The COLLAB Dog Training Podcast

Choosing the Right Service Dog Puppy: Avoiding Heartbreaking Mistakes

Choosing the Right Service Dog Puppy In this episode of the Collab Dog Training Podcast, Lisa Gallegos (@liveapawsomelife) tackles one of the most heartbreaking mistakes she sees: people putting down deposits on puppies from breeders that aren’t suitable for service dog work. Lisa breaks down how to evaluate breeders, what red flags to look out for, and why your puppy’s genetics and early environment matter just as much as training. Whether you’re new to self-training, considering a therapy dog, or preparing for public access, this episode will help you make confident, informed choices before you bring home your future service dog. 📩 Send me a DM on Instagram: @liveapawsomelife [https://instagram.com/liveapawsomelife] 🎓 Learn more about my online courses at Collab Dog Training [https://collabdogtraining.com/courses] ✨ Share this episode with someone considering a service dog 📲 Connect with me on social: Instagram: @liveapawsomelife [https://instagram.com/liveapawsomelife] TikTok: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.tiktok.com/@lisagallegosonline] Facebook: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.facebook.com/lisagallegosonline] Pinterest: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.pinterest.com/lisagallegosonline/] YouTube: Collab Dog Training [https://www.youtube.com/@lisagallegos]

Service Dog Q&A: Whining in Crate, Settling, and traveling with real ID

📲 Connect with me on social: Instagram: @liveapawsomelife [https://instagram.com/liveapawsomelife] TikTok: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.tiktok.com/@lisagallegosonline] Facebook: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.facebook.com/lisagallegosonline] Pinterest: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.pinterest.com/lisagallegosonline/] YouTube: Collab Dog Training [https://www.youtube.com/@lisagallegos]

Real Talk About Service Dog Owner Training: Challenges, Adolescence & Progress with Ginger

In this episode, I’m joined by Ginger, Atlas Assistance Dogs team facilitator and founder of Confident Paws Dog Training. We dive into the realities of self-training a service dog—especially during the challenging adolescent phase. Ginger shares her journey with Olaf, a resilient Golden Retriever in training, and opens up about what’s made the biggest difference in staying on track despite health challenges, setbacks, and imposter syndrome. We talk about temperament, choosing the right breeder, what it really takes to train in public, and how to deal with judgment and the pressure to be perfect. Whether you're considering self-training or are deep in the process, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement from someone who's living it every day. 📲Connect with Ginger Website: https://www.confidentpaws.com [https://www.confidentpaws.com/] Instagram: instagram.com/confidentpawstraining [https://www.instagram.com/confidentpawstraining/] 📲 Connect with me on social: Instagram: @liveapawsomelife [https://instagram.com/liveapawsomelife] TikTok: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.tiktok.com/@lisagallegosonline] Facebook: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.facebook.com/lisagallegosonline] Pinterest: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.pinterest.com/lisagallegosonline/] YouTube: Collab Dog Training [https://www.youtube.com/@lisagallegos]

Breaking down the Four Quadrants

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your training progress or wondered why your dog seems “unmotivated,” this episode is a game-changer. We’re diving deep into one of the most important—but often overlooked—elements of behavior change: reinforcers. In this episode, you’ll learn how to identify what truly motivates your dog (hint: it’s not always food), why reinforcers are the key to long-lasting behavior, and how to fade out treat-based rewards over time without losing progress. 🔍 What You’ll Learn: * The difference between naturally occurring vs. contrived reinforcers and punishers * How to observe and test what really motivates your dog * Tips for avoiding unintentional punishers that can derail progress * A step-by-step framework for fading out food treats and building real-world reliability Whether you’re training a service dog, a family pet, or even coaching humans, understanding reinforcers is everything. Grab your pen—or better yet, your training treats: and let’s get into it. Get my free body language course: https://collabdogtraining.com/body-language/ [https://collabdogtraining.com/body-language/] 📲 Connect with me on social: Instagram: @liveapawsomelife [https://instagram.com/liveapawsomelife] TikTok: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.tiktok.com/@lisagallegosonline] Facebook: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.facebook.com/lisagallegosonline] Pinterest: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.pinterest.com/lisagallegosonline/] YouTube: Collab Dog Training [https://www.youtube.com/@lisagallegos]

Dog Enrichment: What Does It REALLY MEAN?

If your dog can't seem to focus or you're not making progress in your trainiong, it may not be a training issue—it could be an under-enrichment or welfare issue. In this episode, we break down the 13 essential categories of canine welfare that must be met before you can expect reliable behavior. From nutrition and sleep to sensory enrichment and emotional safety, we’re covering it all. Plus, grab the free Notion tracker linked below to assess your dog’s needs and finally make training EASIER. 🎧 Perfect for self-trainers, service dog handlers, and anyone who’s asked: “Why won’t my dog listen?” Download the free service dog habit tracker here: https://creative-knitter-8785.kit.com/habit-tracker My ABSOLUTE Favorite book on Enrichment called "Canine Enrichment for the Real World" for those who want to dive deeper into this topic: https://amzn.to/43KZ2ir 📲 Connect with me on social: Instagram: @liveapawsomelife [https://instagram.com/liveapawsomelife] TikTok: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.tiktok.com/@lisagallegosonline] Facebook: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.facebook.com/lisagallegosonline] Pinterest: @lisagallegosonline [https://www.pinterest.com/lisagallegosonline/] YouTube: Collab Dog Training [https://www.youtube.com/@lisagallegos]