The Keep it Simple Stupid DOG Training Podcast

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new In this episode, I talk about another one of my books: Forever Home: Dog Training 101 & How to Be a Better Shelter Volunteer . I wrote this book after spending a lot of time volunteering in shelters and seeing people with really good intentions sometimes accidentally make things harder for the dogs they were trying to help. The goal was to take basic dog-training principles and apply them in a simple, practical way that could help shelter volunteers, fosters, and ultimately the dogs themselves. We talk about rewarding the behaviors we want, redirecting the ones we do not, helping dogs decompress instead of overwhelming them, and why taking every shelter dog straight out for a walk may not always be the best first step. A few of the biggest takeaways: Consistency and frequency matter more than trying to cram everything into long training sessions. Good management can reduce overstimulation and give dogs a better chance to succeed. The Readers, Groomers, and Walkers progression gives dogs time to become comfortable with people before asking more from them. Matching dogs and volunteers by experience level can help keep both the dogs and the people working with them safer. Fostering and shelter work should help prepare dogs for life in a real home. The goal is not simply getting dogs adopted. It is helping them stay in their forever homes. If you want to take a deeper look at the ideas in the episode, Forever Home: Dog Training 101 & How to Be a Better Shelter Volunteer is available here: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Home-Training-Shelter-Volunteer-ebook/dp/B00CSVQGGQ K.I.S.S. Dog Training: https://kissdogtraining.com/product/forever-home-e-book/ K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this episode with someone involved in shelter work, rescue, fostering, or dog training. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog Training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining . LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/ , Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/ . And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/ . Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Dog training should make everyday life easier—not more complicated. In this episode of the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast, I talk about what dog owners should really expect from a good trainer. It is not always the trainer who can get a dog to do the coolest things who is going to help you the most. The real goal is to create a simple, realistic routine that fits the dog, the owner, the household, and the problem you are trying to solve. A good trainer should be able to break training into manageable steps, help you practice when things are easy before making them harder, and adjust the plan when something is not working. A few of the biggest takeaways: Training has to fit into the owner’s real life or it will not get practiced. Start simple, build success, and then add distractions. The real training happens between sessions. A good trainer should be available to help troubleshoot problems along the way. Small successes build routines, and routines create progress. The goal is not to dump more exercises on the owner. It is to help the owner understand what to do, why they are doing it, and how to adjust when things do not go as planned. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this episode with someone who could use the information. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Potty training is one of those things that sounds simple until you are the one cleaning up the mess. In this episode, I talk about potty training and the book I wrote specifically to help dog owners with it: The Dog Owner’s Book of Poop and Pee . The whole point of the book was to give owners a simple routine they could actually follow without turning potty training into some giant complicated project. We talk about crates, schedules, choosing one consistent potty spot, preventing accidents, gradually increasing freedom, using bells, tracking poop and pee patterns, and what to do when the dog goes outside and decides sightseeing is more important than actually going to the bathroom. A few of the biggest takeaways: Potty training is really about teaching where to go. Preventing mistakes is more useful than punishing them afterward. Crates can be a valuable management tool when they are used correctly. Consistency with timing, location, and routine matters. Keeping a simple potty log can help you spot patterns. Sudden changes in potty habits can sometimes mean it is time to involve your veterinarian. The goal is not perfection overnight. It is creating a routine the dog can understand and repeating it consistently enough that the correct choice becomes the normal choice. If you want the full routine in a simple format you can keep and review, The Dog Owner’s Book of Poop and Pee is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook formats. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this episode with someone who is currently dealing with potty-training problems. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new This is Part 2 of a two-part series about what good dog training should actually look like. In Part 1 , I focused more on the training itself: what a productive dog training session should include, how training should progress, and what owners should expect from the actual training process. In Part 2 , I turn the focus to the client side of the equation—what you should research and understand before you hire a dog trainer and hand them your money . Experience matters. Communication matters. Transparency matters. Training philosophy matters. And just because someone has an opening this week does not necessarily mean they are the right trainer for you and your dog. We talk about researching trainers, reading reviews for patterns instead of just looking at star ratings, checking whether prices and expectations are clearly explained, understanding private training, group classes, and board-and-train programs, and making sure the trainer’s philosophy and equipment choices match what you actually want. A few of the biggest takeaways: Talk to several trainers before making a decision. Look for clear pricing, expectations, policies, and training methods. Pay attention to communication before you pay. Make sure the trainer can teach people, not just work with dogs. Ask what kind of notes, homework, follow-up, and support you will receive. Look for accountability on both sides of the trainer-client relationship. Dog training is people training. The trainer has to be able to explain what they are doing, teach you how to reproduce it, and help you adjust when things do not go according to plan. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this episode with someone who is currently looking for a dog trainer. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new This is the first episode in a two-part discussion about what good dog training should actually look like. In What Should a Good Dog Training Session Look Like? , I focus on the training itself: where training should happen, how a trainer should prepare before the session, how skills should be introduced, and why training needs to progress from simple environments to more distracting ones. The second episode, How to Choose the Right Dog Trainer: What to Look For Before You Hire , shifts to the client side of the equation—how to research trainers, what questions to ask, what to look for in communication and transparency, and how to decide whether someone is actually the right fit for you and your dog. A few of the biggest takeaways from this episode: Work on problem behaviors where they actually happen whenever possible. A trainer should understand your dog’s history and your goals before walking in the door. Start with simple foundational skills before expecting success in distracting environments. Give owners enough time between sessions to practice and build routines. Training should teach the owner what to do—not just show off what the trainer can get the dog to do. Skills matter, but routines are what make those skills useful in everyday life. The trainer’s job is to teach, coach, explain, and help you build a process you can repeat after the session is over. The real training happens when the trainer leaves and you start practicing. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss the companion episode, How to Choose the Right Dog Trainer: What to Look For Before You Hire , and share this episode with someone who is trying to figure out what good dog training should actually look like. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new If your dog pulls on the leash, the problem may not be control. It may be engagement. In this episode, I break down why so many dogs learn that pulling works and why constantly correcting the dog after the leash gets tight usually starts at the wrong end of the problem. The goal is to make paying attention to you valuable enough that the dog can enjoy the walk without dragging you through it. We start with attention and hand feeding inside the house, then build toward the Turnaround Game, short-leash work, stopping at every driveway, a 15-foot long line, gradual increases in distance, and eventually Leave It around distractions. The biggest idea is simple: you do not just go for a walk—you build a walk. A few of the key points: Practice attention before expecting good leash behavior outside. Stop at every driveway and ask for a simple skill. Use a long line to allow sniffing and freedom while still practicing recall. Avoid distractions until the dog has the skills to handle them. Add distance and difficulty gradually. Practice Leave It when things are easy so you have a chance when things get hard. Related K.I.S.S. Dog Training Resources Turnaround Game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q22z2FpnHZ8 Turnaround Game on Leash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyUhcFLlYW0 These two videos show the progression from attention work inside the house to adding the leash before moving outside. Watch Me — Teaching Attention https://kissdogtraining.com/how-to-get-your-dogs-attention-teach-watch-me/ Watch Me is the foundation for getting the dog to disengage from the environment and reconnect with the handler. Leave It — Teaching the Foundation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrAJ9umDRyE Leave It on Leash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gKbvTICzhE These are part of the progression from teaching Leave It in an easier environment to using it functionally on leash. Leave It on the Leash — Written Guide https://kissdogtraining.com/leave-it-on-leash/ This walks through adding the leash after the dog understands Leave It and Watch Me. My Dog Pulls on the Leash… So What Do I Do Now? https://kissdogtraining.com/my-dog-pulls-on-the-leashso-what-do-i-do-now/ This article expands on the attention work, Turnaround Game, and the progression toward loose-leash walking. Whoa Dog, Whoa! The Leash Can Be Your Friend https://kissdogtraining.com/product/whoa-dog-whoa-the-leash-can-be-your-friend/ This is my book devoted specifically to leash training, attention, and helping owners build a better walk. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If this episode helped you, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this episode with somebody who is tired of being dragged down the street. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Most dog owners use Leave It and Drop It—but a lot of people use them as though they mean the same thing. They don’t. Leave It is pre-mouth. Drop It is post-mouth. Leave It means: ignore that, disengage, and come back to me. Drop It means: you already have it, so let’s make a fair trade. In this episode, I break down how to teach both skills without turning either one into a wrestling match. You’ll hear how I build Leave It from a treat in a closed fist, to the floor, to working on leash around distractions. Then we move into Drop It and why trading is so important—especially when dogs start guarding things they value. A few of the biggest takeaways: Teach Leave It before the dog gets the object. Think of Leave It as a harder version of recall. Teach Drop It through fair trades instead of taking things by force. Use paired toys, Fetch, and Tug to make giving things up part of the game. Keep rewards handy so you can trade calmly when something unexpected happens. If a dog is already resource guarding, growling, snapping, or biting over objects, get professional help instead of experimenting. And yes, we also get into the story of Jake the Rottweiler, a dead squirrel, and why a piece of kibble was never going to win that negotiation. Related K.I.S.S. Dog Training Resources Leave It vs. Drop It: The Most Misunderstood Commands in Dog Training https://kissdogtraining.com/leave-it-vs-drop-it-the-most-misunderstood-commands-in-dog-training/ Teaching Leave-It: How Dogs Learn to Disengage and Choose You Instead https://kissdogtraining.com/teaching-leave-it-how-dogs-learn-to-disengage/ Drop It & Trade Up https://kissdogtraining.com/just-a-thought-on-resource-guarding/ Leave It at the Park https://kissdogtraining.com/leave-it-at-a-park/ K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who is still yelling “Leave It!” after the dog already has the thing in its mouth. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Have you ever looked at your dog and thought, “I know you know this. You’re just choosing not to do it”? Maybe. But there is a pretty good chance your dog is not being stubborn at all. They may simply be overwhelmed—and if the dog is overwhelmed, there is a good chance the humans in the house are overwhelmed too. In this episode, I talk about why dogs often perform beautifully in the living room and then seem to forget everything when you move to the backyard, front yard, sidewalk, or a more distracting environment. Familiar does not automatically mean trained, and every new environment adds another layer of difficulty. Sometimes the answer is not to push harder. Sometimes you need a training reset. A few of the biggest takeaways: Ask whether the dog was actually taught the behavior you are requesting. Then ask whether they were taught it in that specific environment. Watch for signs of overwhelm such as blank stares, walking away, yawning, scratching, or simply shutting down. Lower expectations temporarily and rebuild from easier situations. Use routines to reduce chaos for both the dog and the family. Hand feeding, crate routines, Kongs, redirection, and short practice sessions can help put structure back into the day. Build from the house to the backyard, front yard, driveway, walks, and eventually more distracting public environments. One of the simplest ways to restart the process is hand feeding. It gives you structured practice time, helps build attention, and lets you work on Sit, Down, Watch Me, Leave It, recall, crate work, and the early pieces of loose-leash walking. Related K.I.S.S. Dog Training Resources Why Your Dog Isn’t Stubborn — They’re Overwhelmed https://kissdogtraining.com/a-dog-trainer-in-kansas-city-explains-why/ This article expands on the main point of the episode: “stubborn” is often really overwhelm, unclear expectations, inconsistent practice, or too much difficulty too soon. Hand Feeding / Getting Started Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJv6cbmelVrTFQt_B4za1OL This is the hand-feeding playlist discussed in the episode and includes the foundational games and skills used to rebuild attention and routine. Adding a Leash Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqLiJ98xLJiEIDYbchTdiH74 The Next Level Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJCIRFQ7gGxjNI6Bm6GDYWE These continue the progression from foundational work inside the house toward leash work and more difficult real-world situations. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who keeps wondering why their “stubborn” dog suddenly forgets everything outside the living room. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Before you can teach your dog Sit, Down, Stay, Leave It, or anything else, you need something much more basic: You need their attention. In this episode, I explain why hand feeding is one of my favorite ways to build that foundation. Hand feeding is not really about feeding your dog out of your hand. It is about making yourself valuable, creating engagement, and giving you structured opportunities every day to practice the skills your dog is going to need later. I also walk through several of the games I use during hand feeding, including: Sit with a positive marker and release word. Down while beginning to build duration. The Turnaround Game to create a default Sit and attention. Go Find It and Come Here to begin building recall. Leave It as a positive redirection cue rather than a punishment. We also break down the beginning stages of Leave It using a simple progression: hand, foot, leash . Start inside the house where distractions are low, teach the dog to disengage and come back to you, and only then begin taking the skill into harder environments. One other important point: you can fade the lure, but you should not eliminate the reward. Good behavior stays strong because something reinforces it. Food may eventually become praise, affection, play, access to something the dog wants, or another reward—but good behavior still needs to pay. Related K.I.S.S. Dog Training Resources Hand Feeding / Getting Started Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJv6cbmelVrTFQt_B4za1OL This is the hand-feeding playlist discussed in the episode and includes the foundational games used to build attention and basic skills. Watch Me Command https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3eSh90jisw This video focuses specifically on teaching attention and eye contact during hand feeding. Watch Me — Written Guide https://kissdogtraining.com/how-to-get-your-dogs-attention-teach-watch-me/ Leave It on the Leash https://kissdogtraining.com/leave-it-on-leash/ These continue the same progression discussed in the episode: first build attention and disengagement, then begin applying those skills around greater distractions. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who keeps trying to teach commands before they have their dog’s attention. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new The holidays can be a lot of fun for people. For dogs, they can be a whole lot of chaos. Guests coming through the door, kids running around, food everywhere, extra noise, changed routines, and people wanting to interact with the dog can turn a normally manageable situation into a mess pretty quickly. In this episode, I walk through practical ways to make the holidays easier on both you and your dog. A few of the biggest takeaways: Have a management plan before guests arrive instead of hoping everything goes well. If your dog is crate trained, use the crate in the main living area so the dog can settle without being completely isolated. Train the crate before the holiday. Do not pull it out for the first time when 15 people show up at your house. Use stuffed Kongs or other interactive feeding toys to give the dog something positive to do while settling. Set rules for guests and children before the dog comes out. Ask guests to play hard to get and allow the dog to approach them instead of chasing the dog around trying to make friends. Do not let guests hype the dog into overstimulation. Give the dog breaks when they need them. Watch for stress signals such as yawning, lip licking, turning away, avoidance, whale eye, a tucked tail, barking, whining, or trying to escape the interaction. If your dog simply is not ready for the environment, daycare, boarding, a trusted friend, or another quiet arrangement may be the better choice. The goal is not to force the dog to participate in every minute of the holiday. The goal is to advocate for your dog, manage the environment, and create situations where the dog actually has a chance to succeed. Related K.I.S.S. Dog Training Resources 7 Proven Ways to Prep Your Dog for Visitors and Holidays Without Stress https://kissdogtraining.com/a-dog-trainer-in-shawnee-ks-helps-with-7-proven-ways-to-prep-your-dog-for-visitors-and-holidays-without-stress/ How to Crate Train Your Dog Without Anxiety https://kissdogtraining.com/%F0%9F%90%BE-how-to-crate-train-your-dog-without-anxiety/ In & Out of Crate — Training Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTTp-BVIGK0 K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who is getting ready to fill their house with guests, food, noise, kids, dogs, and holiday chaos. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Is private in-home dog training better than a group class? Sometimes. But the bigger question is whether you are doing them in the right order. In this episode, I break down what private in-home training does well, where group classes can become difficult for dogs that do not yet have a solid foundation, and why I think group classes can be incredibly valuable later in the training process. A few of the biggest takeaways: Problem behaviors are often best addressed where they actually happen. In-home training lets you work on things like jumping at the front door, pulling on leash, potty training, separation issues, reactivity, overstimulation, and attention in the dog’s normal environment. Private sessions make it easier to start in a low-distraction environment and build skills gradually. Training can progress from inside the house to the backyard, front yard, neighborhood walk, and eventually public environments. A dog that has never learned to work around distractions may struggle badly in a room full of other dogs and people. Group classes are not bad. In fact, they can be an excellent finishing school once the dog already understands the basics. Practicing familiar skills in a room full of dogs, people, noise, and movement adds an entirely new level of difficulty. The point is not that one type of training is always better than the other. The point is order of operations. Build the foundation first. Then add the distractions. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with someone trying to decide whether private training or a group class makes the most sense for their dog. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Why does your dog keep jumping up on people? Because it works. Jumping gets attention, and from the dog’s point of view, yelling, pushing, talking, and reacting can all still count as attention. In this episode, I break down why jumping becomes such a strong habit and how to start teaching your dog something better to do instead. A few of the biggest takeaways: Teach your dog that sitting is their version of saying please. Build a front-facing default Sit with the Turnaround Game. Practice the same behavior on leash so stopping begins to produce an automatic Sit. Train in layers: house, backyard, front yard, walks, and then public environments. Use crates or gates to manage front-door excitement instead of allowing the dog to rehearse jumping every time somebody visits. Use Leave It as a redirection cue when you can see the dog getting ready to make the wrong choice. Practice proper greetings frequently enough that meeting people eventually becomes boring instead of overwhelming. The biggest mistake is waiting until guests are standing at the front door and then trying to fix everything in the moment. This takes consistency, frequency, and a routine the dog understands. Videos Demonstrated in This Episode Turn Around Game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q22z2FpnHZ8 Turn Around Game on Leash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyUhcFLlYW0 Proper Greet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF45VmAtEVI The episode specifically walks through these exercises so you can see how the front-facing Sit progresses from basic attention work to leash work and finally to greeting another person. More Help With Jumping Downward, Dog! — How to Deal With a Dog That Jumps Up https://www.amazon.com/Downward-Dog-How-Deal-Jumps-ebook/dp/B0725GWYDR This is my book specifically about jumping-up behavior and building the behavior you actually want instead. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody whose dog turns every greeting into a full-contact sport. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Rescues are full. Shelters are packed. Dogs are being adopted and then returned only weeks later. Why? There is no single answer, but a lot of the problems start before the dog ever comes home. In this episode, I talk about some of the most common reasons dogs are relinquished and what owners, trainers, veterinarians, rescues, and shelters can do differently to help keep more dogs in their homes. A few of the biggest issues: People underestimate how much time a dog actually requires. The financial cost can be much higher than expected once you include food, veterinary care, preventatives, crates, daycare, training, grooming, and everything else. Puppies require real schedules for potty training, socialization, exercise, and supervision. Behavior problems such as pulling, jumping, reactivity, destruction, barking, and aggression can become overwhelming when owners do not have a plan. Major life changes, illness, assisted living, or the death of an owner can leave a dog without anywhere to go. Dogs with aggression issues may improve tremendously, but management and owner responsibility remain critical. Frustrated owners sometimes isolate the dog instead of addressing the problem, which can make everything worse. Dog ownership is not just about wanting a dog. It is about being prepared for the dog you actually bring home. That means looking honestly at your schedule, finances, family, lifestyle, expectations, and the amount of work you are willing and able to do. One of the best things you can do is talk to a qualified trainer before getting the dog. Sometimes that conversation confirms you are ready. Sometimes it helps you choose a dog that actually fits your lifestyle. And sometimes the smartest answer is to wait. Recommended Reading So, You Want a Dog, WTF Now? I wrote this book because it is the information I wish people had before bringing a dog home: what ownership really costs, how much time it takes, what to expect, and what questions you should be asking before making the commitment. K.I.S.S. Dog Training eBooks and audiobooks: https://kissdogtraining.com/merchandise/ The animal-welfare community, veterinarians, trainers, rescues, fosters, and dog owners are all dealing with the same problem from different directions. We are not going to eliminate every relinquishment. But better preparation, communication, realistic expectations, patience, and consistent routines can keep more dogs in the homes they were meant to stay in. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who is thinking about getting a dog before they make that decision. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new This episode is all about answering real dog training questions from clients. Why does K.I.S.S. Dog Training only do in-home training? Why do I usually put two weeks between training sessions? And how do I decide whether a dog needs puppy training, standard dog training, or a more complex behavior program? Why In-Home Training? Most of the problems people call me about happen in the dog’s actual world: inside the house, at the front door, in the backyard, or out on a neighborhood walk. That is where I want to see the dog. Private in-home training also gives us a chance to build a foundation before asking a dog to work around the distraction of several other dogs and people in a group setting. I am not against group classes. I just think they often make more sense as a finishing step after the basic skills are already in place. Why Two Weeks Between Sessions? Because the real training happens after I leave. You need time to practice, make mistakes, ask questions, build routines, and figure out what is and is not working. In a typical progression, we may start with management, crate work, hand feeding, and attention. Then we add leash skills, Stay, Leave It, and recall. Later we move into neighborhood walks, controlled dog distractions, and eventually busier public environments. Trying to cram all of that into a few days does not give the dog—or the owner—enough time to actually learn it. What Kind of Training Do I Offer? K.I.S.S. Dog Training generally works in three areas: Puppy training — socialization, potty training, crate work, hand feeding, and early foundation skills. Standard dog training — common problems such as leash pulling, jumping, recall, and reactivity. Complex cases — bite histories, city-mandated cases, separation anxiety, and other situations that need a slower, more detailed process. Complex cases usually begin with a phone evaluation and a detailed behavior history before we ever start in-home work. Those cases also usually need more time between sessions because we are dealing with a marathon, not a sprint. The common thread through all three is simple: Training takes time, practice, consistency, and realistic expectations. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who has a dog training question of their own. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Why do dog owners fail at training? Sometimes owners are not putting in the work. Sometimes their expectations are unrealistic. Sometimes they picked the wrong dog for their lifestyle. And sometimes the dog-training industry has done a lousy job of explaining how much time this process actually takes. In this episode, I break down 10 of the most common reasons dog training falls apart. A few of the biggest ones: Lack of consistency and frequency. Ten three-minute training sessions can be more useful than one 30-minute marathon. Build training into normal daily routines. Unrealistic expectations. The calm adult dog you admire had to get through puppyhood and adolescence first. Looking for the quick fix. Training is a process. If somebody promises to fix everything in a few days, start asking questions. Picking the wrong dog. Breed, age, energy level, size, family structure, schedule, and lifestyle all matter. Making an impulse decision. A cute puppy or rescue story can tug at your heart, but bringing home a dog is a long-term commitment. Expecting the kids to do the work. The dog ultimately belongs to the adults in the household. Creating a “living room dog.” If your dog only practices inside the house, do not be surprised when everything falls apart outside. Banishing the dog to the backyard. Isolation often creates barking, destruction, escaping, and even more frustration. One of my biggest recommendations is simple: talk to a good trainer before you get the dog. Figure out what kind of dog actually fits your life instead of trying to force your life to fit the dog afterward. I also recommend Meet Your Dog by Kim Brophey for people trying to better understand how genetics, breed tendencies, and individual needs affect the dog standing in front of them. Free Book Offer Mentioned in This Episode I also talk about my book: So You Want a Dog, WTF Now? It was written around many of these same issues: what you should think about before getting a dog and what you need to understand if you already have one and things are starting to fall apart. As mentioned in the episode, email: mike@kissdogtraining.com Tell me you listened to this podcast, and I’ll send you a coupon code to download the K.I.S.S. Dog Training eBook or audiobook version for free. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who is thinking about getting a dog—or wondering why training has not gone the way they expected. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new What are dog trainers’ own dogs actually like? Perfect? Not even close. In this episode, I talk about my own dogs and why I think the idea of a “perfect trainer’s dog” gives people the wrong picture of what good dog training is supposed to look like. My dogs are good at the things that matter in my life and in my business. They can redirect away from distractions. They can work around other dogs. They can settle in public. They can interact appropriately with people. They can come with me to client sessions, shows, patios, and other places where I need a dog that can handle the environment. But they also have personalities, quirks, bad days, and behaviors that still need routines and management. The Goal Is Not Perfection I would much rather have a dog that can calmly lie on a mat while I talk to someone than one that can perform flashy tricks but cannot relax. Good dog training is not about creating a robot. It is about building a dog that can live successfully in your world. That means working on things like: Redirection around distractions Recall Stay Calm behavior in public Appropriate social behavior Routines around visitors, furniture, sleeping arrangements, and everyday life My dogs are also different from one another. Little Bit, Liberty, and Loki each have different strengths, personalities, energy levels, and roles in my family and business. Some are better working around reactive dogs. Some are better out in public. Some are simply really good at being spoiled family dogs. And that is okay. Manage, Modify, and Improve One of the things I say throughout this episode is that we do not “fix” dogs. We manage behavior. We modify behavior. We improve behavior. There will always be distractions that are harder than others. There will always be good days and bad days. If you can consistently take three steps forward and only two steps back, you are still moving in the right direction. The real magic word in dog training is routine . Practice first where things are easy, then gradually take those skills into the backyard, front yard, neighborhood, and eventually more distracting public environments. If you can make crazy normal, you can build a pretty reliable dog. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with someone who thinks their dog—or their dog trainer’s dog—is supposed to be perfect. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Dog math is simple: When dogs are involved, the numbers do not always add up the way people think they will. One dog is a lot of work. Two dogs are not just twice the work. And adding another dog does not automatically make life easier for the dog you already have. In this episode, I break down some of the most common ways dog owners get the math wrong. More Dogs = More Work Adding another dog means more: Training Socialization Veterinary care Food Grooming Daycare or dog-walker expenses Individual attention Management More dogs can absolutely work, but you need to be realistic about the amount of time, money, and mental bandwidth you are adding to the household. A Second Dog Will Not Fix the First Dog If your current dog is out of control, under-exercised, poorly trained, or struggling with problem behaviors, bringing home another dog usually does not solve the problem. It can multiply it. A much better approach is to get the first dog stable, trained, and working within good routines before bringing another dog into the family. Two Puppies Are Not Easier Than One Taking home two puppies at the same time can create another set of challenges. They can become more focused on each other than on you, which can make training, socialization, and independence much harder. If somebody chooses to raise two puppies together, they need separate training time, separate socialization, separate crate work, and plenty of opportunities to learn how to function independently. The Financial Math Matters Too Two dogs mean twice the veterinary visits, twice the preventatives, twice the food, and potentially twice the daycare, grooming, boarding, and training expenses. The same goes for time. You still have to teach each dog how to potty outside, walk on leash, respond to cues, socialize appropriately, and function in the real world. Before adding another dog, I strongly recommend talking to a trainer first. Look at your schedule, lifestyle, finances, current dog, the breed or genetics of the dog you are considering, and what that dog is actually going to need from you. The best version of dog math is not “more dogs must be better.” It is making sure the numbers actually work before you bring another dog home. And there is one last piece of dog math that does work: If you can keep taking three steps forward and only two steps back, you are still moving in the right direction. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who is thinking about adding another dog to the family. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new If your dog pulls on leash, the solution usually is not to grab the leash and immediately start walking farther. The real answer is to teach the skills first. In this episode, I walk through the order of operations I use for leash training—from attention work inside the house all the way to handling distractions on a real neighborhood walk. The progression is simple: build attention first, add the leash inside, move to the backyard and driveway, and only then start building an actual walk. Start Before the Walk Hand feeding gives us a chance to teach Sit, Down, Watch Me, the Turnaround Game, release work, and Leave It before we start competing with everything outside. Hand Feeding Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJv6cbmelVrTFQt_B4za1OL Add the Leash Inside Once those skills are working, add the leash while you are still inside the house. Practice Sit-Stay, Down-Stay, automatic front-facing sits, Leave It, and following without pulling. Adding the Leash Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqLiJ98xLJiEIDYbchTdiH74 Stay Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJ5tMm40R-IEPTM6ioQdsWg Teach Leave It Before You Need It Leave It is one of the most useful commands you can teach because it gives you a way to redirect your dog away from distractions before things fall apart. Leave It Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrAJ9umDRyE&list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJv6cbmelVrTFQt_B4za1OL&index=12 Leave It Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gKbvTICzhE&list=PLsbJO2JoPmqLiJ98xLJiEIDYbchTdiH74&index=2 Then Build the Walk Move from the house to the backyard, then the front yard and driveway. Once the dog can work there, start with just a few driveways at a time and slowly expand the walk. You are not trying to create a competition heel. The goal is a loose-leash dog that can sniff and enjoy the walk but will still redirect back to you when needed. Books Mentioned in This Episode The Five Steps to the Perfect Pet Whoa Dog Whoa How to Get Your Dog to Come Without Being a Butthead Paperback books: https://kissdogtraining.com/paperback-books/ eBooks: https://kissdogtraining.com/product-category/e-book/ Audiobooks: https://kissdogtraining.com/product-category/audiobook/ The biggest factor in all of this is consistency and frequency. Two short training walks every day will accomplish far more than occasionally trying to fix everything during one long, frustrating walk. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody whose daily walk currently feels more like a tug-of-war. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new Animal welfare is under enormous pressure. Shelters are full. Rescues are full. Veterinarians are overwhelmed. Trainers are busy. And families continue bringing dogs home without always understanding how much time, money, training, socialization, and management may be required. In this episode, I look at the state of animal welfare in 2025 from several different directions—not to point fingers, but to ask a more useful question: How can we do better? People usually get dogs with good intentions. But emotional decisions can quickly collide with reality. Puppies need potty training, crate training, socialization, structure, and enormous consistency. Adolescent dogs come with their own challenges. Rescue dogs may arrive with behavioral histories nobody fully understands. At the same time, shelters and foster-based rescues are trying to create space for the next dog coming through the door. Veterinarians are handling both medical and behavioral concerns. Trainers are often brought in only after the situation has already started falling apart. The common thread is that we tend to be reactive instead of proactive. Maybe more people should talk with a trainer before getting a dog. Maybe shelters, trainers, and veterinarians need to work together more closely on education. And maybe some people need to hear that waiting—or fostering instead of adopting—is actually the responsible choice. There are no perfect dogs, perfect owners, perfect shelters, perfect veterinarians, or perfect trainers. We cannot guarantee outcomes. What we can do is manage, modify, improve, educate, and prepare. Resources Mentioned in This Episode So You Want a Dog, WTF? https://kissdogtraining.com/product/wtf-book/ This book is designed to help people understand the real responsibilities, routines, costs, time commitments, and lifestyle changes involved in bringing home a dog. Meet Your Dog — Kim Brophey https://meetyourdogbook.com/ A deeper look at how learning, environment, genetics, and the individual dog all contribute to behavior. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Puppy Socialization Checklist https://kissdogtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Puppy-Socialization-Checklist-1.pdf The checklist contains more than 150 experiences designed to help owners positively expose puppies to people, places, sounds, surfaces, objects, and other parts of the world during the critical socialization period. If you can help your local rescue by fostering, volunteering, donating, or simply helping educate somebody before they bring home a dog, please do it. Reducing relinquishment starts long before a dog is returned to a shelter. K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with a trainer, veterinarian, rescue volunteer, foster, or somebody thinking about bringing home a dog. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW... If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information. Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new When your dog pulls on leash, it is easy to start looking for a tool that will make the problem disappear. Gentle Leaders, Easy Walk harnesses, prong collars, choke chains, shock collars—there are plenty of choices. But before picking a tool, I think there is a more important question: Are you being proactive and teaching the dog what you want, or are you waiting for the dog to make a mistake and reacting to it? That distinction matters. I would much rather teach a dog how to pay attention, follow, redirect, and walk with me in an easy environment than wait until the dog is dragging me down the street and then try to correct the behavior. Where the Training Starts My leash-training progression starts with hand feeding and attention work inside the house. Hand Feeding Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJv6cbmelVrTFQt_B4za1OL From there, I begin adding the leash inside, then move into the backyard, front yard, driveway, neighborhood, and eventually real distractions. The goal is to teach the dog what walking with you is supposed to look like before expecting them to perform around everything happening outside. What About a Gentle Leader? A Gentle Leader fits around the dog’s nose and works somewhat like a horse halter. When the dog pulls, the head turns rather than allowing the dog to drive straight forward. It can be useful when a dog is physically stronger than the owner or when safety is a concern. But you cannot simply put one on a dog and expect the dog to accept it. The dog needs time to become comfortable wearing it before you attach the leash and expect it to work. What About an Easy Walk or Front-Clip Harness? A front-clip harness works on a similar principle. When the dog pulls, the attachment point turns the body instead of allowing the dog to continue driving straight ahead. These can be useful tools, especially for dogs that cannot comfortably wear a head halter. But the goal should still be training—not permanent dependence on equipment. The Better Question Instead of asking: “What tool will stop my dog from pulling?” Ask: “Have I actually taught my dog what I want them to do?” If the answer is no, that is where I would start. Time, consistency, frequency, reinforcement, and good routines are still going to matter more than any piece of equipment you buy. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Whoa Dog, Whoa! The Leash Can Be Your Friend https://kissdogtraining.com/product/whoa-dog-whoa-the-leash-can-be-your-friend/ Additional leash-training information: https://kissdogtraining.com/my-dog-pulls-on-the-leashso-what-do-i-do-now/ K.I.S.S. Dog Training Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts. https://kissdogtraining.com/ If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody trying to decide whether a training tool is actually helping teach their dog—or simply managing the problem. Support the show Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/