Dog Training DisrUPted

Many of you may have heard me talk about the impact of brain development on behavior in different life stages (if not, check out my TEDX Talk - link below).   Well, dopamine is in all of us - do you know it is intricately connected with "rewards"?   And CBT is intricately connected to dopamine. Are we seeing a symbiotic relationship?   Check out this episode where we get the dope on dopa...

First off!  I have started my second book! So stay tuned in 2026  And let's quickly recap 2025.  Looking back is always so um interesting. Where is 2026 going..... let's hope it is all about the dogs!  My TEDX Talk is live!  Beyond Dog Training: The Movement Toward Sentience https://youtu.be/avUugazybwc Find all the episodes on Feedspot, where Dog Training DisrUPted is rated in the top 5...

Welcome! What is Peer Review and is it important? If so, in what way does it impact you, your dog, and your knowledge?  Peer Review is a complicated topic, so let's break it down.  Whether you are a professional in the industry, or in academia, or a pet parent, this quick overview may change the way you feel about "science."  My TEDX Talk is live!  Beyond Dog Training: The Movement...

Welcome!  What is the difference between online training and virtual training? Can practitioners REALLY provide guidance, advice and effective training virtually? This episode provides dives into what you need to know to make an educated and ethical decision as a pet parent and a professional.  This episode opens with a somewhat-short-report of what has been happening in the world of Billie, CBT a...

Welcome!  (oops again on the music - my apologies!) The concept of "Sentience" seems simplistic - animals have emotions. Now what? Why is it important to us, as pet parents, dog professionals, and animal experts, to ensure dogs are treated as sentient beings? How do we employ strategies that allow dogs to mentally and emotionally flourish? Are choice, options, and canine enrichment enoug...

Welcome! First off!  I apologize for the dead air space, I am using a different recording platform that apparently does not like my taste in music :-)  And, as you cat lovers can relate to, I had to attend to my cat's needs. :-)  This episode explores the term "Treat Motivated" referencing common scientific studies to determine what this really means and if the focus on treat motiva...

Welcome to the final episode of 2024!   2025 is becoming the year to not simply demand more from industry leaders that have no interest in providing more, but rather, finding those solutions, stepping outside the comfort zone and putting one's own goals first!   Does this sound selfish?  Pet professionals cannot succeed in this industry by following mainstream, pleasing the industry, remainin...

Welcome! Anxiety is not a singular behavioral condition, nor does it have a "tick the box" solution. In this episode, I explore Misophonia – a condition that creates a strong negative reaction when hearing triggering sounds. I am using this specific example to show the importance of studying "human" conditions leading to behaviors associated with anxiety. By studying the sympto...

This casual chat references scientific studies on mirrors and pointing to highlight the importance of recognizing, harnessing, and respecting cognitive skills in dogs to improve our ability to understand and communicate with our canine companions.  My TEDX Talk is live!  Beyond Dog Training: The Movement Toward Sentience https://youtu.be/avUugazybwc Find all the episodes on Feedspot, where Dog Tra...

In late 2019, I was contacted by a man whose story completely changed my mindset and brought clarity (ah-ha moment that lasted years) of who I am and why I am so compelled to ensure all dogs are treated as individuals, with dignity and respect, and that people have access to the skills and tools to make previously traumatized and unwanted dogs feel comfortable, loved, understood, and welcome.  Clo...

Welcome to Dog Training DisrUPted.  Do you get overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting suggestions and advise?  You are not alone!  Surprisingly, many of those approaches may be effective, and many ineffective - why?  Many methods assess behaviors and then implement solutions to address the behavior. CCBT analyzes the situation, determining the reason for the dog's behaivor, based on the goa...

Dog anxiety often leads to behaviors that results in frustration for pet parents, leading to surrender or euthanasia. There are a plethora of approaches to address it, so how do you choose the best one for you and your dog?   Anxiety is an emotion, not a behavior.  It is essential to apply a method that acknowledges emotions, taking an approach whereby we do not suppress the emotion, but rather, p...

I recently took two puppies in off a reserve and here is what I learned!   By understating puppy training and braining , we can better understand how different methods are effective at different stages. Meet Jonesy and Jackson, 3 month old puppies who are very different from each other. How are methods adapted? Why is it important to view training as bonding and harnessing cognitive skills, as opp...

In this episode, I read my scientific paper from my PhD course (Cognition, Emotion to Improve Animal Welfare - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences). No scientific knowledge or prep required. I discuss canine enrichment, street dogs, adolescent dogs, and the guardian-canine bond to bring to light the benefits of human-based approaches, such as Flow, Cognitive Enrichment, and CBT meet the ne...

Dog behaviors associated with aggression and anxiety are caused by many factors, of which cognitive dissonance is rarely discussed, yet has a profound impact, in particular with adolescent and adult dogs, while, perhaps surprisingly, upbringing is not a differentiating factor. This episode covers what it is, common signs/behaviors including examples, what NOT to do - and most importantly, why, and...

David Roberts, Licensed Master Social Worker, is an expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and has extensive personal experience, claiming "it played a major role in saving my life after my daughter died at the age of 18."  Dave and I dive deep into what CBT is and use comparative examples in human and dog behavior and rehabilitation. We discuss the role of mindset, perception, habits,...

Fostering adolescent and adult dogs can be challenging. In this episode, I break down the goals and introduce the 7 step fostering program I have applied with hundreds of dogs and taught to dozens of fosters. Programs for pet parents are different than those of fostering - Why? Because the goal is different!  Fostering is not about BEING the best home or addressing behavioral issues that are speci...

Welcome to Dog Training DisrUPted by UPWARD Dogology! Canine Enrichment is all the rage, especially in shelters and amongst behavioral experts. Yes, another trendy term that seems positive, but is it?   Well, like most things, when used to divert from the real issue, or "sell" products and services by promoting them as something they are not, this can lead to frustration with tragic resu...

Welcome to the final episode of 2022 - a not-so-typical year in review. It is time!  You deserve to know why the dog behavioral experts are keeping the info from you. Why is the shelter system unaware of Canine CBT - or are they? Are behavioral veterinarians any more educated than your average trainer? Why are trainers scared to admit that methods are not meeting the needs of all the clients? This...

Cristina is a Veterinary Surgeon. Author. RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Dermatology.  She shares with us her vast knowledge on senior dogs in respect to health issues, changes, and what to expect. This fun, casual conversation ventures into chatting about adopting mature dogs, and, well, just how great they are! I follow our chat by introducing the topic I spoke on at the Animal Behav...

Hello and thanks for joining me! I am guessing most of you are not proponents of methods that take a "dominance" approach. What does this really entail? And how is it different from Alpha and Pack Leader? There are common exercises in dominance training that may not seem as though they would have a negative effect, and, in fact, are part of mainstream dog training.  Is going through a do...

Welcome! This episode is for those who have a dog,  and are bringing a little human into the family. I provide simple suggestions of things to do BEFORE the arrival of the baby that will make your busy life easier. These exercises can be adapted to suit your lifestyle and the personality of your dog. As always, please share, and feel free to provide questions and feedback. Recordings of my present...

Welcome!  In this episode I refer to the studies by Dr. Kathy Murphy, owner of Barking Brains, and a neuroscientist who specializes in brain development in respect to behaviors and the success (or lack there of) of training methods in different life stages.  This episode focuses on the adolescent stage, describing brain development and how it effects behaviors. There are a lot of comparisons to te...

Welcome to Dog Training DisrUPted, by UPWARD Dogology This episode features animal lover, professional swimmer, writer, speaker, and creator of peace, Lynne Cox. Lynne's new book, Tales of Al, The Water Rescue Dog, is a heartwarming story about a dog expected to be an "easy train" by the elite Italian Water Rescue Dog Team. Lynne recounts her visit to Italy, meeting all the dogs, an...

Leash walks can be frustrating when dogs are pulling, putting on the brakes, or  lolly-gagging.  Should you be expected to continuously turn around, or simply allow your dog to sniff everything? Should you be expected to have decompression walks that are really only decompressing for your dog? In this ep I talk about common recommendations, from continuously turning around, standing still, to allo...