Training That Feels Like Play: The Power of Pattern Games with Angie Haines Madden

Whether you’re looking for something fun to do with your dog or if you need help with a behavior issue, Control Unleashed might be exactly the training class you’re looking for. Today, I’m joined by Angie Haines Madden of DogSpeak Training — the trainer my dogs & I have been working with through online Control Unleashed classes over the past several months. A former zookeeper, Angie shares what drew her to the Control Unleashed methodology (developed by Leslie McDevitt) and how it shapes her approach to dog training. I'll be honest — I was skeptical about taking an online training class at first. But it didn’t take long to see why Angie’s style of teaching works so well. Together, we talk about the power of learning from others, why recording your training sessions is so important (hint: it’s all about body language!), and how transformative these skills can be. While my original goal was simply to find something fun to do with Nessie, I quickly discovered that Control Unleashed offers so much more than just games. Angie and I discuss how adaptable the Pattern Games are for a variety of real-world situations, and I share some of the ways we’ve incorporated them into our daily lives. You'll also get to hear an impromptu coaching session, as Angie helps me work through a challenge Nessie and I are still facing — and why teaching your dog to relax is more important than you may realize.   Find Links & Show Notes at: https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode120   Get your free checklist: Join Erin the Dog Mom's email list to receive the 12 Changes in Your Dog to Never Ignore checklist. Teef: The easiest way to improve your dog’s dental health is with a spoonful of Teef powder in their water.  Save 20% on your Teef orders when you use the code: ADM. Support this podcast, subscribe on your favorite app and leave a rating or review.