Positively Dog Training - The Official Victoria Stilwell Podcast

In this episode, Victoria is joined by Anna Webb, a broadcaster, and behavior and nutrition expert.  Stay tuned for nuggets of information, on topics including:Sniffing out trufflesDifferences between the US and UKDog WalkingNutritionand more. To learn more about Anna, visit https://annawebb.co.uk/pages/about-anna. 

In this episode, we are joined by the Sarah Fisher, who delves into why movement is the foundation for all behavior. Sarah passionately explains her philosophy that understanding and facilitating movement can significantly help animals find their natural flow. This conversation sheds light on the importance of meeting the needs of the beings in front of us, emphasizing that movement isn't just a part of life—it's integral to life itself. Sarah's expertise offers a profound understanding of how movement influences behavior and wellbeing, providing listeners with a deeper appreciation of its pivotal role.Visit Sarah's website or attend the Dog Behavior Conference to learn more. 

Join Victoria and her team as they discuss strange behavior dogs do in the latest roundtable discussion.  From cleaning out the cupboards to obsessive licking, no behavior was left out. Learn why dogs might engage in these behaviors and how Victoria and her team work through them.  You will be surprised by what you learn in this entertaining and eye opening episode.Don't forget to visit Positively.com to learn more and answer the question... Why Does My Dog...?

On this episode, Victoria and Andrew talk about his upcoming presentation for the Dog Behavior Conference.  Andrew shares his mantra with us:  "learn, support, and teach.  Learn from the dog first, support what you have learned, and teach things that are likely to be intrinsically valuable for that dog.  After that, train what you like." C.A.K.E. is about understanding this:Compassion Awareness Knowledge EmpathyTo learn more about Andrew Hale, visit https://trainpositive.co.uk/.  Don't forget to join the Dog Behavior Conference to learn more about Bringing CAKE to Dog Training. 

In this episode, Victoria talks with Jo Pay about her upcoming presentation at the Dog Behavior Conference: Understanding Why Dogs Chase and What You Can Do About It. For dogs, chasing is an enriching activity.  It's not wrong to the dog, but it certainly can  be a problem in our human world.  Stay tuned for a sneak peak into what Jo will be talking about at the 2024 Dog Behavior Conference.To learn more about Jo, visit https://standishdogtrainer.co.uk/.

Join Victoria and her team in this roundtable discussion about changes that we and our dogs face as we travel through life together. The team leaves nothing unsaid as they explore past and current planned and unplanned changes, plan for future changes, and talk about building resilience in our dogs to help them accept and recover from change. Find more information about the Brave Collection and the Building Resilience course at Positively.com. 

In this episode, Victoria and Steve Dale talk about his upcoming presentation at the Dog Behavior Conference, Dogs weren’t Bred to be Couch Potatoes: Why We Must Enrich their Lives. Enrichment is for all animals: from those living in the zoo to our companions (dogs and cats too). Enrichment is individual.  We need to know and understand our animal’s preferences and that their stage of life and breed may influence what enrichment looks like for them.Victoria and Steve leave nothing unsaid in this entertaining, enlightening, and inspiring episode. Listen in to find out just how enriching a big pile of bed pillows can be for one cat in particular. To learn more about Steve, visit stevedale.tv.  

In this episode, Victoria talks with Michael Shikashio about his upcoming presentation at the Dog Behavior Conference, Hostility in the Home: Dog Aggression Directed at Family or Visitors.Victoria and Michael discuss the importance of understanding dog behavior and body language, the role of empathy in training, and innovative approaches to managing and helping dogs and their families.  To learn more about Michael, visit aggressivedog.com or find him on Facebook or instagram. 

Join Victoria and her team in this roundtable discussion about building resilience in puppies and give them the tools they need to be successful in all stages of life including adolescence and as an adult.  The team opens up about the importance of providing safety, understanding that there are important milestones in their lives, and what each puppy needs may be different based on their new home's family members, lifestyle, and environment.  Don't have a puppy, don't worry.  There are a lot of nuggets that will benefit dogs at all stages. 

In this roundtable discussion, Victoria and her team share valuable insights and tips for creating effective training habits that benefit both dogs and their owners. They stressed the importance of considering a dog's individual needs and tailoring training methods accordingly. They discussed various training hacks and habit loops, emphasizing the significance of making training feel less overwhelming for clients.One key takeaway was the concept of "habit stacking," where trainers encourage clients to integrate short training sessions into their daily routines. By pairing training moments with activities they already do, such as feeding, walking, or going to get the mail, clients can effortlessly incorporate training into their lives. 

On this episode, Victoria is joined by Brad and Lisa Waggoner, owners and founders of Cold Nose College.  Brad and Lisa share their individual journeys into dog training, stories of their dogs, and the secret sauce to achieving a fast and joyful recall. Lisa's book, Rocket Recall, is helping trainers and people grow their relationship with their dog while training this important life skill.  Lisa defines a Rocket Recall as “that glorious moment when anytime and anywhere you say ‘Come!’ and your dog immediately and enthusiastically turns on a dime and bounds rapidly to you.”Stay tuned to learn more.

The fabulous Holly Firfer is back on the podcast and talking puppies! Holly is the VP of programming and Development for ReachTV and Scripps News Anchor. She is a former radio DJ, news correspondent and Victoria's podcast companion for many years, but recently she has taken on a new role - mum to Artemis, a rescued pitbull puppy. What has Holly's experience raising a puppy been like and did she make the right decision to go down the puppy path again? What were the biggest challenges and how is she coping with the next phase - adolescence?In this episode, Holly shares the ups and downs of raising a puppy, living with a pitbull and the responsibility she feels to undo the misconceptions people have of the pitbull breed type.

In this episode, Victoria Stilwell hosts Justine Schuurmans from the Family Dog and author of The Dial Method, the busy parent’s shortcut to raising a family dog right. They share personal stories and experiences that emphasize understanding dogs’ needs, improving relationships, and the importance of accessible resources for families and professionals who work with dogs. “The Dial Method is a multi-functional system that could be used in different ways, meeting you exactly where you are and when.” The four core principles of The Dial Method are: see your dog, parent your dog, teach your kids, and create a plan.  The book, workbook, and video course are available at The Family Dog. If you are a dog professional, sign up to become a Dial Guide.  The next training session is February 24-25, 2024. The Dial Method isn't just for dog professionals or families with kids and dogs.  Everyone can benefit from the information shared in this podcast.  Enjoy!

In this episode, Victoria Stilwell hosts Sean Brown, owner of Petsercise UK and a former rugby player. He's featured on "Dog Academy,” a show which can be viewed on Channel4.com. Sean is working with Pawsable Assistance Dogs, helping household pets become therapy or assistance dogs.Victoria and Sean dive into positive training, emphasizing the importance of holistic training, encompassing both behavior and emotional well-being. The heart of their conversation centers on offering dogs enriching experiences that allow dogs to be themselves, fostering understanding, deepening the human-canine connection, in turn creating behavior change.Stay tuned to learn the connection between seat belts and the dog training industry.Find Sean on Instagram or Facebook.

In this roundtable discussion, Victoria and her team discuss the exciting newly launched Positively website and give you tips to help you during the holidays with your dog. As we head into the holidays, we reflect on how much our dogs mean to us.  How can we learn to be better listeners? How can we help them to understand our world? How can we help them become more BRAVE?To find out, head over to Positively.com (after listening to the podcast of course) and register for a FREE account and take your first course on us. Happy Holidays, Victoria and the entire team at Positively  

In this episode, Victoria talks with Niki Tudge, founder of Pet Professional Guild.  Learn more about Niki and what led her to create this amazing organization. How do you find a good trainer for your dog? What should you look for? Victoria and Niki take a deep dive into these questions and more.  They help you learn to advocate not only for dog, but also for yourself.  

In this episode, Victoria talks with Beverley Cuddy, editor of  Dogs Today Magazine, about the XL Bully ban that will take effect in the UK on January 1st unless something is done to prevent it.  Beverley and Victoria dive into the reason for the legislation, what constitutes an XL Bully dog, and how the legislation will affect families, veterinarians, trainers, and many others. 

In this roundtable discussion, Victoria and her team discuss the labels in dog training.  Labels are often applied to certain behaviors dogs do, training methodologies or protocols, and more.  Are labels helpful or do they muddy the water? 

In this Holiday Episode, Victoria and her team discuss how appreciating what the dog does well now can help us create simple, effective training plans. 

In this roundtable discussion, Victoria and her team discuss whether we should be ignoring behavior we don’t like. Is there a more effective approach that considers what the dog is trying to communicate with the behavior? How can we meet their needs and create a solution that works for us?