K9 Conservationists

Kayla and Ursa try out a new format they're calling Hot Takes. They take turns pulling a topic from a hat, then they have 3 minutes to give their thoughts on it - then the other person has 2 minutes to add their thoughts.

Kayla speaks to Rebecca Hintz of Wintegrity K9 in Vacaville CA about deciding where to get a puppy. For the purpose of this episode, we are only comparing getting a dog from a responsible breeder versus a shelter. We are not discussing getting a dog from a pet store, online marketplace, grocery store lot, or backyard breeder because we do not support those venues of puppy acquisition. If you’re un...

In today’s episode, Kayla hopped on the line with Marissa, our former co-host. On the show, we discussed how to provide your dog with the necessary daily enrichment while also taking into consideration what you need from the relationship as a pet parent. We share 6 different ways you can meet your dog’s needs along with a list of questions to consider, inviting you to personalize this content for...

Ursa and Kayla chat about Madge, Kayla's uber-fearful foster dog from earlier this spring. They also get a great update from Madge's new family!

Kayla sits down with Kim Brophy to discuss dominance in dogs and dog training from an ethological lens.

Kayla and Ursa discuss management strategies and training solutions to help make holiday gatherings less stressful for you, your dog, and your friends/family.

Kayla and Ursa revisit the difficult topic of behavioral euthanasia.

Kayla chats with Kim Brophey about the study of ethology, and how that creates a different framework with which to look at dog behavior.

Kayla and Ursa discuss the tough topic of behavioral euthanasia  for pet and shelter dogs.

Ursa and Kayla tackle MORE dog training myths, including: 1. Greeting a dog after an absence creates separation anxiety 2. You need to always end training sessions on a good note 3. You need to eat first/walk through doors first/not let your dog on furniture or your dog will be alpha 4. You have to support the hierarchy between dogs 5. Aggression to kids = dominance structure 6. Pinch/prong collar...

Kayla sits down with Dr. Jessica Hekman of the Functional Dog Collaborative to talk about breeding dogs for behavioral and physical health. They talk about how the FDC aims to help

Kayla sits down with Jio and Taylor from Smart Bitch Dog Training, Curtis from Pet Parent Allies, and Allison from Dog Liaison to talk about whether or not dogs can be racist. Canine Conversations has been excited to get this episode out for a while, and we recognize it might be perceived as “late to the party.” I hope that instead we can view it as a continuation of an important discussion that i...

Kayla talks to Michael Shikashio about the Aggression in Dogs Conference and Michael's new podcast, The Bitey End of the Dog.

Join Marissa, Ursa, and Kayla as they discuss dog training myths including: - Comforting a scared dog teaches the dog to be scared - A single dog training class is all the obedience/training your dog needs - Feeding your dog human food teaches them to beg - Shock collars don’t hurt Marissa also had a special announcement: she is leaving the podcast to start her own podcast, all about dog-human rel...

Join all three of us, Ursa, Kayla, and Marissa discuss common dog training myths and what to do with your dog instead. They discuss topics such as socialization, canine body language, whether or not dogs are doing things out of spite. Check it out!

In today's episode, we're going to be discussing a very complex and even controversial topic - is aggression ever "fixed"? This is a matter of extensive debate in the dog training world, and a question that looms large in the mind of any pet parent who struggles with a dog that engages in aggressive behavior. When is your training finished? Is it ever finished? How do we determine if aggressive be...

Join Kayla and Marissa discuss continuing education opportunities and the importance of certifications. This episode is designed to help support your educational journey and the resources listed below should give you a great place to start!

How does being an exotic animal trainer and zookeeper relate to dog training? Kayla Fratt and Emily Martin discuss how the zoo field has made Emily a better dog trainer, the most challenging animal Emily has ever trained, and much more.

Today's episode includes Kayla Fratt, of Journey Dog Training, interview her amazing client, Caroline. Caroline reached out to Kayla several months ago to work on her dog's behavior concerns. Sonic is a four-year-old chihuahua with a variety of different anxious and fear behaviors. Marissa Martino, of Paws & Reward, joins the episode to hear about their current behavior modification process and of...

In today’s episode, Kayla sits down with Erin Jones to talk about separation anxiety. Erin wrote an e-book and created a course for Journey Dog Training all about separation anxiety. She’s got a lot of firsthand knowledge, both with clients and personal dogs, on the topic. Join them as they discuss this challenging behavior issue, provide ways to prevent it, and offer tools and insight into the be...

A good dog trainer and behavior consultant knows that taking your time and moving at the pace of the animal is the best way to go! It ensures success in the learning process. Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward and Kayla Fratt of Journey Dog Training share creative ways to split steps in your training plans.

Join Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward Dog Training and Kayla Fratt of Journey Dog Training discuss one of their favorite topics - scent enrichment! Listen as they discuss why engaging your dog's nose is a great form of mental stimulation, introduce the sport K9 Nosework, and provide you with some DIY scent enrichment activities!

In today’s episode, Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward and Kayla Fratt of Journey Dog Training discuss a variety of reinforcements you can offer your dog during training sessions and real-life scenarios. This episode goes beyond treats and gives pet parents a ton of other great, creative ideas to use when reinforcing behavior.

Marissa Martino of Paws & Reward Dog Training in Boulder, CO interviews Kathy Sdao of Bright Spot Dog Training in WA. In today’s episode, they talk about a very important concept that can make an impact in these 3 areas: Improving your dog’s behavior Improving your behavior when interacting with your dog Enhancing your relationship with your canine companion The concept is called Plenty in Life is...

Kayla Fratt speaks to Megan Lundberg about puppy socialization and training. Megan works for The Canine Coach running their puppy days school program, meaning she spends most of her working hours caring for, training, and socializing puppies.