Choice Based Training

In this episode of the For Your K9 Podcast, Nancy Reyes and Lisa Bataska take a thoughtful look at choice-based dog training—what it is, what it isn’t, and why choice works best when paired with clear structure. Through practical examples involving veterinary care, fearful and reactive dogs, everyday safety, and dog sports, they explore how handlers can give dogs meaningful agency without avoiding necessary challenges or sacrificing boundaries. Listeners will learn how clarity, skill-building, and attention to a dog’s communication can replace control and confusion with confidence, cooperation, and trust.We would love to hear from you!For Your K9, Inc.P: (847) 671-6844E: [email protected]: www.foryourk9.comExpert training, from the dog's perspective.

Why does your dog do that? In this episode of the For Your K9 Podcast, Nancy and Lisa unpack three commonly misunderstood canine behaviors—zoomies, whale eye, and resource guarding—and explain what dogs may be communicating through each one. You’ll learn how context can reveal whether a behavior reflects play, excitement, stress, uncertainty, or a need for space; why observation matters more than labeling a dog; and when management should give way to thoughtful training. The episode closes with a simple challenge: choose one behavior that confuses or frustrates you, observe it three times without reacting, and ask yourself why it might be happening.We would love to hear from you!For Your K9, Inc.P: (847) 671-6844E: [email protected]: www.foryourk9.comExpert training, from the dog's perspective.

Why does your dog perform perfectly at home but struggle in class, out in public, or at a competition? In this episode of the For Your K9 Podcast, Nancy Reyes and Lisa Bataska explore the often-overlooked gap between training and trialing, explaining how context, distractions, stress, maturity, and handler pressure can affect a dog’s performance. They share practical strategies for helping dogs generalize their skills, including training in new environments, adjusting distance, duration, and distraction, avoiding overtraining, and preparing for the realities of competition and everyday life. Whether you participate in dog sports or simply want a more confident, responsive companion, this conversation will help you set realistic expectations and build lasting skills beyond the comfort of home.We would love to hear from you!For Your K9, Inc.P: (847) 671-6844E: [email protected]: www.foryourk9.comExpert training, from the dog's perspective.

In the debut episode of the For Your K9 Podcast, hosts Nancy and Lisa share the dogs, experiences, and lessons that shaped their journeys from corporate careers to professional dog training. They explore how their approach has evolved beyond obedience to focus on the whole dog—physical, emotional, and mental—and discuss common misconceptions about dominance, the realities of behavior change, and the importance of patience, boundaries, and genuine connection. Whether you live with a family companion, face behavioral challenges, or compete in dog sports, this introduction offers an honest and thoughtful look at what it means to remain a student of the dog.We would love to hear from you!For Your K9, Inc.P: (847) 671-6844E: [email protected]: www.foryourk9.comExpert training, from the dog's perspective.

The For Your K9 Podcast is about to launch!! Enjoy this preview and be sure to click HERE to receive notifications of new episodes.We would love to hear from you!For Your K9, Inc.P: (847) 671-6844E: [email protected]: www.foryourk9.comExpert training, from the dog's perspective.