Good Dogs!™
This show explores all aspects of communication between people and dogs — whether they are K-9 partners in military work, purpose-bred and trained service dogs, competitors in dog sports, or pets — from a newly-adopted senior dog to a young puppy.
The show’s philosophy is that dog training is people training: people need to understand dogs from the canine perspective so they can live and work together harmoniously.
Tracie has numerous guests and co-hosts, including Carol Borden, the Founder/Director of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, which are purpose-bred and trained working dogs.
Many GOOD DOGS! shows originally featured three veteran trainers — Gayle Watkins, Lise Pratt and Marcy Burke — who bred agility performance Golden Retrievers.
Theme song “My One Best Friend” by Jasmine Tea.
What is Real Aggression? Does This Frenchie Have It?
#6032-REV: Marcy Burke discusses what real aggression is — and what the solution might be for the owners of an aggressive French Bulldog in New Jersey who has bitten several people.
What Personality Type is Your Dog?
#6029-REV: Breeders and trainers often look at an individual dog’s personality as inborn and categorize dogs into different canine personality traits like bold, soft and exuberant. If you didn’t get your dog as a puppy, then it’s hard to know how much her natural tendencies have been shaped by her environment — was it nature, nurture or a combination of the two? (Like all of us!)
3 Kinds of Scent Work to Try With Your Dog
#6025-REV: There are three categories of scent work for dogs: tracking (you can join a club to learn how to teach your dog to track humans), nose work (which mimics the identification of drug, bomb and other contraband) and fun games at home (like Easter egg hunt types of hide and seek.)
Private or Group Dog Training?
#6021-REV: How to decide which will be better for you and your dog — to learn in a class or by yourselves? There are pros and cons to both, but maybe a combination of the two might work best, if you can afford it.
The "BFO" Moment Understanding Your Dog — the "Blinding Flash of the Obvious"
#6019-REV: Lise explains her term about training and the “light bulb moment” people have when understanding their dog — which she calls a BFO — Blinding Flash of the Obvious. She also explains how puppies learn bite control and what to do if yours never learned it — the way Tracie's pooch Maisie had never done when she first adopted her at 9 months.
What "Alpha Dog" Really Means
#6073-REV: Trainer Marcy Burke says people don’t really understand what an “alpha dog” really means since an ”alpha dog” is never aggressive — because they don’t need to be! Marcie discusses what makes an “alpha dog” tick.
Car Manners for Dogs
#6070-REV: Gayle Watkins talks about car manners. How to teach a dog to be calm in a vehicle and how you want him to behave begins with someone else driving while you have a collar, leash and treats. She emphasizes the importance of a crash-tested harness.
Let Your Dog's Personality Flourish
#6068-REV: Trainer and Golden breeder Lise Pratt speaks about letting your dog’s individual personality quirks flourish. What less-than-perfect behavior can you allow? How to manage behavior that could make other people uncomfortable? Dogs only understand black and white --- not gray --- so you have to be consistent in what, when and where you allow behaviors.
The Challenge of Training Small Dogs
#6060-REV: Trainer and Golden Retriever breeder Marcy Burke says to make training the “wee ones” a game! It needs to be fun for both of you --- and should include a mountain of very small delicious treats to reinforce commands --- especially the basic “Come!” command.
Importance of a Good First Meeting Between Dogs
#6072-REV: Dogs will not forget a bad first meeting with another dog — so we have to make sure it never happens! Gayle Watkins talks about the importance of introductions between dogs — and how we can cause dog aggression between dogs because we are nervous and communicating tension down the leash with how we set up the meeting. Best advice for a successful first meeting is to have both dogs on leash and go for a walk. Keep moving, keep the dogs on the outside and the people next to each other. The dogs should not touch, but walk side by side at a distance from each other and very quickly they will have their noses down and will ignore each other.