Training Without Conflict Podcast

In this solo podcast, I address the broader argument against aversive tools in dog training promoted by the AVSAB and the R+-only movement.Recently, Dr. Michael Bailey, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association, commented on the use of electronic collars in dog training. That comment triggered backlash and a strong response from Dr. Lisa Radosta, President of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.But this presentation is not about personalities.It’s about the claim that aversives never have a place in dog training.Using peer-reviewed research, learning theory, and real-world outcomes, I examine whether the “no aversives ever” position is actually supported by evidence and what happens to dogs when ideology overrides results.At the end, I invite you, the trainers and owners, to share stories of dogs who are alive today because balanced training worked when nothing else did.Outcomes matter.

In this episode, I break down one of the most damaging myths in modern dog training, the idea that all resource guarding is caused by Fear.I explain why this “fear-only” narrative collapses the moment you look at real behavior, and how it leads trainers and owners to misdiagnose dogs every day.I go into the difference between fear-based guarding and competitive, status-driven guarding… and why confusing the two creates bigger, long-term problems!If you want a clear, functional understanding of resource guarding, without ideology, this episode is for you.

In this episode I’m back with Melanie Uhde for a direct and unapologetic conversation about canine behavior, animal learning, and the growing gap between popular dog training ideology and biological reality. We examine commonly cited canine studies, how they’re often misread or selectively used, and why the force-free narrative fails to explain how animals actually learn, adapt, and thrive.A major part of our conversation centers on adversity and aversives in training, not as something to be reflexively avoided, but as information. We talk about why challenge, discomfort, and even conflict are not inherently harmful, and why some dogs don’t just tolerate adversity but actively seek it. For many dogs, especially those with strong drives, the thrill of overcoming resistance, pressure, and difficulty is part of what makes learning meaningful!This episode challenges the idea that good training must be sterile, effortless, or free of negative experience. Instead, we explore learning as it actually occurs in real animals, through consequences, feedback, success, failure, and resilience.This conversation wasn’t meant to protect feelings or ideology. It’s for trainers, behavior professionals, and serious dog people who are interested in honest, EVIDENCE BASED discussions about animal learning, motivation, and performance.

In this episode, Ivan Balabanov and Will Bangura sit down for a direct, honest conversation about dog training, learning theory, and the claims behind “positive-only” methods.No scripts. No prepared speeches. Just two trainers with very different philosophies trying to understand and challenge each other. The points of agreement matter just as much as the disagreements.Different philosophies. Different experiences. Same goal: truth over ideology.This is only the beginning. Part 2 is already coming.

For over 40 years, dog trainers have been fed a feel-good myth: the "jackpot" reward, championed by Karen Pryor, claims a pile of treats will supercharge your dog’s learning. But does it deliver? Did the force-free movement’s “kool-aid” mislead trainers for decades?Tune in and discover the truth!