Dog Trainer's Podcast

A concept that many dog owners and trainers struggle with is the concept of establishing authority with your dogs. What does that mean? Do I have to be harsh on my dog? How do I establish authority with my dogs? Brent and Mariano get into what authentic authority looks like in dog training. They discuss ideas on how to establish authority with your dog.  They also discuss common issues or misconceptions that can hinder people from developing a healthy sense of authority.Thanks for listening!! Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA

Method K9 is a wildly popular and successful dog training and rehabilitation program in Post Falls Idaho. We've had a chance to interview Stephanie Vichinsky, co-owner and head trainer in a previous interview (S2. Ep. 25) during which, she couldn't say enough good things about her husband and co-owner of Method K9 Julius Vichinsky. Julius is credited and the talent behind the scenes which perfectly complements Stephanie as the talent on screen. With such high praise, naturally, we had to interview him and get his thoughts on what dog trainers should focus on when starting and scaling their dog training business. thanks for listening! JuliusVichinskyIG @METHODK9www.methodk9.comPost Falls, IDMariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

Dog trainers all across the globe typically adhere to a particular training system. This could be due to the way they were taught to train. This could be due to the type of dogs or clientele they regularly encounter, etc.  Now, here's the pro/con scenario: Pro - Different systems allow for trainers to learn new techniques from each other and evolve their own methods. Con - In the age of social media, many trainers can begin to argue why their system is superior to another. DTP has decided to wade into this topic in the form of discussing what training systems are. We take an analytical view of what a complete training system consists of and where to begin learning a new one. The hope is that with a better understanding of what a system is, we can all take a good look at the systems we employ regularly and improve our training! Thanks for listening!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

You've heard the saying, "practice what you preach". But it's also important not to preach until you've practiced! In this episode Mariano and Brent discuss the importance of mastering your own material before you train other people's dogs. They go over the ethical expectations of a professional to be knowledgeable. They discuss How to go about mastering a part of the craft before seeking something new. And much more!! Thanks for listening!!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

Client / Owner episode:Brent and Mariano give the cliff notes on board and train programs. We know that there are many dog owners out there who aren't sure what these programs are, what they should be able to reasonably expect, and what red flags to learn to look for. Let us dissect this for you guys so that you can understand these programs from the perspective of two dog trainers! Thanks for listening!!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

Season 3 is kicking off with our first Client/Owner-centric episode ever!!It's funny to think there are so many ways to go about something as simple as walking down the street with your dog. We often get questions like, "Should I ask them to heel, or let them walk freely?", "should they be allowed to sniff or expected to focus?", etc. In this episode, Mariano and Brent discuss the methods of leash walking with your dog and they go over the pros and cons of each of the major methods. Thanks for listening!!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

In this, our final episode of season 2, Brent and Mariano reflect on what a journey this season has been. They go over the ups and downs of season 2. What they would like to continue to build on and improve for season 3, and what our listeners can expect moving forward! Thanks for listening!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

Stephanie Vichinsky is the owner and head trainer of Method K9 in Post Falls Idaho. She has built a highly successful training program, online courses, and a huge presence on social media. Mariano, Brent, and Stephanie dive into what it takes to balance all of this. They discuss the value of connecting with clients. As well as what it takes to run a family business. Thank you for listening! Stephanie VichinskyIG @DAVIDTHEDOGTRAINERwww.methodk9.comPost Falls, IDMariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

David Tirpak, AKA David The Dog Trainer is a dog trainer, business owner, and podcaster not unlike Mariano and Brent.  He is the host of the David The Dog Trainer Podcast and owns Miracle K9 Training in Cleveland OH. In this interview, the three of them dive into what modern dog training culture looks like. They discuss what effects social media might be having on the future of dog training. They offer their thoughts on some of the FF tool ban movements. This and so much more!! Thanks for listening!!David TirpakIG @DAVIDTHEDOGTRAINERwww.miraclek9training.comCleveland, OHMariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA

Why do you feel burnt out when you work too much? How much work even is too much work? How do you find a work-life balance that works for you? What are some of the work-life balances that work for other dog trainer friends of ours? What are the common pitfalls that lead to work-life imbalance? Mariano and Brent discuss these questions and more in their first episode in some time that involves just the two of them! Be sure to check this out and let us know what you think of it. Thanks for listening!!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA

DISCLAIMER: This episode and its contents are not formal legal advice. Nothing said here can form an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice you should contact a local professional.What measures should you take in order to protect yourself and your staff? Do you have an up-to-date training contract? Have you taken the time to form an LLC? If not, is it because the thought of dealing with contracts and lawyers is daunting or stressful? We completely understand how scary these things can seem. That's why we've enlisted the help of our lawyer friend, Paul Slattery to help us explain the importance of having a training contract, as well as some major items you should consider adding to your own contract. We discuss best practices and the legal concept of reasonable expectations of a professional. We discuss the importance of seeking legal advice in your area as laws vary from place to place. All of this and so much more! Thank you for listening!!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA

So much has changed for Tom since last we spoke. He is a father and a husband now. His brand, Tom Davis International has been growing at a tremendous pace. He has entered into some new business partnerships with Kru Coffee, Impact Dog Crates, and all kind of other opportunities that are first-time ventures for a dog trainer. He's been having an immense growth period. He has settled into a calm, vigilant, and grateful perspective toward life. To quote a band we all love, "I guess this is growing up" - Blink 182. In this episode, we dive into all of the new things going on in the life of our friend, Tom Davis. Thanks for listening!!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @ @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CATom DavisIG @ TOMDAVISwww.upstatecanine.comNo Bad Dogs PodcastClifton Park, NY

Nino Drowaert of STSK9 is a very high-level dog trainer from Belgium. He has worked with dogs for local police departments. He has clients in the competition and working dog fields. He has very in-depth online training programs, and so much more! This episode discusses Nino's introduction to the dog training world. We learn about Nino's impressive, detailed understanding of what it takes to make a champion. We discuss the current state of affairs regarding e-collar ban proposals, and much more! Thanks for listening!Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CANino DrowaertIG @STSK9www.stsk9.comSTSK9 online university!Brussels, Belgium

Dr. Temple Grandin is a professor at Colorado State University. She is a published author, a highly respected animal behaviorist, and an all-around highly respected and influential voice in the humane treatment of animals. DTP co-hosts, Brent and Mariano were lucky enough to speak with her. The topic of why the use of tools in dog training came up. Her latest book "Visual Thinking" was discussed briefly as well. More than anything, though, you can really feel Dr. Grandin's passion and level of insight into understanding how animals view the world as well as themselves. This indeed was one unique and insightful conversation. We are confident that you will find it as beneficial as we did! Thank you for listening!  Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CADr. Temple Grandidwww.templegrandin.com

E-collars are very controversial tools. Many think that they should be banned and outlawed. Many others work with them to transform the lives of dogs and their relationships with their families. Much of this divide seems to be centered around people's experience levels with these tools. As with most things in life,  knowledge, and experience are required in order to be able to make informed decisions on these tools. Dogtra has been doing more to help expand the availability of accurate information than most. They sent over Lorraine and Pete to chat with us. In this episode, we discuss the ways in which they've been doing that. We discuss what Dogtra is doing to help push against proposed e-collar sales bans in New York and San Fransisco. As well as answering FAQs and dispelling some myths surrounding the tools. Thanks for listening!And be sure to check out our coupon code for Dogtra's website! Use code DTPOD for %10 off an order of any training system priced at $200 or more. Thanks for taking care of our listeners, Dogtra! Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CADogtraIG @dogtraofficialwww.dogtra.comGarden Grove, CA 

You guys asked and we have answered! Behavioral Euthanasia is such a significant and important topic. Last episode we had an insightful conversation with Michael Ellis and Denise Fenzi. But it seemed that we needed to ensure this topic got the air time it deserved. This is why we've decided to have another conversation regarding behavioral euthanasia. This time, we've enlisted the help of a few of our good friends! We were able to enlist the help of Vinnie Somma from Say It Once, John Gotta of Gotta Train, and Samantha Johnson of Packlife_LA. We hope you enjoy it! Thanks for listening! Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA Vinnie SommaIG @sayitoncedogtrainingwww.sayitoncedogtraining.comJohn GottaIG @gottatrainwww.gottatrain.comSamantha JohnsonIG @packlife_lawww.packlifela.com

The hard reality is that dogs are sometimes euthanized for behavioral reasons. It has been a very hot topic in the dog training and dog behavioral worlds for decades. Naturally, this means that it's a topic that isn't openly discussed very often. Possibly because of how difficult it can be to navigate while allowing for cooler heads to prevail. Possibly because it's a tough pill to swallow for someone who may come to the realization that they can't save every dog. Possibly because the topics of genetics and training methods can already be hot topics in themselves without euthanasia ever needing to factor into the conversation.Brent and Mariano have decided to take this topic on. To ensure that they tackle this properly, they've asked for support from two very well-accomplished and well-respected dog trainers. They are Michael Ellis and Denise Fenzi. We are grateful to each of them for spending the time to help us offer listeners a comprehensive discussion regarding behavioral euthanasia. Thank you for listening!!  Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

Why do we train our dogs?What exactly is it that we're looking to accomplish?Why have we decided to strive for the goals that we strive for?In this episode, Mariano and Brent discuss why we do what we do. It sounds like a very simple question. However, it's an important question to ask yourself. This came as a tip from Jay Jack, who talks about the importance of staying on task. However, in order to stay on task, we need to know what the task is.The goal of this episode is to explain the "why" behind the "what". Brent and Mariano discuss a few personal reasons that they have both decided to become dog trainers. Why they train and teach in the ways that they do. And why it's important for all trainers to ask themselves why they do things in the way that they do them. It's a great opportunity to remind ourselves of what our real goals are. This helps us avoid the common pitfalls and distractions that exist in this field. We hope you enjoy this episode. We hope you learn a lot. Thanks for listening!! Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

Hey guys!The best part of Brent and Mariano being able to do the show together is that they get to balance each other out! That being said, as much as they love working together, they do disagree on things! In this episode, they hash out a disagreement on the show so that you, the best listeners in the world, can help weigh in. The disagreement is based around whether DTP should be open to interview some of social media's more popular trainers. Thank you for listening!! Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA 

Hey guys, We're back!!  After a long hiatus, Brent and Mariano just couldn't stay away from you guys any longer! Now they're back at it in a big way! In this episode, the guys discuss the ins and outs of how, when, and why to create clarity with your dog. They've broken this down into 3 major components to help you guys with your dogs and your clients. These components are broken down as: 1. Communication (timing) 2. Conditioning (building a program) 3. Create calmness The guys go into detail with these points. They offer tips on how they have clients, who are all different types of learners, and how to help teach each of them so that we can optimize their learning. We know you're going to love this episode! Thank you so much for listening!!    Mariano AlvarezIG @UNTAMEDDOGCOwww.untameddogco.comPhoenix, AZBrent LaBradaIG @CANISBEHAVIORwww.canisdogtraining.comLos Angeles, CA