By the end of January, most New Year’s resolutions are already hanging by a thread - and dog training goals are no exception. If you started this year with good intentions for your dog, but you’re already feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure where to focus… this episode is for you.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to set dog training goals that actually stick: goals that respect how behaviour change really works, fit into real life, and don’t rely on constant motivation or perfection. We’ll explore why setbacks are not a sign of failure, how to decide what training to prioritise first, and how small, consistent changes can completely transform your life with your dog over time.

If you’re ready to stop starting over and start building momentum with your dog, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and move forward with clarity and confidence.

• How to set SMART dog training goals that are realistic, measurable, and genuinely life-changing
• Why behaviour change is non-linear, and how to stop interpreting normal setbacks as failure
• How to decide what to work on first so you’re not trying to fix everything at once
• The difference between skills problems and state problems - and why that matters
• How to build training habits that fit into your real life, not an idealised version of it
• Why consistency beats intensity, and how to make progress without burnout
• How engagement and foundations can make everything else in training easier

🔗 👉 21 Day Engagement Training: a structured, science-led programme designed to help you build connection, focus, and emotional safety as a daily habit, so training becomes easier and more effective over time.

📱 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.

Separation anxiety and alone-time struggles are some of the most distressing challenges dog owners face, and yet the advice we’re often given can feel rushed, outdated, or even harmful.

In this episode of The Walk & Talk, we take a deep, science-led look at separation training for dogs, moving beyond quick fixes and ‘just leave them’ advice to explore what dogs actually need in order to feel safe when they’re alone.

Drawing on attachment theory, nervous system science, and over a decade of hands-on behaviour work, I unpack why independence doesn’t come from forced separation, but from secure attachment, emotional regulation, and thoughtful, gradual, intentional training.

Whether you’re raising a puppy, supporting a dog who panics when left alone, or navigating hyper-attachment to one specific person, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the behaviour, and how to train in a way that builds confidence rather than survival.

If you’ve ever worried that you’re ‘doing it wrong,’ or been told you’re just spoiling your dog too much, this episode is for you.

• Why forcing dogs to ‘get used to’ being alone often backfires - and what it teaches the nervous system instead
• How attachment science (John Bowlby & Mary Ainsworth) helps us understand separation anxiety and independence in dogs
• Why secure attachment is the foundation of confident independence, not the enemy of it
• The difference between dogs who fear being alone and dogs who are hyper-attached to their owner - and why this matters for training
• How to introduce separation in ways your dog chooses, using distance-based enrichment and emotional safety
• How desensitisation and counter-conditioning actually work for separation struggles
• How to prevent separation issues from puppyhood by prioritising regulation, safety, and connection

💻 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

📱 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!

So many dog owners are stuck in a cycle of trying to wear their dog out - longer walks, more running, more stimulation - yet still living with dogs who feel fizzy, reactive, over-aroused, and hard work to coexist with!

In this episode of The Walk & Talk, we’re unpacking one of the most misunderstood concepts in modern dog training: regulation vs exertion.

You’ll learn why exhausting your dog doesn’t automatically create calm, how a dysregulated nervous system shows up as reactivity and ‘too much’ behaviour, and what actually helps dogs develop true emotional balance. This episode is a deep, science-backed reframe that will change how you think about exercise, enrichment, and everyday life with your dog - especially if you’re raising a sensitive, reactive, or high-energy dog.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything yet still struggling with overstimulation and chaos, this episode will bring clarity, relief, and a whole new way forward.

• Why ‘tiring your dog out’ often creates more reactivity, not less
• The difference between physical exhaustion and nervous system regulation
• How overstimulation shows up in behaviour - and why calm can’t be forced
• What regulating activities actually look like in real life
• How to blend exercise and regulation to meet your individual dog’s needs
• Why some high-energy dogs need less intensity, not more
• How daily lifestyle factors influence your dog’s ability to settle
• What calm really is - and how to help your dog learn it, rather than chase it

💻 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

📱 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!

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.

• 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

📱 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!

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. 👈

• 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

📱 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!

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.

• 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

📱 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!

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 out Common 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

📱 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!

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.

• 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!