dog can be a heartbreaking situation for someone who has big goals. Especially when that dog is supposed to be an agility superstar and ends up biting someone out of fear. What do you do when something serious happens? How do you turn that around? Cindy joins Kathy on this episode of Enlightened By Dogs to share Lyric’s story of trust, and triumph!   In This Episode A dream that turned into a reactive nightmare When all of the typical things don’t work, what am I supposed to do? Revisiting the baby steps and building trust Taking the pressure off and getting into the ring Advice for new dog lovers and trainers, and the impact of a strong relationship   “All my hopes and dreams were going down the drain” - Cindy “I was trying so hard to help her and I couldn’t help her” - Cindy “We have to work really hard at forgiving ourselves” - Kathy “The trust comes when your dog knows that you understand them” - Kathy “No matter how positive the reinforcement is, it’s still pressure” - Kathy “It’s a way of l

Do I engage with my dog all day long while they’re awake? What triggers the behaviours you don’t want your dog to have? Kathy answers these questions and more in a Q&A she hosted online! She also gives you the opportunity to jump in on a very special offer she has going on right now!   In This Episode Live Q&A The clarity chart Cleaning up our life with our dogs   “Having a high level of trust and confidence changes everything” “Just like us, our dogs have their own life” “Which activities that you do with your dog trigger the behaviour that you do not like?” “We can not change anything if we keep doing he same stuff”   Register for Kathy’s free Brilliant Partners Workshop!   Dog Behaviour Breakthrough: A Relationship Revolution http://dancinghearts.link/bpaworkshop

Grief, growth, love and life are on tap today as the author of Soul Love, Teresa Bitner is joining Kathy on today’s episode of Enlightened By Dogs! The book is about how a dog taught Teresa and her sons how to live, love and breathe again after their family is struck by tragedy.   In This Episode: Teresa starts the life of her dreams and having it change in a flash, and writing about it Finding Hans, and how he helped the family heal Perspective and tips on coping, and the stages of grief How do we support a loved one in need   “I lost myself. I didn’t know who I was afterwards” “I do encourage people to write about your loss” “There is such a special bond you can form” “Figure out how to let yourself grieve” “Listen more. Talk less.” “Are you able to find love right here where you’re at?”   More Teresa! www.boldfulfilledlifecoach.com   More Kathy! www.enlightenedbydogs.com

The Main Thing in this episode is why do you have a dog? Is it to have that perfect pet? Or is it to have a best friend and companion to experience life with? Sometimes we go down the rabbit hole of thinking that our dogs need to be compliant when in actuality, there are far more important things to garner from a relationship with our dogs!   In This Episode Losing sight of the main thing and how it can happen to the best of us Why do you have dogs in your life? Meeting our dog where they are and accepting them as they are Releasing the pressure of timelines   “I think we lose sight of the main thing an awful lot” “It’s almost as if our dog is there to reward our ego” “Having dogs enabled me to learn how to be a better human, to be a better version of myself.” “We can only start where we are” “We enjoy the process of getting there with our partner”   More Kathy! www.enlightenedbydogs.com  

This dog training mistake puts your dog in danger and is likely to cause you to feel frustrated when your dog won't come when you call. Yet, dog lovers make this recall mistake over and over - and it's so easy to fix!   Your dog’s recall and response are super important to building a solid and loving relationship between you both. So much rides on your dog’s willingness to listen to you, and their desire to do so!   From the 95% rule, to the right type of invitation, and from military composure to giving hugs, this episode covers a lot of ground in a short period of time! Tune in to learn how to build that amazing and rewarding relationship with your four-legged friends!   In This Episode Where does the mistake come from? Why demanding compliance isn’t okay The Hug Experiment Position, Posture and Presence Dance invitations and the 95% rule   “So many myths about dog training and relationships are culturally conditioned and we’re not even aware of them” “In everyday life, there is absolutely no reason for u