Episodes

Should you punish your puppy for accidents, chewing, biting, or jumping? In this episode of Puppy Talk Podcast, Dale Buchanan explains why punishment often creates confusion and fear instead of teaching puppies what we want t...

Many behavior problems are rooted in stress, confusion, fear, frustration, or overstimulation, not stubbornness or “bad” behavior. Owners often misread what their dogs are actually communicating. Dogs cannot explain emotions ...

Dogs need more than just food and shelter. They also require mental and physical stimulation. A bored dog might appear to be lazy or a troublemaker, but in many cases, it is boredom leading to frustration that gives rise to p...

In this episode I talk about why and how to keep the training simple for your puppy early in their training program. Why it’s best to keep it simple. Focus on the foundational skills and make them perfect before attempting to...

These are the same tips that we give all my clients when they hire me to help train their puppies. I suggest listening to this episode multiple times and reading the transcript if provided. Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Trainin...

In this episode of Puppy Talk , we talk about how many common dog behavior problems are accidentally taught by the owners themselves. Jumping, barking, leash pulling, and attention-seeking habits often continue because, from ...

Most dog owners think calm means a dog that is tired or doing nothing, but real calmness is something different. In this episode of Puppy Talk, we talk about what calm behavior actually looks like, why many dogs never learn h...

Many people get a new puppy and immediately start teaching it to shake, high-five, and roll over. In this episode of Puppy Talk, I am going to explain the advantages and disadvantages of teaching your puppy tricks before they...

Most owners think their dog is being stubborn, ignoring them, or choosing not to listen. But in many cases, the dog is not being disobedient at all. The dog is confused. In this episode of Puppy Talk, we will discuss the foll...

If your dog barks, lunges, freezes, growls, or completely loses their mind when they see another dog or person on leash, this episode is for you. In this episode, I will talk about: What leash reactivity actually is Why leash...

Most of us focus on the cute parts of bringing home a puppy. Cuddling, playing, and taking lots of photos. What if we focused on the habits that prevent behavior issues from forming? This episode is taken from an Instagram po...

Dog training is about more than teaching sit and stay. In this episode of Puppy Talk , we break down what real dog training actually looks like in everyday life. We talk about why commands alone fall short, how understanding ...

I’ve done several episodes recently on the responsibility of raising a puppy. The main thing to remember once you take ownership of a puppy is that they need obedience training, and you have to practice with them. Follow the ...

People call me to discuss puppy training, and their entire focus is on potty training. This happens a lot. The goal of this episode is to shift new puppy owners' focus to the bigger picture of raising a puppy beyond potty tra...

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 ...

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: Raising a young puppy starting at 8 weeks old is a...

Being an effective leader and building trust in your dog requires a skill set grounded in effective communication, temperament, and focus. What to do: Make sure your communication is crystal clear. Trim the fat. Tell the dog ...

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? Structure creates ca...

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

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 manage...

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 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, anxie...

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. Your dog stays...

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 su...