Shows
Backyard Pet Talk with Shannon Riley#backyardpettalkpodcast More Than Just a Command: Understanding Cues with Kathy SdaoIn this episode of Backyard Pet Talk, Shannon Riley sits down with renowned animal behaviorist and author Kathy Sdao to explore one of the most fundamental—and often misunderstood—concepts in training: cues. From dolphins to dogs, Kathy shares her journey and explains how cues are more than commands—they’re invitations for communication. Whether you're a pet parent or professional trainer, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Stay curious!
Connect with Kathy Sdao:
https://www.kathysdao.com/
You can find Kathy Sdao’s book, “Plenty in Life is Free – Reflection on Dogs, Training and Finding Grace, here:
https://www.do...2025-07-1750 min
SLAyyy: Second Language Acquisition for EveryoneEp. 13: SLAyyy Positive Classroom Environments with Kei TsukamakiGaslightHumor Doesn’t Always WorkNot Being IntentionalSome Things Don’t Work In YOUR ContextThinking Expected Behaviors Are ObviousGatekeep - Kei Tsukamaki, ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year 2025Dog Training Teaches Us About Classroom EnvironmentsThe ABCsTaking Time for ReflectionPrioritizing Relationships and RoutinesGirlbossUnderstanding Students’ Responses to QuestionsHallway Conversations That Honor Student AgencyValuesReferences...2025-02-1044 min
Reward Your Dog Podcast#1 The Positive Reinforcement MindsetIn this episode, Jesse and Verena chat about setting you and your dog up for success so that they do things you like and then finding ways to reward your dog's good behavior. You can find Reward Your Dog Training here: Website / Instagram / TikTok / Facebook YouTubePlease send any questions or comment to verena@rewardyourdogtraining.com - we'd love to hear from you!Our Shoutout for this Episode is: Bright Spot Dog Training, Kathy Sdao's dog training company2024-03-1229 min
K9 Detection CollaborativeTinkering and Creativity in TrainingWhat to listen for:“I look at the dog and if something goes wrong I say, ‘Thank you for the information.’ As dog trainers, we modify behavior and in order to modify behavior we have to be able to take good data.”Our hosts Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing explore the intricate dance of dog training, where the art of tinkering plays a pivotal role in shaping the behaviors of our canine companions. They share personal tales from the trenches, revealing how the subtle art of adjusting techniqu...2024-01-1659 min
Pod to the RescueCatch the Good in Your Dog: SMARTx50 with Kathy Sdao
If you try one training method with your new rescue dog, try this one! This week, Emily and Libby speak with Kathy Sdao, world-renowned dog trainer, speaker, writer, and educator. Sdao’s accessible training technique, SMARTx50, is a powerful tool that distills behavior science into the lay person's terms, making it accessible for our human learners: dog rescuers, fosters and adopters. They discuss how to use SMARTx50 to help our dogs fit into our human world, and this conversation is lively and full of both science and heart; evidence and experience. Some topics discussed are:
H...2024-01-111h 14Pod to the RescueSeason 4 TrailerHey listeners, we're back! We have some exciting episodes planned for this season, including interviews with Annie Phenix, Kathy Sdao, and more industry veterans as well as up-and-coming trainers and rescuers. Make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! And share with your rescue friends to make sure they don't miss it, either. 2023-10-1001 min
Dog Training Book ClubEpisode 4: Plenty in Life is Free by Kathy SdaoKathy's book: https://amzn.to/3Ot1nXH
Kikopup on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qnqaajTk6bfs3UZuue6IQ
Find a qualified professional near you:
CCPDT: https://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/certified-dog-trainer-directory/
IAABC: https://iaabc.org/certs/members2023-07-1808 min
The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal PsychologyPets' names: How we choose them, how we use them, and how to change themEpisode 5 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation sees Zazie and Kristi talk about the names we give our pets. We chat about how we choose them, what makes a good name, how we use our pets' names, how to change a pet's name, and whether they know their own and each other's names.As well, we talk about the books the book club is reading right now and our own choices of books we love. (There may be some spoilers in this discussion).Pet cats know their fellow cats' names, study shows (Psychology Today) 2023-05-0334 min
Our One Wild And Precious Lives (And Our Dogs)E15 Dog geekery: marker cues, my love! A conversation with Karen Deeds, CDBCCanine nerd level scale: 3/3: for highly educated dog and animal training folks who love digging into the nerdy details of theory and philosophy.
C and Karen nerd out about about multiple marker cue systems, behavior cases, the slime factor of treats (a life quality issue!) and the all-important facts that ziplock bags are forbidden in Karen's classes and C can't stand the texture of shrimp.
Is a clicker all you ever dreamed of ... or do you want MORE? Can you HAVE more? More clarity? A greater shared vocabulary with your dog? And even MORE fun? F...2023-01-171h 20
The Deal With Animals with Marika S. Bell37: Raising Children and Dogs with Colleen Pelar, CPDT(S5)Send us a textEpisode 4 of Season 5: Kids and Other Animals I chat with Colleen Pelar, CPDT, Author of, Kids and Dogs: A Professional's Guide to Helping Families. Living with Kids and Dogs ... Without Losing Your Mind, and Puppy Training for Kids. We discuss Tolerance vs. Enjoyment, breaking down the myth of the 'good dog', respecting canine boundaries and individuality. Having children should not mean that you can't have a dog, but it does require careful consideration of the needs of all human and nonhuman family members.Guest: Dogs and people have always fas...2022-10-031h 09
Enrichment for the Real World#19 - Kathy Sdao: Food Motivation MythsIn this interview episode, we are joined by Kathy Sdao, an applied animal behaviorist to discuss an always popular topic, food motivation. Food motivation is a term that comes up a lot when folks are talking about training their pets. While all individuals are intrinsically motivated by food, because they have to eat to survive, it can get a little more complicated when we’re talking about the behavior of reliably eating, which is usually what many folks are really referring to when talking about food motivation. And not reliably eating, can lead to some sticky situations. 2022-07-251h 17
Doggy DojoSMART X 50 with Kathy SdaoKathy Sdao, MA, ACAAB is an applied animal behaviorist. She’s been a full-time animal trainer for thirty-five years, first with marine mammals and now with dogs. At the University of Hawaii, she earned a master’s degree as part of a research team which trained dolphins to understand sign-language. She then worked for the United States Navy training dolphins for open-ocean military tasks. Kathy also worked as a marine-mammal trainer at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma Washington. After leaving the zoo world, she co-created Tacoma’s first dog-daycare.
Kathy launched Bright Spot Dog Training in 1998. Servic...2022-07-1231 min
Stokpaardje de Podcast#6 Is R+ altijd Force Free?Een koe is een dier, maar een dier is geen koe. Zo is Force Free vooral gebaseerd op R+ technieken, maar is R+ training lang niet altijd Force Free. In deze aflevering leggen Janneke en Do de definities en de verschillen met liefde en plezier haarfijn uit. Want wanneer is iets dan eigenlijk dwang, en wat zijn 'degrees of freedom'? En zouden we elk gedrag maar moeten trainen, puur omdat het kan? Dat en nog veel meer in deze lekker lange aflevering van Stokpaardje. We horen heel erg graag wat je van deze aflevering vindt, en waar ee...2021-09-1753 min
Canine High JinksEpisode 17: Learning About Behavioral Wellness with Sarah StremmingThis special episode includes an interview with the Cognitive Canine's Sarah Stremming, and we talked with Sarah about her philosophy regarding behavioral wellness in our dogs. The four steps include Exercise, Enrichment, Nutrition and Communication.
Sarah Stremming is a dog trainer, dog agility and obedience competitor, and dog behavior consultant. She travels the globe helping dogs and handlers understand each other better. Her credentials include a bachelors of science degree in psychology from Colorado State University, and more than a decade in the field of dog training and behavior.
Her special interest area is problem so...2021-09-081h 05
The Perfect PupStop Relying on "No"Are you obsessed with the word "no" when it comes to training your dog? While the word 'no' can have a time and place in training, it isn't a 'behavior'.
Too often as pup parents, we become obsessed and often times overreliant on the word 'no'. The problem with the word 'no' is that it doesn't teach our dogs what we DO want them to do!
The key to training is communication, and if the only thing we communicate to our dog is 'no' or 'stop', we've only done half the work.
If...2021-08-1710 min
Fenzi Dog Sports PodcastKathy Sdao - "Living a LIMA Life"Description: In this episode Kathy and I talk about the "LIMA Being" project, and the key to a really good cue. 2021-06-181h 13
The Bitey End of the DogKathy Sdao M.A.In this episode, I chat with none other than Kathy Sdao, and we had a chance to dive deep into applied behavior analysis and its application in aggression cases and I get to pick her brain about things like reverse order conditioning and how that can be a significant problem in aggression cases, such as when a dog isn’t taking treats in certain situations, the premium length of a session to work with a dog to modify aggressive behavior, and the dreaded undesirable behavior chains that can happen if we aren’t careful.Kathy's WebsiteLIMA...2021-03-081h 06
How To Train Your Dog With Love + Science - Dog Training with Annie Grossman + Anamarie Johnson PhDA group discussion about The New Yorker article, "Bad Dog," with its author Anna HeywardAnna Heyward is a writer and a School For The Dogs apprentice who has been featured on this podcast. She joined Annie and others to discuss her heartbreaking new article in The New Yorker, "Bad Dog," on Clubhouse. Their discussion touched on the complicated world of behavioral euthanasia, the cultural fog about dog training and the rampant misinformation about it, and more. Former School For The Dogs trainer Anamarie Johnson, also previously interviewed on this podcast, was among those who joined the conversation. Find Annie on Clubhouse at @anniegrossman. Looking for a Clubhouse invite? Text 917-414...2021-02-251h 03The Perfect PupSMART x 50 Dog TrainingSMART x 50 is an extremely simple and powerful dog training technique that will help you improve your dog's behavior! SMART x 50 "forces" you as the pup parent to capture and reward naturally occurring good behaviors.
SMART x 50 stands for See, Mark, And, Reward, Training. SMART.
Again, the SMART x 50 method originated from Kathy Sdao. Learn more about her book "Plenty in Life is Free" https://amzn.to/32PQ8k3
Please leave a review and subscribe!! Thanks for listening 🐾
Download the free Pupford app...2020-09-2207 min
Start The Full Audiobook Everyone Is Talking About — So Captivating![German] - ... oder einfach so!: Warum Hunde sich nicht alles verdienen müssen by Kathy SdaoPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/477961to listen full audiobooks.
Title: [German] - ... oder einfach so!: Warum Hunde sich nicht alles verdienen müssen
Author: Kathy Sdao
Narrator: Antje Hartmann
Format: Abridged Audiobook
Length: 4 hours 36 minutes
Release date: March 11, 2020
Genres: Animals & Nature
Publisher's Summary:
Häufig wird von Hundetrainern die oberste Maxime vertreten, dass Hunde sich jedes Privileg erst von uns erarbeiten müssen – ohne Gegenleistung keine Aufmerksamkeit, keine Zuneigung, keine Belohnung. Auch im auf positiver Verstärkung basierten Clickertraining ist dies oft der Fall. Hier gibt es zwar keine Strafen – aber ist 'Bindung durch Kontrolle' eigentlich wirklich fair dem Tier geg...2020-03-114h 36Download New Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Animals & Nature[German] - ... oder einfach so!: Warum Hunde sich nicht alles verdienen müssen by Kathy SdaoPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/477961to listen full audiobooks.
Title: [German] - ... oder einfach so!: Warum Hunde sich nicht alles verdienen müssen
Author: Kathy Sdao
Narrator: Antje Hartmann
Format: Abridged Audiobook
Length: 4 hours 36 minutes
Release date: March 11, 2020
Genres: Animals & Nature
Publisher's Summary:
Häufig wird von Hundetrainern die oberste Maxime vertreten, dass Hunde sich jedes Privileg erst von uns erarbeiten müssen – ohne Gegenleistung keine Aufmerksamkeit, keine Zuneigung, keine Belohnung. Auch im auf positiver Verstärkung basierten Clickertraining ist dies oft der Fall. Hier gibt es zwar keine Strafen – aber ist 'Bindung durch Kontrolle' eigentlich wirklich fair dem Tier geg...2020-03-114h 36
Download New Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Animals & Nature[German] - ... oder einfach so!: Warum Hunde sich nicht alles verdienen müssen by Kathy SdaoPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/477961 to listen full audiobooks. Title: [German] - ... oder einfach so!: Warum Hunde sich nicht alles verdienen müssen Author: Kathy Sdao Narrator: Antje Hartmann Format: Abridged Audiobook Length: 4 hours 36 minutes Release date: March 11, 2020 Genres: Animals & Nature Publisher's Summary: Häufig wird von Hundetrainern die oberste Maxime vertreten, dass Hunde sich jedes Privileg erst von uns erarbeiten müssen – ohne Gegenleistung keine Aufmerksamkeit, keine Zuneigung, keine Belohnung. Auch im auf positiver Verstärkung basierten Clickertraining ist dies oft der Fall. Hier gibt es zwar keine Strafen – aber ist 'Bindung durch Kontrolle' eigentlich wirklich fair dem Tier...2020-03-1103 min
K9 ConservationistsEp 33: Plenty in Life is Free with Kathy SdaoMarissa Martino of Paws & Reward Dog Training in Boulder, CO interviews Kathy Sdao of Bright Spot Dog Training in WA. In today’s episode, they talk about a very important concept that can make an impact in these 3 areas:
Improving your dog’s behavior
Improving your behavior when interacting with your dog
Enhancing your relationship with your canine companion
The concept is called Plenty in Life is Free which may seem contrary to the ever-popular dog training concept: Nothing in Life is Free.2020-03-1055 min
UNLEASHED (at work & home) with Colleen PelarAging - Lori StevensEach of us wants to be happy and healthy. Most people don’t see how closely the two are tied.
Yes, you can be unhappy and healthy. And you can be happy and unhealthy. But did you know that improving one of these states almost always has a beneficial effect on the other? They’re closely interconnected.
Lori Stevens is an expert in helping dogs age well, and I invited her to explore ideas of how pet professionals can age well also.
She says that health, mobility, and engagement are three areas she focu...2020-01-3029 min
Bad Dog Agility Podcast229: Is Your Dog Too Worked Up for AgilityIn this episode (54:19) In this episode, Sarah Stremming joins the podcast to discuss dogs that are too worked up/high drive/over-aroused to perform in the agility ring. You Will Learn Signs of an overly worked up or over-aroused dog. “Tag-along” behaviors often seen with these dogs. How agility dogs today differ from previous generations with respect to arousal and prey/bite drive. Solutions for working with the over-aroused dog. Mentioned/Related Episode 144: Interview with Sarah Stremming on Behavior Problems in Performance Dogs Cog-Dog Radio Train with Sarah on FDSA Episode 15: Kathy Sdao...2019-10-0154 min
Dogs with DevinSMART x50 Training MethodSMART stands for: See Mark And Reward Training. This was originally termed and talked about by Kathy Sdao in her book Plenty in Life is Free. You can buy that book here: https://amzn.to/2LmVNEf
Let me know how trying this method out works for you and your pup!
Pupdates in The Dog World: Dogs Help Our Heart Health ❤️https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/08/23/health/dog-study-heart-healthy-trnd/index.html
Please review the podcast! :)
Subscribe here on YouTube: http://bit.ly/subscribedwd
Po...2019-09-0209 min
Animal Training AcademyKathy Sdao - Anything you resist persists [Bright Spot Dog Training!] Podcast Outline * 1:40 - Ryan introduces Kathy. * 4:00 – Kathy shares where she first learned about positive reinforcement animal training and some of the first animals she trained. * 22:22 – A couple of stories from Kathy about her time training dolphins. * 19:38 – What Kathy is up to now and where you can find her at www.kathysdao.com. * 22:57 – The difference between cues and commands and why this is important. * 42:13 – Some potential phrases from non-violent communication to use in consultations. * 47:31 – How Kathy deals with compassion fatigue or "attachment to outcome fatigue." * 52:50 – Five t...2019-05-271h 21
UNLEASHED (at work & home) with Colleen Pelar039. Worth - Kathy SdaoKathy Sdao talked with Colleen Pelar about the idea of "worth." So many people struggle with feeling unworthy or think that they have to do something to earn their place. Not true. You are worthy just as you are. www.colleenpelar.com/39
2019-04-2539 min
How To Train Your Dog With Love + Science - Dog Training with Annie Grossman + Anamarie Johnson PhDPart 2: How I used punishment to train my husband to cover his mouth when he yawnsIn this episode, Annie offers a follow up to the previous episode, which featured a candid conversation with her husband about her ill-fated attempt to use punishment to keep him from showing her his uvula very time he yawned. Here, she points out some of the similarities and differences between using punishment with dogs and with humans. This episode touches on, among other things: -The long shadow punishment can cast -How language can offer clarification... or not -The subjective nature of "bad" behavior -Choosing appropriate punishers (and reinforcers) -The issue with a "Nothing In Life Is Free" approach to...2018-11-2748 min
How To Train Your Dog With Love + Science - Dog Training with Annie Grossman + Anamarie Johnson PhDLet’s talk about SFTD's origins with co-founder Kate SenisiIn 2011, Annie Grossman and Kate Senisi were both trying to figure out how to make a business out of dog training. They met through the Association for Professional Dog Trainers' message board, and discovered they lived a block away from one another in Manhattan. They also discovered they had complementary talents: Kate had an eye for detail, a background in graphic design, a head for organization, and a passion for dealing with aggressive dogs; Annie had an entrepreneurial spirit, writing skill, and lots of creative ideas. They decided to join forces, and together turned Annie's living room into a...2018-08-2745 minFenzi Dog Sports PodcastKathy Sdao - "Plenty in Life is Free"Summary: Kathy Sdao is an applied animal behaviorist. She has spent 30 years as a full-time animal trainer, first with marine mammals and now with dogs and their people. She currently owns Bright Spot Dog Training where she consults with families about their challenging dogs, teaches private lessons to dogs and their owners, and coaches novices and professionals to cross over to positive-reinforcement training. She’s been interviewed pretty much everywhere worth reading — at least as far as dog info is concerned — consulted with organizations including Guide Dogs for the Blind, appeared on Bill Nye th...2018-04-2757 minFenzi Dog Sports PodcastEileen Anderson - "Meeting Our Dogs' Needs"Summary: Eileen Anderson is a writer and dog trainer. She is perhaps best known for her blog, Eileenanddogs, which has been featured on Freshly Pressed by Wordpress.com and won the award “The Academy Applauds” in 2014 from The Academy of Dog Trainers. Her articles and training videos have been incorporated into curricula worldwide and translated into several languages. Eileen also runs a website for canine cognitive dysfunction, which she started in 2013. That site is www.dogdementia.com, which has become a major resource for pet owners whose dogs have dementia. Then, in 2015, Eileen published Remember Me? L...2018-04-2036 minFenzi Dog Sports PodcastLori Stevens - "Having fun with Canine Fitness"SUMMARY: Lori Stevens is an animal behavior consultant, a professional dog trainer, a canine fitness trainer, an animal massage practitioner, and a senior Tellington TTouch® Training practitioner. She continually studies how animal behavior, movement, learning, fitness, and health all interact. She uses intimidation-free, scientific, and innovative methods, in an educational environment, to improve the health, behavior, performance, and fitness of animals. Lori gives workshops worldwide and has a private practice in Seattle, WA. She is also the creator of the Balance Harness. Lori’s most recent of three DVDs by Tawser Dog Videos is c...2018-01-1937 minFenzi Dog Sports PodcastLori Stevens - "Behavior, Movement, Health and Learning"Summary: Lori Stevens is an animal behavior consultant, a professional dog trainer, a canine fitness trainer, an animal massage practitioner, and a senior Tellington TTouch® Training practitioner. She continually studies how animal behavior, movement, learning, fitness, and health interact. She uses intimidation-free, scientific, and innovative methods, in an educational environment, to improve the health, behavior, performance, and fitness of animals. Lori gives workshops worldwide and has a private practice in Seattle, WA. She is also the creator of the Balance Harness. Lori's most recent of 3 DVDs By Tawzer Dog Videos is co-presented with K...2017-07-2828 min
Drinking From the Toilet: Real dogs, Real training#22: Pondering on Stimulus Control with Kathy SdaoSo what exactly *is* stimulus control? We're pondering (and attempting to answer that) on this episode featuring Kathy Sdao. For show notes, visit: http://www.wonderpupstraining.com/blog/podcast-22-pondering-stimulus-control-kathy-sdao2017-07-0344 min
Bad Dog Agility Podcast144: Interview with Sarah Stremming on Behavior Problems in Performance DogsIn this episode (37:52) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban talk with Sarah Stremming from the Cognitive Canine about her new podcast Cog-Dog Radio and the work she’s doing with agility dogs with behavioral issues. You Will Learn Why Sarah started Cog-Dog Radio. Common behavioral problems in agility dogs. How your dog’s ability to take food can be a barometer for their stress level. The 4 areas that Sarah looks at when she evaluates dogs. Mentioned Our Previous Podcast with Kathy Sdao CogDog Radio – a new dog agility podcast on Soundcloud or in iTu...2016-09-2237 min
Bad Dog Agility PodcastEpisode 16: Kathy Sdao Interview – Part 2In this episode (37:34) This is a continuation of our interview with Kathy Sdao. Click Here for Part 1. We talk about setting speed as your criteria, differential rewards, and Kathy’s new book Plenty in Life is Free. Mentioned Clicker Expo Eva Bertilsson & Emelie Johnson Vegh and their book Agility Right from the StartClick here to read the full article →
2012-09-2037 minBad Dog Agility PodcastEpisode 15: Kathy Sdao Interview – Part 1In this episode (32:11) We welcome Kathy Sdao to the podcast. Time to talk science, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, and cuing. This is part 1 of the interview, you can listen to part 2 here. Mentioned Clicker Expo The four quadrants of Operant Conditioning. What is a Venn diagram? Wonk : a person preoccupied withClick here to read the full article →
2012-09-1432 min