REPLAY: Smarter Training & Trusty Reinforcement with Kathy Sdao

This week, Emily and Libby speak with Kathy Sdao of Bright Spot Dog Training. Sdao’s accessible training technique to help our dogs fit into our human world, and this conversation is lively and full of both science and heart; evidence and experience. Some topics discussed are: How to take training out of the science theory realm into the practical, accessible world of humans training their dog Helping resolve dogs anxiety by using reinforcers How her work with Marine mammals influences her training approach Human praise as payment - does it work or not? How the Smart x 50 technique can be adapted to a shelter environment Kathy has been passionate about animal training ever since she quit a good job to move halfway around the world to train dolphins at the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory at the University of Hawaii. Now, 35 years later, she offers her expertise as an applied animal behaviorist to dog owners in Washington State and across the world , to seminar and webinar audiences and to professional training organizations . Kathy has taught 300 seminars, workshops, conferences and webinars; many of these presentations have been professionally recorded and are available for purchase . Kathy’s training philosophy and advice is summarized in her book , Plenty in Life is Free: Reflections on Dogs, Training and Finding Grace . For transcripts, visit

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REPLAY: Smarter Training & Trusty Reinforcement with Kathy Sdao is an episode from POD to the Rescue by Summit Dog Rescue.

This episode is 01:14:47 long.

This episode was published on Aug 14, 2025.

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