Newest TV Episodes

Dianna Buck is a certified pet dog trainer in Los Angeles, and she has three training tips that help you raise a well-behaved canine companion.  The first tip is instituting a “Nothing in Life is Free” program, that teaches your dog to say “Please” when they want something.  By having your dog sit when they want something, they’ll learn that the best way to get something is by sitting, which means they’re calm and under control.  The second tip is a “Call Off” a special recall that is extra important, and will work even in the face of powerful distractions.  The final tip is Tug, probably the best game you can play with your dog.

Learn more at GrrrDogTraining.com

In Part 2 Dianna explains the rules that make Tug such a valuable training tool.  When you begin playing tug, you want to have your dog on leash so they can’t steal the toy and run off alone with it.   This way you remain in control of the game and the fun.  Once your dog enjoys Tug, you can use it as a powerful reward in training, asking your dog to sit or lie down and then rewarding them with a quick game of Tug.   Tug is also a wonderful way to teach your dog Out & Take It, which is invaluable when your dog gets a hold of something they shouldn’t have.

Learn More at NarniaPets.com

Bridget is a dog trainer at Narnia Pet Behavior and Training who enjoys competing in agility and teaching a variety of fun and friendly classes for pet dogs.  Bridget demonstrates how training your dogs to get excited and energized on command, is the only way you can train them to settle down quietly on command.  Watch how quickly these dogs go from jumping and spinning, to lying on their sides.  Next, the class practices their polite greetings, by sitting before and after meeting someone.  Bridget finishes part 1 with a game to measure obedience, loose-leash heeling and composure under pressure.

Music by Kevin Macleod

Learn More at NarniaPets.com

One of the most important things you can teach your dogs is a reliable recall.  You want to have a command that you only use when it’s very important, and you really need your dog to come straight away.  Use special treats and praise them extra when they respond to your special recall command.  Finally, Bridget shows the class how to play musical chairs, K9 games style.  When the music stops, owners must get their dogs to sit outside the circle, and then race to find a chair.  Buy they can only remain in their chair so long as their dog maintains their sit stay, and anyone without a chair is free to try and get your dog to break their stay, so they can take your chair.

Music by Kevin Macleod

Learn more at SteveBrooksK9U.com

Steve marches to the beat of a different drummer.  With positive, reward-based training, Steve teaches his dogs the meaning of the 4 essential commandments: Heel, Come, No & Stay.  Heel, or loose-leash walking is a vital skill for any pet dog and Steve has a bunch of different techniques for training it.  The only thing they all have in common is that they don’t reinforce your dog for pulling on leash.  Steve also introduces us to Smoke, a dog that barely survived Hurricane Katrina.

There are many ways to Heel or Heal a dog. SteveBrooksK9U specializes in behavior problems and pet obedience for the real world. Thousands of dogs have graduated from K9U with a diploma, evidence that they’ve completed a training program that brings families closer together by teaching leadership and mutual respect between people and dogs.

Learn more at SteveBrooksK9U.com

Steve isn’t the only one here with his own approach to life.  Steve adopted Sven after he was thrown out of a moving car on a farm in Tennessee.  Sven certainly seemed to have some aggression issues, but with a lot of patient love, Steve’s learned that Sven is not only a good dog, but also a talented musician.  Sven plays piano, bass and guitar as well as sings, and has recorded and released an album, with Steve providing the drums and production.  It's psychedelic, tripped-out, rock and roll dog training fun for the whole family!

There are many ways to Heel or Heal a dog! K9U was founded in 1998 in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles, and has continuously offered a variety of reasonably-priced programs. Steve is also an expert at training aggressive and difficult dogs.

Dina has a dog that’s learned to run away when she bends down to pick anything up, creating a real safety hazard.  It’s great to have a dog that loves fetch, but you don’t want your dog to bolt every time they think you might throw something.  Fortunately it’s easy to train your dog to come as a part of fetch.  And to make it a little more fun, we can have them run through our legs while they’re at it.  By incorporating recalls into their favorite game, you’ll end up with a very reliable come command.

Dina’s been training dogs in Los Angeles for 20 years.  Her passion is training dogs that can help save people’s lives, whether it’s in search and rescue or early cancer detection.  She uses rewards and games in training, and believes that you never stop rewarding your dog altogether, though you do always ask for more and better behavior to earn it.  One of her favorite games to play with dogs is tug, because it’s so interactive and gives you a great way to combine training and fun.  She demonstrates how to make any dog love tug and how to make it into a fun training game.

Food is a great tool in training, but you don’t want to end up with a dog that only listens when you have a treat.  A great way to avoid this is by using rewards other than food while training.  There are plenty of things your dog enjoys and it’s possible to use many of them as rewards.  Mel shows Elizabeth how to motivate her Golden, Rocket, using non-food rewards such as going outside or meeting people.  By showing the dogs that they will only get to go outside or meet people if they behave themselves, they become very motivated without the need for food treats.

Learn more at TrainingTracks.com

Play is one of the best rewards you can use in dog training, it’s free, dogs love it and it strengthens the bond you have with your dog.  It’s easy to incorporate training into your games by having your dog earn the exciting part of the game by performing some obedience exercises.  Additionally, it’s important that you enforce some strict rules so your dog learns to stay in control, even when they get very excited. For example in Tug, it’s important that they don’t grab the object until told to, they drop the object when asked, they comply with any obedience commands, and most importantly, they never mouth or bite you while playing.

Learn more at MKanimalcoach.com

A lot of dogs like to get out of the house, so when their owners open the door they bolt out at high velocity and under minimal control.  If you let them leave the house this way, you’ll be reinforcing their out-of-control behavior, and creating a serious management and safety problem.  Megan-Kate shows Tami how to train her dog Chara to leave the house in a calm and controlled manner and go to her bed on command.  Then she helps Sawyer and Piper train their dog Tiki to “boogie” down with them.  

Learn more at MKanimalcoach.com

When you introduce two dogs that haven’t met before, it’s a good idea to follow a couple of precautions to ensure that they get off on the right paw together.  The worst thing you can do for your dog is feed them out of a bowl.  Dogs were born to look for food, and if you make dinner into a game, you can keep them happily occupied for hours.   Finally Megan-Kate gives a step by step explanation of how you can train your dog to get you a soda, from the fridge, while you’re relaxing in your favorite recliner.

Learn More at RikkeBDogTraining.com

Rikke is a dog trainer and a mom that helps families learn how to live with their dogs.  Dogs need special training if they’re going to enjoy the company of young children, and children need to consider the well being of pets that can’t speak up for themselves.  Crates are a vital tool that families can use to manage their dogs and it’s easy to train your dog to love its crates and happily go to it on command.  Children can make excellent trainers, and when appropriate, they should be a part of training exercises and games.

Learn More at RikkeBDogTraining.com

Rikke introduces us to Vinny, and begins teaching him some of the basic obedience commands that are so important for a big dog.  Then she consults Shelly & Deb about their dog Tag and their son Felix.   Tag missed out on some early socialization, and was feeling uncomfortable around Felix.  With the help of some basic obedience training, management and supervision in combination with positive and controlled experiences, Tag is learning to enjoy Felix’s company and behave appropriately in his presence. Nevertheless, being smart about how you manage your family's living space will always make life easier, as will a couple of food-stuffed chewtoys.

Learn more at: www.davidthedogtrainer.com

David trains on walks, he uses food rewards, toys and fun.  He and Vida explain how to make games into training and training into games!  Tug, fetch and chase all present excellent training opportunities, assuming you establish and enforce clear rules, so you can get the dogs excited, without getting them out of control.  It’s also invaluable to take a moment to just chill out at the park. 

Learn more at: www.davidthedogtrainer.com

Some dogs will naturally fetch, others will need a little motivation and guidance.  Cooper’s just learning now.  He’s also learning to stay, so once he’s motivated by the ball, we can use fetch as a reward for good stays.  David demonstrates how useful food lures can be, especially around distractions.  Of course, if you can it’s better to use an lure-free hand-signal as a prompt.  With Horace and Carl, we learn how to refine our dogs’ walking while on leash, to make it safe, easy and enjoyable.

In Week 1 puppies get comfortable playing with each other and having their play sessions interrupted by people for short training sessions. Owners learn how to lure their pups into a sit, stand or down position and pups are taught to enjoy being held and handled by humans.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here

Also in Week 1 owners learn the importance of proper socialization & bite inhibition. The “Take It / Leave It” game is introduced, as well as the “Watch Me” command. Owners learn to stuff a hollow chewtoy and the homework is to practice everything from class using the pup’s normal food for treats.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here

In Week 2 puppies practice and improve their position changes and “Leave It.” They learn “Settle” for longer duration downs and are introduced to the “Stay” command. Owners begin to phase out the use of food treats as a lure, but continue to use it regularly as a reward.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here

In Week 2 we visited a SIRIUS student at home, to see what training was like with the whole family. Jasper introduced us to his family, including Marley, a SIRIUS graduate. Jasper showed us his doggy den and demonstrated the finer points of training recall.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here

In Week 3 owners continue to handle their pups, with special care for sensitive spots. A round of Pass the Puppy helps pups get accustomed to being handled by strangers (your vet will thank you). Pups get used to the idea of “Stay” as owners ask for longer duration positions. Owners also work on getting their pups to follow them off-leash, then they put the leashes on for a moment to learn the loose-leash exercise.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here

Also in Week 3, owners learn to use movement as it’s own reward while walking on-leash, or as a useful tool when proofing stays. The idea of the “Release” from stay is introduced, giving every stay a clear ending. Pups continue to work on their recall and owners learn what to do when their recall command doesn’t work. For homework, pups will be working on their stays, with lots of proofing for movement & distance, plus following and loose-leash walking.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here

Practice makes perfect, and in Week 4 puppies continue to practice what they’ve already learned: bite inhibition, socialization, position changes, recalls & “leave it.” Earning food treats gets more difficult as owners ask for better performance in exchange to rewards. Pups must come the first time they are called, and successfully leave treats for longer periods in order to get treats.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here

Also in Week 4, owners begin learning how to translate their verbal commands using the hand signals that their pups have already learned. With practice, the pups will soon be following verbal commands even if they can’t see their owners. We spend more time on Stays, focusing on trouble-shooting and proofing.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here

In Week 5 the pups’ understanding of verbal commands is tested, as they’re put through a variety of position changes. Owners learn to not repeat their verbal commands, and instead use their hand signals to help their pup understand. The pups also learn a very valuable lesson about the appropriate way to greet people during the Jumping Up game.

Download all of SIRIUS Berkeley Puppy 1 Here