Pet To Pal Podcast · September 21, 2026 · 53 min

The Messy Middle of Dog Training | Kait, KANE9 Dog Training

Dog training isn’t just about training the dog. A huge part of the process is helping the human on the other end of the leash understand what their dog needs, manage their expectations, and navigate the emotional side of owning a difficult dog. In this episode of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Matt sits down with Kait of KANE9 Dog Training to talk about the realities of working with reactive and challenging dogs, why she considers herself a “Human Coach” as much as a dog trainer, and what she means when she talks about the “messy middle” of dog training. Kait shares her journey from working in corporate marketing and sales to becoming a full-time dog trainer after adopting her own challenging dog, Roadie. They discuss balanced training, e-collars and prong collars, how her approach to training tools has evolved, and why she has moved away from rigid step-by-step obedience in favor of a more intuitive approach. They also get into the emotional side of dog ownership, including shame, unrealistic expectations, family dynamics, and the difficult reality that some dogs may never fit the lifestyle their owners originally imagined. Matt and Kait also discuss advocacy and boundaries, including her “Thanks for not petting my dog” message, how strangers can unintentionally sabotage reactive dogs, and why owners shouldn’t be afraid to advocate for their dogs. The conversation also covers mentoring other trainers, imposter syndrome, burnout, building a dog-training business, social media scrutiny, and the pressure trainers can feel to present a “finished” dog online. A conversation about dogs, humans, training, business, and the reality behind the highlight reel