Beyond Obedience

Beyond Obedience The BE Podcast is here: Listen now:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tracyfranken I am so excited you are here! Hey there!

Do you long to have a happy, confident dog you can take anywhere and everywhere? Are you worried your reactive, fearful dog may hurt someone - or something else? Do you have to “prepare” yourself just to take your dog for a walk around the block? I will help rebuild trust and confidence for you and your dog, to have the calm, joyful life with your dog that you always imagined. I’m Tracy, a retired

vet tech turned dog trainer, mom, wife and all-around dog lover. I have had dogs all my life but when my first dog bit my friend, I was so horrified and ashamed. I immediately turned to dog obedience training books and classes, but it didn't help. This time my dog bit someone very familiar to him and in that moment I knew - this wouldn’t be fixed with simple obedience. I finally realized the key to building confidence in my dog was understanding him on a deeper level. Tossing treats and teaching tricks wasn’t going to cut it. After years of research, trial and error, and discovering a method and a lifestyle of living with dogs based on understanding, respect and communication and not obedience, I'm excited to share what I've learned with you! Now I have a pack of “just good dogs” I trust to take anywhere. Our lives are calm, peaceful, fun and most of all inclusive. My goal is to help you to establish routines that build confidence, develop effective communication strategies, and how to address fear-based behaviours and techniques for enhancing social skills- without spending countless hours and dollars on dog obedience training that just doesn't work. If you are ready to have a happy confident dog you can trust to take with you everywhere, Beyond Obedience is for you! Grab your leash and collar because we are about to jump in! Be sure to check out our website:

https://beyondobedience.ca
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and of course, subscribe to the podcast! https://beyondobedience.ca/podcast

Is your algorithm sending you those "disturbing" cartoon ads for dog gear too? The ones with Disney-eyed dogs and snarly...
06/11/2026

Is your algorithm sending you those "disturbing" cartoon ads for dog gear too? The ones with Disney-eyed dogs and snarly equipment? Honestly, they upset me.

They’re selling a lie, that the "perfect" harness fixes your walk.

Spicy truth bomb: The tools don’t matter.

Wait... she says with a sigh...

A tool is just leverage. It can't create trust or connection. The goal isn't finding equipment to keep your dog near you... it's becoming someone they actually WANT to stay near.

And in the kindest, wittiest way possible? You are the biggest tool in your toolkit. 😉

The work is internal. It’s about the shift in YOU.

Let’s TALK. What tools have you tried that didn't live up to the hype? Tell me the "what was I thinking?" stories!

Beyond Obedience, Ep. 211: Why Tools Aren’t The Solution.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/beyond-obedience-dog-training-dog-behaviour-training/id1727953772?i=1000771675370

Tracy xoxox

Is it actually aggression?I know how heavy that word feels.And let’s be real: aggression is "a thing." It exists. But I ...
06/10/2026

Is it actually aggression?

I know how heavy that word feels.

And let’s be real: aggression is "a thing." It exists.

But I see so many dog owners struggling because they’ve been taught to label everything that looks scary as "aggression."

And here is the danger: when we mislabel fear or overwhelm as aggression, we reach for the wrong tools.

We reach for "fixing."
We reach for "control."
We reach for "obedience."

But what if, underneath the lunging and barking, your dog is actually just struggling to feel safe?

How interesting would it be to look past the label?

When we understand what is actually happening underneath the behavior, our goal shifts. We move away from trying to suppress a "bad" dog and toward building a partnership with a scared one.

We stop being their warden and start being their guide.

Because you can’t "control" your way into a trust-based relationship.

If you looked underneath the label today, what do you think your dog is actually feeling in those hard moments?

Let's TALK in the comments.

Tracy xoxox

"What do you do in the moment your dog just... loses it?"The barking. The lunging. The full chaos mode.We’ve all been th...
06/08/2026

"What do you do in the moment your dog just... loses it?"

The barking. The lunging. The full chaos mode.

We’ve all been there (I’m raising my hand right with you).

And usually, our first instinct is: "How do I fix this RIGHT NOW?"

But here’s the secret...

You don’t.

In the middle of a "full banana beans" moment, your dog isn't thinking.

They’ve snapped into survival mode.

And newsflash: "Sit" isn't a survival tactic.

If you were terrified, would a cookie and a command make you feel safe? Probably not.

So, instead of trying to be a warden, try being a partner.

Your goal isn't to fix the reactivity while it’s happening.

Your goal is to get out. 🐾

Create space. Turn around. Walk away with intention.

One listener recently said:
"I’ve played it 5 times !!!! ... I’m seeing quicker recovery after the reactive moment."

If you’re ready to stop the "reactivity dance" and start building real trust, this episode is for you.

Beyond Obedience, Ep. 204
Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/beyond-obedience-dog-training-dog-behaviour-training/id1727953772?i=1000767721521

Let’s talk... have you ever tried to "sit" your way out of a meltdown?

How interesting...

Tracy xoxox

"What if the very thing you're trying to do... is making things harder?"I hear it so often."He knows his sit/stay at hom...
06/04/2026

"What if the very thing you're trying to do... is making things harder?"

I hear it so often.

"He knows his sit/stay at home, but on a walk? It’s like he’s never heard a word I’ve said."

How interesting...

Here’s the thing about the "Obedience Trap."

When your dog is reacting, they aren't in their "thinking" brain (the left side).

They’re in their "survival" brain (the right side).

And you can’t "obey" your way out of fear.

If you’ve been feeling like a failure because the treats and commands aren't working...

You aren't alone. It’s not your fault.

You're just trying to solve a right-brain problem with a left-brain tool.

I’ve put together a new blog post: '10 Reasons Your Reactive Dog Training Isn't Working'.

We’re diving deep into why the world feels so big for your dog right now, and how to actually find safety together.

Let’s TALK. Have you ever felt stuck in the obedience trap?

Read the full post here: beyondobedience.ca/blog

Tracy xoxox

I messed up.I mean, really messed up.It started with some deer p**p... and ended with my dog running down the driveway w...
05/29/2026

I messed up.

I mean, really messed up.

It started with some deer p**p... and ended with my dog running down the driveway with a crate door and a tarp chasing him.

If you’ve ever walked away from a moment with your dog thinking, "Well, I’ve officially ruined our relationship," I want you to take a deep breath.

You haven't.

We often get stuck in a "guilt-shame cycle" where our own emotional garbage peppers everything we do. We catastrophize. We think one bad walk defines the next ten years.

But what if we shifted to being... emotionally neutral?

🐾 No judgment.
🐾 No frantic energy.
🐾 Just observing.

When I finally let go of the pressure to "fix it" right then and there, everything changed.

Setbacks are just part of the process, friend. It’s how you handle the "afterwards" that matters.

How interesting... that a bad moment can actually lead to a deeper layer of trust when we stay calm and curious.

Let’s TALK about the setbacks in the comments. You aren’t alone in them.

Beyond Obedience, Ep. 208 | Did I Just Ruin My Dog? Training Setbacks Explained

Tracy xoxox

Does your dog listen perfectly in the kitchen... But the moment that front door opens, they give you that "see a sucker?...
05/28/2026

Does your dog listen perfectly in the kitchen...

But the moment that front door opens, they give you that "see a sucker?" look and vanish into the world of squirrels and smells?

It’s exhausting.

And honestly? It can feel a little embarrassing too.

We’ve been taught that if our dogs don’t listen, we need more obedience. More reps. More "sit" and "stay."

But relationship isn’t a remote control.

When your dog is outside, they shift from their "thinking" brain to their instinctual brain. They aren't being "bad"... they're just in a different state of mind.

What if we stopped asking "Why won't my dog listen?" and started asking "How interesting... how can I be a part of what my dog is feeling right now?"

Let’s move away from control and back toward connection.

Beyond Obedience, Ep. 206

We’re diving deep into the Left Brain vs. Right Brain shift and why less commands might actually lead to more listening.

Listen now at beyondobedience.ca/podcast or find us on your favourite player.

Tracy xoxox

Did you know that 84% of dogs show signs of fear or anxiety in everyday situations?A massive new study by Texas A&M Univ...
05/17/2026

Did you know that 84% of dogs show signs of fear or anxiety in everyday situations?

A massive new study by Texas A&M University and the Dog Aging Project analyzed data from over 43,000 dogs and the results are eye-opening.

When looking at common triggers: like unfamiliar people, other dogs, or household noises: the vast majority of dogs displayed at least mild-to-moderate fear or anxiety.

This isn't just a "behavior issue." It’s the norm.

If you’ve ever felt like you were failing because your dog isn't the "perfectly calm" pup you see on social media, let this be your reminder: you are not alone, and neither is your dog.

Understanding that fear is a common part of the canine experience allows us to move away from judgment and toward better support for our partners.

You’re doing a great job.

Tracy xoxox

Reference: Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, 2026.

"You are not working on reactivity in the moment of reactivity."Let that sink in...When your dog goes full "banana beans...
05/17/2026

"You are not working on reactivity in the moment of reactivity."

Let that sink in...

When your dog goes full "banana beans" mode, their thinking brain has checked out.

They aren't ignoring you. They're just trying to survive.

Waving a cookie or demanding a sit in that moment is like trying to reason with someone having a panic attack... it just doesn't work.

This isn't a training moment... it’s a management moment.

And the best tool you have? The "Exit Plan" strategy.

It’s not running away in shame. It’s an intentional choice to protect your partnership and find safety.

Because leaving is not failure. Leaving is the plan.

Beyond Obedience, Ep. 204

We're talking about how to handle the chaos without the guilt. Let’s shift from trying to "fix" the explosion to being the calm partner your dog needs.

Listen here: beyondobedience.ca/podcast

Let’s TALK... have you ever felt that pressure to "fix it" while your dog is losing it?

Tracy xoxox

“You cannot overdo socialization.”That’s what the pamphlet said.But as Jordon looked at her tiny 12-week-old Chihuahua p...
05/11/2026

“You cannot overdo socialization.”

That’s what the pamphlet said.

But as Jordon looked at her tiny 12-week-old Chihuahua puppy, Olive Rose, her gut said something different.

Olive is a “right-brain introvert.” For her, the world is big, loud, and a lot to process.

If you’re an introvert, you get it.

Imagine being dragged to five networking events in a row when you just want a quiet cup of tea...

How interesting… that we often push our dogs to “meet everyone” when what they actually need is safety.

In Episode 203, we’re talking about why you CAN over-socialize.

🐾 Shift from: “Go say hi to everyone!”
🐾 To: “Let’s observe the world from a distance, together.”

It’s about partnership, not performance. It’s about helping them navigate “Humansville” with you as their calm, confident anchor.

You aren't failing by giving them space. You’re being the partner they need.

Listen to the full story of Olive Rose and the truth about socialization here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/beyond-obedience-dog-training-dog-behaviour-training/id1727953772?i=1000764653360

Let’s TALK: does your dog need a "reset button" after a busy day?

Tracy xoxox

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