KW Happy Dogs Certified Dog Behavior Consultant

27/08/2024

Check out our latest episode. You will feel inspired to contribute to some positive change in the animal welfare world!

Have you ever listened to someone speak about their mission and felt chills and motivation to make positive change happen? Listening to Dr. Christi during this episode will have you visualizing the power that compassionate care can evoke and give you a better sense of how we can move towards a viabl...

26/05/2024

https://dogchats.podbean.com/e/episode-22-leashes-harnesses-and-collars-oh-my/

Have you been given different advice about which equipment to use on your dog? Is your dog comfortable in their gear when they are heading out for a walk? Emma and Kirsten explore answers to these questions and offer some guidance about the equipment that is available and why they choose to use it w...

20/04/2024

https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9y4w7-15ee0cb

Have you ever considered adopting a dog with special needs? This episode takes you on one couple's heartwarming adventure of bringing a blind dog into their life. Scout was born with a degenerative condition that is causing blindness, and though he faces some challenges, his pet parents have found w...

22/03/2024

Check out this article in Canvas Rebel Magazine about how I became a positive dog trainer and why I now have a mentorship program for dog professionals and dog enthusiasts. I'm so grateful for my mentors and excited to share what I learned with others.

We recently connected with Kirsten Wojcik and have shared our conversation below. Alright, Kirsten thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an impo...

15/03/2024

I couldn’t be more proud of sweet Leo, clever Rocco pup and their dedicated human mama who helped make the transition of adding a new pup to the family with thoughtful consideration. Well done all around!

15/03/2024

Remember when you were a perfect teenager? Yeah, I didn't think so. You'll enjoy this episode. It's important and entertaining.

Remember when you were 14- years- old and you were a totally balanced, perfect teenager? Of course you don't...because how could you feel calm and confident when your world was changing and your body was taken over by alien hormones. It is the same for our adolescent dogs and in this episode, Emma a...

25/02/2024

We had a fantastic hands-on workshop with the remarkable Trish King today on the topics of resource guarding, how to enter the home of a dog with aggressive behaviors and dog/dog greetings. So grateful to have Trish sharing her knowledge with my group of mentees. Interested in some hands-on canine behavior education ? Check out the canine behavior mentorship program at www.caninebehavioreducation.com

18/02/2024

Check out this fun episode with our special guest Alexis Davison!

With her incredible wit and wisdom, special guest Alexis Davison offers insights into the importance of communication in the role of behavior change, the history of positive reinforcement training and how using the UnChase Protocol can help pets learn to live together and be safe alongside wildlife....

18/02/2024

17/01/2024

More enrichment ideas!

Ready for more fun indoor activities with your pups? Emma and Kirsten offer up some more creative enrichment activities that are easy to set up and super fun for both you and your dog! From Food Flicking Football to Musical Mats, and other seeking and scenting games, this episode will give you lots....

16/01/2024

Looking to bring home a new dog? We just visited Compassion Without Borders, a fabulous rescue in Santa Rosa. They are doing phenomenal work rescuing pups off the streets and dumps in Mexico and Fresno.

Check them out them out at

Stay tuned for a possible adoption event in Marin in the coming months.

In the meantime, if you’d like to contribute or donate, they have a list of items on their website that would be really helpful as well as an Amazon wishlist (also linked in images above). https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/P7UTZ8LQRLE4?ref_=abls_nvfly_yl

12/01/2024

Introducing Rosie to KW Happy Dogs!

Rosie’s approach is all about helping to create understanding and harmony between you and your dog. Part of that work involves you better understanding your dog and how they express their needs. Her ultimate goal is to support you and to set you both up for success. Inspired by her own experience with dog reactivity, she’s come to know the possibility of a profound connection between dogs and their humans and this has become an anchor in her work. 

Rosie is excited to meet you and your pups for a session soon! 🐾

04/01/2024

We are all doing the best we can. Let’s support each other.

20/11/2023

Looking for fun indoor activities with your dog? Check out our latest Dog Chats episode. Instructional videos on the way!

Now that the days are shorter and we are spending more time indoors with our dogs, it is time to cozy up for a Towel Dry, Hot Lava, scenting games and fun DIY enrichment activities. Your hosts Emma and Kirsten describe some of their favorite indoor dog games and offer tips about keeping your dogs bu...

17/10/2023

Episode 16- Kirsten unpacks the "why" and "how" of supporting dogs with big feelings.

Does your dog communicate their fear or frustration through barking, lunging and snapping? Check out this new episode where Kirsten unravels some of the "why" and "how" behind these maladaptive behaviors. She offers a few tips for pet parents who are working to support their dogs and reminds us to s...

28/09/2023

This might just look like a boring dog walk- but for sweet Willow it was a huge event. Walking by her new bestie, Bochi, she is learning that barking at dogs is not polite. Go Willow!

18/09/2023

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-uqpng-14aa906

Whether you just got a new puppy, or are introducing a new dog to your home and world, you will love Emma's pearls of wisdom about the significance of socialization, independence and getting support from a professional. Like usual, Emma makes a complex topic easy to understand as she offers a few im...

20/08/2023

Charlie would like to remind everyone that naps are part of his enrichment plan. Having a new baby Aussie sister is tiring.

30/06/2023

https://dogchats.podbean.com/e/episode-13-alpha-dog-what-does-this-really-mean/
Check out our latest episode- Alpha Dog- What Does This Really Mean?
In this episode, Emma and Kirsten share their thoughts on the current research that defines the social systems of dogs. The amazing matrix of status, communication and relationships that are a part of our dogs' social environments is beautiful and complex. Let's unpack some of the misunderstood research about pack theory and dominance so we can examine our own relationships with our dogs in a meaningful way.

In this episode, Emma and Kirsten share their thoughts on the current research that defines the social systems of dogs. The amazing matrix of status, communication and relationships that are a part of our dogs' social environments is beautiful and complex. Let's unpack some of the misunderstood rese...

20/06/2023

Kaden the English Pointer pup is an extraordinary young dog. So grateful to be working with him and his awesome dad.

01/06/2023

So proud of XiaoBaoZi for his amazing performance of Relax on the Mat with dogs running nearby. His human’s have worked so hard to see the world from his perspective and it is paying off.

31/05/2023

I love how Karios’ humans set him@up for success and recognize him for the amazing dog that he is. Feeling blessed to work with folks who believe in supporting their dog and managing people.

24/05/2023

Check out our new episode on the many benefits of fostering dogs: an interview with Suzanne Gollin from Marin Humane

Suzanne Gollin, the Foster Care Coordinator at Marin Humane, has been working to connect animals in need with loving foster families for 23 years. Have you ever considered fostering a pet? In this episode, we walk you through the joyful process of fostering and hope to inspire some of you to bring a...

23/04/2023

https://dogchats.podbean.com/e/episode-11-do-you-speak-dog/

Analyzing dog body language brings us so much closer to understanding how our dogs are thinking and feeling. In this episode your hosts share their insights into how dogs communicate with humans and with other dogs. Having this knowledge gives you a chance to empathize and communicate better with yo...

23/04/2023

Super fun morning at my favorite beach with Rod Milstead Pet Photography. https://www.norcalpetphotography.com/
Want a photo of your dog in action? Rod will meet you at your favorite spot and capture beautiful images of your pup enjoying life.

16/04/2023

Amazing evening with my pups and favorite people at Chicken Ranch Beach.

23/03/2023

Join us for an interview with the brilliant animal rights caretaker, Marion Fitzgibbon. She will inspire you and warm your hearts with her stories of animal rescue and triumph in Ireland.

Emma and Kirsten had the incredible opportunity to chat with Marion Fitzgibbon, Marin Humane’s Humanitarian of the year recipient in 2008, for Episode 10. Marion is a champion of animal welfare who created and directs the Limerick Animal Welfare Sanctuary in Kilfinane, Ireland. She shares her insp...

20/02/2023

https://dogchats.podbean.com/e/episode-9-our-dogs-love-and-loss/

We love our dogs so deeply, and they bring us so much joy and happiness. But unfortunately their time here on Earth is not long enough. When they are gone, the grief is raw and the pain is real. In this episode Emma and Kirsten recall stories of their past dogs' journeys from the joy when they joine...

16/02/2023

Best book I have read in while. Highly recommend.

The best selection of dog training books, dog nutrition books, and dog competition books anywhere!

30/01/2023

Winter morning on the Russian River. All dogs should get some off leash time in nature.