Good Dog Workshop

In this episode, Marina & Brian discuss BAGEL, a young beagle whom Brian is fostering from the Fauquier SPCA. These days, Brian chooses a foster dog not only to help out a dog in need and to make the dog more adoptable, he is also essentially interviewing Bagel as a potential new pack member & assistant for Good Dog Workshop. Learn about Brian's checklist for his next assistant and his routine for bringing a new dog into his home and pack.

For today's podcast, Brian surprised Marina with a series of questions that she had no previous knowledge of on a wide variety of topics ranging from Easiest Breed, Funniest Dog Names, Emotional Support Dogs, and the Startle Lady at the Dog Park!

In this second-to-last myth podcast, Marina & Brian discuss the widely-held belief that if a dog has been surrendered by someone, there must be something inherently wrong with the dog. Nothing could be further from the truth. Listen as Brian & Marina talk about the real reasons dogs are surrendered, returned, given up, dumped and how the people contribute to—and in most cases—create the problem behaviors.

Brian & Marina discuss the outstanding work of recent clients with their young pit bull SADIE. Within less than 20 minutes, Brian was able to help these clients transform their anxious, barking 7-month-old into a respectful, calm, happy pup. This was an excellent example of how WE (the humans) are the most important component in our dogs' environment; and if we change, our dogs can change! These clients and their dog were fantastic!

Marina & Brian give their no-nonsense reasons why German Shepherds are not for everyone. 
It's been said that "The breed is marked by a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose". This can be a phenomenal dog with the right leadership and—of course—proper exercise, but without it, this breed often becomes anxious and starts making bad decisions...which often involve using its teeth. Before considering this breed, do your research and do an honest self-evaluation of your available time, lifestyle, and leadership to make sure a German Shepherd is right for you.

And please call or text us directly if you have any questions about getting a German Shepherd or need help with your own: 703-489-1319.

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All dog parks are NOT the same! Hear what Marina has to say about some new dog parks she visited with Sailor and Sasha on her recent trip to North Carolina and Tennessee. 

Let's just call this one Whack-A-Mole. In this podcast, Marina & Brian discuss a training session they had with 4 very different dogs, 3 very different humans, an endless peppering of conflicting, incomplete and contradictory information, AND a client who repeatedly turned her back in mid-conversation and started talking to one of her dogs. Truth is stranger than fiction.  All names of dogs and people were omitted to protect the privacy of these clients.

Marina & Brian discuss some of the common problems which result from a lack of Leadership with a dog. Find out some of the reasons why dogs misbehave and fail to respond to their owners.

Marina & Brian debunk the 5 most common things that dog owners are told cause aggression: Playing Tug, Roughhousing, Staring At, E-Collars, and Other Dogs. Take a listen and found out why these things DO NOT cause aggression, what their actual purpose is, and how to get the most benefit from them.

In this episode, Marina & Brian discuss adolescent dogs (generally between 6-18 months), and some of the typical challenges that come along with dogs at that stage in life, including the particular issues that have arisen with so many "COVID Puppies" who were adopted/bought during the pandemic last year. They go over in great detail 2 adolescent dogs they recently worked with and how the future looks for those 2 dogs.