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

• Build Your Joy Muscle (Yes, It’s Trainable)

  Send us a textIn this episode, Lauren Langman and Bill break down practical, real-world ways to create more joy on busy, messy, unpredictable days… and how that same mindset transforms your dog training.You’ll learn how tiny resets shift everything: a five-minute step outside, noticing the birds, watching the rain, opening that letter you’ve been avoiding, or running one short training game. Small wins compound fast - and they change the tone of your day, the energy you bring to your dog, and the bond you build together.We dig into: • Why the people around you shape your joy levels • How variety builds resilience in both humans and dogs • Gratitude as a stabiliser—especially around competitions and big goals • The reinforcement balance that keeps dogs motivated and healthy • Emotional hygiene: venting safely, writing the unsent email, and reclaiming your energy • How to control the controllables and stop spiralling into what-ifsDogs model this beautifully. They don’t analyse yesterday or pre-worry tomorrow - they meet the moment. And when we practise that skill too, joy becomes easier to access, easier to repeat, and easier to build into every part of our life with dogs.If big joy feels out of reach, scale it right down: tea with honey by the sea, a ridiculous cat on a turquoise lead, a spaniel delighted by seaweed. Size doesn’t matter - pattern does.Listen in, try one tiny joy reset today, and tell us: what’s the strangest thing that brings your dog joy? Subscribe to the show, share this episode with someone who needs a lift, and leave a review to help more dog lovers find us.Support the showIf 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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• Travelling With Your Dog? Stress-Free Holidays ft. Michelle Ingham

  Send us a textTravelling with your dog shouldn’t feel like a gamble. In this episode, we break your holiday prep into simple, stress-proof steps that work in real cottages, hotels, rentals, and road trips across the UK and beyond.You’ll learn how to rehearse car comfort before you ever start the engine, teach toileting on cue in new environments, and set up your holiday cottage so your dog walks in and instantly knows what to do. We even share the story of a dog who arrived car-sick and anxious and left confident, settled, and ready for adventure, plus the exact routines that created the shift.We get practical fast: • The packing list that actually matters (triple-duty towels, gut-settling paste, electrolytes, chews, long lines, and a whistle that cuts through chaos) • How to transition food safely—even when you buy locally • The arrival formula that replaces zoomies and counter-surfing with calm, clear boundaries • The barking plan that works anywhere (settle cues, enrichment, bed/crate placement, and simple management) • The travel must-haves for UK trips and abroad: vet paperwork, safe transport setups, ID checks, hydration, and pop-up crates that create a “bedroom” on the goThese strategies aren’t theory: they’re field-tested with thousands of travelling dog owners. A few smart choices turn “stressful holiday” into “best trip yet.”Want the cheat sheet?  Happy Travels with Your Dog:An action-packed book full of tips, tricks and hacks for an amazing holiday with your dog!https://www.devondogs.co.uk/happy-travels-guide/ and book a stay at our purpose-built dog-friendly cottages. Mention the podcast for 15% off your stay.If this episode helped, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone planning their next adventure with their dog.Support the showIf 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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• Inside Flyball: Speed, Safety, Mindset & Crufts Prep ft. Nicole

  Send us a textFlyball is loud. Barking. Gates slamming. Paws pounding turf. Behind it all -  pure skill.In this episode, Nicole - a force-free flyball trainer and vet - breaks down how elite teams turn raw arousal into laser-focused speed and rock-solid safety, even under the pressure of Crufts.What We Cover (Fast + Clear): • How to fix box turns without frying your dog’s brain • When food beats toys for technical flyball work • Why the fixed nine-inch Crufts jump changes stride planning • How to prep for loud crowds, benched halls, and high-energy lanes • The real mechanics behind a 3.33-second singles run • Rabbit-skin balls: useful tool or training trap? • Why her team runs indoor-only on springy rubber for long-term safety • How to know when a dog needs to retire—even if they love to runNew to Flyball? We map out UKFL, BFA, and the new outdoor-only league, plus exactly what to look for in a great team: their training choices, warm-ups, cooldowns, and culture.If you care about speed, kindness, and teamwork, this conversation gives you practical takeaways you can use in your next session.🎧 Listen now, hit “Follow,” and share this episode with someone who loves a fast dog and thoughtful training. Then ask yourself: What’s one thing you’ll try this week?Support the showIf 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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• Why Most Vet Visits Go Wrong And the Simple Steps That Make Them Go Right ft. Alice Hildred

  Send us a textVet days don’t have to feel like a battle. We break down a calmer, smarter way to get great care for your dog by preparing the right evidence, shaping the environment, and training simple skills that pay off when it matters. From short videos of movement and wound healing to clear photos of stool or vomit, we show how to brief your vet with exactly what they need to see so a ten-minute consult becomes targeted, not rushed. You’ll hear how waiting in the car, asking for outdoor consults, and timing drop-offs can transform stress levels for everyone.We also tackle the moments where speed saves lives. Pyometra can look like “just a tummy bug” until it’s not; we explain the signs, the urgency, and how to advocate for scans when your gut says something’s wrong. Alongside that, we talk through positive muzzle training as a crucial life skill, not a stigma. Done well, a muzzle becomes a cue for rewards and calm handling, useful for pain exams, travel rules, or breed legislation, and a safety net that protects vets, techs, and your dog.To round it out, we share practical first aid steps and why a simple kit plus a printed quick-reference guide can steady your decisions when adrenaline spikes. Add in a handful of “vet games” that build consent, optimism, and mat settling, and you’ve got a playbook for kinder care and faster diagnoses. If this conversation helps you or your vet team, pass it on. Subscribe for more real-world training wins, share with a dog-loving friend, and leave a review to help others find the show.Support the showIf 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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• When Your Heart Dog Dies Young: What Nobody Tells You About Grief ft. Debbie Ganung-Rich

  Send us a textA normal training day. A happy cocker spaniel. Then a sudden shift - arched back, tucked tail, fever, vomiting - and a rush into a world of labs, ultrasound, and impossible choices. We sit with Debbie as she relives Marley’s final hours, from the first quiet signs to an emergency diagnosis of gallbladder mucocele, a condition that often hides.Beyond medicine lies the heart. Debbie names the shock few dare to say out loud: when a heart dog dies young, grief can break the body. We talk broken heart syndrome, anxiety spikes, and the odd, floating hours after the phone rings. Lauren shares the tools that helped ... therapy, journaling, structure, and a focus on gratitude that doesn’t erase pain but gives it shape. There’s no single right way to mourn. Some people wait before welcoming a new dog; others need a lead in hand. Both paths honour love.Threaded through the sorrow is Marley’s legacy: tricks that sparked laughter, dance routines that built confidence, and games-based training that turned optimism into a daily habit. Debbie explains why she left aversive methods for kind, reward-based work and how better mechanics ... fading lures, clean reinforcement, simple setups ... made progress stick. At 72, she’s drafting a book, dreaming up a small online venture, and exploring a future with another American cocker, not to replace Marley, but to carry forward the joy he started.If you’ve ever faced a sudden, devastating diagnosis ... or you want to be ready if it comes ... this conversation offers practical guidance and gentle company. Listen, share Marley’s name, and, if you need it, reach for help. Subscribe, leave a review to support the show, and tell us what legacy your dog left you.Support the showIf 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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