The Border Collie Geek Podcast
Episodes
Mastering Puppy Rest: How to Survive Resting your Border Collie for an Injury
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I will be chatting to you about how I'm managing resting Kes, my 6 months old Border Collie while on a 3 long week rest!I'm al...
The 5 Needs That Shape a Balanced Border Collie
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Border Collies are often described as “high-energy dogs”, but in reality their behaviour is usually shaped by something much deeper: whether their...
FCI Obedience: The Sport the UK Has Been Waiting For
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
n this episode, Martina speaks with Anna Herzog about FCI obedience and why it’s growing in the UK.They discuss:What FCI (Fédération Cynologique I...
Life Skills vs Training Skills
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of 2026, Martina shares a short update on welcoming an unexpected litter and keeping one of the puppies, Kestrel (Kes). From the...
When Water Becomes an Obsession: Training Tips on Training Water Fixations in Border Collies
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Martina dives into the fascinating and sometimes frustrating topic of water obsession in Border Collies. From playful splashing to fu...
The Dog Trainer’s View on Spaying & Neutering
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Martina shares her personal opinions and experiences regarding spaying and neutering dogs. She discusses the reasons behind her decis...
The Best Ways to Entertain Your Border Collie at Home
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Martina Miradoli discusses the importance of mental stimulation for Border Collies, focusing on effective ways to entertain them at h...
Focus Isn’t Magic — Teaching Your Dog to Pay Attention
04 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does your dog struggle to focus on you, constantly distracted by the world around them? In this episode, I dive into the truth about dog focus and eng...
Struggling with recall around wildlife, joggers, or bikes?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Border Collie Geek, Martina explores the realities of recall training when prey drive enters the picture. While many owners succeed...
Raising Tali: Lessons from Her First Year
26 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tali is officially one! In this special episode, I reflect on our first year together, from early bonding to breakthroughs in training, sensitivity ch...
Should You Teach Your Border Collie Puppy To Stay?
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I dig into a training cue that's taught in nearly every puppy class, but often at the wrong time. We’re talking about “stay”...
Enchriment and Fullfillment, how much should you give your Border Collie?
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Martina Miradoli discusses the concepts of enrichment and fulfillment in the context of dog training. She explores what constitutes e...
Rethinking Muzzles with Clara Hewson of The Muzzle Movement
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I chat with Clara Hewson about how muzzles can be a game-changer not just for safety, but for a dog’s quality of life. Clara shares...
Flyball training and foundations, with Gemma
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you wanted to try flyball but you have a lot questions? I ask them for you to Gemma!You can find more about Gemma's training and reach her ou...
Why Your Border Collie Can't Leave the Cat Alone (and What to Do About It)
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Martina dives into the complex relationship between dogs, especially Border Collies and household cats. Drawing from personal experie...
Episode 81: Tackling Reactivity – Tali's Training Journey
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
:In this episode, I’m diving deep into my personal journey working through reactivity with my young Border Collie, Tali. From her early signs of dis...
Episode 80: The 5 most important skill I teach my Border Collies
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What are my 5 favourite skills to teach my dogs? 🐾I'll list them here but I into details in the episode so it's worth a listen: 1. Recall 2. Focus...
Episode 79: Neutrality vs social skills, with Anja Andjelic from the DogNerd
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Something about Anja: - Involved in dogs in some capacity for the last 10+ years - Started training other people’s dogs in 2021; I now focus on help...
Episode 78: Barking, chasing, recall... all your questions in this Q&A episode!
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the recording of the live video I have done on Facebook last week! You are still in time to grab a Black Friday discount on the 3 month membe...
Episode 77: Is it just a behaviour or there is something else behind it?
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is about your dog behaviour and how to recognise if it's just a behaviour and training problem or if there is something else underlyin...
Episode 76: Optimal Arousal with Hélène Lawler
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, we discuss the critical role of arousal in dog training with Helen. We emphasise the importance of understanding both the dog’...
Episode 75: Raising a working bred puppy with Kat Janczur
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You can find more of Kat work follow these links https://www.facebook.com/K9BehaviourConsultancy https://www.facebook.com/k9detectionsolutions Takea...
Episode 74: Is it ok to let my Border Collie stalk?
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered if it’s good to let your Border Collie stare at things? In this episode, I dive into the natural instincts of Border Collies and wheth...
Episode 73: Puppy Diary, Kite and his Shananigans!
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This overdue episode is about Kite, his water obsession, his focus and recall, his hyperactivity and how I improved our relationship! Would you like ...
Episode 72: Holiday Prep for Dog Owners
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here some links for you from the episode: Get your holiday Tug-E-Nuff toys: https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek Find the perfect ac...
Episode 71: Today I answer questions from my Facebook Group members!
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm excited to be able to offer you all my favourite Tug-E-Nuff toys into a bundle at a special price JUST FOR YOU, my podcast listeners! Follow t...
Episode 70: Play! The how and why of playing with your dog!
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Play is one of the most important parts of my training programmes with my own dogs and my students dogs. Understanding how your dog likes to play, why...
Episode 69: The vet says REST, with Laura Carter
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Laura is an IMDT dog trainer with 15 years of experience in teaching pet dogs and their owners. She has now chosen to specialise in supporting dogs on...
Episode 68: Your dog hates the vet, how can we help?
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was overdue, I hope it will be useful for many Border Collie owners out there that wants to hide at the idea of taking their dogs to the...
Episode 67: What's happening inside a working dog brain with Sophie Barton
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sophie Barton is a PhD student in the Hecht Lab of Harvard University. She is a founding member of the Canine Brains Project. Sophie is a neuroscient...
Episode 66: Q&A from the Facebook Group!
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a bit of a break due to too much going on, here I am again! I have a couple of news for you, first all my episode plus more videos will also be ...
Episode 65: Puppy Diary, engagement, social reinforcement and management in the house!
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kite is growing and we are getting to know him better! If you have any specific questions about Border Collie puppies and their training Join my Patre...
Episode 64: How to avoid separation anxiety with Jo Sellers
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jo at Pippin Pets Dog Training is the author of Adore Your Adolescent Dog book and a Certified Separation Anxiety Specialist. She’s an ABTC accredit...
Episode 63: Puppy Diary, resource guarding and eating everything he shouldn't!
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Week two of puppy life and I'm sleep deprived and very tired! Want to know more? Press Play! Get in touch: https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact...
Episode 62: My puppy is biting!
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Finally I can provide you with a puppy nipping episode, as I have a nippy puppy! I hope you find this useful! Sign up to my upcoming free training wee...
Episode 61: Getting ready for a new puppy!
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some of the links I have mentioned in the podcast: Rubberised Long Lines Use the code THATLLDOACADEMY for Tug e Nuff Discount: https://www.tug-e-nuff...
Farm Chronicles, we have moved!
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is more about our move, how the dogs have adapted to their new life and what's coming up! As promised here are some links. To see wh...
Episode 60: Tibs Journey, an inspirational story for many
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My last episode for 2023! Thank you for being with me another year! Now the links I promised: The Facebook Group for my in person events: https://www....
Episode 59: The History of Sheep and Herding Dogs in the UK with Natalie Soppard
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Natalie has spent almost her entire career in livestock farming having caught the bug at 11 while watching River Cottage and promptly obtaining an all...
Episode 58: Alfie Unleashed: A Border Collie's Transformation Story
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Laura, a dedicated dog owner, and her Border Collie, Alfie. Alfie's journey from a reactive, anxious adolescent ...
Episode 57: which behaviours are Border Collie Traits and which are not?
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by a video I made on Instagram and Tiktok and after a follower suggested it... here it a full podcast episode about Traits that are Border Co...
Episode 56: Prey Drive with Tracey McLennan
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is prey drive? How does it effect our domestic dogs and their life as pets? Should we repress prey drive or embracing with it? Tracey will answe...
Episode 55: Markers vs Cues
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by a student that wanted to understand the different between markers and cues, here is my explanation! What is a marker? How many markers th...
Episode 54: Border Collies and Adolescence with Rachel, The Collie Consultant
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is adolescence? What happens in the brain? What are the behaviours that might change? Are behaviours that we see in adolescence staying? How do w...
Episode 53: News from Scotland
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is just me talking about my week in Scotland and the Border Collies I met on the farm!
Episode 52: Dr Kathleen Freeman, friend, mentor and the person that introduced me to farming and training dogs for the job
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To follow me on social media: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_traine...
Episode 51: High Driven dogs with Jane Arden!
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join Jane and me in our chat about high driven working dogs! Jane is a working cocker owner, trainer and breeder and is well known world wide for her ...
Episode 50: Q&A episode part 1
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 1! If you want to know more about the Look At That game I mention in the episode here is the link for the webinar! https://thatlldoacademy.thriv...
Episode 49: Kay Laurence the origin of the Border Collie and Sheepball!
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more about Kay: https://www.learningaboutdogs.com/about/ To listen to her podcast: https://kaylaurence.buzzsprout.com/ To follow me on soci...
REPLAY of Episode 19: Confidence in dogs, what does it look like?
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My first replay episode! If you haven't listen to it yet or don't remember much about it and maybe in the meantime you got a puppy... here it ...
Episode 48: Social interactions for dogs that are not puppies anymore.
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What about an older dog? Can we still talk about socialisation? Let me talk you through it! To follow me on social media: Facebook : https://www.fac...
Episode 47: Puppy Socialisation with Lindsey Hampshire
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is socialisation and what is the best way to socialise puppies or even more specifically Border Collies? I chatted with Lindsay from Landing On Y...
Episode 46: Offer Calm instead of Crazy
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“My Border Collie is always bringing me the toy and if I don’t play he barks at me” “When we sit down in the evening to relax and watch tv my ...
Episode 45: Talking about agility and Border Collies with Nicola Wildman
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more about Nicola and how to reach out for training with her and her team check her website and Facebook Page https://wildpawsagility.co.uk/ ...
Episode 44: Q&A Part 2!
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Future Webinars: https://thatlldoacademy.com/events/ To follow me on social media: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/ Instagram : ...
Episode 42: Relocation announcement!
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is to share with all of you a HUGE change that is happening in my life in the next few months! I couldn't keep it in anymore, so I had to...
Episode 41: Training good habits
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is dog training? It's not just fixing problems or it shouldn't be anyway! Although that seems to be what I do all the time with my studen...
Episode 40: Focus is FUN!
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To join my next 5 days free training challenge click here: https://thatlldoacademy.com/focus-is-fun/ To follow me on social media: Facebook : https:...
Episode 43: Q&A part 1!
01 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thank you for all your questions! If you want to ask me some questions so I can record an episode and answer you, join the Facebook Group! https://ww...
Episode 39: Breeding and Border Collie health with Hélèn Lawler
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hélène is a dog sport performance coach who helps handlers develop the confidence and competence they need to reach their performance goals. Hélèn...
Episode 38: Activities for Busy Brains!
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Going to sheepdog training and agility is not an option for a lot of us and doing multiple sessions of ball throwing is not ideal both body and mental...
Episode 37: My Border Collie is herding traffic, what can I do to make him stop? Let me answer that.
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is not going to give you a solution, but an idea of what plan you will have to put in place to work towards your dog not being reactive t...
Episode 36: Working Border Collies with James Gilman farmer and triallist
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to get in touch with James, follow this trial results and his events at the farm this is his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/prof...
Episode 35: how to introduce your new puppy to your older dogs!
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you are going to get a new puppy and want to know how to be introduce them to each other, this is the episode for you! For any help with training ...
Episode 34: Talking about fear and anxiety with with Clinical Animal Behaviourist Laura Ward
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to learn more about the work that Laura does and reach out to her, this is her webiste: https://www.mindsalikeanimaltraining.com/ If you...
Episode 33 : Answering some members questions!
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thank you for asking questions and listening to my answers! If you want to listen to some of the episode I mentioned here are some links: https://sp...
Episode 32: Stop Walking Your Dog! With author Niki French
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You can learn more about Niky on her website: https://puptalk.co.uk/ Her book can be found here: https://puptalk.co.uk/product/stop-walking-your-dog...
Episode 31: Living with more dogs and their relationship
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the podcast! I hope you all had a nice start of 2023! Loads of things will happen in 2023 and I'm so excited about taking you with me ...
Episode 30: My last tip for you for 2022!
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thank you all for following and sharing my podcast, I loved every moment of it and I can't wait to be back in 2023! I'm leaving you with some links a...
Episode 29 : Carole and Sarah talk about their struggles and their achievements!
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is very exciting! For once my students, are going to be my guests, talking about all the struggles but also all the joys of owning a dog ...
Episode 28: Border Collie Geekery with Sarah Stremming from the Cognitive Canine
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to listen more about Sarah training tips and knowledge you can find her on her website: https://thecognitivecanine.com/ On her podcast T...
Episode 27: My puppy is stalking cars... now what do I do?!
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was due! My experience with Tay that at 13 weeks old he showed me interest in wanting to herd cars and how I dealt with the situation, ma...
Episode 26: Rebecca Walters from Pupstarts, we talk about breeding, breeders and how to pick the right one for you!
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca is a dog trainer, dog breeder and coach for other dog breeders. She runs an accredited course for breeders or people that want to be breeders...
Episode 25: My dog pulls on the lead! Let me talk to you about it.
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you ask me what is the think I hate training most, loose lead walking is definitely it! There is a lot of controversial about harnesses, head colla...
Episode 24: a bit about me and my dogs!
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is my intro episode that I realised I should have done as first episode! It tells you about me and how I got where I am now and also abou...
Episode 23: Border Collies and Obedience with Kamal Fernandez
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest is the world known obedience coach and trainer Kamal Fernandez. We ended up geeking out about Border Collie genetic predisposition, br...
Episode 22: How to train a dog that is not a people pleaser?
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk about Moss and our journey. Moss is not a people pleaser, so I will tell you on how our working relationship has improved throu...
Episode 21: Border Collies and herding dogs helping wildlife in Australia with the Skylos Ecology team!
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What? Dogs can help wildlife? Conservation of our ecosystem has the help of fantastic dog with fantastic noses that together with their handlers help ...
Episode 20: *EDITED *Chill the Collie Challenge and Impulse Control
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Border Collie Geek Community & That’ll Do Academy presents our next 5 day challenge! Impulse controls are important in every part of the dog’s...
Episode 19: Self Confidence in dogs, what does it look it and how can we improve it and why is it so important?
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This Episode comes from a question that one of my Members on the Border Collie Geek Community forum asked me. It's a question that needs a proper answ...
Episode 18: Talking about dog diet and nutrition with Caroline Taylor the Slim Pet Vet
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Caroline Taylor, aka The Slim Pet Vet. on a mission to help hundreds of dog's have more energy to live their life to the full. A silent pandemic...
Episode 17: How do I stop my Border Collie barking?
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I get this question asked many times, from my Online Academy students and also from in my free Community Group of Facebook! There is no one answer to...
Episode 16: Raising awareness with Sarah Jones's My Anxious Dogs, for all the anxious dogs out there that need space!
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anxious dogs need space, respect and consideration! How can we make sure that other people notice and stay away from our anxious dog? Sarah Jone...
Episode 15: How to train a perfect recall?
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How does a good recall looks like? I tell you what is looks life for me and how I train it! Recall is not an easy before, it's not just about rewardi...
Episode 14: Kids Around Dogs with Debby Lucken
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I'm chatting with Debby about her work with KAD to help families with dogs having the support they need to make sure kids and dogs can...
Episode 13: How to teach a distance lie down
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Another episode that one of my listeners asked me for! I love teaching my dogs and my students distance down. It's useful in life for a lot of reason...
Episode 12: Training multiple dogs and sports, goal setting and residential training and more with Lila Zachwatowicz
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lila is a trainer based in Surrey but originally from Poland. Lila and I got in touch as both moved to the UK in the same period and both are Border C...
Episode 11: How to deal with ball/frisbee obsessed dogs on walks?
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I had to record this episode as the audio was SO bad! I apologies. This episode was requested by one of the audience! You can now request episodes by...
Episode 10: Chatting with Megan Wallace about difficult Border Collies, Breeding criteria, Genetic and Nosework!
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Megan Wallace (CNWI and CCUI) started getting interested in dog training at the young age of 11, after being obsessed with dogs her whole life. At 12 ...
Episode 9: all about using food for training even with dogs that won’t take food when out and about
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you want to know why I use food for training? Do you have a dog that won’t take food while out and about or that is not very interested in the tr...
Episode 8: Border Collies in the Urban Environment with Ellen Greenwood-Sole from the Urban Herder
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ellen is an herding breeds specialist trainer from West Yorkshire in the UK and she like me, specialises in Border Collie and more in general in herdi...
Episode 7: to Ball or Not to Ball? Let’s talk why playing ball is bad for your Border Collie!
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why am I always saying to my students to stop playing ball to their dogs daily? There are many reasons. Let’s talk about that!!! To learn more fro...
Episode 6: Predation Substitute Training with Simone Müller
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Simone Müller is author of two books, " Hunting Together" and "Rocker Recall" and is teaching to dog owners Predation Substitute Training an amazing ...
Episode 5: Is Border Collie the right breed for you? Pros and Cons about owning a BC!
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you the right person to become a Border Collie owner? If you have a friend or a colleague or a student that is considering getting a Border Collie...
Episode 4: Hoopers with Carrie-Ann Selwyn, chatting about why hoopers is good for every dog but especially for herding breeds
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Carrie-Ann Selwyn, founder of Canine Hoopers World grow up with collies and as well as shepherds and other breeds, is going to chat with me about how ...
Episode 3: Dogs and Livestock, how can we train for a better control, using positive reinforcement?
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the dog training world you will find that some people can promise you complete control with off lead dog and livestock without even realising that ...
Episode 2: A chat with Lucy d'Auvergne about complicated Border Collies and Therapeutic Scentwork
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join me for this very interesting chat with Lucy d'Auvergne, clinical animal behaviourist and owner of very complicated collies, where she tells us he...
Episode 1: Seven top tips before you get your Border Collie!
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The space you have writing on a post on social media is never enough, so I thought to spend a bit more time to talk about the important facts and tips...