Nate Schoemer Dog Training Podcast Ep. 50 - Hollywood Dog Trainer Reveals What Most Trainers Get Wrong
Mar 2, 2026
Joel Silverman, Hollywood animal trainer and author with decades training animals for film and families. He talks bonding before formal training. He explains step-by-step teaching versus shaping and why luring often wins for position work. He discusses variable reinforcement, reward values, markers, short high-quality sessions, and how environment and proofing shape reliable performance.
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Build Bond Before You Train
- Bond with a dog before formal training to build willingness to please.
- Joel Silverman raises puppies on set and socializes them day one so they want to work with him in distracting environments.
Slow Foundations Beat Fast Progress
- Break behaviors into tiny foundation steps and insist on position before increasing distance.
- Joel kept dogs on an elevated platform several days, rewarding only when they stayed, then extended distance once solid.
Why Variable Reinforcement Builds Motivation
- Use a varied (intermittent) reinforcement schedule so the animal doesn't expect predictable rewards.
- Joel adapted this from marine mammal training where long bridge delays require teaching acceptance of no immediate reward.
