Dogs Unknown

Aug 29 2023 32 ep. 65 mins 31

Dogs Unknown Podcast artwork

You love your dog as family…but how well do you really know them? Dogs Unknown is an award-winning show that unlocks the mystery & magic of dog behavior. From the team at Instinct Dog Behavior & Training. Join co-hosts Brian Burton and Sarah Fraser as they interview dog behavior experts on topics about our canine family members. Named Dog Writer’s Association best behavior podcast of 2020. (fka DogLab)

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Raising a Dog with Behavior Issues w/ client Mikaela Roca

Aug 29 2023 54 mins

Living with a dog who displays fear, anxiety, or aggression is challenging, no matter what. Seeing these behaviors present in your new puppy can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming as you try to jump in and work on the issues (in addition to “normal” puppy behaviors) while also imagining what life will be like for you AND your puppy as they grow and mature into an adult do

Is it Okay to say 'No' to Your Dog? (Summer Mini-Episode)

Aug 21 2023 47 mins

Today we are going to delve into the question of whether telling your dog 'no' can have a place within a positive training approach. We think it's a pretty fair question and it's one we actually get asked a lot by new clients who come to see us. It's understandable because there's a lot of emphasis in positive training (as there should be) on trying to set your dog up to succeed, t

The Puppy Blues with Client Hannah Craig (Summer Mini-Episode)

Aug 14 2023 47 mins

For most of us, bringing home a new puppy conjures many warm, fuzzy images and feelings. We think about puppy snuggles and kisses, introducing the puppy to family and friends, taking them for walks, and including them in our favorite activities.And while puppies are amazing and can bring a lot of joy, they’re also a TON of work, and the reality of puppy ownership doesn’t usuall

Finding the Right Trainer for Your Dog, and Becoming Your Dog’s Advocate w/Client KateTighe (Summer Mini-Episode)

Aug 10 2023 58 mins

If you are the guardian of a dog with a more complex behavior profile, finding the right care team to work with them (and you) - the right trainer, the right veterinarian, the right pet sitter or boarding kennel - can be a real challenge. When speaking about the training/behavior field, this is made more challenging by the fact that dog training is an unregulated industry, and it c

How to Not Pet a Dog (Summer Mini-Episode)

Aug 01 2023 23 mins

While waiting for Season 4 to start in October, we will drop summer mini-episodes in August and September! Episodes will drop each Monday. Also, a reminder that we do have video versions of the podcast in our recording studio, which can be viewed on our YouTube Channel In this episode, Brian and Sarah give an update on their international move and discuss one of their viral Instagr

Over Threshold: Urban Dog Handling

Jun 25 2023 69 mins

This week we are talking about dogs in urban environments. We discuss some of the most common challenges facing urban dogs, and also some of our favorite hacks for navigating city life to protect and enhance your city dog's welfare; because let's face it, living in an urban environment can be pretty stressful for dogs AND humans.During the conversation we also discuss which persona

Exploring our Breed Stereotypes

Jun 11 2023 73 mins

Most of us have breed preferences; whether it's how they look and/or the collection of traits we assume the breed to have. Today we explore if these breed stereotypes are really valid because the existing research on breed and behavior is largely mixed; while breed can influence some behavior, there's a wide range of variability, even within breeds. The science is a bit of a mess.S

Don't Worry, She's Friendly

Jun 04 2023 67 mins

Leash reactivity (lunging and barking at dogs and people) is one of the most common issues people come to us for help with, and so many of our clients experience a ton of judgment and disparaging comments from other dog owners when out on walks. People ASSUME things about them and about their dog, based on that reactivity; "What's Wrong with that dog?" or "Why does their owner allo

Does Your Dog Need a Leader?

May 28 2023 54 mins

For the past several decades, dog owners have been inundated with messages that we need to be a "pack leader" or "alpha" with our dogs. Those specific terms imply that we need to take a power position by actively asserting dominance over our dogs in our daily lives. So is all of this really necessary? Do dogs need leadership from us? And if so, what does that actually look like?Gue

Glorified Cattle?

May 21 2023 52 mins

We often state that dogs are family, but are they? We navigate a frank, sometimes uncomfortable discussion about the strange dual role of pet dogs, simultaneously cast as family members and captive animals.We discuss:- Do you consider your own dogs to be family members?- Do dogs have family responsibilities?- What are the benefits to dogs of viewing them as family members?- What ar