The Quirky Dog

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by one of their own clients Magaly Sandoval. Magaly and her rambunctious Finnish Lapphund named Maki began working with Scott and Jess summer of 2022, and in this episode, she unpacks Maki’s last year.   What was Magaly’s journey like after she chose to get her very first dog from a herding breeder?   How did the influence of others affect how Magaly approached...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the down command. A down stay for a dog isn’t as commonplace as it once was, and this week Scott and Jess discuss all the benefits of a reliable down and how they use one practically with their own dogs.    Why is it nice to have two separate commands for down?   When is a down stay more appropriate than a sit stay?   How can you build a reliable down stay with yo...

  This week, Jess and Scott welcome the legendary Alex Stein. Alex and Ashley are responsible for putting canine frisbee on the map on August 5th, 1974. If not for Alex’s extraordinary courage and Ashley’s unmatched athleticism, this beloved sport may not have flourished as much as it did in the late 1900s.   Where did Ashley truly launch his career?   What is Alex’s favorite thing about the sport...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the topic of fetching. Fetch has been a buzz topic in the dog world as of late, so in this week’s episode, they both try to equally cover the good, the bad, and the ugly.    Why should I be mindful when playing a simple game of fetch with my dog? How can switching from a ball to a disc make the game more safe? What could my dog do for exercise in replacement of fe...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by their friends from New York. Ben and Janelle Allanson have over a decade of history in the sport of French Ring, and much like Scott and Jess, they have experienced the highs and lows of dog training together as a romantic couple!   What is the most challenging part of training with a partner? How does training with someone who also lives with your dogs make...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss burnout. This is a common issue in our industry, and in today’s episode Scott and Jess share their top strategies to prevent burnout and promote wellness.   What does burnout look like?   Where can you look for support if you’re experiencing burnout?   Why is burnout so prevalent in dog trainers?     For more information about Scott and Jess and their strategies,...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by the one and only Master of Hounds, Francis Metcalf. Francis is an incredible dog trainer who most enjoys assisting in rehabilitating behavioral cases, trick training, and protection sports.   Where did Francis first come up with the idea of Canine Circus School? Why has canine circus school been a great fit for dogs of all temperaments? How has Francis react...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the topic of whining. Many dog owners have an issue with whining throughout various contexts of their relationship with their dog, so during this episode, they provide numerous ways to address whining.    Why does whining that wins turn into a problem? How much does it matter why the dog is whining? What is the easiest way to combat whining?   To take advantage of...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Michael D’Abruzzo from K9-1. Michael is a teacher of animal sciences and has more than two decades of extensive hands on experience in the field of dog training. Michael’s dedication to the preservation of science within the industry as well as the ethical instruction for up and coming dog trainers is truly unmatched.    What prompted Michael to speak out ab...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Joyce and John Belcher of Sustenance Herbs. Being in business for over 15 years, they are proud to create some of the finest herbs and supplements for dogs, cats and horses on the market and offer shipping within the US and Canada.     How can customers help their dogs, cats, and horses not only survive but thrive through tick season? Why is sourcing so impo...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss what to expect when camping with your canine. With Memorial Day weekend behind us, camping season is in full swing in New England, and this episode is jam-packed with tips to make camping a great experience for everyone.    Why should you consider bringing a First Aid kit along for not only yourselves but also your dog? How does camping with a dog look different f...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss what to do if and when your dog bites a human. There are many factors to consider in this situation, but taking some sort of action is always advisable. This episode guides dog owners on how to form that solid plan of action.    Why do some owners wait until their dog has bitten multiple times to reach out for help? Who do you turn to first when your dog has bitte...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the concept of a dog’s backstory. Sometimes very traumatic known events happen to our dogs and other times, we fill in the blanks. Regardless of what your dog’s backstory may be, this episode explains why it is important to look beyond your dog’s backstory and always focus on the present.    Why is it important that owners don’t cling onto their dog’s backstory? W...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss behavioral pottying. This is an issue that many clients have faced over the years, and while it can be an extremely aggravating problem, it can frequently be resolved with a few simple tweaks.   What is behavioral pottying? How can one determine if potty accidents are medical or behavioral? Why is it important to intervene with any and all behavioral pottying?   T...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Alexandra Butler from Enigma Canine in England. Alex’s main focuses in dog training have previously been on trick training and scent detection; however, as of recently, her platforms have exploded with interest in her latest training endeavor called “The Copy Method.”   How does The Copy Method differ from other forms of training like luring or shaping? Why...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss a topic that comes up frequently within the industry, which is an owner’s uncertainty if their dog needs training or not. This topic comes up in veterinary offices, in online forums, and quite often in plain sight during day to day life.    What does a trained dog look like? Why is it best to begin training as early as possible?   How can a dog owner find support...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Karoline Edmonds from Dog Mom Mentality. Karoline’s main focus is to foster mental health awareness and support for Dog Moms across the world, and she successfully and consistently does just that through her social media presence as well as her very own podcast “Dog Mom Mentality.” How did helping her dog Layla overcome her reactivity issues in turn help Kar...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss their top ten list as it relates to dog breeds that do not mesh well with young children. Many families want to bring a dog into the home as their kids grow up, but there are certain breeds that have a higher chance of clashing within the family dynamic. In this episode they lay it all on the line to help educate you and your loved ones as much as possible for eve...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the idea of welcoming failure within your dog training sessions. More often than not, owners want to avoid seeing their dog’s fail, but some of your dog’s most productive and long-lasting lessons may come from allowing him or her to fail and teaching him or her how to work through failure.    Why does failure seem to be such a buzz word in the dog world? How can w...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the concept of R & R and why it’s just as important for dogs as it is for humans. Tune in to see how and where Scott and Jess implement these concepts within their own pack of dogs as well as with the client dogs they train.   What does R & R mean for dogs? How does your dog’s R & R impact the quality of your life as a dog owner? Why is prioritizing R & R so essen...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined by Chicagoland dog trainer Rachel Sample. Rachel and her pack are some of the best stunt dog performers and competitors in the US, but she also has devoted a significant portion of her career to helping challenging rescue dogs. Trust us, you won’t want to miss this episode!    What type of resistance does Rachel sometimes face from rescue and why? How can we be...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss the reality of what is actually occurring in dogs in present day. While this episode is also a St. Patty’s Day celebration, Scott and Jess take some time aside to discuss the pressing issues they are seeing in modern day dogs and the importance of everyone being aware of the actual facts in our industry.   Why is it so easy to have tunnel vision within the dog wor...

This week, Jess and Scott are joined once again by Jeremy Cohen from Boston Dog Lawyers. Jeremy was first a guest on The Quirky Dog in June of 2021. We discuss how his practice has grown since then as well as some interesting new cases of his.    Why has there by an uptick of animal cruelty cases? What is Ollie’s Law and how does it affect boarding facilities? Where can I find support for animal l...

This week, Scott and Jess discuss various cueing systems in dog training. Different trainers rely on varying levels of verbal, physical, and tactile cueing while working with a dog; however, those different communication styles are rarely broken down. We lay it all on the table with the intention of making learning as clear as possible for your dog moving forward.    What is the easiest type of cu...

This week, Jess and Scott discuss engagement. This is an element often missing in training regardless of if the focus is companion dog training or sport dog training. Scott and Jess take a deep dive into the topic during this episode to help you and your dog become more engaged than ever before.   Why is engagement so important? How can one foster engagement? Is engagement possible without the use...