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

    Concept Training Explained: Arousal Up/Down aka Learning to Change Gears

    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 series of episodes exploring what concept training actually is and how it shows up in real life with your dog. We’re taking the concepts you hear us talk about all the time, breaking them down, and making them practical, relatable, and easy to spot in your everyday training. This time, Karen and Alice are taking the reins to explore Arousal Up, Arousal Down - a skill we often refer to as a Dimmer Switch. Does your dog go from zero to 100 at the slightest excitement? A knock at the door, a visitor arriving or another dog appearing on a walk can be enough to send some dogs into overdrive. And once they're up there, getting back to calm can be a real challenge! Listen in as Alice and Karen chat about how we can help our dogs regulate their energy and respond more appropriately to whatever life throws their way. We'll explore why some dogs seem to have just two settings – completely chilled or absolutely bouncing off the walls – and how games-based training can help them discover all those useful energy levels in between. You'll discover how simple changes to games you're already playing can make a big difference. From speeding up and slowing down games like Orientation Game to using Boundary Games and gentle scent-based activities, Alice and Karen share practical ways to help your dog learn to adjust their energy gradually. And the best part? You can practise this concept during everyday activities, including your usual walks! Small changes in pace can help your dog learn to move smoothly between different energy levels, without needing a whole new training routine. We'll also explore why this skill matters so much in real life. When dogs become overwhelmed by excitement or worry, they can struggle to think clearly and make good choices. Building a better Dimmer Switch can help with everything from calmer greetings and visitors to more successful interactions with other dogs. Of course, sometimes high energy is exactly what's needed! The skill we're building is your dog's ability to match their energy to the moment, dial it up when appropriate and bring it back down again. Ready to help your dog find their Dimmer Switch? Inside Games Club, you'll find hundreds of games to help build this skill, along with dedicated Arousal Up, Arousal Down training resources. Grab the £1 Games Club trial and get playing! 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!

  2. Nov 3

    Hands Off! Living With a Resource Guarding 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! Does your dog growl when you approach their food? Guard their favourite chew, their bed or even something they've picked up that they really shouldn't have? Resource guarding can be incredibly challenging to live with, particularly when you're worried about how your dog might react if you need to take something away. This week, Lauren is joined by Amber to talk about the realities of living with a resource guarding dog, sharing the story of Amber's Hungarian Vizsla, Sergei, and the training and management strategies that have made such a difference to their everyday lives. When Amber first took Sergei on as a rescue, she had no idea just how challenging his behaviour would become. From guarding his crate and high-value chews to lunging and biting when he felt threatened, Sergei's resource guarding created some genuinely difficult situations. But with time, understanding and a lot of thoughtful management, life with Sergei looks very different today. Lauren and Amber explore why management is such an important part of living with resource guarding, and how preventing difficult situations can be far more effective than waiting for something to go wrong. You'll hear how Amber manages food, chews and shared spaces in her multi-dog household, why she focuses on moving Sergei away from an object rather than trying to take it from him, and how giving him time to fully disengage helps avoid unnecessary conflict. They also discuss the training that's helped Sergei develop better skills around letting go and moving away from things he finds valuable. From disengagement games and reward placement to building confidence with Kongs and other enrichment activities, you'll discover why it's so important to teach the skills your dog needs before you find yourself needing them in a difficult situation. And what about the rest of the household? Lauren and Amber talk honestly about managing resource guarding around family members, visitors and other dogs, including why sometimes changing your routines and setting clear boundaries is the best way to keep everyone safe and comfortable. There's also valuable advice for anyone considering rescuing or rehoming a dog, particularly around asking the right questions, understanding the dog's current challenges and recognising that some behaviours may only emerge once they've had time to settle into their new home. Resource guarding isn't always something that simply disappears, but that doesn't mean life can't get better. Sergei's story is a brilliant example of how understanding your dog, building the right skills and having a solid management plan can make everyday life safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Want to build your dog's disengagement skills and discover games that can help with resource guarding? Inside Games Club, you'll find practical training games and support to help you work on the skills your dog needs. Check out the £1 Games Club trial here: 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!

  3. Oct 27

    Feeding for Calmness: Supporting Your Dog Through Spooky Season

    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! Dark evenings, blustery weather, strange shadows and Halloween decorations popping up everywhere. Spooky season brings plenty of changes to our dogs' everyday environments, and even the most confident dogs can find themselves a little more worried or reactive than usual. This week, Lauren is joined by Michelle to explore how we can use food, feeding strategies and enrichment to support our dogs' calmness through spooky season. They start by looking at why autumn can be such a challenging time for dogs. With unfamiliar sights and sounds, changing routines and a whole host of little stresses adding up, it's easy for a dog's stress bucket to become fuller than we realise. And when that happens, even something that wouldn't normally bother them can suddenly trigger barking or an anxious response. So how can we help? Lauren and Michelle share some of their favourite ways to feed for calmness, including why how you deliver your dog's food can be just as important as what you feed. From batch-cooking pumpkin and squash for frozen lick mats to creating enrichment bowls with seasonal ingredients like sweet potato, apple and banana, you'll discover plenty of simple ideas that don't require hours of preparation. They also discuss supporting your dog's wellbeing through nutrition, gut health and supplements, including practical ways to incorporate these into meals for fussier eaters. But feeding for calmness goes well beyond what's in the bowl! You'll hear how recycling boxes, scatter feeding, stuffed chews and scent games can encourage sniffing, licking, chewing and problem-solving, giving your dog something positive to focus on when the world outside feels a little overwhelming. Lauren and Michelle also explore the importance of recognising stress stacking early, preventing the rehearsal of unwanted behaviours and making thoughtful choices about your dog's daily activities. Sometimes that means swapping a busy evening walk for a relaxed enrichment session at home, giving your dog the opportunity to rest, reset and enjoy something they love. Spooky season doesn't have to mean weeks of worry for your dog. With a little preparation, some creative feeding strategies and an understanding of what your dog needs, you can help them navigate the changing season with greater confidence and calmness. 🐾 Want to give your dog more opportunities to practise calmness? Discover a whole library of games, enrichment ideas and confidence-building activities inside Games Club. Check out the £1 Games Club trial here: 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!

  4. Oct 20

    Spooky Season Survival: Helping Your Dog Cope with Halloween

    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! Trick-or-treaters knocking at the door. Strange noises outside. Pumpkins, skeletons and floating ghosts appearing on your usual walking route. Halloween can be a lot for our dogs to take in, especially if they're already sensitive to noises, novelty or unexpected visitors. This week, Lauren is joined by Karen to talk about preparing your dog for spooky season, with plenty of real-life examples from Karen's own Naughty But Nice cockapoo, Rupert. Rupert can go from calm to barking, bouncing and completely overwhelmed in seconds when someone comes to the door. So what do you do when your dog is already reacting and asking them to calm down simply isn't going to work? Lauren and Karen explore practical ways to manage those tricky situations, from using a simple food scatter to help redirect your dog's attention, to creating space and giving them somewhere safe to settle. They also share why prevention can be your best friend, particularly when Halloween means repeated knocks at the door. And it's not just the doorbell! With darker evenings, unfamiliar decorations and unexpected sights and sounds appearing everywhere, there are plenty of opportunities for our dogs to find the world a little more worrying than usual. You'll hear how simple games like Noise Box, DMT and Magic Cave can help build confidence around novelty and noise, how to introduce unusual objects at home without overwhelming your dog, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is adjust your plans and routines to suit the dog in front of you. There's also a little preparation advice for Bonfire Night, which is just around the corner, including ways to make your home more comfortable for dogs who struggle with fireworks. The good news? There's plenty you can do to help your dog feel more prepared for whatever spooky season brings! 🎃 Want to keep trick-or-treaters from knocking on your door? Grab our free, dog-friendly Halloween door sign here: https://absolutedogs.me/halloweensign 👻 Looking for games to help your dog grow in confidence? Our October Games Club challenge is packed with spooky-themed training games designed to build optimism, confidence and resilience. Check out the £1 Games Club trial here: 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!

  5. Oct 13

    Reactive Dog? How to Get Your Confidence Back

    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! Living with a reactive or Naughty But Nice dog can be challenging. And sometimes, the hardest part isn't the barking, lunging or difficult walks. It's how those experiences leave you feeling. Vulnerable. Isolated. Embarrassed. Judged. This week, we're bringing you something a little different: a conversation from our two-day Live and Unleashed event, where Michelle, Sam and Karen get together to talk about building confidence as the owner of a Naughty But Nice dog. They know first-hand how difficult it can be when the dog you love finds the world challenging, when other people don't understand, or when you're constantly worrying about what might be waiting around the next corner. But how do you start rebuilding your confidence when it's taken a knock? Together, they explore why reconnecting with the things you love about your dog is such an important starting point, and how you can begin to replace worry and uncertainty with preparation, practical skills and a plan. From taking a break from stressful walks and finding safer places to train, to scoring environments according to difficulty, rehearsing your responses and building a toolkit of games you can rely on, there are plenty of practical ideas you can put into action with your own dog. You'll also hear why it's important to give yourself an easy win on difficult days, how learning alongside experienced trainers and carefully selected dogs can grow your handling skills, and why having the right support can make such a difference. Because your confidence matters too. And the more prepared and capable you feel, the better equipped you'll be to help your dog navigate the world. If you'd love some personalised help with your own Naughty But Nice dog, there are ways we can support you: 🐾 1-2-1 Coaching Calls – Get tailored advice, practical strategies and a plan for the challenges you're facing with your dog. https://absolute-dogs.com/products/pdt-connect  🐾 Devon Dogs Training Holidays – Join us in Devon for hands-on training, expert coaching and the opportunity to build your skills and confidence in a supportive environment. https://www.devondogs.co.uk/  And if you'd like to hear Ingrid's story, along with more inspiring experiences shared by our Naughty But Nice owners during Live and Unleashed, you'll find them on our AbsoluteDogs YouTube channel. Naughty But Nice stories 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!

  6. Oct 6

    Ditch the Walk: Does Every Dog Need a Daily Walk?

    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! Does being a good dog owner mean taking your dog for a walk every single day? What if that walk leaves your dog stressed, overwhelmed or rehearsing behaviours you really don’t want? And what if you could meet their needs brilliantly without heading out for a traditional walk at all? This week, Lauren is joined by Michelle to talk about Ditch the Walk – and why sometimes choosing not to walk your dog can be every bit as thoughtful as choosing to walk them. Together, they look at what we’re actually hoping to achieve when we take our dogs for a walk. Is it an opportunity to toilet? Physical exercise? Mental stimulation? Once we understand what we want the walk to provide, we can start thinking much more creatively about how we provide it. From scent work and training games at home to fitness, enrichment and secure dog fields, the traditional walk is just one option in a much bigger toolkit. They also explore why this can be such an important conversation for reactive, worried and Naughty But Nice dogs. We can prepare carefully, choose quieter places and train brilliantly, but we can’t control the off-lead dog that suddenly appears around the corner. Lauren and Michelle share experiences with their own dogs and explain why safeguarding confidence sometimes means being very selective about who, when, where and why you walk. And when you do choose to head out? Preparation matters. You’ll hear how secure spaces, long lines, recall training and having a strategy for difficult moments can help you build the skills your dog needs before asking them to cope with more challenging environments. This isn’t about never walking your dog. It’s about letting go of the idea that a daily walk is compulsory, looking at the dog in front of you and choosing experiences that genuinely work for both of you. Want more ideas for training, enrichment and building the skills your dog needs? You can join Games Club for just £1 and discover plenty of ways to give your dog a brilliant day – walk or no walk. Check out the £1 Games Club trial here: 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!

  7. Sep 29

    Concept Training: Flexibility aka I Can Roll With It

    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 series of episodes exploring what concept training actually is and how it shows up in real life with your dog. We’re taking the concepts you hear us talk about all the time, breaking them down, and making them practical, relatable, and easy to spot in your everyday training. This time, Lauren is joined by the brilliant Alice to explore flexibility – your dog’s ability to roll with whatever life throws their way. Does your dog know exactly when dinner should arrive? Start pestering the moment walk time approaches? Pull like a train along the familiar route to the park? Or struggle when something doesn’t happen quite the way they expected? Those everyday patterns can tell us a lot about flexibility – and what happens when expectations and reality don’t quite match. In this episode, Lauren and Alice explore how building mental flexibility can reduce frustration, lower arousal and help dogs cope more easily when plans change. Because life does change. Walks get cancelled, holidays happen, dogs stay with other people, routines shift and sometimes the thing your dog expected simply isn’t going to happen today. The more adaptable they can be, the easier those changes become. You’ll also hear loads of practical ways to grow flexibility through everyday life and training. From ditching the bowl and varying your walking routes to Noise Box, changing the outcome your dog expects and taking familiar behaviours into completely different situations, Lauren and Alice share simple ways to help your dog discover that different can be absolutely fine. They even explore how flexibility can help with calm comings and goings, separation and those Christmas-morning greetings every time you walk through the door. And there’s a lesson for the human end of the lead too. Sometimes helping our dogs become more flexible means looking at our own expectations, changing the picture we had in our heads and learning to work with the dog standing in front of us. Ready to help your dog become an “I can roll with it” kind of dog? Grab the £1 Games Club trial, explore the games that grow flexibility and discover just how much easier life can feel when change is no big deal. 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. Sep 22

    Eat Well, Feel Better: Healthy Habits for Life

    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 Michelle for a slightly different conversation – all about food, healthy habits and some of the choices they’ve made to help themselves feel better day to day. Because when life is busy, eating well can very easily become another thing on the to-do list. You’re hungry, you’re short on time, and suddenly whatever is quickest and easiest wins. So Lauren and Michelle are getting practical about how they make the healthier option the convenient option too. From keeping boiled eggs and fresh fruit ready to grab, to frozen fruit, smoothies, cauliflower rice, quick soups and a LOT of enthusiastic guacamole chat, they share the foods and little bits of preparation that help them eat well without spending their lives in the kitchen. They also talk about flexibility. Eating well day to day doesn’t mean never having the pizza you really fancy when you’re out with friends. It’s about finding choices and habits that work for your life – and noticing how you feel along the way. And, of course, there’s a dog-training connection too. Lauren and Michelle both notice the difference when they feel well fuelled, energised and ready to take on the day – whether they’re training dogs, competing, travelling or simply keeping up with everything life throws at them. If this conversation leaves you feeling inspired to give your own food habits a little attention, Lauren and Michelle also share more about the upcoming Health Retreat, where you can join them in person or online for a week of food, learning, cooking and plenty of ideas to take home with you. Have a listen – and perhaps make your shopping list as you go. Lauren certainly did! Devon Dogs Health Retreat (November 2026) https://www.devondogs.co.uk/product/health-retreat-27th-november-2026/  Devon Dogs Bake-Off: The Human End of the Lead (17th October 2026) https://www.devondogs.co.uk/product/devon-dogs-bake-off-17th-october-the-human-end-of-the-lead/ 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!

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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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