Training And Behavior Episodes
Good behavior starts with understanding—not frustration. These episodes help you uncover the “why” behind your pet’s actions and teach you how to build trust, reduce stress, and create calm, cooperative relationships. Learn realistic techniques that fit your lifestyle and your pet’s personality, no gimmicks or harsh methods required.
Topics included: dog training basics, puppy training, cat training basics, kitten training, cat behavior, crate training, leash manners, reactivity, anxiety, house training, socialization, communication cues, and positive reinforcement.
Topics included: dog training basics, puppy training, cat training basics, kitten training, cat behavior, crate training, leash manners, reactivity, anxiety, house training, socialization, communication cues, and positive reinforcement.
Aug. 16, 2026
Before Fall Gets Busy: Get Your Pet Care in Order
Summer has a way of knocking routines loose and pushing pet care tasks to “later.” Before fall gets busy, this is a good time for dog and cat parents to catch up on the things that have quietly slipped down the list. In this solo episode, Amy covers the pet care tasks worth handling now, from vet appointments and grooming to pet boarding, pet sitting, holiday travel, and changing routines. The goal isn’t to create another giant checklist. It’s to take care of a few things now that could save you...
July 26, 2026
Buying a House With Pets: What I Never Thought to Check
I thought buying a house with pets meant finding enough space, a decent yard, and hopefully a fence. Then I started walking through houses with three dogs and three cats in mind. Now I’m looking at how close the road is, whether Gunny can manage the stairs as she gets older, whether my blind cat could fall through an open staircase, and how much it would cost to make a beautiful property truly safe and manageable for all of us. In this episode, I’m sharing what has surprised me during the house...
July 19, 2026
What Really Happened Moving 2,200 Miles With Six Pets
What Really Happened Moving 2,200 Miles With Six Pets Moving six pets from Texas to Massachusetts in an RV sounded manageable on paper. Then came the delayed departure, Houston rush-hour traffic, tire-pressure warnings, a check-engine light, a crying cat, an unexpected campground wedding and a bulldog who created two separate crime scenes. In this follow-up to the lessons-from-the-road episode, Amy sits down with her friend Bev Brooks and daughter Kelsey Castro to share what actually happened...
June 3, 2026
Pet Acting Weird? Ask This Before You Blame Them | Pet Parent Power-Up
Is your pet suddenly acting clingy, anxious, restless, messy, or just “off”? Before you decide they’re being difficult, ask one better question: what changed? In this quick Pet Parent Power-Up, Amy walks through the first things to check when your pet’s behavior changes, especially during stressful seasons like moving, schedule changes, renovations, visitors, or household disruption. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN: Why investigating behavior changes should start with a medical...
May 24, 2026
6 Reasons Good Pets Get Returned After Adoption
Thinking about adopting a pet, or already wondering if you made the right decision after bringing one home? A lot of people think the hard part of adoption is choosing the pet. But, that’s usually the easy part. The hard part often starts a few days or weeks later, when routines get disrupted, resident pets are stressed, the new dog suddenly has endless energy, or the cat that hid under the bed still hasn’t come out. In this episode, I’m breaking down six of the biggest reasons good pets get re...
May 17, 2026
Stop Nighttime Pet Chaos With the SETTLE Routine
Does your dog whine at the door, your cat climb on you, or all your pets suddenly demand attention the second you sit down at night? You are not imagining it, and your pets probably are not plotting against your peace. In this episode, Amy breaks down why pets, especially dogs and cats, often get needier at night, why evening pet behavior can feel so overwhelming, and how a simple routine can help calm the chaos before it starts. If your pets seem perfectly fine all day but suddenly need everyt...
March 29, 2026
Cat Aggression Signs: Why Cats Swat, Bite, and Lash Out
If your cat is biting, swatting, attacking another cat, or suddenly having litter box issues, it may not be happening out of nowhere. In many cases, cats show warning signs long before things escalate. In this episode, certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger joins me to break down the real causes of cat aggression, what different aggressive behaviors can mean, and how to spot the subtle signals that your cat is stressed, overstimulated, fearful, or reacting to conflict in the home. We ...
March 22, 2026
New Cat? Stop Rushing Introductions Before It Turns Into A Fight
Bringing home a new cat and hoping your pets will just figure it out? That’s one of the fastest ways to create tension, hissing, and fights. A lot of cat introductions fail before they even start, and a bad first impression can take weeks or months to undo. In this episode, we walk through what your cats are reacting to, how to set up your home before they ever meet, and the step-by-step process for introducing them the right way. If you’ve been guessing, rushing, or hoping for the best, this wi...
March 8, 2026
Leash Reactive Dog? Stop Feeling Guilty, Understand It
Does walking your dog feel like you’re on high alert every second, bracing for the next blow-up? If Spot's behavior looks like dog aggression on walks, but doesn’t feel that simple, you’re not alone. Many dogs labeled as aggressive are actually dealing with leash reactivity, and that’s a very different problem. If you’re dealing with leash reactivity, you’re not failing, and you’re not “doing it wrong.” What’s happening usually isn’t aggression, it’s a dog having a hard time. In this episode, ...
Feb. 22, 2026
5 Puppy Raising Mistakes That Backfire Later
Are you dealing with “normal puppy behavior,” or early warning signs of a bigger problem? Some of the most common puppy behaviors, like fear reactions, growling over a toy or food, and mouthiness, can look harmless. But the way they’re handled early can be the difference between a phase and a serious problem, like reactivity or resource guarding that escalates into a bite. In this episode, I’m joined by multi-certified dog trainer Ruth Hegarty of Creature Good Dog Training to break down five pup...