Episodes
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Have you ever found yourself trying to get your dog to come to you and feeling frustrated when they don't? You aren't alone! In this episode, my guest Jill from Jack and Jill Dog Training talks us through some of the myths and truths around teaching our dogs to come when called and common trouble spots we can run into when teaching recall to our dogs. Plus we talk about some of the challenges we trainers have faced with working on recall (hint: we have likely run into the same issues as you!).
Connecting with Jill
Instagram: @jackandjilldogtraining
Website: https://www.jackandjilldogtraining.com/
Mentioned in this episode
Sniffspot
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Being the guardian to a reactive dog can be an amazing and life changing experience, and it can also be really freaking hard!
In this episode, Logan Buie from The Misbehaving Mutt joined me to talk about our own experiences not as trainers, but as guardians to our own reactive dogs. We talk about how our lives changed after realizing our dogs needed more support than we anticipated and how working through reactivity impacted our own stress and anxiety. We also talk through some of the strategies we use to support ourselves while also supporting our dogs (spoiler alert: mental health care is an important facet of that for both of us! Shoutout to therapy!).
If you've found yourself struggling with your own thoughts and feelings while trying to figure out how to support your dog through THEIR feelings, we've been there! And we hope this episode leaves you feeling seen and knowing that support is here for you. Enjoy!
Connecting with Logan: https://www.themisbehavingmutt.com/
IG: @themisbehavingmutt
IG: @confidentmutts
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Missing episodes?
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Alone time troubles, panic, and stress about leaving your dog at home - let's talk separation anxiety!
In this episode, Jenna Teti from Think Smart Dog Training shares her story of supporting her dog Reuben through separation anxiety that appeared after some life changes, including the onset of the pandemic. We talk about what behaviors Jenna noticed that led her to getting help for Reuben and bust some myths about separation anxiety causes and treatment (spoiler: letting your dog cry it out won't make it better!). We also talk about how both dogs and humans need support when dealing with separation anxiety, and how making space for the human feelings is an important part of the process. I really enjoyed this conversation and I hope you do too!
Connecting with Jenna: [email protected]
IG: @thinksmartdogtraining
Mentioned in this episode
Finding a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) - https://malenademartini.com/
Finding a Separation Anxiety Pro Trainer - https://julienaismith.com/find-a-trainer/
Jackie Johnston, CSAT on Instagram @believeinyourdog
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To celebrate one whole year of Make It Click (MIC was started in September of 2021!) we are releasing two of our favorite episodes that were previously only available on Patreon!
When you hear a dog described as "shy", what does that mean for you? On this episode, I am joined by Ali Sutch, KPA CTP and owner of Up to Snuff dog training in California. Ali offers insight about what the label "shy baby" means for dogs, how that descriptor can be either a help or a hindrance, and why it's valuable to bring extra compassion to our discussions about shy dogs. We also discuss what skills might be helpful for shy dogs to help them navigate the world more comfortably, plus knowledge and skills that the human guardians of shy dogs can benefit from. Enjoy!
Find us on Instagram at @MakeItClick.club for episode updates and on Patreon at Patreon.com/MakeItClick for community events and live trainer chats!
Download the transcript for this and all of our other episodes here
Mentioned in this episode
Susan Friedman's LLA course for pet professionals
Doggie Language book
Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed series
Find a veterinary behaviorist near you: DACVB directory
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To celebrate one whole year of Make It Click (MIC was started in September of 2021!) we are releasing two of our favorite episodes that were previously only available on Patreon!
For this special re-release episode, I am joined by guest Jenna Teti from Think Smart Dog Training. We sat down to talk about reframing how we live with dogs and how we can adjust our thinking about why we get dogs in order to better serve our dog’s needs. The result was a really interesting conversation about how that “why” can impact welfare and wellness, the ways that our own human stress can change when we reframe our relationship with dogs, and thoughts about what qualities dogs might pick if they had the opportunity to choose their human.
This was such a lovely and honest conversation about how it can be hard to change the ways we think about dogs, how being a dog guardian can be challenging (spoiler: trainer's dogs aren't "perfect" either!), and the journey's both Jenna and I are on to discover how we can best learn and adapt for our dogs. Enjoy!
Find us on Instagram at @MakeItClick.club for episode updates and on Patreon at Patreon.com/MakeItClick for community events and live trainer chats!
Download the transcript for this and all of our other episodes here
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Have you heard the phrase "crossover trainer"? This month, my guest is fellow trainer Holly Boyes. Holly and I are both crossover trainers, which means we at one point used aversives, corrections, and punishment as part of training, and then ditched those techniques and shifted to a force-free positive reinforcement methodology. In this episode we share a bit about our journeys from balanced to force-free, what prompted us to switch to a new method, and how being crossover trainers helps us to tap into a specific kind of compassion for pet guardians who are struggling with their dog’s behavior.
Minor trigger warning for this episode: we do talk a bit about our own time as balanced trainers where we reference some of the corrections and tools that we used at that time, so if that discussion will be triggering for you please feel free to skip this episode or listen to one of our other positive reinforcement focused episodes.
Enjoy!
Holly Boyes is a multi species force-free crossover trainer, certified trick dog instructor/triple crown coach and a force-free content creator. She is currently working through her DN – DTC, a force-free dog training distinction with DogNostics. She is also a full time reptile breeder and stays busy looking after her many personal pets on her and her husband’s farm in northern Ontario, Canada. Animals have been an obsession from day one and Holly always knew she was going to make a living surrounded by them. She taught the family dog a few tricks as a kid and was completely hooked on training since then.
After discovering trick titles, Holly quickly worked her way up to grand champion with both her dogs but she didn’t stop there. She went on to earn an expert trick title with her cat, and became the first person in the world to earn a trick title with a hedgehog! Gradually making the crossover from balanced to force free training after rescuing a pitbull named Daisy, it’s become Holly’s mission to show others the amazing things that can be accomplished through R+/FF training.
Find Holly on Instagram at @fivefreedomstraining
Download the complete transcript for this episode here
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Chewing and biting and digging, oh my! Having a puppy can feel like pure chaos, but also comes with a lot of joy and learning for both us and our dogs. For this episode, Kelly Fahey from PupScouts of Hunterdon joined me to chat all about puppies, puppy training, and why socialization and safe experiences are so important.
Kelly and I got to talk about a lot of different aspects of puppy life. Kelly shared her thoughts on what to prioritize when bringing a puppy home (spoiler alert: sit and stay aren't the first things on her mind!). We also bust some myths around puppy behavior and talk about what we can learn by observing how our puppies interact with the world. Enjoy!
Kelly owns PupScouts of Hunterdon in New Jersey and specializes in helping puppy parents navigate through the excitement and chaos of puppyhood. She not only works with puppies professionally, but Kelly has also lived with a lot of puppies. Her family has raised 24 Seeing Eye puppies, Kelly has raised her own puppies, she has fostered puppies, and she currently shares her home with her newest puppy Kazoo as well as her adult dog, Toast.
You can connect with Kelly on her website https://pupscoutsofhunterdon.com/ and on Instagram @pupscoutsofhunterdon
A full transcript of this and our other episodes is available for download here
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Behavior is nuanced and multilayered for our dogs, and working to accept and get help with that behavior can bring up a lot of feelings in us humans! For this episode, trainer Mallory Kratimenos joined me to talk about the emotional journey she has been on with her own behaviorally complex dogs. We talk about the shame and guilt that can come along with having a dog who needs additional behavior support, especially in a society that has certain views about how a "normal" dog should behave. We also share how accepting our dogs for who they are can help us learn a lot about ourselves, and the importance of finding a support network that will meet you and your dog with compassion and kindness.
About Mallory
Mallory is the owner and sole trainer at Engineering Optimism Dog Training. She specializes in all things small dogs, but has experience with dogs of all sizes. Mallory works with clients to help mediate the relationship between human and dog with the goal of engineering a little optimism and joy on both sides of the equation. Mallory holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from Purdue University and is a Victoria Stilwell Academy Certified Dog Trainer, Fear Free Certified Professional Trainer, a Certified Trick Dog Instructor, and a licensed Family Dog Mediator. She is also the parent of two small terriers, Gracie - a 12 y/o Russell mix, and Ollie - a 7 y/o Rat Terrier mix. You can follow Mallory and her dogs on Instagram at @the.reactive.dog.blog
Download the transcript for this and all of our other episodes here.
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Choice matters when it comes to learning, and that's the focus of this episode! My guest, Ran Courant-Morgan from The Dog Behavior Institute, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst as well as a professional dog trainer. For this episode, Ran and I got to chat about the importance of choice. We talked about how we can incorporate choice with our dogs and with people, and how the data we gather about our dogs can influence the way we work through training and life with them. Plus you'll get to learn some fun history about how Ran found their way to dog training and how their dog Beacon has been a part of that journey.
You can follow along with Ran and Beacon's training adventures on Instagram at @RanTalksDogs, and check out @TheDogBehaviorInstitute for fun behavior science info.
Mentioned in this episode
Video about choice from UpToSnuff
Beacon playing the recorder
ACE Freework
Practical Skills for Vet Visits course
Download the episode transcript here
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Bringing home a new dog is always exciting but can come with some stressors and a lot of questions too! For this episode, certified dog trainer Em joined me to talk about her recent unexpected experience of integrating a new dog into her household with her resident dogs and cat. She shared what her experience has been like with her newest addition, adolescent chihuahua Jinya, and we chatted about some of the common challenges we face when learning how to balance the needs of resident pets, new pets, and the humans! We also shared tips for pet guardians who are considering adding a new dog to their home.
Em is a certified dog trainer through the Victoria Stillwell Academy and the owner of Misunderstood Mutt. She also has a new business venture called Confident Mutts which she co-runs with KPA-CTP Logan Buie from The Misbehaving Mutt! Em specializes in reactivity and newly adopted dogs and helping dog guardians and their pets live a harmonious life. You can find her on Instagram @MisunderstoodMutt for training tips and content, as well as connecting via her website at MisunderstoodMutt.com.
Download the full episode transcript here.
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Have you heard the phrase "responsible breeding" and wondered what that really means? In this episode, guest Liza Rader shares knowledge gained from growing up in the dog breeding world and how that knowledge can influence training. We chat about "red flags" and "green flags" to look for when searching for a breeder as well as why breed-specific traits are important for pet guardians to know about.
Liza is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner the owner of Focus Dog Training, specializing in coaching guardians of high-energy dogs. Liza lives in BC with Percy the Rough Collie and Biscuit the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Follow @focusdogs on Instagram for training content and tips for meeting the needs of high energy and high drive dogs!
Mentioned in this episode
"But I Don't Need A Show Dog" article
Webinars from Focus Dog Training
Full episode transcript can be downloaded here
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The final episode of the Pandemic Pet Adoption miniseries is here!
This final episode features Mary, Jim, & Stitch. Jim & Mary were aspiring dog parents for years until they finally moved into a dog friendly home on the south shore of Boston in September of 2020. Stitch came into their lives less than a month after moving in. Even more unexpectedly, Stitch began to show her big feelings towards other dogs and their idea of pet parenthood was totally turned on its head. In this episode they share what those challenges have been like and what being dog parents has taught them.
Thank you to Mary, Jim, & Stitch! Follow Stitch's journey at @stitchandherohana
Mentioned in this episode
Great Dog Rescue New England
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Welcome to Part 2 of the Pandemic Pet Adoption miniseries featuring Dani & Ellen!
Dani is the guardian to Ellen the dog and Greg the cat. Dani moved to Pennsylvania during the pandemic and brought Ellen home in September of 2021. During her chat with me she shared a bit about what being Ellen’s guardian has taught her and how having a support system is an important component of our journeys with our dogs.
Thank you to Dani & Ellen for sharing their story!
Download transcripts for every episode here
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Welcome to Part 1 of the Pandemic Pet Adoption miniseries! Over the next three days we'll be sharing three interviews with pet guardians who adopted dogs during the pandemic. They share what their experience has been like, challenges they've faced, and what they've learned on this journey with their dogs.
Part 1 features Cait & Auggie! Cait lives with three dogs but Auggie is her pandemic pup. During this episode she shares some lovely thoughts about how decompression and choice have become a part of her life with dogs, and how positive reinforcement training has influenced Auggie’s behavior as well as her own mindset about dog guardianship.
Thank you to Cait & Auggie! Follow Auggie's journey on Instagram at @the.aug.dog
Mentioned in this episode
Crucial Conversations - Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Finding a Fear-Free Professional
Download transcripts for every episode here
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For this week's episode I sat down with Liz Williams, owner of High Tail Hikes! Liz shared her wisdom and thoughts on how to choose the best long line for your dog and your situation, reasons why she loves using long lines, and tips for wrangling extra leash length when bringing long lines into the mix.
Check out our first episode with Liz all about finding a group hike for your dog by joining us on Patreon (Patreon.com/MakeItClick)
Mentioned in this episode
HTH blog post about biothane sizing
Ali at Up to Snuff
Thumb lock leash hold demo video by Rover Rehab
Bow method of holding a long line (video by Ali at Up to Snuff)
Safety strap demo video by Rover Rehab
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During this time of year, many of us are experiencing snowy days or inclement weather that means we spend less time outside with our dogs. So how can we make sure their needs are met when long walks or other outdoor activities are temporarily off the table? In this episode, host Lyz shares some of her favorite indoor activities for dogs and advice on how to choose the right option for your pet.
Mentioned in this episode:
ThinkSmart snuffle mats
TheWagglyHound snuffle mats
The Nosey Nose nosework training supplies
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Being a pet guardian is a learning experience, and this also applies to caring for dogs who live with us temporarily. In this episode, dog foster mom and municipal animal shelter volunteer Manisha shares her experience with fostering and volunteering, including what she has learned from living with and training her current foster dog, Bella Bean. She also shared her advice on how to get involved with rescue dogs through fostering, volunteering, and more!
Bella Bean is currently adoptable through Mr. Bones & Co. animal rescue. Learn more about Bella and her training adventures on Instagram at @adoptbellabean, and see adorable adoptables from Brooklyn ACC at @boroughbredinbrooklyn!
Music: NaturesEye
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Join Lyz and guest Kristen Lee from Black Dog Training for an honest conversation about the joys and challenges of puppy raising! Kristen is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner who shared her experience with bringing her new puppy Aspen home, and how her original goals and expectations pivoted as they went through some challenges together. Kristen and Lyz also talked about the frustrations and difficulties that can be normal with puppyhood but that aren’t talked about as much, and Kristen shared some really lovely thoughts on how puppy guardians (and dog guardians in general!) can show up for themselves in order to be at their best for their dog.
Mentioned in this episode: Super Pup Academy. Other trainers on Instagram: Donna at @ViewpointDogTraining, Adam @FlashOfBrillianceDogs, and Blythe at @DeltaTails
Music: NaturesEye
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We've all heard about the power of the canine sniffer, but just how good is our dog's nose? In this episode, trainer Lyz dives into the world of canine sniffing to talk about what makes the dog's nose so special, what sniffing can tell us about our dog's emotional state, and how we can channel the power of the sniff to help us out during training.
Mentioned in this episode: the books Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know and Being a Dog: Following the Dog into a World of Smell by Alexandra Horowitz, Let Me Sniff! (a 2019 study on sniffing and optimism), The Nosey Nose nosework games on Etsy
Music: NaturesEye
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There are various paths that pet guardians follow when training their dogs, but what do you do if you encounter someone who trains differently than you? In this premiere episode, Lyz and pet guardian Jen chat about their training journeys and the importance of leading with compassion with both dogs and humans. We also go over some of the training terminology that first-time dog guardians might encounter and talk about feelings that can come up when we encounter people who train differently than we do. Follow Jen’s adventures with her dog Quimet on Instagram at @quimet.qt.
Music: NaturesEye
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