Liza Rader - Focus Dog Training

12/14/2025

First rule of creative problem solving: there are no rules.

As a dog behaviour consultant who works with complex cases, I have to use a lot of creative problem solving skills. So often, my clients have already tried all the things that are “supposed to work”.

This was a small problem. Hutch was having a moment (note the spinning), and we needed to cross this very slippery bridge.

So instead of having a fight with him, or risking a fall, I just asked him for a down and then recalled him on the other side.

It might seem minor, but sometimes people really need to hear “you can just cross the bridge before them”.

Just because something is supposed to work doesn’t mean it does.
Just because something is supposed to be done one way doesn’t mean you have to.

11/12/2025

We don’t get to abandon our ethics because we are told something is inevitable.

As we’ve discussed the (many) problems with the new AI dog training app (environmental degradation, plagiarism, data security, etc), I’ve noticed a theme:

AI is here to stay, it’s either get on board or be left behind.

First of all, citation needed.

We don’t know that. 

We do know that a lot of extremely wealthy people have sunk ungodly amounts of money into AI, and need it to work out.
We know that there is a huge hype and normalization campaign around it. 

We don’t know what the future holds, and we all have an active role in creating it. 

And secondly, then leave me behind. 

We don’t get to just abandon our ethics because some tech bro (or wannabe tech bro) creates a new tool. 

I think plagiarism is unethical. I think the current way AI affects the environment is unethical. I think undermining small business and new trainers is unethical. I think offering people sub par support (and this WILL be sub par) just because it’s cheap is unethical. 

So I cannot support this, regardless of how inevitable it may (or may not) be.

AI is not ontologically evil.

Tech bros are though, and I don’t understand why some animal behaviour professionals are trying to emulate them. 

11/09/2025

“How much exercise does my dog need” is a question that used to fill me with dread.

There’s just so many factors to consider! Off leash or on leash? Running? Playing? Sniffing?
It was near impossible to give my clients a sufficient answer.

And one of the biggest problems my clients have isn’t underexercising their active dogs! Most of the people I work with are already going above and beyond trying to meet their dogs’ needs.
It’s just the wrong type of exercise!

That’s why I had to create Understanding Exercise, my webinar all about how to exercise dogs.
It breaks down exercise into easier to understand categories, so that we can make educated choices about exercising our dogs.

Because sometimes, they really just need to RUN. And even though they love nosework, it won’t meet that need.
(And sometimes they need to stop running and use their brain, in which case, heck yeah nosework!)

You can find Understanding Exercise under “webinars” in the link in bio.

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.