
A dog training podcast for serious behavior nerds
A behind-the-scenes look into the reality of dog training, behavior, and learning. We love our dogs, we love our jobs, but sometimes it’s not all unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes at the end of the day, you just need a drink and a friend who gets it.
With a heavy dose of humor and a side of empathy, we explore high-level behavior science concepts mixed with real conversations and practical training advice. We keep it nerdy, relatable, and real.
Latest episodes
Podcast #170: How To Avoid Too Much Drilling
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #170: How To Avoid Too Much Drilling In this episode we discuss: Tradeoffs when using systematic “drills” to isolate specific aspects of an exercise. Drills help us isolate specific aspects of an exercise and give us the advantage of Deliberate Practice for expertise. What is meant […]
Podcast #169: Advocating For Your Dog with Erin Moore
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #169: Advocating For Your Dog with Erin Moore Guest: Erin Moore Erin is based in Canada and has been in the dog industry for over 15 years in different capacities. From dog walking to running a large, successful training facility and teaching classes 6 days a […]
Podcast #168: Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #168: Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now In this episode we discuss: Why everything is hard (just kidding, no answers here. Why IS everything so hard?) Behaviors, routines, and material acquisitions that are helping take the edge off Behaviors that reduce my daily annoyance […]
Podcast #167: What is Ethics About and Why Should We Care?
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #167: What is Ethics About and Why Should We Care? Guests: Dr. Eduardo J. Fernandez & Thomas Harrison, Ph.D. Dr. Eduardo J. Fernandez received his Ph.D. in Psychology and his M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, where he founded and was President of […]
Podcast #166: Why is Shaping So Hard?, Pt. 2
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #166: Why is Shaping So Hard?, Pt. 2 In this episode we discuss: Why we often consider shaping to be an advanced technique Why I think it doesn’t have to/shouldn’t be that way Why I think how many of us first learned about shaping is contributing […]
Podcast #165: Why is Shaping So Hard?, Pt. 1
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #165: Why is Shaping So Hard?, Pt. 1 In this episode we discuss: Why we often consider shaping to be an advanced technique. Why I think it doesn’t have to/shouldn’t be that way. Why I think how many of us first learned about shaping is contributing […]
Podcast #164: Play & Aggression with Karen London
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #164: Play & Aggression with Karen London Guest: Karen London, PhD Karen B. London, Ph.D., is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of serious behavior problems in domestic dogs. She began working with dogs in […]
Podcast #163: Is It Really R+ or Could It Actually Be R- (With a Cherry on Top)?
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #163: Is It Really R+ or Could It Actually Be R- (With a Cherry on Top)? In this episode we discuss: Can we use a tactile cue like leash pressure to train in an R+ framework or is it still just R- that we put a […]
Podcast #162: Working with Compulsive Behaviors Pt 2, with Dr. Michaela Hempen
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #162: Working with Compulsive Behaviors Pt 2, with Dr. Michaela Hempen Guest: Dr. Michaela Hempen Dr. Michaela Hempen began clicker training her own horses in 2010 following Alexandra Kurland’s The Click That Teaches program. In 2013, she became one of Alexandra’s online coaches; in 2016, she […]
Podcast #161: Working with Compulsive Behaviors Pt 1, with Dr. Michaela Hempen
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · # 161: Working with Compulsive Behaviors Pt 1, with Dr. Michaela Hempen Guest: Dr. Michaela Hempen Dr. Michaela Hempen began clicker training her own horses in 2010 following Alexandra Kurland’s The Click That Teaches program. In 2013, she became one of Alexandra’s online coaches; in 2016, […]
Podcast #160: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 3: The Things We Overlook
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #160: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 3: Planning and Record Keeping This week we are finishing up our Spring Cleaning series… you’ve already organized all your resources you’ve collected over the weekend, you’ve worked out a new better system for your planning and record […]
Podcast #159: Mentorship with John Anthony Shahor
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #159: Mentorship with John Anthony Shahor Guest: John Anthony Shahor About John Anthony and Redemption Road K9 Redemption Road K9 (RRK9) is a top-rated working dog company, a working dog co-op retailer, and cynology center focusing on Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) with the goal of creating and […]
Podcast #158: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 2: Planning and Record Keeping
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #158: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 2: Planning and Record Keeping In this episode we discuss: Getting a fresh start with your planning and record keeping. What gets in the way of being your best self. Where to start when nothing is working for […]
Podcast #157: Rescuing RiffRaff, Pt 2: Placing a Dog With a Bite History with Gaby Boijsen
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #157: Rescuing RiffRaff, Pt 2: Placing a Dog With a Bite History with Gaby Boijsen Guest: Gaby Boijsen What kind of people adopt a dog with a bite history? This episode is the second in a 2-part special series following the journey of RiffRaff, a rescue […]
Podcast #156: Rescuing RiffRaff, Pt 1: Fostering a Dog With Aggression with Gaby Boijsen
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #156: Rescuing RiffRaff, Pt 1: Fostering a Dog With Aggression Guest: Gaby Boijsen This episode is the first in a 2-part special series following the journey of RiffRaff, a rescue dog with a tendency toward violence. This sounds like a common story, but I assure you… […]
Podcast #155: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 1: Organizing and Applying Your Hoard of Resources
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #155: Spring Clean up for Dog Trainers, Pt 1: Organizing and Applying Your Hoard of Resources This week we are starting a “spring cleaning” of sorts for our training with a decluttering and organizing theme, but I’m not going to talk about how to store all […]
Podcast #154: Training Bloopers with Karen London
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #154: Training Bloopers with Karen London Guest: Karen London Karen B. London, Ph.D., is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of serious behavior problems in domestic dogs. She began working with dogs in 1997, and […]
Podcast #153: Tips for Raising Criteria Without Breaking Everything
Drinking from the Toilet: Real Dogs, Real Training · #153: Tips for Raising Criteria Without Breaking Everything In this episode we discuss: The power of starting your session conservatively. How being in a position to increase your criteria rapidly is better than being greedy and being forced to lower it. The importance of avoiding getting […]