Some dogs power through thresholds like a freight train. Others melt into perfect heel the second they get nervous. We spent the week working both ends of that spectrum and came home with a message worth underlining: great training adapts to the dog and the human, not the latest trend.

We break down the big “training camps”—balanced, force-free, compulsion—and then move past labels to the skills that matter: clean markers, tight criteria, smart reinforcement, and fair corrections. You’ll hear how we slowed a pushy young German Shepherd at crate doors and equipment time, turning impulse into patience with structured thresholds. Then we flip the script with an obedient XL bully whose reactivity lives under a shiny heel. Instead of pouring on more obedience, we use flexi walks, loose leash drills, and directional changes to build confidence and decision-making away from the handler.

Along the way, we talk tools and timing, handler tension that travels down the leash, and why some dogs need more management—crate and rotate, rest, and routine—while others thrive with freedom. We share practical leash rules that let a dog look without lingering, redirect before the explosion, and reward choices that signal emotional change. We also explain why rehearsing the same tough loop every day stalls progress, and how variety—neutral dog reps, adventure board and trains, detection games—creates new wins and better state of mind.

If you’re tired of cookie-cutter advice or feeling guilty when your dog backslides, this conversation will recalibrate your expectations and your plan. There is no finish line, just evolving standards, sharper basics, and a growing toolkit that fits the dog in front of you. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s stuck on reactivity, and leave a review to help more owners find a better path.

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What if your “problem” dog isn’t broken at all—just under‑fulfilled, over‑aroused, and waiting for clearer structure? We sit down with a listener whose three‑year‑old shih tzu wakes early, paces, fixates on a senior housemate, and melts down in public. The twist: he’s not “bad,” he’s wired like a working dog in a small body. Our goal becomes simple and doable—build a daily rhythm that channels drive, lowers stress, and teaches calm on cue.

We dig into the tug‑of‑war between genetics and lifestyle, especially when maturity unmasks anxiety. You’ll hear how we set “windows” of focused activity with marker words—Are you ready? opens the session; All done closes it—then pick up toys and move the dog into a crate or tether to practice settling. We break down short food games like get it and yes to engage the brain, then layer easy skills and play. The result is arousal with purpose, followed by true decompression, not nagging or guilt.

Multi‑dog homes get special attention: how to protect seniors, stop relentless pestering with a slip lead, and decide when to interrupt play versus let it flow. We talk crate training that builds alone‑time skills without drama, why randomizing session times prevents anticipatory chaos, and when a well‑fitted e‑collar can add humane clarity after foundations. If winter has cut your walks, you’ll learn how two short, high‑value sessions a day can outperform long, inconsistent exercise and steadily grow confidence for public spaces when weather returns.

By the end, we land on a compassionate truth: you can’t turn every dog into your last dog, but you can teach the one in front of you how to thrive. If this resonates, tap follow, share with a friend who’s overwhelmed, and leave a review telling us the one habit you’ll try this week.

Visit us on the website here to see what we've got going on and how you can join our pack of good dogs and owners.

The barking, spinning, and “I’m out” crate dives aren’t your dog being difficult—they’re your dog asking for clarity. We dig into how frustration gets mislabeled as shutdown, and how a few simple changes to structure and language can transform a chaotic session into focused, joyful work. From sport dogs to family companions, this is a practical tour of routines, marker words, and walking rules that actually stick.

We start by building a clean communication system: yes to release and pay movement toward you, good to reinforce duration in position, and no as a calm boundary paired with brief leash pressure. You’ll hear how to condition yes so dogs chase you for multiple rewards, why varying payout matters, and how to use good to create a reliable implied stay. Then we zoom out to session flow—potty first, calm thresholds, a clear “Are you ready?” to open the window, and short working blocks with smart resets. It’s a recipe for lowering stress without dimming drive.

Heeling gets a clarity overhaul, too. We separate with me from a formal heel to prevent mixed messages, explain right- vs left-side criteria, and show how to handle a young or hot dog who “leaks” arousal. You’ll get hand-target progressions, perch-to-floor pivots, and leash-pressure releases marked with yes to fix forging and crooked positions. We also cover real-home setups for door greetings and guests—leash for safety, neutral handler energy, timely pops or taps, and rewards for calm engagement—so your dog can process excitement without blowing up.

Whether you’re wrangling a border collie who’s overflowing with energy or tuning up a pet dog who fakes calm, the playbook is the same: clearer cues, tighter windows, and kinder limits. Listen, take notes, and try the drills. If this helped, subscribe, share with a dog friend, and leave a quick review—what cue will you sharpen first?

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Start the year with a training reset that actually fits real life. We lay out a practical vision for 2026: less bashing between camps, more education, and a class model built for consistency. Instead of forcing rigid rules that fall apart on hard weeks, we show how to meet owners where they are, build trust, and add tools later when it makes sense. The throughline is sustainability—habits you’ll keep because they’re simple, fair, and aligned with how you live.

We break down why variety matters and how a gym-style schedule keeps both dogs and humans engaged. Reactivity classes focus on early interruption and neutrality, obedience sessions sharpen markers and play, detection taps into real nosework, and guided pack hikes bring nature back into the routine. You’ll hear how small, repeatable skills—shuffle back, pay, reset—turn panic into a plan, and why those reps create calm confidence faster than any quick fix.

We also take on the myth that a flat, silent dog is a well-trained dog. Training shouldn’t crush personality. By channeling drive, rewarding curiosity, and teaching clean off-switch behavior, you can keep your dog’s spark while gaining real control. That balance is where owners rediscover joy: an off-leash hike in the morning, a cafe settle at lunch, crisp heel work at class, and a happy dog who still lights up for play.

Under it all is community. Weekly sessions turn effort into a habit, reduce isolation for reactive dog owners, and lift everyone’s standards. We’re building a space in Upland, east of LA, where people feel seen and dogs get the outlets they deserve. If you want training that lasts beyond a boot camp and a dog who stays fully alive, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with your top training goal for 2026.

Visit us on the website here to see what we've got going on and how you can join our pack of good dogs and owners.

Fear doesn’t mean stop; it usually means go. Meg sits down with trainer and coach Oscar Mora to trace the real path from a steady aerospace paycheck to a ranch built for teaching, trialing, and building a club where honest feedback and consistent reps change both dogs and handlers. We talk about the moment his wife said “it’s time,” the practical signs he watched before quitting, and how discomfort became a compass for growth rather than a reason to freeze.

From there we dive into the craft. Oscar breaks down why pet skills and sport skills speak the same language—clean markers, fair criteria, and rewards that match the dog in front of you. He lays out how to get into sport without weekly decoy access by focusing on obedience, neutrality, and structured play. We explore off-breeds in sport, what a Corso can teach a handler about patience and pressure, and how finishing something with the dog you have often builds more skill than endlessly chasing a “perfect” prospect.

Puppy selection gets specific: confidence over defensiveness, love of chase, possession, and full grips. For dogs with too much gas, he explains how to install breaks early so the dog can think under conflict—like clearing a jump with a toy screaming from behind. We get candid about social media pressure, why trainers should serve clients instead of peers, and how a culture of private, constructive critique grows people faster than public takedowns. Most importantly, we show how play isn’t just fun; it’s a system for building engagement, solving reactivity, and turning stress into skills that hold up in real life.

Stick around for details on Oscar’s upcoming course, a free newsletter that translates training videos into step-by-step takeaways, and a two-day play workshop on February 21–22 in Upland designed for pet owners and aspiring sport handlers alike. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—then tell us the one skill you’re training this week.

To sign up for Oscar's upcoming workshops, check out his website here.

Visit us on the website here to see what we've got going on and how you can join our pack of good dogs and owners.

Leash meltdowns aren’t random—they’re rehearsed. We pull back the curtain on what “reactivity” really means, why barriers like leashes and fences supercharge emotion, and how to swap chaos for structure without crushing your dog’s spirit. We map the two major lanes of reactivity—overarousal versus fear—then connect them to what’s happening inside the body, from dopamine-fueled excitement to cortisol-driven stress. That biology lesson turns into timing and tactics you can use today.

We start at home, not on the sidewalk. You’ll learn a simple marker-based game that opens and closes a training window, plus why tethering is a crucial skill for teaching calm under restraint. We share step-by-step ways to build reliable loose-leash walking in low-distraction spaces, then show how to move from management to real behavior change. When and how should you layer tools for clarity? Why are forced sits and tight leashes making things worse? How can a flexi line help you test choices safely in open areas? We answer it all, with examples from Bella’s progress and Muffin’s spicy genetics.

Along the way, we talk emotion in training, why precision can wait, and how structure builds confidence in anxious dogs. If dog parks and on‑leash greetings have been fueling your problem, you’ll leave with a practical plan: short engagement loops, crate and tether reps, movement over standoffs, and controlled exposures that don’t reward barking. Plus, we share facility news, new classes in Upland and San Diego, a community holiday party and giving tree, and details on an upcoming seminar with our mentor Oscar focused on markers, communication, and play.

If this helped reframe your dog’s outbursts, tap follow, share with a friend who’s struggling, and leave a quick review telling us what you’ll try first. Your questions for Oscar are next—send them our way.

Visit us on the website here to see what we've got going on and how you can join our pack of good dogs and owners.

The fastest way to a reliable recall isn’t a bigger treat pouch—it’s a cleaner language. We break down a simple system that teaches dogs to look back, come in, and shut off pressure, starting with two markers: “get it” to send away and “yes” to call back. Once that loop is automatic, we layer the e-collar over the turning moment so the sensation becomes meaningful and predictable. The result is a dog that chooses you, even when the world gets loud.

We also draw clear lines between heel and with me. Different sides, different bubbles, different payoff zones. That clarity matters because accountability only works when the rule is knowable. We show how to use a flexi leash to mimic off-leash freedom, when to tap vs hold, and how to stop living at low levels the dog ignores. Instead of nagging, we teach first with leash and food, then correct for breaking known commands. That shift tightens heel, sharpens recall, and keeps sessions upbeat and fair.

Reactivity? We tackle it from the ground up. Build engagement at home, rehearse calm returns near triggers, and correct the choice to leave position—never “shock the reactivity” first. We share practical steps for door barking too: a brief hold to interrupt, release on quiet, then a calm scatter to reset state. Add in smart victory laps at the end of play to vent drive without losing focus, and you’ll feel the whole system click. Want more help dialing levels, timing markers, and shaping criteria that stick? Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a better recall, and leave a review with your top training question so we can coach it next.

Visit us on the website here to see what we've got going on and how you can join our pack of good dogs and owners.

A wet dog smell with no dog. A food bowl scraping the ground after it’s been packed away. A bed dipping to make space for four familiar paws. Our Halloween special dives into the most compelling Reddit stories about ghost dogs—some tender, some chilling, all unforgettable—and asks what these moments might mean for people who loved a pet and had to let go.

We start with a skeptic’s tale that ties rain, timing, and a suitcase full of mysteriously soaked clothes to a beloved spaniel who “found” her human and led him home. From there, we share a series of intimate accounts: a dream that delivered a goodbye before the phone rang, a late-night closet disturbance that left someone frozen in a trance, and the eerie comfort of a guardian dog who reappears to lick tears and calm a shaken child. We also step onto the trail of the Black Dog of Hanging Hills in Connecticut, exploring how folklore, shared perception, and the outdoors amplify the uncanny.

As trainers and dog people, we balance belief with behavioral insight. Why do dogs stare at corners, growl down stairwells, or bark past your shoulder as if someone’s standing behind you? We talk sensory triggers, patterns, and grief’s imprints—while acknowledging that some events resist neat explanations. You’ll hear practical Halloween safety reminders for living pups too: crate or tether at the door, manage greetings, keep chocolate and wrappers out of reach, and update IDs.

If you’ve ever felt a familiar weight settle at your feet or heard tags jingle in an empty hall, you’ll feel seen here. Press play for a thoughtful blend of folklore, training perspective, and heart. Then tell us your story—subscribe, share with a friend who loves dogs, and leave a review with your take: comforting visitation or just a very good ghost?

Visit us on the website here to see what we've got going on and how you can join our pack of good dogs and owners.

Ever get told “be more fun” and think… how? We open the door to our training week—workshop takeaways, insecurity and breakthroughs, and the gritty details of turning vague advice into steps you can actually use. From pet behavior fixes to sport-dog precision, we trace how timing, markers, and body language turn chaos into clarity and why mastering the basics is the fastest way to level up.

We unpack the difference between obedience as a crutch and obedience as a skill, and we show how leash-led walking drills build calm focus without a single command. You’ll hear how we structure neutrality sessions—rewards only from you even with toys and food on the ground—and why that’s both a safety plan and impulse control in one. We talk handler energy too: pairing dog temperament with your style so training feels like give-and-take, not begging. Muffin’s story reveals the reality of emotion-first sessions, micro-sets of “boring” precision, and the reps it takes to make the dog choose you over the room.

Pack dynamics get real here—using stable dogs to teach manners, deliver fair corrections, and diffuse tension without dog parks. We also tackle confidence dips and the Dunning–Kruger curve when you train beside elite handlers. The fix isn’t a secret method; it’s community, standards, and repetition. Our facility has become the lab for freeshaping, sterile first reps, and workshops that blend fundamentals with business so new trainers can actually thrive.

If you want actionable drills, a clearer path from pet problems to sport-ready control, and a reminder that progress is built on simple things done well, you’ll feel at home. Share this with a trainer friend, subscribe for new episodes, and leave a review with one skill you plan to sharpen this week. Your next breakthrough might be one clean rep away.

Visit us on the website here to see what we've got going on and how you can join our pack of good dogs and owners.

Every dog trainer's journey begins somewhere, and for Emma from Raven K9 Dog Training, that foundation was built through pack walking. In this conversation, Emma shares how she transitioned from a customer service manager in Australia to a successful dog trainer in the UK, revealing the unexpected lessons that shaped her training philosophy.

What makes Emma's approach so refreshing is her balanced perspective that honors dogs as individuals while maintaining clear expectations. She details how adopting Raven, a Dutch Shepherd with a serious history of dog reactivity, led her to explore e-collar training and develop a nuanced understanding of canine behavior. Rather than adhering to a single methodology, Emma draws from both pet and sport dog experiences to create a comprehensive training toolkit.

One of the most powerful insights Emma offers is her rejection of the "prison phase" common in many training programs. Instead of keeping dogs in a perpetual training state, she advocates for allowing them time to decompress, enjoy walks, and learn to make appropriate decisions around other dogs. This approach has proven particularly effective with reactive dogs who need to learn real-world skills beyond obedience commands.

Emma's method for building motivation is equally thoughtful—starting with minimal expectations and rewarding dogs simply for proximity before gradually shaping into sustained engagement. She explains how she pairs tools like e-collars and prong collars with positive experiences rather than jumping straight to correction, creating dogs that understand boundaries while maintaining enthusiasm for training.

Whether you're struggling with a reactive dog, interested in balanced training methods, or simply curious about different approaches to working with dogs, Emma's journey offers valuable lessons about staying open, having multiple mentors, and remaining humble in your training practice. Follow her on Instagram at Raven K9 Dog Training or check out her podcast "Girls Just Want to Train Dogs" to learn more about her balanced, thoughtful approach to dog training.

Follow Emma on instagram or visit her website.

Visit us on the website here to see what we've got going on and how you can join our pack of good dogs and owners.