PodcastsKids & FamilyBeyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

Tracy Franken- Dog Trainer, Vet Tech, Dog Lover, 🐾
Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs
Latest episode

222 episodes

  • Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

    217 | The Real Reason Your Dog Only Listens When You Have Treats

    29/06/2026 | 33 mins.
    Hey Dog Lover 🐾
    Does your dog seem to listen perfectly when you have treats... but completely forget everything the moment the food disappears?
    Have you ever wondered if your dog is only listening because of the treats?
    Have you been told that using food creates bribery, dependence, or a dog that won't work without rewards?
    In this episode, we're tackling one of the biggest debates in the dog training world:
    Food.
    But what if food isn't actually the problem?
    What if the real issue has nothing to do with treats at all?
    We'll explore why dogs make the choices they do, what food is really doing in the learning process, and why so many people end up focusing on the wrong thing.
    Because this conversation isn't really about food.
    It's about relationship.
    It's about relevance.
    And it's about understanding why your dog chooses to stay connected to you in the first place.
    We'll talk about:
    🐾 Why food gets blamed for things it didn't create
    🐾 The difference between bribery and communication
    🐾 Why dogs are always making choices
    🐾 The trap of trying to out-squirrel the squirrel
    🐾 What food is actually doing during training
    🐾 Why relevance matters more than rewards
    We'll also explore:
    trust
    connection
    fulfillment
    influence
    leadership
    and why the strongest relationships aren't built on transactions.
    Because one day the treats won't be there.
    And when that happens, the relationship is what remains.
    Hope you enjoy this one!
    Tracy xoxox
    Resources
    Fearless Framework Online Program for Dog Lovers
    🐾 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠
    Why Does My Dog Act Like This? Take the quiz!
    🐾 ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠
    Check out the Beyond Obedience Blog
    🐾 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠

    Connect with Me!
    Contact -> ⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠
    Podcast -> ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠
    Connect -> ⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠
    Resources -> ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠
    Merch -> Get your Beyond Obedience merch! ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠

    🐾 Next Steps 👣
    Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group ⁠Living Beyond Obedience⁠
    Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics
    👉 ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠
    Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework
    👉 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠
    Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter.
    ⁠www.shawntrotter.com⁠
  • Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

    216 | Am I Helping My Dog... or Making Things Worse?

    25/06/2026 | 25 mins.
    Hey Dog Lover🐾
    Have you ever wondered if you're helping your dog too much?
    Do you struggle to know when your dog needs support... and when they simply need space to figure things out?
    Have you ever worried that stepping in too quickly might actually be getting in the way of your dog's confidence?
    In this episode, we're tackling one of the most important questions dog lovers face:
    How do I know when to step in and when to step back?
    Inspired by a question I received after sharing my experience with Gunther at a recent WCERA event, we're diving into the delicate balance between supporting our dogs and allowing them the opportunity to learn, process, and grow.
    Because confidence isn't built when we solve every problem for our dogs.
    It's built when they discover what they're capable of—with us there to support them when needed.
    We'll talk about:
    🐾 The difference between processing and overwhelm
    🐾 Why struggling isn't always a bad thing
    🐾 How to recognize when your dog is still thinking versus when they're shutting down
    🐾 The signs that tell me it's time to step back
    🐾 The signs that tell me it's time to step in
    🐾 Why confidence grows through supported challenges
    We'll also explore:
    trust
    partnership
    leadership
    problem-solving
    resilience
    and why sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply believe our dogs are capable.
    Because true partnership isn't about doing everything for your dog.
    Sometimes partnership means:
    "I've got you."
    And sometimes partnership means:
    "I believe you've got this."
    Hope you enjoy this one!
    Tracy xoxox
    Resources
    Fearless Framework Online Program for Dog Lovers
    🐾 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠
    Why Does My Dog Act Like This? Take the quiz!
    🐾 ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠
    Check out the Beyond Obedience Blog
    🐾 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/blog⁠
    Connect with Me!
    Contact -> ⁠info@beyondobedience.ca⁠
    Podcast -> ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast⁠
    Connect -> ⁠https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience⁠
    Resources -> ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠
    Merch -> Get your Beyond Obedience merch! ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/store⁠
    🐾 Next Steps 👣
    Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience
    Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics
    👉 ⁠www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz⁠
    Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework
    👉 ⁠https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless⁠
    Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter.
    ⁠www.shawntrotter.com
  • Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

    215 | What My Dog Taught Me About Confidence, Trust, and Partnership

    22/06/2026 | 33 mins.
    Hey Dog Lover 🐾

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾
    Have you ever struggled to know when to help your dog and when to simply let them figure things out?
    Do you sometimes wonder if you're supporting your dog... or accidentally getting in the way of their growth?
    Have you ever noticed that some of your most meaningful moments with your dog happen when you stop trying to direct every step?
    In this episode, I'm sharing some lessons I learned while attending a WCERA event with Gunther.
    What started as a fun day of games and challenges became a powerful reminder of what partnership really looks like.
    Because confidence isn't built when everything goes perfectly.
    It's built when dogs are given opportunities to think, process, problem solve, and discover what they're capable of.
    We'll talk about:
    🐾 How Gunther approached unfamiliar challenges
    🐾 Why processing time is such an important part of learning
    🐾 The difference between helping and rescuing
    🐾 How support looks different than control
    🐾 What true partnership actually means
    🐾 Why confidence grows through experience
    We'll also explore:
    trust
    partnership
    leadership
    confidence
    problem-solving
    curiosity
    and why some of the most important lessons our dogs learn happen when we give them the space to work through a challenge instead of immediately stepping in.
    Because sometimes partnership means helping.
    And sometimes partnership means believing your dog is capable.
    Hope you enjoy this one!
    Tracy xoxox
    RESOURCES
    🐾 Join the Online Program Fearless Framework! https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
    🐾 Take the quiz!
    https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
    🐾Read the blog!
     https://beyondobedience.ca/blog
    CONNECT WITH ME!
    Contact → info@beyondobedience.ca
    Podcast → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast
    Connect → https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
    Resources → https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
    Merch → https://www.beyondobedience.ca/store
    🐾NEXT STEPS👣
    Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience.
    Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics.
    👉 https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
    Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework.
    👉 https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
    Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter
    www.shawntrotter.com
  • Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

    214 | Stop Trying to Be the Bigger Squirrel : Why Your Dog Chooses the Environment Over You

    18/06/2026 | 35 mins.
    Hey Dog Lover 🐾
    Do you ever feel like squirrels, smells, birds, and absolutely everything else are more interesting to your dog than you are?
    Have you been told you need better treats, higher-value rewards, or more excitement to keep your dog's attention?
    Have you ever wondered if trying to compete with the environment is actually the problem?
    In this episode, we're talking about one of the biggest myths in dog training:
    The idea that we need to be more exciting than everything our dogs encounter.
    Because what if your dog's curiosity isn't a problem to solve?
    What if it's actually a gift?
    And what if the goal isn't to compete with the environment...
    But to become part of the experience?
    We'll talk about:
    🐾 Why dogs are supposed to notice the world around them
    🐾 The difference between competing and connecting
    🐾 Why trying to out-squirrel a squirrel is exhausting
    🐾 How curiosity can strengthen your relationship
    🐾 What relevance actually means
    🐾 Why becoming part of the experience changes everything
    We'll also explore:
    trust
    connection
    relevance
    curiosity
    fulfillment
    and why some of the strongest relationships are built when we stop fighting our dog's interest in the world and start sharing it with them.
    Because my goal has never been to create dogs that ignore the environment.
    My goal has always been to create dogs that want to experience it with me.
    Hope you enjoy this one!
    Tracy xoxox
    RESOURCES
    🐾 Join the Fearless Framework:
    https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless

    🐾Take the Quiz!
     https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz

    🐾Read the blog!
     https://beyondobedience.ca/blog

    Connect with ME!
    Contact → info@beyondobedience.ca
    Podcast → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast
    Connect → https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
    Resources → https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
    Merch → https://www.beyondobedience.ca/store

    👣NEXT STEPS 🐾
    Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, clarity, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience.
    Step 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics.
    👉 https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
    Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework.
    👉 https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
    Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter
    www.shawntrotter.com
  • Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

    213 | Why Does Your Dog React Differently Around Certain Dogs/People?

    15/06/2026 | 32 mins.
    Hey Dog Lover 🐾
    Have you ever noticed that your dog behaves differently around certain people?
    Do you sometimes wonder why your dog seems calmer around some dogs and more reactive around others?
    Have you ever considered that your presence might be influencing your dog's behaviour more than you realize?
    In this episode, I'm sharing one of the most important lessons I've ever learned about dog behaviour.
    And surprisingly, it didn't come from dog training.
    It came from my Newfoundlands.
    Over the years, I watched fearful, reactive, anxious, and overwhelmed dogs interact with my Newfs. What fascinated me wasn't what my dogs did.
    It was what they didn't do.
    No corrections.
    No drama.
    No interventions.
    And yet, time and time again, the other dogs would settle.
    When they did, something remarkable happened.
    Their true nature appeared.
    In this episode, we explore:
    🐾 Why calm reveals truth
    🐾 How emotional energy affects behaviour
    🐾 How you are part of your dog's environment
    🐾 The hidden cost of emotional static
    🐾 How grounded leadership creates clarity
    🐾 Why understanding your dog starts with understanding yourself
    We'll also talk about:
    relationship
    trust
    awareness
    communication
    emotional reliability
    and why sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply become quiet enough to listen.
    Because when we stop adding to the noise, our dogs often tell us exactly who they are and what they need.
    Hope you enjoy this one!
    Resources
    The Fearless Framework- 12-month online program
    🐾 https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
    Why Does My Dog Do That? Take the quiz
    🐾 www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
    Check out the blog!
    🐾 https://beyondobedience.ca/blog
    Connect with Me!
    Contact -> info@beyondobedience.ca
    Podcast -> https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast
    Community > https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedience
    Resources -> www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
    Merch -> Get your Beyond Obedience merch! www.beyondobedience.ca/store
    🐾 Next Steps 👣
    Step 1: Join a supportive community of dog owners learning how to build trust, relevance, and healthier partnerships with their dogs inside the free Facebook group Living Beyond Obedience
    Step 2: Take the Quiz to better understand how your dog naturally responds to stress, pressure, and relationship dynamics
    👉 www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz
    Step 3: Learn how to navigate fearful, reactive, and emotionally complex behaviour with more confidence and clarity inside The Fearless Framework
    👉 https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless
    Music Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter.
    www.shawntrotter.com
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About Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs
Do you wish you could enjoy life with your dog again? Are you struggling with a reactive, fearful, anxious, or misunderstood dog? Do walks, visitors, or everyday situations leave you feeling stressed, frustrated, or embarrassed? I'm Tracy Franken, a retired vet tech turned dog trainer. I discovered the secret to a life of ease with my dogs; Through trust-based training, and a deeper understanding of dog behaviour, I'll help you build confidence, strengthen your relationship, and create a dog you can trust in the real world. Because lasting change starts with understanding the dog you love.
Podcast website

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