Good Dog Workshop

All dog parks are NOT the same! Hear what Marina has to say about some new dog parks she visited with Sailor and Sasha on her recent trip to North Carolina and Tennessee. 

Let's just call this one Whack-A-Mole. In this podcast, Marina & Brian discuss a training session they had with 4 very different dogs, 3 very different humans, an endless peppering of conflicting, incomplete and contradictory information, AND a client who repeatedly turned her back in mid-conversation and started talking to one of her dogs. Truth is stranger than fiction.  All names of do...

Marina & Brian discuss some of the common problems which result from a lack of Leadership with a dog. Find out some of the reasons why dogs misbehave and fail to respond to their owners.

Marina & Brian debunk the 5 most common things that dog owners are told cause aggression: Playing Tug, Roughhousing, Staring At, E-Collars, and Other Dogs. Take a listen and found out why these things DO NOT cause aggression, what their actual purpose is, and how to get the most benefit from them.

In this episode, Marina & Brian discuss adolescent dogs (generally between 6-18 months), and some of the typical challenges that come along with dogs at that stage in life, including the particular issues that have arisen with so many "COVID Puppies" who were adopted/bought during the pandemic last year. They go over in great detail 2 adolescent dogs they recently worked with and how...

Marina & Brian discuss the pros and cons of traveling with your dog  and how to do it safely and enjoyably!

In this episode, Brian & Marina tackle one of the most common myths about dogs: A wagging tail means the dog is happy. Listen to learn the truth behind this snapshot of a dog's body language.

Brian discusses Leadership with expert Strategist & Leadership Coach Shari Goodwin, author of best sellers Reinventing Greatness: Leading Yourself & Others Through Change with Confidence & Trust and Take the Reins! 7 Secrets to Inspired Leadership .  Whether you're working with people, dogs or even horses (Shari's specialty), Leadership—and the energy and intention you projec...

Marina & Brian discuss BUCKY, a big, handsome German Shepherd looking for his "forever home". Learn more about Bucky and help spread the word to find him a family who is perfect for him!

Marina & Brian explain another myth: When bringing dogs together, you should let THEM sort out any issues. WRONG! We (the people) need to be in charge of our dogs, and that means that we sort things out between dogs, not let them "figure it out" themselves.

Marina & Brian dive into the sometimes muddy waters of diagnosing dog behavior problems, beginning with our first phone call with the client / dog owner. What we're told about a dog's behavior is often just the tip of the iceberg, and it's our job to figure out what's really going on, and to show our clients how to resolve the problematic behavior.

The 6th installment of our series on Myths surrounding dog behavior, Marina & Brian discuss how Positive Reinforcement Only is NOT only positive reinforcement. 

Marina & Brian take a look at Nat Geo's TV show "Dog: Impossible" and analyze the training methods & techniques used to help dog owners with their dogs' unwanted behavior. Watch his show to see what trainer Matt Beisner says and does, and then learn why so much of it is ineffective.

In this episode, Marina & Brian discuss a person's (or dog's) physical position in the pack relative to others. Many think if the human is out front, the human must be in charge (or if the dog is out front, the dog must be in charge). Not so. Listen and learn why this is a myth.

Marina relays her recent experience in which she was bitten by a German Shepherd. An irresponsible client led to a really cool story!

Next in the countdown of Myths, Marina & Brian discuss: Holding your hand out to let a dog sniff you. So many people do it when they're meeting dog for the first time — Find out why it's not the best thing to do!

A LEASHED dog does not equate to a CONTROLLED dog. Many counties in the U.S. have leash laws but just because a dog is leashed, doesn't mean the dog's owner has control of him. And for those of us living in counties without a leash law, a dog off-leash does not equate to a dog not in control. Listen and share your comments & questions!

In this new series, Brian & Marina discuss some common myths about dogs. This episode's topic is: If you ever let your dog jump up on you, he'll jump up on everyone. Listen and find out the truth about this myth.

In this new series, Brian & Marina discuss some common myths about dogs. This first one: Can a dog be too young or too old to train?

In part 2 of this series, Marina & Brian discuss the socialization issues of 3 different dogs: Rose, Buki and Gordita. 

Marina & Brian discuss the importance of spending "quality time" with your dog. What does "quality time" mean? What does it look like? Why is it important? And how do my dog & I benefit from it? (Hint: It's the opposite of being lazy with your dog.)

Marina & Brian discuss the importance of socializing your dog, and that it's never too late to get started! How long do YOU go without interacting with another person? Let's be fair to our dogs and provide them the same need and get them socialized every day.

Marina & Brian discuss Marina's new German Shepherd, SASHA, and their evaluations of three other shepherds with very different temperaments.

Marina & Brian discuss the good, bad and ugly of "board & train" services.

Marina & Brian have an impromptu discussion about German Shorthaired Pointers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and other ultra-high-energy dogs. You'll hear their very frank opinions about these specific dogs and what you can expect if you bring one into your home/life.