Best The Cognitive Canine Podcasts (2025)

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Forrest School with Tara Stillwell LFDM-W 1:14:54

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1d ago1:14:54

1:14:54

Sit down this week with Sarah and Tara Stiwell, a licensed family dog mediator of the working division who co-owns Glimmer Dog where the innovative Forrest School operates. Forrest School integrates natural environments, stable social groups, and support and skill development to solve all manner of behavioral concerns in dogs. Join Tara June 16 for…

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Reactivity Mythbusting 7:20

9d ago7:20

7:20

Opinions abound in both professional and guardian spaces regarding the suite of behaviors we label “reactivity.” Barky, lunge-y, screamy, shouty behaviors, usually directed at social triggers, are some of the biggest reasons guardians seek help for their dogs. Because of this, protocols and programs are not hard to find, but real help sometimes is.…

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REPLAY: The False Dichotomy with Lisa Mullinax CDBC Part Three 58:46

16d ago58:46

58:46

In the final installment of The False Dichotomy Sarah and Lisa wrap up their conversation about the “balanced vs force free” falsehood in dog training.Find Lisa Mullinax at www.serenitycanine.comBy Sarah Stremming, The Cognitive Canine

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Episode 287 - dogs of the world with Lili Chin 39:08

19d ago39:08

39:08

www.DogCastRadio.com In this podcast we focus on dogs of the world! Lili Chin talks about her charming new book Dogs of The World An Illustrated Compendium. How many dog breeds can you name? Do you know how they originated? What do we even mean by the word "breed"? Lili explains how she approaches drawing the breeds. Plus the DogCast Radio News.…

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REPLAY: The False Dichotomy with Lisa Mullinax CDBC Part Two 1:22:04

23d ago1:22:04

1:22:04

In the second (of three!) parts on The False Dichotomy in dog training, Sarah and Lisa get into the weeds regarding what effectiveness looks like, what it truly means to manipulate aversive or appetitive stimuli, and all the nuances involved. Stay tuned for the final installment in two weeks!Two podcasts on reinforcement:Sarah-stremming – Reinforce…

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REPLAY: The False Dichotomy with Lisa Mullianx CDBC Part One 1:01:55

1M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

In response to the “trainer wars” between the balanced and force-free communities Sarah and past podcast guest (and friend) Lisa Mullinax sit down to talk about the place where ethics meet efficacy. Lisa and Sarah do not claim a label as trainers (neither balanced nor force-free), and have both undergone an evolution in the behavior field that has …

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Where Do I Even Start? What it Means to be Welfare First in Behavior Consulting 14:28

1M ago14:28

14:28

Conceptually, approaching behavior cases with a welfare-first approach makes sense. But what should we do when the dog’s welfare is being affected by multiple factors? Is there a “right” place to start when the behavior bingo card is basically blacked out? https://sarahstremming.com/tennis-racquets-and-doubles-partners/Sign up for courses and join …

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Episode 286 - service dogs for veterans 45:03

1M ago45:03

45:03

www.DogCastRadio.com Ryan Woodruff, CEO of Clear Path for Veterans, is a Marine Corps veteran. In this interview he talks about his experience, the support her received from the non profit, and his commitment to supporting other veterans transition from the military to civilian life. Julie brings you the DogCast Radio News.…

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Reactive Adolescent Dogs 14:17

1M ago14:17

14:17

Is it a phase? Will they grow out of it? Is my young dog cursed for life with reactivity? The good news is that adolescence passes. The bad news is the lessons learned there do not. Learn the four most important things to do while your dog is a teenager do be sure they grow into a balanced adult. https://sarahstremming.com/tennis-racquets-and-doubl…

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Teammate or Tool? 13:17

2M ago13:17

13:17

In dog sports the dog can’t be an equal teammate because the human is fully in charge. But a dog can be treated like a partner or they can be treated like a tool, and it is important in either case to know what your values are and stick to them. https://sarahstremming.com/tennis-racquets-and-doubles-partners/Sign up for courses and join the members…

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Patreon Minisode 5 10:00

2M ago10:00

10:00

Reinforcement confusion in sports, a friendly dog gone wrong, and how to decide what to start with when the dog has a lot of training needs. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by AlexGrohl from PixabayBy Sarah Stremming, The Cognitive Canine

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Dog Sports Mythbusting 12:46

2M ago12:46

12:46

Dogs don’t get jet-lagged. GI distress is normal during trial weekends. It’s ok if your dog goes off food during travel. These myths and more, and the truth about the welfare of our competition dogs. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by AlexGrohl from Pix…

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Slow School Part Three: Fast and Slow Schools, Finding Balance 4:33

2M ago4:33

4:33

“But Sarah, my dog needs to go fast!” Yes, your dog probably does need to go fast. And striking the balance between fast and slow schools, and curating your program to the individual dog you are working with, is key. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by A…

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Episode 285 - Crufts 2025 52:23

2M ago52:23

52:23

www.DogCastRadio.com In our Crufts 2025 special, Julie (after getting lost in the vast NEC halls!) talks to dog behaviourists Kay Attwood and Andy Hale, catches up with long standing friends of the show Jill Crow and her daughter Bryony, finds out about Performance Dog UK and Pet Remedy, and discovers how you can protect your dog out and about with…

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Slow School Part Two: Emotional Regulation 5:27

2M ago5:27

5:27

What do gentle parenting, emotional down-regulation, and dog training all have in common? They’re all part of slow schooling your dog. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by AlexGrohl from PixabayBy Sarah Stremming, The Cognitive Canine

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Slow School Part One: What the F is Slow School? 4:06

3M ago4:06

4:06

Ok, what is slow school? It’s a little bit somatic therapy, a little bit self-regulation, and a lot of skill building. It is vital for the dogs who find it hard to access decompression, and their guardians benefit too. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by…

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Patreon Minisode 4 8:28

3M ago8:28

8:28

How do dogs make friends? How do we even begin to find dogs for our dogs to be friends with? And, does protective aggression actually exist? Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by AlexGrohl from PixabayBy Sarah Stremming, The Cognitive Canine

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Behavioral Diversity in Sports Dogs 13:42

3M ago13:42

13:42

If you stopped doing your sport tomorrow, would your dog’s life still be good? How much do you pay attention to the behavioral diversity in your dog’s life? This episode is for all folks who participate in dogs sports. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by…

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Do 99% of Dogs Have Behavior Problems? With Dr (Jessica) Perry Hekman 46:56

3M ago46:56

46:56

A recent paper (The Prevalence of Behavior Problems in Dogs in the United States) claimed that over 99% of pet dogs have behavior problems. That number is staggering! But what does the data really say? In this crossover episode with the Functional Breeding Podcast Dr Perry Hekman and Sarah Stremming break down this spin on the data and what we migh…

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Episode 284 - Julie talks AITA AIBU and dog news 22:11

3M ago22:11

22:11

www.DogCastRadio.com In this podcast host Julie brings you dog dilemmas from Reddit AITA and Mumsnet AIBU, as well as dog themed news stories which caught her eye. Plus we touch on that age old mystery - did we domesticate dogs, or did they domesticate themselves?By Julie Hill

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Dogs as Captive Animals Part Three: Radical Imagination 18:19

3M ago18:19

18:19

Congratulations, you’ve taken the red pill. Now adjust your mind, then your behavior, and finally society to better serve the animals in our care, including ourselves. If you listened, let us know: what are your “red pill moments”?Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogr…

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Dogs as Captive Animals Part Two: Does Animal Welfare Science Have it Right? 8:32

4M ago8:32

8:32

The field of animal welfare science is expanding into and affecting the industry of pet dog behavior, and that is a good thing. But this science is not enough, and it is important to appraise what it can and can’t do before we as behavior professionals or guardians of captive dogs hang up our hat and claim we’ve done our best. Explore modern egg fa…

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Dogs as Captive Animals Part One: Dog More, Type Less 12:16

4M ago12:16

12:16

In the first of a three part series about dogs as captive animals Sarah explores how we can better care for our dogs by encouraging them to “dog more” and respond to stress in breed-typical ways a little less. Does the border collie staring at cats have a better life than the one who doesn’t fixate on anything at all? Do terriers need to kill or fi…

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Patreon Minisode 3 11:09

4M ago11:09

11:09

In this patreon question minisode Sarah addresses balancing chronic pain with high drive needs, a barking dachshund, a scared puppy, and more! Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by AlexGrohl from PixabayBy Sarah Stremming, The Cognitive Canine

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Resilience and Tenacity Continued: States or Traits? 19:23

4M ago19:23

19:23

Are resilience or tenacity fixed? What can we do to enhance resilience or inspire tenacity? Join Sarah as she dives into improving the welfare of dogs via the biopsychosocial model and how it applies to these traits (or states?) in dogs. https://www.physio-pedia.com/Biopsychosocial_Modelhttps://www.companiondogproject.org/Sign up for courses and jo…

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Resilience and Tenacity 20:03

4M ago20:03

20:03

Dividing dog temperaments into four different combinations of resilience and tenacity is thought-provoking. Sarah has been doing this thought experiment for years and wants to welcome you to join it. https://www.companiondogproject.org/Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/co…

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Episode 283 - canine cognitive skills and the herbal dog 1:07:15

4M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

www.DogCastRadio.com This podcast is al about keeping your dog happy and healthy physically and mentally. Kay Attwood, one of the UK's leading trainers specialising in positive reinforcement reveals what the secret of our dogs' thinking and mental abilities, and how we can provide enrichment and training which will enhance our dogs' lives. Canine h…

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Patreon Minisode 2 13:19

4M ago13:19

13:19

How do I get my dog to look at scary stuff to process it? What should I do about my dog resource guarding in agility class? How do I get my lab to stop bringing me stuff? Help! My dog is showing aggression toward my kid! All this and more in the second ever patreon minisode of Cog Dog Radio. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahst…

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Consequences of Captivity with Kim Brophey 1:13:10

4M ago1:13:10

1:13:10

So many behavior problems in our dogs are simply consequences of their life as captive animals. When we acknowledge this and take an animal welfare focused approach to their care we do best as professionals and guardians. In this dynamic conversation between Sarah and Kim they discuss this reality and what we can do about it. Find Kim’s work at fam…

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Household Harmony: It's Up to YOU 19:09

5M ago19:09

19:09

Sarah is passionate about harmonious relationships between dogs in homes. Maintaining and fostering peace between highly driven individuals is not simple and something she takes very seriously. One thing that is missing in the thoughts of many professionals and guardians alike is the level of responsibility we should be placing on ourselves as the …

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Patreon Minisode 21:19

5M ago21:19

21:19

The first Patreon minisode of 2025! Sarah explores multi-dog household issues, urban border collies, slow thinking, barking during training, and more! Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by AlexGrohl from Pixabay…

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When Your Dog is Afraid 16:07

5M ago16:07

16:07

Ask ten professionals what to do when your dog is afraid and you will undoubtedly get ten different answers. But the true answer is simple–not easy–and involves three steps we can all follow, every single time. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.comJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradioMusic by AlexGro…

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Heal Them, Heal Us: Go Outside 11:59

5M ago11:59

11:59

The research is clear: being outside is good for us. And it is good for our dogs, too. When we know this to be true–with or without empirical data–why do we still find it so hard? Are there solutions to this? Is this actually worth doing? Isn’t a quick stroll around the block better than nothing? Vow in 2025 to go outside more with your dog; you wi…

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Heal Them, Heal Us: Eat. Drink. Be Merry. 15:07

5M ago15:07

15:07

Disordered eating is normalized in our society and it is normalized in our dogs, too. Dogs should want to eat. Their GI should function normally. These are not radical statements, and yet most dogs Sarah sees in her private behavior work have some kind of damaged relationship to food. Dig into why this happens and what we can do about it. Then eat,…

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Heal Them, Heal Us: Slow Down 16:34

6M ago16:34

16:34

We live in a fast-paced society and therefore, so do our dogs. As a consequence of selective breeding, training, and just plain captivity, our dogs do not access “calm” states well. We all need a little slow school from time to time. So take a deep breath, sit down, and listen to this one. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstre…

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Episode 282 - dog life hacks and stay positive for your dog's sake 1:08:52

6M ago1:08:52

1:08:52

www.DogCastRadio.com In this podcast we hear from behaviourist Bethany Bell on why aversive, harsh methods appear to work, while wreaking havoc on your dog and your relationship with them. Behaviourist Jennifer Billot has the dog life hacks that will save you time, make your training more effective, and make life more fun for your dog. DogCast Radi…

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Heal Them, Heal Us: Do Dogs Need Friends? 14:03

6M ago14:03

14:03

For the final four episodes of Cog Dog Radio in the year 2024 we are focusing on overlooked or misunderstood areas of healing in the world of dog behavior. Unsurprisingly these are concepts our society and culture could stand to better embrace. For the first in this series we will explore adult friendship, whether dogs need friends or not, and what…

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The Danger of Panaceas 15:48

6M ago15:48

15:48

A panacea is a cure-all, a remedy that is said to mend everything. Common in the wellness industry and also in dog training, holding any one program or practice as a panacea is a major red flag. We can learn as consumers to avoid this, and we can also be sure we are not doing it as practitioners. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sa…

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Episode 281 - dog AITA and am I being unreasonable 27:36

6M ago27:36

27:36

www.DogCastRadio.com In this podcast, host Julie considers a variety of Reddit AITA questions, and Am I Being Unreasonable from Mumsnet. We have stories of a puppy biting a child at a family get together, the pet sitting friend who took the dog to doggy daycare, the rescue dog defender feeling the pressure to meet up for dog walks, the sister who c…

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Riding the Wave of Adolescence 18:25

6M ago18:25

18:25

Sarah has a teenager! Join her as she walks through some recent challenges and triumphs with her 18 month old border collie, Carson. If you have a teen, work with folks who do, or plan to have one in the future, this one will be vital. Knowing how to respond, what to avoid, and what is normal, will all help! https://sarahstremming.com/products/Sign…

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Transactions 21:56

7M ago21:56

21:56

In the “Hands off the Cookies!” episode from 10/29 Sarah talked about transactional and conversational communication styles. Here, she dives deeper into those as well as managerial communication, and where each is best utilized with our dogs. https://sarahstremming.com/products/Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassro…

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Client Commitment 10:32

7M ago10:32

10:32

We talked last week about good coaching and teaching, but what does it look like to be easily coached? What does the client need to bring to the table in order for a behavior modification plan to work? It takes sacrifice, honesty, and commitment for this stuff to work, but what does that actually look like? https://sarahstremming.com/products/Sign …

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Coaching Skills 27:30

7M ago27:30

27:30

Principles of good coaching skills are the same as principles of good dog training skills. How long to train, when to give feedback, and how to bring your best self to a session are all matters of utmost importance. Whether you coach people professionally or receive coaching from others (or both!) this one is for you.https://sarahstremming.com/prod…

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Hands off the Cookies! 16:31

7M ago16:31

16:31

We, the trainers of R+landia, use a lot of food. But there are so many times when we are unwise to do so, and in fact when food can be a damaging part of the equation. If you think slinging treats is always a good idea, or if you find yourself throwing food whenever you are in doubt, this one is for you. https://sarahstremming.com/products/Sign up …

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Episode 280 - pet bereavement leave and the dog sniffing for an escaped capybara 1:05:43

7M ago1:05:43

1:05:43

www.DogCastRadio.com Erika Sinner shares why pet bereavement leave is so important - on a business and a personal level. Rachel Rodgers talks about her and her dog Rico helping to sniff out missing capybara, Cinnamon.By Julie Hill

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Systems of Support 13:37

8M ago13:37

13:37

When the internal system is unstable the external systems must step up to support that system. Meaning, when chronic health concerns or even just a highly specialized mind are part of the dog you are trying to care for, you have to show up with strong external systems of support to help them thrive. https://sarahstremming.com/products/Sign up for c…

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Pain in Dogs 22:13

8M ago22:13

22:13

Pain is frequently a component of behavior cases and not often discussed from a behavior consultant’s viewpoint. But pain is not strictly a medical concern and the behavior field at large needs to know how to approach it from our skillset. Scratch the surface on this meaty topic with Sarah as she dives into pain as an individual experience and expl…

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Everything Bleeds 29:25

8M ago29:25

29:25

When Sarah says to her students “everything bleeds” she means that the dog’s way of solving problems will be universal for the dog; it will bleed into everything the dog does. There are three general types of problem solving that dogs can bring to the table, and some of them are more beneficial to us than others. Walk with Sarah through a discussio…

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When Feelings Interfere with Marissa Martino CDBC 1:05:55

8M ago1:05:55

1:05:55

If you are a behavior consultant, or a person who has sought behavior consulting for their dog, you know that the emotions of the guardian attached to the dog can either help or hinder the process. Join Sarah in conversation with Marissa Martino CDBC of Paws and Reward in a dynamic discussion about the feelings on the human end of the leash. Practi…

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Understanding Reinforcement Part Three: Natural vs Contrived Contingencies 16:48

8M ago16:48

16:48

In the third and final installment of the Understanding Reinforcement series, Sarah tackles natural and contrived contingencies. The natural contingency driving your dog’s behavior is important for you to know about and leverage. Many natural contingencies are about avoidance, while our contrived contingencies tend to be about acquisition. Superimp…