Dog trainers Meg and Thoma tackle your most pressing canine questions in this comprehensive Q&A episode packed with practical solutions for common behavioral challenges. When it comes to getting dogs to truly settle down, they reveal why constant food rewards often backfire, creating dogs that stare intensely rather than genuinely relax. Their tethering approach offers a refreshingly different alternative to the overused "place" command, allowing dogs to find calm on their own terms without ...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 27 min
There's something magical that happens when we allow ourselves and our dogs to escape the constraints of urban living. This episode takes you along on our adventure to Yosemite and the surrounding wilderness, where unexpected encounters became transformative experiences. Our journey began dramatically when we spotted a wildfire starting on BLM land. After reporting it, we continued deeper into the wilderness, where fate led us to a private lakeside property. Instead of being turned away, we were...
Jun 13, 2025•59 min
What does 25 years of dog training experience teach you? Stephanie O'Brien, owner of Dog Genius Canine Education, takes us on a fascinating journey through her evolution as a trainer—from growing up raising guide dogs to becoming an expert in protection sports. Stephanie's story offers a rare glimpse into how dog training has transformed over decades. Before YouTube tutorials and Instagram influencers existed, trainers learned through direct mentorship, VHS tapes shipped from Europe, and traveli...
Jun 06, 2025•2 hr 7 min
The journey from reactive, anxious dog to confident companion isn't always straightforward. In this follow-up session, we check in with a client who's been implementing changes to address her dog's separation anxiety, reactivity issues, and their overly-structured relationship. What happens when we stop micromanaging our dogs and instead give them opportunities to make good choices? The transformation can be remarkable. We explore how to balance freedom with boundaries by allowing dogs space to ...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 23 min
Lex shares her transformation from dog owner to professional trainer, sparked by her journey with her reactive German Shepherd, Koda. What began as a challenging adoption—complete with a parvo diagnosis and costly medical bills—evolved into a career-defining experience that taught her invaluable lessons about balanced training approaches. • Adopting Koda as an eight-week-old puppy during COVID, only to face immediate health challenges including parvo and hip problems • How a traumatic dog park i...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Meg shares the terrifying experience of her puppy Muffin accidentally ingesting marijuana at a park and the emergency vet visit that followed, then opens up the conversation to listener stories about scary incidents with their dogs. • Collar dangers emerge as a common hazard, with multiple stories of dogs choking when collars become caught during play or in crate wires • Breakaway collars and removing collars during unsupervised time can prevent these dangerous situations • "He's friendly" dog g...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Dog trainers often talk about "drivey" dogs, but understanding drive states is key to effective training and fundamentally changes how we approach common behavioral issues. • Drive states are innate biological impulses that motivate behavior in dogs • Pack drive (following the leader) is the most valuable drive for behavioral modification • Walking drills build pack drive by teaching dogs to follow your lead • Defense drive manifests when dogs feel threatened and may result in aggression • Prey ...
May 09, 2025•57 min
We share the keys to finding and enjoying outdoor adventures with your dogs, challenging the urban lifestyle that keeps our canine companions disconnected from their natural state. • Living on the road with dogs has shown us the immense benefits of nature exposure for dog behavior and wellbeing • Urban environments disrupt dogs' natural circadian rhythms while nature helps reset their biological clocks • Dogs have innate needs to explore, forage, and connect with natural environments that can't ...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Nicole's Staffordshire Terrier excels at tricks but transforms into an unstoppable pulling machine the moment a leash appears, especially when heading to the dog park. • Teaching proper leash pressure is fundamental to stop pulling • "Pressure on, pressure off" method establishes clear communication • Pulling gets rewarded when it leads to exciting destinations like dog parks • Dogs pull because they learn it works to get what they want • Smart dogs can have poor manners when competing motivatio...
Apr 04, 2025•47 min
Meg shares insights from a virtual training session with her client Molly, who is working through reactivity issues with her high-energy husky mix, Murphy, after early socialization at dog parks and daycare created frustration-based leash reactivity. • Distinguishing between fear-based and frustration-based reactivity • Why dog parks and daycares can create reactivity in some dogs • Detailed explanation of e-collar conditioning process and finding working levels • Strategies for becoming more re...
Mar 28, 2025•58 min
Meg and Thoma share their experiences living in vans with dogs and introduce their newly adopted Malinois puppies, exploring the ethics and controversies of dog acquisition. • Navigating van life in southern California where regulations and neighbors create challenges for mobile dog trainers • How two 6-week-old Malinois puppies were rescued after being scheduled for euthanasia at a veterinary clinic • Introduction to protection dog sports and the importance of good genetics versus training • Th...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr
Welcome back ya'll. In this episode, we dive into the transformative world of dog nutrition with Megan from Pet Power Studio. Discover how proper nourishment can revolutionize the life of your beloved pet from overcoming behavioral challenges to enhancing their overall quality of life. Together, we explore the pitfalls of traditional kibble diets and unveil the powerful, positive changes that raw and fresh feeding can trigger. Megan’s heartfelt narrative begins with her experience raising Diesel...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 7 min
This episode highlights the challenges of managing dog training while addressing separation anxiety and the unrealistic expectations often placed on both pets and their owners. The conversation emphasizes the importance of play, clear communication, and tailored training methods to cultivate a healthy bond and successful training experience. • Discussion on separation anxiety and common behavioral issues • Importance of setting realistic training expectations • The value of engaging playtime for...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 54 min
The episode emphasizes the idea that while dog owners may feel guilty about their pets' behavior, it is essential to recognize that genetics significantly influence these actions. We discuss the prevalent culture in dog training that blames owners and shift the focus to the responsibility they have in managing their dogs with an understanding of their innate behaviors. • The impact of living situations on dog training and behaviors • The narrative of blame within the dog training community • Imp...
Feb 07, 2025•52 min
This episode outlines the five essential do's and don'ts of dog training, focusing on clarity, communication, and consistency. By emphasizing crate training, marker words, early exposure, respecting other dogs' spaces, and maintaining consistency, listeners will gain valuable insights into effective dog training methods. • The importance of crate training • How marker words enhance communication • The need for early exposure training • Respecting other dogs' spaces during interactions • The sign...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr 3 min
This episode explores essential dog etiquette rules to help owners navigate public spaces responsibly. Meg emphasizes the importance of respecting boundaries for both dogs and their owners to foster a safe and positive experience in community interactions. • Importance of being considerate toward other dogs and their owners • Experiences highlighting the struggles of off-leash encounters • Teaching children to respect a dog’s personal space • The consequences of misunderstanding dog behavior in ...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr
Welcome back ya'll. This week's episode explores the unique challenges of living in a van while managing the needs of multiple dogs during winter. We discuss the emotional toll of dog mom guilt, the importance of clear communication in training, and the balance between work and taking care of pets. • Managing life updates and routines while living in a van • Balancing dog care while grappling with dog mom guilt • Adjusting to winter and understanding its impacts on lifestyle • Navigating daily r...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Hey ya'll welcome back. This week I wanted to give you a little behind-the-scenes look into our Virtual Shadow Program and a conversation amongst dog trainers. This podcast is a recording from our VSP and dives into using tools with hesitant owners, navigating tough conversations as dog trainers, and how we can show up as confident leaders for the dogs and owners we work with. This podcast episode presents an insightful conversation on dog training, emphasizing the nuances of using corrective de...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 44 min
He's back and better than ever. This episode we chat with everyone's favorite dog trainer, Shane Murray to explore his evolution of his dog training biz and the importance of building a supportive community. Meg and Shane explore various training methods, the strengths of private sessions over board and train programs, and the value of mentorship. They discuss their upcoming shadow program, which combines practical training and business insights to help aspiring dog trainers develop their skills...
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Join us as we chat with Lauren and Danielle from The Animal Pad, a passionate dog rescue organization based in sunny San Diego. Lauren shares her transformative journey from volunteering for Bernie Sanders' political campaign to leading a life devoted to dog rescue. With personal anecdotes of fostering her first dog, Rusty, and the hilarity of managing a household filled with furry companions with special needs, Lauren and Danielle paint a vivid picture of the rollercoaster ride that is dog resc...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 44 min
Unlock the secrets to transforming your dog's health with insights from Tannisha of Pet Matrix, a trailblazer in canine nutrition. She takes us on a journey through the groundbreaking CMD cell matrix delivery system, which revolutionizes nutrient absorption for dogs by bypassing traditional pitfalls like low bioavailability. You'll learn how peptides play a crucial role in maintaining gut health, acting as a repair system for the gut lining, and why removing common household contaminants can pro...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 21 min
We've loaded up our pack and are headed to Southern California with our 8 dogs and two vans, and amongst the chaos that comes with this eclectic lifestyle, we're here to inspire you to not take training (or life) too seriously. If you're here, it's because you're immersed in the world of dog training- but that comes with it's own downsides. But that can sometimes leads to high expectations for ourselves and our dogs, comparrsison, and just simply a lack of fun. In this episode, we're diving into...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 12 min
In this episode we're joined by Thoma and dog trainer Faruukh, chatting all about how to manage resource guarding in dogs with actionable insights if you're struggling with this pretty common behavior. Discover the art of building a non-confrontational relationship with your dog while setting structured boundaries. Learn how to navigate the complexities of dog training, debunk common misconceptions, and tailor your approach to fit the unique needs of your dog based on their level of behaviors. F...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 37 min
Curious about the world of dog training from an international perspective? Discover the unique insights of Alessandro, our skilled guest from Spain, as he shares his transformative journey from BMX riding to becoming a passionate dog trainer. Learn about the cultural nuances in dog training across borders, particularly in Spain, where certain tools and approaches are viewed differently. Alessandro’s personal story of adopting a Malinois with challenging behaviors serves as a gateway to exploring...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr 30 min
Trigger warning: This is a heavy episode that features topics such as behavioral euthanasia. As the door to another adventure in dog rescue swings open, we find ourselves in a chaotic whirlwind of emotions, underscored by River's tale, a Malinois narrowly rescued from euthanasia. Imagine the rollercoaster of emotions as we grapple with nurturing him back to health amidst the clamor of living out of vans with 7 personal dogs. Yet, woven through this chaos is a testament to the power of community ...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 3 min
We asked, you delivered. This week, we're diving into listener responses to our question "What do you want all dog owners to know?". Everything from proper dog "socialization" to what types of dog friendly places to avoid, our listeners fill you in on everything you need to know to be a well-educated dog parent and live the most fulfilling life with your dog. I'm once again joined by my lovely partner Thoma, so enjoy our hot takes on all of your responses. Don't forget to grab your tasty drink, ...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Imagine sending your beloved dog to daycare, only to find the experience leaves them more anxious and misbehaving than before. This episode pulls back the curtain on the unsettling reality behind many doggy daycare facilities, with stories that might make you reconsider where to leave your furry friend. I’m Meg, a seasoned dog trainer, and joining me is my partner Thoma. Together, we expose some eye-opening tales of chaos and mismanagement that dogs encounter in these supposed havens. Our conver...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 14 min
This week we're joined by more than just yours truly. We sat down with the girls from our leadership retreat in Joshua Tree to chat about our favorite and most controversial dog training topics. From understanding the importance in neutrality training, to shelter problems, and off-leash etiquette, the girls had the opportunity to sit down and discuss these topics amongst each other and discover what it's like to run a podcast. This episode is broken down into "mini episodes" with each girl discu...
Sep 29, 2024•1 hr 11 min
We just wrapped up our first ever dog training leadership retreat and I've got a lot to say about it. From creating a sustainable daily routine to building a family of passionate dog trainers, the retreat genuinely changed my life (as I hope it did our participants too). We went on hikes, had family dinners, and set goals- all things that we can integrate into our lives to help us navigate training our own dogs and becoming better people. You know the drill, grab a tasty drink and enjoy the epis...
Sep 20, 2024•57 min
Ever wondered how your mental health can shape your dog's behavior? In this episode, I share my insights on how our state of mind profoundly impacts our pets. Drawing comparisons between the relaxed dogs of Santa Teresa and the more anxious counterparts in the U.S., I uncover the reasons behind these behavioral differences. From cultural interactions to environmental factors, discover how a more balanced and mindful approach can enhance both your life and your dog's well-being. I chat about Thom...
Aug 30, 2024•1 hr 5 min
