The Puppy Training Podcast

Living with an adult dog with well-practiced habits? Jumping on guests, counter surfing, doorbell chaos—those behaviors aren't permanent; they're just rehearsed. In this episode, Amy shares her three-step framework for rewriting any habit: MANAGE (stop the rehearsal), REPLACE (teach an incompatible "do instead"), and PROOF (test it against real life, gradually). Your homework:...

First-time puppy mom Lizzy asked a question that stopped Amy in her tracks: "When you say, 'What do you want your puppy to do?' What are my options?" In this episode, Amy explains why every "don't" needs a "do" instead — and walks through five real-life profiles (retired/home all day, working 9-to-5, families with young kids, apartment vs. house living,...

Play is more than a way to burn puppy energy — it can be one of your most effective training tools. In this episode of the Puppy Training Podcast, Amy explains how to use the games your puppy already loves to build focus, recall, impulse control, confidence, and connection. You’ll learn how to add simple start-and-finish cues without taking away the fun, plus five practical games you can try right...

Halloween is right around the corner! In this episode of the Puppy Training Podcast, Amy shares a complete Halloween game plan for puppy families — how to handle the relentless doorbell on trick-or-treat night, what to do about costumes (on people and on your pup), and how to keep your puppy safe around candy and decorations. You'll learn why Halloween night is for management, not training; h...

Have you ever watched a BAXTER & Bella training video and thought, “That looks so easy!” —only to try it with your puppy and wonder why your dog doesn't respond the same way? You're not alone! In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what you're actually seeing when we train puppies on video. We explain the five things that make training look effortless: consistency, clear c...

Confidence doesn't simply happen—it can be intentionally built through small, successful experiences. In this episode, Amy shares a simple way to help your puppy learn that new, unfamiliar things are safe, manageable, and worth exploring. We'll cover how to build confidence through novel objects, different surfaces, sounds, friendly strangers, obstacles, and recovery exercises . You&apos...

How do you keep your puppy learning when you don’t have treats in your pocket? In this episode of BAXTER & Bella’s The Puppy Training Podcast, Amy explains that reinforcement is about more than food and how everyday rewards can help your dog keep making good choices. Learn how to use life rewards, toys, sniffing, freedom, and praise to reinforce behaviors your puppy already knows. We’ll talk a...

What happens during the first few minutes of an interaction with your puppy can have a big impact on what happens next! In this episode of The Puppy Training Podcast, we explore how to intentionally set your puppy up for success during four everyday moments: coming home, welcoming guests, getting out of the crate, and starting a walk. Instead of waiting for your puppy to become overly excited, jum...

What do you do when your puppy attacks your kids' ankles in the morning? How do you recognize when your puppy needs to go potty? Should you always say “off” when your puppy gets on the furniture? And what does it mean when your puppy growls while chewing something valuable? In this episode, Amy answers real questions from a new puppy family and breaks down exactly how to handle these common p...

Dogs thrive on routine—but what happens when that routine changes? In this episode of The Puppy Training Podcast , we talk about why flexibility is such an important skill to teach your puppy and how you can help your dog become confident in new and changing situations. We’ll cover simple ways to practice flexibility, including taking different walking routes, sleeping or settling in different pla...

Why does your puppy listen perfectly in the kitchen but completely forget everything at the park? Why does repeating a cue over and over sometimes make things worse? And what does “reinforcement” actually mean? In this episode of the Puppy Training Podcast, Amy Jensen breaks down the science of how dogs learn in a simple, practical way. We’ll explore reinforcement, punishment, timing, repetition,...

Why does your puppy bark when dinner is taking too long? Whine behind a baby gate? Get frustrated when they can't greet another dog? These aren't signs of a "bad" puppy—they're opportunities to teach one of the most important life skills: frustration tolerance. In this episode, Amy explains why learning to cope with delayed gratification helps puppies become calmer, more r...

Have you been practicing consistently, following the advice, and still feel like your puppy—or even your adult dog—isn't making progress? You're not alone, and it doesn't mean you're failing. In this episode of The Puppy Training Podcast , we'll walk you through a step-by-step troubleshooting guide to help you identify why training may have stalled. You'll learn how t...

Travel is becoming a normal part of life for many puppies, but successful travel doesn't happen by accident. In this episode, we're talking about how to build travel confidence from the very beginning. You'll learn how to introduce car rides, crate training for travel, potty planning, preventing motion sickness, preparing for hotels, and creating positive travel experiences that las...

Your puppy's recall may be reliable in the backyard—but what happens when there are squirrels, new smells, other dogs, or an exciting hiking trail? In this episode of The Puppy Training Podcast , we explore the foundational skills that create reliable off-leash behavior in the real world. Learn why recall is about much more than the cue "come," how to use a long line to build confid...

Does your puppy seem to have two speeds—sleeping and full-speed zoomies? If you've ever wondered how to help your puppy relax at home, on a restaurant patio, at the park, or during family outings, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Puppy Training Podcast, we're exploring the art of settling—one of the most valuable life skills you can teach your dog. You'll learn why ca...

Puppies and kids can be the best of friends—but only when adults provide the guidance and structure both need to succeed. In this updated version of one of our most popular early episodes, we revisit puppy-and-child interactions using today's best practices in dog training and canine behavior. You'll learn why supervision matters, how to teach children the "Be a Tree" technique...

Many handlers assume that once a puppy is comfortable in a crate, they've mastered alone-time training. In reality, crate training and independence training are two different skills. In this episode, we explore how to prevent separation-related issues before they begin by teaching graduated absences, confidence-building independence exercises, and practical enrichment strategies that fit real...

Thunderstorms. Fireworks. Vacuums. Traffic. Construction. The world is full of sounds that can frighten a puppy if they aren't introduced carefully and positively. In this episode, we dive into proactive sound exposure. While many handlers focus on meeting people and seeing new places, sound experiences often get neglected until a puppy suddenly develops fear. You'll learn how puppies pr...

Your puppy was doing so well… and then suddenly they stopped listening. In this episode, we break down one of the most frustrating — and completely normal — stages of dog development: adolescence. Between 6 and 18 months, many puppies begin testing boundaries, ignoring cues, losing focus, and acting as if all previous training disappeared overnight. We cover:  Why adolescent regression happens   B...

Why does puppy training sometimes feel inconsistent—even when you’re trying your best? In this episode of The Puppy Training Podcast, Amy Jensen dives into one of the most overlooked parts of dog training: training the humans. Your puppy is constantly learning from patterns, routines, and reinforcement, which means unclear expectations and inconsistent responses can create confusion fast. You’ll l...

Is your puppy full of endless energy no matter how much exercise they get? You’re not alone—and the solution might surprise you. In this episode of The Puppy Training Podcast , we break down the key differences between physical exercise and mental enrichment, and why more activity isn’t always the answer to a hyper or misbehaving puppy. You’ll learn: Why too much exercise can actually create a mor...

Resource guarding is one of the most common—and preventable—behavior challenges in dogs. In this episode, we break down how everyday interactions around food, toys, and valued items shape your dog’s behavior. Learn how to prevent resource guarding before it starts, why taking things away can actually make the problem worse, and how to build trust through simple techniques like trading and adding v...

Struggling with a puppy who isn’t motivated by food? You’re not alone—and you’re not stuck. In this episode, Amy from BAXTER & Bella breaks down why food motivation can vary, especially during the early days of bringing a new puppy home when stress levels are high. You’ll learn how to use your puppy’s regular food as an effective training tool, safely introduce higher-value rewards without ups...

What do fear and stress actually look like in your puppy? In this education-packed episode, Amy gives you the foundation every puppy parent needs: how to read your dog’s body language. Learn the clusters of signals that tell you if your puppy is relaxed, worried, or over threshold. We’ll cover soft eyes vs. whale eye, loose bodies vs. freezing, and why a wagging tail doesn’t always mean happy. The...