If you have a dog with fear, anxiety, or aggression issues, you’ve likely wondered—or, more likely, worried—whether your own personality traits are to blame for their unwanted behaviors.

Understandably so. For years, dog owners have been fed messages like, “it’s all how you raise them” and “there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.” Even experienced dog behavior professionals, who fully acknowledge the huge influence of biology and individual traits on dog behavior outcomes, are quick to affirm that stressy, anxious owners are far more likely to have anxious dogs.

Listen to Co-Hosts Sarah Fraser and Brian Burton (both are Co-Founders of INSTINCT with a Master's in Animal Behavior) discuss this topic, including how the existing research and their experience with thousands of dogs and owners have shaped their thoughts and approach on whether anxious owners cause anxious dogs. 

Episode References:

Ask, H., Eilertsen, E. M., Gjerde, L. C., Hannigan, L. J., Gustavson, K., Havdahl, A., … & Ystrom, E. (2021). Intergenerational transmission of parental neuroticism to emotional problems in 8‐year‐old children: Genetic and environmental influences. JCPP advances, 1(4), e12054.

Clarke, T., & Loftus, E. (2023). Owner psychological characteristics predict dog behavioral traits. University of Edinburgh, Preprint, not yet published, https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2657563/v1

Dodman NH, Brown DC, Serpell JA (2018) Associations between owner personality and psychological status and the prevalence of canine behavior problems. PLoS ONE 13(2): e0192846. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192846

Finn, C., Mitte, K., & Neyer, F. J. (2013). The Relationship–specific Interpretation Bias Mediates the Link between Neuroticism and Satisfaction in Couples. European Journal of Personality, 27(2), 200-212. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.1862

Gobbo E, Zupan M. Dogs’ Sociability, Owners’ Neuroticism and Attachment Style to Pets as Predictors of Dog Aggression. Animals. 2020; 10(2):315. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020315

Huber A, Barber ALA, Faragó T, Müller CA, Huber L. Investigating emotional contagion in dogs (Canis familiaris) to emotional sounds of humans and conspecifics. Anim Cogn. 2017 Jul;20(4):703-715. doi: 10.1007/s10071-017-1092-8. Epub 2017 Apr 21. PMID: 28432495; PMCID: PMC5486498.

Kang W, Establishing the associations between the Big Five personality traits and self-reported number of close friends: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Acta Psychologica, Volume 239, 2023, 104010, ISSN 0001-6918, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104010.

Kis A, Turcsán B, Miklósi Á, Gácsi M. The effect of the owner’s personality on the behaviour of owner-dog dyads. Interaction Studies: Social Behaviour and Communication in Biological and Artificial Systems. 2012;13(3):373-385. doi:10.1075/is.13.3.03kis

McNulty JK. Neuroticism and interpersonal negativity: the independent contributions of perceptions and behaviors. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2008 Nov;34(11):1439-50. doi: 10.1177/0146167208322558. Epub 2008 Aug 13. PMID: 18703488.

Podberscek, A.L. and Serpell, J.A. (1997), Aggressive behaviour in English cocker spaniels and the personality of their owners. Veterinary Record, 141: 73-76. https://doi-org.proxy.wexler.hunter.cuny.edu/10.1136/vr.141.3.73

Wright, Amanda & Jackson, Joshua. (2022). Is parent personality associated with adolescent outcomes for their child? A response surface analysis approach. 10.31234/osf.io/ahmzw

INSTINCT Resources:

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://youtu.be/KrlyTh7Z8o0 

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 dog.

Today, we’re joined by Mikaela, a client at Instinct Northern New Jersey, to learn more about her experience raising and living with her beautiful dog Lola, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix, who began displaying some concerning behavior issues as a young puppy.

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhjY77bLUdU

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, trying to help them make desirable choices, training in a way that they generally enjoy or want to listen to cues, and allowing a lot of choice and control so that they have the option to opt-in or opt-out.

But what about those times when you need your dog to stop doing something or maybe start doing something else in the now, and they're not opting in or following cues (or maybe they don't have those skills under their belt yet)? How do we handle those situations in a way that protects our dog's behavioral health and also protects the relationship that we have with them that supports a healthy relationship dynamic?

This is what we are tackling today.

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EbBny9T4WI

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 usually match up to the vision we’ve created in our mind (or the one we’ve been sold on social media).

Enter the Puppy Blues. The puppy blues is an informal term that refers to the feelings of sadness, anxiety, overwhelm, regret, and other negative emotions many folks experience in the days, weeks, or months after welcoming a new puppy into their home.

If you’ve experienced the Puppy Blues - you’re not alone. A LOT of other dog owners have experienced them, too. We’re joined today by one of those individuals - Hannah Craig, a client at Instinct Hudson Valley, who has generously agreed to share their experience with us today.

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUao_pZNroc

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 can be very difficult to discern what someone’s credentials actually mean, the experience they hold, and the teaching techniques they use with dogs and people.

And even when you find a person or a team you like, learning when and how to advocate for your dog - vs when to trust and follow the lead of the professionals with whom you’re working, even if you feel a little skeptical about it - takes time, and can feel intimidating or uncomfortable.

Today we’re joined by Instinct East Harlem client Kate Tighe, to share her experience with finding the right support team for her dog Teagan - and learning how to become a better advocate for her and for Teagan in the process.

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bfkGXWDuvM

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 Instagram reels that received over 2 million views and generated a lot of engagement and comments. The video was "How Not to Pet a Dog." You can see that video here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr0-YWBPd-q/

Some video comments were great, some were interesting, and some were very sad. Brian and Sarah discuss why this video is important and how one of the tricky things about living with dogs, because they are so familiar to us and we feel that we know them so well, is that we can have blind spots in our knowledge and understanding of their feelings and behavior.

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://youtu.be/qeLs2OEpaCs

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 personality traits, and breeds typically do well with, or find urban environments challenging. We also discuss ways to make living in an urban environment with your dog more enjoyable and less stressful for both of you.

Guests:
- Lauren Jones-Wenzel (she/her/hers) CDBC is a Certified Behavior Consultant at INSTINCT Northern New Jersey, INSTINCT Jersey Shore, and INSTINCT Philadelphia.

- Stephanie Collingsworth (she/her/hers) CDBC is a Certified Behavior Consultant at INSTINCT Portland

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfvhH04Er2o

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.

So we thought it would be fun to explore our breed stereotypes with some breeds today based on our experience of working with thousands of dogs;
German Shepherds (03m8s)
Doodles (10m40s)
Shiba Inus (16m50s)
Pitties (27m05s)
Huskies (38m26s)
Chihuahuas (46m55s)

For each breed, we discuss what behavior challenges we typically see with them, why we love working with the breed, and what are some things to keep top of mind if you are living with or working with one of these breeds.

At the end of the episode (1h01m,15s), we discuss when stereotyping breeds can be helpful, and when it can be harmful.

If you like this episode and want us to cover other breeds in a parat 2, please send us a message on our Instagram account @instinctdogtraining

Guests:
- Suze Cullinan (she/her/hers) CDBC is a Certified Behavior Consultant and President at INSTINCT Northern New Jersey, INSTINCT Jersey Shore, and INSTINCT Philadelphia.

- Dresden Graff (he/him/his) CPDT-KA, Certified Trainer and Owner of INSTINCT Forth Worth


Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PONC04Kh98

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 allow them to keep doing that?",  or "They should really get some training".

In this episode we discuss why these assumptions can be exceedingly incorrect, and how you (with your non-reactive dog) may be contributing to the issue.

Whether you have a leash reactive dog or not, this episode is for you.

Guests:
- Ella Tirado (she/her/hers) CPDT-KA is a Certified Trainer at INSTINCT Hudson Valley.

- Jessica Wheatcraft (she/her/hers) CDBC, Founder of INSTINCT San Diego

- Jenna Slutzky (she/her/hers) KPA-CTP is a Certified Trainer with INSTINCT Nashville.

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://youtu.be/rIlq0D_sa34

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?

Guests:
- Ayelet Berger (she/her/hers) CDBC is a Certified Behavior Consultant and Co-Owner with INSTINCT Nashville.

- Taylor Snead (they/them) CBCC-KA, is a Certified Behavior Consultant at INSTINCT Portland (Oregon)

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 19,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://youtu.be/i2L_UB1c29U