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This month’s podcast is:

If your dog has practiced a problem behavior for two years, expecting it to disappear in two weeks probably isn’t realistic. In this episode, we talk about setting training goals that give you and your dog a fair chance to succeed.

The magic happens between training sessions, when you’re doing the work. I explain why we start inside the house, build a foundation, and gradually add distractions as your dog is ready. Skipping steps can leave everyone frustrated—and give your dog more practice making the same mistakes.

We also discuss why commands and equipment are only part of the picture. Knowing “sit” or buying another harness doesn’t replace teaching your dog what you want and practicing it in everyday routines.

Here’s what we cover

• Setting realistic goals instead of expecting a quick fix.
• Practicing frequently and consistently between sessions.
• Using management to prevent unwanted behavior while teaching better choices.
• Building skills before moving into more distracting environments.
• Measuring progress over time and choosing a trainer who explains your role in the process.

Dog training is a marathon, not a sprint. Better routines give you something to build on, one step at a time.

K.I.S.S. Dog Training provides private, in-home dog training in Shawnee, Kansas, and throughout the Kansas City metro.

Learn more: https://kissdogtraining.com/

If this episode helped you, please leave a review. Follow the podcast for future episodes and share it with another dog owner who could use more realistic expectations—and less frustration.

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, you can support it for as little as $3 a month. Dog training is my full-time job, and making podcasts, videos, and other educational content takes time away from that work. Your support helps me keep sharing practical, science-based, positive-reinforcement training.

Does your dog start pulling the moment you clip on the leash? Better walks begin with practice before you head down the sidewalk.

In this episode, I start with attention and automatic sits inside the house. From there, we take those skills to the backyard on a 15-foot long line, then to the driveway and front yard. Once the dog can check in with you in those places, we start walking one driveway at a time.

I also talk about teaching “Leave It” as a rewarded return to you, stopping pulling before it gets the dog where they want to go, and letting dogs enjoy time to sniff once the walking foundation is in place. For dogs that react to other dogs, distance gives you room to work; if reactivity is a problem, get help from a positive-reinforcement trainer.

Practice when it’s easy so you stand a chance when it’s hard.

Related reading and videos

• What Happens After Socialization?
• Watch Me: First and Foremost (blog) and Watch Me (video)
• Leave It vs. Wait (blog), Teaching Leave It (video), and Leave It on the Leash (video)
• Chilling Out in the Driveway (video)
• Putting It All Together: Watch Me Do a Walk (video)

K.I.S.S. Dog Training offers private, in-home training in the Kansas City area: kissdogtraining.com.

If this episode helps, please leave a review. Follow the podcast for future episodes, and share this one with someone whose dog could use a better walk.

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...

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

In this episode, I talk about another one of my books: Forever Home: Dog Training 101 & How to Be a Better Shelter Volunteer.

I wrote this book after spending a lot of time volunteering in shelters and seeing people with really good intentions sometimes accidentally make things harder for the dogs they were trying to help. The goal was to take basic dog-training principles and apply them in a simple, practical way that could help shelter volunteers, fosters, and ultimately the dogs themselves.

We talk about rewarding the behaviors we want, redirecting the ones we do not, helping dogs decompress instead of overwhelming them, and why taking every shelter dog straight out for a walk may not always be the best first step.

A few of the biggest takeaways:

• Consistency and frequency matter more than trying to cram everything into long training sessions.
• Good management can reduce overstimulation and give dogs a better chance to succeed.
• The Readers, Groomers, and Walkers progression gives dogs time to become comfortable with people before asking more from them.
• Matching dogs and volunteers by experience level can help keep both the dogs and the people working with them safer.
• Fostering and shelter work should help prepare dogs for life in a real home.
• The goal is not simply getting dogs adopted. It is helping them stay in their forever homes.

If you want to take a deeper look at the ideas in the episode, Forever Home: Dog Training 101 & How to Be a Better Shelter Volunteer is available here:

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Home-Training-Shelter-Volunteer-ebook/dp/B00CSVQGGQ

K.I.S.S. Dog Training:
https://kissdogtraining.com/product/forever-home-e-book/

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 involved in shelter work, rescue, fostering, or dog training.

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/.

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

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/