Q&A: Stop Behaviors When You’re Not Home, Focus Around Distractions, and Why Smart Dogs Still Act “Crazy”
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In this Off Leash and Unfiltered Q&A, Kati Peppe—owner of Diamond K9 Dog Training in Biddeford, Maine—answers the questions she hears most: how long training really takes, why obedience alone won’t fix chaos, how to get attention around distractions, whether board & train is “necessary,” and how to stop problem behaviors that happen when you’re not home. The theme running through all of it: clear instruction first, then accountability so behaviors become non-negotiable in real life.
Episode Highlights
- You don’t need hours a day—10 minutes a couple times daily can teach core obedience; results come fast once accountability is added.
- Obedience ≠ behavior change. Stopping jumping, barking, and leash mayhem requires direct interruption of arousal (e.g., “no” → consequence).
- Generalization beats the living room. Train in new places/with novel people; practice, then add follow-through so it sticks around distractions.
- Board & train isn’t required—it’s efficient because pros control the setup and sequence. DIY and private lessons can still produce rock stars.
- Stopping behaviors when you’re not home: set up the scenario, watch remotely, and make the behavior meaningfully unpleasant every time so there’s no “variable consequence” pattern.
Minute-by-Minute Breakdown
- 00:00 – Welcome/trigger warning; why this show pushes past internet “baloney.”
- 00:29 – Who we are: Diamond K9 in Biddeford, ME; e-collar training for obedience and behavior work.
- 01:39 – Why a Q&A format; the common misconceptions new owners bring.
- 03:24 – Q1: How long does training really take? Faster than you think—if the missing ingredient (accountability) is present.
- 06:20 – Time budget: ~20 minutes/day can teach sits, recalls, place, etc.; the rest is lifestyle and consistency.
- 07:59 – Behavior change happens in real time, not just “practice sessions.” Address it all day as it appears.
- 09:00 – Two-week board & train benchmarks vs. realistic timelines for non-trainers.
- 11:09 – Pretzel cameo; Q2: “My dog learns fast but is still crazy.” Why obedience alone won’t solve arousal.
- 14:02 – Lowering arousal with expectations and consequences; don’t wallpaper chaos with sit/downs.
- 15:47 – The two conversations: “No” to the unwanted, do this for the wanted—separately and clearly.
- 17:05 – Q3: Getting attention around distractions. Living-room success won’t generalize without follow-through.
- 18:55 – Case story: four years of “more practice” vs. one lesson once consequences existed.
- 20:33 – Graduated e-collar levels: start fair, build clarity, and make finished work non-negotiable.
- 22:29 – When to take training outside; guidance first, then accountability.
- 23:26 – Q4: Is board & train necessary? No. Why it’s our favorite anyway (control, sequence, faster polish).
- 25:17 – DIY option: Kati’s “10 Days to a Great Place” intro to e-collar training; avoid piecing together mismatched YouTube methods.
- 26:09 – Common owner pitfalls (crate, leaving e-collar off, door/food manners) and why board & train sidesteps them.
- 27:52 – The importance of order of operations so the dog actually learns the association.
- 28:47 – Seeing is believing: results motivate owners to keep up the program at home.
- 30:37 – Why “modifying to comfort” derails outcomes; follow the recipe to get the results.
- 33:02 – Stick to one system/philosophy; mixing styles confuses dogs and handlers.
- 33:50 – Q5: Can I stop behaviors when I’m not home? Yes—if you set it up and make it count.
- 34:10 – Protocol: bait the scenario, watch via window/camera, high-level e-collar for several seconds.
- 36:50 – The danger of variable consequences; why one weak correction invites the behavior back.
- 38:39 – Some dogs test like “Velociraptors”; keep auditing the behavior periodically.
- 40:59 – Kati’s cat-food example and how patterns form with different people present.
- 41:50 – Final takeaways: structure, consistency, and meaningful consequences make change stick.