Dr Dunbar's Iwoofs Podcasts

The easiest way to save shelter dogs is to prevent them from being created in the first place. Every shelter dog began life as an impressionable little puppy and in this episode the Dunbars discuss the importance of starting that puppy on the right paw. As dog trainers, it’s our responsibility to

To learn more, visit: https://www.jamesandkenneth.com Ian is gearing up for a round of seminars this year and he’s coming to a city near you. After a 6 year retirement from public speaking, Dr. Dunbar is back with a new seminar series. It’s called Science-Based Dog Training (with Feeling) and

Dog Training is all about learning and teaching.  There is a lot of research that has been done about how animals and humans learn, and the results should inform our approach to dog training.  However, learning theory has been developed from experiments conducted in a lab, and it’s important to

Apps are all the rage these days.  As more and more people get next generation smart phones and iPhones, a whole industry has sprung up.  These mini computer applications can be anything, and they’re usually relatively cheap and can be accessed from your phone while you’re on the move.  The

There are a lot of products out there that claim to help you take care of and train your dog.  Some of these items can make your life considerably easier, while others are a waste of money and some can even be dangerous to your dog.  The Dunbars talk about the best tools you can use in dog

Dog Star Daily and the Dunbars could not be more excited to announce the launch of a new show that is going to revolutionize dog training TV.  There are nearly as many ways to train dogs as there are dog trainers, which is why we will feature a new trainer each week.  Each one will be using their...

Dog owners can have some silly notions about their dogs, but if you watch TV and movies it’s easy to see where they come from.  Dogs in the media are regularly portrayed as little people in doggy bodies, which automatically understand us and help us when we need it.   And the dog trainers that

Getting a dog is a huge responsibility in a a number of different ways.  In this episode, the Dunbars talk about the financial commitment that a dog, and especially a puppy require.  They break down the cost into the most common categories, and discuss tips on how you can save a little money

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!  No puppy class is perfect, but an off-leash puppy training and socialization course provides one of the most wonderful learning opportunities in dog training.  Puppies can play together without worry that any of them are aggressive, learning

People get dogs for a lot of different reasons.  In this episode we hear about the different dogs Kelly and Ian have had throughout the years, and the variety of roles the fulfilled for them.  Dog can provide a lot of things in their relationships with humans, with the most obvious being

The Holiday Pet Hokum:  Every December a lot of puppies are purchased as presents for their families. Sometimes these puppies are purchased as a surprise for children who will not be able to properly train the new pets, and as result some of them end up being surrendered to shelters.  A puppy is a

Living with multiple dogs can be a lot of work, even in the best of cases.  If those dogs don’t get along though, it can turn your entire life into a stressful nightmare.  As with all dog aggression, the first question is how good is their bite inhibition.  If the dogs are aggressive, but

Resource guarding is a very natural behavior for dogs.  It’s very important that you take the time to teach your dog that they have no need to guard objects from humans.  Otherwise, you’ll have a ticking time bomb that’s eventually going to scare or hurt someone.  Meanwhile, they’ll live

Dogs have needs.  They’re dogs and they were born to do certain doggy things.  If you try to stop your dog from ever barking, chewing, digging, chasing it’s going to go crazy.  It’s just not fair to the dog.  The secret to success is teaching your dog when and where to do the things they

All of a sudden, my perfect little puppy…  Adolescent dog problems take far too many owners by surprise.  Adolescence is going to be a time of change, and every puppy is going to go through it, so get ready for it!  Your puppy needs a gentle mouth and a rock-solid foundation of socialization and

Puppy problems may look harmless now, but unless you do something about them, they’re going to get bigger and badder.  Puppies don’t naturally grow out of their biting, jumping up, barking or chewing habits.  Instead you have to train them how to do these things appropriately.  Fortunately,

Punishment is one of the most misunderstood elements of dog training.  There is certainly a place for punishment in dog training, but there is no reason it has to be painful or mean.  Successful punishment decreases the frequency of an undesirable behavior, and can be phased out as the dog

Good dog training goes through several important steps.  Using lures and rewards to teach a command is just the beginning.  A dog that sits on command while you’re alone in the living room and holding a cookie is not necessarily going to sit on command at a BBQ in the park, surrounded by playing

In dog training the concept of respect can be a dangerous thing. Too many owners expect their dogs to behave appropriately out of sheer respect. While that would be nice, it’s simply not the case, and it’s foolish and inhumane to expect that. If you want your dog to listen to you, first you must

Getting a dog is always a big decision and everyone in the household should be a part of the process. Of course, this includes any dogs that you already live with. You certainly don’t want to bring home a new dog without first checking that it will be a good fit for your household. The Dunbars