Podcast Episodes

Stress Isn't Just Stress: Understanding the Emotional Brain of the Dog

When we hear the word stress, most of us think of fear, anxiety, or overwhelm. But stress isn't always negative. In fact, stress is a normal and nece…

3 months ago

The Day Chickens Changed My Dog Training, and other Ramblings

What do chickens have to do with dog training? More than you might think.

In this episode, I share the story of how a 40-hour week spent training chic…

3 months, 1 week ago

Building a Dog Who Wants to Return

What makes a dog choose to come back?

Many people think recall starts with teaching the cue "come," but reliable recall is about much more than a sing…

3 months, 2 weeks ago

Beyond the Six-Month Rule

For decades, dog owners were routinely told to spay or neuter their dogs at six months of age. It was a simple recommendation that became the standar…

3 months, 3 weeks ago

Don't Train Me, Raise Me. (Part 2)

Don’t Train Me, Raise Me explores the difference between creating a dog that simply follows commands and raising a dog that understands how to naviga…

4 months ago

Why Running Your Dog Ragged Isn’t the Answer

We’ve all heard the advice: “A tired dog is a good dog.” But physical exhaustion alone does not create emotional stability, confidence, or good decis…

4 months, 1 week ago

The Hidden Cost of “Including” Your Dog

Somewhere along the way, we started believing that a “good” dog is one who can go everywhere, meet everyone, and handle anything without hesitation. …

4 months, 3 weeks ago

Teaching Neutrality in a Stimulating World

Dogs aren’t struggling because they haven’t been exposed to enough—they’re struggling because of how their nervous system is processing what they’ve …

5 months ago

What You See Isn’t the Whole Story—It’s Just the Surface

Britteny joins Nikki for an honest conversation about Willow’s early behaviors—what felt concerning at the time, and how those same behaviors now mak…

5 months, 1 week ago

It’s Not the Event—It’s the Feeling: Associations Are Built on Emotion

We tend to look at behavior and point to the obvious—that dog, that noise, that moment—and assume we understand what caused it. But what if the event…

5 months, 2 weeks ago