USA Dog Behavior Podcast

91 Episodes

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Why does my dog bark at the doorbell?

2026-10-0617:38

Why does your dog start barking before you've even opened the front door? In this episode, Scott Sheaffer explains how the doorbell can become a learned signal for an encounter that feels threatening. He distinguishes ordinary alert or excited barking from fear-driven territorial aggression and explains why, in that pattern, the dog is seeking personal safety rather than protecting owners or property. Scott also explores how repeated barking at passersby through a window can strengthen the be...

Why Does My Dog Pull on the Leash?

2026-09-2419:29

Why does your dog pull on the leash? The answer may be a simple training gap, a habit that has repeatedly worked, or an emotional response to something in the environment. Pulling toward dogs and people can reflect excitement or greeting frustration, but it can also be driven by fear, social insecurity, or aggression. In this episode, Scott Sheaffer explains how to distinguish general leash pulling from trigger-driven reactivity, why dogs stop responding when they go over threshold, and how t...

8 Things Your Dog Wishes You Knew Today

2026-09-0819:44

What would your dog tell you if they could explain how life with you feels? In this episode, Scott Sheaffer explores eight truths hidden inside everyday dog behavior, including why your tone may matter more than your words, how your emotional state can affect your dog, why simply being near you is meaningful, and how dogs work hard to understand a very human world. You’ll hear realistic examples of these behaviors at home, learn why small shared moments matter, and consider how the relationsh...

5 Things Dog Trainers Do That Drive Me Crazy, Part 2 of 2

2026-08-2620:29

Last episode, I talked about five things dog owners do that drive me crazy. This time, it's only fair that I turn the spotlight on a segment of my own profession. I discuss five practices in dog training that concern me, including promises that complex behavior can be “fixed” in a short board-and-train program, routine use of shock and prong collars, and trainers taking on serious aggression cases without the appropriate expertise. I also discuss why trying to be every kind of dog professiona...

5 Things Dog Owners Do That Drive Me Crazy, Part 1 of 2

2026-08-1224:34

Dog owners usually mean well, but some common habits can confuse dogs, increase stress, and make behavior problems worse. In Part 1 of this two-part series, certified canine behavior consultant and aggression specialist Scott Sheaffer tackles five practices that drive him crazy: nonstop commands, outdated alpha thinking, shock and prong collars, blindly following a trainer's instructions, and taking serious behavior advice from people who aren't qualified to give it. Scott explains what dogs ...

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