In this Off Leash and Unfiltered consult, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—talks through a common modern dilemma: a small, adored ESA dachshund that barks when left alone, fights nail trims, sleeps in bed, and ignores commands around distractions—yet is slated to live in a college dorm. Kati explains why ESAs aren’t service dogs, why the “all-softness” relationship backfires, and how structure (crate/place/leash), clear teaching, and real accountability can stabilize the dog if the whole family—especially

In this bonus episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—shares the single habit that flips a dog from chaotic to calm: clear, consistent leash communication. She covers threshold manners at crates and doors, why a properly fitted prong collar makes guidance possible, how to deliver crisp leash pops (with slack!) instead of constant pressure, and why fewer words (“No,” “Good,” “Let’s go”) speed results. The goal is an automatic, polite default—without

In this episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—lays out the five core ways she uses the e-collar: as a low-level communication tool, to secure compliance around distractions, to add real accountability to finished obedience, to stop unwanted behaviors fast, and to lower arousal/interrupt fixation so dogs can relax and learn. She also explains how timing, level, and clear markers (“No”) make all the difference. Episode Highlights (Top 5 Uses) Minute-by-Minute

In this episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—types “My dog won’t…” into the browser and breaks down the internet’s most-asked worries: won’t eat, won’t drink, won’t poop, and won’t let me cut nails. What’s normal, when to worry, and the practical steps that actually work—without getting trapped in online noise. Episode Highlights Minute-by-Minute Breakdown

In this Off Leash and Unfiltered consult, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—talks with a heartbroken owner whose young Icelandic Sheepdog is barking nonstop, chewing furniture, jumping and nipping at grandkids, slipping collars on walks, and fighting the crate. Kati unpacks the working-breed mismatch, explains why “exercise” isn’t the fix, and lays out a realistic path: structure (crate/place/leash), clear teaching, and meaningful consequences—plus when board & train makes sense, and how to weigh rehoming in extreme

In this episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—responds to a viral social post aimed at prong and e-collar users. Kati agrees owners should ask trainers about tools, but says the real question is what consequences a trainer uses to make behavior reliable. She contrasts “teaching a skill” vs. “making it non-optional,” argues for results over credentials, and shares a fresh success story of an anxious dog learning to sit calmly

In this episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—walks through a phone consult with a future two-Doberman household. She explains why breed tendencies matter, which early behaviors are red flags (like “protective” displays at 4 months), and why owners—not just dogs—must learn tools and accountability. Board & train isn’t a magic button; the prong collar gives leash communication, the e-collar gives off-leash reliability, and your follow-through is what makes it stick.

In this episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—answers rapid-fire questions: how to fix “remote-smart” dogs (who behave only when they see the tool), what to do about meltdown-level arousal when you get home, whether littermate syndrome is real, how to handle resource guarding, and why letting a dog be “a little protective” is a recipe for trouble. The thread through all of it: clear markers, consistent accountability, and stopping autonomous,

In this episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—explains how to prep sitters and boarding plans so you don’t come home to chaos. Expect a little regression, avoid free-for-all boarding, give sitters just a few enforceable rules (front-door threshold, couch policy, place), and make sure your e-collar is charged and on. When you get back, re-install standards immediately—your dog didn’t “forget,” they simply followed different rules while you were gone. Episode

In this episode of Off Leash and Unfiltered, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—walks through a real consult: a nervy, “submissive” young Golden who showed teeth and growled when corrected around a prized item. Kati explains why this isn’t a “sudden” change so much as maturity plus prior patterns, how to read submissive postures without getting fooled, and the exact plan to add structure, stop resource guarding safely, and teach a conflict-free out. Episode Highlights Minute-by-Minute