Not Another Dog and Pony Show

Where Lauren and Matthias sit down to talk about the end of the search bar as we know it (and how that might impact your business), animal behaviour and training conference formats, and 'liberty' training both dogs and horses Also, Team Erin, mouth money, and absolutely not aliens. CBC Radio 'So Long Google Search Bar' segment Topic or guest suggestions? Fan mail? Hate mail? We lov...

Where Lauren sits down with Gretta Ford (unfortunately without Matthias) to talk about how underpricing our services, the wrong marketing, and the social media hamster wheel all impact our businesses. And what we can do instead. Also, the flattened nuance trap, architectural firm websites, and what makes Lauren's armpits really sweaty. ⁠Gretta's Make it Click Freebie⁠ ⁠Gretta's Base Ra...

Where Matthias sits down with Kim Brophey (unfortunately without Lauren) to talk about why many discussions on methodology seem to miss the mark, how the absence of problematic behaviour does not equal good welfare, and Kim's ambitions to help trainers better assess the welfare of the dogs with whom they work. Also, the fact that Matthias' wife (reluctantly) listened to the podcast for the...

Where we sit down together to talk about what makes a great trainer, if someone needs to be a good trainer to be a teacher of trainers, and being the best insect you can be. Also, we argue about responsibility for solving clients' problems, what to do when your ADHD writes notes to future self, and we both agree that Matthias isn't a great trainer. Gretta Ford's Set Up to Succeed  Laur...

Where we sit down with Ken Ramirez to talk about approximating people towards behaviour change, minimizing membership extremism in your organization, and how it's OK - even good - to teach others who train differently than you. Also, Ken as cult leader, the perils of gatekeeping aversive instruction, and the humane hierarchy as guidebook, not rigid roadmap. Ken on IG KPA website The Ranch webs...

Where we sit down with Jeff Silverman to talk about if Enshitification is coming to animal training, AI-proofing your animal training business, and how humans will always be needed in our industry. Also, irresistible 'high touch' services for clients, how professional associations could/should step up for their membership during these weird days, and Jeff's (not-so-secret now) speciali...

Where we sit down with Pat Stuart to talk providing clarity via consequences, where Pat and Lauren differ in who they will teach about the use of aversives, and management & avoidance vs training & exposure. Also, what inherently saves Lauren from doing dumb things, the fear of telling people who you're learning from, and the perils of projecting your beliefs of what people will do wit...

Where we sit down with veterinary behaviour resident Dr Nita Hynes to talk about veterinary behaviourist/trainer/behaviour consultant collabs, challenges and ethical considerations in the shelter world, and 'drugging' dogs as a panacea. Also, cat owners as MVP clients, losing your podcast virginity, and absolutely zero talk about AI dog training apps. Dr Nita's website Dr Nita's Instagram ⁠⁠⁠Topic...

Where we sit down together to talk about pivotal learning moments in our careers that changed everything for us: play as reinforcer/steam-letter-off-er, emotive video overlays, 'that person is like me, but with different information'., and more. Also, eagle, dog and AI absurdity, Team Flatline vs Team Rollercoaster, and the benefits of playing Arousal DJ. Mushrooms Making Music Topic or gu...

Where we sit down with Sarah Stremming to talk about her thoughts on that yoghurt episode, 'self-operating' vs managed animals, and ensuring that your training is hand-off-able to the client, or husband. Also, Sarah's loose leash walking technique, 'high tenacity, low resilience' animals, and not crying - even though we all have something to cry about right now. ⁠Sarah Stremmin...

Where we sit down together to talk about Lauren's recent approach to changing her dog's behaviour, how our biases affect our categorisation of such things, and if any of it it really matters. Also, thinking about Matthias' lizard, trading autonomy for comfort, and the ethics of importing street dogs. The Dress Drama: how our differences shape our perceptions ⁠⁠⁠Topic or guest suggestio...

Where I (Lauren) sat down with Noche Miller to talk about her perspective as a rancher on training animals, the use of positive reinforcement with livestock, and what it takes to get a Guinness Book of World Records recordfor most tricks performed by a cow named Ghost. Also, teaching horses to generalize responses to pressure asLife Skill 101, the little-known power of doing a shared job with a wo...

Where we sit down together to talk about the concept of sunk cost fallacy, how it might affect us as training and behaviour professionals, and how not to fall victim to this limiting cognitive bias. Also, horsemanship defined(?), Scotland talk, and Lauren's aggressive typing. ⁠⁠⁠Topic or guest suggestions? Fan mail? Hate mail? We love to hear from you all! Email ⁠notanotherdogandponyshow@gmail...

Where we sit down together to talk about some of the mistakes we've made with horses and dogs, Lauren's secret to having hair that people will compliment, and how Matthias was duped to give up deeply personal items - all in the name of training. Also, sketchy round pens you shouldn't use (reverse or otherwise), when being 'kinder' might be a mistake, and what not to say when a...

Where we sit down with Erin Lynes to talk about that Fetch post making the social media rounds, how many Labradors are too many, and what "fetch" means to different people - and dogs. Also, the Fetch equivalents with horses, being mindful of what patterns we’re building with animals, and another Matthias story about why he's a lousy dog trainer. Erin's Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Cl...

Where we sit down together to talk about our echo chambers, avoiding self-radicalization, and what we both find reinforcing on social media posts. Also, Matthias unknowingly reveals his dog trainer crush, Lauren confesses to being a lousy dog trainer, and we hash out some potential problems of having your beliefs become your identity. ⁠⁠⁠Topic or guest suggestions? Fan mail? Hate mail? We love to...

Where we sit down with Erika Percival Stark to talk about concerns with AI, how we might use AI ethically to do our metaphorical laundry, and where we might want to tread more carefully. Also, how theft of IP ain't really a new thing, what ChatGPT doesn't know about how women urinate, and another awkward Mattinglish story. ⁠Erika Stark LinkedIn And if pStyle wants to sponsor the pod, Laure...

Where we sit down together to talk about our first season as people who podcast, Lauren's scepticism of chia seeds, and whether we are as 'balanced' in our training approaches as some might think. Also, highlights from the year that was, hopes for the future of animal training and b mod, and Matthias' regimented bathing regime. Thank you all, for being part of this journey! ⁠⁠⁠Topic or guest sugge...

Where we sit down with Kim Brophey for an edifying discussion about what we should consider when talking about the welfare, well-being, and best interests of the animals we work with and love. "...and it's interesting, because if we look at the incredible rise in behavior problems, and the severity, the increased and severity of behavior problems, it goes in tandem with the increased level of capt...

Where we sit down with Sarah Dixon for a frank discussion about a harm-reduction approach to animal training, why our reinforcement-minded messaging is failing to reach the right people--our animal-owning clients, and the benefits of gap-bridging. "We're not going to change the knowledge that they have if we don't build trust; we're not going to build trust if we attack them." Also, Matthias' grat...

Where we sit down with Jeff Silverman for a discussion about the benefits of allowing the owner to be the main decision maker in the owner-trainer business relationship, the perils of ignoring the end user's needs, and ways to honour what the client really wants while also meeting the animal's needs. "My clients are the experts in what they need, and I am the expert in what is possible." Also, the...

Where we sit down in a cheap motel room with Dr David Lane for a discussion about some differences in how we approach animals for veterinary care and training or behaviour modification work: giving clients treatment options and causing animals tolerable stress or discomfort. Also, having the willingness to refer to another professional if something is outside of your wheelhouse, respecting client...

Where we sit down with Dr Sam Couper for a discussion about what science is (and isn't), and how research about training and behaviour may (or may not) be relevant to our work as boots-on-the-ground animal training and behaviour professionals. Also, Lauren's justification for feeding dogs ice cream cones, 'publish or perish' in academia, and a case for the dreaded 'doing your own research'. Sam's...

Where we sit down with dog trainer Kristi Walker for a frank discussion about her personal journey in moving away from using harsh training, led by experiences with her own dog. Also, Kristi & Bren's turning point, our very normal, human reactions to criticism from others, and possible ways to better effect change in our industry. Ideal Canine website Ideal Canine IG Fan mail? Hate mail? G...

Where we sit down with Verena Sutherland for a discussion about her journey through the stages of being a crossover trainer, the pain of changing your beliefs, and who - if anyone - identifying labels serve. Also, how constructional approaches might be the gateway drug to paradigm shifts, having discussions about 'amputation-equivalents' in our industry, and Lauren escapes having to public...