Dr Dunbar's iWoofs Podcasts

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2.07 - Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a phrase that gets used a little too much in dog training. That’s not to say it doesn’t exist, but that some people are too eager to use it as a scapegoat and an excuse to put their dogs on drugs. Anxiety is a terrible thing for a dog, but it’s usually easy to fix with appropriate training. The Dunbars explain how to teach your dog to be comfortable spending time alone. Give your dog an acceptable activity to keep them busy while your gone. A few stuffed chewtoys will go a long way.

iWoofs Seas: Season 2

2.06 – Who's The Boss?

One of the biggest mistakes people make in dog training is blaming their dog’s behavior problems on “leadership” or “dominance” instead of poor training. The Dunbars explain how dog hierarchies actually work, and why it doesn’t really matter when it comes to your relationship with your dog. You are a human, of course you’re in charge! Train your dog well and they’ll want to listen to your every word, even when they’re chasing a squirrel and you don’t have a food treat.

iWoofs Seas: Season 2

2.05 – At the Dog Park

The dog park can be a scary place, especially if you are worried about your dog's socialization skills. The Dunbars discuss when to be worried about your dog being dangerous, and how safety is really all about off-leash control. The park can be an exciting place, so work your way up to it. Hang out next to the park, or go when it’s nearly empty. Keep your dog on-leash and tell it when it’s acting appropriately and when it’s not. Used correctly, the dog park can be the ultimate training tool!

iWoofs Seas: Season 2

2.04 – Finding a Good Dog Trainer

Finding a good dog trainer can be a difficult process. Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do to make sure that the trainer you find will be a good fit for you and your puppy. The Dunbars discuss what to look for in a good trainer, whether it’s for puppy classes, adult dog training, or individual behavior consultations. Most of all, make sure you use a dog-friendly trainer! There’s no reason why training can’t be fun for all involved.

iWoofs Seas: Season 2

2.03 – Safety First

Some dog behavior problems can put your dog in jeopardy. These need to be addressed in order to ensure the safety of dogs and their owners. The Dunbars respond to listener questions and discuss the importance of highly reliable emergency commands and boundary training. With training for safety, where reliability is so important, the key is proofing the commands against all possible distractions.

iWoofs Seas: Season 2

2.02 – Loo Logistics

Long-term and short-term confinement, indoor and outdoor doggy toilets, night shifts and long days, rewards and reprimands. When it comes to training your pup to use the loo, the devil is in the details. The Dunbars discuss housetraining specifics, including how to set your new puppy up for success from the very beginning.

iWoofs Seas: Season 2

2.01 - BEFORE You Get Your Puppy

Do your homework before you get a dog! The Dunbars discuss some of the questions you should ask yourself before adopting a dog. What do you want from a dog? How do you imagine your ideal canine companion? The first step in training a dog is determining your lifestyle and expectations. Also it's important to make sure the whole family agrees on getting a dog, and understands how to raise it responsibly.

iWoofs Seas: Season 2

1.03 - Problem? What Problem

Living with dogs is all about relationships. When owners enjoy their dog’s behavior and company, the relationship blossoms. When pets misbehave, the relationship sours Unfortunately, dog behavior, temperament and training problems are extremely common and utterly predictable. Temperament problems make a dog a challenge to live with. And behavior and training problems are the #1 terminal illness for pet dogs. Behavior, temperament and training problems are the most common reason for people to surrender or abandon their dogs.

iWoofs Seas: Behavior Problems

1.02 - Happy Birthday Puppy Training!

On January 26th, Off-leash Puppy Classes celebrated their 25th Birthday. The world’s very first off-leash puppy socialization and training class for pet dogs was started on 26th January 1982. Just 25 years ago, dog trainers only taught adult dogs repetitive on-leash obedience drills. Puppy Classes emphasized the importance of teaching bite inhibition, early socialization, temperament training, and simple solutions for common and predictable behavior problems, as well as basic household manners.

iWoofs Seas: Season 1

1.01 - Pet Dog Training

Over the past 30 years or so, pet dog training has evolved as a specialized field of dog training. Pet dog training is one of the most complicated, challenging, sometimes frustrating, yet most thoroughly rewarding of endeavors. Pet dog training differs markedly from teaching competition dogs or working dogs, and from training animals for public shows. In all other fields of training, the syllabus is finite, and the handler knows both the rules and questions before the examination.

iWoofs Seas: Your Education about Puppy Education