Podcast
DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training
Hosted by Nikki Ivey · EN
Understand your dog better with DogSpeak founder, Nikki Ivey--a professional Canine Behavior Specialist, trainer and Family Dog Mediator. Learn why it's not about just fixing your dog's behavior but about understanding why the behavior is occurring. Nikki often shares the mic with wife and DogSpeak manager, Britteny, along with other fantastic guests. Whether the discussion is about real life manners, inappropriate behavior or nutrition, this podcast has it all. We focus on building relationships, not dictatorships. Learn more about DogSpeak and Nikki Ivey by checking out www.dogspeak101.com. Become a Patreon member by visiting www.patreon.com/dogspeak
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Stress Isn't Just Stress: Understanding the Emotional Brain of the Dog
Yesterday00:45:48Tap to summarizeWhen we hear the word stress, most of us think of fear, anxiety, or overwhelm. But stress isn't always negative. In fact, stress is a normal and necessary part of life—for both humans and dogs.In this episode of DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training, Nikki Ivey explores the many forms of stress, from positive stress that helps dogs learn and grow to chronic and traumatic stress that can impact behavior, health, and overall well-being. You'll learn why two dogs can experience the same event in completely different ways and how genetics, learning history, environment, and individual perception shape a dog's response to stress.Nikki also introduces the fascinating field of Affective Neuroscience and the work of Jaak Panksepp, whose research helped identify the primary emotional systems shared by mammals. From SEEKING and PLAY to FEAR, CARE, and PANIC/GRIEF, you'll discover how emotions drive behavior and why understanding what a dog is feeling is often more important than focusing on what a dog is doing.If you've ever wondered why some dogs struggle with reactivity, frustration, anxiety, or recovery from stressful events, this episode will help you look beyond behavior and into the emotional experiences shaping it.Because behavior is often the symptom—but emotion is the story underneath.WebsiteOnline ContentSubstack
Transcribe →The Day Chickens Changed My Dog Training, and other Ramblings
1w ago00:32:20Tap to summarizeWhat do chickens have to do with dog training? More than you might think.In this episode, I share the story of how a 40-hour week spent training chickens fundamentally changed the way I understood behavior, learning, and my work with dogs. After starting my career in 1996 with traditional obedience methods—including the use of prong collars—I began questioning what I thought I knew about training and discovered a different path rooted in learning theory, communication, and relationship.I also introduce my new online course, Understanding Dog Interaction, where we explore how dogs communicate through play, body language, and social interactions. Understanding these signals can help prevent conflicts, improve relationships, and teach us to recognize when a dog is saying "yes," "no," or "not right now."We also recap our reliable recall episode where we discussed why meeting a dog's genetic and behavioral needs is critical for building responsiveness, and how a simple touch cue can become a powerful, reward-based safety tool while recall skills are still developing.Whether you're interested in dog communication, recall training, behavior science, or the evolution of modern dog training, this episode offers insight into the lessons that shaped my approach and continue to influence how I help dogs and their humans today.WebsitePatreonOnline Courses
Transcribe →Building a Dog Who Wants to Return
2w ago00:35:37Tap to summarizeWhat makes a dog choose to come back?Many people think recall starts with teaching the cue "come," but reliable recall is about much more than a single behavior. It begins with understanding the dog in front of us—their genetics, their needs, their motivations, and the relationship we have with them.In this episode, I explore what recall actually looks like beyond the cue itself, the foundational behaviors that support it, and the common mistakes that often get in the way of success. We discuss the importance of meeting a dog's biological and emotional needs, fostering check-ins and engagement, and creating an environment where returning to their person becomes a meaningful choice rather than a forced response.Whether you're working with a puppy, an adolescent, or an adult dog, this conversation offers a different perspective on recall—one that focuses less on control and more on connection.Because the strongest recalls aren't built on obedience alone. They're built on trust, understanding, and a dog who genuinely wants to return.WebsitePatreonYouTubeSubstackFacebook
Transcribe →Beyond the Six-Month Rule
3w ago00:47:33Tap to summarizeFor decades, dog owners were routinely told to spay or neuter their dogs at six months of age. It was a simple recommendation that became the standard of care for generations. But as research into canine growth, development, and long-term health has expanded, the conversation has become far more nuanced.In this episode, Nikki explores the evolving science behind spay and neuter timing, including the role that hormones play in muscle development, bone density, structural balance, and overall physical maturity. We'll discuss the potential benefits of allowing dogs to mature before sterilization, as well as the legitimate concerns associated with waiting, including accidental litters, pyometra, and mammary cancer considerations.Most importantly, we'll examine why many veterinarians and researchers are moving away from a one-size-fits-all recommendation and toward decisions based on breed, size, sex, lifestyle, and individual health risks.This is not a pro-spay or anti-spay episode. It's a conversation about understanding the science, weighing the risks and benefits, and making informed decisions that support the long-term welfare of the individual dog.Whether you're raising a new puppy, competing in dog sports, working your dog, or simply trying to make the best decisions for your companion, this episode will help you better understand why the six-month rule may no longer be the whole story.WebsiteOnline ContentVideosPatreonSocial Media
Transcribe →Don't Train Me, Raise Me. (Part 2)
4w ago01:10:51Tap to summarizeDon’t Train Me, Raise Me explores the difference between creating a dog that simply follows commands and raising a dog that understands how to navigate the world with confidence, stability, and trust. In this episode, we dive into why obedience alone doesn’t prepare dogs for real life, how micromanaging every behavior can create dependence instead of understanding, and why truly successful training must account for the individual dog standing in front of us.Not every dog needs the same behaviors, the same expectations, or the same path to success. Real life skills are about emotional balance, communication, adaptability, and helping dogs learn how to make safe choices within their environment — not just perform on cue. This episode challenges the idea of universal standards in dog training and shifts the conversation toward raising dogs as individuals rather than controlling them like robots.Part one can be found on our Patreon member's page. Get access for $5/month along with FREE registration for Live Q&A's, discounts on webinar and online courses, private community, and more. Learn more here. WebsiteOnline ContentYouTube
Transcribe →Why Running Your Dog Ragged Isn’t the Answer
May 1900:35:24Tap to summarizeWe’ve all heard the advice: “A tired dog is a good dog.” But physical exhaustion alone does not create emotional stability, confidence, or good decision-making. In this episode, we discuss why constantly trying to wear dogs out can actually overlook what many dogs truly need—guidance, fulfillment, rest, decompression, and the ability to regulate themselves.We’ll talk about the difference between physical fatigue and behavioral wellness, why some dogs become more dysregulated the more they’re exercised, and how enrichment, neutrality, sleep, and emotional safety play a critical role in behavior. If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of trying to “burn energy” without seeing real progress, this episode will help shift the way you view your dog’s needs.WebsiteOnline CoursesYouTubePatreon
Transcribe →The Hidden Cost of “Including” Your Dog
May 500:54:05Tap to summarizeSomewhere along the way, we started believing that a “good” dog is one who can go everywhere, meet everyone, and handle anything without hesitation. But what if that’s not actually what your dog needs?In this episode, Nikki breaks down the difference between introverted and extroverted dogs—and why forcing all dogs into stimulating environments can do more harm than good. You’ll learn how to recognize when your dog is coping versus truly comfortable, how overstimulation impacts the nervous system, and why neutrality—not constant socialization—should be the goal.This conversation challenges the cultural pressure to include your dog in everything and instead invites you to start observing the dog in front of you. Because confidence doesn’t come from exposure alone—it comes from feeling safe enough to not need a reaction.WebsiteOnline CoursesLive Q & AYouTube
Transcribe →Teaching Neutrality in a Stimulating World
Apr 2801:02:56Tap to summarizeDogs aren’t struggling because they haven’t been exposed to enough—they’re struggling because of how their nervous system is processing what they’ve experienced.In this episode, we break down the role of emotion in exposure work and why neutrality is the true marker of success. You’ll learn how to move beyond “just getting them used to it” and instead begin shaping experiences that help your dog feel safe, regulated, and capable in a stimulating world.dogspeak101.comdogspeakgeek.thinkific.compatreon.com/dogspeakAggression and Reactivity SummitLive Q&A
Transcribe →What You See Isn’t the Whole Story—It’s Just the Surface
Apr 2100:45:22Tap to summarizeBritteny joins Nikki for an honest conversation about Willow’s early behaviors—what felt concerning at the time, and how those same behaviors now make perfect sense. This episode highlights how our interpretation of behavior can change as understanding deepens, and why what we see in the moment isn’t always the full picture. Britteny also reflects on witnessing Nikki’s relationship with Willow develop in a way that challenges more traditional training dynamics. At the heart of it all is a simple but often overlooked truth: the relationship you build with your dog should feel safe, respectful, and mutually beneficial.dogspeak101.comdogspeakgeek.thinkific.comEVENT Calendar
Transcribe →It’s Not the Event—It’s the Feeling: Associations Are Built on Emotion
Apr 1400:51:18Tap to summarizeWe tend to look at behavior and point to the obvious—that dog, that noise, that moment—and assume we understand what caused it. But what if the event isn’t actually the thing your dog learned from?In this episode, I’m breaking down how associations are really formed, and why it’s not the event itself that matters most—it’s how your dog felt in that moment.Associations aren’t just “good” or “bad.” They can be neutral, layered, and often far more complex than what we see on the surface. A single experience can carry multiple associations, some obvious, some completely missed. And those associations are shaped by your dog’s emotional state within the environment, the situation, and everything happening around them—not just the one thing we tend to focus on.This is where things can get tricky.Because if we’re only addressing what we think the association is, we can miss the bigger picture—and in doing so, unintentionally reinforce the very behaviors we’re trying to change.If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the “right” things but not seeing progress, this conversation will help you see what might be getting missed—and how to start looking at your dog’s experience in a completely different way.LIVE Q&AOnline ContentDecoding Reactivity and Aggression SummitDogSpeak Website
Transcribe →