#191 - Colleen Pelar: Your Magic Feels Easy Because It’s Yours

Celebrating Your Strengths

November 4, 2026

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

✅ Your magic feels easy because it’s yours – What comes naturally to you feels ordinary, so you don’t count it. Other people can see it, so let them tell you. 

✅ Your brain hunts for what’s missing – We’re wired to zoom in on the gaps. Get curious rather than beating yourself up. Worrying that you’re not good enough usually means you care.

✅ Your body is giving you information – Ask where you feel it and what it’s telling you about what’s right for you. Put it into words, and use it alongside your thinking.

Episode Overview:

The thing you’re best at probably feels too easy to count. “Anyone can do that,” right? Not so much.

In this episode, Emily talks with Colleen Pelar, a coach for pet professionals, about the things you already know about yourself, but can’t quite see. Your strengths feel too easy. Your brain hunts for what’s missing. And somewhere along the way, you learned to second-guess what your body’s telling you.

You’ll leave with a better sense of your own magic, and a way to check in with your body.

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Meet the Hosts

Allie pic with Oso

Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA

Allie Bender is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, and a Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 2006 and professionally training since 2012. She is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

While in the animal sheltering industry, Allie realized that her passion lied in helping pets with maladaptive behaviors. Today she spends most of her time teaching other trainers and behavior professionals the skills they need to have their most fulfilling, sustainable careers.

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EMIly strong

Emily Strong has been in the animal welfare industry since 1990 and has been a behavior consultant since 2008. She is the co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker. 

Emily started working with animals at a young age and struggled with the notion that you have to hurt, scare, or intimidate animals to help them. Emily loves helping current and prospective behavior professionals and working with pet parents through our in-depth services. She enjoys working with all species.

About Colleen

A smiling woman with light curly hair smiling into the camera. Text reads: Colleen Pelar - What is Your Body Telling You About Your Business?

Colleen Pelar

Colleen Pelar didn’t set out to become a coach for burned-out pet professionals—she became one because she was a burned-out pet professional. After nearly 30 years as a dog trainer, certified behavior consultant, and author of three books on human-animal bonds, Colleen found herself giving everything to her clients while running on empty. The joy that had drawn her to animals was disappearing under the weight of compassion fatigue. That crisis became her catalyst. As a professional certified coach with training in positive psychology, ethical NLP, and resilience skills, Colleen now helps pet professionals navigate the unique challenges of animal care work. She understands why “leaving work at work” isn’t always possible, why saying no to an animal in need can feel unbearable, and why the same care that opened your heart can become the voice that won’t let you rest. Her work focuses on sustainable transformation—helping caring professionals rediscover their spark without adding more to their already-full plates.

Learn more from Colleen Pelar

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