Episodes

  • Should You Teach Your Puppy Tricks?
    Feb 16 2026

    Many people get a new puppy and immediately start teaching it to shake, high-five, and roll over. In this episode of Puppy Talk, I am going to explain the advantages and disadvantages of teaching your puppy tricks before they learn obedience.

    Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
    In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

    RESOURCES:
    Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
    Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
    Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

    Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

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    8 mins
  • Is Your Dog Confused or Disobedient?
    Feb 9 2026

    Most owners think their dog is being stubborn, ignoring them, or choosing not to listen. But in many cases, the dog is not being disobedient at all. The dog is confused. In this episode of Puppy Talk, we will discuss the following:

    • Why confusion happens
    • What confusion looks like in real life
    • What real disobedience actually looks like
    • How to reduce confusion

    Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
    In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

    RESOURCES:
    Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
    Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
    Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

    Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

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    14 mins
  • Leash Reactivity: Why Walks Fall Apart and What Actually Helps
    Feb 4 2026

    If your dog barks, lunges, freezes, growls, or completely loses their mind when they see another dog or person on leash, this episode is for you. In this episode, I will talk about:

    • What leash reactivity actually is
    • Why leash reactivity happens
    • How owners accidentally reinforce leash reactivity
    • What not to do with a leash reactive dog
    • What to do instead
    • Why calming exercises must start at home
    • Introducing triggers the right way
    • Setting realistic expectations
    • When to get help

    Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
    In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

    RESOURCES:
    Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
    Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
    Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

    Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

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    24 mins
  • Three Habits To Begin With Your New Puppy on Day One
    Jan 26 2026

    Most of us focus on the cute parts of bringing home a puppy. Cuddling, playing, and taking lots of photos. What if we focused on the habits that prevent behavior issues from forming?

    This episode is taken from an Instagram post of Canyon Creek Aussies. Link to their page in the show notes. https://www.instagram.com/canyoncreekaussies?igsh=MXJxYW5uaHgxbDd3YQ==

    Here are some habits to begin day one with your new puppy.

    1. Use a house line from day one. I suggest a skip lead.
    2. Daily socialization done the right way.
    3. A predictable schedule - every single day.

    Build these three habits from day one, and you will raise a puppy who grows into a steady, adaptable, well-mannered adult dog.

    Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
    In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

    RESOURCES:
    Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
    Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
    Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

    Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

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    10 mins
  • More Than Sit and Stay: What Dog Training Is Really About
    Jan 24 2026

    Dog training is about more than teaching sit and stay. In this episode of Puppy Talk, we break down what real dog training actually looks like in everyday life. We talk about why commands alone fall short, how understanding your dog changes everything, and the simple tools families need to create calmer, more confident dogs at home. If training feels frustrating or confusing, this episode will help reframe what really works.

    Episode Outline

    • Why dog training is more than obedience commands
    • The gap between training sessions and real-life behavior
    • How understanding your dog’s mindset improves results
    • Why owner education is a key part of training success
    • Practical tools that help in everyday situations
    • Redefining what success in dog training really means

    Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
    In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

    RESOURCES:
    Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
    Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
    Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

    Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

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    17 mins
  • How to Practice Obedience Training With Your Puppy
    Jan 16 2026

    I’ve done several episodes recently on the responsibility of raising a puppy. The main thing to remember once you take ownership of a puppy is that they need obedience training, and you have to practice with them. Follow the guidelines below to improve your practice sessions and the predictability of the puppy's learning of obedience skills.

    1. Daily practice is essential. Practicing once in a while will not work.
    2. You have to practice correctly, the way a professional dog trainer has taught you.
    3. Short training sessions several times a day are better than a single long session.


    Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
    In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

    RESOURCES:
    Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
    Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
    Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

    Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

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    8 mins
  • More Potty Training Tips
    Jan 1 2026

    People call me to discuss puppy training, and their entire focus is on potty training. This happens a lot. The goal of this episode is to shift new puppy owners' focus to the bigger picture of raising a puppy beyond potty training and crate training.

    A dog trainer can only provide tips on potty training, crate training, play biting, and other issues because we don’t live with the dog. Most of the unwanted behavior stems from the environment and from the owners' lack of leadership.

    The bigger picture includes:

    • Setting rules and boundaries,
    • Creating a structured schedule
    • Obedience training
    • Leash training
    • Socialization

    It’s impossible to potty train a puppy without all of these elements of raising a puppy. Work on everything at once, and you will spend very little time on potty training. Two things in particular help with potty training: 1) when a puppy can stay in one place, and 2) when your puppy is tired.

    The main thing you need to do for effective potty training is to control the puppies' space inside the house and NEVER take your eyes off of them unless they are in a crate just big enough for them to lie down.

    Above all, get rid of pee pads.

    PRO TIP: Monitor their water intake by giving them 1 ounce per pound of body weight. If your puppy weighs 10 lbs, give them 10 oz of water throughout the day. That means about 2 ounces of water five times a day. After they take a drink, they will need to go potty 2-3 times within the next hour.

    Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
    In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

    RESOURCES:
    Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
    Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
    Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

    Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

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    11 mins
  • How Much Does it Cost to Own a Dog?
    Dec 24 2025

    My dog Dixie has been diagnosed with heart disease after a routine checkup before teeth cleaning. They found a heart murmur, then, from an X-ray, found an enlarged heart and congestion in her lungs. I have created a GoFundMe account link in the show notes with more details.

    Start-Up Fees:

    • Including adoption or breeder fees, initial vet visit, microchip, supplies, and training.
    • $2000-$8000

    Monthly Expenses:

    • Food
    • Medication (heartworm, flea, and tick prevention)
    • Daycare
    • Dog Walker
    • Grooming
    • Treats and toys
    • Pet Insurance
    • For Dixie, this is about $700/month

    Annual Expenses:

    • Vet visits
    • Shots (rabies, distemper, parvovirus, etc.)
    • Bloodwork
    • Boarding (when out of town)
    • For Dixie, this is about $500/year

    Unexpected Expenses:

    • Heart disease
    • Cancer
    • Parvo, distemper, flu
    • Parasites and worms
    • Ear infections
    • Heartworm
    • Injuries such as broken bones or joint problems
    • It can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.

    Resources: https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/pet-community/pet-talk/top-10-most-common-health-problems-for-dogs/

    Our Sponsor is Top Gun Dog Training
    In-home dog training services in the Huntsville, AL area at http://www.topgundogtraining.com

    RESOURCES:
    Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
    Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
    Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

    Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

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    8 mins