A Conversation with Ivan Balabanov and Michael Ellis

Recently, I invited David Garcia Suarez from Spain to judge our club trial so we could get our dogs and training critiqued first hand by one the most respected IGP judges at the moment. David has judged many National Championships, as well as World Championships including FMBB which he will once again judge this month in Italy.The conversation gives a glimpse of how he evaluates IGP performance and what the rule book expects from the handler, how emotional state(s) are evaluated as well. We also talk about the current pressure the sport is under in Europe, the demands of the force free advocates and much more.Enjoy!Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.com

On my recent trip to Northern California, I had an opportunity sit down with Michael and answer some questions that trainers submitted on social media. We had a great time and answered a ton of questions.I hope you enjoy it!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirty-Six: Vadim PlotskerIn this episode, I interviewed dog sport competitor, IGP judge, member of the WUSV board of directors, and current United Schutzhund Club of America President, Vadim Plotsker. I have been wanting to have this conversation for a long time as Vadim has a very unique perspective on the sport of Schutzhund and the German Shepherd dog. During the conversation we were able to discuss the current state of Schutzhund not only in America, but worldwide. I was able to find some answers regarding rule changes and the path required for them to become rules in the FCI standard.We were also able to discuss some of the issues facing the sport of IGP worldwide and potential solutions to those issues. I learned a ton from this discussion and I am sure you will as well!Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.com

My goal when I started the TWC podcast was to provide knowledge and tell stories from true experts.My guest in this episode is very much a true expert in his field and at the absolute top of the game as far as I am concerned. He is someone I have known since my days in California back in the 90's and am happy to call a friend.I am happy to share my conversation with the incredibly talented photographer, Brian Aghajani.If you have seen an incredible photo from an IGP National Championship over the last 10 years, it is very likely that Brian was the person behind the lens. He has been capturing and sharing incredible moments for years, but I knew he also had a very interesting story to tell. In this episode, we dive into his history, both as a photographer and a dog trainer. He shares incredible knowledge on what allows him to take the unbelievable photos that he produces and also shares stories on what was happening behind the scenes in some of his most famous photos. I had a great time catching up and learning more about Brian and his expertise and I know you will as well. As always, if you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe to my YouTube channel to be the first to know about future episodes!For more information about Brian, check out: https://brianaghajani.comIvan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.com

This episode is a recording of Ivan Balabanov's appearance on the Bow Wow Bill Podcast on 11/26/23.

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirty-Four: Louis DonaldIf you are German Shepherd lover, this episode is for you!This week’s episode epitomizes the reason I started my podcast.I wanted to have in depth conversations and talk dogs with some of the most accomplished, knowledgeable, and interesting people on the planet. Louis Donald is one of the world’s foremost experts on the German Shepherd breed.Louis has had a lifelong passion for the German Shepherd dog.At the young age of 26, he was elected President of the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia and held the position for 2 decades. His book, The Definitive German Shepherd Dog, in my opinion should be MANDATORY reading for anyone not only interested in German Shepherds, but dogs in general. Louis became a fully licensed working dog judge in 1974, and in 1978, he became Australia’s first fully licensed SV German Shepherd Dog Judge, and at the time, the youngest SV judge in the world. His knowledge about the breed, to put it mildly, is vast.He is a true dog man with a passion for German Shepherds.In the podcast, we discuss the origins of the German Shepherd dog, how the division between working and show lines occurred, problems facing the German Shepherd Dog breed in present day, and some of the deepest and darkest secrets of the German Shepherd dog lineage going back to some of the breeds most heralded studs.The 3 hours we talked absolutely flew by and we still had more to talk about, but we agreed to save it for another episode. This is absolutely one of my favorite podcasts to date, and I know you will all love it. As you check out this amazing episode, all I ask is that you hit the subscribe button and tell a friend!For more information about Louis Donald and to buy his book, check out his website: https://louisdonald.comIvan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.com

Welcome to another Training Without Conflict podcast! In today's special episode, I’m honored to have with us Dr. David Mech, a globally recognized authority on wolf behavior. Dr. Mech's groundbreaking research has reshaped our understanding of these majestic creatures, but his work has often been misinterpreted, especially in the dog training community.For years, the concept of dominance in animal behavior has been a topic of contention, with many in the dog training world advocating for positive reinforcement methods and dismissing dominance as an outdated idea. Today, Dr. Mech joins us to set the record straight. We'll discuss the nuances of wolf behavior, the misconceptions about dominance, and how these insights apply to dog training. Join us as we debunk myths and explore the rich complexity of animal behavior with the expert himself, Dr. David Mech.Ivan

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirty-Two: Dean CalderonI’m sure many of you have heard the term “dog boy” around certain dog training circles.Many people don’t know where that term came from, but this week, you will find out where it came from and why…My guest this week is self proclaimed “Dog Boy”, dog sport legend, and my friend Dean Calderon.Dean has some strong opinions that you may or may not agree with, but you can feel the passion and love he has for IGP and for all dogs as he shares his thoughts with me. This conversation was as real as it gets. Completely organic, raw, and unfiltered.The only way Dean knows how to do it. Dean is an incredible storyteller and believe me…These are stories you will want to hear!The cover photo of this podcast is from the 2007 FCI World Championship when Dean and I stood proud as champions of the world!This is one of the amazing stories we tell in this podcast. Absolute MUST LISTEN for any dog sport fan, competitor, and enthusiast.As always, if you enjoy this podcast, subscribe for more to come, share with your friends, and hit the like button so more people like you can find out about it!Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.com

This week on my podcast I had a conversation with the highly controversial trainer The Dog Daddy.While many of you might find this surprising or even potentially upsetting, my goal with my podcast is to allow all of you to learn about training methods and perspectives from trainers across the spectrum of dog training. Although Dog Daddy has created quite a rift in the dog training space, I was interested to have him explain his perspective on training so I could understand for myself, instead of relying on the words and beliefs of biased, social media influencers that are fixated on a particular ideology. My goal was not to disprove, disapprove, approve or propagate Dog Daddy’s methods or beliefs in this podcast. It was simply to provide myself and my audience with a first hand account of what, why, and how he views and utilizes dog training concepts in his training. This conversation, in my opinion, is another step in an attempt to bridge the wide gap between the two warring camps in dog training. I hope you approach this podcast with an open mind and save your decisions, beliefs, and feelings for the moment you have all of the information presented to you.I have asked other well known trainers and scientists to have conversations with me, and quite frankly they do not have the courage to take me up on my offer. If they are upset by this podcast, they are welcome to join me to talk about it. You may not like this podcast.You may love it.But understanding each other is crucial to progressing as a group. Progress lies just beyond a few difficult conversations and the sooner we begin to talk to each other, the sooner we can begin to truly make progress as an industry. That being said, if you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and share with your friends. Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.com

Training Without Conflict® Episode Thirty: Omar Von MullerIn this episode, I had the pleasure to catch up and have a nice conversation with a long time friend, and trick dog master, Omar Von Muller.It is highly likely you have seen one of Omar's tricks in a viral video in the past or in a major Hollywood production. As a teenager, Omar trained dogs for friends and family. Omar also spent time training police dogs for the Miami Dade Police Department, as well as competing in Schutzhund and French Ring.In 1993, Omar moved from Miami to Los Angeles where he began to train dogs for celebrities, and the motion picture industry. Some of his movie credits include, The Italian Job, Four Brothers, Jackass 3D, and Water for Elephants.The highest honor of Omar's career is his dog Uggie being involved in the Academy Award winning film, The Artist. Uggie received many awards for this role worldwide and eventually became the first dog to have his paw prints immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Currently, Omar continues to train dogs for Hollywood films, but has also created an online learning platform for students to learn how to teach tricks to their personal dogs. For more information about Omar, check out: https://www.trainingwithomar.com/Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.com