Ep 70: The Highly Sensitive Pet Parent with Brooke Nielsen

In episode 77, Marissa Martino interviews Jessica Dolce about a very important topic in our profession, compassion fatigue, or what we're now calling it - empathetic distress. We explore what empathetic distress is, why it is common to experience as a caregiver, and what to do to avoid burnout.  This episode is for anyone who cares and feels a lot and takes care of animals (and their people), whether you're a dog trainer, animal welfare professional, or a devoted pet parent.  Jessica Dolce, MS CCFE, is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator, receiving her training from TEND Academy. She brings more than 20 years of experience working with and for animals to The Compassion in Balance® Program, her online education platform for animal welfare professionals. Jessica is also an instructor at The Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida and has worked with organizations around the world such as the IAABC, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, HSUS, Animals Asia, and the ASPCA. She holds a Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education degree and certificates in mindfulness facilitation, positive psychology coaching, and Mental Health First Aid. She lives in Maine with her husband, dogs, cats, and ducks. 

In episode 76, Marissa Martino interviews Dr. Kathy Murphy on the art and neuroscience of puppy socialization. Dr. Murphy explores some common myths about puppy socialization, explains what is happening from a neuroscience perspective, why that matters to us (and the puppies), and how to support our puppies during this critical time. It's a MUST listen! Get ready for some mindset shifts. Dr Kathy Murphy (BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS) is a veterinary surgeon and neuroscientist. Dr Murphy founded and is now the Director of, Barking Brains Ltd (a neuroscience outreach platform for the animal behavior and training community), which focuses on translating neuroscientific information into practical and useful information for people interested in animal behavior. To maximize the impact of her diverse interests and skill set, Dr. Murphy teamed up with Behavior Vets in 2022 when she took up the position of Chief Scientific Officer, now the CEO. Dr Murphy lives in the UK with her husband Elliot and their 4 dogs.   

In episode 75, Marissa Martino interviews Annika McDade to discuss the healing power of our canine relationships. Both Annika and Marissa have a passion for encouraging pet parents to see their relationship with their dogs as an opportunity for personal development. They get vulnerable during this episode and share how their dogs have presented growth opportunities in not-so-ideal ways. They present innovative thoughts about incorporating this work into the training process and encourage listeners to think beyond dog training.  Annika McDade is the Founder of Canine Connection Training, a well-recognized, Vancouver-based dog training company. She is a triple-certified Behaviour Consultant and Human Coach with a passion for facilitating a conscious connection between dogs and their people. Her greatest desire is to dive deeper into supporting the human end of the leash. Annika combines a unique balance of science-based knowledge, self-development, and spiritual curiosity when working with clients. 

In episode 74, Marissa Martino interviews Tom Candy about shelter dogs that experience frustration. They discuss the 3 R's - Risk assessment, Reduce (management strategies), and Resolve (behavior modification and teaching skills). Tom provides examples of interventions that he and his team implement to reduce a dog's stress level in the shelter environment.   A passion for animal welfare and training led Tom to undertake a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in bio-veterinary science and a Master of Science degree in clinical animal behavior from the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom. Since graduating, Tom has been working at Dogs Trust as a training and behavior advisor, eventually working in seven rehoming centers before being promoted to senior training and behavior advisor, where he supports the training and behavior teams across the southwest United Kingdom. Tom is responsible for supporting and advising managers and training and behavior advisors on matters relating to behavioral concerns, and for helping to promote higher levels of welfare for dogs. Tom is a Certified clinical animal behaviorist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council in the United Kingdom, and a Certified canine behavior consultant and Certified shelter behavior specialist with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. 

In episode 73, Marissa Martino interviews Lisa Mullinax to discuss stranger-directed aggression. Lisa defines the difference between reactivity and aggression. She talks about the reasons why these cases are high stakes and how to support both the dog and the client. Lisa also shares how she builds custom behavior plans for ultimate success.  Lisa Mullinax is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She utilizes positive reinforcement strategies with all dogs and adapts the lessons and exercises to each dog, depending on their needs. Lisa helps dogs and their humans overcome training and behavior challenges through the use of practical, positive strategies. Lisa previously managed the behavior programs at Seattle Humane and Denver Dumb Friends League, developed a new behavior program for the Sacramento SPCA, and consulted for multiple animal shelters throughout Northern California. 

In episode 72, Marissa Martino interviews Allie Bender of Pet Harmony to discuss the nuanced skill of building successful training plans for our clients and their beloved dogs. During this episode, they discuss why sustainable training plans are so important, the common mistakes most trainers make, and how to collaborate with the client for additional success.  Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony Animal Behavior & Training, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and co-host of the Enrichment for the Real World Podcast. Through Pet Harmony, Allie helps pets who display maladaptive behaviors and their people have a more harmonious household all over the world. She also empowers and educates other current and aspiring behavior professionals to provide outstanding services to their clients.

In episode 71, Marissa Martino interviews Dr. Sophie Liu about cooperative care, a process offering choice and agency to our animals when it comes to training for husbandry procedures. Marissa and Dr. Liu met through a mutual client who needed support for her dog in a veterinary setting. During this episode, they break down the training process as best they can so the listeners can imagine how to try this at home. They discuss how and why they make certain training decisions along the way in the hopes of highlighting their thought process to answer pressing questions most clients have.     Dr. Sophie Liu is a veterinarian practicing behavior medicine and is a passionate dog trainer and sports competitor. She provides behavior consultations through her business, Oakland Canine, and she currently shares her life with 2 Dobermans, 1 Taiwan rescue dog, and a very patient husband.

In episode 70, Marissa Martino connects with Brooke Nielson, a licensed therapist, writer, speaker, and teacher on the topic of Highly Sensitive People, and in this case, Highly Sensitive Pet Parents. Brooke explains what the Highly Sensitive Person is, the research behind the term, and the characteristics that people may embody if they identify this way. They also discuss how this may impact your relationship with your dogs (and others) in both positive and challenging ways. Brooke's goal is to help people embrace these qualities and utilize this knowledge to understand themselves and their needs.       

In episode 69, Marissa Martino interviews her dear friend, Sarah Stremming of the Cognitive Canine on the topic of balancing welfare and training for our dogs. Spoiler alert, Sarah feels strongly that both meeting your dog's needs and teaching them high-level training skills are equally as important. Sarah discusses how teaching these skills can increase both the dog's and the pet parent's welfare - making that a win-win for everyone!   

In episode 68, Marissa Martino interviews Jenni Pfafman, a certified behavior consultant, on how she teaches her clients to have a joyful, rock-solid recall. Jenni lives in Crested Butte, Colorado, where almost every pet parent is active on trails and wants off-leash reliability and a whiplash recall. This episode covers the many concepts Jenni teaches her clients so they view the world through their dog's perspective to set everyone up for training success. They also dive into the many exercises Jenni teaches her clients to get that fast, joyful recall we're all looking for!