If your “sweet-as-sugar-until-a-squirrel-appears” dog can’t resist the thrill of the chase, this one’s for you. Force-free trainer Stephanie Rombough (Happy Hounds Dog Training, Alberta, Canada) joins me to share the reward-based process behind her new book inspired by her own high-drive herder, Nera. We dig into why chasing is so reinforcing, how to prevent dangerous rehearsals, and exactly how to teach voluntary disengagement—from “laser-eyes on bunny” to “I see it… and I choose you.”You’l...
If your “sweet-as-sugar-until-a-squirrel-appears” dog can’t resist the thrill of the chase, this one’s for you.
Force-free trainer Stephanie Rombough (Happy Hounds Dog Training, Alberta, Canada) joins me to share the reward-based process behind her new book inspired by her own high-drive herder, Nera.
We dig into why chasing is so reinforcing, how to prevent dangerous rehearsals, and exactly how to teach voluntary disengagement—from “laser-eyes on bunny” to “I see it… and I choose you.”
You’ll hear how Stephanie moved from a compulsion-based upbringing in dog training to a compassionate, science-grounded approach that works for terriers, sighthounds, herders—and the humans who love them.
Key takeaways
🐾 The one mistake even experienced guardians make: starting where the dog can’t succeed. Begin well below threshold so you can reward success and build from there.
🐾 Management is non-negotiable. While you train, prevent rehearsals: leashes instead of off-leash parks, doors closed, baby gates up. Each “got it!” chase self-rewards like a biochemical jackpot.
🐾 Use functional rewards. Sometimes a dry cookie can’t compete with a river, a breeze, or a squeaky critter. Reward with what your dog actually wants in that moment (e.g., a release to sniff/splash or a fur tug to bite).
🐾 Three-phase training path:
Prompted leave-it (you cue disengagement).
Supported watching (dog looks, you cue when needed).
Voluntary disengagement (dog chooses you without prompting—keep rewarding this every time).
🐾 Replace, don’t just remove. Offer daily “legal” predation outlets—tug, chase games, scent work—so that the “prey-drive battery” drains in healthy ways.
🐾 Safety first. Keep dogs on leash during the program to prevent a full predatory sequence (chase → grab → …). Finishing that sequence makes the habit much harder to change.
🐾 How long does it take? It varies by dog and setup. Expect meaningful progress in a few weeks; solid reliability often builds over 2–3 months—and sometimes faster once the dog “gets it.”
🐾 Why “force-free won’t work with tough cases” is a myth. With the right setup, criteria, and rewards, even high-octane chasers can learn to leave wildlife (and cats!) alone.
🐾 Exactly how and what to reward: mark the moment your dog chooses you—even when you didn’t see the squirrel first. That’s the behavior you want on repeat.
Favorite quote
“Let your dog be a little wolf for 10–20 minutes a day, and they’ll be so much happier.”
About Stephanie Rombough
Stephanie Rombough is a force-free dog trainer and the owner of Happy Hounds Dog Training in Alberta, Canada. She’s best known for clear, practical tutorials and client case studies on YouTube, helping guardians turn everyday struggles into calm, connected wins. Her new book distills a decade of hands-on work into a step-by-step, reward-based system to stop chasing—without pain or fear.
Connect with Stephanie
Website: https://happyhoundsdogtraining.ca/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@happyhoundsdogtraining
Free guide: Leash Training Made Easier — https://happyhounds.myflodesk.com/leashtraining
Book: Stop the Chase — now available in print on Amazon (rolling out internationally)
As always, to find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, go to https://soultouchedbydogs.com
