Is “Friendly” Overrated? Building Environmentally Robust Dogs ft. Dave Hibbert

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Is Your Dog Too Friendly? Why Socialisation Might Be Setting You Back 🐾

What if everything you've been told about socialisation is… wrong?

In this episode, leading dog trainer Lauren Langman and operational dog expert Dave Hibbert (whose dogs have worked events like the Queen’s funeral) dive deep into the surprising truth behind confident dogs. Spoiler: it’s not about being friendly—it’s about being environmentally bulletproof.

🎯 You’ll learn:

• The real difference between socialisation and environmental training
• Why “friendly” dogs often fail in the real world
• How to build calm, focused, and neutral responses to distractions
• Easy home setups using cardboard chaos, metal bowls, and wobble boards
• Why car parks, industrial estates, and motorway service stations make the best training grounds
• The truth about early puppy exposure, even before vaccinations

"We don’t want a social dog," says Lauren. “We want one who can ignore the chaos and tune in to us.”

This episode is a must-watch if you're training a working dog, raising a high-energy pup, or just tired of your dog getting distracted by every passerby.

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#dogtraining #puppytraining #socialisation #environmentaltraining #absolutedogs #confidentdogs #dogbehaviour #dogpodcast #reactivedog #puppydevelopment #dogtrainingtips

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