072 – Confident Communication With Your Dog Friends

Do dogs make you a little nervous – even the friendly ones? Or do you adore your own dog but wish walks or visitors were less stressful? Then today’s episode of the Delight in the Limelight Podcast is for you!

I chat with Theresa Kolpakova – certified positive reinforcement dog trainer and canine behavior specialist with more than two decades of experience – about how the relationship we build with dogs isn’t about control, it’s about respect and clear communication.

Listen in to discover:

• The message a tight leash sends your dog (and what to do instead)
• The three-second greeting rule that keeps on-leash meetups calm
• How to train a reliable recall before you need it in the field
• Reading and respecting a dog’s “back off” signals
• A simple trick for feeling more confident around dogs – whether they’re yours or not

If you’ve ever felt anxious around a dog, or wished your own pup was easier to live with, this conversation will shift how you think about our canine friends.

Listen to the Podcast Here

Watch The Podcast Here

Connect with Theresa

Theresa is a humane educator and professional certified positive reinforcement dog trainer and canine behavior specialist working within shelter, rescue, and both domestic and wild animal welfare organizations for 23yrs.

She has led and participated extensively in community-based conservation programs in the US and several countries in South America, as well as created and facilitated canine communication and bite prevention programs in MA and CA.

Theresa encourages respectful, loving connections between people and their dogs based in learning how to communicate effectively through body language and positive motivation and reinforcement.

She is on the Behavioral Advisory Board of BnR’s Rock n’ Rescue, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dog rescue organization based in MA since it’s creation in 2017 and is the founder of Positive Path Dog Training: Positive Reinforcement Training for People and Their Pups, established originally as DogSpeak in 2012.

• theresakolpakova [at] @gmail [dot] com
• Theresa on Instagram

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Credits – Music: “A Smooth Jazz” by Music Cocktail

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