Episode #136 - Try It: New Cue, Same Trick (and Why It Matters)

From “sit” to “safe space”: using cue transfers for everyday life.

October 13, 2025

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

1️⃣ Start with fluency. Make sure your learner really knows the behavior with one cue before you try to add another.

2️⃣ New cue first, old cue second. The new signal should predict the old one to create a strong, clear association.

3️⃣ Empower with environment & body cues. Cue transfers can help pets learn to self-regulate or respond to environmental triggers without needing you to step in.

Episode Overview:

What if you could teach your pet not just one way to understand a cue, but multiple ways — or even help them notice their own body as a signal? That’s the magic of cue transfers, and in this episode, Emily breaks down how to do it step by step.

From teaching a reliable sit with both verbal and hand cues, to empowering your pet to recognize when they need a safe space, cue transfers can make life easier, communication clearer, and your pet’s agency stronger. You’ll also learn common mistakes to avoid so you can set your learner up for success from the start.

Links & Resources from the Episode

For a full transcript of this episode, go here for Arial, and here for OpenDyslexic.
February 2023 Training Challenge: Teach Your Pet to Read!
#16 – Flight Training Mini-Sode
Episode #121 – Try it: Learn Your Pet’s Ladder of De-Escalation

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Meet the Hosts

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. Specifically, she wanted to help prevent animals with rehabilitatable problems from being euthanized. She loves working with dogs and cats displaying stranger danger, resource guarding, and leash reactivity. Her favorite thing about working with pets and their people is seeing relationships grow and seeing harmonious households develop.

EMIly strong

Emily Strong is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She 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. When she discovered the behavior sciences and learned that it wasn’t necessary to do so– that we can care for emotional, mental, and physical health simultaneously– she plunged headfirst into animal behavior. Emily loves helping current and prospective behavior professionals and working with pet parents through our in-depth services. She enjoys working with all species.

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Results are not guaranteed because behavior, human, canine, or otherwise, are not guaranteeable.

Episode #136 - Try It: New Cue, Same Trick (and Why It Matters)

From “sit” to “safe space”: using cue transfers for everyday life.

October 13, 2025

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

Episode Overview: