Pet To Pal Podcast

Pet To Pal Podcast

Welcome to Pet To Pal Dog Training Your go-to channel for dog training tips, balanced training methods, and insider conversations with pet industry professionals. Here, we share: Podcast episodes featuring dog trainers, vets, groomers, and other pet experts. Dog training tutorials & advice to help you raise a well-behaved, happy dog. Funny and relatable dog content every pet parent will love. Whether you’re dealing with puppy training, leash reactivity, confidence building, or behavior problems, our goal is to help turn your pet into a pal through practical, positive, and effective

  1. Oct 26

    What Happens in the First 72 Hours With an Aggressive Dog?

    Can aggressive dogs be rehabilitated? And what can protection training teach us about canine behaviour? On this episode of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matt Maltese sits down with Yunus of Apex Canine Canada to discuss working with reactive dogs, serious aggression cases, and dogs considered “unfixable.” We explore the importance of trust during the early stages of behaviour modification, what the first 72 hours with a new dog can look like, and why some dogs need time to decompress before training can progress. Yunus also explains how understanding canine drive through bite work and protection training can influence the way trainers approach behavioural cases. We discuss realistic expectations for board-and-train programs, transferring results into the home, and helping owners maintain long-term progress. Beyond training, we talk about building Apex Canine Canada, running a professional training facility, learning from mentors, dealing with online criticism, overcoming imposter syndrome, and scaling a business without sacrificing quality. In this episode: Working with reactive and aggressive dogsFear, confidence, drive, and canine behaviourThe first 72 hours of a board-and-train programBite work and its potential applications in behaviour trainingOwner education, structure, and long-term managementBuilding a dog training business and developing a teamFollow Apex Canine Canada on Instagram: @apex.canine.canada Hosted by Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training, Toronto, Ontario. Follow the Pet To Pal Podcast for more conversations about dog training, behaviour modification, and the canine industry.

  2. Oct 19

    Dog Training, Pressure & Freedom: Andrew Goldberg of Happy Go Lucky Dog Company & Doggie Stoic Pod

    What does it really take to build a well-trained, confident dog? And how do we balance freedom, boundaries, play, and pressure in the training process? In episode 47 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matthew Maltese sits down with Andrew Goldberg of Happy Go Lucky Dog Company in Boca Raton, Florida. Andrew also hosts the Doggy Stoic Podcast, where he speaks with dog trainers to explore different training philosophies and continue learning. Andrew shares how he went from running pack walks and working with his own rescue dogs to building a dog-training business with multiple facilities and a team of trainers. We dive into the realities of modern dog training, including e-collar conditioning, LIMA, corrections, reinforcement, and the debate surrounding positive-only and balanced training approaches. We discuss why dogs need clear communication, how reinforcement history can shape behaviour, and why learning to navigate stress may be an important part of developing resilience. We also explore the role of play in dog training, how to build engagement with your dog, why repeating commands can create confusion, and how owners sometimes unintentionally reinforce the very behaviours they want to stop. Beyond training techniques, Andrew shares his thoughts on dog daycare, managing difficult behaviours, hiring and developing trainers, and building relationships with other professionals in the industry. Whether you’re a dog owner, a professional trainer, or someone interested in canine behaviour, this episode offers plenty to think about when it comes to how we train dogs and how we live with them. Connect with Andrew:
Happy Go Lucky Dog Company — Instagram
Doggy Stoic — Podcast Follow the Pet To Pal Podcast for more conversations with dog trainers and professionals working across the canine industry.

  3. Oct 12

    Living With Pet Loss: Healing, Continuing Bonds & Learning to Grieve

    Losing a pet can change your life. But what does healing actually look like when the bond you shared with them never really goes away? In Part 2 of our conversation with Beth Bigler of Honoring Our Animals, we explore how to live with pet loss, navigate grief, and maintain a meaningful connection with the animals who have changed our lives. Beth is a pet loss grief counselor, end-of-life doula, and pet chaplain. She shares why she challenges the idea of “moving on” from grief, explaining how we can instead learn to move with it while continuing to honour the bond we shared with our pets. We discuss: • Why losing a pet can mean losing your routine, identity, and sense of purpose
• Continuing bonds and why staying connected to a pet after death can be part of healthy grieving
• How to honour your pet through rituals, memories, and everyday moments
• Why guilt, relief, laughter, numbness, and even joy can all be part of grief
• How grief affects surviving pets and what you can do to support them
• When you might be ready to welcome another pet into your life
• How pet professionals can better support clients experiencing loss
• Recognizing when grief counselling might help Whether you’re grieving a pet you lost years ago, preparing for a goodbye, or supporting someone who is hurting, this conversation offers practical guidance and reassurance that there is no single right way to grieve. You don’t have to forget them. You don’t have to stop loving them. And you don’t have to navigate grief alone. 🎙️ About Beth Bigler: Beth helps people navigate the grief of losing an animal companion through counselling, end-of-life support, and spiritual care. This is Part 2 of our Pet To Pal Podcast conversation about pet loss and grief.

  4. Oct 5

    Losing A Pet: Anticipatory Grief, Euthanasia & The Guilt We Carry

    ep 45

  5. Sep 28

    Inside the Veterinary ER with Dr. Brianna Tobin

    What does a veterinarian actually see when a pet arrives at the emergency room? Dr. Brianna Tobin joins the Pet To Pal Podcast for a deep conversation about emergency veterinary medicine, from the first moments of triage to some of the hardest decisions a veterinarian can make. We discuss how ER vets determine which patients need immediate attention, why vital signs and an owner's observations can tell them more than appearances alone, and how veterinarians make decisions when they don't have all the information they need. Dr. Tobin also explains how existing diagnoses such as cancer can create diagnostic blind spots, why veterinarians need to resist anchoring on the first explanation, and how she approaches the process of building a clinical picture from incomplete information. We get into Fear Free veterinary care and the difficult reality of emergency medicine, including situations where sedation, restraint, or immediate intervention may be necessary to save a patient's life. The conversation then becomes much more personal. Dr. Tobin talks about euthanasia, supporting owners through impossible decisions, the emotional weight of losing patients, and how veterinarians learn to cope with the fact that sometimes you can do everything right and still lose the animal. We also discuss aggressive and anxious dogs in the ER, how behaviour and training can affect veterinary care, the relationship between trainers and veterinarians, veterinary misinformation, and what Dr. Tobin wishes every pet owner understood before an emergency happens. A conversation about emergency medicine, clinical judgment, animal behaviour, grief, and what it really means to care for animals when everything is happening at once. 🎙️ Pet To Pal Podcast with Matthew Maltese

  6. Sep 21

    The Messy Middle of Dog Training | Kait, KANE9 Dog Training

    Dog training isn’t just about training the dog. A huge part of the process is helping the human on the other end of the leash understand what their dog needs, manage their expectations, and navigate the emotional side of owning a difficult dog. In this episode of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matt sits down with Kait of KANE9 Dog Training to talk about the realities of working with reactive and challenging dogs, why she considers herself a “Human Coach” as much as a dog trainer, and what she means when she talks about the “messy middle” of dog training. Kait shares her journey from working in corporate marketing and sales to becoming a full-time dog trainer after adopting her own challenging dog, Roadie. They discuss balanced training, e-collars and prong collars, how her approach to training tools has evolved, and why she has moved away from rigid step-by-step obedience in favor of a more intuitive approach. They also get into the emotional side of dog ownership, including shame, unrealistic expectations, family dynamics, and the difficult reality that some dogs may never fit the lifestyle their owners originally imagined. Matt and Kait also discuss advocacy and boundaries, including her “Thanks for not petting my dog” message, how strangers can unintentionally sabotage reactive dogs, and why owners shouldn’t be afraid to advocate for their dogs. The conversation also covers mentoring other trainers, imposter syndrome, burnout, building a dog-training business, social media scrutiny, and the pressure trainers can feel to present a “finished” dog online. A conversation about dogs, humans, training, business, and the reality behind the highlight reel

  7. Sep 14

    Understanding the Dog Behind the Behavior | Josh Beckler, K9 Optima

    What happens when a dog trainer who started with compulsion and corrections completely rethinks his approach? This week I'm joined by Josh Beckler of K9 Optima for one of my favorite conversations yet. Josh talks about his evolution as a trainer, from using leash corrections and compulsion to developing a more individualized, assessment-based approach to behavior. We dive into aggression, reactivity, fear, frustration, genetics, dopamine, nervous-system regulation, polyvagal theory, sensory communication, touch, leash pressure and the role of corrections in modern dog training. We also talk about the problems Josh sees with social-media dog training, the importance of actually putting in the reps with real dogs, and why trainers need to stay humble, curious and willing to ask, "What am I missing?" Josh is the author of The Infinite Approach: Modern Dog Training and Polyvagal Insights and founder of K9 Optima. A good episode for both dog owners and trainers, especially anyone interested in understanding what is happening underneath a dog's behavior rather than simply stopping the behavior itself.

  8. Sep 7

    4 Dog Trainers Get Honest About Dog Training

    What does it actually take to train a dog? Matthew sits down with Eric Straetman of Beyond the Leash, Mazen Khan of Apex K9 Canada, and Nathan Aller of Dankroft K9 for an open discussion about modern dog training and behaviour modification. They discuss puppy socialization, reactivity, genetics, littermate syndrome, dog parks and daycare, puppy blues, e-collars, prong collars, corrections, board and trains, and the difference between a trained dog and a well-behaved dog. The trainers also share how their philosophies have changed throughout their careers, what separates an average trainer from a great one, why coaching the human is often the hardest part of the job, and their thoughts on the growing influence of social media and online dog trainers. A candid conversation between four trainers about what actually works, where trainers disagree, and what they believe dog owners need to understand. Guests:Eric Straetman | Beyond the LeashMazen Khan | Apex K9 CanadaNathan Aller | Dankroft K9Host: Matthew Maltese | Pet To Pal Dog Training

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About

Welcome to Pet To Pal Dog Training Your go-to channel for dog training tips, balanced training methods, and insider conversations with pet industry professionals. Here, we share: Podcast episodes featuring dog trainers, vets, groomers, and other pet experts. Dog training tutorials & advice to help you raise a well-behaved, happy dog. Funny and relatable dog content every pet parent will love. Whether you’re dealing with puppy training, leash reactivity, confidence building, or behavior problems, our goal is to help turn your pet into a pal through practical, positive, and effective

Information

  • Creator
    Pet To Pal Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Pet To Pal Podcast
  • Show Website
    Pet To Pal Podcast