Off Leash & Unfiltered

Real conversations about dog training, behavior, relationships, and what it takes to create lasting change.

Off Leash & Unfiltered is the dog training podcast from Kati Peppe, owner and head trainer of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine.

Kati takes a practical look at the questions dog owners actually struggle with: reactivity, anxiety, aggression, obedience, boundaries, e-collar training, puppy raising, problem behaviors, and the often-overlooked relationship between a dog and its owner.

There is no single technique that explains every dog or every behavior. The podcast explores the reasoning behind training decisions, why certain approaches work for some dogs and situations but not others, and how clearer communication and consistent expectations can help dogs succeed in the real world.

Whether you’re working through a difficult behavior, raising a new puppy, or simply want a better understanding of how dogs learn, Off Leash & Unfiltered offers practical advice drawn from Kati’s experience training dogs and coaching their owners.

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Browse the latest episodes below for discussions, Q&As, training advice, and deeper dives into common dog behavior and training challenges.

The Shocking Truth About Ecollars

I'm not talking about those big cones they give you at the vet's office for your dog after they have a procedure done. I'm talking about remote collars or shock collars. This tool will change your life. Even if you aren't sold on the idea, this episode might help you understand what the hell it's all about and how versatile the tool really is. My clients have had TREMENDOUS  success with various behaviors across the board using this tool, and you can

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I Want My Dog To Be “Happy”

Does it bring you joy to see your dog bounding around with the slobber just a flying, and their eyes wide with wonder? Sniffing, playing, chasing, wagging.. Of course it does. But if you overemphasize this state as what happiness really looks like, you might actually be detracting from your dog's quality of life for your own warm fuzzy feeling..  It's also worth mentioning that a lot of anxious/stressed dogs are interpreted as happy simply because they are *excited* (not

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I’m Back! And I’m Talking About A Dog’s Need For Leadership.

Have you ever wondered why someone can raise two dogs and they turn out completely different? Have you ever wondered why your dog is the hardest dog you've ever had to train? It might be because you are expecting them to be like your last dog or your other dogs. All dogs are different and have differing needs. This couldn't be more obvious than when it comes to rules, boundaries, and structure.  Some dogs are a hot mess without it.

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The Punishment Stigma (And How It Is Hurting You And Your Dog)

Dogs lose their lives because euthanasia is now more acceptable in our society than punishment.  Punishment equals abuse, right? Wrong.  Let's talk about the difference and why proper punishment is healthy and necessary (for all of us).   The fact is those that condemn it don't actually care that much about you or your dog or dogs in general. They just want to feel "nice".  And it doesn't matter who suffers for it.  Episode transcript Read the full conversation below. Scroll

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Are You Going To Say My Dog Shouldn’t Sleep In My Bed??

Your lifestyle impacts your dog immensely! When we think of dog behavior or we think of training, we tend to think of teaching our dog obedience commands. But that is actually pretty far down the list of things that really create change in your dog.   How you live with and how you interact with your dog affects them immensely! And in some cases you can create a monster with a dog that otherwise might have been a mostly pretty

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Q&A How Do I Stop My Dog From…?

Do you struggle with the same annoying behaviors over and over and over? Does it seem like you get a little traction, but then ultimately things just go back to how they were? Do you think you AND  your dog would both be a lot happier if you could just finally put these behaviors to rest?  Do it! Stop "working on it" and just fix it! Visit me on social media for training pics, videos, tips, and information https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining/ https://www.instagram.com/diamondk9dogtraining/

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Your Dog Isn’t Stubborn, You Are

Are you stuck in the "nag zone"?  It's  a very real thing. Nagging your dog will NEVER change their long term behavior. So why do you keep doing it? Get out of the nag zone for good and see your dog finally start to make different decisions (on their own)!! Episode transcript Read the full conversation below. Scroll through the transcript to follow along. 00:00 — Repeatedly telling a dog not to do something does not create lasting behavior change.

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You Don’t Need A Single Piece Of Food

If your dog isn't food motivated, you should listen to this. Food can be a very powerful tool when it comes to building behaviors in dog training, but dependence on it renders you completely ineffective  with  some dogs (and moderately ineffective with most dogs). Non food  motivated dogs can train up just as well as those food driven, high energy, enthusiastic dogs.  You just need the right tools and information. Have you ever heard that ecollars are lazy? If so,

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Your Walk Doesn’t Need To Suck-Fix It In 10 Minutes

There are so many protocols out there for stopping leash pulling. Unfortunately most of them don't. Do you ever feel like the people who write these articles and make these videos are just sitting back and laughing at you saying, "I just wanted to see if they'd do it"?  If you have invested hours trying to stop your dog from pulling on the leash to no avail, you are not alone. You need the right tools and you need to

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Nervous Dogs And Marshmallow Owners

It is counterintuitive to most humans, but nervous don't need our pity or coddling. If you have a nervous dog you might be exacerbating your problems despite your best efforts to help your dog feel and do better. Are you a marshmallow?? Episode transcript Read the full conversation below. Scroll through the transcript to follow along. 00:00 — Kati introduces nervousness as a common dog-training issue and says it exists on a… Welcome to Off Leash and Unfiltered Trigger Warning.

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Need Help With Your Dog?

Listening can give you a better understanding of what’s happening, but some problems are much easier to solve with individualized help.

Diamond K9 offers private training, behavior modification, board-and-train programs, puppy training, and other options for dog owners in Biddeford and throughout Southern Maine.