Liza Rader - Focus Dog Training

09/04/2025

08/24/2025

It's HEERE! My *dense af* retrieve class with Karen Pryor Clicker Training is open for enrollment!

We're going to talk about pretty much everything you would ever want or need to know about training a reliable retrieve, without having to use a force fetch.

It's made for anyone who wants to teach a solid retrieve, whether it's for enrichment, sports, or work.
I want to tell you all the things that are in it, but of course that kind of defeats the point! Working (Excel) spots and audit (Engage) spots are available.

Can't wait to see y'all there! Leenk in the comments!

LIVE™ group virtual classes are 4-6 weeks and feature real-time training and coaching with fabulous teachers. Classes will be on Zoom, with a coordinated video-based curriculum that guides you each week and an online discussion group for sharing progress and feedback.

06/18/2025

Retrieves are one of my very favourite things to train, problem solve, and play with.
I'm so excited to be teaching a brand new class for Karen Pryor Academy; Game of Throws!

Whether you’re interested in dog sports, service dog tasks, cute tricks, or fun games that won’t lead to over-arousal or obsessive behaviors, this class will help you teach a retrieve that’s reliable, flexible, and deeply rewarding—for both you and your dog.

As a lifelong retriever person, and a behaviour consultant specializing in sporting breeds, I'm so excited to dive deep into this game with you!

You can subscribe to the KPA newsletter now to get a reminder when it opens for enrollment (and snag that early bird discount!)

Can't wait to see you there!

04/06/2025

I have gone on the record with some strong fetch opinions in the past.
And for the dogs I specialize in, I stand by that.

BUT ALSO. The rhetoric around fetch in the dog world right now is borderline a moral panic. From both ends of the argument.

Sometimes throwing the toy for the dog is fun and safe.
Sometimes it is a calculated balance of risk and reward.
Sometimes it’s a really really bad idea.

It’s not fear mongering to say that for some dogs, repeatedly throwing a toy for them can cause cascading problems.
And it’s not helpful to paint all throwing-of-toys as inherently a huge mental and emotional safety issue.

Nuance makes for terrible social media posts.
Holding space for that nuance is a responsibility we carry as professionals.

And, seriously, with everything going on both within the dog world and without, is THIS the thing we want to have a huge argument about right now?

11/27/2024

The dog training industry, and the lives we share with our dogs, are shaped by culture, and the topics we discuss are incredibly complex.

Especially with social media, and in such a fast evolving industry, we need to keep our critical thinking caps on and be ready to think deeper about the information presented to us!

Here are just a few questions to get you started:
🔸What is the strategic purpose of this idea?
🔸What does the author want me to believe and why?
🔸Which of my biases might lead me to discount this idea?
🔸What would this idea lead to if implemented?
🔸What political/ideological considerations inform or limit this point of view?
🔸How did I arrive at what I think?
🔸What do I not yet understand?

09/22/2024

If you’re feeling super overwhelmed by your dog’s behaviour, here’s what you’re going to do:

➡️ Ask yourself first: is the dog safe, fed, and watered?
Yes? Good. You’re doing better than a lot of people.

➡️ Give yourself some grace.
Dogs with behaviour challenges are HARD to live with. It’s exhausting and overwhelming. You’re not alone in that.
It’s normal to feel frustrated, angry, disappointed, guilty, and sad when our dog is not living up to our expectations or the expectations of society.

➡️ If at all possible, take a break.
If it is safe to do so, put the dog in a crate or separate room and go for a walk. Leave them with a friend or family member, or board them for a couple of days. If you are burnt out on dog training, stop.

➡️ Physical health first
A lot of behaviour problems are rooted in pain and discomfort. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with a vet you trust to rule out any contributing physical health issues.

➡️ Meet their needs (as best you can right now)
Dogs need to spend time in nature, moving their bodies and sniffing. They need good quality rest, to engage with interesting sensory experiences, and to use their brains. Rent a sniff spot, go out early, do what you need to do to get them moving and exploring.

➡️ Reinforce what you like
Behaviour is always happening, there is no such thing as the dog not doing anything. Playing games like Smart x 50 to reinforce the behaviours that aren’t a problem can make a big difference. The absence of obnoxious behaviour is worth reinforcing!

➡️ Ask for help
If you’re feeling lost with your dog, and don’t know what the path forward should be, reach out to an experienced and qualified trainer. It is not a pet guardian’s job to know everything about dog behaviour and training, and we all need support with our dogs at some point.
Some cases really need a professional eye, and a good trainer is never going to judge you for what you don’t know!

09/10/2024

Such a fantastic update from Team Fiddle!

Fiddle joined our Frantic to Focused program earlier this year, after a long struggle with profound fear, leash reactivity, hyperactivity, and general chaos.

She’s injured herself and her mum, and was really struggling.

With some amazing support from Total Canine ( ) and Animal Behaviour Clinic ( ), and a comprehensive training and wellness plan, we’ve made some really fantastic improvements. Fiddle is enjoying her daily walks, learning to feel safe with body handling and things like training platforms and trash bags in the house, and her barking and chaos in the house has greatly decreased.

And best yet, we have this great update!

Emily writes:
“As we geared up for our annual summer road trip across the US with Fiddle, I was feeling anxious that the progress we’ve made this year would melt away outside our day-to-day environment. During previous trips, Fiddle was constantly overwhelmed, resulting in really scary incidents like jumping off a cliff, running through barbed wire fencing, and chasing deer long distances.
I’m thrilled to report that Fiddle knocked it out of the park! We stayed grounded in our systems, skills, and management, so we got to walk in exciting new places, exist around people and dogs, and enjoy total off-leash time in nature. Family who’d been around her before said she seemed like a totally new dog. I’m so proud of us for the work we’re doing and the relationship we’re building!”

These really intense spaniels are just as intense as the mals and the sport/working border collies, just a different flavour of nutty. Just because they’re cute doesn’t mean they’re easy!

A working springer spaniel is a LOT of dog, and dealing with behaviour problems in one as a first time dog owner is a massive challenge. Emily has more than risen to the occasion!

Well done, Team Fiddle!

Intense spaniels and other sporting/gun dogs are our specialty here at Focus Dogs!

If Fiddle’s story resonates with you, head to our website to learn more about 1:1 virtual coaching, or check out our on-demand webinars on exercise, retriever games, recalls, and more (links in bio!).

08/30/2024

Biscuit turns SIX today (how?!) and he has grown into just an absolute dream come true!
He's really come into his own this past year. He exudes Big Stud Dog Energy, picked up his CH in just a handful of shows, and has graduated to mentor dog status! It's just baffling that he's the adult in the room, but here we are.

He loves his birthday present, a Canada goose dokken. Any excuse for tank mode!

Without Biscuit there is no Frantic to Focused, no Ball is Life, or Retriever Games, or Understanding Exercise. (And no [redacted], or [redacted] 😉)
So much of what I teach I learned from him and for him.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy. Thank you for always keeping me honest, and making me work. I love you so.

08/18/2024

Just this past week, Behavior Vets shared a post about an upcoming event. “Sparkles & Spice?” the post reads. “Helping People and their ADHD-like Dogs Keep it Together.”
I am a certified dog trainer, I have ADHD, I identify as neurodivergent and Mad, and I have an educational background in disability justice. And I was, to be blunt, floored.

To read the full open letter, click here: https://www.focusdogs.ca/writing/behavior-vets-and-neurodivergence

08/02/2024

Happy Birthday to the sweetest and bravest of baby boys!
Hutch is one today!

And he's come so far since we picked him up in January.
He arrived here frantic and scared, and he is really blossoming into a gentle, intelligent, fun little guy.
He's going to go far!

(and even though he is now taller than Biscuit (!!!) he will always be "the little guy" around here)

06/30/2024

Temper tantrums are emotional outbursts that are often extreme and unpleasant.
They can be a response to anger, frustration, exhaustion, hunger, and even pain.

They often seem unwarranted or disproportionate to adult humans.

The idea that dogs can’t or don’t tantrum is rooted in a misunderstanding and disrespect of human children. It is not an accurate representation of dog behaviour.

Tantrums are a normal part of human development. Experiencing emotional overwhelm is an unavoidable part of learning and growing as a toddler. The same factors of lack of experience, mismatched expectations, inability to otherwise communicate, and inability to self regulate, are also true for our dogs. Especially young dogs. We can work to minimize distress without pathologizing normal behaviour.

Just like toddlers aren’t being manipulative or spoiled when they scream or cry, neither are our dogs. All behaviour is learned, and all behaviour is about changing outcomes for the learner.
The framing of a tantrum is only problematic if we hold onto outdated and harmful views of children.

Children and animals in our care who are experiencing emotional distress need clarity, empathy, and support.

For those of us in a training or teaching role, we can use clarifying questions to accurately assess behaviour without shaming the use of labels.

06/16/2024

Are positive methods harder than compulsive methods? Do they take longer?

Well sure, if they're new to you!

As a crossover trainer, someone who was originally taught compulsive methods before switching to more positive methods, I can attest that the easiest method is the one you know best.

Learning new skills and habits is hard, and it takes time. But it's worth it.