Dog training has a short memory, and that’s a problem when the best solutions are often the oldest ones. I’m joined by Dr. Ian Dunbar, veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and one of the key forces behind reward-based training and off-leash puppy socialization, to walk through how the profession got built, what we got right, and where we’ve drifted. If you’ve ever wondered why puppy classes feel optional while aggression and reactivity consults feel “advanced,” this conversation flips that story on its head.
Dog training has a short memory, and that’s a problem when the best solutions are often the oldest ones. I’m joined by Dr. Ian Dunbar, veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and one of the key forces behind reward-based training and off-leash puppy socialization, to walk through how the profession got built, what we got right, and where we’ve drifted. If you’ve ever wondered why puppy classes feel optional while aggression and reactivity consults feel “advanced,” this conversation flips that story on its head.
We go back to Ian’s early years with off-leash dogs, his first shock at watching leash-correction culture, and the practical roots of lure reward training before it even had a name. From there, we unpack the rise of off-leash puppy classes, and the early conferences that helped professionalize dog training. Ian shares what those “glory years” felt like and why openness and community mattered as much as technique.
Then we get into the messy middle: ideology, the meaning of “aversive,” the social media dynamics that punish nuance, and why many trainers are scared to show real training on video. We also talk about prevention at a skill level, not a slogan: early socialization, play and enrichment as reinforcement, bite inhibition, and fast ways to change behavior so the dog’s emotional response can change too. Ian makes a strong case for using simple metrics and real-world testing so “science-based dog training” means measurable improvement, not just theory.
If you’re ready to rebuild your foundation with puppies, prevention, and practical training you can see and track, you’ll get a lot out of this one.
ABOUT IAN:
Dr. Ian Dunbar is one of the world's most respected experts on dog training and behavior.
He grew up on a farm in the English countryside training cows, chickens and yes, dogs using time-honored lure reward training techniques learned from his family.
He went on to receive his veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College at London University and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley.
In 1982, he designed and taught the world's very first off-leash puppy socialization and training classes – SIRIUS® Puppy Training. These puppy classes would go on to become immensely popular and imitated all around the world.
The success and popularity of these classes ultimately revolutionized the world of dog training by putting a much needed focus on puppyhood and easy, enjoyable, and effective methods, at a time when most training was boring and unpleasant.
Subsequently, Ian went on to create and develop the San Francisco SPCA's Animal Behavior Department, he started the American Kennel Club's Gazette "Behavior" column, which he wrote for seven years, and he designed and organized the K9 GAMES®.
In 1993, he founded the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. With over 5000 members in 48 countries, the APDT has grown to be the world's largest association of dog trainers.
He has authored numerous books and videos, including five seasons of Dogs with Dunbar, a popular television program in the UK. He has given over one thousand seminars and workshops around the world and has been instrumental in the rise of reward-based, fun and games, scientifically sound dog training methods.
https://www.dunbaracademy.com/
Barking Up the Right Tree book:
https://www.dunbaracademy.com/pages/barking-up-the-right-tree
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