September isn’t just about back-to-school for the kids… it’s the perfect time for you and your dog to hit reset, refocus, and embrace the fresh-start energy of autumn. In this episode, I’ll show you how to turn gloomy walks and shorter days into an opportunity to transform your dog’s training.

We’ll dive into the science of learning, why structure is so powerful for dogs, and how to set achievable training goals that actually stick. You’ll leave this episode with practical, science-backed strategies and simple homework ideas you can start today to bring more focus, calmness, and joy into your training journey.

And if you’re ready to take things further, my 21-Day Engagement Training Course is the perfect back-to-school project for you and your dog! With daily, bite-sized lessons, you’ll build engagement step by step and create the kind of focus that makes recall, loose lead walking, and every other skill so much easier.

👉 Check it out here.

• Why September is the ideal time to reset your dog training routine
• The neuroscience behind structure, predictability, and learning in dogs
• A simple ‘Back-to-School’ framework to set achievable goals
• How small daily habits rewire your dog’s brain for lasting behaviour change
• The seasonal mindset shift that turns rainy autumn walks into training wins
• Why engagement is the cornerstone skill that makes all other training possible

💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com

📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining

🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover; it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

In this week’s episode of The Walk & Talk, we take a deep dive into one of the most game-changing approaches in modern dog training: concept training.

This method goes far beyond obedience and surface-level behaviour fixes… Instead, it teaches us how to shape the way our dog’s brain works - building the core concepts that drive lifelong emotional stability, focus, and resilience.

Whether you’ve got a bouncy adolescent, a nervous rescue, or a reactive firecracker, this episode will give you a totally new lens on behaviour - and the science-backed tools to make lasting change from the inside out.

• What concept training really is and how it differs from traditional obedience methods
• The neuroscience behind behaviour: why your dog’s brain does what it does
• How core concepts like calmness, optimism, impulse control, and focus shape behaviour
• Why bad behaviour is often just a symptom of an underdeveloped skill
• How to use short, joyful games to reshape your dog’s mindset and emotions
• Why concept training is one of the most effective ways to create long-term transformation
• Practical tips to get started today - no fancy tools or long sessions required
• How this method builds connection, confidence, and clarity for both ends of the lead

https://listendogtraining.com/product/dog-training-exercises/

💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work?

Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at: www.listendogtraining.com

📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining

🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover—it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

Think your teenage dog is just a chaotic, cue-ignoring menace you have to survive? Think again.

Today I’m flipping the narrative on canine adolescence—and showing you why this misunderstood phase is actually a once-in-a-lifetime training window.

If your dog is between 6 months and 2 years old (ish) this is not the time to throw in the towel or cross your fingers and hope they grow out of it. It’s time to get strategic. Because biologically, behaviourally, and emotionally, your dog is primed for growth. You just need to know how to work with it.

And if you're craving more focus, more connection, and more joy on your walks? This is also the perfect time to jump into my 21-Day Engagement Training course... a science-led step-by-step program to help you become the most rewarding and compelling thing in your dog’s world.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the “just survive adolescence” mindset is sabotaging your training
• What’s actually going on in your dog’s brain during this stage
• The 3 major neurological changes shaping your dog’s behaviour right now
• How to turn independence-seeking into a bonding opportunity
• Why adolescent dogs are more trainable than puppies in key ways
• How to use novelty, reward upgrades, and real-life reinforcement to boost your results
• Practical training tips to get better focus and cooperation—without the overwhelm
• How to lay the foundations now for an adult dog you’ll be proud of for life

💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work?

Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at: www.listendogtraining.com

Or jump into my 21-day engagement training program at: https://listendogtraining.com/product/21-day-engagement-training/

📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining

🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover—it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!