Pick of the Litter Podcast

May 15 2024 5

Pick of the Litter Podcast artwork

It can be really hard to know which dog training advice to trust. That why we hope you’ll join us – trainers Mike Tomai from Furry Face Dog Training, and Kathy Callahan from PupStart – as we discuss the best ideas out there. These are the tips and techniques that really make humans and their dogs happier together. Each episode will give listeners three things: something simple to try, a key concept to think about, and a big name to trust. So, if you get overwhelmed by all the conflicting voices on the internet, we think you’re going to like this conversation, because we’ve done the work for you: we’ve already found the pick of the litter

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Ian Dunbar's "Barking Up The Right Tree" and a Discussion On Punishment

May 15 2024 62 mins

Does punishment work with dogs? Dr. Ian Dunbar has spent five decades at the forefront of the industry as a vet, researcher and trainer, and he's channeled it all into his new book, "Barking Up The Right Tree." In this episode, we focus on the one chapter that is a master class on punishment. Rather than addressing the morality or ethics involved, Dunbar goes straight to the scienc

"Welcoming Your Puppy From Planet Dog" - Kathy's New Book!

Apr 09 2024 71 mins

On this podcast, we often talk about authors — and this time, the author is one of us! "Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog: How to Go Beyond Training and Raise Your Best Friend" is Kathy's new puppy guide. Take a listen to learn why she says your training success will skyrocket if you make this one key mindset shift: think of your puppy as a baby you kidnapped from another plan

Environmental Rewards: They're All Around You

Feb 26 2024 56 mins

It's great to train with food, but don't forget to harness the powerful "environmental" rewards that are right at your fingertips! These "real life rewards" -- like sniffing something, going through the gate to the walk, hopping up on the couch, or greeting someone -- are powerful reinforcers. Make the most of them by linking them with the behavior you want to see. (And make sure t

Your Dog’s 4 L.E.G.S. Offer Answers from Kim Brophey

Dec 19 2023 69 mins

Kim Brophey's paradigm-shifting system of understanding our dogs is disrupting the dog training industry in the very best way: by finally making the dog's needs part of the equation. Her ethology-based L.E.G.S. model teaches us that before we think about "how" we're going to modify a dog's behavior, we need to ask "why" it's occurring by looking at a dog's four legs: Learning, Envi

Enjoying The Holidays and Staying Safe With Your Dog

Nov 02 2023 43 mins

'Tis the season . . . for dog bites, dog fights, and trips to the ER after a chocolate feast! In this episode we discuss the ways you can help your canine family members enjoy the holidays as much as the rest of the family, and keep everyone safe while doing so.

Pulling on Leash: Strategies for a Better Walk

Oct 12 2023 38 mins

Does your dog pull on leash? Probably! Why? Because walking steadily forward in a straight line is not something a dog does naturally. It's a big ask we humans make of our dogs, which is why this challenge takes some time, and a multi-faceted approach. In this episode we talk about the strategies and equipment we find most successful in getting to a walk that's enjoyable from both

Jumping Up on People: Strategies to Keep 4 on the Floor

Oct 12 2023 40 mins

When tiny puppies jump up to say hi it can be so cute! Whoops . . . it's not so cute later on when kids are getting knocked over, clothes are getting muddy, and grandma gets hurt. To eliminate that jumping, it's key to teach (and reward) different ways for dogs to greet people, or express their desire to engage. In this episode we'll cover all the things you can do so that your dog

Potty Training: The Basics

Oct 12 2023 46 mins

Teaching your puppy to use the outdoor bathroom is both the simplest and the most challenging part of puppyhood. It's simple because combining the top three strategies absolutely works — but it's miserable because doing it right takes an incredible amount of dedication. This episode is a discussion of how to make this intense phase as short as possible.

Canine Body Language & Dr. Patricia McConnell

Sep 07 2023 82 mins

Do you ever think that you and your dog aren't communicating very well? You can get much better at it! Dr. Patricia McConnell's work as a zoologist and an applied animal behaviorist been groundbreaking in helping people to understand canine body language — and how our own primate-style body language confuses our dogs, and weakens our relationship. In this episode, we use McConnel

Clicker Training & Karen Pryor’s ”Don’t Shoot the Dog”

Jun 26 2023 62 mins

If you’ve heard of clicker training but you’re not quite sure what it is, this episode is for you. “Clicker training” has become shorthand for positive reinforcement training, and marine mammal behaviorist Karen Pryor is credited with bringing this incredibly effective technique to the dog training world. Here, we talk about Pryor's classic book “Don’t Shoot The Dog,”