Off Leash And Unfiltered: The Truth In Dog Training

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I love this episode, guys. I'm talking about all the amazing things you can do for you and your dog through training. This might be as simple as teaching sit or it might be using sit as a way to help your dog overcome fear or it might be as in depth as using e-collar skills to help your dog avert their gaze from a trigger that makes them uncomfortable.

This is the whole reason that we keep some dogs longer. Some dogs need more state of mind work, and this...

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We are talking about the physical feedback necessary to actually maintain the control end of the leash. We see folks relinquish control to the dog all the time for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes we tend to treat certain moments like they are unimportant because they are brief in nature (like walking to the car) but the fact is ALL moments are important, and all moments are learning moments. 

But at the core, I think it's really unnatural for people to communicate physically because as humans we primarily communicate v...

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Okay. This is the most common question, at least after "when can we take the e-collar off?"  Neither question has a straight answer, either. But I think the most succinct response is you can take it off when you can take it off (might be never) and the right level is the one that works (in most cases).

Most people don't realize that we can use our e-collars (aka big, scary shock collars) in a variety of ways. We have 100 levels, and I cannot feel it until it's on a level 12. I...

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Here is a list of 5 rather random things that I hear people say they are doing VERY frequently. And they are things I wouldn't recommend. These things are usually not helpful and often even make things much worse. 

5- Tethering your puppy or dog to you all day

This is supposed to strengthen your bond and "reduce freedom" but really it helps create a needy dog with potential separation issues. It also allows you to actually mentally check out.

4-Letting dogs sort things out themselves

Y...

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Puppies! We've been talking about them a lot lately. One thing I hear over and over again is people justifying behavior as "puppy" behavior. And although there might be some truth to that in a way, the dangerous part of that is attached to that statement, logically, would be that once the puppy isn't a puppy anymore the behavior goes away naturally. And THAT couldn't be farther from the truth in most cases.

Puppies exhibit everything that comes naturally (as will adult dogs except they usually have some learning under their...

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Food! Most dogs love it. But some dogs couldn't care less about it. Some dogs are too reactive or too nervous to take it. So what do we do to motivate our dogs with food if they aren't the most food motivated? 

There are ways to make food more desirable. One of which is to use it when the dog is hungry. This might mean training before a meal or it might mean skipping a meal or reducing meal size for a few days. It might mean using higher value food a...

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I hear it all—the—time! You should never punish a growl because that's how dogs communicate they are uncomfortable. This argument is complete nonsense, and in this episode I break down why and what we have seen with the hundreds of dogs we have addressed growling with.

By putting more emphasis on why something is happening than on how to change what is happening, people stay stuck. The whole 'root cause' argument is generally not helpful and sends people down a rabbit hole that goes nowhere. 

Dogs do lots...

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Everybody wants results, naturally. Does this training really get results? I'm talking with Joyce today about her journey through training her own dogs. We met when she needed help with her reactive labs. And now that she works here she gets to help clients through all of the trials and tribulations on the way to the finish line. And she's living proof that it's worth it!

We also chat about some of the hardest parts of the training ranging from changing habits to overcoming emotional obstacles. This might be learning not...

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Today we are breaking down exactly what we recommend you do when your dog goes home after a board and train. It's a lot of information covered at the go home lesson, and you're not going to absorb it all. For that reason, we do send you home with a go home packet and respond as promptly as possible to texts and emails.

But we thought it would be a good idea to have this very detailed breakdown in the form of a podcast so folks can have another reference that  r...

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If you adopt a dog from a shelter you don't know for sure what you are going to get. In this case the person ended up with an intense and drivey dog with clear hunting instincts. These were getting in the way of them ever having positive interactions and affecting their ability to bond and live life.

The human is covered in bruises and is at a loss as to what to do. She can't kennel the dog because it is too vocal. She doesn't dare to sleep because if she...

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A lot of folks get stuck in training "lessons" with their dog and they never graduate to just having a trained dog that can do the stuff in real life. 

There are a few reasons for that. The biggest thing is you can't ask your dog to do things in real life and expect that to be easy until A-they've practiced and know it and B-there is real accountability for not doing what is expected.

If either of those components aren't there it will be too messy to hold t...

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Dogs don't live that long. How many years do you want to struggle or have to manage your dog just to avoid a correction that is typically a split second? That's what people do, though. And there's a reason. It's all the bologna that is out there on the internet.

That's why people are better at building behaviors (which is much more difficult) than stopping behaviors (which is SIMPLE). Why is it everyone I meet needs help with stopping behaviors when that is the EASY part of training? 

People w...

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These are things we do with client dogs right off the bat. Sometimes we forget that it's not just about teaching your dog words or commands. It's about behavior. It's about teaching your dog how to slow down, how to process, how to prioritize you, how to resist impulses, even if those impulses are out of fear, nervousness, anxiety, or extreme over stimulation.

All dogs learn automatic kennel manners (going in and out-kennel drills)

All dogs learn the non-verbal sit (and rehearse it in busy environments)-MY FAV!

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So common! Dogs are all individuals! But also, as a culture we seem to think that "normal" dogs like playing with other dogs. Nope. They often don't. And If yours falls into that camp and they are forced to play with other dogs, how do you think that will turn out? 

If that is the case you have to recognize that your dog might not actually be the problem. No level of training will ever fix the OTHER dogs and it will probably never change your dog's personality w...

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"When can we take off the e-collar?" This is our favorite question. NOT! It is actually a very good question. And the answer is simple for most dog owners, especially since they aren't dog trainers—you can take it off when you don't want your dog to listen.

Can you teach your dog to listen and behave all the time regardless of whether or not the ecollar is on? Sure. But most people aren't going to have the skill or follow the instructions carefully enough to achieve that. You absolutely can, th...

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I see it all the time. People are trying. The dog owners I meet are often trying very hard and are very committed. But! They are making a huge mistake. The mistake is that they believe they are holding their dog accountable for their behavior, but they are missing the things that truly need to be addressed because they are more subtle.

By the time they are trying to hold their dog accountable, the dog is all ready off the rails and burning in a ditch. This might be as simple...

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It is hard to argue that the process used should not be the one that gets the best results, yet here we are. In dog training today there is an immensely flawed philosophy that is fiercely promulgated by dog trainers and even "professional organizations" that are looked up to by the average pet owner, and many professionals in the field, today.

The result is that people are brain washed before they have even sat down to think about it. They already believe that aversives in dog training is bad. They already...

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Punishing a dog's behavior is already a controversial topic. Not that it should be. Punishment is literally, by definition, the only way to eliminate behaviors. But what is even more controversial, and shrouded in mystery because nobody wants to talk about it, is punishing a puppy's bad behaviors.

The truth is we have a different set of rules we go by when it comes to puppies (which we are defining as dogs under 6 months of age). 

So I'm going to dive into what we correct and how we correct i...

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So many of the things that we do with other humans are counter productive with our dogs. While many of the basic principles are shared, we tend to use language in a way that our dogs don't really understand and we also humanize them, applying what we THINK or what we FEEL as though it's the same for our dogs. But it's not!

I am giving very specific examples of things that can really help propel your dog training into the next level and get traction where you never could before...

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Sometimes we get dogs that are "good" most of the time but can exhibit some untoward behavior in certain contexts. For instance, the message that prompted this topic was from someone whose dog will growl/snap if someone pets them while they are on their place bed.

There are several things we should be doing to both make our dog as safe as possible and get them making better choices. I include several things we can do to ensure our dog is inclined to be the best version of themselves and...

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Prong collars get an undeserved bad rap—mainly because they look scary. Sometimes they are even referred to as spike collars and there are misleading and false photos out there showing grotesque wounds on dogs' necks, but they aren't designed to work by poking, pricking, or God forbid, injuring your dog.

They are designed to amplify the sensation of pressure, evenly all the way around the neck instead of concentrating it on the trachea and reduce interference with breathing or tracheal irritation. Prong collars don't choke dogs as they are raised of...

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A lot of people will talk like the clicker is magic. It's not. And this is coming from someone that loves the clicker. All the clicker does is link your dog's behavior to a reward.  And that's the thing that is magic. It's not that it's a clicker, per se, it's what you do with it. You can use a clicker very ineffectively, too.

Understanding what a marker is, how to use it, and what exactly your sequence should be will improve your results with your dog immensely. You can potentially c...

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We spend 2-3 weeks with most dogs. We spend 2-3 hours with you. It isn't fair to think you will be confident after just a few hours with us. You need to go out into the real world and do stuff. Seeing is believing! 

But we have found that there are 5 specific things that really get in the way of results carrying over to the owners  themselves. Those things are:

* The owners not getting the proper training. So we meet a lot of folks that did e-collar training elsewhere an...

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This is such an important behavior to teach. Not only can it be a safety issue if you can't teach your dog to stay, but it also helps your dog learn to be calmer, more relaxed, accepting, and more focused. 

It surprises people that the dogs we train all learn to stay yet we never even say the word 'stay'. This is called the implied stay, and it's beneficial in many ways. Believe it or not, it's actually much easier for your dog to learn as they have to make fewer d...

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This is such a grave topic. I never like getting calls like this, but I'm so, so glad when I get the chance to have a conversation with anybody who is in a situation like this because I know how stressful and sad and alarming and scary it is. And I know how hard it is to know what to do or what to expect.

Dogs and babies don't mix! And it is so common to have issues blending the two into the family. But when something like this happens and...

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One of the most irritating comments I see from other dog trainers are around "suppression". That's because when you punish or correct your dog's behavior, that is suppression by definition. Suppression is putting a stop to something. 

So in reality if you stop any behavior from being displayed that is suppression. Does suppression mean that the behavior will regenerate or resurface? No. Does it mean that it won't? No. 

Behavior is moving all the time!  But knowing how to stop it is crucial to having a well behaved and saf...

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The narrative on the internet, and pretty much everywhere, is that you should never make your dog uncomfortable. If you glance at FB you'll find endless arguments and accusations. The common theme is that aversives are never necessary. Pain, fear, discomfort are all bad and trainers that incorporate any of that into their training are also bad.  

Those trainers are also made to sound as though that's all they use. This has put those trainers in a position where many of them are publicly caving to the idea that punishment is b...

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Do you have an excitable dog that hangs up the phone? Or a nervous dog? All the information out there seems to say that during the training process you should keep your dog under threshold. Threshold refers to the point at which your dog starts to boil over and make the decisions that you are working hard to change. 

Keeping dogs under threshold may sound great, but unfortunately the real world will often throw a monkey wrench in that plan. Also, is it actually a great idea to keep your dog u...

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I'm a firm believer that heeling your dog can heal your dog. Whatever ails them, heel can help. No, it won't "fix" all the behavioral issues, but we definitely use it as leverage to help with reactivity, anxiety, nervousness, and anything else you can think of. 

It can be quite meditative and help dogs really relax in a way that they never can when they are helpless to control arousal and impulses. 

It also is an amazing way to deepen your bond with your dog and improve your relationship. Ma...

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There's one in every family! That's not always true..but a fair percentage of people struggle with properly disciplining their dog, and this often results in dogs being unruly, needy, anxious, not listening, or demanding, even to the point of aggression. Being too soft can create a spoiled pooch! 

We are going to talk about 5 things you can start doing to try to break out of that softy mindset and cultivate a little more respect. Do one thing at a time, and I bet you start to notice some differences. 

...

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Dogs jump. Why? Why, why, why? It's sooo frustrating, right? It might be the most common complaint we hear. Ironically it is also one of the easiest behaviors to stop. I know people are struggling with this. I know owners are trying "everything" and spending months or even years managing their dog (or worse yet paying trainers who don't know how to stop it or won't be honest about how to stop it) when we could stop this behavior in a few minutes. 

So, if you're into seeing real change real f...

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This is probably the number one issue we see with the dogs that come to us for training. Almost everybody is dealing with this to some degree or another. Some dogs get mildly excited by other dogs while some are extremely over stimulated and some look like Cujo at the end of the leash, and we strongly suspect they may kill another dog if they were able to get to it. 

The thing is, all of these scenarios can result in less than enjoyable walks and impede your ability to take y...

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We see different dogs everyday, and so we have witnessed a lot, but it seems like every day we still continue to encounter new and strange behaviors. I often get questions that start with "why does my dog.."  And who knows!  Dogs are just weird!

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So many dog owners struggle with dogs that don't do well at the vet's office or at the groomer's. These are some of the most challenging environments, and it isn't usually an easy fix. But these tips can get you on the way to building something new with your dog and helping them (and you)  be calmer and more confident. 

We talk about arousal (excitement) playing a role in all the stuff your dog does in these places. Whether it is just jumping up and not listening or it...

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What can you do to help avoid creating a needy, anxious dog? This episode covers the most impactful ways you can alter your routine, your environment, and your relationship to help your dog become the most stable and balanced version of themselves. 

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Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers. 

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you wa...

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Everybody has an opinion on what you should and shouldn't do with your dog, and how you build a "good" relationship with them. But the problem is they don't take into account each dog's specific personality. Also.. most of it is just plain made up garbage with the claimed benefits having no basis in reality. This is because they are missing the thing that actually matters the most, which is YOU get to decide what the rules and boundaries are with your dog.  

Most sources will tell you t...

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Dogs guard resources. This is a normal behavior. People often think of their dog as either aggressive or not aggressive as if  they can only be one or the other, but any dog can exhibit aggressive behaviors, even if they never have before.  

There is a  lot of advice out there on how to prevent resource guarding, and most of it is just blather, so we are going to parse through that and determine how much value there is doing these things with your dog or puppy and I'l...

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Coming back when called is one of the most important things you can teach your dog. It could save their life! But even people with a well trained dog can find themselves in  a situation where their dog suddenly starts blowing off their recall. So why does that happen? How do you avoid it? And how do you fix it?

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Su...

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Purely positive  training cannot eliminate reactivity in most cases. Rescues usually can't either because they usually only offer purely positive services. And your dog isn't eligible for them because they are too reactive...so there's that. Often times reactivity and aggression are even covered up so that the dog can be adopted out easier.  Lies, lies, and more lies. Their solution? Just draw the curtains.

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