The wonderful human being that is Chirag Patel is this years DOGx 2025 Keynote Speaker so it was only a matter of time before we got together to chat! What resulted was one of our favourite ever episodes and we couldn’t be any more excited for this years conference. Click the link below NOW to register your interest to know when the tickets go on sale at an exclusive early bird rate and make bloomin’ sure you botty is on one of those seats!

Register your interest for DOGX 2025 now!

https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2025#register-your-interest

This was a jam packed show where we left no stone unturned. We explore Chirag's early experiences with the dog named Kane that sparked it all, how some wonderful early mentorship opportunities have shaped his views on giving back to the training community, delve into how we us trainers can foster creativity and the importance of observation. We also discuss mindfulness, how engaging fully with clients can lead to wonderful outcomes and where we should be putting our efforts in terms of inspiring the next wave of awesome animal trainers. We celebrate the realities of where positive training has got us and talk through the potential pitfalls of any movement that doesn’t follow the evidence. Chirag also muses on how societal changes have evolved our training styles and talks about being a proud Radical Behaviourist. No chat with Chirag would be complete without a good dose of Skinner and Chirag talks passionately about Skinner's philosophies including areas he wrote about that many haven’t explored.  On top of all that we also chew the fat over how social media can distort perceptions of animal training practices, How the very nature of scientific inquiry requires a level of uncertainty to flourish AND the importance of balancing technical knowledge with practical application when it comes to dog training.

As an added “Bookshelver bonus” we’ve also captured Nat’s LIVE reaction to seeing Benson Boones performance at the Grammys (spoiler…she enjoyed it) 

Honestly this was one of our favourite shows EVER and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it from start to end! Now make like a Benson, flip off a piano and get this episode in you ear-holes... WOOF!

Grab yourselves a Wethers Original Bookshelvers... Let's chat about about getting old 

“Dogs are living up to twice as long as they did 40 years ago which has implications for ageing dogs’ healthcare and wellbeing. As the life expectancy of canine golden oldies increases, so does the amount of time our dogs spend in poor health, but it may be difficult for us to distinguish between normal age-related changes and serious diseases that require veterinary treatment. To help address this, BSAVA PetSavers funded a major research project at the University of Liverpool – Old Age Pets – to help vets and owners provide the best care for their senior and geriatric dogs.”

We were thrilled to talk with the amazing  Lisa Wallis and Carri Westgarth about their fascinating research on aging in dogs at what their research found. We touch on cognitive development, owner and veterinary perceptions, and how the practical applications of their research led to the creation of an exciting practical resource called the Aging Canine Toolkit. Lisa and Carri share fascinating insights from their experiences researching this topic we all discuss the need for more open conversations about aging and how best to care for our dogs in their twilight years.

All that and the usual tangential banter including a discussion about the reality show 'Traitors' which we are all addicted to.

Go on… Pop it in your brain holes! WOOF!

In our first episode of 2025, Steve, Nat and Corrin celebrate the New Year with light-hearted waffely banter and reflections on our holiday experiences. We dangle the carrot and discuss upcoming podcast episodes featuring special guests, share funny stories about injuries during the holidays, and provide updates on what PACT has in store and future plans for the podcast. We also look reflect on last years successes, particularly the free canine body language course, and share exciting plans for future events, including DogX 2025. Then in the second half we talk on the importance of dog happiness and training goals, hopes and what we want to see more (and less) of in the upcoming year. 

In our last episode for 2024 the whole gang reflect on a year of wonderful podcasts and answer a Santa's sack full of Bookshelver questions. Thank you so much to all who've listened to us this year and we really hope you have some lovely festive time off. We'll be back in 2025 for another year of dog podding! BIG LOVE! 

Greetings Bookshelvers!

We sincerely hope you're all keeping warm and toasty whilst listening this week as the weather in the UK has taken a frosty U-turn! No matter though as we have a very warm and wonderful podcast featuring the amazing Jennifer Holland talking about her book Dog Smart. We had an absolute blast exploring the intelligence and emotional lives of dogs, sharing personal anecdotes about our own dogs, and delving into Jennifer's impressive career as a journalist. Jennifer discusses her writing process and the emotional connections formed with dogs, the impact of dog interactions on human emotions, and the importance of understanding dog welfare. The conversation also delves into the potential for improved communication between dogs and humans, the overwhelming sensory experiences of dogs, the celebration of 'dogness', and the growing interest in canine cognition. The conversation also delves into Jennifer's adventurous experiences, including diving with sharks and her time on the 'vomit comet'.

Steve flies solo this week so strap in for tangential meanderings around his headspace ;)

Links:

Buy Dog Smart here

Sign up to receive our "PACT LUNCHES"

What's occurring Bookshelvers!?

Well let me tell you what's been occurring here at Barks HQ for the last few weeks... Steve and Corrin have been buzzing about their interview with the amazing Jenifer A. Zeligs Ph.D. and are so happy to get it out in the world. As many of you know Steve has been on a philisophical mission to get to the bottom of what the "art" is in Dog Training. Ever since learning about Jenifer and reading her book "Mindful Partners" we've been dying to talk to her and this week those dreams came true. This book had a profound affect on Steve and has actually refocused his thoughts on how to approach Dog training over the last year so, it was an absolute pleasure to talk to Jenifer and explore her journey in animal training. The discussion highlights the "Art" of training, the influence of Buddhism, and practical applications for all trainers. We explore how she successfully married the integration of mindfulness and psychological principles within the book. We chat about the complexities of behaviour, the importance of building trust and relationships with animals, and the role of reinforcement in training. Jenifer also shares insights on managing fear in animals, the significance of empathy, and the concept of the relationship bank account in fostering positive interactions. Putting HUGE weight on the importance of understanding animal perspectives, the power of mindfulness, and the role of choice as a motivator. Zeligs highlights the significance of prevention in training, the art of balancing science and intuition, and the necessity of effective communication through body language. We also talk about Jenifer's take on the ethical divides in animal training and the importance of finding common ground to foster better relationships with animals. This one goes DEEP!

On top of all that goodness we also have a look into Corrin and Steve's recent "date night" where they (almost) met a famous person. We talked Nanobots, wild household invaders AND premier a newly commissioned song written by the fabulous Grant Sharkey.

What on earth are you waiting for???? Get it in your head!

Links:

Jenifer's Online Animal Training 101 Course

How the devil are you lovely Bookshelvers?!

The dust has now settled after another fabulous DOGX and with Nat away on her holidays and corrin run off her feet it falls to Steve to host this episode SOLO (what could go wrong?). Luckily Nat and Corrin were around when we interviewed the wonderful, awesome, trail blazing human that is Gwen Bailey about her book The Perfect Puppy. We discuss her journey in dog training, the evolution of her book 'The Perfect Puppy', and the changes in training techniques over the years. She reflects on her experiences in kennels, the importance of communication with dog owners, and the impact of her work on the dog training landscape. The team and Gwen also delve into the complexities of dog training, discussing the challenges of reaching puppy owners, the impact of educational resources like books as well as the flexibility of training curriculums, and the significance of consent-based handling. We sing from the rafters about the importance of collaboration among training organisations and explore the fundamental qualities that make a good dog trainer. 

On top of all that we have a segment of interviews Steve did running around at lunch time at DOGX (where he mentions potatoes at least 500 times). 

Enjoy!

Gwen Facts:

Gwen worked for a leading UK national animal welfare charity from 1988-2002 and pioneered the use of dog behaviour knowledge in the rehoming of unwanted animals. 

She was the first person to be appointed by a national animal welfare charity as a full time Animal Behaviourist, eventually heading a team of behaviourists.

Gwen has successfully solved behaviour problems in thousands of rehomed dogs, helping to prevent dogs with behavioural problems being passed from home to home and improving the rehoming success rate.

Gwen has lectured at national and international conferences, run training courses for staff at animal charities around the world and has written many books & education leaflets. She is a past Chair of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and a past Trustee for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

In 2003, Gwen founded and now runs Puppy School, a large network of professionally-trained puppy tutors which is a Practitioner Member of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council. Puppy School tutors have collectively helped to have a positive training impact on more than 100,000 puppies and their owners, and continue to run excellent classes around the country.

Links:

The Perfect Puppy on Amazon

Puppy School

Howdy Bookshelvers! 

We hope this podcast finds you warm and snuggly by a fire with a dog on your lap. This week Corrin and Steve are joined by the wonderful award winning author, PhD, certified dog trainer, animal behaviourist and returning guest Zazie Todd to discuss everything about her brand spanking new book Bark!

We love chatting with Zazie. She is always so compassionate, practical, and deep rooted in science as well as being open to difficult conversations and generous with the absolute universe of knowledge inside her head. We get to discuss her journey as an author, the importance of a deep understanding of dog behaviour, and the emotional challenges faced by dog guardians dealing with dogs with fear and anxiety. We slap a heavy emphasis on the significance of positive reinforcement and counter conditioning in dog training when it comes to fear, while also addressing misconceptions surrounding anthropomorphism that just might be holding us back. Zazie shares insights on the role of professionals in the field and the need for a lovely, supportive community for dog trainers and much, much more.

Steve and Corrin talk through windy beach walks and fat seal pups as well as going through our normal book review sections. Put simply you’re gonna LOVE it! 

Zazie Facts:

Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. She is the founder of the popular blog Companion Animal Psychology, where she writes about everything from training methods to the human-canine relationship. Todd also writes a blog for Psychology Today, Fellow Creatures. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and two cats.

Links:

Buy Bark! here (but better off going to a local bookshop right?!)

Sign up to Zazie's newsletter here 

Autumnal Greetings Bookshelvers! 

We are back to normal scheduling now after another amazing DOGX 2024 and the UK has plummeted into Autumn! To celebrate the seasonal change we have the Pumpkin Spiced Latte of Dog Sports Herself Carrie-Anne Selwyn! Steve and Nat welcome back Carrie to discuss her journey with dogs, the impact of COVID-19, and the exciting sport of Hoopers. The conversation delves into Carrie's experiences with various dog breeds, particularly her Malinois V, and the challenges of managing dog behaviour in public spaces. They explore the importance of risk assessment in dog training and the emotional rollercoaster of living with reactive dogs. Carrie, Steve, and Nat delve into the complexities of dog training, focusing on socialization, emotional wellbeing, and the role of sports like Hoopers in enhancing the bond between dogs and their handlers. They discuss the importance of ethical training practices, the emotional connections formed through dog sports, and the need for a supportive community among dog trainers. The conversation also touches on the challenges of navigating dog behaviour and the significance of understanding each dog's unique needs and genetics. As ever... Get it your earholes!!!!

Carrie facts:

Carrie-Anne Selwyn is a Dog trainer, podcaster, speaker, international hoopers judge and competitor and the founder of Canine Hoopers World. 

Originally a riding instructor Carrie also worked at a groomers and a cattery. After passing her level 3 animal care Carrie pursued a career in dog training in 2012 Becoming a qualified trainer with the IMDT.

She is now an ambassador for the Pet Profesional network, a guest speaker for  the Distictive dog trainer and IMDT and PPG Australia.
A course tutor and assessor for the IMDT. Carrie also has two successful podcasts Canine Hoopers World and the Dog Training Dictionary. 

Carrie has taught internationally both in person and virtually. She set up Canine Hoopers World in 2019 and has taught over 500 instructors how to teach hoopers in over 20 different countries.

Something a little short and a little special for you Bookshelvers. As many of you know Steve writes little songs and jingles for the podcast and we've been asked to pop this particular one out as a stand alone. Enjoy #stopbillybigdogs