Doggy Dan Podcast Show

When dog owners come to me for help on how to stop leash pulling, I feel for them, especially when I hear the frustration in their voices.

It's understandable why having a dog pulling the leash can be such a pain! If all you want is to enjoy a quiet, peaceful walk with your dog, the constant struggle for control can be exhausting.

And most of the time, the leash pulling happens at the start of the walk, making you wonder, "Is going...

Seeing dog owners letting their dogs run wild when the car door opens is quite a familiar scene. It’s adorable at face value… but it’s a tricky if you want to have calm walks with dogs.

“Doggy Dan, do you mean I also have to keep an eye on how my dogs exit the car so I can have peace while I walk outdoors with them?”

Yes, you’re right.

All your problems with leash pulling, aggression, overexcitement, and yes, even protectiveness wi...

If I asked you to write down at least three dog-walking problems, I am sure I’d find leash pulling and misbehaving somewhere on that list.

Why? Because almost 80% of those who come to me for help on walking their dog have those issues.

And here’s the truth: the solution is fairly simple.

The problem starts when dog owners dismiss their dog's little quirks and defiance during walks as nothing serious… until they are.

Fortunately, yo...

Dogs don’t always say what they’re feeling, so it’s understandable why we want to know the reason why dogs yelp.

Each sound our dog makes is crucial; it can signify hunger, distress, and pain.

So it’s no surprise our dogs’ sudden yelping sounds can make us spring into protective, worrying mode.

Yes, a yelping dog can be a dog in pain. But a dog letting out a high-pitched, petrifying sound isn’t always a pained dog… and it’s an esse...

What do you do when your dog's energy levels spike from a 3 to an 8? My answer as a top dog trainer: the Calm Freeze.

I know it's daunting seeing your dog transform from well-behaved and calm to rowdy and agitated in the blink of an eye.

But here's an important fact I've learned from years of working with dogs and their owners: you, as a dog owner, possess the remarkable ability to transform your dog's behavior from hyperactive and...

The reason why dogs need timeout is because they don't naturally understand human language.

If you want to give consequences or correction for a specific dog behavior, you must speak a language your dog totally understands.

And that’s where timeouts come in.

The thing about timeout for dogs is that it's so simple. And because it's so simple, it's also so easy to overcomplicate and done wrong.

Some dog owners don't tap into the po...

The reason for using a short line for dogs boils down to this: control.

It sounds extreme, but in dog psychology, the one in control is the one in charge.

And when your dog runs under tables and around the garden uncontrollably, and you're having a hard time catching them, you're not in control!

The short line for dogs helps you regain control without raising your voice, resorting to harsh strategies, and losing your composure (new...

A whistle for dog recall training is a very important tool that some dog owners overlook.

Of course, I recommend you go for solutions that work best for you and your dog.

If you've put in all possible effort to train your dog to come when called, and still haven't had any success, the dog recall training whistle is a tool that you absolutely must not underestimate.

In this blog, we're going to talk about using a whistle, and why it...

Training tips for aggressive dogs flood the internet, all promising miraculous results!

There’s a mix of positive reinforcement, showering dogs with treats, and even giving dogs really scary punishments!

While all these solutions work for a while, I know one thing from my experience as a top dog trainer: you need to get to the heart of the problem to see real progress.

The key to addressing snappy behavior in dogs goes beyond mer...

Doggy Dan, why is my dog overexcited? Also, how to calm overexcited dogs?

I often get this question from dog owners dealing with dogs that are always all over the place, jumping on the couch, on them, and on other dogs.

They bark, run, and lunge all because they are excited… something that causes a lot of stress not only to their owners but to other dogs as well.

These overexcited dogs often get shouted at or barked at because they...

If you are wondering how to deal with an overprotective dog, you MUST know that these animals are NOT naturally inclined to cause harm.

In fact, dog aggression from overprotectiveness is a case of a dog’s desire to keep harm away from you and the property they’re protecting.

But when is a protective dog too much? And how do you deal with an aggressive, overprotective dog?

In this blog, we’re going to talk about dog aggression comin...

When you deal with a fear biter, you have to understand that this dog’s tendency to bite is not fueled by the desire to simply bite.

These fear biters are fierce protectors.

When dog owners come to me and ask about aggression due to fear, I tell them when they deal with a fear biter, they have to halt the training until they solve the problem on a deeper level.

Because most of the time, fear-based aggression that causes biting is n...

The question of how to handle a bossy, dominant dog is common among dog owners who are exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed by their bossy dogs.

Bossy, dominant dogs have a distinct characteristic: they always want to be in charge over every dog they encounter. They love challenging authority, they display brute strength, and they don’t hesitate in showing aggression.

One can say “Oh, but that’s just a dog’s personality!”

Though ...

If you’re eager to know how to help fearful dogs, I know where you’re coming from. Fearful dogs are exhausted. You can read their exhaustion through their habits and body language: they can’t easily sleep, they’re reactive, and they’re triggered by the littlest things.

If you own a dog that is highly fearful, you already know telling them “Please, calm down” doesn’t work.

So what do you do as a dog owner to truly pacify your dog’s ...

Any loving dog owner gets concerned about the factors that cause dog stress. After all, we just want the best for our pets, from their physical to mental health.

You can attribute the cause of dog stress to multiple factors: unhealthy upbringing, violent history, a chaotic environment, and strained relationships with owners and other dogs.

But what most dog owners usually overlook is a stress trigger that affects more dogs than we ...

If anyone comes to me for tips on how to get dogs to listen more, I always ask them to do this:

“Think of the most connected, most effective conversations you’ve had with a loved one. Were they done with shouting, or were they filled with calm, understanding energy?”

Surely, you would say the latter.

And it’s true. As a parent, the most effective conversations I've had with my children are ones done in absolute calmness.

No anger.

...

If you’re here because you’re wondering how to teach boundaries to dogs, I’m here to commend you!

I know it’s tough. When our dogs start to show their puppy eyes, denying their requests becomes so hard.

But there is power in SAYING NO.

When dog owners say NO, it paves the way for better obedience training, and dogs that are calmer and easier to take care of.

Additionally, dog owners who say NO are less likely to deal with aggressiv...

The best way to know how to walk a dog is to understand this crucial principle:

In every walk, there’s a follower, and a leader.

And most of the time, the leader is NOT you.

“What do you mean, Dan? Are you saying that even if I hold the leash, I’m still not in control?”

That’s right!

Which explains why dogs tend to pull ahead of you on the leash, or become so uncontrollable during the walk — stopping to sniff wherever they want, lu...