Leerburg Dog Training Podcast

In this practical Ask Cindy Q and A, Ed Frawley tackles a serious safety concern many cyclists face: aggressive dogs chasing them while riding through countryside or residential areas, with some dogs being extremely large and threatening. The cyclist is looking for effective strategies beyond simply stopping, which isn't always safe with aggressive dogs. Cindy shares a creative solution from a long-distance cyclist friend who carries an extra bike helmet on a tether, swinging or throwing it at chasing dogs to create unexpected opposition—most dogs don't expect any resistance and often back down or remember the encounter next time. She explains that sometimes physical contact is necessary to make an impression and deter future chasing behavior. Cindy also recommends Leerburg's telescoping hiking stick with a built-in stun gun feature, noting that it's portable and often just the sound alone is enough to scare dogs away without needing physical contact. | Links mentioned: Hike N Strike - https://leerburg.com/hike-n-strike.php

Join David Littlefield as he breaks down one of the most common pitfalls in dog training: patterning. When we repeat the same routine in the same place, in the same order, our dogs often learn the pattern instead of the behavior. David explains how dogs get "stuck" performing only in familiar settings or sequences, why that falls apart when real-world distractions show up, and how to vary locations, timing, and setups so your dog truly understands what you're asking. Whether you're working obedience, sport, or everyday manners, this is a must-watch for building reliable behavior anywhere.

Operational K9 Medical Team of Wisconsin was founded by veterinary emergency and critical care specialists who saw a gap: K9 handlers are trained to deploy their dogs, but rarely trained to save them when something goes wrong in the field. OPK9 closes that gap by traveling throughout Wisconsin to teach point-of-injury care directly to K9 handlers and EMS personnel. | Links mentioned: Leerburg X OPK9 - https://leerburg.com/opk9-work.php

Join Ian O'Connell as he sits down with longtime Leerburg friend and mentor Kevin Sheldahl to talk about markers — where they came from, why they work, and how Kevin uses them in K9 detection training. Kevin traces marker training back to its roots in marine mammal training with dolphins and sea lions, explains the psychology behind why a marker like a clicker carries meaning, and breaks down the three types of rewards trainers actually have to work with. It's a conversation packed with practical insight for anyone building a marker system with their own working k9.| Links mentioned: Leerburg Clicker - https://leerburg.com/765.htm, The Foundations of Scent Detection (2025) with Kevin Sheldahl - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

Join Ian O'Connell as he sits down with longtime Leerburg friend and mentor Kevin Sheldahl to talk about markers. Where they came from, why they work, and how Kevin uses them in K9 detection training. Kevin traces marker training back to its roots in marine mammal training with dolphins and sea lions, explains the psychology behind why a marker like a clicker carries meaning, and breaks down the three types of rewards trainers actually have to work with. It's a conversation packed with practical insight for anyone building a marker system with their own working k9.| Links mentioned: Leerburg Clicker - https://leerburg.com/765.htm, The Foundations of Scent Detection with Kevin Sheldahl - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243