Doggy Dan Podcast Show

Show 17: The Amazing Animal-Human Connection, with Carl Safina

Show 17: The Amazing Animal-Human Connection, with Carl Safina

Today’s Guest

CARL SAFINA - Ecologist, Author, and Advocate for Planet Earth

My guest today is Carl Safina, leading ecologist, author, and advocate for all living things. He’s written numerous insightful books exploring our human relationships with the living world, and how we can make it better.

Carl has worked with elephants, whales, macaws, chimpanzees, and even raised a raccoon who showed a similar connection with us that our own pets do! 

If you’ve ever wondered if you’re anthropomorphizing your pets (attributing human emotions and feelings to animals) then Carl’s take on this may leave you pleasantly surprised! 

Let’s find out what our dogs are REALLY THINKING!

You’ll Hear About: 

• [5:05] How a dog mourned the passing of a family chicken
• [8:15] The parrot who escaped on the back of a dog
• [9:30] A dog’s concept of death 
• [11:38] One dog’s amazing response when a packmate passed.
• [21:53] Whether dogs dream
• [24:44] When anthropomorphizing is spot on
• [26:50] The science of observing an animal’s behavior versus assigning an imagined reason for the behaviour.
• [31:45] How dogs love
• [37:28] The indoor raccoon who knew when it was about to put outside.
• [40:30] How dogs read our subtle and unintentional cues

Links & Resources

Jack’s behavior when Peanut passed: https://theonlinedogtrainer.com/a-dogs-amazing-ability-to-understand-life-and-death/

Website: https://www.carlsafina.org/  https://www.safinacenter.org/

Facebook:  Carl Safina https://www.facebook.com/CarlSafinaAuthor/

Instagram: @csafina, @safinacenter

Twitter: @carlsafina, @safinacenter

Youtube: Among Carl’s many informative and intriguing YouTube videos, this Ted Talk is pretty cool:  What Animals are Thinking and Feeling, and Why it Should Matter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wkdH_wluhw

Show 16: Real Talk and Tears, with the Taiwanese Animal Rescue Superhero, Sean McCormack

Show 16: Real Talk and Tears, with the Taiwanese Animal Rescue Superhero, Sean McCormack

Today’s Guest

SEAN MCCORMACK - Founder of Animal Care Trust ACT

Accountant turned animal-rescuer, my guest today is Sean McCormack, founder of the Taiwan SPCA, head of the Animal Care Trust, and an all-round great guy. He’s worked with the likes of Cesar Milan, Ian Dunbar, Jane Goodall and, well, me! 

Sean’s rescued thousands of animals, and his sanctuary is currently the home of over 200 dogs and cats - and a flying squirrel. Many are adopted out or released back into the wild, but those who aren’t live happily on the SPCA property—a no-kill shelter. 

Unlike many traditional “rescue” centers that primarily take on surrendered pets, Sean actually rescues dogs who’ve been caught in traps, injured by other animals, or just homeless and in bad shape.

Sean’s got some amazing and touching stories to tell, so get comfy and take a listen!

You’ll Hear About

• [3:15] How ACT is different from most SPCAs
• [5:02] Sean’s 12 hour hike to rescue Sandy the dog
• [14:40]How the animals are helped by the Animal Care Trust 
• [18:15] Calming fearful street dogs
• [20:40] Sean’s connection to The Online Dog Trainer
• [22:15] The journey from accountant in England to a dog rescuer in Taiwan
• [23:25] Day to day life rescuing animals in Taiwan 
• [25:10] The benefits of hand feeding 
• [28:50] How Jane Goodall, and Becky Barron have inspired Sean on his journey
• [33:15] The power of calm energy around dog’s 
• [39:20] How we can support Sean’s work 
• [41:20] What it costs to run a rescue centre like Sean’s 
• [45:20] Sean’s touching rescue (and human) philosophy 

 

Links & Resources

Website: https://actforanimals.org

Facebook:  ACT (Animal Care Trust)  https://www.facebook.com/ACTAnimalCareTrust/

Facebook:  Sean McCormack https://www.facebook.com/seanimals

Instagram: Act_ For_ Animals

YouTube: Watch Sean’s incredible dog rescue—when everyone said it couldn’t be done

 

Show 13 How To Stop Puppy Mouthing And Biting

Mouthing in nature

In nature it's so natural for puppies to mouth their siblings. They understand exactly what's acceptable and what's not. When they're living with us however we often struggle to come to terms with what is okay and what's not. I sometimes find myself working with people whose homes have been turned into fish bowls where their puppy is like a piranha fish trying to bite anything that moves.

Listen to the podcast

In this free podcast I cover off 3 key topics on How to stop puppy biting and mouthing.

 

1. How Biting & Mouthing works in nature

Here we take a look at how it all works in nature and why we are making things hard for ourselves with some very old school training methods. If you have a young puppy then you may well discover that you have been told to set your puppy up to fail without even realising it.

2. Summary of the solution

The thing about stopping puppies biting and mouthing is that it's actually very simple when you know how. There is no need for screaming and shouting and certainly no need for tapping or smacking your puppy. In fact these things will often only make things worth. A calm approach with a simple yet effective consequence if they continue is all you need.

3. Why things go wrong

Here I cover off some of the most common reasons why things go wrong and explain exactly what to do to turn it around, including the missing piece of the jigsaw... The one thing that every puppy owner needs to do to put an end, quickly and easily, to all that biting and mouthing.

Understand the real battle that's taking place

As well as covering off all the practical steps we need to take, we also take a more in depth look at why we're really running into trouble. For example we look at how a mother dog works patiently with her pups, putting up with so much hassle, however when she draws the line in the sand and says that's enough, the pups will respect her and stop. So the question has to be asked “Why do our puppies fight back so hard?”, and the answer may surprise you!

Q & A and more help if you need it

At the end of the podcast I answer a selection of your questions and show you where you get a whole load more information on stopping this and many other issues if you want more help. Of course this puppy problem is completely covered off in my video training website, theonlinedogtrainer.com.

If you’re struggling with puppy mouthing and biting or have an older puppy or dog and are in trouble then help is here, enjoy the podcast!

Have a great training day, and as always, love your dog ☺

Thanks for Listening!

 

Show 12 What They Dont Tell You At Puppy Training Classes

If you have a new puppy or you’re struggling with an older puppy, run puppy training classes or you just love dogs, then you’ll love this podcast. It’s all about a refreshing new approach to puppy training.

Taking a stand

Now a little word of warning… I’ve decided to make a splash and be just a tad controversial, so please be open-minded as you listen.

Hey, they say that in life you either fit into the current mold and go with the flow, or do something different and make a change. And I decided a long time ago that I could certainly improve the world of dog and puppy training.

So this recording should shake up the ‘puppy-school’ industry a little (who knows… maybe a lot!).

Why Puppy School needs to change

As soon as I finished the podcast, two things happened that really made me smile. Firstly, I received a phone call from a lady enquiring about my puppy training consultations. She needed some way of controlling her new puppy and explained how she’d already attended 4 puppy classes for $120, however it hadn’t been very helpful.

Well as you can imagine, I was intrigued. “What did you learn?” I asked her very innocently.

There was a long pause, I could almost hear her thinking, then she replied (rather unsure)… “Well, they taught us about the importance of vaccinations, worming and flea treatments… Oh and we learnt how to do a sit.”

I secretly smiled to myself. I’d heard this so many times before. Then within a couple of minutes I received an email from another lady. Here are her exact words.

 

“Hi Dan,
We have two small dogs that we adopted from the pound 4 years ago (we think they are Powder Puffs crossed with Maltese). We’ve had problems from the start that puppy training school didn’t help with.”

I stopped and thought “So this lady has endured 4 years of problems that should have been addressed when they were puppies. What are they teaching at these so-called puppy schools? More to the point, what aren’t they teaching?”

So this issue is something I feel strongly about, and why I’ve taken a certain stance on it.

As you can imagine, I was really pleased that I’d just completed this podcast; finally here’s something useful you can actually learn in your puppy training.

So what’s covered off?

Well without going into it too much, I’ve broken the podcast down into 4 topics:

Topic 1 – The problem with most puppy classes
Topic 2 – The “Secret to having an amazing puppy” training that should be taught but never is
Topic 3 – The importance of socializing and options
Topic 4 – A complete puppy training program that’s available to everyone

Get started now

Ok… so if you want to save heaps of money, stress and time then turn up the volume and get ready to find out how to get your puppy off to the perfect start.

The alternative is to check out my puppy training program on The Online Dog Trainer where you get to watch everything I do on video. There’s also a weekly video diary of the raising of my puppy, Moses, so you get to see all the steps involved in how to bring up the dog you’ve always wanted. Check it out here: theonlinedogtrainer.com

Have a great training day, and as always, love your dog 

Show 10 Too Excited At The Start Of The Walk

When the walk becomes dangerous…

Taking your dog for a walk is supposed to be one of those pleasant experiences; relaxing, enjoyable and memorable. However for many people it’s memorable for all the wrong reasons! Dragged down the street, pulled off your feet, arm yanked out of its socket, damaged wrists and a lot of stress.

It can actually be quite frustrating to see other dog owners with their dogs walking nicely beside them off leash.

One lady I worked with told me about her how she had just bought a coffee to enjoy whilst walking her two black Labradors, when they spotted another dog and charged towards it. She ended up clinging to a lamppost, arms and legs wrapped around it, coffee in one hand and two dogs in the other! That was the final straw… She called me for help as soon as she made it home.

So how do you go from this crazy situation where your dog is out of control from the very start to having a nice calm walk? When it comes to leash training your dog when its too excited to walk, you have to start right at the beginning.

A totally different approach

In this podcast I explain a technique that I suggest only dog owners with the most energetic dogs need to apply. For most of us this method is not necessary. Becoming the pack leader and waiting for your dog to calm down at every stage of preparing for the walk will be enough to regain control as you leave the house.

 

Taking the top off the dog’s energy first

In maybe 1-in-20 difficult dogs who pull on the lead, I will apply this method of draining some of the dog’s energy before attempting to get them under control. Many of these dogs have not been for a walk for a long time as it’s become too stressful and dangerous for the owners, the dog and the public.

The approach I explain in the podcast is simple but it needs to be done correctly or you’ll get nowhere fast because it’s very subtle, and it’s easy to miss the whole point. Here’s the general idea of what we’re doing.

The standard approach

Let me first summarize the standard approach to calming your dog down before the walk. Usually when we’re training our dogs to stay calm and walk nicely on the leash, we only continue with the walk if your dog is calm. So we would only progress through the door if your dog has calmed down to a reasonable level. Then we would only progress down the garden path if your dog is still calm. Simple enough?

 

However with a very small number of dogs, this is never going to happen!

Some dogs are just so super-charged up, due to their age, character, lack of exercise, breed, situation and many other factors, that it’s almost impossible for them to calm down before we take the top off their energy.

Breaking old habits and creating new ones

This approach looks at taking them for a good run at the park. The clever and very subtle part is how we take advantage of our tired out dog when we return home and immediately put in place some brand new habits!

Breaking old habits and forming new ones, new associations and new ways of behaving is half the battle. Once you get started it’s so much easier to keep improving.

If you love learning about dog training or you have a super-charged dog… enjoy the podcast ☺

To take a look at my complete dog training package click here.

Have a great training day, and as always, love your dog.

Show 15 Training Your dog to come everytime

In this FREE podcast we take a look at one of the most basic of all commands. Something that's surely so natural for a dog… but sadly for many people it isn't.

So simple in theory

The recall, as I like to call it, is all about getting your dog to return to your side. And in theory it's so simple. You call your dog and they come running towards you wagging their tail. Yet in reality so many people struggle with this. Unfortunately it results in dogs being walked only on by leash their entire lives, or worse still, they aren’t walked at all for fear of them never coming back.

The Frustration

You’ve probably seen it dozens of times. A frustrated dog owner slowly asking, then calling, then shouting for their dog to come as the dog carries on running around in circles having the time of their life. It can be amusing to watch but so annoying when its happening to you. Sometimes it can be far more subtle… your dog stands just out of reach, refusing to come, or running around just out of your grasp. It can all be so frustrating.

Is recall really that hard?

So is recall a tricky exercise to master? Something that only a few owners will be able to achieve at any high level? Or is there something that we're missing?

The truth is recall is one of the most natural commands for almost any dog, and so simple to train when you know how. In this podcast I explain why it's such a natural action for dogs and why it actually works WITH their nature.

6 Keys to a successful recall

Then I’ll walk you through 6 of the most powerful ways to turn your recall around, and get your dog running back to you every time you call them. We cover off…

1. The Contract: This is where it all starts to go wrong. When you call your dog what do they think is going to happen? Most likely your dog is thinking “OK so they want to put me on the leash.”
2. Rewards: Most people have either stopped rewarding their dog completely or are using rewards but not in a smart way. Understanding how to use the three types of rewards is key.
3. Control of your environment: What do you do when your dog doesn’t come when called? And how to prevent it in the first place.
4. Your body language: We take a look at how your body language, movement, stance and voice can all determine whether your dog comes or not when called.
5. Pack Leader: Dogs will listen and follow the commands of pack leaders far more than those they see as below them in the pack.
6. Frequency: The overuse of recall is one of the biggest reasons it fails. Knowing when and how often to call your dog is key.

More recall training resources

Often putting in place just a few of the suggestions in the podcast can turn around your recall. Sometimes in a very short time. For those of you who are looking to perfect your technique, take it to another level or have a particularly tricky dog, I also explain where you can get a heap more information including another audio from myself with loads more tips on this topic.

For my complete dog training video program including audios and videos on the recall and how to train your dog to come every time, take a look at The Online Dog Trainer.

What's your recall like?

Tell me in the comments section below just how frustrating your recall is right now... I'd love to know, and offer some help!

Have a great training day, and as always, love your dog.

Show 09 The 10 Biggest Dog Training Myths

In life you can accept what the norm is and go with the flow, or you can decide to do things differently. I feel that the dog and puppy training world needs a real shake up. There are so many accepted practices and beliefs that don’t really make any sense and need to be put into perspective. All of this is based on my experience of working with thousands of dogs… and this is what I’ve learnt from them. This is what I’ve seen and what they’ve shown me.

Myth No.1: Dog training takes lots of time

- Sadly some people spend years trying to get their dogs under control. However when you know what to do, dog training is simple, fun, straight forward and you can have a different dog often in just a matter of days…

Myth No.2: Dogs will only have one pack leader in the home

- Wrong. Dogs are happy to have more than one pack leader. If you are a family with many people in the home you really want your dog to respect everyone, not just one person.

Myth No.3 Attending puppy school is imperative

- Not so. There are thousands of people who attend puppy school and end up with serious behavioral issues. Many puppy schools do not provide the important information owners need such as how to establish yourself as the pack leader. Too much focus is put on learning a ‘sit’ and a ‘down!’ Socializing is an important aspect of puppy training however it can be achieved in many different ways for free.

Myth No.4: Quality dog training is expensive

- Not so. Most dog and puppy training is expensive for what you actually get. At the end of the training people seem to have learnt very little. When you know where to go you can get excellent information at a fraction of the cost. For a complete solution to puppy training and dog training have a look at my Online Dog Training resource.

Myth No.5: You can train a dog using only positive reinforcement

- No, but it sounds good. Very few dogs are just so perfectly behaved from puppy through to being an adult dog that they only need positive encouragement. Like children, most dogs also need to be guided, redirected, stopped, and sometimes shown that some behaviors are unacceptable.

Myth No.6: You should never use food treats

- Nope. Food treats have their place in dog training and great dog trainers know when and how to use them. Using food treats with a dog or puppy is just like rewarding your children for excellent behavior and it goes a long way to reinforcing that behavior.

Myth No.7: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks

- Oh yes you can! Many of the dogs that I work with are around a year old. A smaller percentage of them are much older, around 10 years old, and they can all change their behavior. Of course prevention is better than cure, but it’s never too late when you understand what’s going on.

Myth No.8: Hard work and practice is all you need

- Nope. Sometimes hard work and lots of practice is not enough. You need to actually change what you’re doing and try something else. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect a different result. If it’s not working, you have to try a different approach.

Myth No.9: Little dogs are easier to train than big dogs

- Not always! Sometimes bigger dogs are calmer and easier, and sometimes little dogs are incredibly difficult. Of course the opposite can also be true. Just like with people, you can’t generalize all big people as being a certain way and all little people being another!

Myth No.10: Most dogs causing trouble are stupid

- Oh no they are not! In fact very often the dogs that cause trouble are the really clever, intelligent dogs who would naturally become the pack leaders in the wild. Dogs who challenge you are usually not that impressed with your performance and actions and are looking for you to step up to the mark!

To step up to the mark and become the amazing pack leader that your dog is waiting for join my Online Dog Training program.

Have a great training day, and as always, love your dog

Show 08 When Dogs Bite Their Owners

Ever wondered why on earth a dog would bite their owner? Or maybe your question is even closer to home such as “why did my dog bite ME?”

Why did they do it? Was it random? Have they tasted blood? Is this the end? Can anyone help now? Is it too late? When dogs bite it can all be extremely stressful for all involved. The good news is that there is a solution and it’s not rocket science.

When Dogs Bite Their Owners...

That’s what this podcast is all about. By the end you will have a completely different understanding of what is going on. Your dog’s behavior will make so much more sense to you and you’ll see that they’re not being completely random. They are simply following the rules of being a dog.

Winning is easy

The great news is that there’s actually so much that we can do to help set them up to win. Then there’s far less chance of any accidents ever occurring again. There’s nothing worse than living in fear of your dog. Worried that they may bite you or a family member.

If you have young children and a dog then understanding what is going on is crucial if you are wanting to avoid the unthinkable from happening. Sadly when dogs do bite, everyone suffers. The person or child who was bitten suffers pain, your dogs life often takes a turn for the worse without them really understanding why and the relationship that you have with your dog takes a dive…

The crazy thing is that it does not have to be this way. In fact dogs biting owners is one of the easiest problems to solve, or even better, avoid!

A summary of what we cover off in the podcast

1. Firstly we look at the most common reasons that dogs bite owners:

• Food, and the danger of not understanding it
• Unhappy with your behavior. When you misbehave in your dog's eyes!
• Deflected aggression. Why getting involved when your dog is stressed can result in you getting bitten
• Space invading. What it means when you invade your dog's space

2. Secondly we take a look at how dogs behave in the wild regarding these topics as it helps us understand how they naturally behave.

3. Thirdly I explain why we need to avoid the lethal combination of mixing children, food and dogs together and why it so often results in accidents.

4. Fourthly we go through one life saving rule. It's very simple and if it's put into place your chances of not being bitten increase dramatically. I call this Part One of the solution.

5. And then lastly I explain how the real solution lies in understanding how to make your dog more tolerant. As with people, the more relaxed, calm and tolerant they are the less chance there is of them snapping.

So there you go, get stuck into it and enjoy the podcast. To say thanks for for your time, click here to get five of my free dog training videos.

If you enjoyed this session…

Please share it! All you have to do is click one of the social sharing buttons on the left. Thank you so much for your support!

Oh, and don’t forget to leave a rating or review in iTunes! It just takes a second and you can help the show increase its rankings on iTunes just by this simple gesture.

Have a great day and as always, love your dog

Show 7 How To Use Food In Training

In this podcast we look at the amazing topic of how to use food correctly when training your dog. If you have ever wondered whether or not you are using it correctly and making the most out of it, then this podcast will answer all those questions.

Many people are using food when there’s absolutely no need for it, others are making things more complicated by using it, and some are not using it when it could really help with their training.

It’s important to note that things in the dog training world have changed over time. Years ago, the use of food in training was absolutely unheard of. Now you will find some dog trainers shoving food into their dog’s mouths for doing virtually nothing. So if you find yourself confused, hoping that maybe there’s a middle ground that would make sense to you that has been overlooked then I think you will enjoy what I have to say.

Here is a summary of what we go through in the podcast: How To Use Food In Your Dog Training

1. Why you should use food

• Food is like money to a dog… for many dogs it’s their training currency.
• There are some behavioral issues that can be fixed in an instant with food.
• I answer some of the key questions such as shouldn’t dogs just do as you say without having to use food?

2. What are the exercises where we seriously consider using food?

• The use of food during the puppy training phase.
• How food can be used to help stop some behavioral issues.
• How to use food as a powerful distraction.

3. When not to use food

• Why using food treats will never replace dog psychology.
• Why using food treats is only a part of the solution.
• The danger of not using treats wisely (when your dog outwits you!).
• How treats can actually encourage the behavioral issues you are trying to extinguish when they are used at the wrong time.

4. Seeing food through your dogs eyes

• Not all food is created equal.
• The $1 million pay cheque.
• My dog’s absolute top shelf favorite treat.
• I answer the question “What is more appealing to a food orientated dog than a sausage”.

We finish of the podcast with whole bunch of tips and tricks all related to the use of food, that will help you and your dog get the most out of every little morsel that they eat!

By the end of the podcast you will see food in a completely different light and understand what great dog trainers have learnt. That food used correctly is a very powerful tool. Simply throwing a bowl of food down in front of your dog each morning without a second thought will become a thing of the past!

So enjoy the podcast, and let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading, have a great day and as always, love your dog.

Show 6 Barking when left alone.mp3

This post will give you an overview of what’s included in this episode: Barking When Left Alone. If you have a dog that's barking and barking every time you leave the house, then this is for you…

But if your pooch is calm when you're out, then please, in the comment section below, tell me what issues you’d like me to cover in future episodes.

Alternatively if you have a dog or puppy and want help with other problems or you need some dog training, then go straight to my video website and watch over 250 of my training videos at The Online Dog Trainer - try it all for just a $1!

Helping dogs who bark when they are left at home alone.

So what’s in this podcast? Well let me explain:

Understanding the cause

The first thing that I help explain is the reason behind why most dogs are barking when they are left. Very often we assume or think that it is our dogs way of showing us that they are bored, or just being naughty however this couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact a good way to test out the bored theory is to ask yourself if your dog is bored when you are at home… If they are calm and relaxed most of the day then the chances are that your dog is not simply bored! (And dogs are not naughty for the fun of it – so that rules that out).

The two main causes

In fact the two main scenarios that cause your dog to bark are trigger barking and separation anxiety. They are very different scenarios. Trigger barking is where something sets your dog off and your dog simply does not stop. They are stressed and just keep on going. Whereas separation anxiety doesn’t need a trigger to get your dog barking, they simply become stressed when you leave and bark continuously.

Inside the podcast I help explain fully what is going on in these two situations and explain what the solution is.

Other techniques

There are so many approaches to solving barking but most of them do not go to the root cause of the problem. In some situations they can certainly help and are worth trying however I would recommend only in conjunction with the basic solution that I have put together. On their own they are very unlikely to work.

We cover all the home alone barking issues

Here is a short list of some of the other things that we also discuss which impact your dog's barking when they're alone…

1. Exercise – does it help, is it the solution?
2. The Environment – the impact that making your dog comfortable can have
3. Herbal remedies vs drugs – would I recommend them?
4. Music, TV – whether it can help your dog
5. Inside vs outside – where is best for your dog
6. Large area or small – what will work best
7. Why harsh methods that just try to “stop the barking” are missing the point

As you can see it is an action packed podcast. At the end of it you will see barking dogs in a fresh new light and you will see that stopping barking dogs even when you are not at home is not complicated – you just need to know how :) and hopefully your neighbours will love you even more!

Dogs are beautiful and amazing creatures. They deserve to be treated and understood for what they are. This podcast is all committed to us understanding them and helping them better.

Getting it right

So if you are wondering how to stop your dogs barking when they are left at home alone then you have found the right place. First listen to my free podcast and if you enjoy it and it all makes sense then I’d suggest you get straight onto solving the cause of the problem by checking out my video website The Online Dog Trainer - there's a whole section on Barking with loads of videos of me dealing with the problem in other people's homes, and specifically, videos on Barking When Left Alone. 

Join here: The Online Dog Trainer (for over 300+ detailed, step-by-step videos covering every issue of dog training, including The 5 Golden Rules of being the Pack Leader)