Sexier Than A Squirrel: Dog Training That Gets Real Life Results

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Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, Lauren is joined by Karen for a conversation all about cooperative care: what it is, why it matters, and why so many dogs are simply enduring handling rather than truly feeling safe with it. Because a dog standing still at the groomers, freezing for the vet, or wriggling away from a harness isn’t necessarily “fine” at all. Often, it’s a dog with no real understanding, no predictability, and no way to say “give me a moment, I’m not comfortable with that.”
In this episode, we explore what happens when handling becomes a conversation instead of a battle. From muzzle training and harness struggles to grooming, nail clipping, tick removal, blood draws, and end-of-life care, cooperative care gives dogs a way to understand what’s happening and participate willingly, one small step at a time.
Lauren and Karen talk through some of the practical foundation skills that make the biggest difference, including permission chin targets, bar holds, head-in-a-box games, and how proofing and gradual layering help dogs build genuine confidence around handling. You’ll hear why reinforcement alone is not the same as consent, especially for food-motivated dogs who may still be deeply uncomfortable, and why giving dogs the ability to pause or opt out can completely change the emotional picture.
We also dive into the real-life impact this training can have. From smoother blood draws at the vets and calmer grooming appointments to reducing stress around harnesses and medical procedures, cooperative care isn’t just “nice training” - it’s a practical skillset that supports your relationship with your dog through every stage of life.
Along the way, Karen shares honest reflections about living with a dog who finds handling difficult, the signs she wishes she’d recognised earlier, and how changing the conversation has transformed everyday interactions that once felt stressful or confrontational.
If you want handling to feel calmer, clearer, and more collaborative for both you and your dog, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can start using right away.
Check out our Cooperative Care course (including the 10 Days to Happy Handling foundational learning) here.
And register for our FREE Live Cooperative Care Masterclass on Friday 5th June (12 noon - 3pm BST) at absolutedogs.me/masterclass
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

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Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, we’re continuing our new series of episodes exploring what concept training actually is and how it shows up in real life with your dog. We’ll be taking concepts you may have heard us talk about before, breaking them down, and making them practical, relatable, and easy to spot in your own training sessions and day-to-day interactions with your dog. This time, Lauren is joined by the brilliant Linda to unpack one of the most important concepts in all of dog training: engagement.
Engagement isn’t just about your dog looking at you. It’s about your dog choosing you. Choosing to check in. Choosing to stay connected. Choosing to come back mentally, even when the world is busy, exciting, distracting, or full of things that normally pull their attention away.
Lauren and Linda explain why engagement underpins so many other skills - recall, agility, obedience, heelwork, calm walks, even day-to-day life in the house - and highlight the importance of the moments we often miss: the ones where your dog asks, “What next?”
You’ll hear why rewarding re-engagement changes everything and how building a strong reinforcement history helps your dog learn to seek connection rather than waiting to cued repeatedly. They also talk about fading food rewards sensibly, why you don’t need to carry treats forever, and how value, timing, and consistency shape habits over time.
Play gets a huge spotlight too, because engagement should feel good for both ends of the lead. Lauren and Linda discuss using toys, movement, celebration, and genuine interaction to build motivation and excitement in training - while also recognising that different dogs enjoy different styles of reinforcement.
Lauren and Linda also consider the balance between engagement and appropriate disengagement. Because the goal isn’t a dog who pesters you endlessly for work - it’s a dog who understands when the game is on, when the game is finished, and how to switch between focus and relaxation successfully.
Ready to grow a dog who chooses you more often?
Check out 10 Days to a Toy Motivated Dog here: ​​https://absolutedogs.me/toymotivateddog
Or check out 10 Days to a Food Motivated Dog here: https://absolutedogs.me/foodmotivateddog
Or why not grab the £1 Games Club trial and get both courses, plus all our other 10 Days courses, included!
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, Lauren is joined by Michelle for a deep dive into parasite prevention, fleas, ticks, worms, gut health, and the growing questions around routine chemical treatments. Because while spot-ons, tablets, and collars are often seen as the “normal” route, more and more dog owners are starting to ask: what are these products actually doing to our dogs, our homes, and the environment around us?
In this episode, we talk through the pros, cons, and wider impact of common flea and tick treatments, including why many products only work once a tick or flea bites, and what that means when we’re talking about tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and babesiosis. We also explore some of the side effects owners report seeing, from nausea and digestive upset to neurological wobbliness, and why dosage can become especially tricky for very small dogs.
Lauren and Michelle also talk through a different approach: prevention through consistency, daily habits, and supporting the dog as a whole. You’ll hear why they choose natural ingredients, how gut health plays a surprisingly important role in resilience, and why they prefer testing before treating wherever possible. From worm counts to stool testing, this episode challenges the idea of broad-brush “just in case” treatments and looks at the growing issue of resistance over time.
We also get practical. You’ll learn how to check your dog properly for fleas and ticks, where ticks commonly hide, how to spot flea dirt with a comb, and easy ways to feed preventative powders consistently, including a simple kefir ice cube hack your dog will probably love.
Along the way, there’s a wider conversation too, about waterways, bees, environmental impact, and why one spot-on treatment on a large dog can reportedly kill up to 25 million bees. It’s a huge topic, and whether you’re already using a natural approach or just starting to question the status quo, this episode will give you plenty to think about.
If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s another way to approach flea, tick, and worm prevention, this episode is for you.
Want to explore A-OK9’s Bug-K9 range? Check it out here: https://a-ok9.com/products/bug-k9 
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, Sam is back to tackle a challenge so many dog owners face: car chaos. That moment the keys jingle or the engine starts and suddenly your dog is whining, pacing, panting, or barking out of the window. For some dogs it’s over-excitement, for others it’s stress or even nausea, but either way, it can make every journey feel like hard work.
So what’s really going on? For so many dogs, the car is loaded with meaning. Walks, vet visits, new places… It all builds anticipation fast. And that anticipation can tip into over-arousal or stress before you’ve even left the drive.
Listen in as Lauren and Sam share practical strategies to help you change that picture. From creating “non-event” car journeys that lead to nothing, to simply hanging out in a parked vehicle, you’ll learn how to remove the hype and help your dog switch off. They also explore why crate training can be a game-changer for calm travel, creating safety, structure, and reducing visual triggers that often keep dogs on edge.
As the conversation continues, Lauren and Sam get into the detail of reinforcement too, because if calmness in the car is your current struggle, that’s where your training focus needs to be. From hand feeding and using daily food to build positive associations, to scatter feeding and long-lasting chews, this is all about changing how your dog feels about the car.
If your dog struggles with car travel, this episode will give you a clear, practical plan you can start straight away.
Ready to connect with a community of like-minded dog owners and feel supported in your training journey? Grab the £1 Games Club trial and get started right now!
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, Lauren is joined once again by canine physiotherapist and hydrotherapist Mel to tackle a topic that every dog owner thinks they’ve got covered: exercise. Because your dog’s walk should be the best part of their day… not the moment an avoidable injury begins. From dogs launching out of the boot and sprinting cold, to high-speed chases, collisions, and endless ball throwing, many “normal” routines are actually putting dogs at risk.
In this episode, we dig into what safe, effective exercise really looks like. Mel explains what the canine body actually needs, and why those first 10–15 minutes of on-lead walking can completely change the picture. Together, Lauren and Mel explore how simple management choices - like using pathways, long lines, and food scattering - can prevent that explosive first sprint and reduce injury risk before it even starts.
They also talk through real-life scenarios, including multi-dog households and dogs returning to ‘normal’ walks following an  injury. You’ll hear how to safely reintroduce off-lead time, when play together is helpful (and when it’s not), and how to step in before fun turns into a crash. This is all about understanding arousal, movement, and giving your dog the best chance to move well and stay sound.
We also explore the hidden risks in everyday environments, from wet ground and deep sand to pebble beaches and even different types of astroturf. Plus, we cover how exercise should change across your dog’s life, from older dogs with arthritic changes to fit, active sports dogs, and why nutrition needs to support increased training load.
If you want to exercise your dog in a way that builds strength, protects their body, and supports long-term health, this episode is for you.
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!