Stay ConnectedWelcome to Think Like a Dog podcast hosted by Millie Braden and Andreia Albies. We discuss how to build the best relationship with your dog, dog psychology, and help guide you into the leader position so all your dog has to do is relax and follow. You will get input from a professional dog trainer and dog parents. From rescues to reactivity, we’ll cover it all. Send us your questions at: info@thinklikeadogpodcast.com
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In this episode of Think Like a Dog Extended, Millie is joined by Connor, Brandon, and Jill for an in-depth conversation about what fulfillment really means for dogs, and why exercise alone isn’t always enough.
Together, they break down the difference between fulfillment and enrichment, how a strong relationship influence behavior, and why fulfillment can look completely different from one dog to another.
From structured walks, play, obedience, swimming, and socialization to confidence building and simply learning how to settle, the group discusses how to figure out what genuinely fulfills your individual dog instead of assuming every dog needs the same activities.
They also explore the signs of a fulfilled vs. unfulfilled dog, including anxiety, reactivity, frustration, hyperactivity, shutdown behavior, zoomies, demanding attention, and difficulty settling. Plus, they discuss why excitement doesn’t always equal happiness, and how constantly trying to exhaust a high-energy dog can actually make it harder for them to learn how to relax.
In this episode:
• What dog fulfillment actually means
• Fulfillment vs. enrichment
• Why exercise alone may not solve behavioral problems
• The role of leadership, trust, safety, and your relationship
• How to discover what your individual dog enjoys
• Breed traits vs. individual personality
• Why some dogs struggle to settle after exercise
• Excitement vs. genuine enjoyment
• Signs of a fulfilled and unfulfilled dog
• How fulfillment can affect anxiety and reactivity
• Whether socialization with other dogs is necessary for fulfillment
• Why rest and learning to “do nothing” matter
• The layered stress model: health, fulfillment, and clarity
• How to know whether you're doing enough for your dog
The goal isn’t to keep your dog constantly entertained or physically exhausted. It’s to build a relationship where your dog feels secure, understood, connected, and capable of navigating both exciting moments and quiet ones.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing enough for my dog?” this episode is for you.
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How strict do you really need to be when training your dog?
In this episode of Think Like a Dog, Millie is joined by trainers Easton, Jill, and Brandon to break down what they call the “negotiation phase” of dog training, finding the balance between an ideal training plan and one an owner can realistically follow.
The trainers discuss where they’re willing to make adjustments and where certain boundaries simply can’t be compromised, especially when safety or serious behavioral issues are involved.
They cover:
• Crate training and when it makes sense to start small
• Furniture boundaries and managing conflict between dogs
• Leash walking, structured walks, and allowing your dog to sniff
• Why daily exercise and fulfillment are non-negotiable
• Muzzle training for dogs with bite risks or reactivity
• Structured feeding, toys, and resource guarding
• Dog parks, doggy daycare, and healthy socialization
• Using the place command in everyday life
• Adjusting training around work schedules, family dynamics, and lifestyle
• Why the best dog training plan is ultimately one the owner will actually follow
Dog training doesn’t have to look exactly the same in every household. The goal is to understand which rules are essential for your dog’s progress and safety, and where you can find realistic compromises without losing sight of the bigger goal.
If you’re struggling with crate training, leash reactivity, resource guarding, boundaries, or simply figuring out how to make dog training fit into your everyday life, this episode will help you understand where to start.
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In this Q&A episode of Think Like a Dog Podcast, Andreia and Millie answer listener questions about some of the most common, and frustrating, challenges dog owners face.
They break down what to do when leash corrections actually make reactivity worse, how excitement and rough play with other dogs can contribute to frustration on walks, and why teaching your dog to calmly exist around things they want can be such an important skill.
They also discuss how to make moving to a new home easier for your dog, the safest position and training approach when running with your dog, and how pressure and release can create clearer communication on leash.
Then, Andreia and Millie take a deeper look at crate and separation anxiety, including why the problem isn't always about the crate itself. Using real foster dogs Jeter and Rusty as examples, they explain how attachment, freedom outside the crate, daily routines, consistency, and following through with boundaries can all affect a dog's ability to settle.
Finally, they answer an important question: Is it ever too late to change your relationship with your dog? Whether your dog is one year old or nine, structure, place work, crate training, and structured walks aren't simply "training exercises", they're part of creating a clearer, calmer way to live together.
Topics include:
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We’re back with Part 2 of Common Dog Training Misconceptions Explained.
In this episode of Think Like a Dog Extended, the team breaks down even more of the most common things they hear from dog owners, and the psychology behind why these beliefs can sometimes get in the way of progress.
We talk about why not every dog is meant to be a service or therapy dog, how breed genetics and individual personality should shape your expectations, and why your dog doesn’t necessarily need to love every person or dog they meet.
We also get into separation anxiety, crate training, enrichment toys, muzzle stigma, why having a big backyard doesn’t replace walking your dog, leash reactivity vs. dog park behavior, assumptions about a rescue dog’s past, and the problem with jumping from one TikTok dog-training method to another.
The biggest takeaway: stop trying to fit your dog into the dog you imagined and start training the dog in front of you.
No judgment, just honest conversations, common patterns we see every day, and practical advice to help owners better understand their dogs.
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Millie is joined by Mirror Image K9 trainers Connor, Brandon, and Jill to discuss some of the most common phrases dog trainers hear from owners—and what those statements may reveal about a dog’s behavior and relationship with its family.
The trainers break down the difference between a dog being well-behaved and truly well-trained, why obedience commands alone do not resolve reactivity, and why behaviors often described as “protective” may actually come from insecurity, stress, or resource guarding.
They also explain why structure and boundaries inside the home directly affect leash behavior, separation anxiety, confidence, and a dog’s ability to follow direction during stressful situations. The episode concludes with an in-depth conversation about crate training, why some dogs resist the crate, and how consistent crate use can help dogs learn to relax and self-soothe.
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In this Think Like a Dog Podcast Q&A episode, Andreia and Millie answer listener questions about preparing for your first dog, choosing the right breed or rescue, and managing a dog while working a full-time schedule.
They discuss why fostering can help first-time dog owners find the right personality and energy level, how to build trust with a fearful rescue dog, and why giving nervous dogs structure can help them feel more secure. Andreia and Millie also share practical advice for couples who have different opinions about dog training, household boundaries, furniture privileges, crate training, and socialization.
The episode also covers safely introducing a dog to other dogs, recognizing that every dog has different social preferences, and improving loose-leash walking with high-energy, high-prey-drive dogs. Throughout the conversation, they explain how owners can maintain realistic expectations, find reasonable compromises, and create a training approach that works for both the dog and the household.
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In this episode of Think Like a Dog, Andreia and Millie talk about what it really means to be a great foster for a rescue dog. While fostering often starts with love and good intentions, this conversation explains why love alone is not enough to prepare a dog for a successful forever home.
They break down the importance of decompression, structure, crate training, leash manners, place work, boundaries, and learning the dog’s personality. Andreia and Millie also explain why the first few days in a foster home matter so much, how too much freedom or affection can overwhelm a dog, and why fosters should focus on helping the dog become more adaptable instead of simply fitting the dog into their own lifestyle.
This episode also covers multi-pet homes, safe introductions, meet and greets, transparency with adopters, and the hard truth that fostering means preparing the dog for their future home, not your personal preferences. Whether you are a first-time foster, experienced rescue volunteer, shelter volunteer, adopter, or someone considering fostering, this episode gives practical guidance on how to help rescue dogs succeed long-term.
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In this episode of Think Like a Dog, Millie is joined by Mirror Image K9 trainers Jill, Brandon, and Connor to break down the most important questions every dog owner should ask before choosing a doggy daycare. They discuss dog-to-human ratios, pack size, vaccines, spay and neuter policies, staff training, structured breaks, toys and treats, dog integration, safety protocols, and the difference between a chaotic “play all day” environment and a structured daycare that supports a dog’s mental and behavioral health.
This episode helps owners understand what red flags to watch for, what acceptable answers sound like, and what a truly structured daycare should be doing to keep dogs safe, supported, and balanced.
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In this episode of Think Like a Dog, Millie is joined by Mirror Image K9 trainers Jill, Brandon, and Connor for an inside look at what it really means to run a structured dog daycare.
They break down how Mirror Image K9’s day camp is different from a traditional doggy daycare, why not every dog is immediately eligible, and how structure, crate training, coping skills, owner involvement, and balanced pack dynamics all play a major role in keeping dogs safe and successful.
The trainers also discuss their red, yellow, and green support system, how dogs “graduate” through different levels of support, why pickup and drop-off behavior matters, and what a typical day looks like inside a structured daycare environment. From pack walks and place work to crate drills, recall, socialization, and impulse-control exercises, this episode gives dog owners a clearer understanding of what healthy, intentional daycare should look like.
This episode is especially helpful for anyone considering daycare for their dog, currently using daycare, or wanting to better understand how structure can support a dog’s behavior, confidence, and overall state of mind.
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In this episode of Think Like a Dog, Andreia and Millie break down why so many dog-to-dog introductions go wrong and why humans often put too much pressure on dogs to “make friends.” They discuss why on-leash greetings can create tension, frustration, reactivity, and miscommunication, especially when dogs are pulling toward each other or being forced into an interaction.
This conversation also explains why “dog friendly” is not always a clear or helpful label. Dogs have different personalities, limits, social skills, and preferences, and a successful greeting with one dog does not mean a dog will do well with every dog.
Andreia and Millie talk through what healthy introductions should look like, why neutrality should come before socialization, what body language owners should watch for, and how shelter volunteers, fosters, adopters, and everyday dog owners can set dogs up for more successful interactions.
This episode is especially helpful for dog owners dealing with leash reactivity, rescue dog introductions, dog park issues, multi-dog households, foster dogs, and anyone trying to better understand dog behavior and socialization.
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