Malinois, Bubbles, and the Art of Balanced Training ft. Emma of Raven K9 Dog Training
Every dog trainer's journey begins somewhere, and for Emma from Raven K9 Dog Training, that foundation was built through pack walking. In this conversation, Emma shares how she transitioned from a customer service manager in Australia to a successful dog trainer in the UK, revealing the unexpected lessons that shaped her training philosophy.What makes Emma's approach so refreshing is her balanced perspective that honors dogs as individuals while maintaining clear expectations. She details how adopting Raven, a Dutch Shepherd with a serious history of dog reactivity, led her to explore e-collar training and develop a nuanced understanding of canine behavior. Rather than adhering to a single methodology, Emma draws from both pet and sport dog experiences to create a comprehensive training toolkit.One of the most powerful insights Emma offers is her rejection of the "prison phase" common in many training programs. Instead of keeping dogs in a perpetual training state, she advocates for allowing them time to decompress, enjoy walks, and learn to make appropriate decisions around other dogs. This approach has proven particularly effective with reactive dogs who need to learn real-world skills beyond obedience commands.Emma's method for building motivation is equally thoughtful—starting with minimal expectations and rewarding dogs simply for proximity before gradually shaping into sustained engagement. She explains how she pairs tools like e-collars and prong collars with positive experiences rather than jumping straight to correction, creating dogs that understand boundaries while maintaining enthusiasm for training.Whether you're struggling with a reactive dog, interested in balanced training methods, or simply curious about different approaches to working with dogs, Emma's journey offers valuable lessons about staying open, having multiple mentors, and remaining humble in your training practice. Follow her on Instagram at Raven K9 Dog Training or check out her podcast "Girls Just Want to Train Dogs" to learn more about her balanced, thoughtful approach to dog training.Follow Emma on instagram or visit her website.
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1:09:38
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1:09:38
Behind the Curtain: Building a Dog Training Business
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 business running. Enter Tori, who transformed chaos into systems that allowed The Everyday Trainer to flourish.We candidly discuss the unsustainable pace that leads many talented dog trainers to burnout—the 24/7 demands, the constant client communications, the struggle to maintain quality while handling everything alone. Through our journey of building systems, facing burnout, and eventually creating Trainers Collective, we reveal the hidden challenges most dog trainers never talk about.This episode offers rare insight into what actually makes a dog training business sustainable. We explore how automation saves sanity, why responding quickly to leads matters more than you think, and how aligning your business with personal values creates longevity. For dog trainers wondering why they're working constantly but not seeing growth, this conversation illuminates the path forward.Whether you're just starting your dog training business or struggling to scale an existing one, our hard-earned lessons will help you build something that serves both your clients and your wellbeing. The most successful dog trainers aren't necessarily the most skilled—they're the ones who recognize when to seek help and how to build systems that allow their talent to shine.Visit us at https://www.trainerscollective.com/
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56:54
The Art of Trialing: Inside Celine's PSA Level 1 Success
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, arguing that "the quicker you can get out of escape, the better" and explaining why he deliberately trains without electronic tools to build reliability when it matters most. This perspective opens up a broader discussion about creating working dogs who can function beautifully both on and off the competition field.Perhaps most valuable is the group's candid reflections on balancing intensity with livability. As Celine notes about her competition Malinois: "I thought she was going to be more crazy because everyone was telling me Mals are these crazy prey monsters." Their insights into managing multiple high-drive dogs in a household setting provide practical wisdom for anyone juggling the demands of serious training with everyday life.Whether you're actively competing in dog sports or simply fascinated by the psychology behind training working dogs, this episode delivers actionable insights, hard-earned wisdom, and a refreshing honesty about the challenges and rewards of pushing the boundaries of what's possible with our canine partners. Plus, don't miss details about an upcoming trainer seminar that promises to transform how you approach dog training as both an art and a business.To sign up for the October seminar, visit the website here.
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1:55:31
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1:55:31
Beyond Commands: Teaching Dogs to Think for Themselves
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 training sessions but makes poor choices when "off duty" hasn't undergone genuine behavioral change.True behavior modification focuses on changing how dogs feel and respond across different scenarios and drive states. While most training operates in prey drive (using food or toy rewards), real-world success requires dogs to function well in pack drive—making good decisions without visible rewards present. This is where many impressive-looking training programs fall short.The social aspect of dog training proves crucial yet often overlooked. When dogs learn appropriate communication with other dogs—how to share resources, yield space, and disengage from potential conflict—they develop the ability to navigate their world successfully without constant management. This social education forms the foundation of lasting behavioral change.For those struggling with reactive or resource-guarding dogs, understand that management strategies like keeping dogs on place are sometimes necessary but don't constitute true behavior change. Real modification means teaching dogs how to handle challenging situations appropriately, with the owner stepping in only when necessary as the "referee" who enforces fair play.Whether you're a dog owner seeking better results or a trainer looking to deepen your approach, join us for our Training for Trainers seminar on October 17-19th. Learn how to create dogs that don't just obey—but truly understand how to exist harmoniously in our complex world. Visit our website and click "For Trainers" to register while early bird pricing lasts through September 15th.
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Your dog isn't broken, it just needs the right lifestyle.
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 might lie in understanding what these dogs were bred for. We dive deep into what defines a working dog, from detection K9s and protection sport competitors to high-energy pets with working genetics that leak out as behavioral issues when not properly channeled.The conversation takes a candid turn as we discuss the lifestyle adjustments necessary for working dog owners – the crate rotations, the management strategies, and the acceptance that not every dog can be a "coffee shop dog." We explore how e-collars provide freedom rather than restriction for many high-drive dogs, and why the expectations we place on our dogs often cause more frustration than the dogs themselves.Whether you're considering a working breed, struggling with a high-drive dog, or simply curious about a different approach to dog ownership, this episode offers practical wisdom on matching dogs to lifestyles, finding appropriate outlets for natural drives, and the freedom that comes from accepting your dog for exactly who they are – not who you wish they would be.Listen in as we share personal stories of success, failure, and the beautiful reality of building our lives around these remarkable animals who weren't bred to fit into our world, but rather, to work alongside us in it.theeverydaytrainer.com
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.
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