Welcome to another Training Without Conflict podcast! In today's special episode, I’m honored to have with us Dr. David Mech, a globally recognized authority on wolf behavior. Dr. Mech's groundbreaking research has reshaped our understanding of these majestic creatures, but his work has often been misinterpreted, especially in the dog training community. For years, the concept of dominance in animal behavior has been a topic of contention, with many in the dog training world advocating for posit...
Nov 13, 2023•50 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirty-Two: Dean Calderon I’m sure many of you have heard the term “dog boy” around certain dog training circles. Many people don’t know where that term came from, but this week, you will find out where it came from and why… My guest this week is self proclaimed “Dog Boy”, dog sport legend, and my friend Dean Calderon. Dean has some strong opinions that you may or may not agree with, but you can feel the passion and love he has for IGP and for all dogs ...
Oct 05, 2023•3 hr 16 min
This week on my podcast I had a conversation with the highly controversial trainer The Dog Daddy. While many of you might find this surprising or even potentially upsetting, my goal with my podcast is to allow all of you to learn about training methods and perspectives from trainers across the spectrum of dog training. Although Dog Daddy has created quite a rift in the dog training space, I was interested to have him explain his perspective on training so I could understand for myself, instead o...
Sep 27, 2023•2 hr 43 min
Training Without Conflict® Episode Thirty: Omar Von Muller In this episode, I had the pleasure to catch up and have a nice conversation with a long time friend, and trick dog master, Omar Von Muller. It is highly likely you have seen one of Omar's tricks in a viral video in the past or in a major Hollywood production. As a teenager, Omar trained dogs for friends and family. Omar also spent time training police dogs for the Miami Dade Police Department, as well as competing in Schutzhund and Fren...
Sep 22, 2023•2 hr 19 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Nine: Edgar Scherkl This episode was a long time in the making. I was finally able to sit down with Edgar Scherkl to talk about Belgian Malinois, the history of Schutzhund, the German Korung, judging in competition, and the current situation in the IGP world community. The podcast is available now on YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, and all other major podcast platforms! I’m certain that if you have been around Schutzhund (IGP) long enough, you are...
Sep 15, 2023•2 hr 13 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Eight: Steve White The latest TWC podcast features guest Steve White. Steve is a seasoned expert in K9 units from the state of Washington, accredited as a Master Trainer in 1993. He is a key figure at major Police K9 conferences. In addition to his extensive career in police K9 units, Steve is also a prominent figure in the force-free training community. Notably, he was a founding instructor at Karen Pryor's ClickerExpo, frequently presenting at ...
Sep 08, 2023•3 hr 47 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Seven: Debbie Zappia Part Two In this episode, Ivan interviews the first returning guest of the TWC Podcast, Debbie Zappia. This episode features a deep dive into the sport of American Schutzhund. Ivan asks all the pertinent question to fully understand the inner workings of this burgeoning sport! Debbie has had a long, storied history in the sport of Schutzhund, highlighted by her incredible accomplishment of winning the 2015 WUSV World Champion...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr 57 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Six: Debbie Zapia In this episode, Ivan interviews the founder of American Schutzhund, Debbie Zappia. Debbie has had a long, storied history in the sport of Schutzhund, highlighted by her incredible accomplishment of winning the 2015 WUSV World Championship with her dog Iron Von Den Wölfen, becoming the first American AND the first woman to win the WUSV World Championship. Aside from her World Championship, she has been on the podium countless ti...
Jul 28, 2023•1 hr 29 min
In this episode, Ivan had the pleasure to talk with one of the most respected IGP judges in the world, someone who understands the demands of the sport and looks at it from many different lenses, as a judge, competition, helper and simply as a dog man. This episode's guest is Hari Arčon, member of the FCI Utility Dog Commission, and FCI judge. In this episode, Hari Arčon gives an interesting take on the past, present, and future evolution of IGP dog sport. During the podcast, Ivan and Hari discu...
Jul 20, 2023•2 hr 5 min
Training Without Conflict Podcast Episode Twenty-Four: Aimee Sadler In this episode, Ivan interviews long time friend and colleague Aimee Sadler. For those that don't know Aimee, she is the founder and CEO of Dogs Playing For Life, a rescue organization that prides themselves on redefining the meaning and importance of quality of life for all sheltered dogs by improving their experience through playgroups and individualized training, resulting in urgent and responsible lifesaving. Aimee has dram...
Jul 14, 2023•3 hr 8 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Three: Jenifer Zeligs In this episode of the Training Without Conflict® Podcast, Ivan interviews a true expert in the field of animal training. This episode's guest is Dr. Jenifer Zeligs. Her experience in the field of animal training and animal learning cannot be overstated. She has been training species across the entire animal kingdom for over 4 decades. In this episode, Ivan dives into her history in animal training while weaving in concepts ...
Jun 29, 2023•3 hr 33 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Two: Dr. Stewart Hilliard In this episode, Ivan speaks to a true dogsport legend filled with a wealth of expertise and experience in the dog training world. This episodes very special guest is Dr. Stewart Hilliard. They discuss an array of fascinating topics about all aspects of dogs and dog training ranging from breeding and raising sport and working dogs, the history of dog sports in the United States and worldwide, working dog selection, the d...
Jun 20, 2023•2 hr 12 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-One: Mathias Dögel In this episode, Ivan had a chance to speak to long-time friend, highly respected dog sport competitor, founder and innovator of Working-Dog.Com, Mathias Dögel. This was a very fun conversation where they had an opportunity to catch up about current, past, and future dogs, as well as share stories about their experiences in dog sports. They also had some great discussions about the problems facing IGP dog sports worldwide, how ...
Jun 15, 2023•3 hr 17 min
In this episode, Ivan has a conversation with Jo-rosie Haffenden. When it comes to training, they stand on the opposite sides of the line in the sand. However, they were able to have a long conversation that took them all over the place. They both realized that they actually have more common training ideas than they expected! This is what a conversation between two dog trainers on the opposite side of the spectrum looks like when they share ideas instead of digging their heels in the ground abou...
Jun 04, 2023•3 hr 38 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Nineteen: Nick Benger Since my presentation on The Real Facts About Science Based Dog Training, I made a commitment to talk to dog trainers on all sides of the argument with the intent to make progress and find the way forward through the current divide in the dog training industry. Thankfully, a few force free trainers have stepped forward to have conversations with me after many avoided it for years. I am happy to present this podcast with Nick Benger...
Apr 14, 2023•3 hr 5 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Eighteen: Jany Böhm Last month we had the privilege of working with Jany Böhm over a series of workshops at my place in Florida. During that time, we had truly amazing training, but more importantly got to know each other as friends. In this great conversation, we were able to discuss many things about IGP dogsport, helper work, past and future dogs, and stories about competitions in the past. For those who don’t know him, Jany Böhm is one of the most d...
Mar 03, 2023•3 hr 7 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Seventeen: Susan Garrett A few weeks ago I released a podcast challenging the rhetoric of the force free ideology. In a short time, we have already made significant progress. One of those examples of progress is Susan Garrett, a highly respected and well accomplished reinforcement based trainer reached out to me to train some dogs together. While that is in the works, we were able to sit down and record a podcast. Although we don’t necessarily agree on ...
Feb 24, 2023•3 hr 12 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Sixteen: Mia Skogster Recently, Mia visited us in Florida for 4 weeks to teach a seminar and have some great training with me and my team. We had an absolutely amazing conversation about our history in IGP, thoughts on Malinois breeding and selection, how our training approaches differ, the current state of IGP, how the dog training community needs to unite for the betterment of all dogs, and many other incredible topics. Mia is one of the most decorate...
Feb 17, 2023•3 hr 12 min
Training Without Conflict Podcast Episode Fifteen: Dr. Michael Perone In this episode, Ivan Balabanov takes a deep dive into the role of Operant Learning in animal behavior with Professor of Behavioral Analysis, Dr. Michael Perone. Dr. Perone has been actively involved in the experimental analysis of operant behavior for over 30 years. An area of ongoing concern is how to translate the concepts and procedures of the animal laboratory to the analysis of human behavior. In this podcast, Ivan gets ...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 40 min
The Real Facts About Science Based Dog Training: A Training Without Conflict® Podcast Arguments about dog training are reaching a boiling point and I decided it’s time for someone to take a significant stand against the constant propaganda and misinformation that gets spread through social media. Scientific research that starts with a conclusion and works backwards to prove it is a dangerous and unethical practice. When scientific research is cherry-picked to fit a narrative, it leads to a disto...
Feb 02, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Fourteen: Michael Shikashio Recently, Ivan invited Michael Shikashio to the TWC podcast. Michael and Ivan may hold at times different opinions on dog training. However, they had a great, respectful conversation that explored these views and ideas. Is it possible to bring the dog training communities together, rather than increase the polarization? Both Ivan and Michael recognize that there are those on the far extremes of the dog training spectrum who a...
Jan 06, 2023•3 hr 22 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirteen: Dr. Helmut Raiser Recently, Ivan spent sometime with Helmut Raiser and naturally they decided that they had to do a podcast. For those familiar with Schutzhund ( todays IGP) Helmut needs no introduction. For those who have not heard of him, he is one of the most influential trainers that popularized the Schutzhund in Germany and most of Europe in the 80’s. They had a very interesting conversation, at times diving deep into dog training, German...
Dec 20, 2022•2 hr 39 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twelve: 3x PSA National Champion Janet Edwards In this episode, Ivan Balabanov interviews 2-time PSA 3 Handler, Janet Edwards. In addition to being a PSA 3 handler, Janet is also a well respected PSA judge, dog trainer, and teacher to dog trainers around the world. Throughout the episode they discuss the sport of PSA K9, the differences between PSA and the other dog sports, and Janet provides a great education on the PSA sport as a whole. In addition to...
Oct 21, 2022•1 hr 56 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Special Edition: The Seat Belt Analogy and Negative Reinforcement Earlier this year in one of Ivan's Facebook posts, he stated that the commonly used seat belt analogy is misleading and does not properly illustrate the concept of Negative Reinforcement. This podcast is a 30-minute excerpt from my Training Without Conflict® course lecture on Negative Reinforcement where he discusses why this analogy is problematic. Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog t...
Oct 07, 2022•35 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Ten: Dallas Seavey In this episode, Ivan has a conversation with 5-time Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey. The two champions discuss topics ranging from breeding and selection of competition dogs, preparing for competition, fueling champion dogs, and how to maximize the potential of every dog they compete with. The wealth of information presented by these two titans of their craft is abundant in this 2 hour podcast! Dallas Seavey is one of two 5-time winn...
Jul 15, 2022•2 hr 6 min
In this episode, Ivan has a conversation with Simon about their training methods, similarities, and differences. Ivan and Simon also dive into the concept of punishment in dog training, its effects, benefits, and drawbacks. There is also an amazing discussion about the force free movement and the perception of punishment in dog training from different training ideologies. Simon Gadbois Ph. D. is a professor of neuroscience and biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Simon has sp...
May 19, 2022•2 hr 5 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Nine: The Disadvantages of Low Level E-Collar Conditioning In this episode of the Training Without Conflict® Podcast, Ivan Balabanov goes solo sharing his concerns on the concept of low level stimulus electric collar conditioning in dog training. Throughout the episode, Ivan shares many downfalls of this type of training, and dissects the narrative being pushed by trainers that utilize this training method. This information is beneficial to anyone that ...
Apr 08, 2022•2 hr 7 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Eight: Markus Neutz In this episode of the Training Without Conflict® Podcast, Ivan Balabanov interviews a friend, colleague, fellow competitor, and life-long dogman Markus Neutz. Markus Neutz knowledge of the dog world is nearly unparalleled. He is truly a force within the dog training community throughout Germany as well as around the world. The level of experience Markus holds throughout many different facets of dog training, dog handling, and dog ow...
Feb 26, 2022•3 hr 11 min
Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Seven: Michael Ellis In this episode of the Training Without Conflict® Podcast, Ivan Balabanov interviews long-time friend and colleague Michael Ellis. Michael Ellis is an internationally known and respected dog trainer with over 30 years of experience in competitive dog sports. Michael has instructed countless seminars all around the country and the world. He is also a renowned teacher at the globally recognized, Michael Ellis School for dog trainers. ...
Feb 08, 2022•3 hr 23 min
Training Without Conflict™ Podcast Episode Six: Dr. Roger Abrantes In this episode of the Training Without Conflict™ Podcast, Ivan Balabanov interviews one of the great minds in the study of Ethology, Dr. Roger Abrantes. Dr. Roger Abrantes, is a titan in the world of Ethology, receiving a Ph.D in Evolutionary Biology and Ethology and a BA in Philosophy. He is one of the last living students of Konrad Lorenz, Nico Tinbergen, and Karl Von Frisch. Dr. Roger Abrantes considers himself to be a "citiz...
Jul 13, 2021•1 hr 50 min
