Episode #115 - Present Over Perfect:

Enrichment That Matters

May 19, 2025

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

✅ Something is better than nothing – Once a week may feel like a drop in the bucket, but it adds up. Don’t underestimate the power of small, consistent actions.

✅ Burnout affects more than behavior – Enrichment burnout doesn’t just impact your pet; it can erode your own mental health and the relationship you’re building together.

✅ Use what you’ve got – You don’t need to spend money or time you don’t have. Start with what’s already in your house—and what lights your pet up.

Episode Overview:

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing enough for your pet. 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️ Whether you’re a devoted pet parent or a seasoned pro, enrichment burnout is real—and it’s sneaky. In this episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Emily (she/they) and Pet Harmony Behavior Consultant Claire Horvat (she/her) explore how perfectionism, comparison traps, and even well-meaning advice can lead to overwhelm.

They dive into how cognitive biases—like the Nirvana fallacy and wishful thinking—can shape our expectations, and more importantly, how to break free from them. You’ll walk away with practical strategies for simplifying enrichment, prioritizing what really matters, and finding joy and effectiveness in what you can do, rather than getting lost in what you can’t.

Links & Resources from the Episode

Transcript: Arial | OpenDyslexic

For the Dogs Who Don’t Like Peanut Butter
Download the “Are Needs Being Met?” checklist mentioned in this episode
Episode #113 – Q&A: Enrichment Overload
#93 – When You Can’t Be Your Own Consultant

Going Down a Rabbit Hole?

Dive deeper into the world of enrichment, behavior, and building harmony.

🎧 #113 – Q&A: Enrichment Overload – When enrichment feels like too much, here’s how to recalibrate.
📝 “Do You Wanna…” Game – Learn to ask your pet what they want, in a fun and practical way.
🎧 #29 – Breed Typical Enrichment – Curious about breed needs? Allie and Emily explore the why and how.

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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, CDBC

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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