Hosted by legendary animal trainer Joel Silverman, Shaping With the Legends takes you inside the world of real animal training alongside the masterminds who built the industry. From Hollywood movie sets and high-stakes police K9 training to world-renowned marine mammal theme parks and top companion dog behaviorists, Joel sits down with pioneer trainers to unpack the secrets, stories, and science of marine mammal behavior, working animals, and pet training. Whether you are a professional handler, aspiring trainer, or dedicated dog owner, get ready for unfiltered conversations with the true legends of the trade.
  • Larry Krohn - Larry has become one of the most popular names in dog training through social media, and has reshaped the way so many people understand off-leash communication and high-level behavioral modification. With well over two decades of hands-on experience, he’s saved countless dogs from the brink of euthanasia by focusing on clear communication, real-world engagement, and the proper, gentle application of remote collar conditioning. We have been touring together for the past 8 years, so we will have some fun talking about those experiences!
  • Jay Jack - Jay is a deeply respected voice in the pet dog training world who has changed the way trainers and dog owners think about motivation. He has been a huge catalyst across the industry in showing people just how powerful play can be, making it a cornerstone of his entire training program. Jay is also the founder of GRC Dogsports, a modern dog sporting organization and training discipline. We have been touring together for the past 8 years, so we will have some fun talking about those experiences!
  • Justin Rigney - Justin bridges the gap between high-stakes working dogs and everyday pet dog training. With over three decades of professional training experience—including 17 years in law enforcement and a decade as a police K-9 handler—Justin Rigney has certified and coached hundreds of working teams and trainers nationwide. 
  • Ivan Balabanov - From winning World Championship titles with dogs he bred and raised himself to shaping police and military K-9 teams across the globe, Ivan Balabanov’s impact on animal behavior is nothing short of legendary. As the creator of Training Without Conflict™, Ivan transformed how trainers view dynamic play, motivation, and dog-handler communication.
  • Ted Turner - For the past 45 years, Ted has been one of the most prominent pioneers in modern marine mammal training and applied animal behavior. He held key curator roles at SeaWorld, went on to serve as Vice President of Marine Mammal Operations at Atlantis, and has helped shape how trainers understand motivation and reinforcement across species. On a personal note, Ted and I go back almost 50 years.
  • Mark Harden - With over four decades on major movie sets, Mark Harden is one of the most accomplished and respected animal trainers in the motion picture and TV industry. Having trained everything from exotics to top canine stars in  in blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean, Stuart Little, and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, Mark Harden has set the standard for set work and cross-species behavioral conditioning. Mark and I go back almost 50 years.