73: When You Have the Problem Dog with Jacqui Zakar

Are you at the end of your rope dealing with a dog who always seems to be the problem? I’ve been there, and I can say that there is hope! Today’s episode is a nice wrap-up as the final part of our series on dog training. Jacqui Zakar joins us from her home in Australia for today’s discussion about coping when your dog is “the problem.” Jacqui is a dog trainer I follow on TikTok, and I know she brings a lot of great advice and expertise to this important topic. Join us!

Show Highlights:

●      Why Jacqui understands from personal experience what it’s like to have a reactive dog that’s labeled as “that dog”

●      What Jacqui identifies as the most common misconception around dog training

●      Why Jacqui wants parents to take a closer look at the relationship between their dog and their child

●      Why socialization for your puppy is NOT the only answer to behavior problems

●      Why we sometimes have to adjust our expectations of life with “this dog” because of their individuality

●      Why Jacqui starts her training by assessing how a dog deals with different types of pressure

●      Why training should focus on small steps and ONE thing at a time

●      What to do when you’re at the end of your rope with a problem dog

●      Why the best question to ask when getting a dog is, “Which dog will fit best into my lifestyle?”

●      What KC discovered about her dog through using aversive methods (with a trainer) and teaching boundaries

●      How to use a “welfare lens” in understanding long-term stress vs. a stressful moment in your dog’s training

Resources and Links:

Connect with Jacqui Zakar: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook

Connect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook

Get KC’s book, How to Keep House While Drowning

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