Today we are going to delve into the question of whether telling your dog 'no' can have a place within a positive training approach. We think it's a pretty fair question and it's one we actually get asked a lot by new clients who come to see us.

It's understandable because there's a lot of emphasis in positive training (as there should be) on trying to set your dog up to succeed, trying to help them make desirable choices, training in a way that they generally enjoy or want to listen to cues, and allowing a lot of choice and control so that they have the option to opt-in or opt-out.

But what about those times when you need your dog to stop doing something or maybe start doing something else in the now, and they're not opting in or following cues (or maybe they don't have those skills under their belt yet)? How do we handle those situations in a way that protects our dog's behavioral health and also protects the relationship that we have with them that supports a healthy relationship dynamic?

This is what we are tackling today.

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EbBny9T4WI

For most of us, bringing home a new puppy conjures many warm, fuzzy images and feelings. We think about puppy snuggles and kisses, introducing the puppy to family and friends, taking them for walks, and including them in our favorite activities.

And while puppies are amazing and can bring a lot of joy, they’re also a TON of work, and the reality of puppy ownership doesn’t usually match up to the vision we’ve created in our mind (or the one we’ve been sold on social media).

Enter the Puppy Blues. The puppy blues is an informal term that refers to the feelings of sadness, anxiety, overwhelm, regret, and other negative emotions many folks experience in the days, weeks, or months after welcoming a new puppy into their home.

If you’ve experienced the Puppy Blues - you’re not alone. A LOT of other dog owners have experienced them, too. We’re joined today by one of those individuals - Hannah Craig, a client at Instinct Hudson Valley, who has generously agreed to share their experience with us today.

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUao_pZNroc

This week we are talking about dogs in urban environments. We discuss some of the most common challenges facing urban dogs, and also some of our favorite hacks for navigating city life to protect and enhance your city dog's welfare; because let's face it, living in an urban environment can be pretty stressful for dogs AND humans.

During the conversation we also discuss which personality traits, and breeds typically do well with, or find urban environments challenging. We also discuss ways to make living in an urban environment with your dog more enjoyable and less stressful for both of you.

Guests:
- Lauren Jones-Wenzel (she/her/hers) CDBC is a Certified Behavior Consultant at INSTINCT Northern New Jersey, INSTINCT Jersey Shore, and INSTINCT Philadelphia.

- Stephanie Collingsworth (she/her/hers) CDBC is a Certified Behavior Consultant at INSTINCT Portland

Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfvhH04Er2o

Most of us have breed preferences; whether it's how they look and/or the collection of traits we assume the breed to have.

Today we explore if these breed stereotypes are really valid because the existing research on breed and behavior is largely mixed; while breed can influence some behavior, there's a wide range of variability, even within breeds. The science is a bit of a mess.

So we thought it would be fun to explore our breed stereotypes with some breeds today based on our experience of working with thousands of dogs;
German Shepherds (03m8s)
Doodles (10m40s)
Shiba Inus (16m50s)
Pitties (27m05s)
Huskies (38m26s)
Chihuahuas (46m55s)

For each breed, we discuss what behavior challenges we typically see with them, why we love working with the breed, and what are some things to keep top of mind if you are living with or working with one of these breeds.

At the end of the episode (1h01m,15s), we discuss when stereotyping breeds can be helpful, and when it can be harmful.

If you like this episode and want us to cover other breeds in a parat 2, please send us a message on our Instagram account @instinctdogtraining

Guests:
- Suze Cullinan (she/her/hers) CDBC is a Certified Behavior Consultant and President at INSTINCT Northern New Jersey, INSTINCT Jersey Shore, and INSTINCT Philadelphia.

- Dresden Graff (he/him/his) CPDT-KA, Certified Trainer and Owner of INSTINCT Forth Worth


Hosts Brian Burton (he/him/his) and Sarah Fraser (she/her/hers) are Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of INSTINCT Dog Behavior & Training. Both are Certified Dog Behavior Consultants and have Master's degrees in Animal Behavior from Hunter College/CUNY.

INSTINCT has 11 locations across the US and services the global community via virtual consults. Over 20,000 students have also taken courses at INSTINCT's online school (with many free courses available): Learn more at https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/

INSTINCT Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctdogtraining/

Online School https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com

Free Monthly Seminars (Puppy Parenting Roadmap, Rescue Dog Roadmap, Behavior Roadmap): https://www.instinctdogtraining.com/seminars/

Youtube Version of the Episode (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PONC04Kh98