Show Notes
In 1982, Ed Frawley started Leerburg Enterprises. At that time he had been filming dog training videos for 4 years. Now 78, Ed retired from Leerburg at the end of January 2026 with a goal of spending more time with his family and to do a lot of fishing. Ed sold Leerburg to 2 friends who are both retired K9 handlers and instructors - Ian O’Connell and David Littlefield. Ian and Dave have great plans for Leerburg. They are keeping every employee and the business will stay in Menomonie, WI. Leerburg has been your trusted resource since 1982. For over 42 years, this company was built on one thing — a genuine love for dogs and the people who train them. Under new ownership, that doesn't change. Our mission, our products, and our dedication to you remain exactly the same. We're honored to continue serving you.
More from Leerburg Dog Training Podcast
David Littlefield discusses what happens when dog handlers and trainers fall into territorial camps. Everybody has their own training philosophy and preferences, and it is up to us to learn what we can, take what works for us and our dog, and leave what doesn't.
Ian O’Connell sits down with longtime Leerburg friend and mentor Kevin Sheldahl to talk about what it takes to be a good police K9 handler instructor.
Join David Littlefield as he breaks down one of the most common pitfalls in dog training: patterning. When we repeat the same routine in the same place, in the same order, our dogs often learn the pattern instead of the behavior. David explains how dogs get "stuck" performing only in familiar settings or sequences, why that falls apart when real-world distractions show up, and how to vary locations, timing, and setups so your dog truly understands what you're asking. Whether you're working obedience, sport, or everyday manners, this is a must-watch for building reliable behavior anywhere.
Operational K9 Medical Team of Wisconsin was founded by veterinary emergency and critical care specialists who saw a gap: K9 handlers are trained to deploy their dogs, but rarely trained to save them when something goes wrong in the field. OPK9 closes that gap by traveling throughout Wisconsin to teach point-of-injury care directly to K9 handlers and EMS personnel. | Links mentioned: Leerburg X OPK9 - https://leerburg.com/opk9-work.php
Join Ian O'Connell as he sits down with longtime Leerburg friend and mentor Kevin Sheldahl to talk about markers. Where they came from, why they work, and how Kevin uses them in K9 detection training. Kevin traces marker training back to its roots in marine mammal training with dolphins and sea lions, explains the psychology behind why a marker like a clicker carries meaning, and breaks down the three types of rewards trainers actually have to work with. It's a conversation packed with practical insight for anyone building a marker system with their own working k9.| Links mentioned: Leerburg Clicker - https://leerburg.com/765.htm, The Foundations of Scent Detection with Kevin Sheldahl - https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243