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If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information.

Support the podcast here:
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Dog training should make everyday life easier—not more complicated.

In this episode of the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast, I talk about what dog owners should really expect from a good trainer. It is not always the trainer who can get a dog to do the coolest things who is going to help you the most. The real goal is to create a simple, realistic routine that fits the dog, the owner, the household, and the problem you are trying to solve.

A good trainer should be able to break training into manageable steps, help you practice when things are easy before making them harder, and adjust the plan when something is not working.

A few of the biggest takeaways:

• Training has to fit into the owner’s real life or it will not get practiced.
• Start simple, build success, and then add distractions.
• The real training happens between sessions.
• A good trainer should be available to help troubleshoot problems along the way.
• Small successes build routines, and routines create progress.

The goal is not to dump more exercises on the owner. It is to help the owner understand what to do, why they are doing it, and how to adjust when things do not go as planned.

K.I.S.S. Dog Training
Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts.

https://kissdogtraining.com/

If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this episode with someone who could use the information.

Support the show

Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW...

If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information.

Support the podcast here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new

Potty training is one of those things that sounds simple until you are the one cleaning up the mess.

In this episode, I talk about potty training and the book I wrote specifically to help dog owners with it: The Dog Owner’s Book of Poop and Pee. The whole point of the book was to give owners a simple routine they could actually follow without turning potty training into some giant complicated project.

We talk about crates, schedules, choosing one consistent potty spot, preventing accidents, gradually increasing freedom, using bells, tracking poop and pee patterns, and what to do when the dog goes outside and decides sightseeing is more important than actually going to the bathroom.

A few of the biggest takeaways:

• Potty training is really about teaching where to go.
• Preventing mistakes is more useful than punishing them afterward.
• Crates can be a valuable management tool when they are used correctly.
• Consistency with timing, location, and routine matters.
• Keeping a simple potty log can help you spot patterns.
• Sudden changes in potty habits can sometimes mean it is time to involve your veterinarian.

The goal is not perfection overnight. It is creating a routine the dog can understand and repeating it consistently enough that the correct choice becomes the normal choice.

If you want the full routine in a simple format you can keep and review, The Dog Owner’s Book of Poop and Pee is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook formats.

K.I.S.S. Dog Training
Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts.

https://kissdogtraining.com/

If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this episode with someone who is currently dealing with potty-training problems.

Support the show

Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW...

If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information.

Support the podcast here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new

This is Part 2 of a two-part series about what good dog training should actually look like.

In Part 1, I focused more on the training itself: what a productive dog training session should include, how training should progress, and what owners should expect from the actual training process.

In Part 2, I turn the focus to the client side of the equation—what you should research and understand before you hire a dog trainer and hand them your money.

Experience matters. Communication matters. Transparency matters. Training philosophy matters. And just because someone has an opening this week does not necessarily mean they are the right trainer for you and your dog.

We talk about researching trainers, reading reviews for patterns instead of just looking at star ratings, checking whether prices and expectations are clearly explained, understanding private training, group classes, and board-and-train programs, and making sure the trainer’s philosophy and equipment choices match what you actually want.

A few of the biggest takeaways:

• Talk to several trainers before making a decision.
• Look for clear pricing, expectations, policies, and training methods.
• Pay attention to communication before you pay.
• Make sure the trainer can teach people, not just work with dogs.
• Ask what kind of notes, homework, follow-up, and support you will receive.
• Look for accountability on both sides of the trainer-client relationship.

Dog training is people training. The trainer has to be able to explain what they are doing, teach you how to reproduce it, and help you adjust when things do not go according to plan.

K.I.S.S. Dog Training
Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts.

https://kissdogtraining.com/

If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this episode with someone who is currently looking for a dog trainer.

Support the show

Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW...

If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information.

Support the podcast here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new

This is the first episode in a two-part discussion about what good dog training should actually look like.

In What Should a Good Dog Training Session Look Like?, I focus on the training itself: where training should happen, how a trainer should prepare before the session, how skills should be introduced, and why training needs to progress from simple environments to more distracting ones.

The second episode, How to Choose the Right Dog Trainer: What to Look For Before You Hire, shifts to the client side of the equation—how to research trainers, what questions to ask, what to look for in communication and transparency, and how to decide whether someone is actually the right fit for you and your dog.

A few of the biggest takeaways from this episode:

• Work on problem behaviors where they actually happen whenever possible.
• A trainer should understand your dog’s history and your goals before walking in the door.
• Start with simple foundational skills before expecting success in distracting environments.
• Give owners enough time between sessions to practice and build routines.
• Training should teach the owner what to do—not just show off what the trainer can get the dog to do.
• Skills matter, but routines are what make those skills useful in everyday life.

The trainer’s job is to teach, coach, explain, and help you build a process you can repeat after the session is over. The real training happens when the trainer leaves and you start practicing.

K.I.S.S. Dog Training
Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts.

https://kissdogtraining.com/

If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss the companion episode, How to Choose the Right Dog Trainer: What to Look For Before You Hire, and share this episode with someone who is trying to figure out what good dog training should actually look like.

Support the show

Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW...

If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information.

Support the podcast here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new

Most dog owners use Leave It and Drop It—but a lot of people use them as though they mean the same thing.

They don’t.

Leave It is pre-mouth. Drop It is post-mouth.

Leave It means: ignore that, disengage, and come back to me.
Drop It means: you already have it, so let’s make a fair trade.

In this episode, I break down how to teach both skills without turning either one into a wrestling match.

You’ll hear how I build Leave It from a treat in a closed fist, to the floor, to working on leash around distractions. Then we move into Drop It and why trading is so important—especially when dogs start guarding things they value.

A few of the biggest takeaways:

• Teach Leave It before the dog gets the object.
• Think of Leave It as a harder version of recall.
• Teach Drop It through fair trades instead of taking things by force.
• Use paired toys, Fetch, and Tug to make giving things up part of the game.
• Keep rewards handy so you can trade calmly when something unexpected happens.
• If a dog is already resource guarding, growling, snapping, or biting over objects, get professional help instead of experimenting.

And yes, we also get into the story of Jake the Rottweiler, a dead squirrel, and why a piece of kibble was never going to win that negotiation.

Related K.I.S.S. Dog Training Resources

Leave It vs. Drop It: The Most Misunderstood Commands in Dog Training
https://kissdogtraining.com/leave-it-vs-drop-it-the-most-misunderstood-commands-in-dog-training/

Teaching Leave-It: How Dogs Learn to Disengage and Choose You Instead
https://kissdogtraining.com/teaching-leave-it-how-dogs-learn-to-disengage/

Drop It & Trade Up
https://kissdogtraining.com/just-a-thought-on-resource-guarding/

Leave It at the Park
https://kissdogtraining.com/leave-it-at-a-park/

K.I.S.S. Dog Training
Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts.
https://kissdogtraining.com/

If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who is still yelling “Leave It!” after the dog already has the thing in its mouth.

Support the show

Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW...

If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information.

Support the podcast here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new

Have you ever looked at your dog and thought, “I know you know this. You’re just choosing not to do it”?

Maybe.

But there is a pretty good chance your dog is not being stubborn at all. They may simply be overwhelmed—and if the dog is overwhelmed, there is a good chance the humans in the house are overwhelmed too.

In this episode, I talk about why dogs often perform beautifully in the living room and then seem to forget everything when you move to the backyard, front yard, sidewalk, or a more distracting environment. Familiar does not automatically mean trained, and every new environment adds another layer of difficulty.

Sometimes the answer is not to push harder. Sometimes you need a training reset.

A few of the biggest takeaways:

• Ask whether the dog was actually taught the behavior you are requesting.
• Then ask whether they were taught it in that specific environment.
• Watch for signs of overwhelm such as blank stares, walking away, yawning, scratching, or simply shutting down.
• Lower expectations temporarily and rebuild from easier situations.
• Use routines to reduce chaos for both the dog and the family.
• Hand feeding, crate routines, Kongs, redirection, and short practice sessions can help put structure back into the day.
• Build from the house to the backyard, front yard, driveway, walks, and eventually more distracting public environments.

One of the simplest ways to restart the process is hand feeding. It gives you structured practice time, helps build attention, and lets you work on Sit, Down, Watch Me, Leave It, recall, crate work, and the early pieces of loose-leash walking.

Related K.I.S.S. Dog Training Resources

Why Your Dog Isn’t Stubborn — They’re Overwhelmed
https://kissdogtraining.com/a-dog-trainer-in-kansas-city-explains-why/

This article expands on the main point of the episode: “stubborn” is often really overwhelm, unclear expectations, inconsistent practice, or too much difficulty too soon.

Hand Feeding / Getting Started Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJv6cbmelVrTFQt_B4za1OL

This is the hand-feeding playlist discussed in the episode and includes the foundational games and skills used to rebuild attention and routine.

Adding a Leash Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqLiJ98xLJiEIDYbchTdiH74

The Next Level Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJCIRFQ7gGxjNI6Bm6GDYWE

These continue the progression from foundational work inside the house toward leash work and more difficult real-world situations.

K.I.S.S. Dog Training
Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts.
https://kissdogtraining.com/

If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who keeps wondering why their “stubborn” dog suddenly forgets everything outside the living room.

Support the show

Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/

SEND US A QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR A FUTURE SHOW...

If you enjoy the K.I.S.S. Dog Training Podcast and want to help support what we do, you can become a monthly supporter for as little as $3 a month. K.I.S.S. Dog Training is my full-time job, and producing the podcast, blogs, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me continue putting out solid, science-based, positive-reinforcement dog training information.

Support the podcast here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1353841/supporters/new

Before you can teach your dog Sit, Down, Stay, Leave It, or anything else, you need something much more basic:

You need their attention.

In this episode, I explain why hand feeding is one of my favorite ways to build that foundation. Hand feeding is not really about feeding your dog out of your hand. It is about making yourself valuable, creating engagement, and giving you structured opportunities every day to practice the skills your dog is going to need later.

I also walk through several of the games I use during hand feeding, including:

• Sit with a positive marker and release word.
• Down while beginning to build duration.
• The Turnaround Game to create a default Sit and attention.
• Go Find It and Come Here to begin building recall.
• Leave It as a positive redirection cue rather than a punishment.

We also break down the beginning stages of Leave It using a simple progression: hand, foot, leash. Start inside the house where distractions are low, teach the dog to disengage and come back to you, and only then begin taking the skill into harder environments.

One other important point: you can fade the lure, but you should not eliminate the reward.

Good behavior stays strong because something reinforces it. Food may eventually become praise, affection, play, access to something the dog wants, or another reward—but good behavior still needs to pay.

Related K.I.S.S. Dog Training Resources

Hand Feeding / Getting Started Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbJO2JoPmqJv6cbmelVrTFQt_B4za1OL

This is the hand-feeding playlist discussed in the episode and includes the foundational games used to build attention and basic skills.

Watch Me Command
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3eSh90jisw

This video focuses specifically on teaching attention and eye contact during hand feeding.

Watch Me — Written Guide
https://kissdogtraining.com/how-to-get-your-dogs-attention-teach-watch-me/

Leave It on the Leash
https://kissdogtraining.com/leave-it-on-leash/

These continue the same progression discussed in the episode: first build attention and disengagement, then begin applying those skills around greater distractions.

K.I.S.S. Dog Training
Dog Training Ain’t Cheap... Experience Counts.
https://kissdogtraining.com/

If you found this episode helpful, please take a minute to leave a review. Reviews are one of the best ways to help other dog owners find the podcast. Follow the show so you do not miss future episodes, and share this one with somebody who keeps trying to teach commands before they have their dog’s attention.

Support the show

Mike Deathe owns Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Dog training. We can be reached through comments here, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kissdogtraining. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedeathe/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedeathekissdogtraining/. And of course at our website https://kissdogtraining.com/