Puppy Talk

People call me to discuss puppy training, and their entire focus is on potty training. This happens a lot. The goal of this episode is to shift new puppy owners' focus to the bigger picture of raising a puppy beyond potty training and crate training. A dog trainer can only provide tips on potty training, crate training, play biting, and other issues because we don’t live with the dog. Most of the unwanted behavior stems from the environment and from the owners' lack of leadership. The bigger picture includes: It’s impossible to potty train a puppy without all of these elements of raising a puppy. Work on everything at once, and you will spend very little time on potty training. Two things in particular help with potty training: 1) when a puppy can stay in one place, and 2) when your puppy is tired. The main thing you need to do for effective potty training is to control the puppies' space inside the house and NEVER take your eyes off of them unless they are in a crate just big enough for them to lie down. Above all, get rid of pee pads. PRO TIP: Monitor their water intake by giving them 1 ounce per pound of body weight. If your puppy weighs 10 lbs, give them 10 oz of water throughout the day. That means about 2 ounces of water five times a day. After they take a drink, they will need to go potty 2-3 times within the next hour. Support Dixie’s Fight Against Heart Disease. Donate here. Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

My dog Dixie has been diagnosed with heart disease after a routine checkup before teeth cleaning. They found a heart murmur, then, from an X-ray, found an enlarged heart and congestion in her lungs. I have created a GoFundMe account link in the show notes with more details. Start-Up Fees: $2000-$8000Monthly Expenses: For Dixie, this is about $700/monthAnnual Expenses: For Dixie, this is about $500/yearUnexpected Expenses: It can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.Resources: https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/pet-community/pet-talk/top-10-most-common-health-problems-for-dogs/ Support Dixie’s Fight Against Heart Disease. Donate here. Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

Many people underestimate the level of responsibility needed to raise a puppy. Listen to my first episode of Puppy Talk called Owning a New Puppy is a Lot of Work. The Truth: The Myths: Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

Being an effective leader and building trust in your dog requires a skill set grounded in effective communication, temperament, and focus. What to do: What not to do: Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Building structure for your puppy in one of the best things you can do to help raise a happy, healthy, and obedient puppy. In this episode of Puppy Talk I discuss the why and how of puppy structure. Why? How? Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

For dog owners: For parents of children: Related Episodes: #118 on October 7, 2025, and #97 on April 7, 2025. News story on WHNT News 19: https://youtu.be/JdtAaPczUoc?si=3CmznHd_sHV08uT9 Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Embarking on a career as a dog trainer may seem daunting. With vast knowledge to acquire and numerous pathways to explore, it can be challenging. Yet, by breaking it down into straightforward steps, the journey becomes manageable. In this episode, I will guide you through the essentials of starting out, from enhancing your expertise to establishing yourself as a reliable professional in your community. Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

The Most Important Command to Teach Your Puppy is the "stay" command. This will help you control the puppies space in the house, prevent them from jumping, and prevent them from running away. In this episode, I explain why the "stay" command is so important and how to program the command into your puppy. Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Puppy Socialization is the most important thing to teach your puppy from the ages of 8 to 16 weeks old. Everything that your puppy is exposed to during this time period will have a significant impact on preventing fear, anxiety, and stress in the future. Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

You may be wondering what is best for your dog, whether you should keep them on or off the leash. Here are some reasons that you'll want to consider keeping your best friend on-leash and living their best life. Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Many people get confused when it comes to defining dog training. This episode should clear that up for you. Here is what we will cover today: Purchase "The Business of Dog Training" on Amazon RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

You’ve witnessed your dog's transformation through our basic obedience program, where they mastered essential commands and established a solid foundation. So, what's the next step for the truly devoted dog and owner? The answer is found in the engaging and effective realm of advanced group obedience training. You can purchase my book here: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Most behavior problems in adult dogs stem from fear or anxiety that started early and went unaddressed. Here are some tips to help prevent Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in your puppy: You can purchase my book here: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Seasoned dog owners might feel like they have been through it all with one pup, and thus, they can tackle any challenge that comes their way. Don't let that fool you. Experience with one dog at a time is much different than juggling two or more. That being said, how do you know when the time is right to add a second pup to the family? Is it even a good idea to do so? You can purchase my book here: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

A study from the National Library of Medicine shows that overweight dogs are more likely to engage in unwanted behaviors. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5468744/ How to prevent dogs from getting overweight You can purchase my book here: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

In this episode, I discuss how to set your puppy up for success by making better decisions to replace unwanted behaviors. The chair exercise: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDK-H52SBgm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Target Training: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFBXwE1yOXJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Indoor Agility Training: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-BznCQshcN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Dogs and cats are not naturally inclined to fight; that idea is a myth. Both animals can tolerate each other and even get along very well. However, you need to understand how their minds work. Click here to purchase my new book, The Complete Puppy Training Manual. Discover a simple and effective method for loose-leash walking your puppy with my new book Leash Training Your Puppy. RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Here are three reasons why you never want to repeat commands to your puppy: Say the command once, and allow the puppy enough time to do it. RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Choosing the perfect dog breed for you and your family can be challenging. It is even more of a challenge when you live in an apartment or do not have a yard and must consider space. Five breeds that not only survive but thrive in an apartment lifestyle include: Click here to purchase my new book, The Complete Puppy Training Manual. Discover a simple and effective method for loose-leash walking your puppy with my new book Leash Training Your Puppy. RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

It is essential to select the right dog trainer. Various options include in-home private lessons, classes, or board-and-train. Here are eight reasons why in-home training can lead to better and lasting results. Click here to purchase my new book, The Complete Puppy Training Manual. Discover a simple and effective method for loose-leash walking your puppy with my new book Leash Training Your Puppy. RESOURCES: Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan