Podcasts · Kids & Family

Beyond Obedience | Dog Training, Dog Body Language, Anxious Dogs, Scared Dogs, Reactive Dogs

Tracy Franken- Dog Trainer, Vet Tech, Dog Lover, 🐾

257 episodes

Wish you could enjoy life with your dog again? Struggling with a reactive, fearful, or anxious dog? Tired of dog training that never seems to work?

More about the show

I'm Tracy, retired vet tech, dog trainer, and founder of Beyond Obedience. I know how frustrating life with a struggling dog can feel.

This podcast will help you understand your dog's behaviour, build trust, develop leadership and influence naturally, and enjoy everyday life together—without constantly trying to fix your dog.

If you're ready for less stress, more confidence, and a better relationship with your dog, you're in the right place.

Episodes page 2 of 6

  1. 203 | Can You Over-Socialize Your Dog? (A Puppy Owner’s Question)

    · 27 min

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 Have you ever been told you can’t over-socialize your dog? Are you trying to do “all the right things”… but worried you might actually be overwhelming your puppy? Do you feel torn between exposing…

  2. 202 | Is it Fear? Understanding Your Dog’s Reactive Behaviour

    · 21 min

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Does your dog seem totally fine one minute… and then suddenly overreact the next? Have you ever thought, “That came out of nowhere…” when your dog barks, lunges, or shuts down? Do you find yourself…

  3. 201 | You Don't Want a Well Trained Dog. Here's Why?

    · 22 min

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 Have you ever thought… “My dog knows what to do… so why aren’t they doing it?” Do you feel like you’ve done the training—but real-life situations still feel unpredictable? Are you starting to…

  4. 200 | Your Dog Is Watching You More Than You Think (The Leadership Mistake You Don’t See)

    · 23 min · S3 E200

    Hey there Dog Lover🐾 Do you feel like your dog listens sometimes… but not consistently? Are you focused on what you’re teaching… but still not seeing results? What if your dog is learning more from how you show up…

  5. 199 | Is Socialization Making Your Dog Worse? What Fearful & Reactive Dogs Actually Need

    · 25 min · S3 E199

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 Have you been told your dog just needs more socialization? Does your dog seem more overwhelmed the more you expose them to things? What if more exposure isn’t the answer… and might actually be making…

  6. 198 | Is Your Dog a Project? Why Dog Training Feels So Hard (And What to Do Instead)

    · 26 min · S3 E197

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 Do you feel like you can’t relax around your dog? Are you constantly correcting, managing, or trying to fix behaviour? What if your dog isn’t a problem to solve… but a relationship to build? In this…

  7. 197 | Dog Training Not Working? Here’s What Most People Are Missing

    · 23 min

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 Are you focusing on training… but still not seeing the results you want? Do you feel frustrated when your dog doesn’t “listen” in real-life situations? Have you ever considered that what happens…

  8. 196| Is Your Dog Actually Happy? (Or Just Busy, Stressed, or Overstimulated?)

    · 23 min

    `Hey Dog Lover🐾 Do you feel like you’re constantly trying to do more to make your dog happy? Is your dog busy, active, and stimulated… but still seems unsettled or anxious? Have you ever stopped to ask what…

  9. 195 | Still Using Treat Rewards? Why Your Dog Training Isn’t Sticking (And What to Do Instead)”

    · 29 min

    Hey Dog Lover!🐾 Are you doing all the “right” training things… but something still feels off? Does your dog only seem engaged when there’s something in it for them? Have you ever wondered why the behaviour doesn’t…

  10. 194 | Why Your Dog Training Isn't Working.{Conversations with Your Dog Series}

    · 28 min · S3 E194

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 Feeling frustrated that your dog training just isn’t working? Do you feel like you’re constantly correcting, reminding, or repeating yourself? Wondering why your dog behaves one way during training……

  11. 193 | Your Dog IS Listening. What Are YOU Saying? {Conversation with Your Dog Series}

    · 32 min · S3 E193

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 Feel like your dog isn’t listening—even though you know they’ve been trained? Do you find yourself repeating commands or getting frustrated when your dog ignores you? What if your dog is actually…

  12. 192 | Why Your Dog Ignores ‘No’ {Conversations with Your Dog Series}

    · 26 min

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Do you feel like your dog hears the word “no”… but it doesn’t actually mean anything? Are you constantly repeating yourself or correcting your dog with little to no change in their behaviour? Do you…

  13. 191 | Your Dog Not Listening To You? Here's Why {Conversations with Your Dog Series}

    · 25 min

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Do you feel like your dog just isn’t listening—no matter how many times you repeat yourself? Are you relying on commands, treats, or tools… but still not seeing real change in your dog’s behaviour?…

  14. 190 | What If the Fight Is the Problem and Why Control Can Make Reactivity Worse

    · 19 min · S3 E190

    Hey there, fellow Dog Lover ! 🐾 What if your dog’s reactivity isn’t just about the trigger… …but about the tension between you and your dog? In this episode, we explore a powerful (and slightly uncomfortable) idea:…

  15. 189 | Your Reactive Dog Doesn't Need More Friends

    · 26 min · S3 E189

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 Do you feel like your reactive dog needs more socialization… more exposure… more dog friends? What if that’s not actually true? In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the biggest mindset shifts for…

  16. 188 | What Happens When You Stop Trying to Contol Your Reactive Dog

    · 20 min · S3 E188

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 Are you constantly trying to manage or control your reactive dog’s behaviour? Do you feel like if you’re not actively directing every moment, everything will fall apart? What if the real shift isn’t…

  17. 187 | Before the Bootcamp Starts: The One Thing Reactive Dogs Need From You

    · 16 min

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 This episode is a little different. If you’re joining the Calm Down Dog Bootcamp, consider this your bootcamp prep. Because before we even begin, there’s one shift that will make everything we talk…

  18. 186 | Your Reactive Dog Isn’t Overreacting: So Why Are They Always On Edge?

    · 20 min · S3 E186

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 Reactive dogs often look like they are overreacting to the world. They bark. They lunge. They scan every movement. But what if your dog isn’t overreacting at all? What if your dog is simply trying to…

  19. 185 | Dogs Don’t See the World Like Humans: Why Reactive Dogs Struggle in “Humansville"

    · 21 min · S3 E185

    Hey Dog Lover🐾 If you’ve ever wondered why your dog reacts to things that seem completely normal to you… this episode will help you see the world through your dog’s eyes. Humans live in a world of social rules and…

  20. 184 | Ready to Stop Controlling Your Reactive Dog? The Shift That Changes Everything

    · 25 min · S3 E184

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 In this episode, I’m diving into a powerful shift that changes everything: control yourself and influence the dog — don’t try to control the dog. If you have a reactive or fearful dog, it’s easy to…

  21. 183 | Why Doing Less Feels So Wrong With A Reactive Dog

    · 32 min · S3 E183

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 Do you feel like if you’re not actively training your reactive dog, you’re failing them? Does slowing down make you anxious… like you’re falling behind or not doing enough? Have you ever tried to…

  22. 182 | Are You Micro Managing Your Reactive Dog? Why Obedience Just Ain't Cutting It

    · 21 min

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Does everything feel a little… chaotic right now? Are your walks feeling harder than they used to? Have you tried more training, more treats, more techniques… and you’re still wondering why nothing…

  23. 181 | Are You in Survival Mode With Your Reactive Dog? The Reset You Need Right Now

    · 17 min

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 Do you feel like you’re just going through the motions with your reactive dog? Has your world quietly gotten smaller… even though you swore it never would? Are you surviving with your dog instead of…

  24. 180 | How to Lead a Fearful or Reactive Dog (Without Force, Treats or Trying Harder)

    · 25 min · S3 E180

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Are you trying everything with your reactive or fearful dog… but nothing seems to stick? Do you find yourself talking more, soothing more, managing more — and still feeling stuck? Have you ever…

  25. 179 | Reactive Dog Not Improving? The Leadership Shift Most Owners Miss

    · 32 min · S3 E179

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Are you doing everything “right” with your reactive or fearful dog… but still not seeing progress? Have you ever wondered if the thing holding your dog back might not actually be your dog? Does it…

  26. 178 | Is ‘Good Enough’ Keeping Your Dog Stuck? The Hidden Cost of Avoidance in Fearful Dogs

    · 28 min · S3 E178

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 Have you ever settled for “good enough” with your dog because pushing felt risky, exhausting, or unfair? Do you avoid certain situations, walks, or challenges because you don’t want to make things…

  27. 177 | Why Understanding Your Dog's Fearful or Reactive Behaviour isn't Enough

    · 14 min · S3 E177

    Hey Dog Lover, 🐾 Do you understand why your dog is fearful, reactive, or overwhelmed — but still feel stuck in the same patterns? Have you done the learning, the reframing, the mindset work… yet life with your dog…

  28. 176 | How to Be the Best Dog Mom Ever: 6 Ways to Build Trust, Confidence and Connection

    · 27 min

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 What does it really mean to be the best dog mom ever? Is it the perfect heel? The polished down stay? The dog who never embarrasses you in public? Or… is it something deeper? In this heartfelt and…

  29. 175 | You Love Your Dog—So Why Isn’t He Listening?

    · 18 min · S3 E175

    Hey, dog lover! 🐾 You love your dog—probably more than most people, right? So why does it still feel like your dog isn’t listening? Why do they ignore your call, run the other way, or tune you out when it really…

  30. 174 | Am I Doing Enough for My Dog? The Truth About Fulfillment, Leadership & Time

    · 27 min · S3 E174

    Hey, Dog Lover! 🐾 Ever find yourself wondering how much time your dog really needs from you each day? Is it about hours spent playing fetch—or is there something deeper that actually fills their cup? In this episode,…

  31. 173 | Still Struggling with Your ‘Well-Trained’ Dog? Why Obedience Isn’t the Answer

    · 23 min · S3 E173

    Hey, Dog Lover! 🐾 In today’s myth-busting episode, we’re unpacking one of the most common misconceptions in dog training: that obedience equals leadership. You’ll learn why being able to get your dog to “sit” or…

  32. 172 | 3 Unexpected Ways to Bond with Your Fearful Dog

    · 19 min · S3 E172

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 If your dog flinches when you reach out… freezes when you get too close… or simply tolerates affection without really softening into it—this episode is for you. We’re a touchy-feely species. Dogs are…

  33. 171 | Is That Normal? Surprising Answers to the Dog Training Questions You Didn’t Know You Had"

    · 33 min · S3 E171

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 In this week’s episode of Beyond Obedience, I sat down with the ever-insightful Paisley for a "Questions You Didn't Know You Asked" Q&A—and wow, did we cover some surprisingly helpful stuff. We…

  34. 170 | Tired of Trying to Control Your Dog? Step Into Leadership Beyond Leashes

    · 28 min · S3 E170

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 What if leadership with your dog had nothing to do with being the boss… and everything to do with being worth following? In this episode, we’re rewriting the rules on what it means to lead your…

  35. 169 | Obsessed with Your Dog’s Body Language? Here’s What You’re Missing

    · 22 min · S3 E169

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 If you’ve ever found yourself obsessively watching your dog’s every lip lick, whale eye, or tail twitch… this episode is for you. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on why hyper-focusing on stress…

  36. 168 |Why Your Dog Follows You (or Doesn’t): The Truth About Leadership

    · 29 min · S3 E168

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 It’s 2026, and if you’re already feeling a little overwhelmed—guess what? You’re not alone. Leadership doesn’t always look like calm walks and quiet mornings. Sometimes it looks like showing up tired,…

  37. 167 | Why ‘New Year, New You’ is Failing Your Dog (And What to Do Instead)

    · 27 min · S3 E167

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 “New Year, New You!” We hear it every January… but let’s be honest: do you really need a “new” you? What if this year isn’t about fixing what’s broken, but believing in who you already are? What if…

  38. 166 | Your Word of the Year (And Why It Matters to Your Dog)

    · 21 min

    🐾 Hey dog lover, As a new year begins, a lot of people are making lists, setting goals, and trying to “fix” things. But what if this year didn’t start with a to-do list? What if it started with a word? In today’s…

  39. 165 | The Resolution Your Dog’s Been Waiting For

    · 17 min

    Hey there, Dog Lover 👣🐾 Hey dog lover, As we head toward a new year, there’s a lot of noise out there telling you what you should be doing with your dog. More commands. More talking. More “corrections.” But here’s…

  40. 164 | Merry Christmas to You and Your Pack (Yes, I Said Pack)

    · 5:19

    Hey there, Dog Lover 🐾 Merry Christmas, my friend. If you’re listening to this with a dog at your feet, on your couch, or watching you from across the room… this episode is for you. Christmas has a way of slowing…

  41. 163 | What Your Newly Adopted Dog Really Wants (Hint: it's not more stuff)

    · 23 min · S2 E163

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 Thinking of spoiling your newly adopted dog with toys and treats this season? While the thought is sweet, it’s not what your dog really needs right now. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on…

  42. 162 | Holiday Hangover is Real: Why Your Dog is Biting or Melting Down

    · 22 min · S2 E162

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾 So your dog was “fine” during the day… until they weren’t. The guests are gone, the cookies are stale, and suddenly your pup is pacing, snapping, or flat-out melting down. What gives? In this…

  43. 161 | Stop Socializing Your Dog! Try This Holiday Strategy Instead

    · 24 min · S2 E161

    Hey Dog Lover! 🐾🐾 This time of year, we humans get a little bit... extra. Extra people, extra noise, extra sugar… and somehow, we expect our dogs to just “deal with it” in the name of socialization. But what if…

  44. 160 | Stop Buying All The Stuff! Why Leadership is the Gift Your Dog Really Needs

    · 21 min · S2 E160

    🐾 Hey Dog Lover, If you’ve been filling your online cart with dog toys and treats this holiday season… let’s press pause. This episode is a gentle reminder that your dog doesn’t need more stuff—they need you. Your…

  45. 159 | Does Your Dog Actually Trust You? The Mistake Many Rescue Adopters Make

    · 24 min · S2 E159

    🐾 Hey Dog Lover, Does your rescue dog really trust you… or are they just surviving politely? In this episode, we’re diving into one of the biggest mistakes new adopters make—assuming that a dog who cuddles, follows…

  46. 158 | Are You Coming in Too Hot? Understanding the Fearful Dog's Mind

    · 27 min

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾🐾 Ever saw a dog so cute you couldn’t help but just rush over to give them a little pet? (Yeah, me too.) But sometimes we need to pause and consider what our movement means to a dog. In fact, this is…

  47. 157 | Tossing Treats Making Things Worse for Your Fearful Dog?

    · 21 min · S2 E157

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾🐾 You’ve probably heard it before—“just toss some treats when your dog sees a trigger, to change their emotional response to the trigger." And yes, that can work. But there’s a small problem... You’re…

  48. 156 | Help for Fearful , Anxious Reactive Dogs: Questions You Didn't Know You Asked

    · 49 min · S2 E156

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 In this episode, I’m joined by Paisley as we tackle real questions pulled straight from our Living Beyond Obedience community—aka questions you didn’t even know you asked, but probably needed to. We…

  49. 155 | Feel Like A Bad Dog Mom? Me too Let's talk about it

    · 25 min · S2 E155

    Hey Dog Lover 🐾 Ever have one of those weeks where everything feels a little too much—and you’re still trying to be everything your animals need? In this unscripted, from-the-heart episode, I’m showing up real and…

  50. 154 | Un-Train Your Dog to Build a Better Bond Pt3 - BE With {Mini-Series}

    · 30 min

    Hey Dog Lover,🐾 What if the most powerful thing you could do for your relationship with your dog… was nothing? In this final episode of our Untrained Dog mini-series, we’re stepping into the quietest and most…

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