Reward Your Dog Podcast

In this first episode of a multipart series, Verena and Jesse tackle the thorny and complicated topic of navigating dog training industry as a dog guardian. The first step to hiring the right professional is understanding how dogs learn... and things get a bit nerdy. Go down the rabbit hole with us... and learn to understand your dog - and yourself - a bit better. Our shoutout goes

In the follow up to episode #21, we interview Priscilla Torres about living with and through intra household aggression between her three dogs. Learn what happened, what strategies Priscilla tried, what finally helped, and where things are now. Many thanks to Priscilla. You can find her on Instagram at Luchadogs PDX.Priscilla's shoutout goes to two Portland, OR based trainers: Jess

In the first episode of 2025, Jesse and Verena sit down with Mike Shikashio and talk about what dog guardians can do when the dogs in their home don't get along. When should you find a trainer? When should you think about rehoming? And what does Babe 2: Pig in the City have to do with it all? Listen in to find out!Our thanks goes to Mike Shikashio at AggressiveDog.comOur shout goes

It's the end of 2024, and Verena and Jesse spend some time thinking about the lessons their - and the clients' - dogs imparted this year. Prepare to get a little soppy and learn a thing or two about celebrating the dog you live with, assessing whether your dog is in pain, and walking the path of owning a difficult dog. Thank you to Jess Lara of J9K9 Training for contributing to the

In this information-packed episode, Jesse and Verena interview Gabrielle Johnson of Best Life Dog Services who generously shares their vast knowledge about the topic of nervous system dysregulation. Dogs with dysregulated nervous systems may struggle to bounce back after stressful events, have difficulty settling in the home, seem depressed, and more. Do you have a dysregulated dog

Oh, holiday gatherings. Aren't they already difficult enough without a dog in the mix? Jesse and Verena are teaming up to discuss how to make large holiday gatherings workable with your dog, even if they are shy. Thanksgiving foods your dog can and cannot eat. The Shoutout goes to the NAYA PDX, and we encourage you to seek out and support indigenous organizations in your local area

Visiting the vet can be a really stressful event for many dogs - but does it have to be? We are joined by the wonderful Sara McLoudrey to discuss how to make vet visits less taxing for both your dog and you, set your new puppy of for success, and what to do if your dog has shown aggression at the vet. So much great information!As promised, here are some resources around anxiety med

Halloween is upon us, and we're coming at you with our Spooktacular Halloween episode, discussing how you and your dog can the many frights and scares of Halloween night and the time around it. Here are the pictures we promised you. The Shoutout goes to Engineering Optimism Dog Training for those of you who have small dogs that struggle to navigate the world!We would appreciate you

All of us know that dogs can sustain injuries to their body - but did you know that dogs can also suffer behavioral injuries? Lauren Fraser of Fraser Animal Behaviour joins us to explore this important topic and discuss with us what a behavioral injury looks like, how it can happen, and what you as a guardian can do to prevent it. You can find Lauren Fraser's equine behavior consul

What does reactivity training actually look like? The heart of this kind of work is exposure training - as in, exposing our dog to their trigger. But that needs to be done thoughtfully and carefully. In this episode, Jesse and Verena take a deep dive into the "meat and potatoes" of exposure training and discuss both what it is - and what it isn't. Join the RYDP Patreon.Subscribe to