Good Dog Workshop

Equal parts fun AND annoying, puppies are not for everyone. In this episode, Marina & Brian share everything they've learned about two new puppies that they've spent a ton of time with. Hear the good, the bad & the ugly about STAR the Lab mix and SUSHI the cattle dog mix! 

Marina & Brian discuss a seemingly growing trend: Elderly, physically-limited dog owners getting energetic dogs. Sometimes it involves people ending up with a puppy or high-energy dog pushed on them by their adult kids who got a dog for themselves, then move back home and suddenly the elderly parents have to take care of the dog. But more often than not, it involves older people with health issues which severely limit their ability to exercise a dog, but choose a puppy having forgotten how much work and physical activity is required to raise a puppy. And that often leads to rambunctious & frustrated pups who do whatever they feel they need to to release their energy: destructive chewing, jumping on people and furniture, digging in the yard, incessant barking, and nipping and biting people — a lousy situation for people and for the puppy. There are so many ways to avoid this. Listen to found out how.

Ever notice how people with small dogs oftentimes let their dogs get away with behavior that they wouldn't let slide with a big dog?  Marina & Brian discuss the problems dog owners have when they raise their small dogs differently than their big dogs. 

After each training session with a client, the Good Dog Workshop staff discuss with each other in great detail what occurred during the training. Get a behind-the-scenes look into the work done AFTER the training session is done.

Want to know what's been going on with BAGEL the beagle, SQUIRTY the Corgi, and BEAN the Boxer? Marina & Brian share the latest about a few of the dogs they've recently worked with and fostered. PLUS, meet CALLIE, a super sweet female cattle dog who is the newest member of the Good Dog Workshop pack. 

One dog is being blamed for the fights but she's not the problem. The fights keep getting worse and worse. Dogs AND people are getting hurt. Something has to give. Find out what happened.

Good Dog Workshop is looking for another dog behaviorist / trainer! Learn what we're looking for in a new hire and why we value HONESTY, INTEGRITY and EMPATHY more than certifications and number of years working with dogs. Contact us if you want to be a part of our team! 703-489-1319

Brian interviews fellow dog behaviorist Paul Hewitt, founder of Beard Meets Dog based in Bournemouth, England. Learn about Paul and how he got his start in the dog behavior world, his philosophies on working with dogs, his favorite breeds, and his ultimate goal for the future of Beard Meets Dog.

From Brian: In November of 2021, my cattle dog RED passed away from a very aggressive inoperable nasal tumor. And just last week at the end of February 2022, my beagle VIVIAN passed away after a long bout with lymphoma. The loss of Red and Vivian has been devastating for me personally and incredibly impactful to Good Dog Workshop and the work am do with my clients. We at Good Dog Workshop know that you—our listeners—grew to know and love Vivian and Red through the podcast and we appreciate your support during our grief.

As we all know, life keeps moving on no matter what happens or how we feel, and we must continue to move as well. So we include in this podcast our thoughts and experiences as we look for two new assistants to add to Brian's pack.

Brian & Marina discuss a recent training session with a client who said her dog had "severe" separation anxiety...but the reality was much different. It's all too common for so many dog owners to perceive their dogs' behavior as 'separation anxiety' but so often that is not the case.