Dog Talk by Happy Dog Training

We work with many dogs with varying degrees of anxiety. For example, my favorite breed, the German Shepherd Dog, is supposed to be naturally unshockable. This is based on the breed standard and origination. However, I work with many German Shepherd Dogs because they are fearful in some way. But fear isn't just rampant in German Shepherd Dogs. This affects all dog breeds in the United States. I rec...

Play-based dog training is the most effective form of dog training there is. Because it speaks to the fundamental nature of dogs. Canines refine their innate hunting skills through rough-and-tumble play with their littermates. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for additional content and a list of episode references. Buy Ralf's book If Your Dog Could Talk - Understand Your Dog Like Never Before (5th E...

Hiring a dog trainer can be daunting. You are confronted with many certifications you have never heard of and have no idea what they mean. You can search online but are those ratings meaningful? Are their reviews genuine? It can be hard to know what to look for. And then, all kinds of groups and well-meaning people have lots of opinions on what you should do. None of that makes it easier. This epi...

Potty training your dog teaches it not to soil the home. It is often the first challenge dog owners face. Depending on your approach, you either have a good time with your dog during this phase or live through a peeing and pooping nightmare. Potty training a dog is not rocket science. It does, however, require consistency and commitment. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for additional content and a...

This episode features a dog training conversation with my shadow student Sara White. I first met Sara during a dog training workshop we attended together. Later, she contacted me about my shadow program, and here we are. Sara opted for an extended shadow experience and, as a result, got to see and discuss a lot! We also worked with her own two dogs and attended another workshop in the middle of it...

Unfortunately, far too many dog trainers fail to understand the ethological meaning of the terms dominance, submission, and aggression and misuse them. If this topic interests you more, I highly recommend the books by ethologist, Roger Abrantes and animal behavior expert Temple Grandin. Dominance and submission are terms ethology defines, not dog trainers. To explain these, we have to examine thei...

As I am not a veterinarian, I am not permitted to give medical advice regarding canine health. I am not going to. I will share publicly available information from the latest studies on canine vaccines. This is NOT an anti-vaccine podcast. This is about understanding the importance of canine vaccines and vaccinating responsibly. That often means less frequently. Visit the Podcast Episode Page for a...

My name is Ralf Weber, and I am a TWC Certified Professional Dog Trainer. I have been training dogs for 18 years. This is my podcast 'Dog Talk' on anything dog-related. I am the owner of Happy Dog Training. A member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and author of the dog book 'If Your Dog Could Talk - Understand Your Dog Like Never Before.' In this first episode, I discuss h...