Episodes

In this episode of Backyard Pet Talk with Shannon Riley, Shannon welcomes longtime colleague, canine behavior consultant, and author Judy Moore to talk about her passion for helping dogs—and the ideas behind her brand-new book, A Space Between Dogs. Shannon and Judy dive into the importance of giving dogs space, moving at their pace, and creating thoughtful, controlled interactions rather than forcing encounters. They discuss neutrality, resilience, triggers, and why distance can be one of the m...

Join Shannon Riley as she sits down with renowned positive reinforcement trainer Terry Ryan, founder of Legacy Canine Behavior & Training and pioneer of the famous Chicken Camp workshops. Terry shares her journey from training an energetic German Shepherd in the 1960s to becoming a leader in force free dog training, authoring multiple books, and helping trainers around the world sharpen their skills through chicken training. Together, Shannon and Terry discuss the evolution of dog training, the ...

In this episode of Backyard Pet Talk, Shannon Riley interviews Michael Shikashio, an aggressive dog expert and founder of aggressivedog.com. Michael shares his journey from working in other industries to becoming a dog trainer after fostering dogs with behavioral challenges. He highlights how aggression in dogs is often a result of fear or discomfort, and stresses the importance of using positive reinforcement over aversive techniques. Michael discusses the role of culture in dog behavior, the s...

In this episode of Backyard Pet Talk, Shannon Riley sits down with legendary animal behaviorist, author, and speaker Patricia McConnell to talk about her very first work of fiction, Away to Me. After decades of helping people understand dogs through science and compassion, Patricia shares what led her to write a novel—and how a lifetime of real-life dog behavior shaped the story. Set against the backdrop of rural Wisconsin, Away to Me weaves together dogs, loss, resilience, and truth, with canin...

In this episode of Backyard Pet Talk, host Shannon Riley welcomes veterinarian, author, and animal welfare advocate Dr. Nancy Kay. Dr. Kay shares her lifelong passion for animals, her more than 40-year career in veterinary medicine, and her path into writing and animal welfare advocacy. The conversation explores her influential books, Speaking for Spot and her newest release, A Dog Named 647, along with her early blogging days. Shannon and Dr. Kay discuss the importance of giving animals a voice...

In this episode of Backyard Pet Talk, host Shannon Riley welcomes back canine behaviorist, dog trainer, and author Karen London to discuss her newest book, My Dog’s Mystery Adventures and Other Stories From a Canine Behaviorist and Dog Trainer. Karen shares insights into her background in training, behavior, and science, and explains how the book reflects all sides of her work—from canine body language and play to shelter dogs, real-life problem solving, and everyday adventures with dogs. The tw...

When compassion meets action, lives truly change — for both people and their pets. In this powerful episode, we welcome back Diane, founder of KARE (Kitsap Animal Rescue and Education), to share her incredible journey from corporate trainer to passionate dog behaviorist, rescuer, and advocate for families in crisis. Diane takes us behind the scenes of HOPE, a groundbreaking co-sheltering program in Washington State that allows individuals and families experiencing homelessness or escaping domest...

Cats may seem mysterious, but just like dogs, they’re constantly communicating. In this episode, Shannon sits down with author and illustrator Lily to talk about her book Kitty Language—a fascinating guide to feline body language, scent communication, and the subtle ways cats share their feelings. From the importance of recognizing fearful versus confident signals to surprising lessons about how scent can completely change the way cats interact, this conversation highlights how much our feline f...

In this episode of Backyard Pet Talk, Shannon Riley sits down with renowned animal behaviorist and author Kathy Sdao to explore one of the most fundamental—and often misunderstood—concepts in training: cues. From dolphins to dogs, Kathy shares her journey and explains how cues are more than commands—they’re invitations for communication. Whether you're a pet parent or professional trainer, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Stay curious! Connect with Kathy Sdao: https://www.kat...

How one woman turned her passion into a life-changing mission for animals and people

In this episode of Backyard Pet Talk, Shannon Riley chats with multi-talented author and paddleboarding enthusiast Scott Graham. Scott shares how he got into standup paddleboarding (SUP), why he started training his dogs to join him, and the unique steps he took to teach them safely and confidently. You'll hear about his inspiring background, his approach to dog training on the water, and his latest book all about SUP with dogs. Plus, Scott offers practical tips for anyone ready to try paddleboa...

In this episode of Backyard Pet Talk, host Shannon Riley sits down with Fernando Sandoval from State Farm to answer one of the most common questions pet owners have: Do I really need pet insurance? As veterinary costs continue to rise, more people are looking into how to protect their pets—and their wallets. Fernando breaks down how State Farm partners with Trupanion, what their pet insurance covers, and how easy it is to get started (hint: you don’t even need to be a State Farm customer!). ✅ Wh...

This week on the podcast, we’re thrilled to share a conversation that’s as heartwarming as a kitten curled up in a sunbeam. We sat down with Kat, the visionary behind a brand-new cat café that’s more than just a cute concept—it’s a bold entrepreneurial leap powered by passion, purpose, and plenty of purrs. Starting a business is never easy, and as a woman navigating the world of small business ownership, Kat brings honesty, creativity, and courage to the journey. From building a welcoming space ...

In this podcast episode of Backyard Pet Talk, host Shannon Riley welcomes Deassa Benstock, the founder of the Ripple Effect Animal Project, a dog rescue in Napa, California. Shannon and Deassa have known each other for a long time, having worked together as vet techs. Deassa shares her journey into animal rescue, which started in college when she rescued a fearful dog with many issues. This experience led her to connect with Bad Rap, an organization in Oakland, and sparked her passion for rescue...

In today's special episode, we talk with Zazie Todd, PHD, about some scientific studies; some dogs are harder to train than others, adolescent dogs have more issues than puppies, the puppy blues thing! If you would like to donate to Ripple Animal Effect Project, please use this link: https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/45e53cea-3d70-4757-a404-fabcaf9b33ed Zazie Todd, PhD, is an animal behavior expert and the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, Purr: The Science of M...

In today's special episode, we talk with Zazie Todd, PHD, about some scientific studies; some dogs are harder to train than others, adolescent dogs have more issues than puppies, the puppy blues thing! If you would like to donate to Ripple Animal Effect Project, please use this link: https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/45e53cea-3d70-4757-a404-fabcaf9b33ed Zazie Todd, PhD, is an animal behavior expert and the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, Purr: The Science of M...

In this podcast episode of Backyard Pet Talk, host Shannon Riley welcomes Deassa Benstock, the founder of the Ripple Effect Animal Project, a dog rescue in Napa, California. Shannon and Deassa have known each other for a long time, having worked together as vet techs. Deassa shares her journey into animal rescue, which started in college when she rescued a fearful dog with many issues. This experience led her to connect with Bad Rap, an organization in Oakland, and sparked her passion for rescue...

In today's paw-some episode, we’re chatting with Affordable Pet Labs about their tail-wagging journey—how they got started, why they’re on a mission to make pet wellness easier, and what every pet parent really needs to know to keep those furry friends healthy and happy! About Affordable Pet Labs: Affordable Pet Labs was founded by two passionate veterinarians with a shared vision: to revolutionize access to pet diagnostics and wellness. Frustrated by the barriers pet parents faced in obtaining ...

In today's episode, we talk with Misti Soo Hoo, RVT, instructor at Ojai School of Canine Massage about how she got started with canine massage, the benefits, fun tips on how pet owners can help their pets by doing massage at home! You can find Misti Soo Hoo here: https://ojaischoolofmassage.com/

Dr. Rachel Malamed, DVM, DACVB, CABC, tells us about how she become a Veterinary Behaviorist, what types of behavior problems she commonly sees with cats, behavior modification + medication, and cat training tips! Check out book, Decoding Your Cat https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Your-Cat-Ultimate-Behaviors/dp/0358566045 Get Cat Body Language Poster: https://trulyforcefree.com/product/understanding-body-language-poster-cat-8-5x11/ Feliway Calming Spray: https://prf.hn/l/8jmdz20

Kristina Spaulding, PHD, CAAB, tells us how stress impacts your dog's brain, behavior and welfare! When you understand and recognize stress in your dog, you will help be able to prevent and deal with problematic behavior! Check out her newly released book, "THE STRESS FACTOR IN DOGS UNLOCKING RESILIENCY AND ENHANCING WELL-BEING"

Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB tells us about how she became a veterinary behaviorist, how she got started working with GiGi's and how she has helped the shelter dogs cope! (https://gigis.org/) She also provides recommendations for shelters and those who are looking to adopt from shelters. Check out her newly released book, "Introduction to Animal Behavior and Veterinary Behavioral Medicine" recommended for beginning veterinarian students! https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Introduction+to+Animal+Behavior+a...

In todays episode, we talk with Clarissa Black, founder of Pets For Vets (https://www.petsforvets.com/), about her background and WHY + HOW she started Pets For Vets. She also tells us where you can FIND these trainers and HOW you can GET INVOLVED! At Pets For Vets they help develop the relationships between animals and veterans based on mutual trust and respect helping veterans find pets that fit their lifestyle so both can feel seen, heard and to build the superbond between pets and people whe...

In todays episode, we talk with Dr. Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, (https://drlisaradosta.com/) about how she became a behaviorist and why she loves her career! We also talk about the common behavior change trends since COVID-19 in 2020, seeing medication use increase for specific behaviors + why medication is important when working with a fearful dog.