Leerburg Dog Training Podcast

David Littlefield discusses what happens when dog handlers and trainers fall into territorial camps. Everybody has their own training philosophy and preferences, and it is up to us to learn what we can, take what works for us and our dog, and leave what doesn't.

Ian O’Connell sits down with longtime Leerburg friend and mentor Kevin Sheldahl to talk about what it takes to be a good police K9 handler instructor.

Join David Littlefield as he breaks down one of the most common pitfalls in dog training: patterning. When we repeat the same routine in the same place, in the same order, our dogs often learn the pattern instead of the behavior. David explains how dogs get "stuck" performing only in familiar settings or sequences, why that falls apart when real-world distractions show up, and how to vary locations, timing, and setups so your dog truly understands what you're asking. Whether you're working obedience, sport, or everyday manners, this is a must-watch for building reliable behavior anywhere.

Operational K9 Medical Team of Wisconsin was founded by veterinary emergency and critical care specialists who saw a gap: K9 handlers are trained to deploy their dogs, but rarely trained to save them when something goes wrong in the field. OPK9 closes that gap by traveling throughout Wisconsin to teach point-of-injury care directly to K9 handlers and EMS personnel. | Links mentioned: Leerburg X OPK9 - https://leerburg.com/opk9-work.php

Join Ian O'Connell as he sits down with longtime Leerburg friend and mentor Kevin Sheldahl to talk about markers. Where they came from, why they work, and how Kevin uses them in K9 detection training. Kevin traces marker training back to its roots in marine mammal training with dolphins and sea lions, explains the psychology behind why a marker like a clicker carries meaning, and breaks down the three types of rewards trainers actually have to work with. It's a conversation packed with practical insight for anyone building a marker system with their own working k9.| Links mentioned: Leerburg Clicker - https://leerburg.com/765.htm, The Foundations of Scent Detection with Kevin Sheldahl - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

Join Ian O'Connell as he sits down with longtime Leerburg friend and mentor Kevin Sheldahl to talk about markers — where they came from, why they work, and how Kevin uses them in K9 detection training. Kevin traces marker training back to its roots in marine mammal training with dolphins and sea lions, explains the psychology behind why a marker like a clicker carries meaning, and breaks down the three types of rewards trainers actually have to work with. It's a conversation packed with practical insight for anyone building a marker system with their own working k9.| Links mentioned: Leerburg Clicker - https://leerburg.com/765.htm, The Foundations of Scent Detection (2025) with Kevin Sheldahl - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

In 1982, Ed Frawley started Leerburg Enterprises. At that time, he had been filming dog training videos for 4 years. Now 78 years old, Ed retired from Leerburg at the end of January 2026 with a goal of spending more time with his family and doing a lot of fishing. Ed sold Leerburg to 2 friends who are both retired K9 handlers and instructors - Ian O’Connell and David Littlefield. Ian and Dave have great plans for Leerburg. They are keeping every employee and the business will stay in Menomonie, WI. | Links mentioned: About Us - https://leerburg.com/aboutus.htm

Get to know more about the new owners of Leerburg, Ian O'Connell and David Littlefield, with this Ask Us Anything interview. In this video, the team sits down to answer YOUR burning questions about the transition, the future of Leerburg, and what's staying exactly the same. From the whereabouts of Ed Frawley to personal dog training stories, police K9 deployments, and even some fun rapid-fire questions— Ian and David cover it all. Whether you're curious about product quality, the company's vision, or just want to get to know the new leadership, this Ask Us Anything session has something for everyone. | Links mentioned: About Us - https://leerburg.com/aboutus.htm

Most dog bites are preventable — but only if you know what to look for. The problem is, the warning signals dogs give off before a bite aren't always obvious, and for pet owners without a training background, they're easy to miss. In this clip from Dealing with Reactive, Aggressive, and Dominant Dogs, we break down what dog aggression actually means, why it looks different from dog to dog, and why labeling your dog's aggression matters less than learning to recognize the signals before a situation escalates.  | Links mentioned: Dealing with Reactive, Aggressive, and Dominant Dogs - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/137

Muzzles get a bad reputation, but the truth is there are many situations where a muzzle is the kindest, safest tool you can reach for — and none of them make your dog a "bad dog." In this clip from Conditioning Your Dog to a Muzzle on Leerburg University, we cover the range of reasons a handler might choose to muzzle their dog — from managing aggression safely, to protecting dogs who can't stop eating things they shouldn't, to making vet visits and grooming appointments less stressful for everyone involved. A muzzle isn't a punishment. It's a management tool — and when introduced correctly, most dogs tolerate it without stress.| Links mentioned: Conditioning Your Dog to a Muzzle - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/150