Ever felt like your dog missed the memo on “good behavior”? We sit down with trainer Jessica Maxey of Jessica’s Dog Training to unpack the honest, unfiltered path from chaos to calm—no fairy dust, no overnight miracles, just patient steps that actually work. Jessica began as a dog walker and pet sitter before a challenging German Shepherd turned her curiosity into a calling. Through study, mentorship, and countless client sessions around Denver, she learned that training is a partnership: the dog, the human, and a plan everyone can follow.

We explore the myths that trip people up—especially the belief that dogs should “just know” what to do—and why puppies learn differently from older dogs with entrenched habits. Jessica explains how progress depends on owner buy-in, consistent routines, and clear communication. Expect practical insights on leash reactivity, timing rewards, setting boundaries, and making home life simpler so training sticks. She also talks candidly about the emotional strain behavior issues put on families and how a trainer can mediate, align expectations, and rebuild trust on both ends of the leash.

What stands out is Jessica’s philosophy: stay flexible, avoid rigid ideology, and choose methods that protect welfare while delivering results. Dogs connect us—to neighbors, to trails, to a supportive community that makes daily life brighter. If you’re struggling, don’t go it alone. Tune in for grounded advice, relatable stories, and a nudge to try one new thing today. If the episode helps, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review—your support helps more neighbors find the guidance they’re looking for.

Think off-leash obedience is reckless or unrealistic? We sit down with trainer and entrepreneur Juliet Ortiz of Loyal Hound Dog Training to challenge the biggest myths in the industry and show how clarity, consistency, and fair tools can change a dog’s behavior—and a family’s daily life—faster than you think. Juliet’s story starts in Boston rescues and grows into a high-level practice that takes on reactivity, aggression, and complex cases others avoid, while keeping owners at the center of the process.

We dig into why “clear is kind” matters for both people and dogs, how to set boundaries that stick, and what training as a lifestyle actually looks like when you’re busy. Juliet explains why board-and-train isn’t a magic reset, how balanced methods avoid physical force while improving communication, and why true progress depends on owner coaching. She opens up her six-hour “Loyal Lassie” framework, where clients witness each step, practice it themselves, and leave with a repeatable plan that turns chaos into calm. Real before-and-after videos, process transparency, and honest expectations set the tone.

Juliet also shares the business side: standing out in a saturated Denver market with SEO, content that proves outcomes, and a client filter based on character and follow-through. Beyond training, she talks about building locations in Boston and Colorado, what COVID clarified about integrity and mission, and the surprising crossover between modeling, ultramarathons, and behavior work—discipline, resilience, and structure. If your world has shrunk because of your dog’s behavior, this conversation offers a map back to freedom, safety, and trust.

Enjoy the episode? Follow the show, share it with a friend who needs help with their dog, and leave a review so more neighbors can find us.

Think your dog needs tougher rules to behave better? Jonna and Lydia from Good Dog Dyno make a strong case that clarity beats force, and that motivation—used well—can change even tough behavior patterns. We explore how positive reinforcement works in real homes, why “no” isn’t banned but simply reframed, and how small, consistent choices add up to big wins for dogs and humans alike.

Lydia shares hard-earned insights from more than a decade in shelters across the U.S. and abroad, where complex behavior cases meet limited time and resources. That experience shaped a humane, pragmatic approach that shines in private training, where families are ready to do the reps that make progress stick. Jonna brings a designer’s mindset and the story of a reactive German Shepherd named Dyno, translating behavioral science into plans people can actually follow. Together, they show how to turn jumping, reactivity, and anxiety into opportunities for calm, connection, and confidence.

We dig into practical examples—like replacing jumping with offered calm by removing attention for the wrong choice and richly reinforcing the right one—while unpacking myths about “treat bribes” and permissiveness. You’ll hear how individualized, affordable training plans meet each dog where they are; how desensitization and counterconditioning work when done at the right threshold; and why community matters, from workshops and newsletters to short, useful social videos. If you want a pet who feels like a true family member, this conversation gives you a humane roadmap grounded in research and compassion.

Ready to take the next step? Check out gooddogdino.com, grab a free phone consult, and subscribe for updates. If this conversation helped, share it with a friend, leave a review, and tell us the one behavior you’d love to turn into a win.