K9 Translators

My dog keeps running away from me, what do I do?  This week Tara and Laura explain the best methods when dealing with the situation of a dog running away from you.  Ranging from your own down bolting out of the house to trying to help a stray dog that won’t let you get close to them, Tara and Laura break down the different methods to help in all these situations that are all too common. Sponsored...

Is letting your dog sniff on a walk really that bad?  This week Tara and Laura debunk the common misconception that dogs should always be allowed to sniff constantly on any walk.  This isn’t proper mental stimulation and it definitely doesn’t make them more of a dog.  They explain how this can in fact increase your dog’s chance at developing nervousness or reactivity instead. Sponsored by K9 Worki...

What’s the best approach to controlling your dog?  This week Tara and Laura explain the pros and cons to using a crate versus a pen versus a room.  They discuss the appropriate times to use any of these options for the goal of confining or controlling your dog without it being seen as a punishment. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our song "W...

Does your dog really need to be off leash?  This week Tara and Laura heatedly discuss the off-leash dog trend and why it can be so frustrating for other dog owners.  They explain how proper obedience and recall is imperative for any off leash dogs and how off leash dogs can lead to other dogs showing more reactivity or aggression.  Don’t be part of the problem and make sure you are a responsible p...

Headed back into the office for work?  What does that mean for your dog?  This week Tara and Laura discuss a requested topic that is popping up more now that a lot of federal and state workers are returning to the office.  Many people are worried about their dogs now that they are no longer working from home and are carrying a lot of guilt for leaving their dogs alone.  Tara and Laura give options...

What’s with the doodle craze?  This week Tara and Laura dive into the world of doodles and all the designer dogs being created.  They discuss the issues that are being seen all over with these dogs, why people want them but don’t realize the amount of work necessary, and how these dogs end up getting a bad rap with the public. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This episode was edited and mastered by The...

Tara and Laura were honored to welcome Ashley & Heather to talk about Rescue PAC, a wonderful rescue that is doing amazing work.  Ashley and Heather discuss how they got started, what drives their rescue work, memorable cases, and how to help them.  We love how much care they put into each dog to make sure it is ready for their new forever home on a medical and behavioral front.  Check them ou...

Can you pet that dog?  This week Tara and Laura break down the differences between assistance, service, and therapy dogs to help the public understand how the training, handling, and expectations for these dogs are different.  They go into detail about why it is important to respect a handler’s dog and know if it is a dog that is allowed to socialize when out in public. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind...

How can I help my fearful dog?  This week Tara and Laura talk about understanding fearful and feral dogs.  They explain the differences between these types of dogs, how to help them, and what can be detrimental to their progress.  Patience being key is paramount for this episode, especially when you are wanting to help a fearful or feral dog learn. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This episode was edit...

Is competition work something your dog would enjoy?  Tara and Laura discuss the differences between doing the sport of tracking as a hobby versus for competition.  They explain what a handler that is doing tracking for competition should expect, how to know if your dog is actually enjoying it, and when to decide that maybe just having it as a fun hobby is the better option. Sponsored by K9 Working...

What are you really feeding your dog?  Tara and Laura welcome back biologist & nutritionist, Adette Quintana, to talk about how proper nutrition for our dogs can have a major impact on their lives.  They discuss some common nutritional myths, understanding what is actually in your dog’s food, and ways to make sure your dog is getting the best nutrition possible.  Recommendations for more infor...

I put my hand in the way.  They meant to grab the toy.  Their mouth just ran into me while they were in the moment.  This week Tara and Laura expose the truth about these statements when it comes to a dog putting their mouth on someone.  They explain how owners making excuses for a dog using their mouth in these ways can be detrimental and can cause more behavior problems.  They also discuss how o...

Working dog versus companion dog, what’s the difference?  This week Tara and Laura welcomed Gabriel Martin, a military veteran and former canine handler in the police force, to talk about his experiences with working dogs and now his own companion dog.  Gabriel shares his personal journey in understanding how to better communicate with his dog, Dusty, and how important it is to understand the role...

Tara and Laura were honored this week to speak with special guest and country singer, Brittany Moore.  They discussed one of her biggest singles, “Give a Girl,” and the meaning behind this wonderful song that resonates with every dog owner.  Brittany shared her personal journey and the inspiration behind this song, her own dog Banjo.  Follow Brittany Moore on any social media platform at Brittany...

Is protection training and bite work something for every dog?  In this episode, Tara and Laura discuss the trend of doing bite work and protection training with dogs and the problems that can arise.  They don’t shy away from the reasons why this can be a dangerous sport or training for a dog and the difficulties that are seen after the training is done.  If you are considering doing this type of w...

What is the downside to force training?  In this episode, Tara and Laura discuss the negative side effects to using force training when working with a dog.  They explain how using force tools, such as prong or shock collars, even for just obedience work can break down a person’s bond with their dog and cause more problems in the future.  Wouldn’t you rather your dog want to work for you because th...

How can you make progress with a high energy, undersocialized dog?  In this week’s episode, Tara welcomed Jordan Genung to talk about the training journey with his dog, Max, who missed out on some of his socialization due to being a parvo puppy and trying to keep him healthy.  Max is a high drive dog with a close bond to his dad and more persistance than most would know how to harness.  Tara discu...

Love may be in the air, but is it really love you between you and your dog or something else?  This Valentine’s episode Tara and Laura explained how sometimes us trying to show affection to our dogs can actually be pressuring them.  They also discussed how dogs show affection to each other and that this behavior should be the same even with their human pack members.  It’s important to know if you...

Does your dog really understand what you are saying?  This week Tara and Laura posed the question for listeners to determine how they talk to their dogs.  They used different examples of communication that include body language, tone, frequency of commands, and more to explain how some forms of communication can frustrate our dogs and the importance of understanding the best ways to talk to our fo...

You have adopted a dog, now what?  Tara and Laura cover the important steps to take when adopting a dog and how to make sure you establish a solid foundation for your new pack member.  Shelters and rescues are full and need people to adopt, but it’s important to make sure we are being fair to the dog and not setting them up to develop reactivity or be returned. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This epi...

Is your dog really showing submissive behaviors or something else?  Tara and Laura explain what submission in dogs looks like and what it actually means when a dog does those behaviors.  Many people will mistake submission as cute behaviors or actually want their dogs to show submission to them or other dogs, so it can be important to understand what state of mind your dog is in and how to help th...

Do you think your dog has an uncommon aggression?  Tara and Laura discuss the last few types of aggression that are more uncommon than most realize.  These include maternal aggression, predatory aggression, and intra-/intersexual aggression.  They explain each type of aggression and why it is typically more uncommon than others and how they can sometimes be mistaken as something else. Sponsored by...

Have you ever heard of IMHA in dogs?  This week Tara and Laura welcomed Dr. Waters to come talk about Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia, a disease that is very dangerous and requires immediate veterinary care.  They discussed the signs of this disease, what is happening in your dog if they have it, and what to expect for treatment.  Thankfully this isn’t something that is seen often, but the severi...

Do you have a goal for your dog this new year?  It doesn’t have to just be the humans that have resolutions for the new year.  Tara and Laura discuss ideas for new year’s resolutions for your dog(s) that can include physical fitness, mental stimulation, social skills, and self-care.  There is always something we can do to help our dogs reach their potential. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This episod...

What is it like owning a dog with a dangerous form of aggression?  This week Tara and Laura spoke with Jill Scott who owned Pawpeye, a dog that developed retaliation aggression.  They discussed Pawpeye’s life with Jill and their training protocols, how much Jill did with Pawpeye, and the difficulties she faced. Sponsored by K9 Workingmind This episode was edited and mastered by The WillaWoman. Our...