Drinking From the Toilet: Real dogs, Real training

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About the show

Latest episodes

• Protected Contact Isn't Just Management.

  September 15, 2026 · 34 min

  Protected contact gets filed under zoo training, the thing you do when your learner can eat you. Hannah used to think that way too, right up until she noticed she'd been quietly using barriers with dogs and horses for years and getting far…

• The Matching Law: What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why It Matters | Hannah Branigan

  May 14, 2026 · 42 min

  Hannah follows up last episode's hot take on training speed with a deeper dive into the matching law, the behavioral principle that describes how learners allocate behavior in proportion to reinforcement schedules. She covers the original…

• Is Positive Reinforcement Actually Slower? (A Hot Take, Revisited) | Hannah Branigan

  May 7, 2026 · 40 min

• Can you use a leash and still be force free? | Hannah Branigan

  April 16, 2026 · 20 min

  Somewhere on the internet, someone is arguing that using a leash means you aren't really a force-free trainer. In this solo episode, Hannah unpacks the difference between impact and intent, explains why force-free training is a set of…

• Training Faster Behaviors Without Frustration, Part 2 | Hannah Branigan

  August 27, 2024 · 32 min

  In this episode, we explore strategies to achieve faster and more precise behaviors in dog training. I discuss how clarity, timing, and reinforcement techniques can improve your dog's response times, reduce hesitation, and build…

• Training Faster Behaviors Without Frustration, Part 1 | Hannah Branigan

  August 23, 2024 · 55 min

  In this episode we discuss: Speed vs. Latency: Speed is how fast a behavior is completed from the time it starts. Latency is the response time, or the time elapsed between when the cue is perceived and when the behavior starts…

• Avoiding Triggers and Situations | Hannah Branigan

  August 15, 2024 · 45 min

  In this episode, we discuss the practice of avoiding situations as part (or all) of a training plan. Often avoiding certain situations can be an important strategy, helping to prevent mistakes and reduce stress for both the dog and the…

• What's Wrong with "Drilling"? | Hannah Branigan

  February 28, 2024 · 34 min

  In this episode we dig into the concept of drilling, and how it applies in dog training. It's pretty common for most of us to have an emotional response just to the term itself - for good reason! But is there any baby in this bathwater?…