Training Without Conflict Podcast

Welcome everyone to another exciting episode of the Training Without Conflict® podcast! I’m thrilled to have Markus Neutz back with us from Germany as our guest. Today, we delve into the world of the FMBB championship, exploring topics like judging, comparing training styles, and much more. Sit back, relax, and enjoy

Welcome to another episode of TWC podcast where we explore diverse perspectives and challenge the status quo. Today, I have a brave guest who steps outside the lines of her community's ideology to share her strong opinions on a topic she's passionate about. It's not easy to question deeply held beliefs, especially when they are influenced by powerful propaganda.

Our conversation highlights the difficulty many people face in changing their opinions once they're anchored in a position. As Patrice O'Neil wisely said, "You can hold your opinions, but don't let your opinions hold you." It's crucial not to be "married" to your ideas. They are just ideas, and clinging to a false belief out of fear of being wrong is far weaker than admitting the mistake. But is it at all possible?!

Join us as we delve into the importance of keeping an open mind, embracing change, and the courage it takes to break free from ideological constraints. Let's dive in!

Recently, I invited David Garcia Suarez from Spain to judge our club trial so we could get our dogs and training critiqued first hand by one the most respected IGP judges at the moment. 

David has judged many National Championships, as well as World Championships including FMBB which he will once again judge this month in Italy.

The conversation gives a glimpse of how he evaluates IGP performance and what the rule book expects from the handler, how emotional state(s) are evaluated as well.

 We also talk about the current pressure the sport is under in Europe, the demands of the force free advocates and much more.

Enjoy!

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

On my recent trip to Northern California, I had an opportunity sit down with Michael and answer some questions that trainers submitted on social media.

We had a great time and answered a ton of questions.

I hope you enjoy it!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirty-Six: Vadim Plotsker

In this episode, I interviewed dog sport competitor, IGP judge, member of the WUSV board of directors, and current United Schutzhund Club of America President, Vadim Plotsker.

I have been wanting to have this conversation for a long time as Vadim has a very unique perspective on the sport of Schutzhund and the German Shepherd dog.

During the conversation we were able to discuss the current state of Schutzhund not only in America, but worldwide.

I was able to find some answers regarding rule changes and the path required for them to become rules in the FCI standard.

We were also able to discuss some of the issues facing the sport of IGP worldwide and potential solutions to those issues.

I learned a ton from this discussion and I am sure you will as well!

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

My goal when I started the TWC podcast was to provide knowledge and tell stories from true experts.

My guest in this episode is very much a true expert in his field and at the absolute top of the game as far as I am concerned.

He is someone I have known since my days in California back in the 90's and am happy to call a friend.

I am happy to share my conversation with the incredibly talented photographer, Brian Aghajani.

If you have seen an incredible photo from an IGP National Championship over the last 10 years, it is very likely that Brian was the person behind the lens.

He has been capturing and sharing incredible moments for years, but I knew he also had a very interesting story to tell.

In this episode, we dive into his history, both as a photographer and a dog trainer.

He shares incredible knowledge on what allows him to take the unbelievable photos that he produces and also shares stories on what was happening behind the scenes in some of his most famous photos.

I had a great time catching up and learning more about Brian and his expertise and I know you will as well.

As always, if you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe to my YouTube channel to be the first to know about future episodes!

For more information about Brian, check out: https://brianaghajani.com

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

This episode is a recording of Ivan Balabanov's appearance on the Bow Wow Bill Podcast on 11/26/23.

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirty-Four: Louis Donald

If you are German Shepherd lover, this episode is for you!

This week’s episode epitomizes the reason I started my podcast.

I wanted to have in depth conversations and talk dogs with some of the most accomplished, knowledgeable, and interesting people on the planet.

Louis Donald is one of the world’s foremost experts on the German Shepherd breed.

Louis has had a lifelong passion for the German Shepherd dog.

At the young age of 26, he was elected President of the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia and held the position for 2 decades.

His book, The Definitive German Shepherd Dog, in my opinion should be MANDATORY reading for anyone not only interested in German Shepherds, but dogs in general.

Louis became a fully licensed working dog judge in 1974, and in 1978, he became Australia’s first fully licensed SV German Shepherd Dog Judge, and at the time, the youngest SV judge in the world.

His knowledge about the breed, to put it mildly, is vast.

He is a true dog man with a passion for German Shepherds.

In the podcast, we discuss the origins of the German Shepherd dog, how the division between working and show lines occurred, problems facing the German Shepherd Dog breed in present day, and some of the deepest and darkest secrets of the German Shepherd dog lineage going back to some of the breeds most heralded studs.

The 3 hours we talked absolutely flew by and we still had more to talk about, but we agreed to save it for another episode.

This is absolutely one of my favorite podcasts to date, and I know you will all love it.

As you check out this amazing episode, all I ask is that you hit the subscribe button and tell a friend!

For more information about Louis Donald and to buy his book, check out his website: https://louisdonald.com

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Welcome to another Training Without Conflict podcast!

In today's special episode, I’m honored to have with us Dr. David Mech, a globally recognized authority on wolf behavior.

Dr. Mech's groundbreaking research has reshaped our understanding of these majestic creatures, but his work has often been misinterpreted, especially in the dog training community.

For years, the concept of dominance in animal behavior has been a topic of contention, with many in the dog training world advocating for positive reinforcement methods and dismissing dominance as an outdated idea.

Today, Dr. Mech joins us to set the record straight.

We'll discuss the nuances of wolf behavior, the misconceptions about dominance, and how these insights apply to dog training.

Join us as we debunk myths and explore the rich complexity of animal behavior with the expert himself, Dr. David Mech.

Ivan

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirty-Two: Dean Calderon

I’m sure many of you have heard the term “dog boy” around certain dog training circles.

Many people don’t know where that term came from, but this week, you will find out where it came from and why…

My guest this week is self proclaimed “Dog Boy”, dog sport legend, and my friend Dean Calderon.

Dean has some strong opinions that you may or may not agree with, but you can feel the passion and love he has for IGP and for all dogs as he shares his thoughts with me.

This conversation was as real as it gets.

Completely organic, raw, and unfiltered.

The only way Dean knows how to do it.

Dean is an incredible storyteller and believe me…

These are stories you will want to hear!

The cover photo of this podcast is from the 2007 FCI World Championship when Dean and I stood proud as champions of the world!

This is one of the amazing stories we tell in this podcast.

Absolute MUST LISTEN for any dog sport fan, competitor, and enthusiast.

As always, if you enjoy this podcast, subscribe for more to come, share with your friends, and hit the like button so more people like you can find out about it!

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

This week on my podcast I had a conversation with the highly controversial trainer The Dog Daddy.

While many of you might find this surprising or even potentially upsetting, my goal with my podcast is to allow all of you to learn about training methods and perspectives from trainers across the spectrum of dog training. 

Although Dog Daddy has created quite a rift in the dog training space, I was interested to have him explain his perspective on training so I could understand for myself, instead of relying on the words and beliefs of biased, social media influencers that are fixated on a particular ideology. 

My goal was not to disprove, disapprove, approve or propagate Dog Daddy’s methods or beliefs in this podcast. 

It was simply to provide myself and my audience with a first hand account of what, why, and how he views and utilizes dog training concepts in his training. 

This conversation, in my opinion, is another step in an attempt to bridge the wide gap between the two warring camps in dog training. 

I hope you approach this podcast with an open mind and save your decisions, beliefs, and feelings for the moment you have all of the information presented to you.

I have asked other well known trainers and scientists to have conversations with me, and quite frankly they do not have the courage to take me up on my offer. 

If they are upset by this podcast, they are welcome to join me to talk about it. 

You may not like this podcast.

You may love it.

But understanding each other is crucial to progressing as a group. 

Progress lies just beyond a few difficult conversations and the sooner we begin to talk to each other, the sooner we can begin to truly make progress as an industry. 

That being said, if you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and share with your friends. 

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Training Without Conflict® Episode Thirty: Omar Von Muller

In this episode, I had the pleasure to catch up and have a nice conversation with a long time friend, and trick dog master, Omar Von Muller.

It is highly likely you have seen one of Omar's tricks in a viral video in the past or in a major Hollywood production.

As a teenager, Omar trained dogs for friends and family.

Omar also spent time training police dogs for the Miami Dade Police Department, as well as competing in Schutzhund and French Ring.

In 1993, Omar moved from Miami to Los Angeles where he began to train dogs for celebrities, and the motion picture industry.

Some of his movie credits include, The Italian Job, Four Brothers, Jackass 3D, and Water for Elephants.

The highest honor of Omar's career is his dog Uggie being involved in the Academy Award winning film, The Artist.

Uggie received many awards for this role worldwide and eventually became the first dog to have his paw prints immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Currently, Omar continues to train dogs for Hollywood films, but has also created an online learning platform for students to learn how to teach tricks to their personal dogs.

For more information about Omar, check out: https://www.trainingwithomar.com/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Nine: Edgar Scherkl

This episode was a long time in the making.

I was finally able to sit down with Edgar Scherkl to talk about Belgian Malinois, the history of Schutzhund, the German Korung, judging in competition, and the current situation in the IGP world community.

The podcast is available now on YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, and all other major podcast platforms!

I’m certain that if you have been around Schutzhund (IGP) long enough, you are already highly aware of Edgar Scherkl.

For those of you that don't know who he is, let me summarize his insane accomplishments:

• Edgar has won 20 Championships with a few different dogs.

• He has won the FCI World Championship 2 times and the FMBB World Championship 2 times as well!

• Edgar is also a World Level judge and has judged many national events in Germany, as well as the FMBB World Championship 3 times, one of which being the Judge supervisor.

• As a helper, Edgar did the helper work at the 2000 FMBB where my dog Django and I won Vice World Champions. He has been a helper several times at national championships in Germany as well.

• Edgar is the current president of the German Malinois Club (DMC), he is a current FMBB board member and also a previous board member of the FCI Working Commission.

I have known Edgar for over 20 years so we had a lot to talk about!

The conversation took us back in time to many great moments in our past, and we also talked about the future of IGP and dog breeding.

Enjoy the conversation and don’t forget to support my channel by subscribing and sharing.

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Eight: Steve White

The latest TWC podcast features guest Steve White.

Steve is a seasoned expert in K9 units from the state of Washington, accredited as a Master Trainer in 1993.

He is a key figure at major Police K9 conferences.

In addition to his extensive career in police K9 units, Steve is also a prominent figure in the force-free training community.

Notably, he was a founding instructor at Karen Pryor's ClickerExpo, frequently presenting at various “Positive Only” events.

Our conversation dives deep into various training methodologies, industry trends, and much more.

This conversation is close to 4 hours, we had a lot to talk about and I hope you find it interesting too.

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Seven: Debbie Zappia Part Two

In this episode, Ivan interviews the first returning guest of the TWC Podcast, Debbie Zappia.

This episode features a deep dive into the sport of American Schutzhund.

Ivan asks all the pertinent question to fully understand the inner workings of this burgeoning sport!

Debbie has had a long, storied history in the sport of Schutzhund, highlighted by her incredible accomplishment of winning the 2015 WUSV World Championship with her dog Iron Von Den Wölfen, becoming the first American AND the first American woman to win the WUSV World Championship.

Aside from her World Championship, she has been on the podium countless times with multiple dogs throughout her 30-plus years involved in dog sport.

In 2019, she founded American Schutzhund with the intention to preserve the integrity of the historic sport of Schutzhund and also to continue the tradition of a proving ground for selection of some of the world's top working dogs.

As always, if you enjoy this podcast, please like, comment, and share with your dog friends 👌🏻

For more information about Debbie and American Schutzhund, check out: https://psak9-as.org/as/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Six: Debbie Zapia

In this episode, Ivan interviews the founder of American Schutzhund, Debbie Zappia.

Debbie has had a long, storied history in the sport of Schutzhund, highlighted by her incredible accomplishment of winning the 2015 WUSV World Championship with her dog Iron Von Den Wölfen, becoming the first American AND the first woman to win the WUSV World Championship.

Aside from her World Championship, she has been on the podium countless times with multiple dogs throughout her 30-plus years involved in dog sport.

In 2019, she founded American Schutzhund with the intention to preserve the integrity of the historic sport of Schutzhund and also to continue the tradition of a proving ground for selection of some of the world's top working dogs.

This episode is full of great stories from past competitions, discussion about breeding and selection, training preferences, and many other awesome topics that will entertain anyone interested in dog sports.

As always, if you enjoy this podcast, please like, comment, and share with your dog friends 👌🏻

For more information about Debbie and American Schutzhund, check out: https://psak9-as.org/as/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

In this episode, Ivan had the pleasure to talk with one of the most respected IGP judges in the world, someone who understands the demands of the sport and looks at it from many different lenses, as a judge, competition, helper and simply as a dog man.

This episode's guest is Hari Arčon, member of the FCI Utility Dog Commission, and FCI judge.

In this episode, Hari Arčon gives an interesting take on the past, present, and future evolution of IGP dog sport.

During the podcast, Ivan and Hari discuss how to evaluate, dog’s character, natural abilities and different trainer's training approaches.

If you are already involved in IGP, you will enjoy the way Hari explains what the sport is, how to appropriately interpret the rules of the sport as both a judge and a trainer, and how we can protect the sport moving forward.

If you are someone looking to learn more about what is arguably the most demanding dog sport this podcast is for you.

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

Training Without Conflict Podcast Episode Twenty-Four: Aimee Sadler

In this episode, Ivan interviews long time friend and colleague Aimee Sadler.

For those that don't know Aimee, she is the founder and CEO of Dogs Playing For Life, a rescue organization that prides themselves on redefining the meaning and importance of quality of life for all sheltered dogs by improving their experience through playgroups and individualized training, resulting in urgent and responsible lifesaving.

Aimee has dramatically shifted the world of dog rescue and has taken on the nearly impossible task of accepting some of the world's most difficult dogs in hopes to provide an amazing and fulfilled life for them.

In this conversation, Aimee and Ivan have a great discussion ranging from the current state of the animal rescue world, the effects of the positive only movement on dog survival rates in shelters, how play is an absolute game changer in dog rehabilitation, how understanding sport training is paramount in being a great trainer, and they also expand on the amazing story of Tina, the extreme OCD case Ivan successfully rehabilitated using his Training Without Conflict® methods.

We are sure this podcast has something interesting for absolutely everyone in the dog training world.

We hope you enjoy it!

Aimee Sadler is the Founder and CEO of Dogs Playing for Life (DPFL). With over 34 years of experience working with multiple species in varying venues, Aimee has become an internationally recognized trainer and speaker specializing in shelter programs that enhance quality of life and reduce canine euthanasia in animal shelters.

Aimee regularly presents at animal welfare and professional dog training conferences such as HSUS’ Animal Expo, Best Friend’s Annual Conferences, Masters in Behavior Conference, the No Kill Conferences, and the International Association of Canine Professionals Conference. Aimee’s programs have assisted Longmont Humane Society and the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation in achieving industry leading success as open-admission shelters saving more than 95% of their dogs!

Aimee is a proud recipient of the Henry Bergh Leadership Award and the Maddie’s Hero Award, and has been inducted into the Members Hall of Fame for the International Association of Canine Professionals. Aimee currently resides in Longmont, CO, with her husband and their very full family.

For more information regarding Aimee Sadler, please check out:

https://dogsplayingforlife.com

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Three: Jenifer Zeligs

In this episode of the Training Without Conflict® Podcast, Ivan interviews a true expert in the field of animal training.

This episode's guest is Dr. Jenifer Zeligs.

Her experience in the field of animal training and animal learning cannot be overstated. She has been training species across the entire animal kingdom for over 4 decades.

In this episode, Ivan dives into her history in animal training while weaving in concepts that relate her experience to present day dog training methods.

Outside of her history, they go deep into the field of animal studies and how science affects the field of animal training.

Having experience both in the field of scientific studies and animal training is a quality that is unmatched by most in these respective fields making this interview with Dr. Zeligs truly one of a kind.

This conversation led to many eye opening moments for both Ivan and Jenifer.

We are sure it will lead to many for you as well!

Jenifer Zeligs, Ph.D. is a world-renown behavioral biologist with over 40 years of experience, award winning presentations on animal behavior modification, and numerous publications to her credit. In 2014 she published what has been called the new training “bible” Animal Training 101: The complete and practical guide to the art and science of behavior modification. Dr. Zeligs is the founder of Animal Training and Research International which oversees an animal care center affiliated with the California State University system. She has been teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in animal training and working with marine mammals for over 20 years. Jenifer is also a practicing Buddhist with decades of meditation experience. Her revolutionary approach is found by integrating mindfulness with cognitive, behaviorist, ethological sciences.

Dr. Zeligs experience includes collaborating with and consulting for countless private and public facilities and organizations, as well as training animals for companionship, competition, liberty work, veterinary procedures, research, feature films and documentaries, detection, and public display. Dr. Zeligs has been featured in numerous documentaries and television shows including National Geographic Explorer, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Dateline, NBC. Jenifer is particularly known for her groundbreaking work training sea lions to wear video cameras to study and film wild whales.

The center of her work is to foster the most compassionate care of animals suited to the needs of the individual trainer, animal, and training objective. Dr. Zeligs teaches a nuanced understanding of behavior modification through a pros/cons model to promote common ground and conversation between trainers of all backgrounds. Her students now work with and mange a wide range of animal programs throughout the world.

For more information about Dr. Zeligs, please check out: http://animaltraining.us

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-Two: Dr. Stewart Hilliard

In this episode, Ivan speaks to a true dogsport legend filled with a wealth of expertise and experience in the dog training world.

This episodes very special guest is Dr. Stewart Hilliard.

They discuss an array of fascinating topics about all aspects of dogs and dog training ranging from breeding and raising sport and working dogs, the history of dog sports in the United States and worldwide, working dog selection, the differences in selecting for different dog sports, and of course they even dive into canine science.

Whether you know it or not, Dr. Stewart Hilliard has likely impacted your dog training education having been the lead script writer for many trainers that created content for Canine Training Systems on top of being a long time dog man that directly and indirectly inspired some of your favorite dog trainers today, including Ivan.

Some of the younger generation of trainers might wonder why his name does not ring a bell, and this is because of the career decision that Dr. Hilliard made years ago to spearhead dog training programs and research with the United States Armed Services.

However, we can assure you that his contributions to the world of dog sports in the United States are nothing short of remarkable.

Dr. Hilliard has played an instrumental role in shaping and advancing the dog training field and industry.

Here are some of Dr. Hilliards exceptional credentials:

Stewart Hilliard has over 40 years experience in training companion and working dogs. He began training working dogs in 1980 in Denver, Colorado, when he became involved in German-style sport training and joined the Rocky Mountain Schutzhund Club, where he soon became the Training Director.

Shortly thereafter he became a professional dog trainer, and established a reputation as an authority on canine aggression and man-work for both sport dogs and police service dogs. In the mid-1980's he was one of the first Americans to import working-bred Belgian Malinois to the United States, and he traveled widely in Western Europe studying Malinois breeding and the training disciplines of French Ring, Belgian Ring, and KNPV.

He was the founder and first president of the American Ring Federation, the first F.C.I.-sanctioned organization for French Ring Sport in the U.S., and he was the first American to receive his Selection (certification) in France as a French Ring Trial Decoy.

He has taught working dog training seminars for sport clubs and law enforcement agencies all over the United States, and also been invited to teach in Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Montreal, Canada, and Beijing, China.

He is the co-author, with Susan Barwig, of the very successful training manual Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods, and has also written and directed many well-received videotapes about sport and service dog training produced by Canine Training Systems®.

In 1983, Stewart Hilliard received his B.A. in psychology, and in 1990 he moved to Austin, Texas to enter Graduate School at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied animal behavior and learning.

He is the author of a number of scientific papers in reputable psychological journals, and in 1997 he received his Ph.D in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Dr. Hilliard has worked in various research & development and operational capacities for the Department of Defense Military Working Dog program since 1997, including Chief of the Military Working Dog Course at the 341st Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. In this role, he managed the basic training of most of the patrol and substance detector dogs supplied to all branches of the U. S. armed forces.

Dr. Hilliard also served as Chief of Military Working Dog Logistics and Procurement at the 341st. He directed the testing and procurement of...

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twenty-One: Mathias Dögel

In this episode, Ivan had a chance to speak to long-time friend, highly respected dog sport competitor, founder and innovator of Working-Dog.Com, Mathias Dögel.

This was a very fun conversation where they had an opportunity to catch up about current, past, and future dogs, as well as share stories about their experiences in dog sports.

They also had some great discussions about the problems facing IGP dog sports worldwide, how to approach them, and ultimately their beliefs in how those problems can be resolved.

Matthias Dögel is the founder and managing director of the technology company Dögel GmbH. As an entrepreneur, Mathias has created many successful businesses with one of the most successful being Working-Dog.com.

In addition to being the founder of Working Dog, Mathias is also an extremely accomplished dog sport competitor. Along with numerous National Championships, he is also highly successful in international competition, with his highest achievement being Vice Champion of the 2013 FCI World Championship with his dog Holle vom Holzhäuser Flur.

Most recently, Mathias placed second at the CACIT Germany competition, which was highly regarded worldwide as a fantastic competition event.

Mathias is also a staunch proponent of dog training and dog sport competition, spearheading many initiatives and movements to increase the visibility and importance of dog sports across Germany and Europe.

For more information about Mathias, check out: https://working-dog.com

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

In this episode, Ivan has a conversation with Jo-rosie Haffenden.

When it comes to training, they stand on the opposite sides of the line in the sand.

However, they were able to have a long conversation that took them all over the place.

They both realized that they actually have more common training ideas than they expected!

This is what a conversation between two dog trainers on the opposite side of the spectrum looks like when they share ideas instead of digging their heels in the ground about their beliefs and ideologies.


This one is not a dull three-hour one sided monologue!

This discussion could have easily continued for at least another hour.

Jo-Rosie Haffenden is a MondioRing competitor that has a degree in applied psychology (human psychology), post grad in animal behavior, National Certificate in the Training of Journalism (NCTJ). She a director of international school of canine science, worked for a large national animal welfare charity, worked for a large private canine behavior consultancy.

Jo-rosie has also published 3 books, presented and contributed to multiple prime time TV shows in UK. Presented at international conferences at conferences and events on topics such as Resource Guarding, Predation, Separation Anxiety and Dog Bites.

She has even been requested three times as an expert in The Houses of Parliament (UK)!

For more information about Jo-Rosie Haffenden, check out:

https://www.caninescience.online/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Nineteen: Nick Benger

Since my presentation on The Real Facts About Science Based Dog Training, I made a commitment to talk to dog trainers on all sides of the argument with the intent to make progress and find the way forward through the current divide in the dog training industry.

Thankfully, a few force free trainers have stepped forward to have conversations with me after many avoided it for years.

I am happy to present this podcast with Nick Benger where we discuss many of the problems facing the dog training industry.

We even come up with a few solutions on how to bridge the gap to create more conversations between trainers in opposing camps.

I hope you enjoy this conversation!

Nick Benger is widely respected for his skills in dog training and is the expert dog trainer on Amazon Prime's TV Series 'The Pack'.

Nick also hosted his own podcast, Dog Talk with Nick Benger.

He’s the author of The Engagement Guide, an introduction to engagement training for pet dog owners. He’s received a degree in Canine Behavior and Training at the University of Hull.

Benger’s expertise has led to guest appearances on BBC Radio Bristol, Animal Training Academy, and others.

You can find more information about NIck Benger here:

http://nickbenger.com

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Eighteen: Jany Böhm

Last month we had the privilege of working with Jany Böhm over a series of workshops at my place in Florida.

During that time, we had truly amazing training, but more importantly got to know each other as friends.

In this great conversation, we were able to discuss many things about IGP dogsport, helper work, past and future dogs, and stories about competitions in the past.

For those who don’t know him, Jany Böhm is one of the most decorated figures in IGP dogsport.

He is most well known for being a world class helper that has been selected to be the helper for many World Championships including the upcoming FMBB World Championship in Romania.

However, Jany has had great success as a competitor as well. He was Vice World Champion at the FCI Championship in 2016 with his dog Forny, and has placed in the top 10 several times at World Championships.

He has also won multiple National Championships in his home country of the Czech Republic.

I hope you all enjoy this fantastic conversation!

For more information about Jany Böhm, check out: https://www.instagram.com/janybohm/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends💪🏼

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Seventeen: Susan Garrett

A few weeks ago I released a podcast challenging the rhetoric of the force free ideology.

In a short time, we have already made significant progress.

One of those examples of progress is Susan Garrett, a highly respected and well accomplished reinforcement based trainer reached out to me to train some dogs together.

While that is in the works, we were able to sit down and record a podcast.

Although we don’t necessarily agree on everything, we were able to have an enjoyable conversation about dogs and dog training. We touched on many subjects and the conversation definitely dove into some deep waters, and although we still have disagreements by the end of the podcast, we were able to achieve one important thing.

We now have professionals in opposing “camps” willing to have a conversation.

I hope everyone enjoys this podcast with Susan Garrett.

As always, share with your dog friends and let’s keep moving forward!

Susan Garrett is one of, if not THE most highly accomplished "reinforcement based" trainers in the world.

She has a degree in animal science, and for decades has been one of the most consistently successful competitors in the sport of dog agility.

Susan has been on the podium of the world and national championship events more than 50 times, winning those events a total of 38 times.

For more information about Susan Garrett, check out:

https://dogsthat.com

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Sixteen: Mia Skogster

Recently, Mia visited us in Florida for 4 weeks to teach a seminar and have some great training with me and my team.

We had an absolutely amazing conversation about our history in IGP, thoughts on Malinois breeding and selection, how our training approaches differ, the current state of IGP, how the dog training community needs to unite for the betterment of all dogs, and many other incredible topics.

Mia is one of the most decorated trainers in IGP dog sport, having won 2 World Championships, 2 Vice World Championships, and has been on the podium at the World Championships 6 total times.

Mia frequently get V scores (over 97 points) in obedience in World Championship competition, and is one of the extremely rare trainers that has received a perfect 100 points for obedience at the World Championship level.

To say Mia is a great trainer is an understatement.

She also teaches seminars around the world, has an online learning platform (Inspire Ur Dog), and recently released a book that is going to be released in English in the very near future.

The reasons for having Mia on the podcast are obvious.

I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as we enjoyed the conversation!

For more information about Mia Skogster, check out:

https://inspireurdog.fi/

https://www.working-dog.com/user/Mia-Skogster-2939

https://www.instagram.com/inspireurdogtraining

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict Podcast Episode Fifteen: Dr. Michael Perone

In this episode, Ivan Balabanov takes a deep dive into the role of Operant Learning in animal behavior with Professor of Behavioral Analysis, Dr. Michael Perone.

Dr. Perone has been actively involved in the experimental analysis of operant behavior for over 30 years. An area of ongoing concern is how to translate the concepts and procedures of the animal laboratory to the analysis of human behavior.

In this podcast, Ivan gets the answers to many tough questions that have been facing the dog training industry for decades.

Ivan is able to get much greater clarity about the roles the 4 quadrants of Operant Conditioning play in animal learning from a practicing animal behaviorist that is still running and completing studies on animals presently.

With Dr. Perone's help, Ivan debunks some of the myths surrounding positive punishment, negative reinforcement, positive reinforcement, and negative punishment.

The discussion also delves into some of the "non-aversive" practices utilized by the force free movement such as "time outs" and negative punishment, while unraveling the propaganda surrounding "learned helplessness".

Ivan also gets great insight into one of Dr. Michael Perone's most popular published studies, titled "Negative Effects of Positive Reinforcement" (2003)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2731445/

Dr. Perone received his Ph.D. degree in psychology in 1981 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, after which he held a faculty position at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (1982-1984).

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

The Real Facts About Science Based Dog Training: A Training Without Conflict® Podcast

Arguments about dog training are reaching a boiling point and I decided it’s time for someone to take a significant stand against the constant propaganda and misinformation that gets spread through social media.

Scientific research that starts with a conclusion and works backwards to prove it is a dangerous and unethical practice.

When scientific research is cherry-picked to fit a narrative, it

leads to a distorted understanding, because only the evidence that supports a pre-existing believes is considered.

Such research undermines the trust in science and experts, dog trainers easily recognize bias and question the validity of findings.

It's time to move away from bans, as they're ineffective and have never achieved the desired outcomes. Instead, let's come together and work towards advancing the field of dog training, free from the constraints and extreme views of any particular group!

For the video version of this podcast, please check out:

https://youtu.be/XjHTivWiqT8

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Fourteen: Michael Shikashio

Recently, Ivan invited Michael Shikashio to the TWC podcast.

Michael and Ivan may hold at times different opinions on dog training.

However, they had a great, respectful conversation that explored these views and ideas.

Is it possible to bring the dog training communities together, rather than increase the polarization?

Both Ivan and Michael recognize that there are those on the far extremes of the dog training spectrum who are immovable in their ideologies, but they also are certain that there are the trainers in the middle who have the most to gain from such conversations.

We hope that this podcast will encourage dog trainers on both sides to continue to talk with each other.

Sharing knowledge and experience is how we advance – not by looking down on each other, and certainly not through legislations or bans.

Here are some links to videos discussed in the podcast:

https://youtu.be/9B-gt0aEtYw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki74sxKfXYM

Michael Shikashio, CDBC, is the founder of AggressiveDog.com and focuses on teaching other professionals from around the world on how to successfully work aggression cases. He is a five-term president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and is a full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).

Michael is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Fox News, The List TV, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women’s Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale’s Pet World. He also hosts the popular podcast show “The Bitey End of the Dog” where he chats with the foremost experts on dog aggression.

He is a featured keynote speaker at conferences, universities, and seminars around the world, and offers a variety of educational opportunities on the topic of canine aggression, including the Aggression in Dogs Master Course and the annual Aggression in Dogs Conference.

For more information on Michael Shikashio, check out:

http://aggressivedog.com

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Thirteen: Dr. Helmut Raiser

Recently, Ivan spent sometime with Helmut Raiser and naturally they decided that they had to do a podcast.

For those familiar with Schutzhund ( todays IGP) Helmut needs no introduction.

For those who have not heard of him, he is one of the most influential trainers that popularized the Schutzhund in Germany and most of Europe in the 80’s.

They had a very interesting conversation, at times diving deep into dog training, German Shepherds, dog politics and welfare, decoy work and more.

I hope you will enjoy listening as much as they enjoyed the conversation.

Dr. Helmut Raiser is a dog man with an epic history in dog training and dog sport.

Helmut has been winning championships in the sport of Schutzhund since the late 70's and still continues to win and podium at competitions in the current day.

A peek at his working dog shows you a master of his craft with countless V (excellent) scores in all three phases of the sport.

Aside from his competition success, he also created RSV2000, a highly successful division of IGP dogsport.

Any written biography of Dr. Helmut Raiser would not do him justice so it is highly recommended to listen to this podcast to learn as much as you can from this dog training master!

For more information about Dr. Helmut Raiser and RSV2000, check out:

https://www.rsvglobal.live/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Twelve: 3x PSA National Champion Janet Edwards

In this episode, Ivan Balabanov interviews 2-time PSA 3 Handler, Janet Edwards.

In addition to being a PSA 3 handler, Janet is also a well respected PSA judge, dog trainer, and teacher to dog trainers around the world.

Throughout the episode they discuss the sport of PSA K9, the differences between PSA and the other dog sports, and Janet provides a great education on the PSA sport as a whole.

In addition to their dog sports discussion, Ivan and Janet discuss raising sport dogs, puppy selection, how different training methods affect future results and much more!

Janet has been a certified Master Trainer from Tarheel Canine Training, Inc since 2001.

Janet ran the pet obedience program at Tarheel Canine, specializing in severe behavior modification (aggression, shyness), and took that program to the highest level in its history. She had the opportunity to work with some extreme cases of shyness and aggression for “last chance” dogs, providing them (and their owners) a life they never thought could happen. Along with training the pets and their owners, she instructed student trainers looking to start their own dog training careers. Her students have not only come from the United States but from all over the the world such as South Africa, Portugal, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and more.

Janet then began training SAR and police K9s for detection (narcotics, explosives), patrol and man trailing along with instructing their handlers. She has trained 100+ active dog teams working the streets for local, state and federal agencies throughout the United States. She spent 3 years managing the North Carolina training facility, directing all trainers and programs. She relocated to Hanover and started Stateline Canine in 2011.

Her dog, Zuko has earned his PSA1, PSA2 and PSA3 titles; only 8 other teams have accomplished this in the history of the sport. Janet is only the 2nd female handler to earn this title. Not only has Zuko earned these titles but he is the ONLY dog to have been a National Champion at every level in the sport; 2007 PSA1, 2009 PSA2 and 2012 PSA 3 National Champion.

Janet achieved her second PSA 3 with her dog Danny, who was her previous PSA 3 dog, Zuko's son. In doing this, she became the only women and one of only 3 trainers in the world to achieve PSA 3 with multiple dogs.

To learn more about Janet Edwards, check out:

https://statelinecanine.com/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Special Edition: The Seat Belt Analogy and Negative Reinforcement

Earlier this year in one of Ivan's Facebook posts, he stated that the commonly used seat belt analogy is misleading and does not properly illustrate the concept of Negative Reinforcement.

This podcast is a 30-minute excerpt from my Training Without Conflict® course lecture on Negative Reinforcement where he discusses why this analogy is problematic.

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs, and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog or to learn how to become a dog trainer and become certified in the Training Without Conflict® training methodology, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Ten: Dallas Seavey

In this episode, Ivan has a conversation with 5-time Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey.

The two champions discuss topics ranging from breeding and selection of competition dogs, preparing for competition, fueling champion dogs, and how to maximize the potential of every dog they compete with.

The wealth of information presented by these two titans of their craft is abundant in this 2 hour podcast!

Dallas Seavey is one of two 5-time winners of Alaska's world-renowned Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

In 2005, Seavey became the youngest musher to ever compete in the Iditarod at age 18, and at age 25 became the youngest to ever win the storied race.

Seavey went on to win 4 more races in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2021 tying him with 5-time winner Rick Swenson.

Dallas has also had success worldwide winning Canada's Yukon Quest and competing in Norway's Finnmarkslopet

Outside of competing, Seavey also owns and manages his own breeding program where he trains and raises the finest Alaskan Huskies.

During the offseason, Dallas also runs sled dog experiences for tourists with his company AK Sled Dog Tours where anyone can get the feeling of being a world class musher.

For more information on Dallas Seavey, check out:

https://sleddogtours.com/

https://twitter.com/DallasSeavey

https://iditarod.com/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

In this episode, Ivan has a conversation with Simon about their training methods, similarities, and differences. Ivan and Simon also dive into the concept of punishment in dog training, its effects, benefits, and drawbacks.

There is also an amazing discussion about the force free movement and the perception of punishment in dog training from different training ideologies.

Simon Gadbois Ph. D. is a professor of neuroscience and biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Simon has spent a large portion of his career studying domestic and wild canids (wolves, coyotes, and red foxes).

He completed his Ph.D. in behavioural endocrinology at the Canadian Centre for Wolf Research (CCWR) examining the hormonal correlation of social behaviour in wolves, as well as action sequences in wolves, coyotes and red foxes.

When the CCWR closed in 2007, Simon started the Canid Behaviour Research Lab at Dalhousie University and focused his research on coyote-human conflicts and canine scent detection.

He is currently interested in the fundamental science of olfaction and olfactory learning. His lab has focussed on environmental/conservation, biomedical, and forensic applications of scent processing in dogs.

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Nine: The Disadvantages of Low Level E-Collar Conditioning

In this episode of the Training Without Conflict® Podcast, Ivan Balabanov goes solo sharing his concerns on the concept of low level stimulus electric collar conditioning in dog training.

Throughout the episode, Ivan shares many downfalls of this type of training, and dissects the narrative being pushed by trainers that utilize this training method.

This information is beneficial to anyone that is a dog trainer, dog owner, or just a dog training enthusiast. This episode is a "must-listen" for anyone looking to utilize the electric shock collar in their training.

If you have ever questioned how to use the e-collar, how to teach the e-collar, or how top trainers approach the use of electric collars, this episode will be highly beneficial to your education.

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs, and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Eight: Markus Neutz

In this episode of the Training Without Conflict® Podcast, Ivan Balabanov interviews a friend, colleague, fellow competitor, and life-long dogman Markus Neutz.

Markus Neutz knowledge of the dog world is nearly unparalleled. He is truly a force within the dog training community throughout Germany as well as around the world. 

The level of experience Markus holds throughout many different facets of dog training, dog handling, and dog ownership is truly mind blowing.

He has been training dogs since 1980.  

He has been a K9 trainer and handler for the German Polizei since 1994.

He has bred, owned, trained, and won championships with several different breeds including German Shepherds, Giant Schnauzers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Malinois, and he even has a Jack Russell Terrier that he has trained for IGP!

He is the breeder of the famous Lupano Malinois Kennel, where he bred Lupano’s Duke, the dog he trained to win the VDH and DMC championships in 2003 and 2005, respectively. 

He has competed at the world level at the FCI World Championship and also won the 1999 Doberman German Bundessieger. 

Markus is also a well respected judge who has presided over some of the biggest National and World Championships around the globe. 

Outside of the sport world, Markus is the head trainer of the K9 school for the German Polizei.

He has trained police K9s for SWAT teams, specializing in patrol, narcotics, and explosives detection.

Outside of Germany, he has also trained K9s for use in 5 other countries including the United States.  

Markus is also still an active patrol officer with his Jack Russell that is trained in arson detection. 

Despite this huge workload, Markus still trains his personal dogs for IGP and assists in training for his IGP club in Germany as well as hosting workshops around the world with his wife Maria, who is a highly accomplished trainer and competitor in her own right. 

This podcast is truly an unbelievable fly on the wall experience listening to two titans in the dog training world discuss fascinating subjects about dog training. Ivan and Markus talk about their roots in dog training, the role that the Belgian Malinois breed has played in dog sports and police K9s, breeding standards and practices, and also discuss the recent ban on aversive dog training tools in Germany. 

Prepare yourself to listen several times to absorb the wealth of information contained in this 3 hour podcast!

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out: 

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict® Podcast Episode Seven: Michael Ellis

In this episode of the Training Without Conflict® Podcast, Ivan Balabanov interviews long-time friend and colleague Michael Ellis.

Michael Ellis is an internationally known and respected dog trainer with over 30 years of experience in competitive dog sports.

Michael has instructed countless seminars all around the country and the world.

He is also a renowned teacher at the globally recognized, Michael Ellis School for dog trainers.  

Michael was also one of the pioneers of popularizing Mondioring in the United States.  He was one of the first Americans that were certified Mondioring decoys, and he has done decoy and helper work across several dog sports at the National Championship level.

In this episode, Ivan and Michael catch up on some memories they shared in the early 90s training alongside each other in Northern California and then dive deep into some of the biggest issues facing present day dog training.

They discuss the recent attempts of the force free camp to push their “positive only” propaganda and dive deep into why their claims are false and unfounded.

The attack on dog training aversive tools in Europe is also a very hot topic.

Ivan and Michael also share some knowledge about the history of dog sports and their opinions about Schutzhund (IPO/IGP), French Ring, Belgian Ring, Mondioring, and PSA in the present day.

Along with all this, Michael is also the breeder of the storied Loups Du Soleil Malinois kennel, which brings up a great discussion about breeding, genetics, puppy selection, and puppy raising.

This discussion is truly a masterclass of knowledge that all dog owners, pet trainers, dog sport competitors, and working dog handlers will enjoy over and over.  One listen will not be enough to soak in the incredible dog training knowledge contained in this podcast.

For more information about Michael Ellis, check out https://michaelellisschool.com

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict® dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict® system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict™ Podcast Episode Six: Dr. Roger Abrantes

In this episode of the Training Without Conflict™ Podcast, Ivan Balabanov interviews one of the great minds in the study of Ethology, Dr. Roger Abrantes.

Dr. Roger Abrantes, is a titan in the world of Ethology, receiving a Ph.D in Evolutionary Biology and Ethology and a BA in Philosophy. He is one of the last living students of Konrad Lorenz, Nico Tinbergen, and Karl Von Frisch.

Dr. Roger Abrantes considers himself to be a "citizen of the world" speaking nine languages (English, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Danish, Swedish, Italian, German, and Thai)

He is the author of 17 books in English, German, Spanish, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Italian, and Czech, and numerous articles on behavior. He is probably one of the most versatile ethologists in the world.

His books "Dog Language – An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior" and

"The Evolution of Canine Social Behavior" are must have books for any dog enthusiast.

His most recent book, "Animal Training My Way – The Merging of Ethology and Behaviorism" revolutionizes animal training as much as his first book, "The Dog, Our Friend – Psychology Rather Than Force" did in 1982.

His work ranges from lecturing at the Ethology Institute Cambridge, where he is the scientific director, to appearances as a guest lecturer at universities worldwide, popular talks, seminars, as well as being a special advisor to the Portuguese GNR (the Military Academy trained police) on the canine detection of narcotics and explosives.

Dr. Abrantes is especially known for his views on social behavior and its applications to the daily understanding of pet behavior; and for his no-nonsense working methods, a practical and thorough application of Ethology and Learning Theory, teaching the animal the new patterns patiently and efficiently step by step.

Check out some of Dr. Abrantes' books here:

Dog Language – An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior

The Evolution of Canine Social Behavior

For a full bibliography of Roger Abrantes' work, check out:

https://ethology.eu/roger-abrantes/

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict™ dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict™ system, check out:

Training Without Conflict™

Ot Vitosha Malinois

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

Training Without Conflict™ Podcast Episode Five: Dr. Doug Lisle & Dr. Jen Howk

In this episode of the Training Without Conflict™ Podcast, Ivan Balabanov interviews two of his biggest inspirations, Dr. Doug Lisle and Dr. Jen Howk.

Dr. Lisle and Dr. Howk are the hosts of the very popular Beat Your Genes Podcast.

Dr. Doug Lisle received his undergraduate education from the University of California, San Diego (summa cum laude). He completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he was awarded the Presidents Fellowship and was a DuPont Scholar. He was then appointed Lecturer in Psychology at Stanford University, and worked on the research staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs at the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Palo Alto, California. His research and clinical interests have broadened to include health and wellness, self-esteem, relationship satisfaction, the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression, and optimizing achievement motivation. In addition to his work with Esteem Dynamics, he is currently the Director of Research for the TrueNorth Health Center and also serves as the psychologist for the McDougall Wellness Program, both located in Santa Rosa, California.

Dr. Jen Howk earned her B.A. with honors from the University of Washington, and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Her academic research explores how state-society relations shape vulnerability, resilience, and social well-being. Her Ph.D. dissertation, “Too Dysfunctional to Govern: Trauma Capital and State Retreat in Rural Alaska,” explains how claims of historical and ongoing trauma, distress, and vulnerability in communities that lack alternative markers of status and success can become a stable source of social capital that paradoxically reinforces underdevelopment and inequality.

Dr. Lisle and Dr. Howk are now in the process of co-authoring a book based on Dr. Lisle's new method of approaching human psychology and wellbeing. He describes this approach as Esteem Dynamics – its core insights adapted from a revolutionary biological approach to psychology. Central figures having major influence on Dr. Lisle’s thinking include Richard Dawkins, John Tooby and Leda Cosmides, David Buss, Steven Pinker, and Geoffrey Miller. All of these individuals are considered academic A-list thinkers in evolutionary theory and human psychology. Somewhat surprisingly, insights from these trailblazers has yet to reach mainstream clinical psychology, and thus major advances stemming from some of the world’s greatest thinkers have yet to be systematically applied to problems of helping people improve their lives. Esteem Dynamics is the first such effort – born of Dr. Lisle’s 25-years of clinical experience wedded to the deep insights into human nature now available via evolutionary psychology.

Check out Dr. Lisle and Jen Howk's Esteem Dynamics

Check out the Beat Your Genes Podcast

Dr. Jen Howk's Podcast Howk Blocked Podcast

Dr. Lisle's TedX Talk about The Pleasure Trap

Dr. Lisle's Book "The Pleasure Trap: Mastering the Hidden Force that Undermines Health & Happiness"

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World...

In this episode of the Training Without Conflict™ Podcast, Ivan Balabanov debates Larry Krohn on methods of using the electric collar training tool. They debate their beliefs on the proper use of e-collars, the efficacy of conditioning the e-collar as a training tool, and present scientific data to support their position leading to a very productive and fascinating conversation about electric collars that is long overdue.

Larry Krohn is a retired government agent and dog trainer based out of Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he operates Pak Masters Dog Training.

He has been training dogs for over 2 decades and has shared his methods on his highly successful YouTube Channel.

Larry is a huge presence in the dog training community hosting seminars around the United States, while also providing special workshops for veterans where they are able to learn from him for free.

He also wrote a very successful book, Everything you need to know about E Collar Training, in hopes of teaching dog owners how to properly use the e-collar with their personal dogs.

For more information on Larry Krohn, check out his YouTube channel:

Larry Krohn

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict™ dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict™ system, check out:

https://trainingwithoutconflict.com

https://malinois.com

https://premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

In this episode, Ivan Balabanov interviews Veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer, Dr. Ian Dunbar.

Dr. Dunbar received his veterinary degree and a Special Honors degree in Physiology & Biochemistry from the Royal Veterinary College (London University) plus a doctorate in animal behavior from the Psychology Department at UC Berkeley, where he researched the development of social hierarchies and aggression in domestic dogs.

He has authored numerous books about puppy/dog behavior and created the SIRIUS® Puppy Training video.

In 1982, Dr. Dunbar designed and taught the world's very first off-leash puppy socialization and training classes -- SIRIUS® Puppy Training. Subsequently, he created and developed the San Francisco SPCA's Animal Behavior Department, the American Kennel Club's Gazette "Behavior" column, which he wrote for seven years, and the K9 GAMES®, which were first held in San Francisco in 1993 and continue as annual events in Japan and France. He hosted the popular UK television series Dogs With Dunbar for five seasons and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including the Today Show (US) and Dash Village (Japan).

You can find more information about Dr. Ian Dunbar here:

The Dunbar Academy

Sirius Pup

Here are some links to some of Dr. Dunbar's books:

Dr. Dunbar's Good Little Dog Book

Before and After Getting Your Puppy

How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict™ dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict™ system, check out:

www.trainingwithoutconflict.com

www.malinois.com

www.premierprotectiondogs.com

Please like, comment, and share with your dog friends!

In this episode, Ivan interviews Clive D.L. Wynne, the founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. They discuss how scientists and dog trainers need to collaborate for the betterment of the future of dog training.

Clive D.L. Wynne

Born in England, Clive Wynne studied at University College London receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in 1983 and received his Ph. D. from the University of Edinburgh in 1986. He has served on the faculty of the University of Western Australia, and the University of Florida, before arriving at Arizona State University in 2013.

He is the founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. Previously, he was founding director of the Canine Cognition and Behavior Laboratory at the University of Florida, the first lab of its kind in the United States. 

He has written several books such as:

The Mental Lives of Animals (2002) https://amzn.to/338KdGK

Do Animals Think? (2004) https://amzn.to/370lyVJ

Animal Cognition: Evolution, Behavior, and Cognition (2013) https://amzn.to/395L0vN

and his most recent work,

Dog Is Love: How and Why Your Dog Loves You (2020) https://amzn.to/2UNV2t0

His broad interest is in comparative psychology understood to include the evolution, development and progress of the behavior of individuals and groups of nonhuman animals. The behaviors Wynne is interested in range from simple conditioning to complex cognitions.

His approach is behaviorist in his emphasis on parsimonious explanations, cognitive in his interest in rich behaviors, and ethological in his concern to see behavior as a tool in animals’ adaptation to their environments. The specific focus of ongoing research is the behavior of dogs and their wild relatives. In this domain Wynne's group studies the ability of pet dogs to react adaptively to the behaviors of the people they live with; the deployment of applied behavior analytic techniques to the treatment of problem behaviors in dogs; the behaviors of shelter dogs that influence their chances of adoption into human homes, as well as the welfare of shelter dogs; improved methods for training sniffer dogs; the development of test banks for studying cognitive aging in pet dogs; humans as social enrichment for captive canids; among others. 

Wynne has lived and worked in Germany and Australia as well as the United States and gives frequent talks to audiences around the world. The author of several academic books and of more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles that count among the most highly cited studies on dog psychology, he has also published pieces in Psychology Today, New Scientist, and the New York Times, and has appeared in several television documentaries about dog science on National Geographic Explorer, PBS, and the BBC. He currently lives in Tempe, Arizona.

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict™ dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict™ system, check out:

www.trainingwithoutconflict.com

www.malinois.com

www.premierprotectiondogs.com

Please

In this episode, Ivan Balabanov has a conversation with good friend Dr. Mark Plonsky.

• Retired Professor Emeritus of Experimental Biopsychology (University of Wisconsin)
• Ph.D Experimental Biopsychology, 1984 (University of Albany)
• M.A. General Psychology, 1980 (State University of New York at New Paltz)

At the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Plonsky taught important courses on Canine Behavior, the Psychology of Learning, and the Psychology of Motivation and Emotion. He currently operates as a K9 Behavior Consultant and has had a long history of working with many different types of animals from laboratory rats to stumptailed macaques in his studies. 

In addition to his studies, Mark has been involved in dog sports ranging from AKC Obedience, Noseworks, AKC Agility, and Schutzhund/IGP as well as handling a dog that co-starred in the film “Nonames” (2010).

You can find Dr. Plonksy’s articles and studies at https://www4.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/index.htm

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Belgian Malinois breeder, and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict dog training system.  

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict™ system, check out: www.trainingwithoutconflict.com

For information about the TWC Certfication Program: www.twccertification.com

The first guest to join Ivan Balabanov on the TWC Podcast is one of his lifelong heroes, Neuroscientist and Behaviorist John E. R. Staddon.

John E. R. Staddon

- James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University.

- Ph. D in Experimental Psychology from Harvard University 1964

- B.S. University College of London 1960

- Honorary visiting professor at the University of York.

John did his graduate work at the famous Skinner Lab at Harvard in the early 1960s (supervised by Richard Herrnstein, who did his doctoral work with B. F. Skinner) and has devoted his long and distinguished career to the study of the adaptive function and mechanisms of learning. John has done research at MIT, The University of Oxford, York University and many more.

For more information about John E.R. Staddon: https://psychandneuro.duke.edu/people/john-e-r-staddon

In this episode, Ivan and John explore the role of behaviorism in the animal world, dive deep into science and pseudo science research, and discuss the relevancy of B.F. Skinner on modern day dog training.

Ivan Balabanov is a 2-time World Champion dog trainer, Ot Vitosha Malinois breeder, trainer of Premier Protection Dogs and founder of the revolutionary Training Without Conflict™ dog training system.

For more information about Ivan Balabanov and information on how to train your dog using the Training Without Conflict™ system, check out: www.trainingwithoutconflict.com

www.malinois.com

www.premierprotectiondogs.com

For information about the TWC Certfication Program: www.twccertification.com

Check out John E.R. Staddon's books:

Scientific Method

https://amzn.to/2GTz8AX

The New Behaviorism

https://amzn.to/2DRYZbn

Reflections on Adaptive Behavior: Essays in Honor of J.E.R. Staddon (A Bradford Book)

https://amzn.to/3iohxii

Adaptive Dynamics: The Theoretical Analysis of Behavior

https://amzn.to/32mYm2S