Episodes
In this episode I talk about natural transitional rewards. Many may not have heard the term, but a lot of you may have used them in the training of your dog whether you realize it or not. If you want to do a real dive into the behavioral part of training, I encourage you to listen to my two episodes on conditioning - Session 73: Skinner's Four Quadrants Part One, and Session 74: Skinner's Four Quadrants Part Two. I'll talk about the conditioning baked into every day interactions with your...
Published 12/06/23
In this episode, I dive into the world of teen puppy training, and exploring the challenges and rewards of raising a well-behaved canine companion. Whether you're a new or experienced dog owner, join me as I discuss some tactics for a successful training journey. The Teenage Phase of Puppy Training During the teenage phase of puppy training, expect your dog to undergo significant changes in behavior and temperament. This phase usually occurs around 4 to 8 months of age and can be...
Published 06/30/23
In this episode, I talk about using a modified version of the approach I talked about in session 115 so that you can train a puppy. Just like you'd teach your children differently than you would teach them as an adult, there are incremental parts of the process that apply differently to a puppy. As I mentioned with adult dogs, this is fundamental training that is typically one of the first lessons I teach in person. To review the session for adult dogs, check out session 115 here. The...
Published 03/15/23
We're going to go through a protocol to help train your dog (over 7 months old) to stop jumping on you or others. I'll address the two key scenarios that come up regarding jumping. One scenario, where you live alone and they jump on you. And then another scenario where someone else comes up to visit and your dog jumps on them because they're excited to see them!  I'll provide some setup for those of you who may be new to the podcast; the goal is to help you understand the step-by-step...
Published 01/27/23
Session 113 covered some training goals to teach a dog to stop certain behaviors, specifically barking and "counter conditioning".  I was surprised to find that Session 113 brought on a record amount of feedback! I got a lot of positive response, but some criticism as well. In this episode I respond to some of that, including a letter from someone who suggested that they were a trainer, and took issue with some of the content in session 113. I wasn't sure where in the show they heard it,...
Published 12/27/22
In this episode I'll cover some training goals to teach a dog to stop doing something. Barking is one of the key areas of focus, as well as a discussion on "counter conditioning". Some may ask if they should do the "lab oriented" counter conditioning or another technique. My approach involves assessing where your dog is on a spectrum, and I'll explain the range. It can also be useful to determine for other areas of training. Some may be driven by a defensive approach, a territorial approach,...
Published 11/16/22
In today's episode I'll go over some mistakes some people make in food treat training and how to avoid making your dog hyper when using food in training. I don't typically use food as my standard training method (which you've probably learned if you've listened to my podcast for a while). There are instances where it is helpful, and there are very different methods depending upon your dogs age, personality, and upbringing, etc. I'll talk about instances where I use food for training and...
Published 11/01/22
Today I speak with Kellee Zenk, who has a very interesting origins that led her to dog training. She's the founder of Dogs Decoded, based in Minnesota. Kellee has a background in training bears and elephants! We discuss how she got started in that area and how it led to where she is today. Kellee got her start at private zoos in Minnesota and loved training bears and really enjoyed marker and clicker training. She talks about some early mistakes and talks about the full range of...
Published 06/15/22
On this episode I introduce Melissa Stagnaro, the Vice President of American Retteungshunde Sport Association. With the long name, it is commonly nicknamed "RH".  They are an organization that does "sport" search and rescue.  This is a great sport for your dog that is incredibly unique, and focuses on some pretty high-level activities for fun and exercise. We talk about the origins. FCI, (which is the International Dog Federation) partnered up with a newly formed group called the...
Published 05/23/22
Sean McDaniel talks with Elaine Rosen of Dog Lodge. She's also the host of the Dog Lodge Radio podcast.  Dog Lodge is a non-profit, senior dog home and hospice care facility that focuses on providing permanent homes to dog whose futures are particularly bleak. The expense and work involved is intense; Elaine talks about intake criteria, medical care needs, ongoing costs, and more. To learn more, to reach out for help, or contribute to the organization, you can visit their website...
Published 10/31/21
On this episode, I sit down with Brad Bevill, an incredibly talented dog behavior expert. Brad's focus for dogs is teaching them to be in a follower mindset and balanced emotionally. His focus for people is teaching them to be fair and consistent leaders for their dogs and to teach them how to fulfill their dog's lives more profoundly. Brad and I talk about how he discovered this passion and his mission since 2013. Brad owns Bevill Dog Behavior with his wife in Dallas, Texas.
Published 10/15/21
Andi Brown is the author of The Whole Pet Diet, a book on dog and cat nutrition. Andi shares a story of her own cat who had a host of health issues. She felt she had no options until she met a friend whose focus was nutrition and natural health. After some exploration she and her friend changed the way they thought about diet as a part of their pets' overall health. You can find more information at TheWholePetDiet.com. 
Published 09/28/21
Sean interviews Dr. Gary Richter, a veterinarian from Oakland, CA. He's a designer of pet nutritional products and has interesting approaches to veterinary medicine and dog and cat nutrition. His book, The Ultimate Pet Health Guide, was written to focus on the health benefits of fresh, whole food nutrition, but as he wrote it evolved into some of the common health challenges that he sees with pets at his practice. His website at DrGaryRichter.com For complete show notes, visit thedogsway.com
Published 09/17/21
Michael Wombacher has just realeased an incredibly illustrated book that's just been released; I sat down to discuss it with him! Making a photo rich book that used the images as so much of the story was something he really wanted to do. We talk about the intense challenges that come with it, and go in depth about what "integrated dog training" means, and how it covers obedience training (not necessarily puppies). It's an incredible interview and body of work. It's absolutely worth...
Published 08/25/21
Jen Sotolongo joins us on this episode to talk about her Adventure Dog Camps! What they're about, how she got started, and more. Sean and Jen discuss things that many don't realize are essential for a dog to learn prior to going on an adventure. Her mission is for everyone to experience the joy of taking their dogs on adventures. This is for all skill levels and a camp retreat is coming soon! To book a spot September 19-22 in the Central Oregon area go to ...
Published 08/09/21
Mike has trained dogs for over 25 years, including dogs of celebrities, and is an author and lecturer. We discuss how he got started in the dog training business and what methods of training inspired him to explore more in the business.  We talk about some key factors for people who are trying to find a good trainer. What to ask, what to look for, etc., and how social media has changed how trainers approach critical training scenarios. We talk about recent belief in "purely positive" methods.
Published 06/30/21
Dr. Lori Cesario is a leader in the field of veterinary oncology. It's packed full of useful tools - case studies for specific breeds, where to find the best solutions and preventative steps you can take to keep your dog's risk of getting cancer low. Lori also talks about steps to take to gain a better understanding of some of the characteristics that contribute to cancer.  The resource page she mentioned about breeds in the episode is located at https://www.caninecanceracademy.com/breeds
Published 03/15/21
We have a new conversation with Eric Letendre, a trainer based in the Massachusetts area. Last time I spoke to Eric he'd published his first book, The Deadly Dog Training Myth. There is so much conversation about remote training collars, but specifically a lot of misunderstandings about what they are for and what they can do. We discuss the mistakes people make when choosing a collar. We talk about "lesser"/"cheaper" collar types and owners' basic use methods.
Published 01/02/21
On our 100th episode I give a consolidated answer to a question that comes up a lot. When and why I use food as a trainer (or choose not to), and when and why I do or don't use corrections or dog collars. It's time we dive in on this subject. For every trainer there is a different opinion. And it's easy to take one particular past podcast episode and think that I either am or am not a "food treat" trainer based on the topic at hand. Different situations dictate those circumstances and I...
Published 11/15/20
On this episode I talk to Brooke Mihajlovich, a dog trainer in Washington state. Brooke focuses on remote training collars to help with training without a leash.  Her primary focus is to give them tools to create a relationship bond that creates very positive results for both the pet and the owner. We get into spatial awareness, loose leash training, and electronic collar training. I hope that you enjoy, and if you have more questions for Brooke, You can reach her at K9CommunityMovement.com.
Published 09/19/20
In this episode I speak to Dr. Lori Cesario, a board certified veterinary oncologist. We discuss her passion about being a vet as a child and an influence that brought her to specialize in that field. Lori talks about some early detection techniques, newer testing procedures, specific breed related risks, learning about the normal baseline for your dog's health, and her new podcast called Your Dog Wants You To Know This! Visit her site at CanineCancerAcademy.com.
Published 09/10/20
On today's episode I talk with the folks of Good Dog, Inc. We talk about why the company was founded, and what the company mission is today. I'll talk with Cat Matloub, the Head of Partnerships and Community Legal Affairs, about the overall mission of the project and what their focus is to date. Dr. Stella is the Head of Health, Standards, and Research, and joins us as well to talk about how they handle healthcare treatment, socialization, and standards for their listed breeders.
Published 08/28/20
In today's episode I sit down with Ian Grant, a fellow dog trainer with Vermont Dog Training. Ian also has a podcast called Vermont Dog Trainer Show.  Ian has an interesting history of professional golf before becoming a trainer. He shares his story of following Cesar Millan's shows with the sound off to get a better feel for the body language between a trainer and the dog. I also talk about the official release of our referral program, mini episodes that you can participate in and much more!
Published 06/30/20
Today is the first episode of one of the interviews that were originally put on hold because of the shelter-in-place orders. I sat down with Ruth Elliott and talked about a very unique type of training. Ruth is based in Australia and is a greyhound specialist and owner of Formal Dogs. She trains and escorts people's dogs to attend their owner's weddings! This is the first I've heard of this and think you'll appreciate her story and methods as a trainer. Visit formaldogs.com.au to learn more...
Published 06/03/20