Nate Schoemer Dog Training Podcast Ep. 37 - Ivan Balabanov: Building Trust, Motivation, and Lasting Results in Dog Training
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Sep 12, 2025 Ivan Balabanov, a two-time world champion dog trainer and founder of the Training Without Conflict school, dives into the essence of dog training. He emphasizes that building trust and cooperation is essential, arguing that struggle can be transformative in fostering rapport. Ivan discusses the power of play over food for enhancing focus and endurance, and how miscommunication derails training efforts. With insights on evolving signals and the role of emotions, he reshapes the way trainers should connect with their dogs for lasting success.
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Core Ingredients Of Effective Training
- Training Without Conflict means teaching without confusing or shutting the dog down and includes rapport, trust, motivation, and cooperation.
- Conflict here is when the dog is confused or shut down, not merely use of aversives or lack thereof.
Build Rapport Before Demanding Precision
- Build rapport with clear communication, conflict-resolution skills, and mutual trust before demanding complex behaviors.
- Use trust to create healthy motivation, then set shared goals so the dog cooperates reliably.
From Rigid Cues To Subtle Signals
- Communication evolves from rigid cues to subtle signals as rapport grows, letting skilled trainers use minimal feedback.
- Early training needs explicit, consistent feedback, but mastery allows refined, almost invisible cues.
