Leerburg Dog Training Podcast

David Littlefield discusses what happens when dog handlers and trainers fall into territorial camps. Everybody has their own training philosophy and preferences, and it is up to us to learn what we can, take what works for us and our dog, and leave what doesn't.

Ian O’Connell sits down with longtime Leerburg friend and mentor Kevin Sheldahl to talk about what it takes to be a good police K9 handler instructor.

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 with Kevin Sheldahl - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

In 1982, Ed Frawley started Leerburg Enterprises. At that time, he had been filming dog training videos for 4 years. Now 78 years old, Ed retired from Leerburg at the end of January 2026 with a goal of spending more time with his family and doing a lot of fishing. Ed sold Leerburg to 2 friends who are both retired K9 handlers and instructors - Ian O’Connell and David Littlefield. Ian and Dave have great plans for Leerburg. They are keeping every employee and the business will stay in Menomonie, WI. | Links mentioned: About Us - https://leerburg.com/aboutus.htm

Get to know more about the new owners of Leerburg, Ian O'Connell and David Littlefield, with this Ask Us Anything interview. In this video, the team sits down to answer YOUR burning questions about the transition, the future of Leerburg, and what's staying exactly the same. From the whereabouts of Ed Frawley to personal dog training stories, police K9 deployments, and even some fun rapid-fire questions— Ian and David cover it all. Whether you're curious about product quality, the company's vision, or just want to get to know the new leadership, this Ask Us Anything session has something for everyone. | Links mentioned: About Us - https://leerburg.com/aboutus.htm

Most dog bites are preventable — but only if you know what to look for. The problem is, the warning signals dogs give off before a bite aren't always obvious, and for pet owners without a training background, they're easy to miss. In this clip from Dealing with Reactive, Aggressive, and Dominant Dogs, we break down what dog aggression actually means, why it looks different from dog to dog, and why labeling your dog's aggression matters less than learning to recognize the signals before a situation escalates. | Links mentioned: Dealing with Reactive, Aggressive, and Dominant Dogs - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/137

Muzzles get a bad reputation, but the truth is there are many situations where a muzzle is the kindest, safest tool you can reach for — and none of them make your dog a "bad dog." In this clip from Conditioning Your Dog to a Muzzle on Leerburg University, we cover the range of reasons a handler might choose to muzzle their dog — from managing aggression safely, to protecting dogs who can't stop eating things they shouldn't, to making vet visits and grooming appointments less stressful for everyone involved. A muzzle isn't a punishment. It's a management tool — and when introduced correctly, most dogs tolerate it without stress.| Links mentioned: Conditioning Your Dog to a Muzzle - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/150

Dopamine is commonly called the feel-good hormone — but that's not accurate. It's better understood as an anticipatory hormone, and if you're doing detection work, that distinction matters. In this clip from Kevin Sheldahl's Foundations of Scent Work Training seminar, Kevin breaks down the role dopamine plays in your dog's search drive. A rise in anticipation equals a rise in dopamine, and that directly drives foraging behavior — the sniffing and searching you need your dog doing on a detection task. | Links mentioned: Foundations of Scent Work with Kevin Sheldahl - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

Filmed at The Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers, this comprehensive course brings Michael's renowned 2-week protection class straight to you — 320 videos and over 18 hours of content covering everything from foundational theory to hands-on bite work. With Michael now retired from running his school, this is your chance to learn directly from one of the most respected names in the field. Whether you're a sport dog competitor, professional trainer, law enforcement K9 handler, or dedicated dog owner, you'll gain a deep understanding of protection theory, equipment, handler and decoy roles, puppy and adult dog bite development, drive building, aggression work, and how to design a complete training program for any dog. Part 1 of a 2-part series — enroll now at https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/229.

Today, Ed Frawley sits down and briefly introduces the new owners of Leerburg and introduces Ian O'Connell and David Littlefield. Both are experienced K9 Handlers and long-time friends of Ed Frawley. After 42 years of building and owning Leerburg, Ed has finally retired to take some time with family and to do some fishing. The new owners, Ian and Dave, are excited to take over and commit to the mission of Leerburg, serving people who love to train dogs. This is just the beginning to a new and exciting era of Leerburg where we look to grow and continue to provide the content and equipment you can trust. Stay tuned for fresh and new content!

In 1982, Ed Frawley started Leerburg Enterprises. At that time he had been filming dog training videos for 4 years. Now 78, Ed retired from Leerburg at the end of January 2026 with a goal of spending more time with his family and to do a lot of fishing. Ed sold Leerburg to 2 friends who are both retired K9 handlers and instructors - Ian O’Connell and David Littlefield. Ian and Dave have great plans for Leerburg. They are keeping every employee and the business will stay in Menomonie, WI. Leerburg has been your trusted resource since 1982. For over 42 years, this company was built on one thing — a genuine love for dogs and the people who train them. Under new ownership, that doesn't change. Our mission, our products, and our dedication to you remain exactly the same. We're honored to continue serving you.

Unlock the full potential of remote collar training in this comprehensive 10-hour master class, expertly led by renowned dog trainer Michael Ellis. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a dog owner seeking to enhance your training skills, this course offers in-depth knowledge on the effective and ethical use of remote collars. With 173 detailed videos spanning 8 informative modules, you'll gain both theoretical insights and practical demonstrations that you can apply immediately. | Links mentioned: Remote Collar Master Class with Michael Ellis - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/238

This course is designed for civilian scent work trainers—both beginners and experienced handlers—as well as law enforcement professionals, including police officers who are starting the detection training process with a new police dog. Kevin Sheldahl's experience and bias come from a practical working dog application, but our attendees and their variety of dogs challenged him to expand his perspective on a variety of scent sports and canine enrichment activities. This makes the Foundations to Detection course good for all dog owners and trainers to learn something useful that they can apply to their own training and relationship with their dog. | Links mentioned: Foundations of Scent Work - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

In this video, Ed Frawley reads and discusses an Ask Cindy Q and A that addresses a challenging and increasingly common issue in German Shepherd Dogs: obsessive tail chasing that may be developing into a compulsive behavior. The question comes from an owner of a young GSD whose tail chasing has escalated over the last six months to the point where changes in energy or environment trigger frantic spinning, vocalization, and difficulty responding to verbal commands. Despite a veterinary exam showing no physical cause, the behavior continues to worsen, leaving the owner unsure how to proceed. | Links mentioned: How We Manage Dogs in Our Home: https://leerburg.com/managementdvd.htm | Basic Dog Obedience: https://leerburg.com/302.htm | Remote Collar for the Pet Owner: https://leerburg.com/ecollar-pet-owner.php

In this Ask Cindy Q and A, Ed Frawley reads and discusses a thoughtful question from a new puppy owner preparing to bring home an 8-week-old puppy for the first time. After the recent loss of a beloved 12-year-old Labrador, the viewer wants to make sure they start their new puppy off the right way—from day one. | Links mentioned: Getting Started With Your New Puppy Bundle - https://leerburg.com/puppy-bundle.php

This course was hosted by Leerburg in November 2025 and taught by Kevin Sheldahl. Recognized as one of the world’s leading scent work instructors, Kevin presents a clear, step-by-step approach to building strong detection fundamentals. Led by one of the nation’s most qualified detection dog trainers, this three-day workshop covers core foundations for all levels and detection disciplines, including odor recognition, indication, alert behavior, and search development. | Links mentioned: Foundations of Scent Work Training - 323 Videos: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

This seminar is a primer on detection training that every dog trainer should see. Taught by Kevin Sheldahl, a practical teacher with decades of experience. This course is jam-packed with little gold nuggets of information and wisdom, you don't even realize how good it is until you've seen it. There is 323 videos with additional text and supplemental content. | Links mentioned: K-9 Detector Dog Training: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/186 | Foundations of Detection (Coming Soon): https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

Discover the famous story of Clever Hans, the early-1900s horse who amazed crowds by “answering” math questions—until researchers uncovered the truth: Hans wasn’t doing calculations at all. He was reading subtle, unintentional cues from his handler. In this video, we break down what really happened with Clever Hans and explain why this lesson is crucial in detection dog training today. From cueing risks to handler influence and the importance of blind testing, you’ll learn how trainers ensure dogs are responding to odor—not people. Perfect for anyone interested in scent work, detection sports, and the science behind reliable canine training. | Links mentioned: K-9 Detector Dog Training: https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/186