Hey there fellow Dog Geek Extraordinaires. 

A bit of stray off our, well-trodden, dog training and behaviour path today. We invited the wonderful Professor Alex Conner (co-author of ADHD Unpacked and co-host of the ADHD Adults Podcast) onto the podcast. For a while now we’ve been planning on having a conversation that advocates for compassion and understanding in what it must be like for neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD diagnosis, navigating a neurotypical world. 

We also thought it might be helpful to understand how ADHD might impact both trainers and people who might be attending classes or 121’s. What unfolded was a fascinating conversation that enabled us to delve into the complexities of ADHD, discussing its impact on communication and relationships, emphasizing the importance of understanding and supporting one another within our relationships and communities.

We get to explore the intricate relationship between dog training and ADHD, delve into the parallels in understanding behaviour, the importance of environment and the need for emotional acceptance. We find out how dog body language can inform our understanding of ADHD, the impact of genetics versus environment, and the challenges faced by individuals with ADHD in various settings. 

Alex effortlessly and expertly addresses misconceptions about ADHD and the societal perceptions that contribute to a stigmas. We hear how things people might take for granted, like the setting of boundaries and self-care, can be unique challenges faced by individuals with ADHD. We explore how personal experiences shape their understanding of self-worth and the importance of community support. Of course, we touch on the complexities of dog training, the nuances of behaviour, and the importance of understanding both dogs and humans and the significance of empathy in fostering connections.

On top of all that top notch audio goodness Nat and Steve talk about Alex’s book, discuss the challenges of understanding neurodiversity, discuss the arrival of spring and the emotional connection they feel towards nature (particularly a sparrow named Dave). Steve also briefly flirts with the concept of utopia and it's potential pitfalls (through the lens of B F Skinner). We ramble about the importance of emotional awareness, the dynamics of social media, and the influence of culture on behaviour, all while introducing a BRAND NEW segment dedicated to a beloved figure in the bookshelver community…. The Greg Pattison Moment!!!

Don’t just sit there! Poke us right up your ear canals!!!

Link to Alex's book
Link to Alex's Podcast
Link to PACT's Free Courses
Link to DOGX tickets

Happy Spring Time Bookshelvers!

As the temperatures are rising in the UK and spring has truly sprung we thought it would be a great time to spring clean our noggins about all things dog businesses. We are thrilled this week to bring you a talk with the wonderful Gretta Ford. Not only is Gretta a member of PACT, an ABTC Registered Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB), a full member of the APBC and FABC (which is pretty darn impressive) but Gretta is also a business strategist for trainers and behaviourists! Steve and Nat speak from experience when they say that Gretta has helped them out with all sorts in terms of the business side of PACT and we wanted an informal chat that would be beneficial to people with both existing businesses in the dog training world AND those of you starting out. 

We cover A LOT! Including: The challenges faced by dog trainers in building successful businesses, The importance of having that “business mindset”, the crowded market for dog training services, and the emotional burdens that come with running a business, the need for support and fresh perspectives in the industry, the significance of focusing on one's own business and the importance of emotional health in the face of external pressures. We talk about the dreaded imposter syndrome and the importance of a stoic mindset. We explore strategies for effective marketing, the significance of having a strong online presence through a website, and the challenges of navigating social media. The discussion also touches on the potential for passive income streams, the role of gratitude in professional relationships, and the environmental impact of business practices in the dog training industry. We also chatted about the super interesting topic of the significance of aligning personal and business values, particularly in the dog training industry AND niching in dog training. All that as well as hearing all about Gretta’s journey! 

All that along with some waffle from Nat and Steve about their brand spanking NEW FREE course and haberdashery’s and what you may find within one… don’t ask.

You know you’ll be have a better brain for listening so what on earth are you waiting for? Get it in your lug holes human!

LINKS:

Link to Gretta's amazing Set Up To Succeed website here

Link to Gretta's Dog Training & Behaviour website here

Link to PACTS free Breed & Body Language Course here

Howdy doody Bookshelvers!

We’re thrilled to bring you another one of our awesome DOGX 2025 speakers today… drumroll please… It’s Roz Pooley! We had a ball chatting with Roz and got into a LOT! From sharing her journey from a retail background to becoming a prominent figure in dog training and behaviour, her experiences in dog walking, the evolution of training methods, and the importance of understanding dog behaviour and social dynamics. We also discuss the significance of continuous learning and adapting to the changing landscape of dog training, while also getting Roz’s perspective on the unique roles that different dogs play within their social groups. We also couldn’t chat with Roz without discussing the overwhelming influence of social media on guardians and the pressure of perfection in dog training and the unrealistic expectations placed on trainers and their dogs. We wax lyrical about a world where a more realistic and empathetic approach to dog training that embraces imperfection and prioritizes the well-being of both dogs AND  their owners might exist. We touch on the impact of seasonal changes on dog behaviour and share a spoiler of what Roz will be talking about at DOGX! All this and our usual waffle for your earbud pleasure! Go on… pop it in your auditory canal

Link to The Mutty Professor

Link to DOGX Tickets

Link to PACT'S Free Courses

Greetings Bookshelvers

We are coming to you a few days late this week as the team is currently knee dee in Crufts shenanigans. If anyone of you are visiting Crufts this year do pop by and see us at Hall 3 stand 117 as we'd love to meet some podcast listeners!

Todays offering has been a long time coming. As many of know PACT are a member organisation of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). We set up a special podcast to speak to Hanne Grice and Jane Williams so they could tell you folks all about the ABTC. We took a whole bunch of Bookshelver questions and amalgamated them to ask Hanne and Jane. We had a blast exploring its structure, purpose, and the importance of being a registered practitioner. We talk about the rigorous assessment processes, the need for regulation in the industry, and our (and others) community's role in supporting that mission. Hanne and Jane also talk about the importance of ethical training and the ongoing efforts to improve standards within the animal behaviour and training sector. We tried our best to get all questions answered but we did have time constraints that meant we couldn't get to them all. We'll just have to invite them back :) You'll get the idea of just how passionate we all are about the importance of open communication and ethical considerations in our industry.

Link to find out more about the ABTC:  https://abtc.org.uk/

Link to get a DOGX ticket at a discounted rate until 10th march 2025: https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2025

Link to interesting paper all about regulation: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=paij

Link to interesting paper all about regulation: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=paij

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