Doggy Dan Podcast Show

Walking your dog is a crucial part of raising and training them; thus, knowing the two types of dog walks can make a HUGE difference to your training experience. "Doggy Dan, is there more than just one way to do dog walks?" Yes… and my goal is to help dog owners tap into the power of switching walking styles to make the most out of dog walks. In this blog, I will talk about the two types of dog wa...

When dog owners come to me for help on how to stop leash pulling, I feel for them, especially when I hear the frustration in their voices. It's understandable why having a  dog pulling the leash  can be such a pain! If all you want is to enjoy a quiet, peaceful walk with your dog, the constant struggle for control can be exhausting. And most of the time, the leash pulling happens at the start of t...

Seeing dog owners letting their dogs run wild when the car door opens is quite a familiar scene. It’s adorable at face value… but it’s a tricky if you  want to have calm walks with dogs. “Doggy Dan, do you mean I also have to keep an eye on how my dogs exit the car so I can have peace while I walk outdoors with them?” Yes, you’re right. All your problems with  leash pulling, aggression, overexcite...

If I asked you to write down at least three dog-walking problems, I am sure I’d find leash pulling and misbehaving somewhere on that list. Why? Because almost 80% of those who come to me for  help on walking their dog  have those issues. And here’s the truth: the solution is fairly simple. The problem starts when dog owners dismiss their  dog's little quirks and defiance  during walks as nothing s...

Dogs don’t always say what they’re feeling , so it’s understandable why we want to know the reason why dogs yelp. Each sound our dog makes is crucial; it can signify hunger, distress, and pain. So it’s no surprise our dogs’ sudden yelping sounds can make us spring into protective, worrying mode. Yes, a yelping dog can be a dog in pain. But a dog letting out a  high-pitched, petrifying sound  isn’t...

What do you do when your  dog's energy levels spike  from a 3 to an 8? My answer as a top dog trainer: the Calm Freeze. I know it's daunting seeing your dog transform from well-behaved and calm to  rowdy and agitated in the blink of an eye. But here's an important fact I've learned from years of working with dogs and their owners: you, as a dog owner, possess the remarkable ability to transform yo...

  The  reason why dogs need timeout  is because  they don't naturally understand human language. If you want to give consequences or correction for a specific dog behavior, you must speak a language your dog totally understands. And that’s where timeouts come in. The thing about timeout for dogs is that it's so simple. And because it's so simple, it's also so easy to overcomplicate and done wrong....

The reason for using a short line for dogs boils down to this:  control . It sounds extreme, but in  dog psychology , the one in control is the one in charge. And when your dog runs under tables and around the garden uncontrollably, and you're having a hard time catching them, you're not in control! The short line for dogs helps you regain control without raising your voice, resorting to harsh str...

A whistle for dog recall training is a very important tool that some dog owners overlook. Of course, I recommend you go for solutions that work best for you and your dog. If you've put in all possible effort to  train your dog to come when called , and still haven't had any success, the dog recall training whistle is a tool that you absolutely must not underestimate. In this blog, we're going to t...

  Training tips for aggressive dogs flood the internet, all promising miraculous results! There’s a mix of  positive reinforcement , showering dogs with treats, and even giving dogs really scary punishments! While all these solutions work for a while, I know one thing from my experience as a top dog trainer: you need to get to the heart of the problem to see real progress. The key to  addressing s...

Doggy Dan, why is my dog overexcited? Also, how to  calm  overexcited dogs? I often get this question from dog owners dealing with dogs that are always all over the place, jumping on the couch, on them, and on other dogs. They bark, run, and lunge all because they are excited… something that causes a lot of stress not only to their owners but to other dogs as well. These overexcited dogs often get...

If you are wondering how to deal with an overprotective dog, you MUST know that these animals are NOT naturally inclined to cause harm. In fact,  dog aggression  from overprotectiveness is a case of a dog’s desire to keep harm away from you and the property they’re protecting. But when is a protective dog too much? And how do you deal with an  aggressive, overprotective dog? In this blog, we’re go...

When you deal with a fear biter, you have to understand that this dog’s tendency to bite is not fueled by the desire to simply bite. These  fear biters are fierce protectors. When dog owners come to me and ask  about aggression due to fear , I tell them when they deal with a fear biter, they have to halt the training until they solve the problem on a deeper level. Because most of the time, fear-ba...

The question of how to handle a bossy, dominant dog is common among dog owners who are exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed by their bossy dogs. Bossy, dominant dogs have a distinct characteristic : they always want to be in charge over every dog they encounter. They love challenging authority, they display brute strength, and they don’t hesitate in showing aggression. One can say “Oh, but that’...

If you’re eager to know how to help fearful dogs, I know where you’re coming from. Fearful dogs are exhausted. You can read their exhaustion through their habits and body language:  they can’t easily sleep, they’re reactive, and they’re triggered by the littlest things. If you own a dog that is  highly fearful , you already know telling them “Please, calm down” doesn’t work. So what do you do as a...

Any loving dog owner gets concerned about the factors that cause dog stress. After all, we just want the best for our pets, from their physical to mental health. You can attribute the cause of dog stress to multiple factors: unhealthy upbringing, violent history, a chaotic environment, and strained relationships with owners and other dogs. But what most dog owners usually overlook is a stress trig...

If anyone comes to me for tips on how to get dogs to listen more, I always ask them to do this: “Think of the most connected, most effective conversations you’ve had with a loved one. Were they done with shouting, or were they filled with calm, understanding energy?” Surely, you would say the latter. And it’s true. As a parent, the most effective conversations I've had with my children are ones do...

If you’re here because you’re wondering how to teach boundaries to dogs, I’m here to commend you! I know it’s tough. When our dogs start to show their puppy eyes, denying their requests becomes so hard. But there is power in SAYING NO. When dog owners say NO, it paves the way for better obedience training, and dogs that are calmer and easier to take care of. Additionally, dog owners who say NO are...

The best way to know how to walk a dog is to understand this crucial principle: In every walk, there’s a follower, and a leader. And most of the time, the leader is NOT you. “What do you mean, Dan? Are you saying that even if I hold the leash, I’m still not in control?” That’s right! Which explains why dogs tend to pull ahead of you on the leash, or become so uncontrollable during the walk — stopp...

Dogs do not bark just because. Anyone who wants to know how to stop dog barking should understand behind any excessive barking is a real, serious trigger… at least in our dog’s eyes. Indeed,  barking is a big behavioral issue ! But it is often misunderstood. Most dog owners and even dog trainers treat barking at face value, as if there’s nothing more to it. This is where most solutions get it wron...

The question of how to improve dog obedience boils down to one thing: in the eyes of your dog, who is in charge? When no leadership is in place, dogs usually take on the role of the leader... and this paves the way for bad behavior issues to arise. I always tell dog owners that if they want to see a significant improvement in dog obedience , they HAVE TO BE THE LEADERS. And Rule Number Three of th...

Rule Number Two of the Doggy Dan Five Golden Rules always surprises dog owners who are new to the concept. If viewed through the lens of human psychology, Rule Number Two can make any dog owner go “But oh, isn’t that going to hurt my dog’s feelings?” After all, Rule Number Two is about delaying acknowledgement after a moment of separation from your dog. As a trainer who has seen the Five Golden Ru...

Food training for dogs  is Rule #1 of my Doggy Dan Five Golden Rules, because of this simple truth: when dogs have food, they feel like they’re the richest animal in the world. It’s not their toys, not their new clothes, or their cozy bed that makes them feel great. It’s food. For dogs, it’s all about the food. In fact it’s not just about the food, it’s about CONTROLLING the food. Because FOOD is...

Using dog psychology requires a deep understanding that  our dogs do not think like us. We love our dogs, and we want to communicate with them and know what they are thinking. But here’s an important truth: dogs do NOT think like humans! dog ps One of the most common dog training and dog care mistakes is that we  communicate and relate to our dogs using human psychology.  Typically, we view them a...