Liza Rader - Focus Dog Training

Liza Rader - Focus Dog Training Specializing in high energy, high drive, and sporting breeds

Liza Rader KPA-CTP CDBC

Turning Chaos into Calm
The dogs that people describe as nutty, out of control, hyperactive, toy obsessed, or just too much – these dogs are our jam!

05/28/2026

The missing piece in your behavior plans…is COMMUNITY.

What if I told you there are thousands of people, more than you could comprehend living with challenging dogs just like yours? You don’t see them because their dogs can’t be walked out in public. You don’t get to converse with them at the party because they had to stay home with their anxious dog. They don’t bring it up because it causes them so much shame. The people you need are already in your community, they just aren’t talking about it.

I have people come to me from all walks of life who have found themselves living with high-drive, high-energy dogs who are prone to behavior issues like hyperactivity, reactivity, and aggression. I know firsthand that it’s hard. It isn’t uncommon for people to break down in tears during their first consult with me because they are finally talking to someone who understands the load they are carrying everyday.

That’s half the battle: just finding people who have made it to the other side of what you’re going through. Someone who understands the mental load, the guilt, the shame, and the overwhelm.

If this is you, check out our new Instagram community, Wild Child Dog Club🔥🐾 This is a no barriers way to meet other like-minded dog parents with similar challenges, and get exclusive content from Focus Dogs. Join via our bio. See you there!

05/25/2026

Just because I'm a professional behaviour consultant doesn't mean I'm always confident all my plans will work out, or that I know what I'm doing.

But then Biscuit, former professional problem child, who used to have a complete screaming meltdown at the sight of horses, sees a big trail riding group approaching and trots off to the side and lays down, calm as can be.

Nothing better than that.

Dealing with behavior problems in your complex or high-drive dog?
Inquire about coaching and watch our webinars at the link in bio.🔥

If you’re feeling super overwhelmed by your dog’s behaviour, here’s what you’re going to do:➡️ Ask yourself first: is th...
05/20/2026

If you’re feeling super overwhelmed by your dog’s behaviour, here’s what you’re going to do:

➡️ Ask yourself first: is the dog safe, fed, and watered?
Yes? Good. You’re doing better than a lot of people.

➡️ Give yourself some grace.
Dogs with behaviour challenges are HARD to live with. It’s exhausting and overwhelming. You’re not alone in that.
It’s normal to feel frustrated, angry, disappointed, guilty, and sad when our dog is not living up to our expectations or the expectations of society.

➡️ If at all possible, take a break.
If it is safe to do so, put the dog in a crate or separate room and go for a walk. Leave them with a friend or family member, or board them for a couple of days. If you are burnt out on dog training, stop.

➡️ Physical health first
A lot of behaviour problems are rooted in pain and discomfort. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with a vet you trust to rule out any contributing physical health issues.

➡️ Meet their needs (as best you can right now)
Dogs need to spend time in nature, moving their bodies and sniffing. They need good quality rest, to engage with interesting sensory experiences, and to use their brains. Rent a sniff spot, go out early, do what you need to do to get them moving and exploring. ➡️ Ask for help
If you’re feeling lost with your dog, and don’t know what the path forward should be, reach out to an experienced and qualified trainer. It is not a pet guardian’s job to know everything about dog behaviour and training, and we all need support with our dogs at some point.
Some cases really need a professional eye, and a good trainer is never going to judge you for what you don’t know!

🧡 If you're dealing with complex behavior challenges or you have a high-drive dog who you could use some support with, Click the link in my bio to find webinars, 1:1 coaching, and more!

05/19/2026

I see a very diverse group of…spaniels.

Big thank you to everyone who was involved in this effort. We are so grateful to you all for your openness about your ex...
05/14/2026

Big thank you to everyone who was involved in this effort. We are so grateful to you all for your openness about your experiences with your dogs.

In an effort to continue building the strength of our community, we invite you to comment below and introduce yourself and your dog, as well as the best thing you've learned from through social media, coaching, or classes. Ready, set, go! 👇🫂🧡

You're spiralling in your "dog mom guilt". Pushing it away won't help, here's how to sit with that feeling instead. So.....
05/11/2026

You're spiralling in your "dog mom guilt". Pushing it away won't help, here's how to sit with that feeling instead.

So... you're feeling guilty. definition: feelings of **deserving blame** especially for **imagined offenses** or from a **sense of inadequacy** (merriam webster)

Let's ask some questions:

1. If exercising/caring for your high-drive dog is difficult, is that because of your own faults- or systemic ones?
2. What did you do wrong? Did you intend to cause harm?
3. How can you take responsibility for your actions and repair any harm that has been done?
4. What do you need to be more successful next time?
5. Does blaming yourself help push you toward or away from doing better?
6. Do you deserve to be punished for making mistakes?
Guilt is a normal part of owning a complex dog, and getting to the root of it, examining your thought patterns is what will help you do the hard things.

For more content like this, be sure to follow me, and if you're looking for 1:1 coaching to help you show up better for your complex, high drive dog- you can book with me at the link in bio.

01/28/2026

Slightly missed the timing on that release but what can you do!

Fisher is a year old (haired) American hairless terrier, and he unfortunately had a pretty serious injury as a puppy.

He's on the mend and getting back to do***ng full time, but because of living with acute and chronic pain for so much of his young life he's still quite cautious about exploring new settings.

We're teaching him meatball "retrieves" to build up the pattern of going out and coming back (useful for all kinds of dog sports and eventually a retrieve), to give his mum a low spoons activity, and to help him build more confidence in the environment.

That sniffing works wonders, and we're careful only to throw in spaces he's ventured before so as to not lure him too far out of his comfort zone

The most ignored behaviour problem in dogs, and one of our favourite subjects! Hyperactive dogs are a huge challenge to ...
01/21/2026

The most ignored behaviour problem in dogs, and one of our favourite subjects!

Hyperactive dogs are a huge challenge to love with, they can be embarassing, exhausting, and dangerous both to themselves and others.

Join us, Liza Rader and Karishma Warr as we talk all about what hyperactivity is, why we need to take it more seriously, and what we can do about it!

Jan 22nd, 9am PST/5pm GMT, week see you there!

01/16/2026

It's pretty grim out here

12/14/2025

First rule of creative problem solving: there are no rules.

As a dog behaviour consultant who works with complex cases, I have to use a lot of creative problem solving skills. So often, my clients have already tried all the things that are “supposed to work”.

This was a small problem. Hutch was having a moment (note the spinning), and we needed to cross this very slippery bridge.

So instead of having a fight with him, or risking a fall, I just asked him for a down and then recalled him on the other side.

It might seem minor, but sometimes people really need to hear “you can just cross the bridge before them”.

Just because something is supposed to work doesn’t mean it does.
Just because something is supposed to be done one way doesn’t mean you have to.

Address

Surrey, BC

Website

https://www.focusdogs.ca/media, https://focusdogs.thinkific.com/

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