In this episode, we discuss the importance of motivation in dog training. Motivation is the most important aspect when training any dog and, sadly, the most neglected. In the sports dog world, the importance of creating the right motivation is understood and used well, but it is ignored in many other areas of dog training. We discuss the two different types of motivation that matter. The motivation to do or have and the motivation to avoid. Both are equally important, and any effective dog...

In this episode, we discuss emotions in dogs. We explore the limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for emotions in all mammals. I briefly overview the Blue-Ribbon emotions and how and why this matters when working with dogs. The information in this episode is largely based on Affective Neuroscience by Jaak Panksepp. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for additional content and a list of episode references. Buy Ralf's book If Your Dog Could Talk - Understand Your Dog Like Never Before...

In this episode, we discuss how the industry of dog training is failing dog owners. Too much ideology gets in the way of helping people live more harmoniously with their dogs. We touch on the current state of affairs, the problems this creates for dog owners, training tool bans, and where all of this can lead. We'll close with a domestic example of where we are heading and some international examples that went too far. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for additional content and a list of...

In this episode, we discuss if you should train your dog. This may seem like a silly question at first, but it's actually not. If your dog has behavioral issues, yes, hire a trainer. If you have specific requirements for camping, off-leash hiking, wanting to participate in a dog sport, or joining a therapy dog team, you should hire a trainer. But what if your dog is a nice boy or girl, doesn't have any issues, and just hangs out with you anyways? Sometimes training is optional and sometimes...

In this episode, we discuss dog walking. Dogs love walking, but they naturally would travel up to twenty miles daily if left to their own devices, while humans cover ten miles at best. Dogs naturally travel about four miles an hour, and humans about two miles an hour. People feel a social connection at maybe six to eight feet apart, but dogs still feel connected at 50-100 yards apart. The only disagreement between you and your dog is about the walking speed and what should happen during the...

This episode discusses the risks and benefits of spaying and neutering dogs. Studies have shown that we need to make some changes. It is often advocated to sterilize dogs to protect them from cancer. However, it turns out the opposite is true. A study published at UC Davis in 2013, titled Long-Term Health Effects of Neutering Dogs: Comparison of Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers found that sterilization of Golden Retrievers before six months of age increases their risk of joint...

In this episode, we discuss eleven dog myths that keep persisting despite them being false. This includes dog myths around veterinary procedures, food, training, play, emotions, intelligence, and more. Myth: Don't take your dog for walks before its shots are complete. Myth: Feeding raw food is dangerous. Myth: Letting your dog win during tug-of-war will make it more aggressive. Myth: Don't let your dog walk ahead. Myth: Transition to different dog food slowly. Myth: Old dogs can't...

In this episode, we discuss why clarity matters for dogs. Clarity matters in communicating with your dog, training your dog, and living with your dog harmoniously. Family dogs do best when they understand how everything in the home functions, how each family member interacts with them, and what each family member accepts and doesn’t accept in their interactions. Not much enrages the temperaments of dog trainers more than arguing about the true nature of dogs. One would think that we had...

In this episode, we discuss leash aggression in dogs. Most dog owners use this term if their dog loses their mind at other dogs, people, cars, bikes, or whatever, when on a leash. Off-leash the dog may even be fine. Just on a leash, it acts like a lunatic. And there is, of course, the close relative of this term, leash-reactivity. Both are used interchangeably, so to explain this behavior, I will stick with leash aggression as it is probably more commonly used. But what does leash...

In this episode, we discuss dog misbehavior. That generally means any behavior by your dog you don't care for. But much of what is called dog misbehavior is rooted in genetic frustration. Most misbehavior is not that but simply a normal—and perfectly fine—behavior expressed in an inappropriate context. If a frustrated herding dog that lives in a backyard and gets a walk here and there chases squirrels or rabbits in his yard, no one cares. However, people start caring rather quickly if it...

In this episode, we discuss food aggression in dogs. When I was a less experienced trainer, I thought this was an issue of poor pack hierarchy in the home. I know many dog trainers continue to believe this. Today I know better. I wasn’t completely wrong back then; my knowledge was just incomplete. Food aggression in dogs can certainly be a rank issue, but most of the time, it isn’t. We generally distinguish two types of food aggression in dogs: a genetic predisposition or a learned...

In this episode, we'll discuss the concept of punishment. This is the follow-up promised in episode nine about reinforcement. But, while reinforcement is about creating behaviors, punishment is about controlling and stopping behaviors. Punishment hardly sounds good and evokes all kinds of emotions. Instead of piling on, we keep it factual to clear up misconceptions. Understand how punishment is inevitable, and you are probably doing it right now and are just calling it something else. We...

In this episode, we discuss veterinary care. Understand what to look for from veterinarians and how to manage and prepare for emergency veterinary expenses. Learn how pet insurance and services like Care Credit can help you when you need it the most. We also discuss different types of veterinarians, including holistic vets and board-certified veterinarians. The differences for spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations, pest and parasite control, and rattlesnake bite treatment. Visit the Podcast...

In this episode, we discuss the flaws of many scientific dog studies. Instead of peer-reviewed, validated, solid scientific studies, we deal with far too many manipulated, unverifiable 'studies' that are meaningless at best and misleading or manipulated at worst. We discuss how science is supposed (and used) to work. Learn why studies based on surveys and questionnaires are mostly useless. Understand how results are often manipulated to produce a desired, pre-determined outcome instead of...

In this episode, we discuss what goes into creating reliability in dogs during training. We review the stages of learning: acquisition, fluency, generalization, discrimination, and maintenance. We review which aspects of learning science come into play during the process and how dog training tools factor into the equation. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for additional content and a list of episode references. Buy Ralf's book If Your Dog Could Talk - Understand Your Dog Like Never Before...

In this episode, I discuss how we increase the confidence of dogs. We review the general principles and discuss the overall approach. We review realistic goals for a fearful dog and what limits we likely have to accept. This episode expands on episode 8, 'Fear and Anxiety in Dogs,' which focuses on explaining and understanding what your insecure or fearful dog is going through. Now we are adding details on how to help your dog become more confident. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for...

In this episode, I discuss how we handle allergies with our personal dogs. We go over why an allergy test is the best way to get started and what other options to consider when addressing your dog's allergies with the help of your veterinarian. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for additional content and a list of episode references. Buy Ralf's book If Your Dog Could Talk - Understand Your Dog Like Never Before (5th Edition) on Amazon.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on dog food. We go over how to evaluate commercial dog foods, kibble quality, special veterinary dog foods, and alternatives, Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in dogs, my journey of feeding dogs from kibble, to cooking, to raw feeding, and why raw feeding is safe. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for additional content and a list of episode references. Buy Ralf's book If Your Dog Could Talk - Understand Your Dog Like...

In this episode, we discuss canine consent. It is the idea that dogs are sentient beings who deserve agency in their lives. According to this concept, dogs should be allowed to make their own decisions and not made to do anything they don't want to. We explore if that makes sense, or is nonsense, or if it's a good idea taken too far. The below article on canine consent sparked this conversation. Related Article: Dog Consent: Yes, It’s Real, Here’s Why We Should Care

Every dog has a threshold at which it fails to perform. There is always a breaking point. That can mean distractions become too intense for a dog to follow obedience commands still. It can be that a fearful dog is getting too stressed and shuts down or blows up. It can be that an aggressive dog acts upon its triggers. When the stress is too high, the dog fails. Stress has multiple layers. For example, a dog not feeling well can react toward a stimulus one way, although it would handle...

In this episode, we'll discuss reinforcement. There are a lot of misconceptions all over the internet, YouTube, etc., about reinforcement. Especially positive reinforcement is advocated as the singularly required approach for everything around dogs. Instead of adding to the opinion pile, I want to provide some context on the complexity of reinforcement and discuss some of the fundamentals at are often ignored. Reinforcement is essential, but it is important to understand where it fits and...

We work with many dogs with varying degrees of anxiety. For example, my favorite breed, the German Shepherd Dog, is supposed to be naturally unshockable. This is based on the breed standard and origination. However, I work with many German Shepherd Dogs because they are fearful in some way. But fear isn't just rampant in German Shepherd Dogs. This affects all dog breeds in the United States. I recently worked with a Belgian Malinois who bit people coming to the home out of fear. This is...

Play-based dog training is the most effective form of dog training there is. Because it speaks to the fundamental nature of dogs. Canines refine their innate hunting skills through rough-and-tumble play with their littermates. References for Play-Based Training Training without Conflict: Chase & Catch 2.0 Training without Conflict: The Possession Games Training without Conflict: Teaching The OUT Command Jay Jack's Lecture: TUG: A Deeper Perspective Related Articles: Play is the...

Hiring a dog trainer can be a daunting task. You are confronted with many certifications you have never heard of and have no idea what they mean. You can search online but are those ratings meaningful? Are their reviews genuine? It can be hard to know what to look for. And then, all kinds of groups and well-meaning people have lots of opinions on what you should do. None of that makes it easier. This episode provides you with an overview of what to consider when hiring a dog trainer ...

Potty training your dog teaches it not to soil the home. It is often the first challenge dog owners face. Depending on your approach, you either have a good time with your dog during this phase or live through a peeing and pooping nightmare. Potty training a dog is not rocket science. It does, however, require consistency and commitment. If you bring a new dog—puppy or adult—into your home, let it run loose, and it soils the place; it’s not our dog’s fault, it’s ours. Any dog needs to learn...