Leerburg Dog Training Podcast

Get to know more about the new owners of Leerburg, Ian O'Connell and David Littlefield, with this Ask Us Anything interview. In this video, the team sits down to answer YOUR burning questions about the transition, the future of Leerburg, and what's staying exactly the same. From the whereabouts of Ed Frawley to personal dog training stories, police K9 deployments, and even some fun rapid-fire ques...

Most dog bites are preventable — but only if you know what to look for. The problem is, the warning signals dogs give off before a bite aren't always obvious, and for pet owners without a training background, they're easy to miss. In this clip from Dealing with Reactive, Aggressive, and Dominant Dogs, we break down what dog aggression actually means, why it looks different from dog to dog, and why...

Muzzles get a bad reputation, but the truth is there are many situations where a muzzle is the kindest, safest tool you can reach for — and none of them make your dog a "bad dog." In this clip from Conditioning Your Dog to a Muzzle on Leerburg University, we cover the range of reasons a handler might choose to muzzle their dog — from managing aggression safely, to protecting dogs who can't stop ea...

Dopamine is commonly called the feel-good hormone — but that's not accurate. It's better understood as an anticipatory hormone, and if you're doing detection work, that distinction matters. In this clip from Kevin Sheldahl's Foundations of Scent Work Training seminar, Kevin breaks down the role dopamine plays in your dog's search drive. A rise in anticipation equals a rise in dopamine, and that di...

Filmed at The Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers, this comprehensive course brings Michael's renowned 2-week protection class straight to you — 320 videos and over 18 hours of content covering everything from foundational theory to hands-on bite work. With Michael now retired from running his school, this is your chance to learn directly from one of the most respected names in the field. Whethe...

Today, Ed Frawley sits down and briefly introduces the new owners of Leerburg and introduces Ian O'Connell and David Littlefield. Both are experienced K9 Handlers and long-time friends of Ed Frawley. After 42 years of building and owning Leerburg, Ed has finally retired to take some time with family and to do some fishing. The new owners, Ian and Dave, are excited to take over and commit to the mi...

In 1982, Ed Frawley started Leerburg Enterprises.  At that time he had been filming dog training videos for 4 years. Now 78,  Ed retired from Leerburg at the end of January 2026 with a goal of spending more time with his family and to do a lot of fishing. Ed sold Leerburg to 2  friends who are both retired K9 handlers and instructors - Ian O’Connell and David Littlefield. Ian and Dave have great p...

Unlock the full potential of remote collar training in this comprehensive 10-hour master class, expertly led by renowned dog trainer Michael Ellis. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a dog owner seeking to enhance your training skills, this course offers in-depth knowledge on the effective and ethical use of remote collars. With 173 detailed videos spanning 8 informative modules, you'll gai...

This course is designed for civilian scent work trainers—both beginners and experienced handlers—as well as law enforcement professionals, including police officers who are starting the detection training process with a new police dog. Kevin Sheldahl's experience and bias come from a practical working dog application, but our attendees and their variety of dogs challenged him to expand his perspec...

In this video, Ed Frawley reads and discusses an Ask Cindy Q and A that addresses a challenging and increasingly common issue in German Shepherd Dogs: obsessive tail chasing that may be developing into a compulsive behavior. The question comes from an owner of a young GSD whose tail chasing has escalated over the last six months to the point where changes in energy or environment trigger frantic s...

In this Ask Cindy Q and A, Ed Frawley reads and discusses a thoughtful question from a new puppy owner preparing to bring home an 8-week-old puppy for the first time. After the recent loss of a beloved 12-year-old Labrador, the viewer wants to make sure they start their new puppy off the right way—from day one. | Links mentioned: Getting Started With Your New Puppy Bundle - https://leerburg.com/pu...

This course was hosted by Leerburg in November 2025 and taught by Kevin Sheldahl. Recognized as one of the world’s leading scent work instructors, Kevin presents a clear, step-by-step approach to building strong detection fundamentals. Led by one of the nation’s most qualified detection dog trainers, this three-day workshop covers core foundations for all levels and detection disciplines, includin...

This seminar is a primer on detection training that every dog trainer should see. Taught by Kevin Sheldahl, a practical teacher with decades of experience. This course is jam-packed with little gold nuggets of information and wisdom, you don't even realize how good it is until you've seen it. There is 323 videos with additional text and supplemental content. | Links mentioned: K-9 Detector Dog Tra...

Discover the famous story of Clever Hans, the early-1900s horse who amazed crowds by “answering” math questions—until researchers uncovered the truth: Hans wasn’t doing calculations at all. He was reading subtle, unintentional cues from his handler. In this video, we break down what really happened with Clever Hans and explain why this lesson is crucial in detection dog training today. From cueing...

In this video, Ed Frawley reads an Ask Cindy Q and A about choosing the right width for an agitation collar. A viewer new to protection sports asks whether collar width is simply personal preference—especially since the 2" collar they bought looks large on their 70-lb dog. Cindy explains why wider collars help distribute pressure during protection work and why 2" is typically appropriate for a dog...

In this video, learn the most critical skill for managing reactive dogs: preemptive redirection. This video teaches you how to intervene before your dog reacts by recognizing early warning signs like stiffening, hard stares, or low growls. Discover why timing matters, how to prevent your dog from rehearsing reactive behavior, and practical techniques to keep your dog under threshold and calm. The...

In this video, we discuss the dangers of using certain toys as rewards in detection dog training. Dog toys like Kongs and Tennis Balls are commonly used but they come with certain dangers and risks. Alternatively, we recommend using rolled up scented cotton towels, tied off with cotton string, as a primary reward. | Links mentioned: K-9 Detector Dog Training- https://university.leerburg.com/Catalo...

In this video, Ed shares a heartfelt message from a customer who wrote in to express their appreciation for Leerburg Online University. They highlight what they love most—clear instruction, helpful course structure, accessible pricing, and the variety of material available for dog trainers of all levels. Ed responds with a sincere thank-you on behalf of the entire Leerburg team. If you’ve ever won...

This episode discusses safe methods for separating fighting dogs, emphasizing that you need to be careful and think twice before jumping in. Breaking up a dog fight is extremely dangerous. In fact, 95% of the injury photographs received by Leerburg came from people attempting to break up dog fights, often between their own dogs. It is crucial to remember that intervening when you do not feel safe...

In this practical Ask Cindy Q and A, Ed Frawley tackles a serious safety concern many cyclists face: aggressive dogs chasing them while riding through countryside or residential areas, with some dogs being extremely large and threatening. The cyclist is looking for effective strategies beyond simply stopping, which isn't always safe with aggressive dogs. Cindy shares a creative solution from a lon...

In this foundational video, Ed Frawley shares his comprehensive dog training philosophy developed over a remarkable journey that began in the 1950s and spans more than 50 years of hands-on experience. Ed explains that effective training is common sense combined with a clear understanding of how dogs think as pack animals who genetically seek ranking order and view their human family as their pack....

In this essential training breakdown, Ed Frawley explains the five progressive Rules of Play that transform tug from chaotic wrestling into a powerful obedience and engagement tool. These rules must be taught in order: first, building genuine desire for the toy by sparking prey and play drive; second, teaching the retrieve so the dog learns that bringing the toy back continues the game rather than...

In this important Ask Cindy Q and A, Ed Frawley addresses a concerned owner's question about whether to continue using an e-collar on their 7-year-old dog who recently started having seizures, with the last one occurring two months ago and no current medication. Cindy explains that she cannot provide a definitive answer without understanding the underlying cause of the seizures—whether they're lin...

In this video, we discuss the critical importance of developing a detection dog that works independently without relying on handler cues or direction. A "handler proof" K9 is a dog that commits to searching for and locating target odor based on their own drive and training—not because they're reading their handler's body language, following where the handler looks, or waiting for permission to ale...

In this video, Ed addresses a critical problem he's seeing in the detection dog training community—trainers are prioritizing passive indications over their dog's ability to commit to searching for target odor. This backwards approach is creating dogs who can perform beautiful alerts but lack the fundamental drive to actively hunt and locate odor independently. | Links mentioned: Three Day Foundati...