Lessons from a Lifetime in Behaviour with Karen Deeds [Episode 279]

About this episode

Ryan Cartlidge interviews Karen Deeds about her transformative experiences in dog training and behavior.

In this episode of the Animal Training Academy Podcast, Ryan Cartlidge is joined by Karen Deeds — a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the IAABC and co-owner of Canine Connection in Memphis. Bringing over three decades of experience across assistance dogs, the veterinary profession, and competitive sports, Karen shares a profound "origin story" from the early 1990s—a traumatic assault that her own dog intervened in—which shifted her entire focus from traditional obedience training to the complex emotional world of animal behaviour. Together, Ryan and Karen explore the transformative world of Multiple Marker Systems (MMS) and why the delivery of reinforcement is just as critical as the reinforcer itself. Karen explains how moving beyond a single clicker to specific verbal cues like "toss," "scatter," and "tush" can provide dogs with ultimate clarity, reducing frustration and creating a more cooperative partnership. They discuss the concept of "eating as a behaviour" and how strategically placing, moving, or slowing down food delivery can directly influence a dog's physical physiology and emotional state in both high-level sports and severe behaviour cases. The conversation…

People in this episode

Host: Ryan Cartlidge

Guest: Karen Deeds

Topics covered

• animal behavior
• dog training
• Multiple Marker Systems
• reinforcement techniques
• emotional state of dogs
• academic and practical collaboration

Keywords

• dog behavior
• training techniques
• emotional intelligence
• assistance dogs
• veterinary profession
• competitive sports
• food delivery
• behavior modification

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IAABC, Canine Connection, University of North Texas, ORCA group

Places: Memphis

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