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Canine Connection Podcast

Canine Connection Podcast

By: Petra Ford & Laurie Winter Strimavicious
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About this listen

Canine Connection is a podcast for dog lovers, by dog lovers—people who are passionate about dog training and the incredible bond it builds between us and our dogs. We believe dog training is all about communication, and we’re here to talk about it in a way that’s approachable and relatable. Whether you're involved in dog sports or just want to better understand your pup, we’ll break down training concepts that apply across the board.

Through honest conversations and inspiring interviews, we’ll explore mindset, motivation, and real-life experiences—plus share practical, actionable tips to help you grow alongside your dog. If you love all things dogs, dog training and dog sports and want to deepen your connection with your canine companion, you’re in the right place.

Episodes
  • Episode 34: Interview with Brenda Aloff
    Mar 24 2026

    In this conversation, Petra, Laurie, and Brenda explore the nuances of dog training, focusing on understanding arousal, pressure, and emotional states. Brenda shares her unique approach to training that emphasizes connection, energy matching, and physiological regulation to achieve harmony and performance. They further explore canine and equine behavior, focusing on arousal management, body language, and training techniques. They emphasize the importance of understanding animal perception, physiological regulation, and the value of experimentation in training. Brenda has a unique perspective and an incredible understanding of dogs, and their language based on her background as a behaviorist, dog trainer and horse trainer. Brenda has had a tremendous influence on Petra’s training and understanding of dogs. So much interesting information to unpack in this episode!

    CHAPTERS:

    00:00 Introduction and Background of Brenda Aloff

    03:38 Understanding Dog Behavior and Arousal

    06:15 The Importance of Connection in Dog Training

    11:26 Energy Matching and Its Role in Training

    20:25 The Art of Training: Balancing Mechanics and Feel

    28:31 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation in Dogs

    40:08 Understanding Arousal in Dogs

    42:52 Tactile Interventions for Emotional Regulation

    45:58 Practical Applications in Training

    50:59 Managing Arousal Levels in Different Scenarios

    55:52 Self-Regulation and Communication in Dogs

    01:00:51 The Importance of Bodywork and Energy Matching

    01:06:00 Finding the Sweet Spot in Training

    01:10:02 Building Precision and Control in Obedience Training

    01:17:38 Training with Arousal and Obedience

    01:19:11 Understanding Dog Emotions and Body Language

    01:20:47 Perception Differences Between Dogs and Humans

    01:22:49 The Role of Executive Function in Dogs

    01:24:12 Impulse Control in Dogs

    01:26:52 The Importance of Mechanical Skills in Training

    01:28:40 Learning to Read Your Dog

    01:30:03 The Need for Understanding Dog Communication

    01:32:51 Navigating Dog Behavior in Trials

    01:35:20 The Complexity of Dog Body Language

    01:39:14 Experimentation in Dog Training

    01:40:15 The Importance of Data in Training

    CONTACT US:

    https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

    https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

    PETRA:

    https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

    www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

    LAURIE:

    https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 45 mins
  • Episode 33: Interview with Jenn Michaelis Stollman
    Mar 16 2026

    In this episode, Jenn Michaelis Stellmom shares her insights on training dogs and horses using clicker training, focusing on motivation, frustration tolerance, and generalization. Discover how species differences influence training strategies and learn practical tips for building confidence and resilience in your animals. In this engaging conversation, Jenn shares her insights on training dogs and horses, emphasizing the importance of emotional health, physical soundness, and the power of positive reinforcement. Discover practical strategies for shaping behavior, addressing emotional states, and integrating cross-species training techniques. Jenn emphasizes the importance of observation, and breaking down training down into tiny steps. She discusses how positive reinforcement and understanding emotional states can transform training outcomes and deepen the bond with all animals.

    CHAPTERS:

    00:00 Introduction and Background of Jen Stellman

    03:07 Training Techniques: Back Chaining and Freestyle

    06:03 Transition to Horse Training: Clicker Training and Rehabilitation

    09:08 Differences in Training: Dogs vs. Horses

    12:10 Frustration and Learning: Managing Expectations

    14:53 Generalization in Training: Dogs vs. Horses

    18:14 The Importance of Agency in Learning

    21:18 Handling Frustration in Training

    24:04 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

    30:28 Navigating Technical Difficulties

    30:46 The Impact of Training on Dog Performance

    35:30 Building Frustration Tolerance in Dogs

    40:21 Understanding Emotional States in Dog Training

    46:49 The Complexity of Dog Training

    54:02 Strategies for Effective Dog Training

    55:59 The Power of Data in Training

    56:30 Exploring Clicker Training in Competitive Dressage

    57:52 Positive Reinforcement: A Shift in Horse Training

    59:47 The Joy of Training: Motivation and Expression

    01:03:28 Innovative Ideas: Horse Training Camps

    01:06:49 Understanding Behavior: The Role of Physical Health

    01:09:29 The Importance of Shaping in Training

    01:13:39 Building Rapport: Baby Steps in Training

    01:17:18 The Challenge of Choosing the Right Horse

    01:19:39 The Balance of Soundness and Relationship in Training

    CONTACT US:

    https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

    https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

    PETRA:

    https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

    www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

    LAURIE:

    https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 31 mins
  • Episode 33: Errors! Oh No!
    Mar 9 2026

    In this episode of the Canine Connection Podcast, Petra and Laurie discuss the importance of embracing mistakes in both human and dog training. They explore how mistakes are an integral part of the learning process, emphasizing that errors should not be viewed negatively but rather as valuable information. The conversation highlights the need for trainers to reframe their relationship with mistakes, create a positive learning environment, and communicate effectively with their dogs. They also address the pressure of perfection in dog training and the significance of developing strategies to handle mistakes, ultimately advocating for a more compassionate and understanding approach to training.

    CHAPTERS:

    00:00 Embracing Mistakes as Part of Learning

    12:28 The Importance of Allowing Dogs to Make Mistakes

    24:38 Building Resilience Through Problem Solving

    26:43 The Fascination of Dog Training

    28:16 Embracing Mistakes in Training

    30:58 Understanding the Dog's Experience

    32:21 The Importance of Communication

    36:42 Evaluating Mistakes and Learning

    40:03 The Insanity of Repeated Mistakes

    43:08 Setting Clear Criteria for Training

    46:50 Developing a Training Strategy

    FOLLOW US:

    https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

    https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

    PETRA:

    https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

    www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

    LAURIE:

    https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
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