Sexier Than A Squirrel: Dog Training That Gets Real Life Results

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In Sexier Than a Squirrel, the Official AbsoluteDogs Podcast, join us here at Absolute Dogs as we talk training your dog, transforming your dog training struggles and getting real-life results through GAMES!

  1. 3D AGO

    Every Piece of Food Has a Purpose: Feeding With Intention

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! This week, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood topics in dog training: food. Are you bribing your dog? Creating a treat monster? Or accidentally training the very behaviours you don’t want? At absoluteDogs, we believe something simple but powerful: every piece of food has a purpose. When you start using food with intention, everything changes. Your dog’s choices, your timing, and the results you see in real life. In this episode, we break down what’s really going on when you use food in training, and how to turn rewards into a tool that builds trust, clarity, and reliability - not dependency. We share practical, everyday training games that go way beyond “sit for a biscuit”. Think reinforcing proximity to supercharge your recall, paying for loose lead walking when the world is distracting, and creating positive associations with things like cars, visitors, and door knocks so they become a total non-event. Got more than one dog? We’ve got you covered there too. We chat about using food to move dogs smoothly from space to space, reducing chaos, ditching the chasing and negotiating, and building a calmer, more cooperative household. We also tackle noise reactivity and the realities of neighbourhood life, showing you how to use simple pairing strategies to reduce barking and help your dog settle. Plus, the easy calming setups we always have ready - think Kongs, lick mats, and smart crate routines. And finally, we head into cooperative care - grooming, handling, and vet visits - sharing how simple consent-based games like chin rests and stillness can transform these experiences from stressful to straightforward. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing food right”, this episode will change how you see every single treat you deliver. Ready to learn more? Grab the £1 Games Club trial, explore guided tracks - including Mouse Trap - and see how powerful games and food are when used purposefully and thoughtfully. https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial New to Devon Dogs and want to take advantage of the introductory offer?  http://www.devondogs.co.uk/product/20-introductory-lesson Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club! https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub  And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

    16 min

  2. MAR 24

    Siri's Magic Suitcase: Taking Games on the Road

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! This week, the wonderful Sam is back to chat to Lauren about a rather unusual training tool: a suitcase. Siri, Sam’s Jack Russell, used to find the outside world pretty overwhelming. Walks could quickly turn into moments of panic and reactivity. But a simple idea - a suitcase covered in unicorns - helped turn those tricky situations into something far more predictable and productive. The “magic suitcase” isn’t really magic at all. It’s a portable kit filled with games Siri already knows and loves. Over time, the suitcase itself became a cue: when it appears, it means “we’re about to play our games”. That sense of familiarity gives Siri something clear and positive to focus on, even when the environment around her feels challenging. Lauren and Sam talk through how Sam built this system step by step. It started at home with short, successful sessions, layering different games onto the same prop so Siri learned that the suitcase always means the same thing. From two paws up and wrap-arounds to boundary settles, scent searches, and even a noise box, each activity became part of the same predictable routine. It’s outside in the real world where the suitcase really comes into its own. When things feel a bit spicy - a busy street, a sudden distraction, a trigger appearing in the distance - the suitcase helps Siri switch from worry to work. Sometimes that means calm, nose-led activities; other times it’s more dynamic games that channel her energy in a helpful way. If you have a reactive, nervous, or easily over-aroused dog, this episode offers a simple, creative way to bring familiar training games with you wherever you go - helping your dog feel safer, calmer, and more able to make good choices. Ready to give it a go with your own dog? Sam would LOVE to see you and your dogs get creative with their own magic suitcases. Part of Games Club? We’ve added Siri’s Magic Suitcase to your library of games so you can see it in action. New to games and want to check it out? Grab the £1 Games Club trial and you can watch it right now. https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial  Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club! https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub  And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

    8 min

  3. MAR 17

    Concept Training Explained: Calmness aka The Value of Being Able to Chill Out

    Send a text Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! This week, we’re continuing our series of episodes exploring what concept training actually is and how it shows up in real life with your dog. We’ll be taking concepts you may have heard us talk about before, breaking them down, and making them practical, relatable, and easy to spot in your own training sessions and day-to-day interactions with your dog. This time, Alice is back to chat to Lauren about the king of all concepts: calmness. Calmness isn’t just a nice-to-have in dog training. For some dogs, it can be life changing - even life-saving! In this episode, you’ll hear more of the powerful story of Bonnie, a “mastiff mega mutt” with a difficult history and significant physical challenges, whose path forward depended on learning how to find calm in a world that once felt overwhelming. Listen in as Lauren and Alice chat about what a lack of calm actually looks like in real life - hyper-vigilance, barking, lunging, restless nights, and a nervous system constantly on high alert. When dogs are stuck in these states, learning becomes almost impossible. That’s why calmness isn’t just another training goal; it’s the foundation that makes everything else possible. You’ll hear how calm became the guiding principle behind every training decision for Alice and her partner Chris. From using simple techniques like DMT (Distraction, Mark, Treat) to build neutrality around triggers, to ditching the food bowl and investing every meal into reinforcing calm choices, Alice explains the practical steps that helped Bonnie move from chaos toward stability - and how, for Bonnie, that really was life-saving. Bonnie’s transformation didn’t happen overnight, but the path forward was built from simple, repeatable habits: noticing calm, marking it, reinforcing it, and gradually expanding her comfort zone. As Bonnie learned to settle, walk more peacefully, and rest deeply, something else shifted too - the humans changed. Because one of the most powerful truths in dog training is that our dogs borrow our state. If you’re struggling with barking, reactivity, or a dog who seems constantly on edge, this episode offers a hopeful and practical roadmap for building calmness -  not as a trick, but as a lifestyle. Ready to learn more? Grab the £1 Games Club trial and borrow the confidence and support of a community that’s solved the Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club! https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog - Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

    22 min

  4. MAR 10

    The Art of Canine Physio: Exercise & Fitness Foundations for Every Dog

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! Better performance and fewer injuries don’t start with fancy equipment. They start with the basics: a balanced stand, a square sit, and the patience to slow down. In this episode, Lauren sits down with canine physiotherapist and hydrotherapist Mel to talk about what really builds strong, capable dogs. They chat about why stillness is so important, how a steady stand builds strength, body awareness, and focus, and why those skills carry over to everything from agility to everyday handling. Mel explains the kinds of exercises she would typically start with in a physio setting and how those same foundations can be thoughtfully built into the fitness work you do at home. You'll hear how she uses forward focus to reduce fidgeting, how she builds a true square sit, the value of small upward reaches to wake up the core, and the importance of coaching clean sit-to-stand transitions without shuffling feet or dipping spines. Mel also explains how she picks the right starting point for the dog in front of her - often core control before paw perfection - and why it’s so important to set both dog and owner up for success.  Lauren admits she was surprised to learn how long muscle really takes to build (typically six weeks before you see proper, measurable development) and Mel highlights the other key piece of the puzzle: fuel. If you’re asking your dog to grow muscle while keeping calories the same, it simply won’t happen. Strength takes time, consistency, and enough nutrition to support the work.  If you’re fascinated about canine physiotherapy or curious about safe, simple foundation exercises you can build into your dog’s routine, this episode is a must listen. Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club! https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub  And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

    25 min

  5. MAR 3

    Life Sentence Dogs: Loving the Ones Who Challenge Us Most

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! Ever felt like your dog’s reactivity is a life sentence you didn’t sign up for? Lauren and Linda chat frankly about the things owners rarely say out loud - relief when the pressure lifts, embarrassment on tricky walks, and the guilt that often comes with owning a challenging dog -  and replace them with a manageable plan built on acceptance, management, and smarter reinforcement. We discuss what progress really looks like for anxious and sensitive dogs and how strategies like DMT (Distraction Mark Treat) and scatter feeding help turn triggers into calmness. You’ll hear how small, consistent choices can help lower arousal at home - window film, crates, room rotations, stair gates - and how those choices pay off outside with calmer walks and fewer reactions. We also get practical about tools: head collars introduced with care, well-chosen flexi leads for safe environments, and hip belts that free your hands so you can feed fast and move with purpose. The tool isn’t the point; it’s all about the outcome - no bad rehearsal. Lauren and Linda also share their own experience of multi-dog households, especially when there’s one or more Naughty But Nice dogs in the mix. They chat about how tension can ripple through a group, why pairings and fast interruptions matter, and how to diffuse stare-downs without drama. You’ll also hear why “your house, your rules” is a training superpower: no forced greetings, no visitors grabbing your dogs, and no apologies for safeguarding your dog’s experiences. When setbacks happen, we ask the only question that moves you forward: what needs changing in setup, timing, or criteria? This is a conversation about trading perfection for progress you can feel. Management is training, distance is often your friend, and the word “yet” keeps you moving. If you’re ready to swap shame for strategy and work with the dog in front of you - even on the tough days - hit play, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more owners find support. Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club! https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub  And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

    39 min

  6. FEB 24

    Concept Training Explained: Disengagement aka That's None of My Business

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! This week, we’re continuing our new series of episodes exploring what concept training actually is and how it shows up in real life with your dog. We’ll be taking concepts you may have heard us talk about before, breaking them down, and making them practical, relatable, and easy to spot in your own training sessions and day-to-day interactions with your dog. This time, Lauren is joined by the amazing Sam to explore one of the most important - and often overlooked - skills in dog training: disengagement. Ever felt your dog vanish into a distraction - locked on a squirrel, snout glued to fox scent, or bee-lining toward a picnic? Listen in as we chat about the missing skill that is at the root of all those struggles: disengagement - the ability to turn away from temptation and choose you instead. Using simple, relatable analogies - like the cake you keep nibbling or the spider you can’t stop thinking about - we show how fixation works in both humans and dogs, then translate that into practical training you can start today. Lauren and Sam consider why some dogs struggle more, whether it’s lack of education or innate wiring, and how to meet each dog where they’re at. Sam also shares one of her all time favourite games - Disengagement Pattern - a clear, repeatable game that pays your dog generously for orienting back to you. Toss one treat toward mild interest, then deliver a small jackpot for the turn-away to anchor a new value system: outside temptations are single coins; you are the bank. We explain how to adapt reinforcement - by amount or quality - to keep the contrast clear without overfeeding, and how to manage distance like a volume dial so your dog can think rather than tip into frenzy. From pheasants bursting from hedges to food scraps in city parks, we chat real-life scenarios and show how to reset, create space, and reinforce better choices. You’ll hear how to chain quick wins, when to pivot to other games, and how practice at home makes walks smoother and calmer. This is a blueprint for building recall-like reliability without constant cueing, because the best behaviour is the one your dog chooses. Ready to try it yourself? Grab the £1 Games Club trial, explore guided tracks, and borrow the confidence of a community that’s solved the same struggles. https://abs Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club! https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub  And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

    11 min

  7. FEB 17

    Concept Training Explained: Optimism aka The World Isn't Scary

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! This week, Lauren is joined once again by the amazing Alice, to kick off a new series of episodes where we’re exploring what concept training actually is and how it applies to real life with your dog. We’ll be taking concepts you may have heard us talk about before, breaking them down, and making them practical, relatable, and easy to spot in your own training sessions and day-to-day interactions with your dog. And we’re starting with optimism. What if your dog’s “reactivity” is really a pessimistic prediction about the world - one you could rewrite it with play? We share how teaching optimism through simple, structured games turned Bonnie, a large mastiff mix with explosive dog-to-dog reactions, into a calm, confident dog who can enjoy off‑lead time with friends and settle peacefully at home. Listen in as Lauren and Alice break down optimism as a practical training concept: when a dog learns to expect good outcomes from ambiguous situations, barking, lunging and hiding give way to curiosity and choice. You’ll hear how short, rewarding games reshape neural pathways, why ditching the bowl fuels learning, and how to build habits of calm disengagement around big triggers like cyclists, fireworks and vet handling.  Alice shares one of her favourite and most accessible games for boosting optimism with any dog - Noise Box - using everyday items to make novelty safe and fun. This is a story of real change grounded in games-based training, management and community support. We talk measurable wins - faster recovery, softer body language, easier check-ins - and the difference optimism makes beyond reactivity: smoother grooming, kinder vet visits and a shared sense of confidence at both ends of the lead.  If you’re tired of bracing for the next meltdown, this approach gives you a roadmap that feels kind, achievable and effective. Ready to try it yourself? Grab the £1 Games Club trial, explore guided tracks, and borrow the confidence of a community that’s solved the same struggles. https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial  Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club! https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub  And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

    14 min

  8. FEB 10

    No Monkey Measures: Health & Wellness for the Human End of the Lead

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! This week, Lauren is joined by the brilliant Rosanne Calabrese for a conversation that switches the spotlight from our dogs back onto us. Together, they explore what happens when dog people put everyone else first – and why our own health and wellbeing is just as important. From food, energy, gut health, stress, and genetics, to the simple daily habits that shape how we feel, move, think, and show up for our dogs, this episode is a powerful reminder that you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’ve ever been meticulous about what your dog eats, how they’re exercised, and how their environment is set up – while barely giving yourself a second thought – this one’s for you. Rosanne shares practical, no-nonsense insights into nutrition without counting, weighing, or obsessing (no monkey measures here!) including why hydration matters, how environment can switch genes on or off, and why eating more simply can lead to more energy, clarity, and resilience. Lauren also opens up about her own recent health wake-up call, making this a refreshingly honest and relatable conversation. This episode isn’t about perfection, restriction, or giving everything up. It’s about easy wins, sustainable changes, and doing something for yourself – so you can keep showing up as the human your dog needs at the end of the lead. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll look after myself later”, consider this your nudge to start now. Keen to learn more? Join “the Blondie and the Brunette” for the ultimate Health & Wellness Retreat from 13th to 20th March 2026 at Bowerland - the home of absoluteDogs. Online and in person options available.  https://www.devondogs.co.uk/product/health-retreat-13-mar-26/  Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club! https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club! https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub  And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

    1h 4m
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In Sexier Than a Squirrel, the Official AbsoluteDogs Podcast, join us here at Absolute Dogs as we talk training your dog, transforming your dog training struggles and getting real-life results through GAMES!

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