Episode 65: The Myth Behind Leash Reactivity

In this episode, I sit down with my wife, Natalia Balabanov, to talk about the unique world of living, training, and competing together at the top level of dog sports. We dive into what it’s really like to share the same passion, the same goals, and sometimes the same pressure — while balancing the roles of coach, trainer, and spouse.From the intensity of competition to the daily grind of training plans and long-term goals, we talk openly about teamwork, communication, and how we handle the challenges that come with working side by side. We also explore what it takes to stay motivated, support each other, and keep improving when you’re both aiming to be the best in the world.If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to mix love, sport, and ambition — this one’s for you.

Leash reactivity. You’ve heard it a thousand times.Trainers throw it around, clients repeat it, and somehow it’s become the magic explanation for every dog that barks, lunges, or pulls on leash.But here’s the truth: there is no such thing as leash reactivity.It’s a lazy label. A word salad. And it fails dogs every single day.In this episode, I’m breaking down why the term doesn’t help.

TWC Podcast #64 Slot Machines Don’t Train Dogs!What if everything you’ve been told about variable reinforcement is only half the story?Dog trainers and psychologists love to say, “Switch to variable reinforcement, it’s like a slot machine, that’s how behaviors stick.” But here’s the truth: that analogy is flawed, incomplete, and in training, often misleading.In this episode, Ivan Balabanov breaks down:-Why the slot machine comparison fails in dog training.-When is Continuous Reinforcement actually more powerful?-How to use extinction bursts as a tool to sharpen behaviors.-Why barking, whining, and nipping aren’t “disobedience” but feedback.-The difference between keeping behaviors alive vs. making them bulletproof.Dogs aren’t pigeons in Skinner boxes. They aren’t gamblers at slot machines. Real training is about clarity, joy, precision, and connection — not random paychecks.If you’re serious about dog training, this episode will challenge what you’ve been told and show you how to think beyond the textbook.Subscribe to the Training Without Conflict® Podcast for more episodes

If Errorless Learning was the greatest breakthrough in how animals—or humans—learn, why hasn’t it taken over education?It’s been over 60 years since it was introduced. If it really worked, wouldn’t our schools, colleges, and universities have adopted it by now?In this solo podcast, I break down two recent publications by Eduardo J. Fernandez:“Comparing trial-and-error to errorless learning procedures in training pet dogs a visual discrimination”and“The Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective (LIFE) model: A new framework for ethical animal training practices”These aren’t scientific breakthroughs—they’re ideological maneuvers. Behind the friendly language and force-free branding lies a troubling pattern: rigging methodology, ignoring real-world complexity, and selling fantasy as welfare.I’ll explain why these ideas not only fail in practice—but are dangerous when taken seriously.here are the links for the two papers:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375769627_Comparing_Trial-and-Error_to_Errorless_Learning_Procedures_in_Training_Pet_Dogs_a_Visual_Discriminationhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo-Fernandez-27/publication/376288769_The_Least_Inhibitive_Functionally_Effective_LIFE_Model_A_New_Framework_for_Ethical_Animal_Training_Practices/links/65b9e19479007454974f5517/The-Least-Inhibitive-Functionally-Effective-LIFE-Model-A-New-Framework-for-Ethical-Animal-Training-Practices.pdf

The first podcast I did with Larry Krohn was years ago, and it sparked a lot of debate around the e-collar.Since then, Larry has completed my Training Without Conflict™ school, and through many conversations we’ve come to realize how much common ground we share. Today, we agree on nearly everything and hold a strong respect for one another.We’ve wanted to do a second podcast for quite some time, and our schedules finally aligned. The result is a 4+ hour conversation covering a wide range of dog training topics.This one isn’t about conflict, it’s about depth, clarity, and experience.

Back for a second round: FCI judge David Garcia Suarez joins me for another deep and at times provocative conversation, this time focused entirely on IGP.We dive into:   •   The evolution of rules and judging   •   How training styles have shifted over the last 10, 20, even 30 years   •   The influence of genetics on modern dogs   •   And where the sport is headingWhether you’re a competitor, trainer, or just a passionate observer, this episode pulls no punches. Let us know what you think, agree, disagree, or want to push the conversation further? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Sixty: Dr. Josef Witt-DoerringSSRIs, Dogs, and the Chemical Lobotomy No One Wants to Talk About - with Dr. Josef Witt-DoerringIn this episode, I sit down with Dr. Josef, a board-certified psychiatrist, former FDA medical officer, and one of the few voices brave enough to speak publicly about what SSRIs are really doing to people… and what that means for dogs.The so-called “safe and effective” narrative is crumbling.What we’re seeing instead are emotional numbness, cognitive damage, and permanent changes to the brain, and not just in humans.While the AVSAB continues to push SSRIs as a behavioral fix for dogs, the evidence of harm is mounting. In this conversation, we dismantle the myth of the “chemical imbalance,” and challenge the blind faith many trainers and veterinarians have placed in psychiatric drugs.If you’re a trainer, vet, or dog owner who cares about animal welfare, this is a conversation you can’t ignore.For more information about Dr. Josef, check out:https://www.instagram.com/taperclinichttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT0HW8jp8xDuczBnO7Kg7rAIvan 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's Dog Training School and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.comPlease like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

In this  Training Without Conflict® Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Ori Stollar, also known as Dr. Orion on YouTube, a veterinarian and board-certified veterinary behaviorist specialist.  (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists).Dr. Orion and I connected after he publicly responded to my critiques of the widespread use of SSRIs in dogs. To his credit, he agreed to come on the show for an open conversation.We cover big questions in this episode:   •   Is the “chemical imbalance” theory real science or outdated marketing?   •   Are SSRIs really making dogs better, or just easier to live with?   •   What’s the role of medication vs. training in resolving behavior problems?Whether you’re a trainer, a veterinarian, or a dog owner trying to make sense of the growing push for pharmaceuticals, you need to hear both sides.Enjoy listening . Share if  you liked it or if it challenges what you’ve been toldFor more information about Dr. Orion, check out: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3eNQ33_H6sub78yVa1-6PwIvan 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's Dog Training School and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.comPlease like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Fifty-Eight: Jan Van MarenIn this episode, I have a conversation with a good friend and excellent helper Jan Van Maren. For those who know him, he needs no introduction, but for those who don’t, he is a highly respected world-level IGP helper from the Netherlands. He was the helper at the 2017 WUSV World Championship and was also brought in to be helper at the 2017 Brazilian IPO Championships. I had a great time with this conversation and I am sure you will love it as well!Enjoy and don’t forget to comment!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's Dog Training School and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: https://trainingwithoutconflict.comhttps://malinois.comhttps://premierprotectiondogs.comPlease like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

I had a great conversation with Johan Weckhuyzen. Johan is the breeder of van de Duvetorre Malinois kennels in Belgium. He is also the president of FMBB. I've known Johan for a very long time and finally was able to catch him to come to the podcast. We talk about Malinois, the legends in the breed, selection l, genetics, and training, Ring sport, IGP, detection and much more. We did not have time to go over the future goals of FMBB , this will part two. Enjoy and don’t forget to comment!