

Nate Schoemer Dog Training Podcast
Nate Schoemer
Join Nate Schoemer as he interviews top dog trainers—from behavior specialists and protection experts to authors, judges, and training school founders. Each episode offers expert advice on real training topics, followed by live Q&As where listeners can ask direct questions. You’ll also hear real virtual sessions solving common issues, plus unique follow-along obedience routines that simulate private lessons to help you train effectively. Whether you're a dog owner or aspiring trainer, this podcast gives you direct access to high-level training insights you can use right away.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 3, 2025 • 50min
EP. 4 – Straight Talk on Dog Training: Q&A with Nate Schoemer
Jun 12, 2020 Dog Training Questions and Answers!00:25 - My puppy outside of training is not coming when called. 04:30 - I just brought my 4-month-old puppy in for his booster shots and checkup at the veterinarian and she told me that my puppy was very difficult to restrain and that he did not like being held down for blood work etc. Should one expect a puppy that old to not complain when being restrained?08:48 - How do I transition him from food rewards to playing tug as a reward?10:28 - How do you teach a puppy not to jump on the couch?12:42 - My dog is so nosy when people come over. Any suggestions on how to fix that?15:12 - If I tell my dog a command and he doesn't comply, I correct him, then he will comply. Should I then reward the dog or just go on to the next command?16:13 - How do you train a dog to have a more reliable recall even when she's busy doing something else?17:48 - How much and how often do you feed your dogs daily? 19:14 - My 14 Week old puppy has started barking at people when they come in our yard. Is it best to wait until he is not barking, then mark and reward or try and have him close to me and feed him and distract him before people walk in?24:19 - We are learning to do the run walk run method of running. I do 1 min run and 30-sec walk. My problem is when we do an out and back run, on the way out they drag behind me, then on the way back, they will run beside me. Why? All I can figure is that they are thinking woohoo we are going back home and I want to get there fast. How can I get them to run beside me the whole time? 26:05 - I’m going to get a Great Pyrenees puppy this fall and I was doing research into the breed and it says that they’re neither food nor toy motivated. When I talked to the breeder she said that motivation is the hardest thing about training them. I’ve watched all your videos on motivation but was wondering if you have any specific tips on training dogs that are harder to motivate and get bored easily. Thanks a lot!29:04 - I have an 8-year-old staffi who has separation anxiety.31:48 - Can I train two puppies together or do I need to do individual training time for each?33:40 - Coco (fearful female 1.5 years) Scout (overweight male 2 years) Coco has separation anxiety from Scout.34:52 - Do you keep training treats on you all the time or you have dedicated training sessions? Do you use your markers during non-specific training periods?40:27 - My dog has a lazy sit.41:09 - Some advice on collecting your puppy and transporting them home would be great?41:54 - In your video, you use a hard bone for puppies.43:06 - I have a short question, and I remember you saying you feed your dogs a raw diet.44:00 - I’m just curious if you can elaborate a little bit on why we are using Free instead of yes during retrieval training?45:35 - I made the mistake of teaching my dogs to stay quiet and not bark. Now I want her to bark but she hardly does.47:02 - What's the difference between place and climb?48:09 - Most trainers that I know use Command and Cue interchangeably. What you are calling the ‘Cue’ starts as a lure or something and turns into a hand signal?

Mar 28, 2025 • 1h 25min
Ep. 3 - Dog Training Tips and Tricks! Q&A With Nate Schoemer
In this Q&A episode, I answer real questions from dog owners looking to improve their training and better understand their dogs. Whether you're dealing with reactivity, building engagement, or just want practical tips that actually work, this episode is packed with advice you can apply right away.This episode was filmed on May 23, 2020.Timestamps:00:21 – What’s the first thing you try to teach a dog when training?03:22 – What’s the best way to train a kid to handle a puppy?05:19 – I have three dogs. What’s the best way to work with all three?07:30 – I was just made aware of "fear periods," particularly in GSDs around 4–5 months.12:25 – Do you have tips on getting him to focus?13:53 – Our beagle barks incessantly when one of us comes home.17:55 – How do I keep my dog in a stay position when I answer the door?19:55 – We have people walking up and down the sidewalk constantly. How do we stop the dogs from barking at them?23:09 – What would be your top five medium-sized breeds for service dog work?24:51 – What are the best treats for dog training?26:54 – What would you say are the key principles to keep in mind every day when training a dog?31:06 – What’s your opinion on feeding a raw diet?33:47 – My GSD heels beautifully if I have a ball in my hand, but I’m having a hard time weaning that out. Any suggestions?37:08 – How do you deal with dogs whining in the crate?39:00 – What’s the difference between the “yes” reward marker and the “break” or “free” marker when training?45:25 – How can I stop my dog from barking at other dogs and people when outside or on a walk?49:00 – Is it bad to give my dog too much freedom in the house?52:21 – Can you address some age-specific expectations concerning recall and skill duration in different environments?54:35 – What would you recommend for socializing during the pandemic?59:25 – I’m still trying to get my dog to let me pet her head. How should I proceed from here?01:01:08 – I’ve got a 9-week-old Dutch Shepherd that’s determined to nip fingers, toes, ankles, pant legs, etc. The cuteness wore off quickly—any advice?01:05:52 – My 3-year-old terrier mix recently started obsessively digging to chase moles. I can’t catch her in the act to redirect. Any ideas?01:08:50 – My 9-month-old GSD does great on leash with just me, but when I walk him with my kids, he pulls and barks in excitement.01:10:21 – How do I train my dog for public access?01:13:58 – How long should I wait between bringing the puppy home and starting service training?01:14:55 – How do I increase my dog’s ball drive?01:16:06 – How can I get my dog to bite harder when playing tug?01:17:08 – Do you use a Kong? Does it serve any purpose besides being a food dispenser?01:19:54 – When your dogs come forward off the terminal marker and you hold your hand high to get them to jump for the reward, do you hold the treat the same way each time?01:21:24 – Do you teach the double down?01:23:33 – Any ideas for how to tire dogs out mentally?

Mar 28, 2025 • 57min
Ep. 2 - Dog Training with Expert Ali Van Es
Today’s guest is Ali Van Es — a certified professional dog trainer who began her journey at the prestigious Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers. After completing her formal education, Ali continued her development by learning directly from some of the top sport dog trainers in the country and regularly attending advanced workshops and seminars.Her passion for animals started young, but dogs have always held a special place in her heart. By the age of 18, Ali was already training professionally, joining the team of a dog training company where she had previously attended classes with her own dogs. While she enjoyed helping handlers strengthen communication with their dogs, she felt limited by the group class format and sought a more personalized approach.That drive led her to launch her own training company — where she could truly tailor each session to the individual needs of both dog and handler. Helping people build stronger, more effective relationships with their dogs is something she takes great pride in.Beyond her work with pet dogs, Ali is also active in the competitive world of dog sports. She currently competes in Mondioring — a protection sport — with her Belgian Malinois, and has also trained in Rally, Lure Coursing, Dock Diving, and Herding. Most recently, she’s diving into the world of advanced Trick Dog Training.

Mar 25, 2025 • 2h 1min
Ep. 1 – Mastering Dog Training with Expert Bethany Preud'homme
In Episode 1 of The Nate Schoemer Dog Training Podcast, Nate sits down with Certified Professional Dog Trainer and PhDogs co-founder, Bethany Preud’homme.Bethany is a canine education expert certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She graduated top of her class and made history as the first K9 team to complete a 3,000-mile thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail.In this episode, they dive into essential dog training topics, including:Basic dog obediencePuppy imprintingDog aggression & resource guardingRescue dog rehabilitationService dog trainingCompetition obedienceWhat it takes to become a professional dog trainerWith over 100k views on YouTube, this episode is packed with insights for dog owners, trainers, and anyone passionate about canine behavior and training.