FernDog Podcast: Dog Training & Behavior Tips and Advice

We've learned quite a lot about dogs over the last 5-10 years and we now know how to take care of them better, make that happier and keep them with us for longer. To help us keep up with all this new info on health and wellness I've invited veterinarian Mark Nunez back to the show to share some of the current things going on right now so that we can take the very best are of our dogs.

I'm joined by my first dog training mentor and long time friend, Jeff Coltenback, and we discuss how far dog training as come in the last couple of decades, as well as where we think it's going to go in the future. We'll talk about how the industry has changed and what we like and don't like about how we live our lives with dogs. Jeff and I also go over what we believe is important for the future as dogs are more integrated into our lives.

Teaching your dog some basic skills will help him learn what we want, behave better and settle down more. In this episode I'll go over what I consider the five most important things to teach our dog, as well as the things you need to do in order to help your dog learn them faster and become more compliant with them.

Believe it or not there are many things in your home that are not only tempting for your dog to chew but that can also be dangerous to him. It's critical that you set your dog up to succeed and take the time to teach him exactly what is okay for him to sink his teeth on and what is off limits. In this episode we'll go over what items to be careful of in your home, what's potentially harmful to your dog and the best ways to minimize problems and create a safe environment for your dog to live in.

Training your dog can be frustrating when you're not seeing the results you want. Often the problem lies with the foundation of what and how you're working with your dog. In this episode I'll go over the 9 most important things to remember about dog training. If you understand these concepts you can really help your dog reach his full potential.

Most dogs get worked up when someone knocks on the front door. The reasons that they do it vary a bit but the treatment plan is very similar no matte what the cause. In this episode we'll explore this common behavior problem and I'll give you specific ways you can improve your situation, no matter what level of crazy your dog is when people come to your front door.

Many people are often confused about rewarding their dog. Some feel they're doing it too much, while others don't want to use rewards at all. In this episode, I'll give you my take on if you need to use rewards, how to do properly, when to reward you dog and for how long you need to keep doing it.

This year, 2020, has been a challenging one as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. It's caused us to alter our lifestyles, change the way we live and as dramatically affected our dogs, as well. In this episode we'll discuss what this crisis has done to our dogs and the things you can do to help them adjust and adapt.

DOGBIZ SERIES – This episode is for all my dog trainer friends. We’ll discuss 7 keys to having a successful, long term business as a dog trainer. I’ll share with you some of the things that I’ve done to grow my business over the last ten years to give you some new things to try for yourself to have more success. In this episode 0:50 Why I’m doing dog business episodes 2:28 How I started out 5:08 Get smart 8:20 Learning the business side of things 12:20 The dangers of being a “dog person” 14:44 Casting judgement 20:04 Developing the right relationships 22:38 We’re all on the same team Links Free guide: 5 Quick & Simple Ways To Promote Your Dog Training Business

Many people are frustrated and angry at their dogs because they “just don’t listen.” This common problem is usually less about the dog and more about the situation we put them in. In this episode, I’ll show you your dog’s perspective and explain exactly why your dog isn’t as compliant as you like and then show you the ways you can change things and get your dog to take more direction on a regular basis. In this episode 2:11 Expecting the wrong thing 4:15 Practice matters 6:42 Reassessing your expectations 9:35 Is energy killing you 12:00 Your outer environment 14:50 Assessing and improving your relationship

So many people are frustrated with their dog’s behavior when the dog is just being himself. It’s not that they want to misbehave, it’s that they are just acting according to their personality characteristics. In this episode, we’ll explore how you can better understand where your dog is coming from so you can finally see your dog for who he really is and create a better world for the both of you. In this episode 1:59 My upcoming speaking engagements 4:58 The role of breed 7:00 Personality first 10:03 Different dogs, different experience 13:24 Using training 15:50 Creating a happy balance Links World Dog Expo

Considering they are responsible for your dogs health and wellbeing, choosing the right veterinarian is a pretty important task. Just like everything else there are good vets and bad ones. This episode will help you determine how to find the absolute best veterinarian for you and your dog so that you can feel confident that you’re getting great care that’s the right fit for you. In this episode 2:10 all vets are not equal 5:48 the most important thing to consider 10:49 the right mindset for a vet 14:59 don’t bargain shop 17:36 I finally found my vet 19:44 ask questions 22:31 what veterinarians DON’T know

This may shock a lot of people out there but I believe that having a fenced in yard increased the chances of behavior issues and I actually don’t like them for dogs if used improperly. I know that’s hard to understand, considering almost every other dog “authority” says that a fenced in yard is a plus for having a dog. Take a listen to my reasons and you just might find yourself rethinking that fenced in yard of yours. In this episode 1:32 Pointing the figure at rescues 4:42 Exercise? . . . no 6:24 Dogs will be dogs – always 7:58 The repetitions will hurt you 10:30 My encounter with an “undomesticated” dog 12:00 The one thing you NEED to do but don’t if you have a fenced in yard 13:51 Call I got that proves it all 16:44 My plea for rescues

This past year I stumbled upon an incredibly effect way to make your dog listen to you more, as well as treat some serious behavioral issues. This is something that I don’t see anyone else doing or talking about but after experimenting with it on a number of dogs I’m a believer. What’s this secret weapon to helping your dog? . . . Being silly. Sounds stupid but listen in to how I’m using it and see the results I’ve gotten with both my dog and a few of my clients.