For dog owners:

1. Always keep your dog on a leash. Listen to podcast episode 118. 
2. Never allow your dog to bark or lunge at another dog or people. Create distance immediately if this happens.
3. Work with a trainer to prevent rectivity. Teach sit, wait, “watch-me” as alternative behaviors to reacting to stimuli. 

For parents of children:

1. Never allow your child to pet a dog unless the dog is on a leash and calm.
2. Never have your child reach their hand toward a dog's face or put their face close to a dog's face.
3. Only allow the child to pet the dog on its side while the dog's owner holds it calmly on a leash. 

Related Episodes: #118 on October 7, 2025, and #97 on April 7, 2025. 

News story on WHNT News 19: https://youtu.be/JdtAaPczUoc?si=3CmznHd_sHV08uT9

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Embarking on a career as a dog trainer may seem daunting. With vast knowledge to acquire and numerous pathways to explore, it can be challenging. Yet, by breaking it down into straightforward steps, the journey becomes manageable. In this episode, I will guide you through the essentials of starting out, from enhancing your expertise to establishing yourself as a reliable professional in your community.

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

The Most Important Command to Teach Your Puppy is the "stay" command. This will help you control the puppies space in the house, prevent them from jumping, and prevent them from running away. In this episode, I explain why the "stay" command is so important and how to program the command into your puppy.

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Puppy Socialization is the most important thing to teach your puppy from the ages of 8 to 16 weeks old. Everything that your puppy is exposed to during this time period will have a significant impact on preventing fear, anxiety, and stress in the future.

1. Start socializing your puppy early.
2. Take them to as many places as possible
3. Be consistent with public outings.   

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

You may be wondering what is best for your dog, whether you should keep them on or off the leash. Here are some reasons that you'll want to consider keeping your best friend on-leash and living their best life.

1. Your dog stays safe
2. Others stay safe
3. In most places, it's the law
4. In case of emergency
5. It's the responsible thing to do

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Many people get confused when it comes to defining dog training. This episode should clear that up for you. Here is what we will cover today:

• Obedience Training, also known as dog training, involves teaching basic commands such as sit, down, and stay. 
• Obedience training is what most people refer to when discussing dog training.
• Although dog training is used by almost everyone across a broad spectrum, including veterinarians and doggie daycare, “Your dog needs training”…when in fact they need Behavior Modification
• Behavior Modification (BeMod) is a systematic approach to change unwanted severe behaviors such as fear, anxiety, stress, or aggression. 
• BeMod is not ideal for young puppies.
• BeMod works best when there is a solid foundation of basic obedience. 
• BeMod is very intense and requires a considerable amount of time. The outcome is unpredictable. There are no guarantees. 

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

You’ve witnessed your dog's transformation through our basic obedience program, where they mastered essential commands and established a solid foundation. So, what's the next step for the truly devoted dog and owner? The answer is found in the engaging and effective realm of advanced group obedience training.

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Most behavior problems in adult dogs stem from fear or anxiety that started early and went unaddressed. Here are some tips to help prevent Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in your puppy:

1. Early Socialization
2. Create a Secure Environment
3. Reading Body Language
4. Building Confidence Through Training
5. Avoiding Common Mistakes That Cause FAS

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Seasoned dog owners might feel like they have been through it all with one pup, and thus, they can tackle any challenge that comes their way. Don't let that fool you. Experience with one dog at a time is much different than juggling two or more. That being said, how do you know when the time is right to add a second pup to the family? Is it even a good idea to do so?

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

A study from the National Library of Medicine shows that overweight dogs are more likely to engage in unwanted behaviors.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5468744/

How to prevent dogs from getting overweight

1. Plenty of exercise 
2. Plenty of enrichment and mental stimulation. 
3. Monitor their food intake. 
4. No Snacking. 

Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan