Cog-Dog Radio
Episodes
REPLAY: Heal Them, Heal Us: Eat. Drink. Be Merry.
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Disordered eating is normalized in our society and it is normalized in our dogs, too. Dogs should want to eat. Their GI should function normally. Thes...
Three Ways to Be in the World with Your Dog
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are essentially three ways to be with a dog in the human world. You can regiment them either physically or mentally, or they can be free. They w...
Never Punish a Growl?
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard the rule “never punish a growl”? Dog training has come a long way since the yank and crank days, but some of the adages birthed fro...
Mental Prisons
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the episode about border collies Sarah referenced the concept of the “mental prison.” In this episode she elaborates on that thought, on what d...
Herding Dog Brains with Dr Jessica Perry Hekman
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this crossover episode with the Functional Breeding Podcast Sarah and friend of the pod Dr Hekman discuss a recent paper revealing some interesting...
Border Collies
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Border collies are special; they have a highly specialized mind and a supremely athletic body and both deserve care that matches the degree of their u...
Robot Behavior Consultants
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Behavior pros, is AI coming for your job? Yeah, kind of. Let’s get real about what’s wrong with this, and what is within our control. https://ww...
Regulated Vigilance
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A skill you need to help your dog navigate tough environments is vigilance that doesn’t come with heightened emotions on your part. You’ve got to ...
REPLAY: Upgrade Dogs
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your first dog was fun, easy, and you had a lovely time in dog sports. But for your second you decided you wanted a faster model. You upgraded. Or, di...
REPLAY: Manage, Enrich, or Train?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As behavior professionals we need to be proficient in the areas of environmental management, enrichment, and also dog training. But we are not a maste...
Repair vs Rescue: When Food is and is Not Helpful
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Food is a good thing in dog training, right? Like most things, anything that has the power to do good also has the power to do harm, and food is no di...
Post-Restraint Collapse
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The phenomenon “post-restraint collapse” refers to the outburst types of behaviors that can occur after requests for control or tough situations t...
Finding Your Guide
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You listened to episode 404 about dog training as a hero’s journey; but where do you go from there? Sarah goes more in-depth in this episode regardi...
REPLAY: Surprise Party Sue
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stop! Before listening, go watch this SNL skit about Surprise Party Sue: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4R1yybhmHg Ok, now, is Sue a dog you know? Maybe Su...
Patreon Minisode 7
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Puppy stuff, car aversion, reactivity in apartment complexes, and more! Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join u...
When Your Dog is Afraid: Real Story
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Piggybacking on episode 373, When Your Dog is Afraid, Sarah tells a real life story of applying the principles in an imperfect scenario. Sign up fo...
Becoming a Dog Trainer: A Hero's Journey
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The adage goes that we can all learn something from everyone. But if you are learning from everyone, are you actually learning from anyone? Sarah posi...
Virtual Behavior Consulting: A Day in the Life
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With twenty years in the field and half of them being online, Sarah brings a unique perspective to the virtual behavior consulting space. Guardians an...
Attunement
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Attunement is the ability to perceive and respond to the emotions of another and it is vital to good relationships, dog-human or otherwise. This is a ...
True Healing from Fear
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dog trainers are often tasked with helping dogs feel less afraid of things in their daily environments. This can be loud noises, it can be strangers, ...
Capacity with Karishma Warr
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of Cog Dog Radio join Sarah and repeat guest Karishma Warr in a discussion about capacity. Capacity for us, for our dogs, and ...
The Three Rs of Off Leash Reliability
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recalls, radius, and rebounds are the three behaviors you will need to build in your dog if you want them to have off leash freedom. But more importan...
“Obedience” in a Welfare-First Behavior Intervention
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can we obedience our way out of behavior problems? Yes, and no. Therapy for behavior problems requires that we are able to avoid repetition of the pro...
Errorless Learning
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dog trainers LOVE to talk about errorless learning. They either worship at the feet of the concept of an error-free life OR they claim learning free o...
Patreon Minisode 6
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Strange behavior in an agility lesson and a frightened dog on trails. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us ...
Is a Bench the Same as a Bull? Trigger Types and How to Deal
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you approach your young dog’s reactions to an unknown inanimate object the same as a dog or person? If your dog overreacts to a kid on a bike...
Forrest School with Tara Stillwell LFDM-W
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sit down this week with Sarah and Tara Stiwell, a licensed family dog mediator of the working division who co-owns Glimmer Dog where the innovative Fo...
Reactivity Mythbusting
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Opinions abound in both professional and guardian spaces regarding the suite of behaviors we label “reactivity.” Barky, lunge-y, screamy, shouty b...
REPLAY: The False Dichotomy with Lisa Mullinax CDBC Part Three
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the final installment of The False Dichotomy Sarah and Lisa wrap up their conversation about the “balanced vs force free” falsehood in dog trai...
REPLAY: The False Dichotomy with Lisa Mullinax CDBC Part Two
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the second (of three!) parts on The False Dichotomy in dog training, Sarah and Lisa get into the weeds regarding what effectiveness looks like, wha...
REPLAY: The False Dichotomy with Lisa Mullianx CDBC Part One
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In response to the “trainer wars” between the balanced and force-free communities Sarah and past podcast guest (and friend) Lisa Mullinax sit down...
Where Do I Even Start? What it Means to be Welfare First in Behavior Consulting
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Conceptually, approaching behavior cases with a welfare-first approach makes sense. But what should we do when the dog’s welfare is being affected b...
Reactive Adolescent Dogs
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is it a phase? Will they grow out of it? Is my young dog cursed for life with reactivity? The good news is that adolescence passes. The bad news is th...
Teammate or Tool?
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In dog sports the dog can’t be an equal teammate because the human is fully in charge. But a dog can be treated like a partner or they can be treate...
Patreon Minisode 5
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reinforcement confusion in sports, a friendly dog gone wrong, and how to decide what to start with when the dog has a lot of training needs. Sign up ...
Dog Sports Mythbusting
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dogs don’t get jet-lagged. GI distress is normal during trial weekends. It’s ok if your dog goes off food during travel. These myths and more, and...
Slow School Part Three: Fast and Slow Schools, Finding Balance
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“But Sarah, my dog needs to go fast!” Yes, your dog probably does need to go fast. And striking the balance between fast and slow schools, and cur...
Slow School Part Two: Emotional Regulation
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do gentle parenting, emotional down-regulation, and dog training all have in common? They’re all part of slow schooling your dog. Sign up for...
Slow School Part One: What the F is Slow School?
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ok, what is slow school? It’s a little bit somatic therapy, a little bit self-regulation, and a lot of skill building. It is vital for the dogs who ...
Patreon Minisode 4
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do dogs make friends? How do we even begin to find dogs for our dogs to be friends with? And, does protective aggression actually exist? Sign ...
Behavioral Diversity in Sports Dogs
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you stopped doing your sport tomorrow, would your dog’s life still be good? How much do you pay attention to the behavioral diversity in your dog...
Do 99% of Dogs Have Behavior Problems? With Dr (Jessica) Perry Hekman
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A recent paper (The Prevalence of Behavior Problems in Dogs in the United States) claimed that over 99% of pet dogs have behavior problems. That numbe...
Dogs as Captive Animals Part Three: Radical Imagination
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Congratulations, you’ve taken the red pill. Now adjust your mind, then your behavior, and finally society to better serve the animals in our care, i...
Dogs as Captive Animals Part Two: Does Animal Welfare Science Have it Right?
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The field of animal welfare science is expanding into and affecting the industry of pet dog behavior, and that is a good thing. But this science is no...
Dogs as Captive Animals Part One: Dog More, Type Less
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the first of a three part series about dogs as captive animals Sarah explores how we can better care for our dogs by encouraging them to “dog mor...
Patreon Minisode 3
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this patreon question minisode Sarah addresses balancing chronic pain with high drive needs, a barking dachshund, a scared puppy, and more! Sign ...
Resilience and Tenacity Continued: States or Traits?
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are resilience or tenacity fixed? What can we do to enhance resilience or inspire tenacity? Join Sarah as she dives into improving the welfare of dogs...
Resilience and Tenacity
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dividing dog temperaments into four different combinations of resilience and tenacity is thought-provoking. Sarah has been doing this thought experime...
Patreon Minisode 2
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do I get my dog to look at scary stuff to process it? What should I do about my dog resource guarding in agility class? How do I get my lab to sto...
Consequences of Captivity with Kim Brophey
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So many behavior problems in our dogs are simply consequences of their life as captive animals. When we acknowledge this and take an animal welfare fo...
Household Harmony: It's Up to YOU
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah is passionate about harmonious relationships between dogs in homes. Maintaining and fostering peace between highly driven individuals is not sim...
Patreon Minisode
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The first Patreon minisode of 2025! Sarah explores multi-dog household issues, urban border collies, slow thinking, barking during training, and more!...
When Your Dog is Afraid
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ask ten professionals what to do when your dog is afraid and you will undoubtedly get ten different answers. But the true answer is simple–not easy–...
Heal Them, Heal Us: Go Outside
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The research is clear: being outside is good for us. And it is good for our dogs, too. When we know this to be true–with or without empirical data–...
Heal Them, Heal Us: Eat. Drink. Be Merry.
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Disordered eating is normalized in our society and it is normalized in our dogs, too. Dogs should want to eat. Their GI should function normally. Thes...
Heal Them, Heal Us: Slow Down
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We live in a fast-paced society and therefore, so do our dogs. As a consequence of selective breeding, training, and just plain captivity, our dogs do...
Heal Them, Heal Us: Do Dogs Need Friends?
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the final four episodes of Cog Dog Radio in the year 2024 we are focusing on overlooked or misunderstood areas of healing in the world of dog beha...
The Danger of Panaceas
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A panacea is a cure-all, a remedy that is said to mend everything. Common in the wellness industry and also in dog training, holding any one program o...
Riding the Wave of Adolescence
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah has a teenager! Join her as she walks through some recent challenges and triumphs with her 18 month old border collie, Carson. If you have a tee...
Transactions
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the “Hands off the Cookies!” episode from 10/29 Sarah talked about transactional and conversational communication styles. Here, she dives deepe...
Client Commitment
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We talked last week about good coaching and teaching, but what does it look like to be easily coached? What does the client need to bring to the table...
Coaching Skills
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Principles of good coaching skills are the same as principles of good dog training skills. How long to train, when to give feedback, and how to bring ...
Hands off the Cookies!
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We, the trainers of R+landia, use a lot of food. But there are so many times when we are unwise to do so, and in fact when food can be a damaging part...
Systems of Support
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When the internal system is unstable the external systems must step up to support that system. Meaning, when chronic health concerns or even just a hi...
Pain in Dogs
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pain is frequently a component of behavior cases and not often discussed from a behavior consultant’s viewpoint. But pain is not strictly a medical ...
Everything Bleeds
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Sarah says to her students “everything bleeds” she means that the dog’s way of solving problems will be universal for the dog; it will blee...
When Feelings Interfere with Marissa Martino CDBC
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you are a behavior consultant, or a person who has sought behavior consulting for their dog, you know that the emotions of the guardian attached to...
Understanding Reinforcement Part Three: Natural vs Contrived Contingencies
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the third and final installment of the Understanding Reinforcement series, Sarah tackles natural and contrived contingencies. The natural contingen...
Putting the Mod in B-mod with Lisa Mullinax
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Behavior consulting skills are vast and way too varied to cover all in one episode. But Sarah and friend of the podcast Lisa Mullinax CDBC of Serenity...
REPLAY: Reinforcement Misunderstandings
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A rich understanding of how reinforcement works to strengthen behavior is vital for behavior change, and yet there are so many areas of this concept t...
Understanding Reinforcement Part Two: Relief Contingencies
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the second installment of three part series exploring the nuances of reinforcement Sarah dives into negative reinforcement. Can negative reinforcem...
Understanding Reinforcement Part One: “Isn’t that a jackpot?”
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the first of a three part series exploring nuances of reinforcement, Sarah talks about what she calls the 1:1 ratio of behavior : reinforcement. Wh...
REPLAY: Operant vs Classical Conditioning
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is there a time and a place to intentionally utilize one type of learning over another in dog training? Can you ever be operating in only one learning...
What the F*** is Management? With Julianna DeWillems
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We talk a lot about “management” in dog training but what is it, actually? When is management just training? When is training NOT management? Is t...
Frustration Tolerance in Dogs
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do dogs need to tolerate frustration to live successfully in the human world? Do they need to tolerate frustration in order to be successful in sports...
Industry Talk with Kelly Gorman Dunbar
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should dog trainers be training dogs, or is it ok for us to focus our efforts elsewhere? Are sports the best inroad to hands-on work? What standards s...
Nuance in Isolation Distress with Karishma Warr
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As a field (and as dog owners), we are often talking about different things when we refer to “separation anxiety.” But is isolation phobia the sam...
McCarthyism in R+landia with Laurie C Williams CPDT, CCUI
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
McCarthyism in US history names a time when unfounded persecution availed. Being afraid to show our training or speak about what we are doing is the c...
Problem Solving with Kayla Fratt CDBC
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this crossover episode with The K9 Conservationists Podcast, Sarah sits down with Kayla Fratt CDBC to discuss a recent problem Kayla faced in the f...
Manage, Enrich, or Train?
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As behavior professionals we need to be proficient in the areas of environmental management, enrichment, and also dog training. But we are not a maste...
Case Study: Equestrian-Directed Reactivity
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Sarah outlines what she did to change her personal dog’s behavior regarding horseback riders. Once a shrieking, lunging, inconsolabl...
The "Least Intrusive" Principle Part Three
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the third and final (maybe?) installment of the least intrusive principle series Sarah explores what choice and agency have to do with intrusivenes...
The "Least Intrusive" Principle Part Two
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this second installment exploring the principle of least intrusiveness Sarah explores her own checklist for being sure her behavior change plans ar...
The "Least Intrusive" Principle Part One
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The dog training and behavior industry is all abuzz with the conversation of ethics. A field that largely adhered to the LIMA (least intrusive, minima...
REPLAY: Blindfolds, Buffets, and Other Mistakes: Success in Pre-Run Routines
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Sarah as she discusses common pitfalls in pre-run rituals for agility (and other sport) dogs. Should you feed a lot of treats before you run? Sho...
Cooperative Veterinary Care with Monique Feyrecilde BA, LVT, VTS Part Two
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The second half of Sarah’s conversation with Monique Feyrecilde, a licensed veterinary technician with a specialty in behavior whose book Cooperativ...
Cooperative Veterinary Care with Monique Feyrecilde BA, LVT, VTS Part One
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join return guest Monique Feyrecilde, a licensed veterinary technician with a specialty in behavior to discuss all things support for dogs in the vet ...
REPLAY: Drive, Deprivation, and Desperation
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is it ok to withhold toys to produce more drive for them? Are we sometimes producing welfare deficits to our advantage with our sport dogs? The answer...
Only One of You Can be a Sh!tshow
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you have worked with Sarah in person you might have heard her tell a handler “only one of you is allowed to be a shitshow.” This is her tongue ...
Barking is Relative
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Barking never means one thing; we always have to consider the conditions under which barking is occurring to know how to best respond. Some dogs are p...
REPLAY: The False Dichotomy with Lisa Mullinax CDBC Part 1 & 2
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In response to the “trainer wars” between the balanced and force-free communities Sarah and past podcast guest (and friend) Lisa Mullinax sit down...
Growing Up in Dog Agility with BJAC
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Not a junior? Don’t know any kids? This podcast is still for you. The refreshing take on our sport from Sasha Zitter and Benah Stiewing will be musi...
Surprise Party Sue
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Stop! Before listening, go watch this SNL skit about Surprise Party Sue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4R1yybhmHg Ok, now, is Sue a dog you know? ...
Let's Talk About Fetch, Baby with Liza Rader KPA-CTP
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is fetch a problem? Does fetch cause problems? Is chasing a ball different from marking and finding a bumper? Can we utilize retrieving in beneficial ...
REPLAY: Punishment within LIMA
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of Sarah’s most popular episodes of all time, this episode explores the ethical and effective role punishment might play in a least-intrusive, m...
Social Learning with Dr Angie Johnston
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah is joined this week by assistant professor of psychology at Boston College, Dr Angie Johnston. Angie is the director of the Canine Cognition Cen...
The Time I Almost Died…Safe Setups for Aggression Cases with Lisa Mullinax CDBC
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Working with stranger-directed aggression cases can be dangerous because, as the professional on the case, you are also the dog’s trigger (and poten...
Creating Behavior, Not Fixing it with Agnieszka Janarek
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The old ways of “free” shaping behaviors are out and the much-improved process of shaping via component parts is in. Join Sarah in conversation wi...
Relaxation
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do dogs need to be trained to relax, or will they relax when their needs are met? Should they be asked to relax if their needs haven’t been met? Whe...
Supporting Dogs at the Vet: What Research Says with Dr Jessica Hekman
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all want to help our dogs experience less stress at the vet, and there is actually some scientific data to support two ideas that some might alread...