Carlos & Brian discuss why "positive reinforcement only" training is unrealistic & unnatural in working with dogs. We'll help you wade throw all the scientific terms so many trainers use so that you can understand what really works with dogs and why. This is a big and much-debated topic so this is the first of multiple podcasts on this subject.

Carlos & Brian discuss being 'Alpha' to your dog. Not today's emotionally-charged term that implies being aggressive or being a bully, but being in charge of your dog, being able to control him...being a fair and benevolent Leader. Too many 'professionals' in this business either don't understand this or are unable to achieve it. Being in charge of a group is a natural part of both human society and dog society. We break it down for you in this episode.

Brian talks about the most important things to do with your new dog the moment you pull into your driveway! It all starts with Exercise, Leadership & Structure, of course, but you'll also learn things you probably hadn't thought about before, such as where to put your new dog's bed and what activities to do with him in order to bond with him. Check it out!

Carlos & I discuss the long-running TV show "Pit Bulls & Parolees". We talk about the cast, the great work they do and we critique some of the methods they use when working with dogs. The people of "Pit Bulls & Parolees" (Villalobos Rescue Center) do AMAZING work. They are selfless, brave and we admire them greatly. We hope this podcast brings more attention to VRC and dog rescue in general and inspires more people to volunteer with a local dog rescue. 

Carlos & Brian discuss Introductions: How to meet a new dog and how to allow your dog to meet new people. You may be surprised how so many people aren't doing it the right way!

Carlos & Brian discuss owner liability with respect to a dog who bites someone or another dog. We go over the legal definition of a "dangerous dog", what happens after a dog bites someone or another dog, the owner's liability is when it happens. Brian recalls his experiences in court as a Qualified Expert Witness in Dog Behavior to shed light on this issue which most of us have only read about.

This is episode #3 in our series about Sakura, the young Border Collie we brought home from the Fauquier SPCA. She was with us for a week, made some progress and already has a family interested in her and experienced with anxious dogs! Stay tuned...

Carlos & I update listeners about Sakura, the young Border Collie we're fostering. Progress is slow but she's definitely coming out of her shell and normalizing.

This is the first in a series of podcasts about Sakura, a 1-year-old Border Collie mix who was shutting down in her kennel. Not drinking or eating much, not comfortable with a leash, sitting at the back of her kennel, she just wanted to be invisible to the world. This is the story of Sakura's journey from fear and uncertainty to stability and contentment. Keep listening for more about Sakura!