DOGBIZ SERIES – This episode is for all my dog trainer friends. We’ll discuss 7 keys to having a successful, long term business as a dog trainer. I’ll share with you some of the things that I’ve done to grow my business over the last ten years to give you some new things to try for yourself to have more success. In this episode 0:50 Why I’m doing dog business episodes 2:28 How I started out 5:08 Get smart 8:20 Learning the business side of things 12:20 The dangers of being a...
Many people are frustrated and angry at their dogs because they “just don’t listen.” This common problem is usually less about the dog and more about the situation we put them in. In this episode, I’ll show you your dog’s perspective and explain exactly why your dog isn’t as compliant as you like and then show you the ways you can change things and get your dog to take more direction on a regular basis. In this episode 2:11 Expecting the wrong thing 4:15 Practice matters 6:42 ...
So many people are frustrated with their dog’s behavior when the dog is just being himself. It’s not that they want to misbehave, it’s that they are just acting according to their personality characteristics. In this episode, we’ll explore how you can better understand where your dog is coming from so you can finally see your dog for who he really is and create a better world for the both of you. In this episode 1:59 My upcoming speaking engagements 4:58 The role of breed 7:00 ...
Considering they are responsible for your dogs health and wellbeing, choosing the right veterinarian is a pretty important task. Just like everything else there are good vets and bad ones. This episode will help you determine how to find the absolute best veterinarian for you and your dog so that you can feel confident that you’re getting great care that’s the right fit for you. In this episode 2:10 all vets are not equal 5:48 the most important thing to consider 10:49 the right...
This may shock a lot of people out there but I believe that having a fenced in yard increased the chances of behavior issues and I actually don’t like them for dogs if used improperly. I know that’s hard to understand, considering almost every other dog “authority” says that a fenced in yard is a plus for having a dog. Take a listen to my reasons and you just might find yourself rethinking that fenced in yard of yours. In this episode 1:32 Pointing the figure at rescues 4:42 ...
This past year I stumbled upon an incredibly effect way to make your dog listen to you more, as well as treat some serious behavioral issues. This is something that I don’t see anyone else doing or talking about but after experimenting with it on a number of dogs I’m a believer. What’s this secret weapon to helping your dog? . . . Being silly. Sounds stupid but listen in to how I’m using it and see the results I’ve gotten with both my dog and a few of my clients.
Tis the season to adopt a new dog. That’s great but let’s make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure that you’ll be together forever. Too many people give their new dog the run of the house right away and are then confused and angry when he makes some mistakes. If we do things the right way, however, we can help your new dog get adjusted to his new home and set him up to do the right thing, which will make everyone happy. In this episode 1:03 When I got my dog 3:24...
No matter how much we know or how much we try there will still always be a gap between us and our dogs. We just can’t completely communicate with them because we are two very different species. Unfortunately this can hold us back from being able to help them through some of their issues. Lucky for us there are some furry helpers available to us that can come to the rescue that can help dogs having some difficulty feel more confident but also make huge impacts in improving the situation....
There are lots of ways to help your dog when it’s sick, injured or just getting older. In the past most have been immediately treated with drugs, however now there are a number of options that can be used instead of or in conjunction with medication. Today we’ll talk about using acupuncture on dogs to help all kins of ailments. Currently I’m using acupuncture on my dog to help with a bad leg and arthritis, and I’ve invited on veterinarian and acupuncture practitioner Dr. Colette Brazer...
No one wants to think about the possibility of their furry best pal running away or getting lost, however it can happen – and it can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter how good your dog is or how careful you are accidents happen and dogs can sometimes wander. If that happens to you, it’s best to be prepared and know what steps you need to take to find your dog as quickly as possible. In the moment you’ll be panicked and probably won’t be thinking too clearly so it will be good to...
Dogs chew stuff – that’s what they do. We can’t blame them for that, they’re just being dogs. What we can do is train them to know what’s appropriate to chew on and what they need to keep their teeth off of. And that’s up to us to do. In this episode I’ll go over why your dog is being destructive and how you can steer his behavior the right way so that you’re creating good habits so that all stuff doesn’t get eaten. In this episode 1:33 Make Dogs Your Life 3:38 The results...
In this episode we’ve got another fun edition of my favorite things for you and your dog. This time we’re talking about what collars, leashes and harnesses I use and recommend. There’s a lot of confusion as to what is the best leash or harness for walking to keep your dog from pulling and safe for your dog. I’ll give you my honest opinion on what works well so you can try them out with your pooch. In this episode 1:18 Buying myself a gift 3:18 Simple and best collar 6:00 The...
Since the holiday season will be headed our way before you know it I thought I would do a few podcasts about my favorite dog products. In this first installment I discuss my favorite dog toys. You find out what my top 10 battle tested dog toys are and what kinds of dogs each toy is a good fit for. This will help you know what would be a great gift for your own dog, as well as give you some ideas for all the canines on your holiday shopping list. In this episode 1:32 Make dogs your life 3:20...
The big problem between dogs and people is that we are speaking two very different languages and neither of us is really understanding the other. As humans, we rely on verbal methods of communication, whereas our canine companions are non verbal. So we both keep talking but very little of our messages are being received as intended. Now I know your dog is smart and can make many word associations, however he’ll never learn the language of English. So it’s up to us to bridge the gap and...
In this episode I sit down with Steve Dale, the co-editor of the book Decoding Your Dog to dig through the issues that are really facing those of us living with dogs. We hit all the hot spots of dogs in this very candid interview. We’ll dive into the book and go over some great ways to make sure you and your dog can stay together happily for years to come. In this episode 2:30 Hello Steve Dale! 7:30 How pets became Steve’s focus 13:14 The good and bad of Cesar Millan 15:44 The most...
Do you know how to play with your dog? Sounds kind of silly doesn’t it? Well if you’re just letting your dog run around like a crazy dog you could be setting yourself up for some behavior problems. In this week’s podcast I’ll go over the smart way to play with your dog so that your pooch will be well mannered at playtime and other times as well. In this episode 0:57 My new website! 3:20 This is all Victoria Stilwell’s doing 5:50 How to most people play with their dog (that’s...
I’m a rescue guy so it should come as no surprise that I’m against puppy mills. They are barbaric dog factories where the animals are poorly treated and are creating unhealthy and bad mannered puppies. What I’m always most surprised at is how many people don’t understand how to identify which places are puppy mills (especially online) and how we can stop them. So invited Carol Araneo-Mayer on the show to give us the real deal on puppy mills. Carol is co-founder National Puppy Mill Day...
Do you know what it means to be a good dog parent to your dog? Have you ever really thought about it? I invited dog training superstar Victoria Stilwell on the show to help you understand what that means as well as how you can do so that you’re doing the very best for your dog. We’ll go over the consequences of doing it the wrong way and give you some simple tips to ensure you and your dog will live happily every after. In this episode 1:05 Three cheers for 4Knines.com 3:46 Victoria...
You’ve heard me go on and on about how important walking your dog is but did you know that you can use your walks as training opportunities? Oh yes – working on some training with your dog while going for a walk is a great way to get some better leash manners from your dog, increase your communication and make your stroll more of a team activity. This episode will get you set up on how to use your walks as partial training sessions, and the following 2 episodes (GDA83 and GDA84) will guide...
This is the first guided walking episodes designed to help you do some training with your dog when you’re out on a walk. If you haven’t already listened to Episode 82 you should do so first because that will explain what we’re going to do in this Walk n’ Train Trax. Once you’re ready, put in your earbuds, grab the leash and lets go! Links Wooftrax app
This is the first guided walking episodes designed to help you do some training with your dog when you’re out on a walk. If you haven’t already listened to Episode 82 you should do so first because that will explain what we’re going to do in this Walk n’ Train Trax. Once you’re ready, put in your earbuds, grab the leash and lets go! Links Wooftrax app
As football season begins once again, I can’t help but think about Michael Vick and what happened to those poor dogs in his dog fighting ring. The book The Lost Dogs tells the story of these amazing dogs and shows us not only the horrors that they endured but their loving resilience as well. It’s one of my favorite all time dogs books and in this episode I bring the author Jim Gorant on the show to give us the inside story on the Vicktory Dogs. In this episode 1:03 My mini Michael Vick...
You want a better dog. I know you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be here listening in. Everywhere you look there is information on how to go about getting your dog to behave better and there is no shortage of people offering their advice on the topic. But with so many ideas and so much to do it’s hard to know where to start and to understand what activities will be the most successful. That’s what this episode is all about. Here I’ll trim it all down to the 5 basic things that you can do...
If your dog is like most, he likes food. His food is good but your food is way better. And some dogs go to great extremes to attempt to get your meal when you’re sitting at the dinner table trying to enjoy it. This guys are annoying and embarrassing. Well, if that sounds like you help is here! I’ll talk about how to train your dog not to beg, steal or pester you when you sit down to eat your dinner. Prepare to eat in peace from this day forward. In this episode 1:30 Thanks to today’s...
Whether you’re aware of it or not, your feelings are affecting you dog. Dogs are very intuitive and masters at reading others. This fact is sometimes a blessing, however your feeling can actually be contributing to your dog’s issues and greatly limiting your ability to communicate with him. In this episode I’ll go over what this all means and show you how to use your feelings to have a positive impact on your dog’s behavior. In this episode 1:18 never look back 3:39 The contagious...
So you’ve got a good dog, but . . . He’s a bit rambunctious, likes to play rough and bite the leash like it’s a game of tug of war. This behavior seems innocent enough at first but gets old real fast and is something you need to be addressed. I’ll explain why your crazy dog does what he does and what you need to do to save your hands from bruises and your leashes intact. In this episode 0:57 Enjoy your dog today 3:40 Why dog’s are mouthy 4:13 Always think of the big picture...
There’s a lot of confusion about feeding dogs a raw diet. I’ve invited on a special guest to the show to help you discover if a raw food diet is right for you dog and how you can go about doing it. I welcome Kimberly Gauthier from Keepthetailwagging.com to the show to tell us how she made her way to feeding her dogs a raw diet and pick her brain on the benefits and concerns, as well as the best ways to feed raw. If you’ve every thought about switching over to the raw diet but haven’t...