UNLEASHED (at work & home) with Colleen Pelar

Debbie Sheridan has spent her career helping people understand fearful dogs—and unlearning the idea that "obedience" is the goal. As the owner of Debbie's for Dogs, a certified end-of-life doula for companion animals...

Liz Clarke spent decades zigzagging through careers — nursing, witness care, celebrity coaching, travel — before a week in Bulgaria stretched into three months and a street dog named Kathleen changed the direction of...

Jenny Roberts has spent years doing the invisible work that holds a veterinary practice together. As a customer service representative (CSR) at Partners Animal Hospital of Asheville, she's the person who answers the...

Valerie Bogie spent sixteen years training animals in zoos and aquariums before a convergence of burnout, a cross-country move, and a chance connection led her to veterinary social work. Now she splits her week between...

<p>Holden Svirsky came to animal behavior sideways — through a layoff, a shelter volunteer shift, and the slow realization that what she'd studied about human learning applied just as well to dogs. Now a behavior...

<p>Melissa McCue-McGrath has spent over 20 years as a dog trainer, and she's writing a book called The Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer — which tells you something about how she holds this work.</p>...

<p>When things are going badly, it sometimes helps to remind ourselves that “this, too, shall pass.” The flip side of that, of course, is that the good times pass as well. That can seem depressing at first, but what if...

<p >“Be kind” is the kind of advice we hear so often that it seems almost trite. But what does it really mean to be kind and why does kindness suddenly seem so much more important than ever? How does kindness look- to...

<p >Lili Chin didn’t set out to be an animal artist—she set out to be an animator. But a crisis with her own dog drew her into the world of dog training and animal behavior. From there, one thing led to another and...

<p >“Have fun!” These are words we say fairly often, especially to kids. But do we ever say it to ourselves? Do we ever give ourselves permission to “have fun?” And as we get older and assume more responsibilities, what...

<p>It’s never too late for old dogs—or humans—to learn new tricks. At 77, animal behaviorist and best-selling non-fiction author Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB, has shifted gears and is now publishing her first-ever...

<p>The benefits of play therapy and animal-assisted therapy are both well established. Engaging in play and spending time with or learning to care for animals can be valuable interventions for children and adults alike...

<p >Psychotherapist and dog professional Ann Howie built her professional life around doing animal-assisted therapy with her own dogs. Then for years, none of her dogs wanted to do that work. She had to adjust her...

<p>My guest today always thought she’d be a teacher when she grew up- and in a way she is, but not how she thought! Instead of teaching children, Ellen Yoakum trains dogs and mentors dog trainers in her work with Pet...

<p>Dr. Melissa Trevatan-Minnis is not a pet professional, at least not in the way we traditionally think of them. However, as both a psychologist and a shelter volunteer, she’s familiar with the burnout and mental...