Wish you could enjoy life with your dog again? Struggling with a reactive, fearful, or anxious dog? Tired of dog training that never seems to work?
I'm Tracy, retired vet tech, dog trainer, and founder of Beyond Obedience. I know how frustrating life with a struggling dog can feel.
This podcast will help you understand your dog's behaviour, build trust, develop leadership and influence naturally, and enjoy everyday life together—without constantly trying to fix your dog.
If you're ready for less stress, more confidence, and a better relationship with your dog, you're in the right place.
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254 | Your Dog is Trained. So Why Aren't They Behaving?
Season 3 · Episode 254
Thursday, November 5, 2026 • Duration 28:04
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
Have you tried everything to fix your dog's behaviour?
Does it feel like no matter how much training you do, you're still dealing with the same problems?
And what if more training isn't actually what your dog needs?
Maybe your dog is reactive. Maybe they pull on the leash, lose their mind when someone comes to the door, or simply don't seem to listen when it matters most.
So you do what everyone tells you to do.
You train.
You try different methods, practise different exercises, and work harder to get the behaviour you're looking for.
But what happens when your dog knows all the commands and you're STILL struggling?
In this episode, I'm sharing a realization I recently had about my German Shepherd, Gunther, that's got me thinking about the difference between obedience and communication.
Because we've become so accustomed to measuring our relationships with dogs through their ability to follow commands that we might be overlooking something far more important.
And sometimes the answer isn't another training technique.
Hope you enjoy this one!
Tracy xoxox
🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣
🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Tired of trying one training method after another? Discover a different approach focused on trust, communication, leadership, and building a relationship that makes everyday life easier. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month online program with group coaching, a supportive community, and a relationship-first approach to life with your dog. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
253 | What Does It Actually Mean to Spoil Your Dog?
Season 3 · Episode 253
Monday, November 2, 2026 • Duration 21:05
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
Is your dog spoiled rotten?
Does letting your dog sleep in your bed, showering them with affection, or treating them like another member of the family mean you're creating a spoiled dog?
And who gets to decide what spoiling a dog actually means?
We've all heard the warnings. Don't let your dog on the furniture. Don't give them too much attention. Don't let them get away with everything.
But what if we've been looking at this whole idea of spoiling our dogs from the wrong perspective?
I mean, we love our dogs! Of course we want to give them wonderful lives. We want them to be happy, comfortable, and have everything they could possibly need.
But is there a difference between what we think makes our dogs happy and what actually matters to them?
In this episode, we're challenging some long-held beliefs about spoiling dogs, exploring the difference between love and fulfilment, and asking whether some of the things we've been told are problems are really problems at all.
Because maybe spoiling your dog isn't quite what you think it is.
Hope you enjoy this one!
Tracy xoxox
🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣
🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Discover how to better understand your dog, build trust, and create a relationship that makes life together easier and more enjoyable. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
252 | Are You Trying to Fix a Problem Your Dog Doesn't Have
Season 3 · Episode 252
Thursday, October 29, 2026 • Duration 20:50
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
What if the problem you've been working so hard to fix with your dog isn't actually a problem for your dog?
Stop the barking. Stop the pulling. Stop the jumping. Stop the digging. Stop the chasing.
We're constantly being told how to fix our dogs and change their behaviour.
But have you ever stopped to ask yourself whether your dog actually thinks there's a problem?
Because sometimes our dogs are genuinely struggling. They're frightened, overwhelmed, uncertain, or uncomfortable, and their behaviour is an expression of what they're experiencing.
And sometimes?
They're having the time of their lives while we're standing there pulling our hair out!
Think about the dog who wants to chase squirrels, sniff every blade of grass, or dig holes in your garden.
From their perspective, everything might be absolutely wonderful!
From yours? Not so much.
And that's where things get interesting.
In this episode, we're exploring three questions:
Is this a problem for my dog? Is it a problem for me? Or is it a problem for both of us?
Because the answer changes how we need to approach the behaviour.
We'll talk about the difference between supporting a dog who's struggling and guiding a dog who's doing something they genuinely enjoy.
We'll also take a closer look at our own expectations. Does the behaviour really need to change? And if it does, does it need to stop entirely, or could we change where, when, and how it happens?
Of course, sometimes the answer really does have to be no. Safety matters. Boundaries matter. And learning to live together means finding a balance between what our dogs want and what we need.
251 | Does Your Dog Know How to Do Nothing?
Season 3 · Episode 251
Monday, October 26, 2026 • Duration 21:57
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
When was the last time you and your dog did absolutely nothing?
No training. No enrichment activities. No games, adventures, or walks with a purpose.
Just... nothing.
Recently, I attended a yoga retreat in beautiful Summerville, Nova Scotia, the weekend before my CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp. The timing couldn't have been worse. I had a million things to do, and taking time away felt like the last thing I should be doing.
But I went anyway.
And what I discovered about the importance of slowing down, being still, and giving myself permission to do absolutely nothing got me thinking about our dogs.
We're constantly being encouraged to give our dogs more. More exercise. More enrichment. More mental stimulation. More opportunities to explore, sniff, play, and use their brains.
And don't get me wrong. I LOVE all of those things!
But have we become so focused on giving our dogs fulfilling lives that we've forgotten the importance of simply being?
In this episode, we're talking about the difference between being still and actually being settled, why even our busiest dogs need opportunities to switch off, and how our own discomfort with doing nothing might be influencing what we expect from our dogs.
I'll also share one of my favourite practices, BE WITH, and why learning to share space with your dog without an agenda can be such a valuable part of your relationship.
Because a fulfilling life doesn't necessarily mean doing more.
It's about having room for all of it. Including absolutely nothing.
Hope you enjoy this one!
Tracy xoxox
🐾
250 | What Does It Mean to Influence Your Dog?
Thursday, October 22, 2026 • Duration 19:03
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
Is having an obedient dog the same thing as having influence over your dog?
Not necessarily.
Have you ever stopped to think about WHY you're asking your dog to do something? Is it because it's necessary, because it helps your dog navigate a situation, or simply because you expect them to listen?
In this episode, I'm sharing a little encounter I had at the feed store with a very happy chocolate Lab and an interaction that made me say, out loud, "Ooh, gross!"
And no, this isn't about whether asking your dog to sit is right or wrong.
It's about something much bigger.
The difference between obedience and influence.
We're talking about what happens when we become so focused on getting our dogs to do what they're told that we forget to pay attention to what they're actually experiencing.
Because influence isn't about controlling every moment or demanding compliance.
It's about understanding your dog, recognizing what's happening around you, and making decisions that help the two of you navigate life together.
And sometimes, the most important question isn't whether your dog listened.
What happens when the equipment you usually rely on isn’t available—or when life hands you a situation you’ve never actually trained for?
Let me be clear: I use treats. I use equipment. And I train my dogs.
This isn’t an anti-treat episode.
It’s a conversation about what we build underneath all of those things.
In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between teaching your dog useful skills and building the foundation that helps the two of you navigate real life together.
Because life with dogs isn’t a controlled training session.
Eventually, the loose dog appears. Someone unexpectedly comes through the door. Something scares your dog. Your dog isn’t interested in the food in your pocket. Or you find yourself in a situation you never practiced for.
And then what?
We’ll talk about communication, influence, relevance, learning to read the dog in front of you, and why I don’t want a treat, tool, or training technique to be the reason this works.
Use the treat. Use the equipment. Teach the skills.
But build something underneath them.
Because when the treat isn’t there, the equipment fails, or life hands you something you never trained for, I still want you and your dog to have each other.
Hope you enjoy this one!
Tracy xoxox
🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣
🐾 Join me for the FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp! October 20th, 21st & 22nd
248 | " What if I am the Reason My Dog Isn't Getting Better?"
Season 3 · Episode 248
Thursday, October 15, 2026 • Duration 23:26
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
Have you ever wondered if YOU might be the reason your dog isn't getting better?
Maybe you've tried the training, followed the advice, bought the equipment, and done everything you thought you weresupposed to do.
And yet, your dog is still struggling.
And somewhere along the way, you start wondering whether you're doing something wrong. Whether you're making things worse. Or whether your dog might actually be better off with somebody else.
Ouch. That's a tough place to find yourself.
In this episode, we're having a conversation that I think an awful lot of dog lovers need to hear.
We're talking about the guilt, the second-guessing, and the pressure we put on ourselves when life with our dogs doesn't look the way we imagined.
We'll explore the difference between taking responsibility and taking the blame, why struggling with your dog doesn't automatically mean you're failing them, and how a little curiosity can help you start seeing things differently.
And I'm sharing one of my favourite questions to ask when things aren't going quite the way we'd hoped:
How interesting!
Because being part of what's happening doesn't mean you're the problem. It means you have an opportunity to be part of what changes.
And maybe, just maybe, you're not the reason your dog can't get better.
Maybe you're one of the reasons they can.
Hope you enjoy this one!
Tracy xoxox
RESOURCES
🐾 Join me for the FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp! October 20th, 21st & 22nd
247 | When Did Living With Your Dog Stop Being Fun?
Season 3 · Episode 247
Monday, October 12, 2026 • Duration 21:55
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
When did living with your dog stop being fun?
Maybe you got a dog because you pictured walks, adventures, companionship, road trips, or quiet nights curled up together. But somewhere along the way, life became less about enjoying your dog and more about managing them.
Who’s coming over? Which route can we walk? What happens if we see another dog? Can I bring them? Should I leave them home? What if something goes wrong?
And little by little, your world together starts getting smaller.
In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when managing your dog begins to take over your relationship—and how to start finding your way back to actually enjoying life together.
Because the answer isn’t necessarily throwing your dog into bigger, harder situations and hoping for the best.
If your world has gotten smaller, start small and build out.
I’ll give you some simple ways to start reconnecting with your dog at home, in your backyard, and eventually out in the world—while paying attention to what your dog actually enjoys and building from the places where you’re already successful together.
Because the goal isn’t to create a dog who can go everywhere and do everything.
The goal is to build a life that you and your dog actually enjoy living together.
246 | Why Is My Dog Fine One Day and Reactive the Next?
Season 3 · Episode 246
Thursday, October 8, 2026 • Duration 26:40
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
Does your dog have an amazing walk one day... only to completely lose it over what seems like the exact same thing the next?
Find yourself wondering how your dog could handle something beautifully yesterday but struggle with it today?
Does the unpredictability leave you questioning whether you’re actually making progress at all?
In this episode, we’re talking about why your dog can be fine one day and reactive the next — and why that doesn’t necessarily mean anything has gone wrong.
Because what looks like the same situation to us may not be the same situation to our dogs at all.
Something smells different. Something sounds different. The other dog is moving differently. Your dog feels different. You feel different. And sometimes there are things affecting the interaction that we will never even know about.
We’ll talk about why a great day doesn’t guarantee tomorrow will look the same, why a difficult day doesn’t erase the progress you’ve made, and how to stop turning every reaction into a story about what you did wrong.
Because the good days give us information.
And the hard days give us information too.
Instead of immediately thinking, “We’re back at square one,” we can get curious.
How interesting. What’s different today?
Maybe you’ll figure it out.
Maybe you won’t.
Either way, you can stop comparing the dog standing in front of you today to the dog you had yesterday...
and ask the dog again.
Hope you enjoy this one!
Tracy xoxox
245 | What Are You Missing When You Walk Your Dog? Behind the Scenes Coaching with Lynn
Season 3 · Episode 245
Monday, October 5, 2026 • Duration 30:14
Hey Dog Lover 🐾
Ever feel like you’re trying to do ALL the right things on a walk with your dog, but something still isn’t quite working?
Wonder what you might be missing in those tiny moments before your dog reacts, pulls, worries, or gets stuck on something in the environment?
What if the answer isn’t another training technique — but learning to see what’s actually happening between you and your dog?
In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a real coaching call where I watched video of one of my students walking her dog.
And this is one of my favourite things to do because when we slow these everyday interactions down, we start seeing things that are almost impossible to notice when you’re the one actually holding the leash.
We’re looking at body position, movement, timing, where the dog’s attention really is, what happens when we add pressure or create space, and even what can happen when your dog decides they need to poop at exactly the wrong moment.
But this isn’t about finding everything you’re doing “wrong.”
It’s about learning to see the conversation.
Because there isn’t always a perfect sequence of steps to follow. Sometimes we try something, watch what our dog tells us, adjust, and try again.
And the better we get at noticing those tiny moments, the less we have to rely on somebody else telling us the “right” thing to do.
We can start asking the dog in front of us instead.
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month online program with group coaching, a supportive community, and a relationship-first approach to life with your dog. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
But understanding why your dog wants to do something doesn't mean you have to allow it. And just because you don't like a behaviour doesn't automatically mean it needs fixing.
Sometimes helping your dog means changing how they feel.
Sometimes it means changing what they do.
And sometimes it means changing what YOU expect.
Hope you enjoy this one!
Tracy xoxox
🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣
🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Stop guessing what your dog needs and start becoming the partner they can actually trust. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month group coaching program focused on trust, confidence, leadership, and building a relationship that makes everyday life easier. https://beyondobedience.ca
🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs and start building a relationship based on trust, confidence, and understanding? https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz
Step 3: Ready to move beyond obedience and become someone worth following? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month group coaching program designed to help you understand your dog, build trust, and create a better life together. https://beyondobedience.ca
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd. Today's our final day! https://beyondobedience.ca/bootcamp
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog’s unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd. 👉 https://beyondobedience.ca/bootcamp
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd. https://beyondobedience.ca/bootcamp
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog’s unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd. 👉 https://beyondobedience.ca/bootcamp
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together.
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd.
Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together.
Step 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd.
Details about Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs , a podcast by Tracy Franken- Dog Trainer, Vet Tech, Dog Lover, 🐾
