Stephen sits back down with Kennedi Travis of Pawsitive Dog Training (Fountain Hills, Arizona) for a practical, no-fluff guide to getting a dog through adolescence and the hottest months of the year — with Banjo, Stephen's 14-month-old golden retriever, as the case study.

They cover the teenage phase (why regression is normal, the second fear period most owners have never heard of, and why adolescence is when so many dogs lose their homes), the New World screwworm (how it works, what an infestation looks like, and what to do — informed, not fear-mongering), summer heat (hot pavement, parked cars, humidity, and Banjo's living-room agility course), the five types of enrichment and why you should ditch the food bowl, play with purpose (tug rules, play sneezes, flirt poles), and DIY dog treats — including the one "healthy" ingredient that can kill a dog.

Kennedi is a Fear Free Certified, CPDT-KA trainer and Canine Enrichment Technician. This is her second visit to the show.

Mentioned in this episode:

Kennedi's July blog post (screwworm photos & more): https://www.pawsitivedogtrainingaz.com/post/pawsitive-dog-training-sit-stay-succeed-4

USDA APHIS — New World Screwworm: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm

CDC situation summary: https://www.cdc.gov/new-world-screwworm/situation-summary/index.html

AP via ABC13 (Aug 21, 2026) — Texas pet adoptions on hold over screwworm; 44 states now require screwworm-free vet certification: https://abc13.com/story/texas-pet-adoptions-hold-due-concerns-new-world-screwworm/19714370/

Arizona hot-car laws: A.R.S. § 13-2910 — https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/02910.htm — and § 12-558.02 (notify law enforcement first) — https://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00558-02.htm

Book: "On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals" by Turid Rugaas

Connect with Kennedi / Pawsitive Dog Training:

Website & blog: https://www.pawsitivedogtrainingaz.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pawsitivedogtrainingaz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawsitivedogtrainingaz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pawsitivedogtrainingaz

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pawsitivedogtrainingaz

Email: pawsitivedogtrainingaz@gmail.com

Missed part one? "Dog Training, Done Right" — https://rss.com/podcasts/just-some-podcast/2669955/

Your dog is talking to you — do you know what they're saying?

In this episode, Stephen welcomes Kennedi Travis to the podcast. Kennedi is a Fear Free certified professional dog trainer, AKC evaluator, and the owner of Pawsitive Dog Training out of Fountain Hills, Arizona. What starts as a conversation about puppy training turns into nearly an hour of real talk about what it actually looks like to raise a dog the right way — not the Instagram way.

Kennedi doesn't sugarcoat it. Dog parks? She's not a fan. Flexi leashes? She'd outlaw them. That cute tail-chasing thing your dog does? It might be a problem. And if you've ever flicked your dog's nose to correct them, she's got four words for you: "I hurt my friend."

Stephen brings his own stories from the trenches — he's a first-time golden retriever owner raising a puppy named Banjo with Kennedi's help, and yes, the sock-stealing phase was real. Together they cover the critical puppy socialization window most owners blow right past, enrichment hacks you can try tonight, body language basics every dog owner needs, and why positive reinforcement isn't just a philosophy — it's the only approach that actually works long-term.

Whether you just brought home a puppy, you're thinking about getting a dog, or you've had dogs your whole life and want to do better by them — this one's worth your time.

Topics covered:

- The 3–16 week socialization window (and how to do it safely before full vaccination)

- Why socialization doesn't mean "playing with other dogs"

- Enrichment ideas: foraging games, puzzle toys, the Bob-a-Lot, the beach towel hack

- Teaching your dog to do nothing — and why that matters

- Leash laws, flexi leashes, and off-leash etiquette

- Why dog parks might not be the move

- Body language: "The growl is the yell before the punch"

- Positive reinforcement vs. punishment

- Finding an ethical breeder or rescue (and why to skip the pet store)

- Fake service dogs and the ESA conversation

- Arizona heat safety and the 7-second pavement test

Book mentioned: "On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals" by Turid Rugaas — https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Terms-Dogs-Calming-Signals/dp/1929242360

Connect with Kennedi / Pawsitive Dog Training:

- Website: https://www.pawsitivedogtrainingaz.com

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pawsitivedogtrainingaz

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawsitivedogtrainingaz

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pawsitivedogtrainingaz

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pawsitivedogtrainingaz

- Email: pawsitivedogtrainingaz@gmail.com

In this hilarious and jaw-dropping episode, Stephen, aka Just Some Dude, sits down with his dad and uncle to reveal untold stories from their free-range childhood in late-1960s and 1970s Arizona. From the shock of unexpected visitors tapping on the bedroom window to surviving a terrifying revolver showdown in high school, these vivid memories paint a picture of wild teenage escapades in a time before helicopter parenting. Listen in as they recount confronting neighborhood bullies, the adrenaline-charged moment Gene drop-kicked a car to save his little brother from a violent attack, and the lessons they learned along the way. If you love nostalgic storytelling, sibling banter, and tales that prove truth can be stranger than fiction, this episode is for you—don’t miss it!