Episode 20: Stop Talking to Your Dog (Yes, Really!)

This week on Love ’Em & Lead ’Em, Cory and Melaney start with birding adventures, slow walks with a bird club, and a few unexpectedly intense 10-mile hikes. But all that time in the woods leads to a surprising training insight. The most uncomfortable thing we ask clients to do… isn’t complicated training, expensive equipment, or extreme discipline. It’s stopping the constant talking to their dog. In this episode, the ladies break down why quiet observation can be one of the biggest game-changers for anxious, clingy, or over-stimulated dogs. They explain how too much chatter can create insecurity, why dogs actually respond better to clear actions than endless words, and how small uncomfortable changes from owners can lead to massive improvements in behavior. Plus: bird club stories, hiking mishaps, hydration debates, and why doing hard things—whether it's a 10-mile hike or ignoring your dog for a weekend—can build better habits for both humans and dogs. Challenge of the week: Try not talking to your dog for a day… and see what you notice.