The Best Dog Training Podcasts

Podcasts are only getting more popular. In less than ten years, listener numbers have increased nearly four times—and the average devotee spends more than 100 minutes a day with their favorite shows. Why the surge? For one, podcasts are an easily accessible way for both experts and enthusiasts to share their thoughts with the world. They don't involve the same screen-time commitment that movies and TV shows do. And you can listen just about anywhere, at any time!

If you can’t get enough dog training content in person and online—or if you learn better through listening than reading or watching videos—these podcasts could be your new best friend. (After your dog, of course.)

Here are some of Sniffspot's favorite podcasts hosted by professionals in the dog training field.

Why listen to dog training podcasts?

There’s no reason you have to listen to dog training podcasts to be a good dog parent. What matters most is that you meet your companion's needs and have fun together!

Many pet parents do find value in listening to trainers talk about dogs, though. Here are some perks of familiarizing yourself with dog training podcasts:

Dog training podcasts offer new ideas

Podcasts can provide new ideas on how to fulfill and train your dog. Even if you’re happy with your current routine, it’s never a bad thing to be exposed to more information. There's no such thing as too many helpful training tips!

You can listen to podcasts anywhere, even on the go

Dog training content is everywhere these days—especially in the digital space. Terms like "Dogtok" and "Dogstagram" have entered the mainstream. That's a great thing for many pet parents. We can join dedicated communities of people who love their dogs just as much as we do.

But there's a catch: Information overload. It can be hard to find time to sit down and sift through all the reels, Tik Toks, carousel posts, story slides, and more that permeate our online worlds.

Podcasts provide an opportunity to learn more while multitasking. You can even listen while out on a walk with your dog!

Dog training podcasts can create important community

If you don’t have access to a supportive in-person dog community—maybe force free dog training classes are hard to come by in your area, or your schedule prevents you from attending public events—listening to podcasts can be a great substitute.

Some of the best dog podcast episodes feel like listening to a conversation between friends who share your passion.

There's something for everyone

Ultimately: You don’t have to be a canine expert (or interested in becoming a trainer yourself) to still take something productive away from a dog training podcast. Many of the hosts in this article take care to express complex information in easily accessible ways. There are often conversations about—or general points that can be easily applied to—common pet dog goals like potty training.

How did we choose the podcasts in this article?

There are so many podcasts out there. It’s impossible to sort through every last one! We’ve done our best to choose titles that both align with our training values (humane, kind, force free methods) and that we believe Sniffspot users will most benefit from.

While many of these popular podcasts talk about dog training and ownership as a whole, some of our very favorites dive into the specific struggles that come with owning a reactive or otherwise challenging dog. (We built Sniffspot for you.)

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What are the best dog training and ownership podcasts?

In no particular order, we love:

Drinking From The Toilet

• Host: Hannah Brannigan of Wonderpups Training
• Most helpful for: Dog owners interested in science and nitty-gritty explanations

Drinking From The Toilet offers a behind-the-scenes look into the world of dog training and behavior. There are hundreds of episodes ranging from general canine conversations to discussions of specific issues, and the host addresses even difficult topics in a lighthearted, approachable way. Get inside the canine mind, learn about canine behavior, and start to better understand some complex training techniques.

In Brannigan’s own words, “With a heavy dose of humor and a side of empathy, we explore high-level behavior science concepts mixed with real conversations and practical training advice. We keep it nerdy, relatable, and real.”

The Bitey End of the Dog

• Host: Michael Shikashio, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC)
• Most helpful for: Dog owners struggling with behavioral problems like aggression

The Bitey End of the Dog podcast is dedicated to helping dogs with aggression issues via humane, force free (positive reinforcement) methods. Host Michael Shikashio is an aggression expert who shares conversations with world-renowned dog behavior and training experts that offer tons of background context, technical information, and in-the-moment strategies for managing difficult dogs.

The podcast can get complex at times. In some ways the content is directed towards fellow professional dog trainers more than "just" owners. But even “everyday” dog lovers and new pet parents can glean plenty of useful information from the episodes.

Animal Training Academy

• Host: Ryan Cartlidge of Animal Training Academy
• Most helpful for: People interested in general animal training principles

Okay, you caught us— his podcast isn’t only about dog training. It’s about humane animal training in general! If you’re interested in branching out beyond dog-related topics to learn about multiple different species, this is the listen for you. Hear from animal trainers and see what parts of learning theory apply across the board in our interactions with other creatures. Your mind will be making connections to everyday life with your dog before you know it.

In the podcast’s own words, they provide “information on techniques that apply to all animals in all situations with positive un-intrusive training techniques only.”

Cog-Dog Radio

• Host: Sarah Stremming of The Cognitive Canine
• Most helpful for: Handlers interested in dog sports, especially agility, and owners of dogs with behavioral problems

Cog-Dog Radio’s specific niche is dogs who perform in competitive dog sport settings, especially agility, and also struggle with a range of behavioral problems like canine anxiety. Host Sarah Stremming shares a mixture of personal anecdotes and larger-scale conversations with a variety of guests in the dog training space. Hundreds of episodes offer multiple starting points depending on your specific interests and goals with your own dog!

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

• Host: Melissa Breau of Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
• Most helpful for: Owners interested in dog sports or with specific training questions

The FDSA podcast interviews Fenzi Dog Sports Academy instructors about dog training, dog sports, and their upcoming classes. Because of the wide range of interviewees, a variety of topics are discussed—if you have a specific training question, chances are you’ll find relevant advice from experts while scrolling through the podcast library. What’s more? You’re able to directly take classes with the instructors interviewed, meaning that if someone’s line of thinking really piques your attention, you can investigate it further in a more interactive format!

One of the coolest things about competitive dog sports is how they can push us as pet owners to see our dogs' "bad behaviors" in a different light. Some traits that cause issues in everyday life, like having a high prey drive or energy level, can be a huge asset in the sport world.

In their own words, “The Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is an online school dedicated to providing high-quality instruction for competitive dog sports using only the most current and progressive training methods.”

Ian Dunbar’s iWoof (Dogstar Daily)

• Host: Ian Dunbar PhD, BVetMed, MRCVS
• Most helpful for: Puppy owners or dog lovers looking for easily applicable advice

Dr. Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer who has researched the development of social hierarchies and aggression in domestic dogs and is well known as a socialization expert. He has authored numerous books and DVDs about puppy and adult dog behavior, training, genetics, and nurture. Dr. Dunbar has also been a guest at various seminars and on fellow professional trainer’s podcasts.

iWoof’s podcast content is especially geared towards puppy parents or pet owners who are new to living with a canine. The information is extremely accessible and laid out in clear terms with minimal jargon. Dunbar has experience with a wide range of dog-related topics from separation anxiety to behavior training to to common training questions and more.

Ruff Around the Edges

• Host: Kajsa van Overbeek
• Most helpful for: Owners of challenging dogs

The Ruff Around The Edges podcast is hosted by Kajsa van Overbeek. It’s all about sharing stories of force free dog and positive reinforcement training journeys with challenging dogs—primarily those who struggle with reactivity or aggression, and many who are rescue dogs. Overbeek does an excellent job of practicing kindness to both our pets and ourselves. She highlights the ways our dogs can impact our mental health and provides strategies for pet owners to grow alongside our companions in a sustainable, supportive way.

In the host’s own words, “I hope that hearing these stories can help to make people feel less alone. We love our dogs to pieces but sometimes it’s hard and then it’s simply nice to hear from others going through something similar. This podcast is about us trying to teach our dogs, but more importantly it’s about what our dogs are teaching us.”

More dog training resources

Do you have a favorite dog training podcast that we missed here? Tell us all about it in the comments! We’re always looking for more.

You can also take a look at our collection of free dog training articles for a helpful place to start with a range of behavioral challenges and skills. We’ve compiled a list of the best force free dog trainers, too, if you want to get some professional training in person. (You should never substitute podcast listening for personalized advice from a trainer you trust.)

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Trainer Review of this Article

There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.  

This is the trainer that reviewed this article:

Erica Marshall
CPDT-ka, CDBC,
Owner/Trainer of Wicked Good Dog Training in Christiana TN
Author of "New Puppy, Now What?"
www.wickedgooddogtraining.com