Cog-Dog Radio

Dog Training Values

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Values are the principles and standards of behavior we follow. If you’ve never sat down to decide what your values are as a dog trainer, whether as ...

Venn Diagrams and Performance Dog Selection

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where is the intersection between what you need in a pet, what you want in a performance dog, and what you just plain like? Can you get a dog that che...

Dog Training "Methods"

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why do trainers say “no method works for all dogs” if all dogs are governed (like all other organisms) by the laws of learning? Is positive reinfo...

Positive Herding with Barb Buchmayer Part Two

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second installment of Sarah’s conversation with Barb Buchmayer, get even deeper in to the world of positive herding. Where to get the book:...

Positive Herding with Barb Buchmayer Part One

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In part one of two, Sarah sits down with Barb Buchmayer, author of Positive Herding 101: Dog-Friendly Training. Barb has pioneered a method for traini...

Managing Reactivity with Dr Amy Cook

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Amy Cook, PhD is a dog behavior consultant extraordinaire and she sat down to chat with Sarah about the importance of planned, trained, and rehearsed ...

Patreon Questions Megasode!

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Barking puppies, struggles stationing in class, failed recalls, and more in this Patreon questions megasode. Be sure to join us on Patreon! We have ...

A New Year for Cog Dog Radio

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah ushers in 2022 with some dog training wisdom for tougher times. Anti-Racism Resources: https://robindiangelo.com/publications/ https://black...

REPLAY: Third Dog Paralysis

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You had your first dog, then your upgrade, and now you've got this third one. Do you feel paralyzed? Afraid to screw up? If you've ever felt paralyzed...

REPLAY: Expectations vs Data

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah as she discusses what happens when our dogs don't always do what we expect. "Your expectations are getting in the way of your observations,...

REPLAY: Running Reactive Dogs in Agility

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a barky-lunge-y type? Do you still want to trial in dog agility? Check out the tips, deal breakers, and training procedures you will need ...

BONUS Connection Summit Crossover: Ditching Training Resolutions with Marissa Martino

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join me and Marissa Martino of Paws and Reward to discuss why you should ditch your training resolutions. Wait - what?!?! Isn’t this a dog training ...

Replay: Reliable Recalls

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What makes recalls reliable? What breaks them down? All this and more! Anti-Racism Resources: https://robindiangelo.com/publications/ https://blac...

What, Why, Where, When, How, with Megan Foster

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah and guest Megan Foster of Synergy Dog Sports for a deep dive on deciding what reinforcer is best for what job, and why. Anti-Racism Resou...

Big Feelings About Reinforcers

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We love dogs that have big feelings. We buy them, we breed them, and we raise them. But it is our responsibility to take care of those feelings, and t...

Replay: Best Practices in Agility: Reinforcers

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this replay episode Sarah explores the best use of reinforcers, and reinforcement strategies, for dog agility. This episode originally aired as pa...

BONUS Connection Summit Crossover: Healing vs Masking with Marissa Martino

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah and Marissa discuss the mentality of taking a pill to mask a symptom versus a true healing path in dog training, and life. Marissa Martino: htt...

Unicorns are Fake

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Perfect dogs, unicorns, and other myths. Anti-Racism Resources: https://robindiangelo.com/publications/ https://blacklivesmatter.com/ https://www....

Movies and Mindset

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Together with special guest, Sarah’s partner Dr Leslie Eide, dive into perhaps the most vital aspect of dog sports: mindset. Also, they talk about m...

Breed Matters

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Should you consider breed when writing a behavior modification plan? Are dogs all individuals, are their species-typical behaviors more important than...

BONUS Connection Summit Crossover: Imposter Syndrome

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of three BONUS Connection Summit Crossover podcasts with Marissa Martino of The Paws and Reward Podcast, Sarah and Marissa dig in on impo...

Happier Crating

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring some advancements to the Happy Crating protocol, Sarah dives into tackling tough crate-related concerns. Happier Crating: Solutions for Com...

Spay/Neuter Considerations with Dr Jessica Hekman

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What, when, why and how! Let’s talk sterilization procedures for our dogs with guest Dr Jessica Hekman. Dr Jessica Hekman is a veterinarian who st...

Teenage Tyrants

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone who has shared their life with an adolescent of any species knows that it’s a tough time for everyone. Learn what you can expect from your yo...

Jackpot!

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dog trainers often refer to “jackpotting” as a type of reinforcement. But, what does that mean? Let’s operationalize the jackpot, and see if it’...

Doulas and Dog Trainers: A Conversation with Addie Dodge

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah in discussion with Cog Dog Patron and aspiring birth doula, Addie Dodge, about the parallels between being a birth doula and being a dog tr...

Recipe Training with Guests Marissa Martino and Lisa Mullinax

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah and friends Marissa Martino and Lisa Mullinax for this juicy conversation regarding the education available to trainers, what basics they m...

Free Work with Sarah Fischer

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Fischer has been working with dogs for 25 years and developed ACE: Animal Centered Education, an integrated approach to the wellbeing and teachi...

Excellence vs Perfection

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Excellence can be your goal while still avoiding perfection paralysis. Let’s talk about it. Anti-Racism Resources: https://robindiangelo.com/pub...

Going Against the Grain

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you or your dog need a different learning environment than what is generally offered in dog sports? Do you find yourself struggling to say “no”...

Self-Regulation Follow-Up

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A follow up episode to Self Regulation with Shade Whitesel in which Sarah dives a little deeper on the topic. Self-Regulation with Shade Whitesel: ht...

Coercion with Adam Skandarani

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A candid conversation with dog trainer Adam Skandarani about coercion, its nuanced layers, and a surprising reason to avoid it. Adam Skandarani is a...

Drive, Deprivation, and Desperation

20 Jul 2021

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...

Puppy Timeline

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever wondered what the timeline for a well-rounded puppy looks like, this episode is for you! When do we teach what? What is important in ...

Barking Reprise

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a minute since we talked about barking, and Sarah has a new breed that’s got a lot more voice than her border collies! Learn about the a...

Punishment within LIMA

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is punishment ever appropriate for rewards-based trainers? When might we need it, and how do we stay within a Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA...

Self-Regulation with Shade Whitesel

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Shade Whitesel is a dog trainer and IPO (Schutzhund) competitor with twenty years of experience working with sport and pet dogs. Shade is a sought-aft...

What is Engagement?

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Engagement is a popular buzzword in dog training, but what the heck is it? Can we train it? Is it easier in some dogs than in others? How do we know i...

Reinforcement Strategies

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Sarah provides explanations, examples, and tips for what reinforcement strategies to use, and when. Hint: you’re always using one, s...

Frustration Barking

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Keeping communication clear with our dogs is the key to reducing or eliminating barking during training, but that’s hard to do if someone is yelling...

Minisode #2: More Patreon Questions!

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dogs that hate harnesses, enrichment ideas for raw feeders, and more! Anti-Racism Resources: https://robindiangelo.com/publications/ https://black...

Burnout and Why it Matters to You and Your Dog with Emily Nagoski

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this crossover episode with the Paws and Reward Podcast Sarah and Marissa sat down to chat with writer, speaker, educator, and overall lovely human...

Case Resolution with Lisa Mullinax CDBC

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah and friend Lisa Mullinax as they do a deep-dive into what it means for a case to be resolved, how to proceed when a case may not be resolva...

Case Study: Mucho Part Three

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the final installment of the Sam and Mucho Case Study Sarah talks with Sam about her experience working with Mucho and where they are today. Is he ...

Case Study: Mucho Part Two

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the second part of this three part series Sarah does a deep dive into the behavior modification work she and Sam embarked on to help Mucho. From he...

Case Study: Mucho Part One

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If a border collie with BIG FEELINGS about agility and life that culminated in a failed start button sounds interesting to you, this series will be on...

Talking Cases with Kim Brophey

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Brophey is back on the podcast! In this fun conversation, she and Sarah discuss how Kim might utilize applied ethology to tackle some tough hypoth...

Best Practices in Agility Part Three: Testing vs Training

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dividing your agility training into two phases, the test or the training phase, will help you to bridge the gap between training and competing later. ...

Best Practices in Agility Part Two: SPEED

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Speed matters. How we get it from our dogs matters, too. Is fluency and confidence enough? Or do we need to do more to get the most speed from our dog...

Best Practices in Agility Part One: Reinforcers

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of this three part series, learn about food, toys, which is best, why, and what pitfalls to avoid. Anti-Racism Resources: https://rob...

Conservation Detection with Kayla Fratt

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Worlds collide! Love dog training AND the environment? You're in the right place. Sarah talks to Kayla Fratt of Journey Dog Training about training do...

Talking Dog Talk with Oluademi James-Daniel

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Oluademi is a dog trainer who owns and operates AfroPup Training in Ithaca New York. She started out working in shelters and dog daycares in New York ...

Operant vs Classical Conditioning

23 Feb 2021

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...

The Human Half of Behavior Change with Marissa Martino

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah and repeat guest Marissa Martino of Paws and Reward as they discuss the human half of behavior change. Anti-Racism Resources: https://r...

The Four Steps to Behavioral Wellness

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What ARE the four steps to behavioral wellness? In this episode, explore the principle that has guided Sarah's work with dogs and their people for the...

Minisode! Patreon Qs and As

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

BONUS Minisode! Patreon Qs and As Dogs that don't want the fun to end, and an unusual decompression problem. Anti-Racism Resources: https://robindi...

Puppy Time!

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah recently added a new dog--and a new breed--to her life. Hear about how that happened, what this breed is, and what she is learning right now An...

Pivot!

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One thing that separates the good from the great in training is the ability to pivot. Knowing when your plan is going awry and pivoting to a different...

Talking with Kim Brophey Part Two: Socialization and More

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Brophey CDBC, BA is an applied ethologist who works to help people live peacefully with their dogs through her business Dog Door Behavior Center i...

Talking with Kim Brophey Part One: Perception in Dogs

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Brophey CDBC, BA is an applied ethologist who works to help people live peacefully with their dogs through her business Dog Door Behavior Center i...

Happy New Year

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah while she chats about what she learned in 2020, and what's in store for Cog Dog Radio in 2021. Anti-Racism Resources: https://robindiang...

Decompression Questions and Answers

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How much decompression is enough? How long should your walks be? What behaviors are normal, and which are not? All that and more in this final episode...

Motivation

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are you lacking the motivation to train lately? Do you understand how motivating operations affect YOU? Pandemic fatigue as it applies to training is ...

Different Ways to Learn Agility with Megan Foster

03 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Online courses, in-person classes, in-person lessons, solo/homeschooling, oh my! There is no shortage of ways to acquire an agility education. But how...

The Myth of "No Bad Dogs, Only Bad Owners" with Trish McMillan

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah had the pleasure of interviewing dog behavior consultant and expert in shelter behavior Trish McMillan, CPDT, CDBC. They covered it all, from th...

Connecting Humans and Canines with Marissa Martino

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Sarah chats with friend and colleague Marissa Martino of the Paws and Reward podcast. They talk about the unique and intricate connection be...

Case Study: Tonic Part Three

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the final installment of Tonic's case study we get real with his human, Jenn. She fills us in on what Sarah left out, where Tonic is now behavioral...

Case Study: Tonic Part Two

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dive in with Sarah on the behavioral interventions take to help Tonic the border collie and his handler Jenn. Anti-Racism Resources: https://robin...

Case Study: Tonic Part One

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of a three part series, dive into Tonic the border collie's frantic and "worked up" behaviors, and learn about the first steps taken to h...

Patreon Q&A with Sarah

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A catch up of all things question and answer from our Patreon listeners! Included: dog park TV tips, duration behaviors, puppy FOMO, and more! Anti-...

Self-Regulation in Dogs

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do dogs have self-control? If they do, can we train it? What's different about self-regulation and "impulse control"? Find out in this episode! Anti-...

Anti-Racism in Dog Sports with Ayoka Bubar CPDT-KA

08 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Check out Sarah's interview with dog trainer Ayoka Bubar about inclusivity in the dog world. We can all take actionable steps to include BIPOC--black,...

Venn Diagrams and Performance Dog Selection

01 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Where is the intersection between what you need in a pet, what you want in a performance dog, and what you just plain like? Can you get a dog that che...

Finding Your Next Good Dog

25 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah as she speaks with Dr Judi Stella and Cat Matloub, part of the team at Good Dog, a resource for humans in search of their next canine compa...

Proofing With Chelsey Protulipac

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsey Protulipac is a geologist and dog nerd extraordinaire. She is one of Sarah’s favorite trainers to talk things out with. Chelsey shares her l...

Exercise is NOT B-Mod

11 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You've heard it, "a tired dog is a good dog." But is that true? How far can exercise really go in changing behavior? What behavior problems, if any, c...

Third Dog Paralysis

04 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You had your first dog, then your upgrade, and now you've got this third one. Do you feel paralyzed? Afraid to screw up? If you've ever felt paralyzed...

When Positive Reinforcement Is Coercive

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are more ways to use force than just corrective collars. Be sure you are not involving coercion in your positive-reinforcement based training.

Consent-Based Rehab with Dr. Leslie

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Listen as Sarah asks Dr. Leslie Eide your questions about consent and its place in canine rehabilitation and sports medicine.

A Dog's Emotional Cup with Sarah Owings

07 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Here we talk all about what drains, and fills a dog's emotional cup in this interview with Sarah Owings.

Functional Dog Breeding with Jessica Hekman

30 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah as she interviews Dr Jessica Hekman. Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD is a veterinary researcher at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and t...

Much Ado About Quadrants

23 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What are the four quadrants of operant conditioning? Should you care? Can we ever restrict ourselves to just one or two quadrants, and if we can, shou...

Upgrade Dogs

16 Jun 2020

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...

Safety is An Illusion: An Update from Jade's Human, Emily Russell

09 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Back when Cog Dog Radio was born, Sarah covered the case of Jade the golden retriever. Catch up with Jade's human and hear about how his life looks no...

Loose Leash Walking

02 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You asked, here it is! Sarah talks all things loose leash walking. Sarah's orthopedic and chronic pain struggles make leash pulling an absolute no-go ...

Noise Phobia with Dr. Karen Overall

26 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this dynamic interview Sarah gets the scoop on all things noise fears in dogs from veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall. What do we know, what ...

Introducing a Puppy in a Difficult Household

19 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You've got a dog-aggressive dog, and you want a puppy. What do you do? Is this even possible? Sarah draws from real life experience on this one, and h...

Expectations vs Data

12 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah as she discusses what happens when our dogs don't always do what we expect. "Your expectations are getting in the way of your observations,...

Canine Sports Medicine Case Study: Idgie's Story

05 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah in discussion with Dr Leslie Eide as they explore the injury that Idgie suffered early this year. Idgie has returned to full functionality ...

Repetition Tolerance with Megan Foster

28 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah and Megan Foster of www.synergydogsports.com as they discuss a frequent student complaint: dogs that don't tolerate repetitions well. Why t...

Location Specific Markers

21 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Explore with Sarah while she talks about her evolution through the world of location specific marker training.

Barky Lunge-y Part Five: Listener Questions

14 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the final installment of the Barky Lunge-y series, Sarah answers the questions listeners submitted via www.patreon.com/cogdogradio

Fix N Go with Leslie Eide

07 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join in while Sarah and Leslie discuss the recent rule changes in United States agility organizations regarding training in the ring.

Barky Lunge-y Part 4, Differential Reinforcement

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Sarah as she covers the third in her three pronged approach to dog-directed reactivity: differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors. Lear...

Barky Lunge-y 101 Part Three: Remedial Socialization

24 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the third of a five part series, Sarah talks about remedial socialization for reactive dogs. What it is, why it matters, how to do it, and more.

COVID-19: It's Ok to Not be OK

22 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Take a quick walk in the woods with Sarah and talk about what COVID-19 means for our community. Dog training businesses, puppy socialization, and self...

Barky Lunge-y 101 Part Two: Desensitization

17 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of a five part series, Sarah covers the importance of systematic desensitization for reactive dogs. What separates a desensitization pro...

Barky Lunge-y 101 Part One: Intro to Reactivity

10 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of a five-part series, join Sarah as she discusses her history in reactivity treatment and her thoughts on why this behavior problem is r...

Separation Anxiety pt 2: Malena DeMartini

03 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The expert! Sarah interviews Malena DeMartini, author of "Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs." Learn about why SA happens, what you can do to prevent...

Separation Anxiety Part 1: Idgie's Case

25 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Explore Sarah's process for helping her own dog, Idgie, through separation anxiety.