Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

Xenia Jones - Rescue, Resilience, and Behaviour Change Across the World [Episode 68]

In this inspiring episode of the Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples podcast, host Shelly Wood sits down with Xenia Jones — Behavior Therapist at the Animal Behavior Wellness Center in Northern Virginia — for a rich conversation about rescue, resilience, and the power of science-based, compassionate behavior support. With a lifelong background rescuing dogs and cats across five countries — from her native Costa Rica, to South Florida, Spain, Taiwan, and China — Xenia shares the extraordinary experiences that shaped her trauma-informed, choice-based approach to helping both dogs and cats. She reflects on the unique challenges she witnessed in different regions, the importance of teaming up with local communities, and why understanding human culture is essential if we want to truly support animals. Xenia also opens up about her deep connection to separation anxiety, including her own childhood experience and a pivotal case in Spain that left a lasting mark. From there, she takes us through her journey into formal education and certification — including mentorship through Julie Naismith's separation anxiety program and becoming a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor under Leslie McDevitt. Together, Shelly and Xenia explore: ✅ How rescue work across cultures shaped Xenia's behavior philosophy ✅ What it was like rescuing hundreds of dogs during the COVID crisis in Wuhan ✅ Why resilience can look different depending on environment and history ✅ The reality of preparing rescue dogs for overseas adoption — medically and behaviorally ✅ What a Behavior Therapist does in a veterinary behavior clinic setting ✅ A powerful case study combining CAT (Constructional Aggression Treatment) and Control Unleashed "Super Bowls" to help a dog with severe visitor-directed reactivity ✅ Supporting not just the animal — but the family's emotional bandwidth too ✅ A training win inspired by the ATA community: teaching a dog to take medication on cue This episode is a celebration of global compassion, learning, and the quiet, steady work of helping animals feel safe again. Xenia's story is a powerful reminder that when we center choice, dignity, and science — we don't just change behavior. We change lives. Links ​​YouTube Channel  https://www.youtube.com/@unleashingpawsabilities Substack https://substack.com/@unleashingpawsabilities Animal Behavior Wellness Center https://www.abwellnesscenter.com  

Rosina's Legacy and the Power of Connection with Pipsa Toikka [Episode 67]

In this warm, reflective, and deeply human episode of the Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples podcast, we are joined by Finnish dog enthusiast and Pawsitive Wellness Coach-to-be Pipsa Toikka, whose journey into animal training began later in life - and changed everything. After raising three boys and building a career in singing, drama, and clown work, Pipsa welcomed her first-ever dog, Rosina, in 2011. A spirited Vizsla–Weimaraner mix with a strong independent streak, Rosina was both a challenge and a profound teacher. Through their years together, Pipsa learned patience, trust, recall built on reinforcement and freedom, and the subtle art of interspecies communication - lessons that would shape her philosophy for life and training. Pipsa shares her experiences training search and rescue, including working rubble searches, supporting police-led efforts, and learning to trust a dog whose need to run was as essential as her extraordinary nose. She reflects on Rosina's remarkable sensitivity to human emotion, including a powerful story that highlights dogs' capacity to perceive what we often miss. Now, alongside her younger working Labrador Musetta, Pipsa continues this legacy through search and rescue work and professional development. As she approaches graduation as a Pawsitive Wellness Coach, Pipsa discusses her growing work supporting people and dogs through a holistic, science-informed lens - addressing behaviour challenges, incorporating ACE Free Work, and centering communication, observation, and wellbeing for both ends of the leash. We also explore the importance of educating humans, shaping caregiver behaviour, and creating environments where learning and emotional safety can thrive. Beyond training, this episode weaves in Pipsa's work with Clowns Without Borders, her background in performance, and her dogs' unexpected careers as animal actors - revealing how joy, creativity, and connection ripple across every part of her life. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that training is not just about skills or outcomes, but about trust, curiosity, and the shared experience of learning - across species, cultures, and life chapters. Links pipsatoi@gmail.com 

Practicing Gratitude Inside and Outside ATA with Ryan Cartlidge, Shelly Wood & Belinda Young [Episode 66]

In this reflective and values-driven episode of the Making Ripples podcast, host Shelly Wood is joined by Animal Training Academy founder Ryan Cartlidge and companion animal trainer Belinda Young for a rich conversation about gratitude - one of ATA's core values - and the powerful role it plays in learning, community, and wellbeing. Together, Shelly, Ryan, and Belinda share personal stories, professional insights, and candid reflections on how intentional gratitude shapes the culture of Animal Training Academy and creates safer, more supportive spaces for human learners. From early morning thought loops and professional challenges to gratitude journals, team rituals, and community moderation, this conversation explores gratitude not as "toxic positivity," but as a genuine, practiced skill. Throughout the episode, we explore: ✅ Why gratitude was intentionally chosen as a core value of Animal Training Academy ✅ Gratitude as a learnable skill that strengthens resilience and self-compassion ✅ Parallels between effective animal training and supporting human learners ✅ How gratitude reinforces bravery, vulnerability, and risk-taking in learning spaces ✅ The ripple effects of modeling gratitude within and beyond ATA ✅ Why safe communities matter for growth, feedback, and lifelong learning This episode is a heartfelt exploration of what it means to practice gratitude with authenticity, and how doing so can transform not only how we train animals, but how we support people, build communities, and show up for one another. It's a reminder that when we intentionally reinforce courage, curiosity, and kindness, the ripples extend far beyond the moment.

Caroline Ritter on Horse Training, Cognitive Science, and Somatic Learning [Episode 65]

In this fascinating and thoughtful episode of the Making Ripples podcast, we welcome Caroline Ritter—a positive reinforcement horse trainer, a certified Feldenkrais teacher, and a true behavior nerd with an academic background in cognitive science. Living and working in Vienna, Austria, Caroline shares her remarkable journey, starting from a life spent with horses, dogs, and cats, to her deep dive into learning theory through dog agility and clicker training. She discusses the pivotal moment that led her to switch her horses over to positive reinforcement, not out of necessity to solve problems, but from an ethical drive to improve communication and gentleness. A key turning point in Caroline's training history was attending a behavior-focused camp where she experienced Feldenkrais for the first time. This somatic learning method, which focuses on movement and awareness, quickly became a core principle, filling a gap in how she applies positive reinforcement to her entire life—including her relationship with her own body. Together, we explore the powerful synergy between positive reinforcement and the nonjudgmental, growth-focused principles of Feldenkrais: The Power of Nonjudgmental Observation: How both R+ and Feldenkrais emphasize realizing and appreciating your own patterns and automatic responses before trying to change them. From Negative to Positive Reinforcement: Caroline's analytical process of first dissecting her traditional, negative reinforcement-based riding cues (e.g., cue, reaction, release) before successfully transitioning her horses to R+ training. Feldenkrais in Animal Training: Applying the principles of balance, axis, and shared movement to her horse groundwork and even dog training, focusing on body awareness and nuances over verbal commands. Shaping Along the Movement Cycle: A deep discussion on the incredible precision and impact of when you choose to click, even in seemingly simple behaviors like walking. The Shared Intention: Moving toward a concept of working with animals where you have a mutual target or goal that goes beyond simply performing a shared movement. Disco Cavallo & Assisted Programs: The importance of designing horse-assisted programs that center the horse's initiative to ensure the animal benefits equally, avoiding the need for the animal to require "therapy after providing the therapy". Caroline's story is an inspiring reminder that the same curiosity, openness, and dedication we bring to training our animals can—and should—be applied to ourselves, paving the way for deeper connection and learning for all participants. Links www.feldenkrais.wien hi@feldenkrais.wien www.discocavallo.com Instagram: @florafauna_feldenkrais @discocavallo Facebook: Caroline Ritter @discocavallo  

Caitlin Cohn on Cooperative Care, Consent, and Cats [Episode 64]

In this heartfelt episode of the Making Ripples podcast, we welcome the thoughtful and dedicated Caitlin Cohn - professional dog trainer, cooperative care advocate, and proud human to Elvis the Maine Coon. Caitlin shares her journey from horses to dogs to cats, and how each species has shaped her perspective on training, autonomy, and the human-animal bond. From her early experiences working at liberty with horses, to volunteering at a therapeutic riding center and training assistance dogs, Caitlin reflects on the pivotal moments that led her to positive reinforcement and force-free methods. Together, we explore: ✅ What Caitlin learned moving from natural horsemanship into clicker training ✅ How her first dog, Emma, set her on the path to professional training ✅ Lessons Elvis the cat has taught her about informed consent, autonomy, and micro-sessions ✅ Cooperative care breakthroughs, from nail trims to dental care ✅ A powerful case study: helping Elvis overcome thunderstorm anxiety through systematic desensitization and creative counterconditioning ✅ Why honoring choice and communication creates deeper, more rewarding partnerships This episode is a celebration of curiosity, compassion, and the courage to listen deeply to the animals we share our lives with. Caitlin's story is an inspiring reminder that when we train smarter - not harder - we create ripples of joy, harmony, and healing.