Listen Dog Training: The Walk & Talk

How I Want You to Feel About Your Dog (And Why That Changes Everything)

What if dog training didn’t leave you feeling anxious, defeated, or like you’re constantly getting it wrong?
In this episode, I’m sharing something that sits at the very heart of my work as a dog trainer - not techniques, not quick fixes, but the emotional experience I want you to have with your dog.
Because how you feel about your dog directly shapes how you train, how your dog learns, and whether progress actually sticks.
We explore why pressure, perfectionism, and constant worry don’t create better behaviour… and what does. I’ll break down the science of learning, nervous system regulation, and engagement, and show you how shifting your mindset can transform both your training results and your relationship with your dog.
This episode is for you if you love your dog deeply, but sometimes feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure whether you’re doing enough, and you just want training to feel lighter, more joyful, and more sustainable.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why behaviour change starts with emotion - for both dogs and owners
What joy, confidence, and connection actually do to a dog’s brain and learning ability
The difference between compliance and true engagement (and why it matters)
How stress and pressure quietly sabotage training progress
Why nervous system regulation is a missing piece in most training plans
How to shift from judgement to curiosity when your dog struggles and what you’ll gain
What realistic progress really looks like (and how to recognise it)
How your mindset and self-talk directly influence your dog’s behaviour
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover—it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

Your Dog’s Hardest Moments: When to Step Back and When to Step In

Reactivity training isn’t just about stopping barking or lunging - it’s about understanding how your dog’s brain learns, and knowing exactly when to give them space to make a choice… and when to step in and support them.
In this episode we break down one of the most misunderstood parts of reactive dog training: the balance between choice-based disengagement and preventative management. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should let your dog ‘look then look away’ or whether you should interrupt, block, or move them away, this episode will finally give you clear answers, rooted in real behavioural science.
You’ll walk away understanding the brain pathways, the emotional processes, and the learning outcomes behind each approach, and you’ll know exactly how to choose the right strategy for your dog in your moment.
Whether your dog is early in their training journey or already developing self-regulation skills, this episode will help you train with confidence, nuance, compassion and success.
Check out my full Reactivity Rehabilitation Programme here. 👈
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why a dog’s ability to ‘choose calm’ depends on specific neurological pathways
How the prefrontal cortex and amygdala influence reactive behaviours
The benefits of voluntary disengagement (and when it becomes counterproductive)
How management prevents rehearsal… and why rehearsal matters so much
How to assess your dog’s arousal level in real time so you always choose the right strategy
When to let your dog look, observe, and process… and when stepping in is the kindest option
Why both strategies are essential - and how to blend them seamlessly on the same walk
How to build a long-term, resilient, regulated dog who can genuinely cope in the real world
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @‌listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover - it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

The Twixtmas Window: Use This Week to Change Your Dog’s Year

I’ve always believed the week between Christmas and New Year has a magic all of its own - and it’s the perfect pocket of the year to imagine what life could look like… especially life with your dog!
So this week, we’re diving into how to design a year of success with your dog in 2026. Whether you’re dreaming bigger, wanting more consistency, or feeling ready to create a calmer, happier home for both you and your dog, this episode will give you the clarity, mindset shifts, and practical strategies you need.
You’ll discover how to reflect intentionally, choose the right goals, and build a training plan that fits your real life, all while reconnecting with the joy and magic of having a dog by your side.
👉 Check out my Digital Dog Training Planner here if you need support setting goals, and designing a training plan that works.
👉 If you’re not sure where to start, my Design Your Own Dog Training Pack will walk you step-by-step through creating a game plan to transform problem behaviours.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why this magical ‘in-between’ week is the perfect time for big-picture dreaming
How to use the Dog Owner’s Wheel of Life to understand where your focus should be
The power of choosing goals that are both realistic and hopeful
What makes a training plan truly effective (and why most fail)
How to pick exercises tailored to your dog and lifestyle
The mindset shifts that make consistency effortless
Ways to bring more joy, love, and connection into life with your dog
How to set yourself up for a successful and fulfilling 2026
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out all my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover - it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

How to Set Up a Multi-Dog Household for Success

Multi-dog households can be magical… or they can be chaotic, stressful, and full of tension. In this episode, I’m taking you on a deep dive into everything you need to know to make life with multiple dogs work beautifully. We’ll cover how to set up your home for harmony, choose the right dog to join your family, manage different personalities and energy levels, and prevent common multi-dog problems before they escalate.
Whether you’re thinking of adding a second dog, or you’re already juggling two (or more!) canine companions, this episode is packed with science-backed strategies, practical tips, and insights that actually work.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to decide if a multi-dog household is the right choice for you and your current dog
What to consider when choosing a second (or third) dog, including energy, play style, and temperament
How to introduce a new dog gradually to prevent stress, tension, or conflict
The core training foundations each dog needs individually and as a group for a harmonious home
How to meet different dogs’ needs without burning outCommon multi-dog problems - like resource guarding, bullying, over-arousal, and covert stress - and how to prevent them
Long-term strategies to maintain balance, peace, and wellbeing in a multi-dog household
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @‌listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover—it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

Your Christmas Dog Training Plan: Two Weeks to a Calmer Home

Christmas is magical… but let's be honest, it can also be absolute sensory chaos for our dogs. From the doorbell ringing every six minutes to children running around high on festive excitement to endless food temptations everywhere - it’s no wonder so many dogs struggle at this time of year.
But the good news? With just two weeks to go, you can completely change the way your dog copes, behaves, and feels during the festive season. In this episode, I’m walking you through the brain science behind Christmas overwhelm, the real reasons dogs ‘misbehave,’ and the simple but powerful training strategies that will help you create the calmest, easiest Christmas you’ve ever had with your dog.
This is the episode you’ll want to save, share, and come back to every festive season; it’s packed with practical tools, nervous system insight, and lifestyle tweaks that make a HUGE difference in a short space of time.
Download your FREE Christmas Cheat Sheet HERE.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why Christmas is a perfect storm for canine dysregulation (and what’s really happening in your dog’s brain)
Simple two-week nervous system regulation strategies to implement now
How to create a ‘Christmas Sanctuary Space’ that prevents overwhelm before it starts
The one type of walk that sets your dog up for calmness - and the one that secretly sabotages it
How pattern games can instantly reduce arousal and build predictable calm
What to do when your dog barks at visitors (and why shouting never works)
A visitor arrival routine that stops jumping, barking, and chaos
How to prevent food stealing without micromanaging your dog all day
Bedtime routines that help anxious or unsettled dogs relax during the festive season
A real-life walkthrough of what a calm, regulated Christmas Day with your dog can look like
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work?
Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover — it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

How Dogs Learn in Pictures: The Hidden Key to Reliable Behaviour

Why does your dog listen perfectly at home… but suddenly forget everything the moment you step outside? Why does reactivity dissolve in one environment and explode in another? And why does training sometimes feel like you’re starting from scratch every time you change location?
In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the real reason behind inconsistent behaviour: your dog’s incredible ability to contextualise. You’ll learn how dogs form multi-sensory ‘pictures' when learning, why their brains don’t automatically generalise skills, and how emotional state and environment shape every behaviour they can (or can’t) access.
This isn’t just fascinating neuroscience… it’s transformational for real-life training. Once you understand how your dog’s brain maps the world, everything becomes easier: recall, loose-lead walking, reactivity, engagement, calmness, settling, focus… all of it!
Whether you’re raising an adolescent whirlwind, supporting a reactive dog, or simply wanting a more connected partnership, this episode will completely change how you understand & train your dog.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How your dog’s brain uses environmental and emotional cues to encode behaviour
Why dogs don’t generalise skills automatically - and how to teach them to
The real neuroscience behind inconsistency and why it’s not disobedience
What state-dependent learning is (and how it shapes your dog’s reliability)
How to build skills that actually transfer from home to the real world
Practical, real-life examples of contextual training in action
How understanding context can transform reactivity, engagement and focus
The step-by-step mindset shift that makes training feel calmer, clearer, and easier
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @‌listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover. It helps the podcast grow and supports more people to train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

Why Breed Matters… & Why It Doesn’t: The Art of Adaptive Dog Training

Have you ever wondered why some training methods seem to work wonders for one dog but fall completely flat for another? Or why your terrier’s unstoppable energy feels nothing like your friend’s calm, biddable lab?
In this episode of The Walk & Talk, we’ll unpack the fascinating world of adaptive training: a science-led, deeply intuitive approach that tailors training to each dog’s breed tendencies, natural drives, and unique personality. You’ll learn how genetics, instinct, and emotional regulation all shape your dog’s learning process, and how understanding these layers can transform the way you train, connect, and communicate.
Whether you live with a high-octane herding breed, a determined terrier, or a laid-back retriever, this episode will help you see your dog in a completely new light… not as a ‘problem to fix,’ but as an individual to understand and celebrate.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why one-size-fits-all training often fails, and how adaptive training solves that
How breed genetics shape drive, arousal, and motivation in training
The neuroscience behind reinforcement and why dogs find different things rewarding
How to work with your dog’s natural instincts instead of against them
The difference between adapting to breed type and adapting to individual temperament
Practical ways to tailor games, reinforcement, and expectations to your dog’s unique wiring
How understanding your dog’s nervous system can turn frustration into calm cooperation
The mindset shift that turns training from control-based to connection-based
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work?
Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
You can use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover - it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

Your Calm Dog Evening Routine: The 5 Steps That Actually Work

Does your dog seem to get a sudden burst of energy just as you’re winding down for the evening? Maybe you’re craving a quiet, cosy night in… but your dog’s zooming, barking, or pacing around like it’s party time?!
In this episode, we’re unpacking the science and strategy behind creating calm, helping you understand what your dog truly needs throughout the day so that they can genuinely switch off when you do. You’ll discover how small changes in your routine, training, and environment can completely transform your evenings into peaceful, connected downtime together.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
🐶 What a fulfilling day actually looks like for your dog, and why balance matters more than ‘more exercise.’🧠 The neuroscience of calm; how your dog’s brain learns to self-regulate and rest.🎯 How to structure your dog’s day to set them up for evening success.🏠 How your home environment and evening energy impact your dog’s behaviour.🎓 What to train (and when) to promote relaxation and emotional regulation.💬 Why your own stress levels and routine play a bigger role than you might think.
 
💻 Want to dive deeper into transforming your dog’s behaviour with science-backed strategies that actually work? Check out my digital training products, freebies and online courses at www.listendogtraining.com
🎟️ Use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover; it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

The Real Fix for Lead Pulling: How to Turn Stressful Walks into Calm, Connected Adventures

Does your dog drag you down the street like you’re in a sled race you didn’t sign up for? You’re not alone… lead pulling is one of the most common struggles dog owners face, and it’s not about dominance, stubbornness, or your dog trying to be the boss. It’s simply that dogs move faster than we do - and walking nicely beside a human just doesn’t come naturally.
In this episode, I’m breaking down how to truly transform your on-lead walks, with science, strategy, and empathy. You’ll discover how to build calm, connection, and cooperation step by step, so your walks become the joyful experience they’re meant to be.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to set your dog up for success before you even leave the house, from desensitising the lead and harness to creating calm, focused exits.
The three key concepts behind beautiful lead walking: proximity, focus, and impulse control, and how to grow them through fun, practical games.
Why it’s essential to have a clear system that tells your dog when it’s time to focus vs. when they’re free to explore (and how to set this up with your gear)
Quick, powerful ‘get back on track’ exercises for when your dog’s brain goes walkabout mid-walk
The truth about why dogs pull, and how understanding their natural movement and motivation changes everything
Mindset shifts that make lead training less stressful for you, too.
Why some dogs need a bigger lifestyle adjustment, and how exercise, enrichment, and off-lead freedom can help solve the root cause of pulling.
✨ Want to take this even further?
Discover how to build your dog’s focus, connection, and responsiveness with my 21-Day Engagement Training, the science-backed program designed to transform your relationship with your dog from distracted to devoted.
👉 Click here to explore the 21-Day Engagement Training and use code PODCAST10 for 10% off!
📱 Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 If you found this episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review 🌟 or shared it with a fellow dog lover — it helps the podcast grow and helps more people train with confidence, clarity, and joy!

The Fascinating Science of How Your Dog Becomes Who They Are

In this episode, we dive into one of the most empowering truths in dog training: your dog’s personality isn’t set in stone - it’s plastic. Every moment, every experience, every choice you make together is literally shaping who your dog becomes.
You’ll discover how genetics, environment, and training all interact to form your dog’s unique temperament, and how neuroplasticity - the brain’s incredible ability to adapt and rewire - means change is always possible.
If you’ve ever felt stuck with your dog’s behaviour, this episode will reignite your hope and show you exactly how to help your dog evolve, one small, consistent step at a time.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The science of neuroplasticity and what it means for your dog’s behaviour
The difference between temperament and personality, and why that distinction matters
How environment, reinforcement, and your energy continually shape who your dog becomes
Practical ways to help your dog grow calmer, braver, and more adaptable
Why ‘slow is fast’ when it comes to real, lasting behaviour change
How your mindset directly influences your dog’s progress
💻 Want tailored support to help your dog thrive?
Find science-backed online training courses, guides, and resources at www.listendogtraining.com
Use code PODCAST10 for 10% off all my digital dog training packages, guides & courses!
📱 Let’s connect!
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok → @listendogtraining
🎧 Love the podcast? Share this episode with a friend who thinks their dog is ‘just stuck that way’... and let’s bust that myth together!