Is your well-behaved dog actually shut down? A calm, compliant dog might look like the goal — but fear-based obedience isn't the same as trust. In this conversation, journalist-turned-dog-trainer Annie Grossman explains why understanding how your dog feels matters more than getting them to behave, and how a little science goes a long way in building the relationship you both deserve.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why a dog who looks calm and well-behaved might actually be scared and shut down — and how to tell the difference
What classical conditioning really means, and why it matters more than you think when it comes to how your dog experiences the world
How punishment (yes, even "just a correction") can create hidden fallout you won't see in a 30-second Instagram video
Why dog body language is so misunderstood — and what that little tongue flick actually means
How focusing on what you want your dog to do instead of what you want them to stop changes everything
Why there's no such thing as "just dog training" — it's all rooted in the science of behaviour, whether people know it or not
What questions to ask before choosing a trainer, a method, or even a viral training hack
A FAVOURITE MOMENT
"A shut down dog can look like a well-behaved dog." — Annie
ABOUT ANNIE GROSSMAN
Annie Grossman is a dog trainer, journalist, and the author of How to Train Your Dog With Love + Science. A lifelong New Yorker, she spent over a decade running School For The Dogs, a storefront training centre in the East Village where she worked with thousands of dogs and their people. Before diving into dog training, Annie worked as a journalist and producer, writing for outlets like The New York Times and The Boston Globe. She's a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy and a passionate advocate for positive reinforcement rooted in behavioural science. These days, she writes Don't Be a Dick to Your Dog on Substack and speaks at conferences about making dog training less jargon-heavy and more human.
CONNECT WITH ANNIE GROSSMAN
Website: anniegrossman.com
Instagram: @anniegrossman
Facebook: @annie4thedogs
Substack: dogtraining.substack.com
Get the Free guide on How Not To Be A Dick To Your Dog (😛)
CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS
To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com
And if you're a dog lover who wants a calmer, happier dog, come find us at planetcalm.co. The Ultimate Hub for dogs, the people who love them, and the businesses they build.
