Soul Touched by Dogs

If your “sweet-as-sugar-until-a-squirrel-appears” dog can’t resist the thrill of the chase, this one’s for you.

Force-free trainer Stephanie Rombough (Happy Hounds Dog Training, Alberta, Canada) joins me to share the reward-based process behind her new book inspired by her own high-drive herder, Nera.

We dig into why chasing is so reinforcing, how to prevent dangerous rehearsals, and exactly how to teach voluntary disengagement—from “laser-eyes on bunny” to “I see it… and I choose you.”

You’ll hear how Stephanie moved from a compulsion-based upbringing in dog training to a compassionate, science-grounded approach that works for terriers, sighthounds, herders—and the humans who love them.

Key takeaways

🐾 The one mistake even experienced guardians make: starting where the dog can’t succeed. Begin well below threshold so you can reward success and build from there.

🐾 Management is non-negotiable. While you train, prevent rehearsals: leashes instead of off-leash parks, doors closed, baby gates up. Each “got it!” chase self-rewards like a biochemical jackpot.

🐾 Use functional rewards. Sometimes a dry cookie can’t compete with a river, a breeze, or a squeaky critter. Reward with what your dog actually wants in that moment (e.g., a release to sniff/splash or a fur tug to bite).

🐾 Three-phase training path:

Prompted leave-it (you cue disengagement).

Supported watching (dog looks, you cue when needed).

Voluntary disengagement (dog chooses you without prompting—keep rewarding this every time).

🐾 Replace, don’t just remove. Offer daily “legal” predation outlets—tug, chase games, scent work—so that the “prey-drive battery” drains in healthy ways.

🐾 Safety first. Keep dogs on leash during the program to prevent a full predatory sequence (chase → grab → …). Finishing that sequence makes the habit much harder to change.

🐾 How long does it take? It varies by dog and setup. Expect meaningful progress in a few weeks; solid reliability often builds over 2–3 months—and sometimes faster once the dog “gets it.”

🐾 Why “force-free won’t work with tough cases” is a myth. With the right setup, criteria, and rewards, even high-octane chasers can learn to leave wildlife (and cats!) alone.

🐾 Exactly how and what to reward: mark the moment your dog chooses you—even when you didn’t see the squirrel first. That’s the behavior you want on repeat.

Favorite quote

“Let your dog be a little wolf for 10–20 minutes a day, and they’ll be so much happier.”

About Stephanie Rombough

Stephanie Rombough is a force-free dog trainer and the owner of Happy Hounds Dog Training in Alberta, Canada. She’s best known for clear, practical tutorials and client case studies on YouTube, helping guardians turn everyday struggles into calm, connected wins. Her new book distills a decade of hands-on work into a step-by-step, reward-based system to stop chasing—without pain or fear.

Connect with Stephanie

A psychologist walks into a dog park… and realises half her clients have tails.

That’s pretty much how Dr. Holly Tett discovered her calling — blending trauma-informed psychology with force-free dog training to heal both ends of the lead.
In this lively, heartfelt conversation, we talk about why obedience can’t fix overwhelm, how to spot the difference between shut down and calm, and what happens when we finally look at our dogs — and ourselves — through a lens of compassion instead of correction.
Plus, you’ll hear the story behind Holly’s now-famous “Cheeky Chicken” elevator game — proof that a bit of silliness can soothe two nervous systems at once.

Key takeaways

🐾 The one mistake even experienced guardians make: trying to “train away” big feelings with obedience cues. Skills have their place—but distress needs safety, co-regulation, and time.

🐾 How to tell the difference between shutdown and calm: a still body isn’t always a settled nervous system. Look at the whole dog, not just one body part.

🐾 Why our own stress backfires on walks: when our fight-or-flight kicks in, memory and technique vanish. Regulate you first so you can help your dog regulate.

🐾 A simple pre-walk ritual that changes everything: make connection the goal, not control. (Holly’s “Cheeky Chicken” game is a perfect example.)

🐾 How to dodge the public-opinion trap: other people’s looks aren’t data. Notice when old shame or criticism stories resurface, name them — “my mind’s doing that thing again” — then return to your dog.

🐾 When life gets busy: compassion fatigue is real. Simplify environments, shorten exposures, and celebrate micro-wins.

Favorite quote

“Dogs don’t hide who they are — unless they don’t feel safe. Our job is to make safety the baseline so connection can do the teaching.”

About Dr. Holly Tett

Dr. Holly Tett is a force-free behaviourist, clinical psychologist, and dog-business coach who helps guardians and professionals strengthen their bond with dogs through a trauma-informed, attachment-based approach.
She offers online courses, memberships, and mentorships — including Canine Connection (for guardians) and The Trauma-Informed Dog Practitioner Programme (for pros).
Holly also hosts two podcasts: Letters From Your Dog and Training Dogs, Training People and Keeping Our Sh*t Together.
She shares life with four beloved teachers — Riggs, Aya, Squid and Strudel — each with their own lessons to offer.

Join Holly’s live workshop

Are You as Triggered as Your Dog?
This popular free session runs regularly (replay available). It’s for anyone who loves their dog but feels the emotional weight of living with a sensitive pup — and wants simple, kind strategies to make life easier for both ends of the lead.
➡️ Register: https://www.pawsupdogs.com/triggered/

Connect with Holly

What happens when a lifelong animal lover and environmental scientist weaves her passions into stories where dogs see ghosts, save the day, and change lives?

In this episode, award-winning author Jill Hedgecock joins us to talk about her Shadow series — suspenseful, heart-filled novels that entertain while quietly teaching readers about compassion, responsible dog stewardship, and the beauty of the human–animal bond.

From champion agility runs and nose-work discoveries to celebrating a famous Doberman named Ruby who inspired an entire book series — Jill’s world is where storytelling, science, and canine love meet.

💡 Key Takeaways

The truth behind “owning” dogs — why Jill uses the word stewardship instead, and what it changes in the way we see our dogs.

How stories can de-stigmatize misunderstood breeds — and the powerful legacy of Ruby the Doberman, social-media star turned literary heroine.

The surprising reason agility and nose work are about the handler, not the dog — and what it reveals about trust and communication.

How a simple story choice can spark awareness about serious issues like DCM in large breeds or the environmental impact of pesticides on bees.

The one thing all great “dog books” really teach us: how to be better humans.

🐕 Favorite Quote

“Agility is the best because the dogs are off leash. They can do whatever they want—and they choose to try to please you.” — Jill Hedgecock

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:24 Meet Jill: A Lifelong Dog Lover
00:41 Jill's Journey with Dogs and Agility
02:21 Writing Books with Dogs as Main Characters
02:52 The First Book: Between Shadows' Eyes
06:11 The Second Book: From Shadow's Perspective
08:18 The Third Book: Exploring Family and Loss
09:15 Raising Awareness About DCM in Dogs
11:29 Jill's Writing Journey and Inspirations
14:19 The Magic of Storytelling
14:55 Understanding the Audience
15:39 Safari Books and Educating Through Stories
16:31 Developing New Projects and Characters
21:02 The Art of Dog Training and Agility
23:11 Exploring Nose Work with Dogs
30:00 Coincidental Encounters and Inspirations
33:23 Conclusion and Where to Find Jill's Books

📚 About Jill Hedgecock

Jill Hedgecock is an award-winning and internationally published author whose stories celebrate the powerful connection between humans and animals. Her Shadow trilogy — Between Shadow’s Eyes, From Shadow’s Perspective, and In Shadow’s Reflection — follows a Doberman who can see ghosts and a young girl who learns to see through her dog’s eyes.

A lifelong animal lover, Jill also writes a monthly pet column for The Diablo Gazette in the San Francisco Bay Area. When she’s not writing, she’s outdoors hiking with her two rescue dogs or training them in agility and nose work.

Her upcoming novel, Queen of the Rhino, merges her environmental roots with her love of wildlife — proving that fiction can entertain, educate, and inspire change all at once.

🌐 Connect with Jill

When Tricia Montgomery lost her beloved Moose to cancer, her world stopped.
But out of heartbreak came a mission — to make sure no other pet parent wakes up one morning to find it’s too late.

In this deeply moving conversation, Tricia shares how grief became fuel for purpose and how her non-profit, Moose’s March, is leading the charge for early detection of pet cancer so more dogs (and cats) can live longer, happier lives with the people who love them.

She’s not just raising awareness — she’s sparking hope.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

🐾 The surprising everyday toxins hidden in toys and treats that could quietly harm your dog — and how to spot them before they do.

🐾 Why so many pet parents miss the earliest signs of cancer (and how to recognize them before it’s too late).

🐾 The truth about what’s driving the rise in cancer rates — and what you can do right now to protect your dog.

🐾 A simple, affordable pre-cancer test your vet can add to a routine check-up that could save your dog’s life.

🐾 How to turn grief into goodness — and find healing through helping others.

Favorite Quote

“I knew I needed to honor him in some way. I needed to turn my grief into goodness.” – Tricia Montgomery

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:24 Guest Introduction: Meet Tricia
00:49 Tricia's Journey in Animal Welfare
02:37 The Story of Moose
05:44 Founding Moose's March
07:04 Early Detection and Prevention of Pet Cancer
10:30 Environmental Factors and Pet Health
14:04 Current Efforts in Pet Cancer Research
16:21 Signs and Symptoms of Pet Cancer
27:52 Final Thoughts and Resources

About Tricia Montgomery

Tricia Montgomery is the visionary founder of Moose’s March, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making early detection of pet cancer accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, race, or income level.
With over 25 years of leadership experience in the veterinary and pet industry — including her groundbreaking work with Canine Fit Club — Tricia combines deep industry expertise with heartfelt purpose. Her mission: to stop pet cancer before it starts and give every pet parent more time and more memories.

Connect with Tricia

When one chance encounter with a groomer feeding raw chicken legs made Toni Shelaske stop in her tracks, she had no idea it would set her on a path to becoming one of Pittsburgh’s most influential voices in pet wellness.

From running her own pet sitting business to building four thriving natural pet supply stores, and now hosting the Toni Unleashed podcast, Toni has always been driven by curiosity, courage, and the belief that pets - and their people - deserve better.

In this conversation, Toni shares how she turned a lightbulb moment into a movement, what she learned as a female founder in the pet industry, and why she’s passionate about helping both pet parents and indie retailers stand tall in a big-box world.

Key Takeaways

• The spark that changed everything – how a single conversation in a grooming shop led Toni to rethink everything she knew about pet food.
• From burnout to business owner – why she left pet sitting and took the leap into retail.
• The truth behind “cheap” pet food – and why Toni believes investing in quality food pays off at the vet.
• Entrepreneurship unleashed – how Toni grew from one small shop to four thriving locations.
• Why indie voices matter – Toni’s mission to support independent pet retailers in a world dominated by big-box chains.

Favorite Quote

“The moment you start feeding real food, your dog becomes a different animal — brighter eyes, cleaner teeth, softer coat, more energy. It just creates a different being.” – Toni Shelaske

Grab a cuppa and enjoy!

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:24 Meet Tony: A Journey with Dogs
01:45 Discovering Raw Food for Dogs
05:15 Building a Raw Food Business
07:07 The Benefits of Raw Feeding
08:22 Challenges and Misconceptions
14:51 Recommended Raw Food Brands
17:38 Freeze-Dried Food: A Convenient Alternative
19:54 Where to Find More Information
20:58 Conclusion and Farewell

About Toni Shelaske

Toni Shelaske is a podcast host, seasoned entrepreneur, and holistic pet wellness expert. She’s the dynamic female founder and former owner of Healthy Pet Products, Pittsburgh’s premier natural pet supply retailer. Today, Toni shares her expertise on her popular podcast Toni Unleashed, serves on the board of IndiePet to support independent retailers, and has even launched a line of Pittsburgh-themed dog toys that blend her love of pets with hometown pride.

She’s passionate about helping pet owners make healthier choices for their dogs and guiding fellow entrepreneurs on how to stand out authentically in a big-box world.

Connect with Toni: