Liza Rader - Focus Dog Training

Liza Rader - Focus Dog Training Specializing in high energy, high drive, and sporting breeds

Liza Rader KPA-CTP CDBC

Turning Chaos into Calm
The dogs that people describe as nutty, out of control, hyperactive, toy obsessed, or just too much – these dogs are our jam!

06/11/2026

Biscuit is a really hard fog to live with. He’s high-drive, highly sensitive, and too smart for his own good. But over the years I’ve got caring for him down to a fine art. One factor we can’t miss? Weekly goblin time.

Once a week Biscuit gets let loose at a Sniffspot by the river or at the beach and he gets to do whatever the f% #* he wants. It involves a lot of behaviors that might be otherwise cut short in a regular walk as we keep moving: swimming, shredding, diving, rolling, etc. It is a time dedicated to Biscuit being in Biscuits world- and me carefully curating the environment so that he can do so.

He needs the sensory experience of the water, the autonomous movement, and the freedom to be silly and entertain himself…. Or else he turns into a screaming nightmare demon.

If you have a dog like Biscuit, you know how important this is, but nobody has taught you how to carry it out in your life. Nobody has taught you that there are distinct types of exercise your dog needs, it isn’t all created equal.

If you want to better understand your dogs exercise needs and finally find something that helps them chill- Watch my Understanding Exercise Webinar. Link in bio!

Diagnoses aren’t what helps dogs. Stop trying to diagnose dogs as autistic or ADHD, and start listening to and supportin...
06/08/2026

Diagnoses aren’t what helps dogs.

Stop trying to diagnose dogs as autistic or ADHD, and start listening to and supporting the neurodivergent dog trainers doing the work.
 
We are already using our knowledge and lived experience to help dogs with varied neurotypes. 
 
We are already pulling from disciplines like autism self advocacy, early childhood education, and psychology, to create robust, effective behaviour plans for our clients. 
 
We are already highly skilled at providing for and accommodating varied sensory processing needs. 
 
We are already teaching guardians of sensitive and complex dogs how to build strong relationships with them and resolve their behaviour problems.
 
We don’t need underdeveloped and deeply problematic diagnoses to help dogs. We’re already out here doing the work, developing systems and frameworks, and helping dogs and their families.

06/03/2026

We’ve been here before.

I hope you’ll stop and think about the severe implications of a statement like this. I am here to say, yet again, that there is a fundamental misunderstanding of neurodivergence in the dog world, and that the oppressive and harmful systems that exist for humans do not need to exist for dogs as well.

Medicalizing dog behavior doesn’t help. Especially when it is based in fundamental misunderstandings.

This is a window into a larger movement of harm- whether the people participating understand that or not.

05/28/2026

The missing piece in your behavior plans…is COMMUNITY.

What if I told you there are thousands of people, more than you could comprehend living with challenging dogs just like yours? You don’t see them because their dogs can’t be walked out in public. You don’t get to converse with them at the party because they had to stay home with their anxious dog. They don’t bring it up because it causes them so much shame. The people you need are already in your community, they just aren’t talking about it.

I have people come to me from all walks of life who have found themselves living with high-drive, high-energy dogs who are prone to behavior issues like hyperactivity, reactivity, and aggression. I know firsthand that it’s hard. It isn’t uncommon for people to break down in tears during their first consult with me because they are finally talking to someone who understands the load they are carrying everyday.

That’s half the battle: just finding people who have made it to the other side of what you’re going through. Someone who understands the mental load, the guilt, the shame, and the overwhelm.

If this is you, check out our new Instagram community, Wild Child Dog Club🔥🐾 This is a no barriers way to meet other like-minded dog parents with similar challenges, and get exclusive content from Focus Dogs. Join via our bio. See you there!

05/25/2026

Just because I'm a professional behaviour consultant doesn't mean I'm always confident all my plans will work out, or that I know what I'm doing.

But then Biscuit, former professional problem child, who used to have a complete screaming meltdown at the sight of horses, sees a big trail riding group approaching and trots off to the side and lays down, calm as can be.

Nothing better than that.

Dealing with behavior problems in your complex or high-drive dog?
Inquire about coaching and watch our webinars at the link in bio.🔥

If you’re feeling super overwhelmed by your dog’s behaviour, here’s what you’re going to do:➡️ Ask yourself first: is th...
05/20/2026

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. ➡️ 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!

🧡 If you're dealing with complex behavior challenges or you have a high-drive dog who you could use some support with, Click the link in my bio to find webinars, 1:1 coaching, and more!

05/19/2026

I see a very diverse group of…spaniels.

Big thank you to everyone who was involved in this effort. We are so grateful to you all for your openness about your ex...
05/14/2026

Big thank you to everyone who was involved in this effort. We are so grateful to you all for your openness about your experiences with your dogs.

In an effort to continue building the strength of our community, we invite you to comment below and introduce yourself and your dog, as well as the best thing you've learned from through social media, coaching, or classes. Ready, set, go! 👇🫂🧡

01/28/2026

Slightly missed the timing on that release but what can you do!

Fisher is a year old (haired) American hairless terrier, and he unfortunately had a pretty serious injury as a puppy.

He's on the mend and getting back to do***ng full time, but because of living with acute and chronic pain for so much of his young life he's still quite cautious about exploring new settings.

We're teaching him meatball "retrieves" to build up the pattern of going out and coming back (useful for all kinds of dog sports and eventually a retrieve), to give his mum a low spoons activity, and to help him build more confidence in the environment.

That sniffing works wonders, and we're careful only to throw in spaces he's ventured before so as to not lure him too far out of his comfort zone

The most ignored behaviour problem in dogs, and one of our favourite subjects! Hyperactive dogs are a huge challenge to ...
01/21/2026

The most ignored behaviour problem in dogs, and one of our favourite subjects!

Hyperactive dogs are a huge challenge to love with, they can be embarassing, exhausting, and dangerous both to themselves and others.

Join us, Liza Rader and Karishma Warr as we talk all about what hyperactivity is, why we need to take it more seriously, and what we can do about it!

Jan 22nd, 9am PST/5pm GMT, week see you there!

Address

Surrey, BC

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Liza Rader - Focus Dog Training posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Liza Rader - Focus Dog Training:

Shortcuts

Share

Category