Pet Harmony

Episode #170 - Q&A: How to Multi-Pet Household

It's not just additive, it's exponential

June 8, 2026

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TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

1️⃣ Caregiving isn’t additive; it’s exponential – Budget, bandwidth, physical space, and the needs of every current household member all compound in ways most people don’t anticipate. 
 
2️⃣ Different needs ≠ unfair treatment  – Meeting each pet as an individual is equity. Use the enrichment framework to stay grounded.
 
3️⃣ Make your deal-breaker list before you meet the pet – Decide your non-negotiables before you’re emotionally attached to a specific animal. Treat the first phase like a foster. It protects the animal, protects your existing pets, and protects you from shame-driven decisions later. 
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Episode Overview:

In this Q&A episode, Allie, Emily, and Ellen tackle the questions they hear most often from clients, mentees, and the internet: Should I get another pet? How do I treat my pets fairly when they all need different things? And how do I actually bring a new animal home in a way that sets everyone up for success?
 
Of course, in true Q&A fashion, we may meander a bit (look, we are who we are 😂), but we packed this episode full of real-life examples, how we guide clients through the process, and reflection questions to help you answer these questions for yourself. 
 
Because while we are behavior consultants, we probably aren’t YOUR behavior consultant… at least not yet. 😉

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PS: Capitalism

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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.

Team Members in the Episode

A beautiful lady in sunglasses next to a black and brown dog with large ears.

Ellen Yoakum, KPA-CTP, CSAP-BC

Ellen joined Pet Harmony in 2020, and is the podcast producer and editor! She is also a Pet Harmony co-owner, trainer and behavior consultant. Ellen is a Certified Separation Anxiety Pro Behavior Consultant, and Certified Training Partner through the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA-CTP). She loves helping families build communication and cohabitate successfully by developing strategies and plans that will benefit everyone.

Ellen has been working within animal care and behavior in multiple capacities including: dog daycare and boarding, wildlife rehabilitation, zoological, captive animal welfare research, and private training.

Check out more from Ellen on the blog!

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