K9 Translators

Why are you blaming yourself?  This week, Tara and Laura work to help owners take less of the blame for their dog’s behavior.  Most owners don’t know dog communication or body language, so no owner should blame themselves for something they didn’t know.  Seeking a professional to help with those behaviors can be a great way to educate yourself in order to correct this miscommunication, but it’s im...

Are you uncomfortable with your own training choices for your dog?  This episode, Tara and Laura discuss how some the training techniques and/or gear is being “covered up” or hidden in order to not have judgement from other people.  If you think what you are doing or using with your dog is the right thing, then you shouldn’t feel the need to hide it.  If you do, maybe it is time to stop and think...

What’s the worst that could happen?  This week, Tara and Laura cover why letting little behavioral things go can end up causing major issues later.  The more success your dog gains with a simple behavior can increase their confidence to continue and push farther.  They go over why addressing concerns earlier can make sure the behavior doesn’t become a habit or escalate to something more dangerous....

Is it you or the dog?  This week, Tara and Laura explain why sometimes it seems like every dog you own may have similar issues.  They discuss the importance of knowing a dog’s personality, confidence, and how many owners can cause these issues without realizing it.  Whether it is reactivity, resource guarding, protective behaviors, or anything else, making sure that you aren’t repeating mistakes t...

Can your dog function without you or your other dog?  This week, Tara and Laura cover the topic of codependence and why this can be dangerous for your dog.  Many dogs are unable to be left alone or they don’t know what to do if they aren’t with your other dog, but this can create a very unhealthy relationship for your dog.  They explain why this isn’t cute, but instead problematic for your dog and...

What does your dog think when you move homes?  This week, Tara and Laura work through the difficulties that can come when you are moving with your dog.  Many people believe that dogs struggle to adapt to new homes, so they break down these different perspectives and offer insights into what your dog is actually communicating, or maybe what you are communicating to them instead. Sponsored by K9 Wor...

Do you want to start running or joring with your dog?  This week, Tara and Laura took on a listener requested topic on the best way to teach your dog how to go running or joring with you.  We discussed different types of gear, leashes, how to acclimate your dog to the activity, and the importance of safety when doing these activities with your dog.  It is a great way to bond and enjoy each other’s...

Who wouldn’t want longevity with their pet?  This week, Tara and Laura welcomed Dr. Kevin Toman to discuss his work on helping pets live longer and healthier lives.  We discussed his research on how to increase a dog’s health longevity and how his approach is different from other veterinarians.  If you would like more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Toman, please check out the l...

What dog sport is best for your dog?  This week, Tara and Laura covered all different types of dog sports that are available.  They explained the differences between the sports, which ones may be best for certain dogs, and which sports we don’t typically recommend.  Dog sports are a great way to enjoy time with your dog and build a wonderful bond and teamwork. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This epis...

Who has impacted your communication the most with your dog?  This week, Tara and Laura were honored to have Turid Rugaas speak about her training methods and discuss why she is all able communication and body language.  Turid has been training without force for years and her methods are what impacted Tara the most when working to teach that communication to other dog owners.  Check out her faceboo...

Did you adopt a dog for protection and now they are too protective?  This week, Tara and Laura tackle a common problem with dogs that are brought into homes to protect, but then behavior problems arise.  They go over why this idea of getting a dog as a deterrent can cause a lot of miscommunication, behavior problems, and potential reactivity or aggression as well. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This...

What are you training for?  This week, Tara and Laura pose the question of why people chose to train their dogs.  Many individuals are training for a specific goal, but what if you thought of training as a subscription?  What would that mean?  They explain the differences in these two ways of thought when approaching training with your dog and what that looks like when working with them. Sponsored...

What gear is best for your dog?  This week, Tara and Laura break down all the different types of gear available for dogs and explain when you would use them.  There are so many different options out there that it can be overwhelming, but knowing how to properly communicate your expectations on the leash is extremely important.  Some gear is better for certain dogs over others, some build frustrati...

Was that a sign of resource guarding?  This week, Tara and Laura cover some of the signs of general resource guarding that many people will miss.  Resource guarding is natural in all animals, but many times people won’t notice the subtle signs of his behavior.  The more confidence a dog builds with these simple behaviors the more likely it can escalate. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This episode was...

Is your dog partaking in terrier sparing?  This week, Tara and Laura dive into the known competition of terrier sparing.  They break down what this competition is, why they believe it is inappropriate, and what behaviors it can cause in terriers that can feed the stereotypes about the breed.  Many people have a negative viewpoint on the terrier breeds, and unfortunately, some of those opinions can...

Have you heard of The Mutty Professor?  This week, Tara and Laura were honored to welcome The Mutty Professor, Roz, on the podcast all the way from the UK.  They discussed training ideologies, struggles that positive trainers face in the mist of social media, and the importance of having great communication and listening to every dog when working with them.  Roz offered a lot of insight into train...

What does your dog’s play look like?  This week, Tara and Laura break down what proper forms of play looks like between dogs.  They offer examples of inappropriate play, including excessive jumping, mouthing, and wrestling, and discuss why allowing this type of play can be a recipe for disaster.  They also explain what proper play between dogs should look and sound like and how owners can help tea...

Are you depriving your dog?  This week, Tara and Laura answer the question on if dogs should be allowed to hunt and kill.  Many people believe that it is a natural instinct for all dogs to need the opportunity to hunt and kill, but they only want them to do it when they allow.  Tara and Laura explain how this idea of a dog needing this release isn’t true and why it can cause more problems if owner...

What GPS collar is the best for your dog?  This week, Tara and Laura compare the different GPS collars available for pet owners.  They break down the pros and cons of the different brands, why every pet owner should consider a GPS for their dog, and what they have experienced with their personal dogs.  There is so much to learn about your dog’s habits plus having the peace of mind that you could k...

How well do you know Tara’s co-host?  This week, Tara turned the tables on Laura and had her on the hot seat.  Tara peppered Laura with questions for listeners to have an opportunity to get to know her co-host a little bit better.  It’s always refreshing to learn more about the people you are listening to and understand their background, thought processes, and personality a little bit more. Sponso...

Is your dog stupid or actually smarter than you?  This week, Tara and Laura break open the myth that some dogs are unable to learn and are labeled as stupid.  They discuss why this is inaccurate, why some trainers may say this, and how to determine why your dog may be struggling to learn something.  Most of the time the fault lies with us and our communication or your dog knows they can ignore you...

Do you know who you are listening to?  This week, Laura turns the podcast completely on to Tara and asks her questions about her life, her career, and details that many people may not know about her.  If you are listening and enjoying our episodes, we want everyone to know who the person behind the voice is, where they are coming from, and allow our listeners to feel more connected to us. Sponsore...

Why is that dog taking medication?  This week, Tara and Laura vent about the common occurrence of medicating dogs to meet adopters that is happening more and more.  They stress the need for transparency to potential adopters if a dog is using behavioral medication while at the shelter or in a rescue so adopters understand the type of dog they may be adopting.  It is also important to know the red...

Is a dog with gamma syndrome bad?  This week, Tara and Laura talk in depth about what it means if a dog has gamma syndrome.  They explain how this behavior starts, why it is completely human-caused, and what a dog with gamma syndrome will display when reacting.  This syndrome is completely different than omega syndrome, which they discussed in episode 162, and is more dangerous for handlers and ot...

Why is your dog going crazy every day at the same time?  This week, Tara and Laura tackle the canine crazies.  This is the strange witching hour that many owners describe as the most difficult time of day for them to control their dog’s behavior.  Mouthing, jumping, zoomies, constant chewing, and other unwanted behaviors always seem to rile up during this time.  They explain why this is seen so of...