It's Training Cats and Dogs!

In some cases, you can be doing ALL the right things to help your pets coexist, but everyone is still stressed and unable to live together peacefully.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of pressure on well-meaning pet parents who are struggling. And that really sucks.

In my chat with fellow pet professional Gia Savocchi, we talk about:

• how external pressures might cause people to keep their pets in a less-than-ideal situation
• the unheal...

When introducing two animals, how do you know when to move onto the next step? What are potential red flags that tell you to slow down?

In this chat with fellow pet professional Sammy Hyde, we talk all about her blind cat Murdoch, the "king of the household." We broke down the ways Murdoch made it clear that he didn't want to live with another cat, and how things progressed differently when new puppy Freja came into their home.

What ...

Have you been working with your pets for a while to try to get them to live together peacefully... but you're just not seeing the results you want?

In this episode, Naomi talks with Menghan, one of the amazing members of the Cat and Dog Coexistence Club. Menghan breaks down her experience in the community and the transformations her cat (Lindy) and her dog (Penny) have gone through since getting more personalized help with their tra...

What do you do when when your resident animal is super stressed by their new housemate? Like so stressed that they don't feel safe enough to do the things they used enjoy? And what if the animals were initially "fine" together?

In this Dog and Cat Chat, Alicia and I brainstormed about how she could help her cat Cleo feel confident enough to come downstairs when Maisy (the dog) is around.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why you n...

Dogs are predators who often see cats as prey. How can we help them live peacefully together? What is prey drive anyway?

There's all of this and so much more in this chat with Simone Mueller, world-renowned trainer and behavior consultant who literally wrote the book on predation in dogs (and how to address it).

We talk about:

• why (and how) her method of training dogs who chase cats is different than mine
• how to train FOR the situ...

Why might the same contexts trigger totally different behaviors in our pets? It can make their interactions really tough to predict...

In this episode, Naomi talks through the theoretical reasons why your pets' behavior might not be as predictable as the antecedent-behavior-consequence model seems.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• the four (and a half) reasons* why different behaviors can happen in seemingly the same situation
• how...

Does your cat do some things that kinda freak your dog out?

In this Dog and Cat Chat, Naomi and Matilda talk through some ways to address both sides of cat-dog relationship - to find appropriate outlets for Beau's sometimes over-the-top behavior AND to give Delilah the skills to cope when he triggers her.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why you might not want your dog to lay down and "be calm" when the cat is being exciting
• how ...

What do you do when you find the perfect kitten in a ditch right before you embark on a months-long journey through North and South America in a Sprinter van? Bring him along, of course!

In this chat with fellow pet professional Kayla Fratt, we talk about the recent addition to her "van-hold" - Norbert.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why Norbert's temperament (and age) made him a perfect small-space travel buddy
• how "green flag...

What adjustments do you make to a "typical" integration plan when the cat doesn't make himself scarce?

In this Dog and Cat Chat, Melissa and I come up with a plan to make Gem and Bart's interactions more predictable after a chase that ended with the cat in the dog's mouth 😲

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why letting a bold cat decide when to see the dog might not be the best idea
• how important it is to stop and congratulate you...

What is involved in taking cats and dogs who can't even look at each other to being able to spend time together as housemates?

In this episode, Naomi walks through the general process she uses to help her clients' cats and dogs learn to coexist.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why helping each animal feel safe is always the first step
• what types of behaviors both your cats and dogs need to know
• why you can't "just train the dog t...

When you've got an intense, chase-y dog and some scared cats, how do you prioritize your training projects? In this Dog and Cat Chat, I explain why (in Jenna's case), I suggested that she focus on addressing the cats' skittishness first before tackling her dog's intense reactions to seeing the cats move.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why two kittens might be better than one
• how to make seeing the other animal less of an event...

What are the first things you should do when you bring a kitten home to live with your adolescent dog? In this chat with fellow pet professionals Josh and Mandy Boutelle, we talk about how they helped their new kitten, Fig, quickly settle into life with their exuberant dog, Fern.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• how they started creating positive experiences for the pets as soon as Fig came home
• why they waited a week before post...

You bring a new pet home and you're keeping them separated from your resident pet like everyone says to do... but what are the next steps?!

In this Dog and Cat Chat, I give Agnes a plan of action for Daisy, her young, prey-drivey dog and Chrys, her newly adopted chill-dude orange cat.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why scheduling time for your cat to have the full run of the house (often) is important
• why an "airlock" of barrier...

In this inaugural "What the hell is...?" episode, Naomi gives her cousin Kerry the skinny on the concept of cat testing.

This episode is for you if...

➔ your dog was "cat tested" in the shelter or rescue

➔ your dog wasn't "cat tested" in the shelter or rescue

➔ you don't know what "cat testing is"

➔ you just like the sound of the phrase "cat testing"

What you'll hear in this episode:

• what cat testing is (sort of)
• how it can help predi...

This baby podcast is now 50 episodes old 🤯 That's kind of a big deal!

Let's celebrate with some of my super deep (and also a bit silly) musings about:

• how this podcast came to be
• why I'm doing this whole thing in the first place
• what's next in the world of "It's Training Cats and Dogs" aka even more awesome-ness
• when the podcast will be back - and how it will be even better than ever!

Want to dive a bit deeper?

Sign up to b...

If you've ever wondered whether your cat is teasing your dog for the fun of it or deliberately antagonizing the dog to get a rise out of them (and attention from you), this episode is for you.

In this Dog and Cat Chat, Chelsea and I come up with a plan to teach her mischievous cats how and when to give their reactive dog brother some space.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why "see cat ➔ eat cookie" isn't totally working
• how "ann...

If someone says their cat acts "like a dog"... do you know exactly what they mean? Is having a "dog-like" cat considered ::better:: than having a cat-like cat?

In this chat with fellow trainer Matt Schimsky, we talk about society's stereotypes about cats vs. dogs (and why they affect our relationships and willingness to train with our animals).

What you'll hear in this episode:

• why Matt didn't like cats (until he lived with them)
• ...

When your pets are “absolutely apart” and only seeing each other during short, micromanaged setups, you might be thinking:

• Am I being paranoid about my pets' safety?
• Am I the barrier to their coexistence?
• Am I being too impatient if I just want to "let them work it out"?

These worries are super common and all boil down to this main question: how do I know if my cat and dog are ready to spend more time together?

In this ...

It’s hard work managing a full house even when everyone gets along, and for Bee, whose pets can’t be in the same space without tensions running high (and sometimes blood being shed!), it’s getting beyond frustrating.

In this episode, Naomi shares some strategies on how to adjust "baby gate hell" and teach King and Ralph how to effectively give each other space.

Key Moments

[01:48] King's increasing aggression towards the dog,...