DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training14 Huhti

It’s Not the Event—It’s the Feeling: Associations Are Built on Emotion

We tend to look at behavior and point to the obvious—that dog, that noise, that moment—and assume we understand what caused it. But what if the event isn’t actually the thing your dog learned from?

In this episode, I’m breaking down how associations are really formed, and why it’s not the event itself that matters most—it’s how your dog felt in that moment.

Associations aren’t just “good” or “bad.” They can be neutral, layered, and often far more complex than what we see on the surface. A single experience can carry multiple associations, some obvious, some completely missed. And those associations are shaped by your dog’s emotional state within the environment, the situation, and everything happening around them—not just the one thing we tend to focus on.

This is where things can get tricky.

Because if we’re only addressing what we think the association is, we can miss the bigger picture—and in doing so, unintentionally reinforce the very behaviors we’re trying to change.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the “right” things but not seeing progress, this conversation will help you see what might be getting missed—and how to start looking at your dog’s experience in a completely different way.

LIVE Q&A

Online Content

Decoding Reactivity and Aggression Summit

DogSpeak Website

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(276)

Don't Train Me, Raise Me. (Part 2)

Don’t Train Me, Raise Me explores the difference between creating a dog that simply follows commands and raising a dog that understands how to navigate the world with confidence, stability, and trust....

26 Touko 1h 10min

Why Running Your Dog Ragged Isn’t the Answer

We’ve all heard the advice: “A tired dog is a good dog.” But physical exhaustion alone does not create emotional stability, confidence, or good decision-making. In this episode, we discuss why constan...

19 Touko 35min

The Hidden Cost of “Including” Your Dog

Somewhere along the way, we started believing that a “good” dog is one who can go everywhere, meet everyone, and handle anything without hesitation. But what if that’s not actually what your dog needs...

5 Touko 54min

Teaching Neutrality in a Stimulating World

Dogs aren’t struggling because they haven’t been exposed to enough—they’re struggling because of how their nervous system is processing what they’ve experienced.In this episode, we break down the role...

28 Huhti 1h 2min

What You See Isn’t the Whole Story—It’s Just the Surface

Britteny joins Nikki for an honest conversation about Willow’s early behaviors—what felt concerning at the time, and how those same behaviors now make perfect sense. This episode highlights how our in...

21 Huhti 45min

Learning Starts in the Nervous System—Not the Quadrants

We’ve been taught that dog training comes down to four quadrants—reinforce what you like, punish what you don’t. Clean. Simple. Effective… right?Not quite.In this episode, we’re taking a step back and...

7 Huhti 1h 19min

The Five Domains of Animal Welfare, Part 2

In this part 2, we dive into the Five Domains of animal welfare, exploring how environment, behavior, and mental state shape your dog’s well-being. Learn practical ways to support your dog’s overall w...

24 Maalis 40min