Cog-Dog Radio

Can we obedience our way out of behavior problems? Yes, and no. Therapy for behavior problems requires that we are able to avoid repetition of the problem we are trying to solve, and skills training might be one way to do that. But it isn't the only way, and there is more to the story. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Dog trainers LOVE to talk about errorless learning. They either worship at the feet of the concept of an error-free life OR they claim learning free of error is a fallacy. But this isn't an either-or conversation, and we must be careful not to project our own personal feelings about failure onto our dogs. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Strange behavior in an agility lesson and a frightened dog on trails. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Should you approach your young dog's reactions to an unknown inanimate object the same as a dog or person? If your dog overreacts to a kid on a bike, is that the same thing as trying to chase a rabbit? The way you respond to each type of trigger varies, and is important to keep in mind as you enter the world with your puppy or adolescent (or even newly adopted adult) dog. Social, prey, inanimate, and non-social animate are the four trigger types Sarah covers in this episode. Learn how they are different and how your responses to them should be too. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 her webinar all about Forrest School, and use the link below or the discount code COGDOG20. https://glimmer.dog/forrest-school-webinar?promo=COGDOG20 Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com

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 – Reinforcement-misunderstandings Sarah-stremming – Coercion-with-adam-skandarani A blog concerning the coercion of R+: thecognitivecanine.com/high-value-vs…einforcement/ Find Lisa at serenitycanine.com and shelterbehavior.com Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 helped them to arrive at a place free of dogma and full of compassion. Know the opinions expressed here are vulnerable and honest, and there can't be enough time for all nuance to be present in all conversations. Neither Sarah nor Lisa represent anything other than themselves in their thoughts expressed herein. Two podcasts on reinforcement: Sarah-stremming – Reinforcement-misunderstandings Sarah-stremming – Coercion-with-adam-skandarani A blog concerning the coercion of R+: thecognitivecanine.com/high-value-vs…einforcement/ Find Lisa at serenitycanine.com and shelterbehavior.com https://sarahstremming.com/tennis-racquets-and-doubles-partners/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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-doubles-partners/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

“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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 might actually gleam from the numbers. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S155878782400090X?fbclid=IwY2xjawInPzlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcN5aqgAU3VxnSfQ9zu0eaChX-3Xgq8c-ziu6Zood32n19XHF09IINVAyA_aem_03njisr3yKUuPBrduLaE2A www.functionalbreeding.org https://vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/ https://functionalbreeding.org/events/

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 farming as a metaphor for keeping dogs and lean into this continued conversation Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 fight to be happy? Are guardian breeds better off yelling or silent? Explore these questions and more. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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_Model https://www.companiondogproject.org/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 famiydogmediation.com and email questions to info@familydogmediation.com Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 person who decided to integrate the dogs we acquired. Learn specifics about what this looks like and then some. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 will not regret it. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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, drink, and be merry yourself on this holiday. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 it might mean to decide for them that they don't. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 explores it through the biopsychosocial model. https://www.physio-pedia.com/Biopsychosocial_Model https://www.zoffness.com/ https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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 discussion on dogs that bring too much behavior to problem solving, too little, and what we'd like them to do instead. https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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. Practical strategies, real life stories, and of course a little magic. Find more about Marissa: pawsandreward.com https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

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. Superimposing acquisition contingencies on top of avoidance contingencies often fails, but we can still be effective reward-based practitioners if we understand these processes. https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Behavior consulting skills are vast and way too varied to cover all in one episode. But Sarah and friend of the podcast Lisa Mullinax CDBC of Serenity Canine in Seattle Washington are an ambitious bunch, and they went for it in this episode. From coaching to planning, assessing risk to troubleshooting and so much more, join them in this journey down the behavior modification consultant's toolkit. The book mentioned by Lisa: https://amzn.to/3MBvf2j Lisa's Stranger-Directed Aggression series: https://www.serenitycanine.com/sda With COUPON CODE For our listeners $50 off with code COGDOG50 Lisa's mentorship program: https://www.serenitycanine.com/trainers The video Lisa mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu4FGW1bT-0 https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Behavior consulting skills are vast and way too varied to cover all in one episode. But Sarah and friend of the podcast Lisa Mullinax CDBC of Serenity Canine in Seattle Washington are an ambitious bunch, and they went for it in this episode. From coaching to planning, assessing risk to troubleshooting and so much more, join them in this journey down the behavior modification consultant's toolkit. The book mentioned by Lisa: https://amzn.to/3MBvf2j Lisa's Stranger-Directed Aggression series: https://www.serenitycanine.com/sda With COUPON CODE For our listeners $50 off with code COGDOG50 Lisa's mentorship program: https://www.serenitycanine.com/trainers The video Lisa mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu4FGW1bT-0 https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

A rich understanding of how reinforcement works to strengthen behavior is vital for behavior change, and yet there are so many areas of this concept that are misunderstood by dog trainers (hobbyists and professionals alike!). Join Sarah as she explores these misunderstandings and offers tips and insights you can use right away. https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

In the second installment of three part series exploring the nuances of reinforcement Sarah dives into negative reinforcement. Can negative reinforcement be part of a humane training plan? If so, when is it best utilized? All this, practical application, and more. https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

In the first of a three part series exploring nuances of reinforcement, Sarah talks about what she calls the 1:1 ratio of behavior : reinforcement. When we are training or maintaining behavior we need to always maintain a 1: 1 ratio and what that looks like varies based on the learner, the task, and the payout. A seemingly simple unit of behavior might require a big payout and that payout is not a jackpot if it is simply the appropriate amount of reinforcement owed for the behavioral input given. https://sarahstremming.com/products/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: https://cogdogclassroom.mykajabi.com/ Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay