Join Niki Tudge and PPG Canine Committee chair Judy Luther as they Chat and Chuckle with Barbara Hodel of Goodog Positive Dog Training in Bayview, New South Wales, Australia about all things Teen Dog!
All dogs (and humans) have to go through the teenage phase to reach the stability of adulthood. Some dogs breeze through this stage with barely a glitch, but most of us will have a challenging time. It is normal to sometimes feel despondent or disappointed because we thought we did everything right when they were puppies and now nothing seems to be working. The challenges of the teenage phase are real and can put our relationship with our dog at risk.
Barbara’s book, How to Love and Survive Your Teenage Dog, explains that It does not have to be like this!
The book will help you to understand your teenage dog better and navigate these challenges, by covering: an understanding of the unique challenges you and your teenage dog face; why and how your relationship matters in the training process; the role of anthropomorphism and consideration of dog emotions and minds; the benefits of positive reinforcement; the importance of lifelong socialization; how to keep your and your dog’s sanity despite some common setbacks; and promoting the value of calmness. You can – and should – enjoy your teenage dog despite the difficult behaviors they show. The reward is a happy and well-adjusted friend for life!
Listen to the Podcast with Barbara Hodel here on your choice of platforms.
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Recorded July 8, 2022.
About Barbara Hodel
Barbara Hodel completed her diploma in canine behaviour science and technology at the Companion Animal Sciences Institute in Canada in 2015. She has been involved in dog training for the last 20 years, has completed her Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services with the Delta Society in 2007 and is a professional member of the Delta Institute. She also competes in the dog sports of Agility and Rally O. She is president of the Pet Professional Guild Australia and is also a registered breeder with Dogs NSW.
She has been running her dog training business Goodog on the Northern Beaches, Sydney for over 14 years, specializing in teenage dogs, offering classes and in-home consultations for young dogs, as well as workshops for typical teenage challenges, such as recall and loose leash walking.
She holds a master’s in modern European history and economics from the University of Berne, Switzerland, and an MBA from Southern Cross University in Australia. In addition, she has in-depth experience in adult education and training, having taught high school and university students in Berne, college students in Sydney, and middle and top management employees of a large public corporation in Switzerland. In 2020, she published her book, How to Love and Survive Your Teenage Dog.