Sexier Than A Squirrel: Dog Training That Gets Real Life Results

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Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, Lauren is joined once again by the brilliant Justin Prust, and this time they’re diving into something that sits at the heart of everything we do – connection. We don’t always realise how much it matters until it’s missing, but when you really look at it, connection is the thing holding your life (and your relationships) together.
Together, Lauren and Justin get real about what makes connection last: effort, consistency, and the courage to show up as your true self, even when it would be easier to stay polished and distant. From years of friendship to long-distance family life, they share honest stories that prove just how powerful a genuine “hello” can be.
You’ll hear practical tips for building stronger relationships in your everyday life, from sending voice notes that actually feel like you, to handwritten letters which add a personal touch that can mean the world, especially in our fast, digital world. They also explore why the idea of being “self-made” is a myth, and how connection grows when you give first, show up without judgement, and let people see the real human behind it all.
And because this is a dog training podcast, we bring it back to our dogs too. From the communities built around training and shared interests, to those unexpected, sometimes shocking moments (yes… even the rabbit-catching kind), we talk about how connection with your dog can wobble, grow, and ultimately become stronger through understanding, training, and trust.
If you’ve been craving deeper relationships, a stronger sense of community, or a better connection with your dog, this episode will leave you thinking differently about the small things that really matter.
Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share it with someone you’d love to stay connected with, and leave us a review telling us the one connection habit you’re going to start today.
Ready to connect with a community of like-minded dog owners and feel supported in your training journey? Grab the £1 Games Club trial and get started right now!
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

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Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, Lauren is joined by the wonderful Sam for a refreshingly honest conversation about something many dog owners struggle with: walks that just don’t work.
If your dog melts down on walks and you feel that knot of dread before you even pick up the lead, you are not alone - and you are not doing anything “wrong”. Together, Lauren and Sam unpack why the traditional daily walk can actually be the hardest possible exercise plan for some dogs, especially those who are reactive, worried, or easily tipped into over-arousal. When a dog is in a state of panic, learning simply isn’t possible, and busy environments can quickly become a daily rehearsal of stress for both you and your dog.
So instead, we give ourselves permission to do it differently: think exercise, not walks
This episode explores practical, flexible alternatives that meet dogs where they are. From strength-building and slow, intentional movement at home, to Cavaletti work, Confidence Circuits, and fun food-based games that burn energy quickly, Lauren and Sam share ideas that are both achievable and effective. They also talk about how to make outdoor exercise work for your dog, including choosing quieter locations, using enclosed fields, and understanding how timing and space can make all the difference.
Along the way, they dive into the kinds of movement that really support behaviour change - including proprioception work and simple core exercises that help dogs feel more balanced and in control of their bodies.
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, Lauren is joined by vet and Flyball competitor Nichol to chat about raising a sports dog.
Barking dogs, busy ringsides, food on the floor - whether it’s agility, flyball or obedience, it’s a complex environment for any dog to navigate.
Our starting point is simple: focus first. Because if you don’t have your dog’s attention, you don’t have training. Lauren and Nichol share the games and reinforcement strategies that help your dog choose you, even when the environment is full of distractions.
From there, they get into arousal and overstimulation; why shorter sessions build more success, how to introduce busy environments without overwhelming your dog, and why sometimes the best decision you can make is two minutes of great work… then leave.
They also talk about building strong foundations at home, where your puppy can win; developing play, building reliable tug, and creating skills you can take anywhere - especially when food isn’t enough in high-energy environments.
You’ll hear how to proof behaviours in new places, prevent rehearsal of unwanted habits, and help your dog feel safe and confident around the realities of competition spaces.
And finally, they touch on early retrieves, body awareness, and the mindset that keeps your training moving forward with every puppy you raise.
If you’re building a future sports dog - or just want a dog who can stay with you when life gets busy - this episode is packed with practical ideas.
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood topics in dog training: food.
Are you bribing your dog? Creating a treat monster? Or accidentally training the very behaviours you don’t want?
At absoluteDogs, we believe something simple but powerful: every piece of food has a purpose. When you start using food with intention, everything changes. Your dog’s choices, your timing, and the results you see in real life.
In this episode, we break down what’s really going on when you use food in training, and how to turn rewards into a tool that builds trust, clarity, and reliability - not dependency.
We share practical, everyday training games that go way beyond “sit for a biscuit”. Think reinforcing proximity to supercharge your recall, paying for loose lead walking when the world is distracting, and creating positive associations with things like cars, visitors, and door knocks so they become a total non-event.
Got more than one dog? We’ve got you covered there too. We chat about using food to move dogs smoothly from space to space, reducing chaos, ditching the chasing and negotiating, and building a calmer, more cooperative household.
We also tackle noise reactivity and the realities of neighbourhood life, showing you how to use simple pairing strategies to reduce barking and help your dog settle. Plus, the easy calming setups we always have ready - think Kongs, lick mats, and smart crate routines.
And finally, we head into cooperative care - grooming, handling, and vet visits - sharing how simple consent-based games like chin rests and stillness can transform these experiences from stressful to straightforward.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing food right”, this episode will change how you see every single treat you deliver.
Ready to learn more? Grab the £1 Games Club trial, explore guided tracks - including Mouse Trap - and see how powerful games and food are when used purposefully and thoughtfully.
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial
New to Devon Dogs and want to take advantage of the introductory offer? 
http://www.devondogs.co.uk/product/20-introductory-lesson
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, the wonderful Sam is back to chat to Lauren about a rather unusual training tool: a suitcase.
Siri, Sam’s Jack Russell, used to find the outside world pretty overwhelming. Walks could quickly turn into moments of panic and reactivity. But a simple idea - a suitcase covered in unicorns - helped turn those tricky situations into something far more predictable and productive.
The “magic suitcase” isn’t really magic at all. It’s a portable kit filled with games Siri already knows and loves. Over time, the suitcase itself became a cue: when it appears, it means “we’re about to play our games”. That sense of familiarity gives Siri something clear and positive to focus on, even when the environment around her feels challenging.
Lauren and Sam talk through how Sam built this system step by step. It started at home with short, successful sessions, layering different games onto the same prop so Siri learned that the suitcase always means the same thing. From two paws up and wrap-arounds to boundary settles, scent searches, and even a noise box, each activity became part of the same predictable routine.
It’s outside in the real world where the suitcase really comes into its own. When things feel a bit spicy - a busy street, a sudden distraction, a trigger appearing in the distance - the suitcase helps Siri switch from worry to work. Sometimes that means calm, nose-led activities; other times it’s more dynamic games that channel her energy in a helpful way.
If you have a reactive, nervous, or easily over-aroused dog, this episode offers a simple, creative way to bring familiar training games with you wherever you go - helping your dog feel safer, calmer, and more able to make good choices.
Ready to give it a go with your own dog? Sam would LOVE to see you and your dogs get creative with their own magic suitcases.
Part of Games Club? We’ve added Siri’s Magic Suitcase to your library of games so you can see it in action.
New to games and want to check it out? Grab the £1 Games Club trial and you can watch it right now.
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial 
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!