Listen Dog Training: The Walk & Talk

By Lisa | Listen Dog TrainingKids & Family Pets & Animals

Listen Dog Training: The Walk & Talk episodes

June 13, 2025Cortisol vs Connection: How Stress Hijacks Your Dog’s Brain (And How to Help)
In this powerful, science-backed episode, we dive deep into one of the most misunderstood challenges in dog training: stress.
If your dog ‘knows it at home’ but forgets everything outside, or seems to shut down, bark, lunge, or completely ignore you in the real world — there’s likely something big happening under the surface. That ‘bad’ behaviour? It’s often the result of cortisol, the stress hormone that literally hijacks your dog’s brain.
This episode is a game-changer if you want to stop feeling stuck, and start understanding your dog on a deeper level.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What cortisol is and how it affects your dog’s brain and body
The neuroscience behind why dogs zone out or stop listening
How chronic stress erodes connection and blocks learning
Real-life signs that your dog’s stress levels are too high
Why exposure and pressure can actually backfire
How to lower cortisol and support your dog’s nervous system
Actionable strategies to build trust, resilience, and deeper connection
Whether you're raising a reactive dog, supporting a nervous rescue, or just want to be the best possible human for your pup — this episode will leave you informed, inspired, and totally empowered.
🛒 Want more support, science-led training, or to work with me?
Explore my courses, digital products, and freebies at:
🌐 www.listendogtraining.com
🐶 Follow me on social for daily training tips, behind-the-scenes, and all things connection:
📲 TikTok & Instagram: @listendogtraining

✨ Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review the show — it really helps this podcast reach more brilliant dog people like you!
21 min
June 06, 2025The 3 Daily Routine Tweaks That Will Turn Your Wild, Chaotic Dog Into a Calm, Focused Companion
In this episode of The Walk & Talk, I’m diving deep into transforming your wild, chaotic dog into a calm, focused companion - using just three daily routine tweaks. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by endless pulling on the lead or overwhelming distractions on your walks, this episode is your blueprint for change. I reveal simple, science-backed methods that not only reshape how your dog behaves, but also strengthen your bond and make every walk a joyous adventure together. Whether you're a seasoned dog owner or just starting out, these actionable insights will empower you to reclaim control and enjoy a more fulfilling life with your canine companion.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The #1 mistake dog owners make during walks (and how to fix it)
How to use your dog’s food to build engagement and focus right from the start of the walk
The perfect 5-part walk routine that will set your dog up for success every time
The boundary-setting techniques you need at home to stop unwanted behaviors
Simple, actionable steps to bring calm and connection into your everyday routine
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! I’d love to hear how you’re using the dopamine trick in your own training:
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 If this episode gave you an “aha!” moment, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared the episode with a fellow dog lover—it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!
18 min
May 30, 2025Relationship-Based Training: Buzzword or Breakthrough?
In this episode, we’ll dive deep into one of the most popular - and misunderstood - concepts in modern dog training: relationship-based training.
Is it just another fluffy social media trend, or is it a powerful, science-backed training philosophy that can change your dog’s behaviour and your bond forever?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What defines relationship-based training — and how it differs from other methods
The neuroscience behind why your dog’s relationship with you matters more than you think
How to use your bond as a training tool, not a reason to delay teaching
Why boundaries and clarity are essential
The difference between being present and actually engaging with your dog
How to become more reinforcing than the environment, using smart training instead of just affection
Five practical pillars to begin relationship-based training today — including engagement games, communication systems, and the power of play
Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or just getting started, this episode will give you fresh clarity, new tools, and a recharged sense of purpose when it comes to your connection with your dog.

💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com

You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!

📱 Let’s connect! I’d love to hear how you’re using the dopamine trick in your own training:
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @‌listendogtraining
🎧 If this episode gave you an “aha!” moment, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared the episode with a fellow dog lover—it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!
22 min
May 23, 2025To Spay Or Not To Spay: The Truth About Hormones, Health & Behaviour
Thinking about whether or not to spay your female dog? Or when the right time might be? This episode of The Walk & Talk is here to guide you through the real facts... not the outdated one-size-fits-all advice, not the guilt trips, and definitely not the fear-mongering.
We’ll explore the risks, the benefits, the behavioural impacts, and the hormonal picture, so you can make a decision that’s truly right for your individual dog.
Whether you’re navigating your first ever season with your pup, wondering about long-term health effects, or feeling pressure from outdated advice, this episode will help you feel informed, calm, and confident.
🎧 In this episode, you'll learn:
What the spay procedure actually involves and how it differs from neutering males
How oestrogen affects your female dog’s development, brain, joints, and behaviour
The potential behavioural changes that may occur after spaying
Why timing really matters—and why early isn’t always better
The risks of mammary cancer and how that risk increases over time
What pyometra is, why it’s so serious, and how to spot it early
What to expect during your dog’s seasons (if you delay or opt not to spay)
How to weigh up the decision based on breed, behaviour, lifestyle, and health
Why there is no one-size-fits-all answer—and how to make a choice that suits you
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! I’d love to hear how you’re using the dopamine trick in your own training:
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @‌listendogtraining
🎧 If this episode gave you an “aha!” moment, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared the episode with a fellow dog lover—it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!
22 min
May 16, 2025 The Dopamine Secret: How to Make Your Dog Choose You Over the World
Ever wondered why your dog seems more interested in a leaf blowing down the street than your recall cue? Or why their ears perk up at the sound of the fridge but not your voice?
It all comes down to one powerful brain chemical: dopamine.
In this episode of The Walk & Talk, I’m diving deep into the science of dopamine and how you can use it to massively boost your training results, strengthen your bond, and finally become more reinforcing than literally everything else in your dog’s world.
Whether you’re working on recall, loose lead walking, or just want to be your dog’s favourite thing again—this episode is packed with insight and practical tweaks you can start using today.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
💡What dopamine actually is—and how it affects your dog’s behaviour
💡Why anticipation is just as powerful as the reward itself
💡How to make your training more engaging and brain-boosting
💡Simple ways to create dopamine spikes using rewards, patterns and movement
💡How to use surprise, variety and play to make YOU the most exciting part of your dog’s day
💡Real-life examples of tweaks that create faster, more reliable results

💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!

📱 Let’s connect! I’d love to hear how you’re using the dopamine trick in your own training:
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 If this episode gave you an “aha!” moment, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared the episode with a fellow dog lover—it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!
22 min
May 09, 2025 The Lie That Shaped Dog Training For Decades: The Truth About Dominance in Dogs + Why It’s Misunderstood
What if everything you were told about being your dog’s ‘alpha’ was built on a misinterpretation of stressed-out wolves in captivity? In this eye-opening episode of The Walk & Talk, I take you on a deep-dive through the shaky science behind dominance theory, the myth of the ‘alpha dog,’ and the long-lasting impact this outdated ideology still has on modern dog training.
You'll learn:
🐾 The real story behind those infamous wolf studies
🐾 Why dominance-based training harms trust, learning, and safety
🐾 What leadership should look like in a healthy dog-human relationship
🐾 How to recognise stress-based behaviours and unmet needs in your dog
🐾 The empowering truth: your dog isn’t trying to rule you—they’re trying to connect with you
If you’ve ever felt torn between harsh training advice and doing what feels kind and intuitive, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to lead your dog with compassion and structure. Let’s rewrite the rules—and reclaim the joy.
💡 Want to dive deeper? Explore my digital dog training courses designed to give you the exact tools to build connection, teach essential skills, and support a truly happy life with your dog—without the confusion or conflict.
Browse all courses at www.listendogtraining.com
✨ Free training tips, tutorials & support ⬇️
→ Instagram: @listendogtraining
→ TikTok: @listendogtraining
22 min
May 02, 2025 Why You’re STILL Stuck With Your Dog’s Problem Behaviour & The One Shift That Will Move You Forward
In this episode of The Walk and Talk, we’re digging into why hyper-fixating on your dog’s surface-level behaviour problems — like pulling on lead or ignoring a recall — keeps you stuck in frustration. Real, lasting change doesn’t come from slapping a quick fix on the struggle you can see. It comes from identifying and addressing the bigger-picture concepts underneath — like focus, disengagement, impulse control, and proximity value.
I’ll show you how thinking bigger and targeting these core skills transforms your dog's behaviour faster, more effectively, and for the long term — and why trying to "fix" the problem in isolation is usually a dead end.
✨ Want to start tackling the real causes behind your dog’s struggles?
Check out my downloadable training plans and programmes at listendogtraining.com — whether you want a simple intro to concept training or a full design-your-own plan with all the exercises laid out for you, there’s something to get you moving forward!
💡 Follow for free tips and tutorials:
→ Instagram: @listendogtraining
→ TikTok: @listendogtraining
22 min
April 25, 2025 Wired for Each Other: The Incredible Science Behind the Dog-Human Connection
You’re not just your dog’s food dispenser or walk provider—you’re their emotional anchor, communication partner, and literal brain-shaper. This episode dives into the science of that relationship, uncovering how dogs have evolved to thrive with humans—not other dogs—and why that changes everything about how we train, raise, and relate to them.
We’re talking oxytocin spikes, brain scans, evolutionary theory, and why your dog’s wagging tail and floppy ears are hardwired evidence of thousands of years of co-evolution.
💡 Inside this episode you’ll learn:
– Why dogs know we’re not dogs—and why that matters
– How they’ve developed supercharged communication skills just for us
– The hormone behind your dog’s devotion
– Why socialising with random dogs isn’t as natural—or necessary—as you’ve been told
🎯 By the end, you’ll see your role in your dog’s life differently—and you’ll have real, practical insight to deepen your bond and supercharge your training.
🎓 Want more?
→ Explore online courses & shop training packs: www.listendogtraining.com
→ Follow @listendogtraining on IG & TikTok
Whether you're a lifelong dog lover or just starting your journey, this episode will change the way you see your relationship—and leave you feeling even more in awe of your dog (if that’s possible?!)
19 min
April 18, 2025Your Dog Just Got Rushed... Here’s What To Do Next (From a Pro Dog Trainer)
You’re doing everything right—training consistently, building your dog’s confidence, setting them up for success… and then BAM. An off-lead dog barrels into your walk and turns everything upside down. In this episode of The Walk & Talk, I’m sharing exactly what to do after a negative experience like an aggressive dog encounter, so it doesn’t undo all your hard work.
Whether your dog is a reactive teenager, a nervous puppy, or just sensitive to bad vibes (honestly, same) this episode walks you through my exact “regulation recipe” to help your dog bounce back—emotionally and behaviourally—after a stressful incident.
💛 You’ll learn:
What to do immediately after an incident
How to activate your dog’s parasympathetic nervous system (aka calm-the-heck-down mode)
The simple on-lead strategies that promote healing, not fear
Why coddling can backfire—and what to do instead
How to protect your training progress long-term
🎧 Whether you’ve been there before or you just want to be prepared in case, this is a must-listen for every devoted dog owner.
📢 P.S. If you want to take this a step further, grab my Reactivity Training Pack from my website—packed with real-life solutions and stress-free strategies for helping your dog feel safe, seen and supported. It’s available instantly here.
📲 Let’s connect! Follow me for more training tips:
🐶 TikTok: [@listendogtraining]
🐶 Instagram: [@listendogtraining]
If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps so much! And share it with a fellow dog owner who needs to hear this. 🐾🎙️
19 min
April 11, 2025 The Neutering Debate: What Science Really Says Will Happen To Your Dog’s Behaviour & Why
Thinking about neutering your dog? With so much conflicting advice out there - some say do it early, some say wait, some say don’t do it at all - it’s hard to know what’s actually right for your dog.
In this episode of The Walk & Talk, I’m cutting through the confusion and breaking down the real science behind neutering. We’ll dive into:
🐾 What testosterone actually does to your dog and for your dog
🐾 The real impact of neutering on behaviour and health
🐾 The risks, benefits, and best timing if you do decide to neuter
🐾 The myths, the facts & the crucial things most people don’t consider before making this irreversible decision
Neutering is one of the biggest choices you’ll make for your dog, and I want to make sure you have all the information - not just hearsay or pressure from others - so you can make the best decision with confidence.
Want expert guidance on training your dog before making big decisions like this?
Check out my digital training programmes:
✨ Recall Training Guide: Teach your dog a reliable racing recall!
✨ Reactivity Training Programme: The step-by-step system to help your reactive dog feel calmer and more confident.
✨ Puppy Training Pack: Everything you need to raise your puppy with zero stress, and maximum success
📲 Let’s connect! Follow me for more training tips:
🐶 TikTok: [@listendogtraining]
🐶 Instagram: [@listendogtraining]
If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps so much! And share it with a fellow dog owner who needs to hear this. 🐾🎙️
20 min

About Listen Dog Training: The Walk & Talk

From the publisher's feed

Leash up your dog, hit the pavement, and tune in to The Walk & Talk with award-winning dog trainer Lisa Burton. In each episode, Lisa pulls back the curtain on dog behaviour, sharing the real,…