Enlightened By Dogs With Kathy Kawalec

How much clarity do you have about you and your dog’s partnership right now? It’s easier to work out where you’re going once you know where you are. That’s why getting clear on which areas of your partnership could do with some work is a vital first step on your journey to a happier life together. In this first episode of a five-part summer series, Kathy introduces us to Mary, a dog mom facing some tough challenges. Kathy explains how Mary got clear on the issues she had with her dog Max, and shares the insights and takeaways you can bring to your own partnership. This series is a look behind the curtain at what learning to be together as partners really looks like – and just how far you can both come! In this episode: What getting clear on your challenges can do for your partnership How to encourage self-regulation Kathy’s key questions to help you gain clarity Read the blog post on this topic. Quotes: “Clarity leads to success.” “Everything else is possible, once we know exactly what we want, how we want

Are you struggling to form a solid heart-to-heart connection with your dog? It could be a simple case of trying too hard or overthinking it. If we’re distracted, focused on other things, or too busy, this can affect the close partnership we all dream of having with our dogs.  Sometimes it pays to really step back and take some time to reflect on your perspective and how you role model for your dog. In this episode of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast, Kathy shares some of the simple things standing in the way of a real heart-to-heart connection and a peaceful partnership with our dogs. She explains a simple tactic to become more present in the moment to help quieten our wandering brains. In this episode: What’s standing in our way of having a heart-to-heart connection Why we need to get off the hamster wheel of being stuck in our own heads The problem with striving for perfection Read the blog post on this topic. Quotes: “If we're afraid of making a mistake or getting it wrong, well, that means that we're lit

Sometimes we just get so caught up in the drama, urgencies, to-do lists, and life’s responsibilities that we forget what’s truly important. We can even get lost in an idea of how our dogs are supposed to be. We fixate on how they’re meant to look and behave without even realizing that it’s all down to choice. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy takes you through a simple way to change your perspective on life in general, but more specifically, with your relationship with your dog. Kathy shares some stories from members of the Brilliant Partners Academy on how they learned to “join up” with their dogs rather than try to control them. In this episode: Why you need to “join up” with your dog rather than control them How to stay focused on “the main thing” Why connection with your dog is so important Read the blog post on this topic. Quotes: “When we're available for connection, magical stuff happens.” “Rather than try to convince our dogs or campaign for our dog's attention, how about sometimes we ju

Are things a little crazy around your home right now? During the summer months, many of us start remodeling, landscaping, gardening, or doing construction work on our homes. This can cause many dogs to become reactive to the new activities and environment around them. Lots of new noises, people, smells, and a disruption to their routine can make even the calmest dogs antsy. Many may bark more than usual or become a bit over-excited or stressed during this time. If you’re struggling to help your dog stay calm, tune in to this episode of the Enlightened By Dogs podcast. Kathy shares some simple tips from an old, archived episode that’s just as relevant today as it was then. 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 behaviors before our dogs’ 4 ways to become a good role model for your dog Read the blog post on this topic. Quotes: “My dogs are very accustomed to me…they look to me for guidance on how we respond to this uniqu

If your dog struggles with over-arousal, you’ll be no stranger to emotional outbursts. Overwhelming experiences like these can trigger anxieties that make it difficult for you and your dog to move forward. But life with a reactive dog doesn’t have to be this way. When Andrea Baumann got her standard poodle, Tobias, she dreamed he would become her service dog. Andrea was aware of Tobias’ over-arousal and was prepared to help him overcome this so that one day, he could help her. But over time, Tobias’ reactivity got worse. Andrea turned to the Brilliant Partners Academy and has since been on a journey that’s transformed her life and their relationship. In this episode, Kathy speaks to Andrea about the obstacles they’ve overcome and more! In this episode: The impact one-on-one training had on Tobias’ real-world responses What changed when Andrea shifted her focus from issues to connection How Andrea takes a proactive approach to Tobias’ reactivity Read the blog post on this topic. Quotes: “I wasn't making good

Establishing a partnership with your dog when they have behavior issues can be a real challenge. But what about building a partnership with 13 dogs all with their own unique needs? Rescuing or fostering a dog can be such a rewarding experience that it’s no wonder people get hooked! Over the last 7 years, BPA member Alicia Martin has fostered over 60 dogs – but not all went on to other homes. Alicia is now in service of 13 foster fails, otherwise known as her family pack of lovable misfits. There were many underlying reasons why some of these dogs couldn’t get adopted, including behavior disorders. This led to lots of family fighting and an unsettled home life for Alicia and co. In this episode, Alicia joins Kathy to share how the BPA helped her re-establish a harmonious home in just 18 months and confidently lead her chaotic family pack. In this episode: How Alicia became the foster mom of over 60 dogs! Alicia’s challenges dealing with a diverse family pack How the BPA helped Alicia transform the hostile dyn

Does your dog often get over-excited or easily stressed? Does that feeling pass onto you, and before you know it, you’re both stuck feeling frustrated or angry? Our dogs look to us for so much guidance and reassurance. When we get over-excited, so do our dogs. When we become fearful, our dogs can pick up on that too. So, what can you do to keep your dog calm in stressful situations? It all starts with you and how you react to stimuli around you. To calm yourself and your dog, you can use something Kathy calls the “Back to Grazing Protocol.” In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy takes you through the six steps of the Back to Grazing Protocol to help you and your dog feel more at ease and able to handle difficult situations. In this episode: What the Back to Grazing Protocol is and where the concept comes from How looping thoughts can increase the drama in our lives Why gratitude is key to halting looping thoughts Read the blog post on this topic. Quotes: “Our dogs are so attuned to us.” “There are no

We all have dreams, goals, and aspirations, but what is the key to achieving them? One of the most common pieces of advice is that you need to change your mindset to achieve your dreams. After all, your mindset is key to everything in your life. It affects your health and wellness, financial status, career, and the relationships you have in your life – including the partnership you have with your dog. Mindset matters, but does just changing your mindset ever really work? Kathy talks a lot about mindset on this podcast. But this time, she takes a deep dive look into why mindset matters, how it relates to our habits, and why changing it doesn’t always work. In this Enlightened By Dogs episode, Kathy looks at why achieving your dreams isn’t just about mindset. It’s about the actions we take and the dreams and feelings we strive for. In this episode: Why simply changing your mindset doesn’t work How the three main parts of the brain interact Why creating new habits is key to achieving your dreams Read the blog

Are you feeling disconnected from your dog? Are you struggling to remain present and live in the moment with them? Living a partnership lifestyle means intentionally creating a heart-to-heart connection with your dog. It means learning to be present and having an awareness of yourself and your thoughts and feelings. By learning more about yourself, you can learn how to become a brilliant partner for you, your dog, and everyone else in your life. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy discusses ways to regain and revisit your connection with your dog. She takes you through a simple exercise you can practice if you’re struggling with feeling present and connected with your dog. In this episode: Why it’s so important to focus on what we have, not just what we want How to embrace a feeling of gratitude How to use Kathy’s “field of flowers” exercise to center yourself How our dogs fit into our life experiences Read the blog post on this topic. Quotes: “That field of flowers is like a metaphor for how I'm

When your personality doesn’t align with your dog’s in the ways you might expect, how do you communicate and connect? BPA member, Beth Williams, welcomed her new dog, KZ into her life with open arms and an open heart. But after years of owning earth-type dogs (and being an earth-type herself), adapting to a dog with a fire-type personality was quite a change! KZ’s excitable nature presented many new challenges for Beth and put a lot of initial strain on their relationship. Now, they have the heart and mind connection Beth always dreamed of. How did they do it? Find out in this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, as Kathy speaks to Beth about her incredible path to calming and connecting with her excitable dog. In this episode: How Beth’s dog-centered lifestyle created challenges for KZ Why Beth needed to adjust her expectations for her new puppy Why understanding your and your dog’s personalities can help you connect better Beth’s new perspective on communicating with your dog Read the blog post on this topic.

When it comes to reactive dog behavior, it can feel like you’ve tried just about everything, and nothing seems to work. A reactive dog can put a huge strain on your relationships with your beloved pets. It can significantly impact the quality of a dog’s life as well as your own. Traditional training is what many people turn to. But if that doesn’t work, what next? The truth is, helping your dog isn’t about forcing them to act differently. It’s about opening your mind and looking at it from a different perspective. Stella Murrell and her dog, Henna, came to the Brilliant Partners Academy (BPA) around 18 months ago looking for a solution. Henna was a young dog with a series of physical and mental difficulties that were impacting her and Stella’s partnership. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy chats to Stella about her journey towards building a strong partnership with Henna. Stella and Henna are a fantastic success story for BPA and highlight why striving for a partnership lifestyle is so worth it. I

You may think that you’re listening to your dog’s wants and needs, but listening isn’t always what you think it is. We all want to do what’s best for our dogs. However, sometimes, in the quest for a successful relationship, we can get stuck pursuing traditional training methods that just aren’t working. The reality is, truly listening to your dog can look very different from how you might have imagined it. When you open up your mind and your heart to your partnership’s possibilities, that’s when things can really start to change ­– especially if you have a reactive dog. Steph Taleb and her dog, Pow, are a perfect example of how real listening can build a strong, thriving partnership. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy speaks to Steph about her journey with Pow and discusses how their relationship has gone from strength to strength since Steph chose to pursue a partnership lifestyle. In this episode: How Pow and Steph began their journey to a brilliant partnership What to do when traditional traini

We often think about success as external. But what internal work happens on the way to achieving a brilliant partnership? Your mindset can be a powerful guide on the path to a happy lifestyle with your dog. But there are many factors that influence how you think, feel, and respond in any given situation. Most of the time, this happens on the unconscious level. Thinking carefully about how you can make more conscious, intentional choices can lead you to truly being a brilliant partner and loving leader for your dog. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares why becoming a better version of yourself starts with looking inward. Plus, she reveals some of her favorite mindset hacks and lifestyle principles to help you on the way to a successful, growing, and brilliant partnership with your dog. In this episode: 3 ways to cultivate an optimistic mindset How visualization can strengthen your partnership What to do when things don’t go to plan Why attainment and accomplishment are forms of success Read t

Are the activities you do with your dog really meeting both your needs? Both you and your dog are social beings. You have socialization and intellectual stimulation needs that you have the power to fulfill. But we often make mistakes about how to socialize our dogs and the engagement that we have with them. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares a segment from one of her Brilliant Partners Academy classes. She talks about two topics, including how to meet your dog’s social needs in real-life situations and how to balance the activities you do with your dog to avoid over-arousal. She also shares a framework to help you be more mindful about creating a brilliant life for you and your dog. In this episode: Meeting your needs and your dog’s needs as a social being How to balance engagement and activities with your dog Why it’s important to accurately assess your dog’s response to daily activities Kathy’s recommended framework to plan activities with intention Read the blog post on this topic. Quot

When your emotional pathway is clear and balanced, you’re primed for connecting and co-regulating with your dog. But finding balance isn’t always easy. So, what tools can you use to help restore emotional balance in your partnership? In this Enlightened By Dogs episode, Kathy shares how you can use flower essences to find balance when you’re experiencing mental, emotional, or spiritual unease. These flower essences are simple and safe to use and can be an effective remedy in times of need. Using these to bring you and your dog back to balance sets the stage for successful co-regulation, as you help each other navigate life as the responsible, loving leader. In this episode: What are flower essences? The different flower essence systems, and why Kathy prefers the Bach remedies How to use the flower essences and their remedies Choosing flower essences for you and your dog Read the blog post on this topic. Quotes: “When we are more balanced emotionally, that sets the stage for us to be a leader.” “Essences foc

There are five key pillars that all social animals need to connect and thrive. These five elements build trust between you and your dog, and bring you back into balance when things start to go awry – so they’re crucial for maintaining a partnership lifestyle! But what are they? The five pillars are to be safe, to be connected, to belong, to be heard, and to be helpful. When you keep these pillars in mind, it can help your dog calm down, think clearly, learn from you, and cooperate with you. They’re a vital part of living the safe, calm, and happy life that you dream about. In this episode of Enlighted By Dogs, Kathy shares what it means to be heard and how you can better listen to your dog to build a happy, understanding partnership. She also reveals the key role your leadership has to play in creating a safe space for your dog. In this episode: The five pillars for a partnership lifestyle What it means to be heard How to listen as a loving leader How to help your dog feel safe Kathy’s 5 key takeaways for ho

In the world of dog behavior, there’s a lot of talk about “impulse control”. But what is causing these impulses, and what’s the best way to approach “controlling” them? In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy turns the idea of “impulse control” upside down and inside out! Instead of trying to control impulses, Kathy explores how you can use your natural biology of connection to help your dog calm down. She explains how you and your dog are biologically wired for connection and how to tap into this to co-regulate your dog’s nervous system. Kathy also shares how the Dancing Hearts partnership lifestyle method can help your dog default to feeling safe, calm and happy, and why this grows your trust and connection. In this episode: What it means to grow or leak trust The importance of meeting your and your dog’s need to feel safe and connected How co-regulation is the heart of all positive relationships Why reliable regulation helps you and your dog engage and grow How to condition your dog’s nervous system

If your dog is displaying difficult behavior and not cooperating, it may make you feel like your dog is deliberately giving you a hard time. But the truth is, your dog is having a hard time! When you have these negative thoughts about how your dog reacts to you, it leads to trust leaks in your partnership. But there are ways to turn your thinking around and reframe your dog’s behavior so that it doesn’t damage your bond. We all have the capacity and capability to start unconditionally loving our difficult dogs, even when they are displaying challenging behaviors. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy explains how to reframe “negative thoughts” about your dog’s behavior and how understanding their personality type can help. In this episode: Why negative thoughts cause trust leaks in your partnership Which misconception leads to frustration and anxieties What negative thoughts are common for each personality type How understanding your dog’s personality can help you reframe your thoughts Some BPA examp

Socializing your dog can be tricky business! Especially when there are so many theories of how it should be done. However, some methods might not be right for your dog and may do more harm than good to your partnership. In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy shares the three common socialization myths that you should be aware of. She explains why attempting to socialize your dog in any of these ways could be a mistake. Kathy also reveals how you should approach socializing your dog to build trust, confidence, and resilience. Whether you’re socializing your puppy for the first time or are working towards a stronger partnership with an older dog, this episode shares some amazing socializing insights! In this episode: Why not all socialization methods are beneficial to developing your dog’s social skills How to approach socialization for your dog The three common socialization myths to look out for How to honor your dog and their right to choose What other factors may influence your dog’s way of socializ

Life can get pretty interesting when we mix personalities. Understanding your dog's personality type teaches you why they behave the way they do. Knowing more about how your dog expresses their personality gives you an insight into what they’re trying to communicate and how. This better communication and understanding ultimately leads to a strong partnership bond! When personality types come together, they react in different ways. Some combinations are naturally geared towards a peaceful union, while others require a consciously mindful approach to understanding each other. So, what happens when we combine personality types? In this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy digs into the challenges and advantages that different personality-type combinations can experience and shares how you can find balance in your partnership. In this episode: A quick recap of the five different personality types How to find balance using the five-element theory The challenges and successes with each personality type combinatio