Claim OwnershipThe Everyday Trainer Podcast
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Join Meg, a Pet Dog Trainer in Orlando Florida, as she chats about all things dogs. From training tools and techniques to mindfulness and habit formation, Meg's got all the insight you need to help you form a better relationship with your dog.
89 Episodes
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What happens when your dog training skills outpace your business skills? In this episode, I sit down with Tori, the administrative powerhouse behind The Everyday Trainer, to pull back the curtain on the messy, challenging, and often overwhelming business side of dog training. Four years ago, I was drowning in 4,000 unread emails while running a thriving dog training practice. My fatal flaw? Being exceptional with dogs but completely overwhelmed by the administrative tasks that kept my busine...
The journey to competition success is rarely a straight line. In this episode, we're joined by Celine, Shane, and Thoma who take us behind the scenes of Celine's recent PSA Level 1 trial victory in Wyoming. What does it really take to prepare a dog for back-to-back trial days, and how do you maintain consistency when the pressure's on? The conversation quickly evolves into a debate about training methodologies that challenge conventional wisdom. Shane shares his approach to e-collar use, arg...
What happens when your dog isn't in a command? Do they make good decisions or fall apart completely? This question strikes at the heart of the difference between obedience training and true behavior modification. Many dog owners believe their problems are solved when their dog returns from a board and train program perfectly executing commands like place, sit, and heel. But as we explore in this episode, obedience is merely a tool—not the finished product. A dog that performs beautifully in ...
Recorded by a crackling campfire in Montana's bear country, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to live with working dogs. Meg is joined by dog trainers Thoma and Lex (who recently welcomed a Malinois puppy into her life) for an unfiltered conversation about the expectations versus reality of high-drive dogs. Have you ever wondered why some dogs seem impossible to settle or why your "reactive" dog behaves so differently from other dogs of the same breed? The answer mig...
Ever wondered if you're using an e-collar correctly with your dog? Meg pulls back the curtain on this powerful training tool, revealing insights that even seasoned trainers might be missing. Meg takes us deep into the two essential phases of e-collar conditioning—escape and avoidance—and explains why most trainers and owners get stuck in the first phase for far too long. This simple mistake creates dogs who only respond when the e-collar is activated rather than understanding commands indepe...
Ever wondered what it really takes to build a successful pet business in today's digital landscape? This candid conversation with Celine, the creative force behind WulfSnacks and multiple 100K+ social media accounts, and dog trainer Shane Murray pulls back the curtain on the messy, challenging, and ultimately rewarding journey of pet industry entrepreneurship. Celine shares her unexpected path from aspiring veterinarian to pet influencer and business owner, revealing the moment during COVID ...
Have you ever felt like you and your dog are speaking completely different languages? You're not alone. Communication barriers are the root cause of most training frustrations, but there's a solution that transforms even the most challenging relationships. In this illuminating episode, I break down the five essential communication systems that create crystal-clear understanding between dogs and humans. Drawing from years of experience with both everyday pets and complex behavioral cases, I r...
Dog trainers Meg and Thoma tackle your most pressing canine questions in this comprehensive Q&A episode packed with practical solutions for common behavioral challenges. When it comes to getting dogs to truly settle down, they reveal why constant food rewards often backfire, creating dogs that stare intensely rather than genuinely relax. Their tethering approach offers a refreshingly different alternative to the overused "place" command, allowing dogs to find calm on their own terms with...
There's something magical that happens when we allow ourselves and our dogs to escape the constraints of urban living. This episode takes you along on our adventure to Yosemite and the surrounding wilderness, where unexpected encounters became transformative experiences. Our journey began dramatically when we spotted a wildfire starting on BLM land. After reporting it, we continued deeper into the wilderness, where fate led us to a private lakeside property. Instead of being turned away, we ...
What does 25 years of dog training experience teach you? Stephanie O'Brien, owner of Dog Genius Canine Education, takes us on a fascinating journey through her evolution as a trainer—from growing up raising guide dogs to becoming an expert in protection sports. Stephanie's story offers a rare glimpse into how dog training has transformed over decades. Before YouTube tutorials and Instagram influencers existed, trainers learned through direct mentorship, VHS tapes shipped from Europe, and tra...
The journey from reactive, anxious dog to confident companion isn't always straightforward. In this follow-up session, we check in with a client who's been implementing changes to address her dog's separation anxiety, reactivity issues, and their overly-structured relationship. What happens when we stop micromanaging our dogs and instead give them opportunities to make good choices? The transformation can be remarkable. We explore how to balance freedom with boundaries by allowing dogs space...
Lex shares her transformation from dog owner to professional trainer, sparked by her journey with her reactive German Shepherd, Koda. What began as a challenging adoption—complete with a parvo diagnosis and costly medical bills—evolved into a career-defining experience that taught her invaluable lessons about balanced training approaches. • Adopting Koda as an eight-week-old puppy during COVID, only to face immediate health challenges including parvo and hip problems • How a traumatic dog pa...
Meg shares the terrifying experience of her puppy Muffin accidentally ingesting marijuana at a park and the emergency vet visit that followed, then opens up the conversation to listener stories about scary incidents with their dogs. • Collar dangers emerge as a common hazard, with multiple stories of dogs choking when collars become caught during play or in crate wires • Breakaway collars and removing collars during unsupervised time can prevent these dangerous situations • "He's friendly" d...
Dog trainers often talk about "drivey" dogs, but understanding drive states is key to effective training and fundamentally changes how we approach common behavioral issues. • Drive states are innate biological impulses that motivate behavior in dogs • Pack drive (following the leader) is the most valuable drive for behavioral modification • Walking drills build pack drive by teaching dogs to follow your lead • Defense drive manifests when dogs feel threatened and may result in aggression • P...
We share the keys to finding and enjoying outdoor adventures with your dogs, challenging the urban lifestyle that keeps our canine companions disconnected from their natural state. • Living on the road with dogs has shown us the immense benefits of nature exposure for dog behavior and wellbeing • Urban environments disrupt dogs' natural circadian rhythms while nature helps reset their biological clocks • Dogs have innate needs to explore, forage, and connect with natural environments t...
Nicole's Staffordshire Terrier excels at tricks but transforms into an unstoppable pulling machine the moment a leash appears, especially when heading to the dog park. • Teaching proper leash pressure is fundamental to stop pulling • "Pressure on, pressure off" method establishes clear communication • Pulling gets rewarded when it leads to exciting destinations like dog parks • Dogs pull because they learn it works to get what they want • Smart dogs can have poor manners when competing motiv...
Meg shares insights from a virtual training session with her client Molly, who is working through reactivity issues with her high-energy husky mix, Murphy, after early socialization at dog parks and daycare created frustration-based leash reactivity. • Distinguishing between fear-based and frustration-based reactivity • Why dog parks and daycares can create reactivity in some dogs • Detailed explanation of e-collar conditioning process and finding working levels • Strategies for becoming mor...
Meg and Thoma share their experiences living in vans with dogs and introduce their newly adopted Malinois puppies, exploring the ethics and controversies of dog acquisition. • Navigating van life in southern California where regulations and neighbors create challenges for mobile dog trainers • How two 6-week-old Malinois puppies were rescued after being scheduled for euthanasia at a veterinary clinic • Introduction to protection dog sports and the importance of good genetics versus training ...
Welcome back ya'll. In this episode, we dive into the transformative world of dog nutrition with Megan from Pet Power Studio. Discover how proper nourishment can revolutionize the life of your beloved pet from overcoming behavioral challenges to enhancing their overall quality of life. Together, we explore the pitfalls of traditional kibble diets and unveil the powerful, positive changes that raw and fresh feeding can trigger. Megan’s heartfelt narrative begins with her experience raising Di...
This episode highlights the challenges of managing dog training while addressing separation anxiety and the unrealistic expectations often placed on both pets and their owners. The conversation emphasizes the importance of play, clear communication, and tailored training methods to cultivate a healthy bond and successful training experience. • Discussion on separation anxiety and common behavioral issues • Importance of setting realistic training expectations • The value of engag...
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