My dog Dixie has been diagnosed with heart disease after a routine checkup before teeth cleaning. They found a heart murmur, then, from an X-ray, found an enlarged heart and congestion in her lungs. I have created a GoFundMe account link in the show notes with more details. 

Start-Up Fees:

• Including adoption or breeder fees, initial vet visit, microchip, supplies, and training. 
• $2000-$8000

Monthly Expenses:

• Food 
• Medication (heartworm, flea, and tick prevention)
• Daycare
• Dog Walker
• Grooming
• Treats and toys
• Pet Insurance
• For Dixie, this is about $700/month

Annual Expenses:

• Vet visits
• Shots (rabies, distemper, parvovirus, etc.)
• Bloodwork
• Boarding (when out of town)
• For Dixie, this is about $500/year

Unexpected Expenses:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Parvo, distemper, flu
• Parasites and worms
• Ear infections
• Heartworm
• Injuries such as broken bones or joint problems
• It can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.

Resources: https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/pet-community/pet-talk/top-10-most-common-health-problems-for-dogs/

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

Many people underestimate the level of responsibility needed to raise a puppy. Listen to my first episode of Puppy Talk called Owning a New Puppy is a Lot of Work. 

The Truth:

1. Raising a young puppy starting at 8 weeks old is a part-time job.
2. Hiring a dog trainer may not help. It’s not the solution.
3. You have to do the work yourself, with the help of a coach.

The Myths:

1. Puppies only need affection and play
2. Teaching your puppy the command “no” will solve everything
3. Punishing the puppy by yelling or using force is important

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

Being an effective leader and building trust in your dog requires a skill set grounded in effective communication, temperament, and focus. 

What to do:

1. Make sure your communication is crystal clear. Trim the fat. Tell the dog what you want and reward them for doing it.
2. Set your dog up for success. Make it impossible for them to fail and let them have fun in the process.
3. Stay focused on “teaching” the dog what you want them to learn.

What not to do:

• DO NOT talk to them so much, especially with repeated commands, where they check out
• DO NOT yell at your dog.
• DO NOT show frustration and lack of leadership skills.
• DO NOT use physical force with your dog. 
• DO NOT over-correct your dog. The focus should not be on stopping a behavior, but teaching an alternative behavior. 

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

Building structure for your puppy in one of the best things you can do to help raise a happy, healthy, and obedient puppy.  In this episode of Puppy Talk I discuss the why and how of puppy structure. 

Why?

1. Structure creates calmness in the puppy.
2. Structure creates an opportunity for the puppy to succeed, not fail
3. Structure helps you, the puppy owner, have more control over the puppy’s behavior, obedience, and discipline.

How?

1. Stick to a routine: wake up, potty, short walk, training, eat, play, potty again, and nap.
2. Your puppy is in school and needs a balance of math, English, history, and science. Recess can come after the other subjects.
3. DO NOT replace the essential subjects with play and affection. This is having your puppy in recess all day long.

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

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

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

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.

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

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.

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

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.   

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

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

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL. 

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. 

Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

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

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.