I love this heartwarming story! Today's episode features Beau Maxwell, owner of Love for Senior Paws. Her focus is on care and adoption for senior pets. Her love and dedication started with a cocker spaniel she rescued from a disreputable breeder. Since then, she's dedicated her life to rescue and adoption of senior dogs for all through her group.

She talks about the primary goal of Love for Senior Paws. Some of the areas of focus are;

• Raising awareness about the needs of senior pets
• Specific challenges related to their care that the organization faces
• Foster care / adoption
• Working with underfunded shelters
• Providing assistance with medical care while they wait to be adopted
• Incredible success stories and positives for adopting senior pets
• Their focus on continuing support for families that take on these pets

We talk about what the first steps are for people who want to be involved. We also share some general stories about relationships with dogs, and contrast them with the unique elements that mature dogs bring (whether it's pain management, rules and obedience, family connection, etc.)

There are options for sponsoring animals (more details about becoming part of "the pack" here).

You can visit Beau's website as well at LoveForSeniorPaws.org.

Also, I'd like to thank our sponsor P.U.P. Dog Rescue, and talk about their featured dog! Cocoa is a 9-year-old Chihuahua - she's a black, brown, and white short haired Chihuahua that is very sweet and calm. For more information, click here.

Today's interview was with David Blank, owner of Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours. David is the contact you need to know if you like travel and taking your dogs along!

David started as a tour guide and found tremendous happiness with travel and tourism and eventually realized that incorporating the travelers' dogs in their adventures was an incredibly enriching experience. He talks about his adopted dog Max, who was close to being euthanized, became the spark for the 20,000 mile journey that would ensue.

The discovery of calm and connection to the dogs takes a bit of learning, but owners find that it gives their dog a sense of relaxation and confidence that they never had before.

I talk about some of the basic steps that David requires for the dog to get started, such as;

• Obeying sit, stay, type commands
• Ability to be calm in a dog-friendly restaurant environment
• Not aggressive towards other animals or humans
• They need to be able to physically perform in these environments (on more strenuous hikes)
• Comfort level with the outdoors and other dogs

We talk about some day tours as well, so if you or your dog are not ready for the long adventure you can explore some of the wine country in Northern California, or southwest trips, and many more. David was a fun interview and is a great inspiration for those wanting to find a deeper connection with their dog. We'll talk about David's favorite spots to go on adventures.

You can visit their website at HappyTailsTours.com

You can call them at 262-6-CANINE (262-622-6463)

On Instagram at @happytailstours or on Facebook here.

Today's question was about the training course and how the process steps up, what ages the dogs need to be for which steps, etc. Michelle asked a great question and something that needs to be addressed for anyone interested in the course.

Thanks to our sponsor P.U.P. Dog rescue as well - today's rescue is Moana! She's a 5 month old, white scruffy 6 pound terrier mix. Adorable, and will likely be somewhere around 15-22 pound range. She's housebroken and energetic. You can get more information about her here, or just visit PUPDogRescue.org for more on how they work.

On today's show I answer a two commonly asked questions; the first from Tanya, one of our listeners. I get a lot of questions specifically about this. If you listen regularly to the podcast I'm sure you've noticed that I make occasional references to my video training series but I don't often talk about the details. I think the explanation of the video series will help you understand my approach and method to step-by-step training for your dog.

Next I respond to Julie, who asks about a specific type of training regarding dogs walking alongside you while you bike! So I'll take the opportunity to discuss this in depth as well.

This is a 12-part series designed to slowly progress in difficulty so that you can become accustomed to these methods with your dog so you both learn the fundamentals together.

I go through this process with six different people and different kinds of dogs. Some of the benefits of this for use of the videos is;

1. Using dogs of different sizes
2. With different age levels
3. Their owners have different levels of experience and training

I will talk about how this and other lessons fit into the video training course that I offer on my site at TheDogsWay.com. I feature different lessons and a sort of 'competency check' at the end of each to give you a chance to determine what your dog has learned through each.

• Loose Leash Walking
• Revisiting Sit
• Walking Behind
• Controlled Walking, kind of a "heel" type instruction
• "Stay" command
• "Come" command
• Meeting people
• Temporary boundaries
• Permanent boundaries
• "Down" command
• "Leave It"
• Approaching dogs

Of course there are some bonus sections that teach a few different lessons for dogs based on age, and some other factors. On my website I talk about what the course is and isn't, and answer some of the common questions you may have as well. Visit the training course page here if you want to learn more.

This particular technique is important for many reasons and it seems fairly straightforward; but safety is a key component. I love the idea of doing this because it's great for getting your dog some quick exercise!

• Competency - we'll establish what your dog is ready for;
• Setup - training protocol to establish rules (like a "heel" type training);
• Some lessons learned (from my first-hand experience) about what not to do.

And thanks again to our sponsor, P.U.P. Dog Rescue.

This week's rescue dog is 'Stella'. I got a chance to hang out with her, and she's a young, 4 month old German Shepard (I believe maybe a mix). Absolutely adorable! If you'd like more, click here. Or for more information about P.U.P. Dog Rescue visit their site.

Thanks for listening!

In today's episode, and after a few recording attempts, I sit down with Angie Burlingame, owner of A Dog's Life Training School. Angie's a trainer that uses a a board-and-train style method, and offers 2 and 3-week programs. She's based in my neck of the woods (Woodinville, Washington) and we talk in detail about what a typical session would look like for those interested in this type of method for training your dog. Angie and I have known each other for a long time, but this was the first time speaking together in person.

I go in detail, starting with how a boarding type training session begins. We talk about her initial analysis and what initial evaluation steps are important to her. She has a very positive-minded style and technique, and is extremely conscientious about her approach to dogs.

Some of the fun stuff we talk about are;

• How Angie got started (we have a similar story about our sort of "pre-dog training" corporate lives)
• What led her into the field of dog training
• Some of the important keys for her to analyze how a dog behaves on first approach
• What she thinks of training with treats
• What kind of criteria leads her to use a 3-week training approach
• We'll talk a bit about thoughts on "pack" training
• How a "boarding" style of training differs and what is involved in the process

Angie's website is ADogsLifeTrainingSchool.com and you can find her on Facebook by clicking here. Angie has some really great videos online as well. Check them out on Facebook or directly on her homepage.

Thanks again as always for your feedback and comments. You can now download our episodes using our Dog's Way Podcast App! Just go to the Android Play or Apple App Store to download it now.

Sean

In today's episode I will follow up on one of the many responses I received regarding my Skinner's Four Quadrants episodes 73 and 74 that I received. The concepts and methods that dog trainers use is varied, with peoples' passion for dogs it stands to reason that it would bring out a lot of passionate responses to my use of certain parts of all 4 of Skinner's 4 quadrants. A listener, Vicki wrote in.

Vicki attached an article on the VCA Hospitals website that I've added here.

And thanks to PUP Dog Rescue for their support. Today's puppy of the week is "Farley", a 62 pound "senior" (he's about eight years old) He's listed as a German Shepherd mix, but he's got sort of a quintessential mutt look. He's very relaxed and laid back temperament and his current foster family speaks very highly of him. I describe a bit more about his personality in the podcast, and you can also click here to see him and inquire!

For more of The Dog's Way podcast follow us on Twitter @TheDogsWay Subscribe on Facebook, and listen to all of our episodes on our website.

Leave me a voicemail and hear yourself on a future show! I'd love if you'd leave me a brief message to let me know how these tips worked for you! Call (844) 364-7929. And if we use your comments in the show, we'll send you a free video training series! OR if you don't like free stuff … Email your questions to me: [email protected]

All the Best,

He has been a great colleague in the business, and was a great guest on my podcast back in episode 69, where we spoke about his practice, and talked about tips for newer dog trainers.

In this session Ryan and I will talk about some training commands for your dog WITHOUT food (yes, it is possible).

Ryan's steps include the following essential steps for the sit command:

• The proper "minimum" age to effectively train to sit;
• What the "sit' should actually look like;
• What the command means to the dog;
• How to go to the next level so that the dog will hold the position.

Ryan talks about the "style" sit versus the "tuck" sit and getting certain concepts worked out first as building blocks for further training.

"Am I sure my dog understands the sit command?"

Ryan suggests that many owners believe that their dogs already understand and carry out the plan. But a lot have a version of the command covered, but it is essential to set up a sit AND release command, how tone of voice is a significant factor, and how the leash comes into play.

Sean talks with Ryan about exactly what the "release" command looks like for dog owners. If you don't have a specific word for your dog, or if it's too common a word – you'll get lots of great information just from this part of the show!

The "down" command is discussed as well, and how food use is really only there on a limited basis for recall.

And thanks to PUP Dog Rescue for their support. Today's puppy of the week is "Vivienne", an absolutely adorable German Shepherd that has a great mild temper. Click here to see her and inquire!

Ryan's website is TheDogPhilosofur.com and also has some great videos on YouTube as well!

For more of The Dog's Way podcast follow us on Twitter @TheDogsWay Subscribe on Facebook, and listen to all of our episodes on our website.

Leave me a voicemail and hear yourself on a future show! I'd love if you'd leave me a brief message to let me know how these tips worked for you! Call (844) 364-7929. And if we use your comments in the show, we'll send you a free video training series! OR if you don't like free stuff … Email your questions to me: [email protected]

All the Best,

This is a continuation of my talk about Skinner's Four Quadrants. If you're reading this and haven't heard the previous show (episode 73), I'd strongly suggest going back to listen to that first. It will give some context to my deeper dive into what the concepts mean.

We'll talk in this episode about the broader argument of the "purely positive" trainers, why I use a mix of all four, and why.

I'll talk about the critical importance between the theoretical application of these principals when studied in a classroom and the "real world" application of those principals. It is an important distinction to make when deciding how you will apply the same thinking to your pet.

The considerations for keeping correction in the mix is that it is sometimes dependent on the temperament of the dog - they are all different and have different tendencies. I'll give some examples. Additionally, I'll give some instances where the positive only concept can kind of backfire. I'll talk about the default rule and how it applies in this situation.

The keys to these applications is that it is heavily dependent on the type of situation you are facing.

For more of The Dog's Way podcast follow us on Twitter @TheDogsWay Subscribe on Facebook, and listen to all of our episodes on our website.

Leave me a voicemail and hear yourself on a future show! (844) 364-7929. And if we use your comments in the show, we'll send you a free video training series! OR if you don't like free stuff … Email your questions to me: [email protected]

All the Best,

Hey there Dog's Way fans, today it's time to get "geeky" and talk about Skinner's Four Quadrants.

I get asked a lot about the references I make to B.F. Skinner and Skinner's Four Quadrants so it makes sense to go a bit further into what the concepts are behind positive and negative reinforcements, how trainers adapt to those concepts and in this and episode 74 I go into depth on my methods as well and how to apply it to your own pet.

It's a fascinating understanding of behavior, conditioning, and training. There was so much information to digest that I decided to split it into two podcast episodes. Skinner's four quadrants were broken up like this;

• Positive Punishment
• Negative Punishment
• Positive Reinforcement
• Negative Reinforcement

The idea stemmed from a few important predecessors to Skinner, and I talk briefly about their history and the evolution to the concept as applied by Skinner and how it is used for training today.

Russian research physiologist Ivan Pavlov, who helped bridge the gap with classical conditioning - the idea that pairing an otherwise neutral occurrence paired with another thing that does have some meaning to a subject.

Operant conditioning, as an alternative is a learning behavior. I'll get into that as well.

John Watson, behavioral researcher was next in the evolution of conditioning about 15 years or so after Pavlov. Systematic desensitization was the goal.

Edward Thorndike was next in the process and with a cat in a box" type experiment that would demonstrate

Three laws of learning

• The law of readiness;
• the law of exercise;
• and the law of effect.

His experiments led to B.F. Skinner, the subject of today's podcast. He expanded several of the concepts of behavioral theory. I go into that

I want to extend thanks to our sponsor P.U.P. Dog Rescue! They have an adorable dog available for rescue named "Sadie", who is kind of a "wire haired" Daschund mix. She's 5 years old, is very playful, and is about 18 pounds. [Click here to see Sadie and inquire](), or go to [PUP Dog Rescue.com] http://www.pupdogrescue.org/) for more information about them.

I also want to thank Brian DuBose at OnWeb Productions - they have made some great changes and improvements to the podcast, and I kind of view Brian as kind of a podcast "magician". They've improved some things and made the podcast more accessible, including on Alexa and Google Home Devices. Just say "Hey Alexa, play The Dog's Way Podcast"

Thanks again for listening, and remember that both parts of the episode are out, so listen to episode 74 as well for a continuation.

Enjoy!

• "Balanced" techniques with dog training
• How others using correction as a method
• The varying opinions by different trainers, and how you can sort through what's right or wrong for your pet
• An interesting example of obeying the "down" command
• The decision to reward a dog for behaviors as they become instinctive.

In episode 71, Sean interviews Eric Letendre about his method and tips for introducing the down command to a dog. Sean and Eric talk about some of the pitfalls that people fall into when introducing an obedience command and how to progress from introduction to a little greater proficiency in the down.