• Doggy Dan Podcast Show

  • By: Doggy Dan
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Doggy Dan Podcast Show

By: Doggy Dan
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  • Solve Dog Reactivity The Kind And Gentle Way By Doggy Dan: Dog Training - Dog and Puppy Trainer, Behaviorist, Speaker, Author
    Copyright 2021 . All rights reserved.
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Episodes
  • Show 88: Two Most Important Types of Dog Walks EVERY Dog Owner Needs to Know

    Show 88: Two Most Important Types of Dog Walks EVERY Dog Owner Needs to Know
    Jan 3 2024
    Walking your dog is a crucial part of raising and training them; thus, knowing the two types of dog walks can make a HUGE difference to your training experience. "Doggy Dan, is there more than just one way to do dog walks?" Yes… and my goal is to help dog owners tap into the power of switching walking styles to make the most out of dog walks. In this blog, I will talk about the two types of dog walks, why you need to know both, and how to know which type to use best. Read on to learn more. The Two Types of Dog Walks: Why You Need More Than Just One Type of Walk All walk and no play makes your dog a very irritable and restless pet. A common misconception among dog owners regarding walking dogs is that there's only one walking style to follow from start to finish. As a dog trainer who has helped dogs and their owners make walks effective while having fun, I know that sticking to one walking style can make your time outdoors an absolute struggle! Because let's be honest: our dogs are playful, and the outdoors is the perfect setting for unleashing their love for fun! Expecting them to follow one style of walking (and nothing else!) sets you and your dog up for frustration! So, what do you do to make outdoor walks more effective? Here are the two types of dog walks you should follow. The Structured Walk The first dog-walking style is the “structured walk”. Even though it is not THE ONLY walk you can do, it is undoubtedly the most important walk you should master. Most dog owners feel this type of walk is the gold standard, the only way to do things. (More on this later.) During the structured walk, your dog walks with a leash, and you absolutely are in control of the entire walk. You give commands, you decide what your dog can and can't do, and your dog is expected to follow your charge. This is the walking style that tells your dog, "I am in charge of the walk. I make the decisions. You listen to my commands." When you engage in a structured walk, you drive the entire walk, and your dog has to follow YOUR charge. The Social Walk Now, this walking style is what your dog loves! The walk becomes social when your dog can roam free and do what they want for a time. The walk doesn't have a structure, and dogs are more accessible to sniff posts, or check out areas they want to see. Compared to The Structured Walk, this more relaxed option allows your dog to really have fun and socialize! Two Types of Dog Walks: What the Structured Walk Teaches Your Dog Walking your dog the structured way sends them this important message: you're in charge of the walk, not them. The Structured Walk is crucial because it can solve typical dog walking problems such as leash pulling, aggression, overexcitement, and outdoor anxiety. Sure, you will be giving your dog the freedom to roam around and freely explore, but before you do that, your dog must understand you make the calls. And it is during the structured walks that your dog firmly gets the message that makes them say, "Ahh, I should listen to my owner's commands before I do anything during the walk." I actually talk more about The Structured Walk in my blog on the best way to walk dogs, the fifth in my Five Golden Rules series. In a nutshell, The Structured walk is critical because it teaches your dog they're not in charge. And when your dog knows they don't make the calls, they relax, they become less aggressive, and they come to your call (which is an absolute need if you're going to switch to The Social Walk). What the Social Walk Teaches Your Dog The Social Walk is about having fun! Here's the truth: we can't expect our dogs to spend the entire 30 minutes of their time outdoors just following a structured walk. They're already outdoors; they need to explore, run, sniff, and play. The social walk allows your dog to enjoy a little fun and downtime during your walk. Which Should You Do With Your Dog: How to Know Which Walk to Choose So, how do you know which walk to choose between the types of dog walks? When To Use the Structured Walk If you live in a city with limited free space for your dog to roam around, most of your dog walks will be structured (aka, dog on a leash with you commanding your dog what to do). However, if your place has ample space, I recommend using the first five to ten minutes of your time outdoors doing a structured walk BEFORE letting your dog walk more freely. I also recommend using a Structured Walk at the start and the end of EVERY walk to establish and re-establish your role as the one in charge of your time outside. Before you stop the Structured walk to make the switch to Social, I encourage you to ask the following questions: Is my dog coming to me when I call them?Do they have spiked-up energy levels?Do they tend to be aggressive?Does my dog understand boundaries?Have I established clear dog-walking commands with my dog? If safety is an issue for your dog and others, I recommend staying on structured walks before it's absolutely safe to ...
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    8 mins
  • Show 87: Why Dogs Pull On Leash At The Start of Every Walk: The BIGGEST Reason + Stop Leash Pulling Hack

    Show 87: Why Dogs Pull On Leash At The Start of Every Walk: The BIGGEST Reason + Stop Leash Pulling Hack
    Dec 28 2023
    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 out for a walk even worth it?" Why do dogs do this? Why is there even a power struggle? And should you persist? In this blog, I will talk about my biggest theory of why dogs pull the leash at the start of every walk… and what you can do to change it. Read on to learn more. Key Takeaways: Understand the Instincts: Dogs pull on the leash due to instincts derived from their wolf ancestors, seeing walks as a time for hunting and leading. They will naturally take the Alpha role if they don't sense a leader, hence the pulling.Be the Alpha Leader: To stop leash pulling, you must establish yourself as the leader in all aspects of your dog's life, not just during walks. This means setting boundaries, giving consistent consequences for pulling, and showing calm, assertive energy.Prepare and React Appropriately: How you start the walk sets the tone. Go out first, decide when to walk, and be ready with calm responses to pulling, like pauses or changing direction. Letting your dog lead or not giving consequences encourages pulling. Stop Leash Pulling: Understanding Why Dogs Pull the Leash Right Before You Start Your Walk You walk to the door; your is already pulling on the leash. You step outside down the stairs, and your dog pulls and pulls as if telling you to "Hurry up!" Your time outdoors is all about having to regain control of the leash. If you've experienced the things I mentioned above, you get how challenging it is to have a dog who wants to take charge of the walk from start to finish. But why do dogs pull the leash at the start of every walk? Let me answer that using dog psychology. You see, our dogs have the DNA of a wolf — 99.98%, to be exact. Why is this significant? Because how your dog acts can be connected to how wolves act in the wild. For the wolves, everything is about survival. When they head outdoors, a walk is not just a walk; it's all about hunting for food. The most interesting thing about wolves is they don't push through with their walk until the Alpha — the pack leader — steps in to lead the way, signals "Let's go!" and goes on to make all the big decisions. Even though our dogs have become more domesticated than their ancestors, they still think like wolves. Someone has to lead, someone has to decide, someone has to be followed, someone has to call the BIG shots. FACT: If your dog doesn't feel like an Alpha is in charge, they will take over. Why? Because dogs, by nature, will always look for the leader. If that isn't filled, they immediately have to assume the role. It’s hardwired into the DNA. And leaders lead…thus, your dog is out front and there is endless leash pulling, especially at the start of every walk. Have you ever observed your dog becoming more in tune whenever the walk happens? They're gearing up to make the big decisions! So… what can you do? To Stop Leash Pulling, You Have to Know That Control Matters to Dogs Control is a powerful concept in dog psychology! Why? Because your dog knows control is essential for survival. The Alpha is their protector! The Alpha tells them how to survive the wild and find food. Your dog pulling the leash shows they have taken the role of the Alpha. Their pulling sends the message, "I'm making the big decisions now. I will tell you what to do!" So when your dog pulls the lead, they aren't deliberately disobeying you or getting on your nerves. They pull the lead because they feel they're the pack leader, and they need to make every crucial decision to make the walk successful because that's what pack leaders do. 5 Things You Can Do To Stop The Dog From Pulling the Leash The biggest solution to stop leash pulling is to actually show your dog they can pass on the hat of leadership to you. Here are some ways you can do it. #1: Be the Leader in Everything Just as the Alpha wolf leads the pack, you need to establish yourself as the leader of your pack. I want to be very clear: to stop leash pulling, you need to be the leader of EVERYTHING, and not just of walking outdoors. Some dog owners assume they only need to show their authority and leadership during the walk, and what happens before or after the walk doesn't matter. I 100% encourage you to take charge of everything, from the walk to the feeding to giving affection and attention. Becoming the leader in your dog's eyes requires an all-round approach, and that's why I made my online dog training program, The Dog Calming Code™️. This dog training program is dedicated to helping you become an all-round leader in your dog's eyes by guiding...
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    7 mins
  • Show 86: How to Exit the Car with Dogs: Why Dogs Need to Calmly Exit the Car

    Show 86: How to Exit the Car with Dogs: Why Dogs Need to Calmly Exit the Car
    Dec 20 2023
    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 will be reduced by simply ensuring you take control WAY BEFORE your dog steps out of the car. Key Takeaways: Control Starts with the Car Exit: The way dogs exit the car sets the tone for the walk. Controlling this aspect ensures a more manageable and enjoyable outdoor experience.Calmness is Key: Encouraging calm behavior from the start, such as opening the car door calmly and giving clear commands, can significantly influence your dog's energy and responsiveness during the walk.Establishing Leadership: Teaching dogs to exit cars calmly reinforces the idea that you are in control. This understanding helps in reducing undesirable behaviors like leash pulling and overexcitement, leading to more peaceful and enjoyable walks.LEARN HOW TO WALK YOUR DOG THE RIGHT WAY WITH DOGGY DAN GOLDEN RULE #5! Table of Contents A Quick Recap of Doggy Dan Rule #5: How You Can Control the WalkThe Way Dogs Exit Cars Influences How Your Walks Will GoHow to Help Dogs Exit CalmlyWhat Happens When You Help Your Dogs Calmly Exit CarsLearn More About How You Can Take Charge of Your Dog's Walks with the Dog Calming Code   A Quick Recap of Doggy Dan Rule #5: How You Can Control the Walk In my previous blog about the Doggy Dan Golden Rule #5, I discussed how you can truly gain control of the walk. In the same blog, I mentioned three pillars for a successful walking experience: #1: You control the walk and the energy. #2: You set the rules on what is acceptable and what is not. #3: Your dog has to know that it’s you who calls the shots. Using this Golden Rule as a guide, letting your overexcited dog run out of the car like a sprinter immediately strikes out your chances of becoming in control of the walk. Read on to learn more about why the way dogs exit cars can make or break your outdoor walks. DOG CALMING CODE: THE PROGRAM THAT HELPS YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DOGGY DAN FIVE GOLDEN RULES The Way Dogs Exit Cars Influences How Your Walks Will Go If your dog sprints out the moment you open your door, they will be hard to control throughout your time outdoors. You see, the one who controls the walk matters to dogs.   If you control the walk, your dog will listen. If you let them run the show, they'll do things on their terms. Now, most dog owners don't make anything big out of the way your dog eject themselves out of cars. But I'm here to tell you that how they leave the car matters in the grand scheme of your dog's time outside. Let me give you an analogy… When I was younger, my parents brought us to exciting trips. My siblings and I would run out of the car, so excited to just be out there. That often gave my parents a hard time because calling us back was impossible once we were out. They needed our help, but we shut them off. My parents learned some hard lessons from those experiences. The next time we went on a trip, they made sure to talk to us before we headed out. BE THE LEADER IN YOUR DOG’S EYES WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE "You help out first before you play," mom and dad would say. It was easier for us to follow their orders since they set the instructions. And if they did ask us to do something, we immediately listened. We knew what we had to do. We knew what was expected of us. It's pretty much the same with our dogs! If you've ever gone outdoors with your dog, you’ve probably experienced dealing with a hyperactive dog that just doesn't listen no matter how many times you call! They pull the leash no matter how hard you pull back. They also get snappy with almost every dog they meet, making socialization really hard. How to Help Dogs Exit Calmly So, how do you execute this simple hack for a calmer, more relaxed time with your dog outdoors? Really, really, really be the CEO of the walk, and the boss of every step! Here are some ways you can follow below: #1: Open the Door Calmly The operative word here is calm. It's like dog training's prime rule: when you're calm, your dogs are calm, too. You can encourage your dogs to also be in a calm mood by not being agitated, anxious, or restless yourself. Try not to be jittery or preoccupied before opening the car door. Don't raise your voice or get angry when you command them to be still. I recommend doing some breathing exercises and calming yourself before you open the car door; this helps dogs start off with a calm energy, too! LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DOG CALMING CODE, THE PROGRAM TRUSTED BY 88,000 DOG OWNERS! #2: Give Clear Commands Be firm with your commands. Say "stay" if you want them to stay and "sit" if you want them to be ...
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    6 mins
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