Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Dogs

7 dog training podcasts we’re obsessed with

Podcasts can help any pet parent with training their pooch

By
Dog digs into the sand on a beach
Maurylio Silva / Pexels

There are times every pet parent feels as though they’re out of depth or coming up short in regards to their pet. Whether it’s a behavioral problem, a health concern, or simply how to find the right doggie day care, wouldn’t it be great to have an expert on speed dial to give you advice and reassure you that you’re doing just fine?

Unless you happen to know an expert personally, podcasts are a great way to get this advice and reassurance. When it comes to dog training, podcasts feature a variety of experts who can help any pet parent, and there are enough podcasts to last a lifetime! Wondering which dog training podcasts to start with? Here are our favorite ones!

A St. Bernard puppy sitting outdoors
pangrea / Pixabay

Animal Training Academy

Available on: Spotify, Apple, Stitcher
Professional animal trainer Ryan Cartlidge hosts this show featuring training techniques from experts such as behaviorist Dr. Susan Friedman, experienced guide dog mobility trainer Tony Harvey, and award-winning writer Laura VanArendonk Baugh. If training dogs is your passion or you just need advice on training yours, this podcast covers a variety of positive reinforcement training techniques that apply to animals in every situation.

Dog licks a chunk of ice off of a stick
Manfred Richter / Pixabay

What Would Jeff Do?

Available on: Apple, Google, Spotify
Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training hosts this popular podcast that helps you have fun while gaining a greater understanding of your dog. Gellman believes the most important part of being a dog trainer is helping pet owners stop their pet’s bad behavior to keep them in the house. Tune in to hear him field questions from his live Facebook and YouTube sessions on everything from dog training to business to life, in general.

a pug sitting on the sidewalk by a white wall
Steshka Willems / Pexels

Dog Talk with Dr. Jen

Available on: Apple
Dr. Jennifer Summerfield is a veterinarian and dog trainer who specializes in treating behavioral problems such as aggression, separation anxiety, and compulsive behavior issues. Podcast topics include how to deal with housemate aggression, taking the stress out of vet visits, and how to choose the right dog for your family. Summerfield’s compassionate voice calmly explains the problem, and then suggests practical solutions for solving it.

a large dog with floppy ears playing with a ragbone
Josh Sorenson / Pexels

Drinking from the Toilet

Available on: Apple, Google, Stitcher, Spotify
Hannah Branigan hosts this authentic and sometimes hilarious look at the reality of dog training, behavior, and learning. Branigan, who has a background in both sports and biology, applies her knowledge and experience in positive reinforcement training to the training and competing she does with her dogs. Podcast topics include an in-depth look at fear and whether it can be reinforced, how you might be reinforcing your dog’s herding behavior, and a deeper look at learning and memory as it relates to training your dog.

A brown and white puppy wearing a red collar lies patiently in the grass
David Clark / Unsplash

Positively Dog Training, the official Victoria Stilwell podcast

Available on: Apple, Spotify, Google
Dog lovers will recognize Victoria Stilwell from her hit television series It’s Me or the Dog. On her podcast, she teams up with CNN reporter Holly Firfer to discuss dog-related topics and also gives you a behind-the-scenes look at life on the set. Her Positively Dog Training network focuses on humane, force-free, positive training techniques. Podcast topics range from dog education and behavior to intelligence, social learning, and evolution.

A portrait of a brown/black dog with floppy ears
Wallace Silva / Pexels

Canine Conversations

Available on: Apple, Facebook
Master behaviorist and dog trainer Robert Cabral hosts this well-rounded podcast on all things canine. From training and sport competitions to health concerns and food choices, Cabral brings his years of experience with shelter dogs and competitive obedience and protection dogs to the airwaves. Topics range from daily enrichment, fearfulness, and dominance to how to prepare your home and family for a new puppy.

Two Labrador puppies play with each other until one gives up by two
manushot / Shutterstock

Your Family Dog Podcast

Available on: Apple, Google, Stitcher
Between them, co-hosts Julie Fudge Smith and Tina M. Spring have more than 60 years of dog training experience. Fudge Smith and Spring believe that “life is better with a dog” and cover a wide variety of topics to help families love living with their dogs. Subject matters include what you need to know about dog bites, what to look for in a doggie daycare facility, and how to deal with parasite invasions of the flea and tick persuasion.

An old, tired golden retriever lying down
Bruno Cervera / Pexels

Why dog training is important

In addition to ensuring that your dog knows how to follow commands, which can keep your pup safe, training helps to build your dog’s confidence. Just like us, dogs sometimes suffer from anxiety and depression, but well-trained dogs are less likely to suffer from mental health conditions. Training your pooch also provides the mental stimulation all dogs crave while strengthening your bond with your fur baby. You can’t beat that.

A white furball dog with a ragbone
Tanya Gorelova / Pexels

What are the benefits of dog training podcasts?

There are tons of resources out there for pet parents, including books, TV shows, videos, and podcasts. So why should you choose a dog training podcast over a book or a video? While you can (and probably should) use multiple sources, podcasts offer things that other mediums don’t. A dog trainer can demonstrate voice commands that might be difficult to explain through text, and they often include personal anecdotes that are helpful and entertaining. Podcast hosts are also much easier to get in touch with, whether through leaving a comment or submitting a question. If they haven’t covered a topic you’re interested in or you have a very specific question, there’s a good chance you can get an answer!

Recommended Videos

See? You’re not alone. Consider this: More households have at least one dog in them, making dogs the most popular pet in the world (cat owners, you run a close second!). So, it stands to reason that if you’re wondering about a dog-related topic, there’s probably another dog owner somewhere in the world who is wondering the same thing — and, fortunately, a dog training expert who is talking about that topic on a podcast near you. All you have to do is tune in.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Debbie Clason
Debbie Clason
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Debbie Clason's work has appeared in Family Life Magazine, Sports Illustrated, The Lutheran Witness, Massage Magazine…
Off-leash dog training is easy if you follow these 5 tips
These tips will make this process smoother
Puppy learning to heel

We’re going out on a limb here, but it’s safe to say that if you’ve ever caught the look on a dog’s face when he’s running off leash at the dog park, you’ve caught a glimpse of what pure bliss looks like.

As a pet parent, it’s only natural to want to see that expression more often. And, without disparaging the leashed walk around the neighborhood, your dog would probably tell you he’d prefer being off leash more often. Is that possible, given local leash laws and all the mischief your untethered pet can get himself into? Perhaps, if he is well trained.

Read more
Why do dogs eat cat poop? And how you can get them to stop
These tips will stop your pup from eating cat doo-doo
Dog wears a yellow sweater and looks at the camera

Sometimes you might think you hear your cat using their potty, but when you go into check, it's actually the dog eating cat poop. Gross! While it seems pretty revolting to us, dogs sometimes eat poop, the feline variety included. Coprophagia, which means eating poop, shows up reasonably frequently in pups, and certain diets, environments, and even breeds can make this act more likely (research says hounds and terriers are the groups most likely to chomp poop, in general).

So why do dogs eat cat poop, and what should you do about this behavior? Read on for a few things to check and a couple of tips to prevent this extra meal.
Why do dogs eat cat poop?
Theories abound, but it turns out lots of different mammals eat poop, their own and others'. One possibility is that not all nutrients fully digest when they go through our systems, which means there are plenty of vitamins to have by consuming feces. Sometimes, these cravings result from a nutrient-deficient diet that is easy to fix by changing up your dog's food.

Read more
Do dogs know they’re dying? Here’s what experts say about a dog’s final days
This is what a dog's last days might look like
A woman hugs and kisses her senior dog

No one wants to think about their dog’s final moments, but it’s an inevitable part of life that every pet parent will have to face. Hopefully, though, knowing what to expect can replace some of the fear and uncertainty with a sense of peace. Thinking through this life transition may be emotionally taxing, but asking the important questions (such as, do dogs know they’re dying? Do dogs fear death?) can make the process as easy as possible for everyone — especially you.

Take a deep breath, give your dog a little love, and scroll on if you’re feeling ready to learn about this important — yet difficult — time. We’ll let you know how to care for your senior dog, how your veterinarian will be helpful during this time, and what to expect as your dog's final moments draw near. Trust us — you're not in this alone.

Read more