Podcast
Reward Your Dog Podcast
At the Reward Your Dog Podcast, we understand what it’s like living with dogs who struggle - and we are here to give you tools and ideas to help you and your dog live an awesome life!
Connect with us on Patreon to stay in the loop on future episodes, ask questions, and stay in touch with your hosts: patreon.com/RewardYourDogPodcast
- Episodes
- 44
- Releases
- Monthly
- Typical length
- 51 min
- On air since
- 2024
- Latest episode
- 1 month ago
Episodes
44 episodes, newest first
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32 min
#40 Fight Club or Friendly Gathering? - Should I Take My Dog to the Dog Park?
Episode 45
Show notes
Jesse and Verena dive deep into what dog parks can and can't do for your dog and offer some practical tips on how you can decide if your dog is a good candidate for going to the dog park. Spoiler alert: When in doubt... don't.
Our shoutout in this episode goes to this awesome nail scratchboard from Lovintry.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
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19 min
Emergen-sode: How to Entertain Your Dog When You're Stuck Inside (during smoke, ice & heat)
Episode 44
Show notes
It's a hot, smoky day in Portland, OR (USA) - and this calls for a (climate) emergency podcast.... Jesse and Verena share some tips for entertaining, occupying and exercising dogs who are stuck inside the house during inclement weather.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
• Frozen Kong/Toppl etc. fillings
• Trick tutorial by KikopupWe would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
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1 hr 5 min
#39 The Big Stress Series Pt. 2: "Is My Dog Chronically Stressed?" - and How You Can Help.
Episode 43
Show notes
In this second episode on stress, Jesse and Verena dive deep into chronic stress: what it is, why it's bad, and - most importantly - what you can do about it... while dropping quite a few truth bombs (sorry not sorry).
Our shoutout in this episode goes to the Emily Priestly and her company Wild at Heart Dogs.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
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43 min
#38 The Key to Your Dog's Behavior: The Big Stress Series, Pt. 1: The Stress Response
Episode 42
Show notes
Jesse and Verena tackle a biiiig topic: stress and how it impacts behavior. In this first installment of the "Stress Series", they look at the stress response and introduce the two main types of stress, eustress and distress. Expect to get science-y and nerdy... and to learn about yourself as well as your dog.
Our shoutout in this episode goes to the Cog Dog Radio episode about Surprise Party Sue.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
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20 min
Mailbag 3: Finding Places to Exercise Your Dog
Episode 41
Show notes
Jesse and Verena share their secret tips and tricks to exercise your dog - without crowds.
Want to submit a question as well? You can do so right here:
https://www.rewardyourdogtraining.com/podcast
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
53 min
#37 "Help! My dog doesn't like people!" - and what you can do about it
Episode 40
Show notes
It can be very hard to navigate urban living with dogs who struggle with people - because urban spaces are often rather people-y. Verena and Jesse dive into dog sociability and the different social types and then discuss how to help your dog in and out of the home.
Here's the blog post on greeting (or not greeting!) people.
Our shoutout goes to Verena's Confidence Building for the Shy Dog Classand Sit Down & Beyond in SE Portland.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
57 min
#36 "As long as you're under my roof" - Giving our domesticated dogs more agency
Episode 39
Show notes
Dogs in most Western countries are domesticated - meaning they live as pets in our homes. That comes with significant perks but also with the loss of choice and control over ... a lot of things in their lives. Jesse and Verena chat about the important topic of agency: How can we provide more of it? What to do if we can't provide it? And how can we avoid sending our dogs into a state of learned helplessness?
Our shoutout goes to Rubi Sullivan at Heal Animal Massage Therapy.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
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1 hr 1 min
#35 How do you know if Dogbook is telling the truth? - Parsing Information & Epistemology w/ Emily Strong of PetHarmony
Episode 38
Show notes
What a treat to sit down with Emily Strong of PetHarmony Training to discuss how to figure out what is actually good information about dogs on the Internet - and what isn't.
Learn more about Emily's business PetHarmony here for dog guardians and here for dog pros.
The Instagram accounts Emily is recommending are:
PetHarmony Training (for dog guardians)
PetHarmony Pro (for behavior professionals)
Ken Ramirez and the Karen Pryor Clicker Training
Kristina Spaulding (Science Matters LLC)
Perry Hekman(and her website The Dog Zombie)
The shoutout goes to the Enrichment for the Real World Podcast - which is hosted by Emily herself.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
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58 min
#34 Harnessing the Power of Habits for Good (and for Evil)
Episode 37
Show notes
Going into 2026, Verena and Jesse examine how habits can be a powerful force in our lives - and our dogs' lives too. Listen to find out more about how to use this power for good training, emotional support and to avoid common pitfalls.
The articles referenced are:
How to Break Bad Habits: A Realistic Guide for ADHDers
The shoutout goes to the Southwest Washington Humane Society, where we adopted our sweet new kitty Zeno from.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
44 min
#33 Is there hope for my barky, lungy, growly city dog? OR: Resolving urban leash reactivity in 4 steps!
Episode 36
Show notes
Verena and Jesse dig deep into why having a dog who barks, lunges, growls and pulls on the leash around triggers like dogs, people, skateboard, bikes etc. while living in the city is so tough... and what you can do to help.
The shoutout goes out to Verena's Urban Dog Reactivity Online Program, which opens its door again for enrollment on January 5, 2026. It offers an effective and kind blueprint that helps you as a guardian with a leash reactive dog living in the city have better, more connected and fun walks.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
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50 min
#32 Caring for Yourself while Caring for a Difficult Dog
Episode 35
Show notes
Life with a struggly dog can be really hard. Behavior modification training is often the long game and takes a toll on everyone. How can you as the guardian of a difficult dog with big feelings keep yourself sane as you live with your tricky fur friend? Jesse and Verena send out some empathy for you while discussing some strategies to help you cope with this complex situation.
The shoutout goes out to Dog Adventures NW. DANW offers off leash adventures, training, boarding and petsitting in Portland and Salem in Oregon as well as in Atlanta and Denver.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
17 min
Mailbag 2: Dealing with Off Leash Dogs
Episode 34
Show notes
One of the toughest things to deal with when you have a reactive dog: an approaching off leash dog! Jesse and Verena share strategies for how to handle this sticky situation.
Want to submit a question as well? You can do so right here:
https://www.rewardyourdogtraining.com/podcast
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
1 hr 21 min
# 31 "What even is reactivity?" - Unpacking the label w/ Suzanne Clothier
Episode 33
Show notes
Jesse and Verena sit down with Suzanne Clothier of Relationship Center Training to discuss what's behind the label "reactive". "Reactive" has become a catch all term for dogs with big feelings these days, but what does it truly mean when we use it? We look at different kinds of reactivity all the while Suzanne reminds us to remember that each dog is a unique individual.
The shoutout goes out to Suzanne's wonderful work. For dog trainers, she has the upcoming course "Reactivity Repair Kit" (check this page for announcements). For dog guardians, she recommends "RCT Skills for the Reactive Dog" and her unmissable classic "The Auto Check In."
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
And of course you can reach out to Verena help with your dog. More info on Verena and Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
51 min
#30 Getting the most out of training sessions
Episode 32
Show notes
In the latest installment of the RYDP, Jesse and Verena discuss how you can make sure that you're utilizing your dog's training sessions fully, covering everything from having a coaching mindset while advocating for yourself to how much time you need to budget for your dog's training transformation.
Our shoutout in this episode goes to Woof Cultr!
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
More info on Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
1 hr 10 min
#29 "Get your hands off me, you dirty ape" - Touch & Consent w/ Lorenzo JW Fox
Episode 31
Show notes
Jesse and Verena sat down for a chat with the amazing Lorenzo JW Fox to discuss when and how dogs like to be touched, how to keep people from reaching for your dog in public, and what enthusiastic consent looks like.
You can learn more about Lorenzo JW Fox through his work at Synergy in Portland, OR or on his Instagram.
So many resources for you:
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
More info on Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
18 min
#28 The Sutherlands' European Vacation & Dog Observations
Episode 30
Show notes
In this episode, we explain where we have been all summer long... and the answer is Germany and Austria! We bring you some interesting observations around the dog-human relationship from our travels. You can take the dog trainer out of the country, but she'll still be wearing her dog trainer hat, y'all!
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
More info on Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
1 hr 11 min
#27 "What a Trip!" - Anxiety Medication for Dogs with Dr. Chris Pachel
Episode 28
Show notes
We're so excited to be able to present to you this important and thorough interview with Dr. Pachel of the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, OR wherein we dive into the topic of psychoactive medication - what options there are, how they can help your dog, and when they might be needed. So many things to consider - you might want to listen twice!
You can learn more about Dr. Pachel on his website.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
More info on Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
17 min
Mailbag 1: Correction vs scuffle - what's the difference?
Episode 27
Show notes
Oh my! A new type of episode!
In our inaugural mailbag episode, we discuss a listener question on when a correction between dogs is appropriate and where the line to a scuffle lies - and what to do when scuffles happened.
Want to submit a question as well? You can do so right here:
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55 min
#26 Nagivating the Dog Training Industry Pt. 4: Types of Training
Episode 26
Show notes
The final episode in the "Navigating the Dog Training Industry" dives into different kinds of training modalities. What's the difference between private training, day training, board & train and classes? Learn more about getting the most out of training with your precious pup.
Our shoutout goes to the "The Dog's Truth" by Kim Brophey.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
More info on Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
-
55 min
#25 Navigating the Dog Training Industry Pt. 3: Finding a Trainer
Episode 25
Show notes
In our third installment of the "Navigating the Dog Training Industry" series, we talk about how to find a trainer who is aligned with your ethics and values and has the necessary expertise to help you with your dog's struggles. Jesse and Verena are diving into training styles, certifications, and cutting through marketing strategies - so that you can do what's right for your dog.
Our shoutout goes to the Karen Pryor Academy.
We would appreciate your support for the Reward Your Dog Podcast by liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing. It helps us so much!
You can also:
Join the RYDP Patreon (no paywalls unless you *want* to subscribe)
More info on Reward Your Dog Training can be found here:
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