Your Dog's Best Life

In this episode, Liane discusses the complex issue of reactivity in dogs. First, by defining reactivity as barking, lunging, growling, etc... at people or dogs either on leash or off. Then dialing down to the three most likely reasons why a dog might engage in such behavior. This is followed by an explanation of how various dog trainers address this behavior, and the ethics of certain techniques....

Liane discusses the ins and outs of AKC's new Fetch Title. As a new Fetch Judge, Liane discusses what AKC's Fetch program entails, how to get a title, and if you are currently an AKC CGC Evaluator or judge, how to become certified as a Fetch judge Facebook: Your Dog's Best Life

In this episode, Liane recaps her fall: Her first USBCHA trial, Matilda getting ready for her BH in IGP, starting a PSA/ American Schutzhund club in Tucson, and almost tragically losing Tagg to Leptospirosis, a poorly understood waterborne pathogen. Check out Your Dog's Best Life on FB

Maggie and Liane discuss necessary and handy foundation training for both pet dogs and sport dogs in this episode. Foundation training is both incredibly vital to success and often neglected training for many dogs. We discuss what foundations we think are important for rescue dogs, herding dogs, performance dogs, and pet dogs. Join us on Facebook Your Dog's Best Life Follow Liane on Facebook: Empi...

In this episode Liane discusses why dogs sometimes struggle to generalize rules about what to put in their mouths, or even when and how the cue, sit works.

In this episode, Maggie and Liane discuss the joys and struggles of owning high-drive dogs. They discuss calming protocols, how to address arousal issues, and much, much more. Check out our videos and content on Facebook - Your Dog's Best Life

In this podcast, Liane discusses new frontiers in dog training with Concept training. Concepts are generalization of things like colors or toys, as well as mimicry, social learning, or Do as I Do training. Maggie just ran a Master Class in Generalization for dog trainers in Reno, NV, and brings these cool ideas to us. Catch up with us on FB

There's a fallacy that there are no hard breeds to train. Liane explores this from the perspective of genetics. She also discusses the lack of correlation between easy to train and easy to live with.

More and more people are thinking about getting Livestock Guardian Dogs to protect their small homesteads. With more buyers, there are more breeders, and unfortunately, some of these dogs are ending up in situations that could have been prevented. Livestock guardian dogs - Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, Akbash, Maremma Sheepdog, Caucasian Shepherd, etc.. Are genetically predisposed to certain...

In this episode, Liane explores our understanding of emotions in dogs. By understanding how our dogs feel their world, we are better equipped as trainers to help them succeed. Emotion is still poorly understood in human science, but there are some assumptions we can safely make based on studies conducted by Jaak Panksepp.

In this episode, Liane speaks with special guest Nita Gandera about how she is raising her current Australian Shepherd puppy, Nessie. Liane has a puppy from the same litter, so the discussion includes where their training differs as well as where it is similar. Discussed: Critical socialization period, Puppy Culture, Early puppy training, obedience, mistakes people make when socializing puppies, a...

Liane introduces us to her new puppy, Brisco, an Australian Shepherd from working lines. She justifies getting another dog pretty adequately, and for those who haven't met them yet, introduces the rest of the pack

Do you cue your dog, or do you give commands? While these words are synonymous, the mindset behind them can be vastly dissimilar. In this episode, Liane discusses some recent trialling issues she has faced with her herding dog, Cody, and how she analyzes those problems through the lens of cue vs command.

Liane discusses signs that your dog trainer isn't being up front about the methods they're using. Using wishy washy language like, "energy", "joining" or promising miracles 'without using food' are all red flags that a trainer is trying to hide their compulsive training behind language. Prong colors are designed to cause pain; e-collars are almost always used in a manner that creates pain; there i...

In this episode, Liane discuses (makes excuses?) for why she hasn't recorded in a moth. She discusses a herding trial in Arizona, and that leads into how she is using punishment to prevent her youngest dog, Tagg, from gripping sheep out of frustration. Liane brings everything home by discussing excited door greetings, jumping, biting, and barking, that can occur when people enter the house, and wh...

In this episode, Liane takes a break from purely training topics, and describes how she lives with seven dogs. How we live with dogs is both deeply personal. and built by our society and history with dogs. Liane explores a little bit of how the history of stock keeping in the West informs how she grew up with dogs, and how that affects how she lives with them today. Please join our Facebook page:...

In this episode, Liane asks agility trainer, and bijorer Ffluffy Nicholas about the sport of bikejoring. Bikejoring is a sport that allows dogs who love to pull an outlet. Perfect for huskies and other nordic breeds, but also, possibly just what the doctor ordered for a lot of bored pit bull types, and Liane's little maniac, Matilda. Fluffy took up bikejoring in 2020, and fell in love, buying a ra...

In this episode Liane discusses the question with special guest Emily Magnuson. Right now dog training is the Wild West, with everyone doing their own thing, and with educational backgrounds as diverse as, trained my pet dog to PhD and everything in between. Calls for a national standard occasionally arise, and Emily and Liane discuss the pros and cons of such an action, and whether or not it woul...

In this episode Liane discusses why and how we can train our dogs using food. Training with food, while popular, still faces some common complaints and problems. How do we train with food if the dog doesn't want it? How do we move away from using food so our dog listens all the time? How do we make food more exciting for our dogs? How do we work with a dog so frightened that it won't take food? Li...

Liane discusses her efforts to find a dog sport suitable for her and her border collie, Matilda. She discusses a multitude of sport options and divides them up based on how difficult they are to come into with little or no training, vs sports that require a great deal of preparation to enter. She discusses the sports she has done with her own dogs. Lastly she discusses why sports may or may not be...

In this episode Liane discusses three dog bite situations and explains how they differ. She shows that a behavior divorced from motivation tells us nothing. She also discusses why attributing emotionally charged words to behavior sets us and our dogs up for failure. We now have a Facebook page for our podcast! Check out Your Dog's Best Life on Facebook!

Liane tells a crazy tale about sheep on the lamb, road trips, herding trials, swimming sheep and more. She somehow manages to briefly talk about dogs as well. Facebook: Empire Ridge Ranch. Website is the same For photos and more please visit our new Facebook Page, Your Dog's Best Life

In this episode, Liane discusses the origin of of our dogs, and why understanding the evolutionary history of the domestication of the dog matters to you, and to them. Why do dogs dig? Why do dogs go through the trash? Why do dogs bark? All of these behaviors are explained once we understand where our dogs come from, and how Man's Best Friend, came to be.

In this episode, Liane, and guest, Emily Magnuson, discuss common social media memes about dogs. Too many dog-themed memes either dumb down or entirely misrepresent the facts as we know them about caring for your dog. Liane, a Certified Veterinary Technician with 17 years in the field, and Emily, a veterinary Assistant with 20 years of experience, bring their experience, and any associated studies...

In dog training we discuss management vs training a lot. Which is better is sometimes a matter f opinion, training styles and methodology, and more. What we know for a fact is that we are all managed to some extent. Choices and decisions that could have unwanted consequences are managed quite often for both humans and dogs. Management can, like most things, be a double edged sword, so decisions ab...