We hope this pod finds you well Bookshelvers

This week Steve sails the Barks From Podship solo across the canine geek ocean! Luckily for him he has a wonderful book to get stuck in to! 

This week we are thrilled to be joined by the awesome Niki French to talk (amongst other stuff) all about her book 'Stop Walking Your Dog'. There is so much to unpack about Niki and her journey to writing the book as well as all the other amazing “project pies” Niki has her fingers in. This was an insightful and relaxed interview that we feel you’ll love! Amongst other amazing things, Niki shares her insights on the importance of short training sessions and how to make training enjoyable for both dogs and their owners, her favourite games that can enhance the training experience and bond. We delve into various aspects of dog training, focusing on understanding dog behaviour, the significance of boundary games, and the role of calmness in training. We discuss the ACE-free work approach and its benefits, and touch on the challenges of navigating controversies in the dog training industry and where Niki falls on the need for regulation and recognition of trainers' qualifications. Niki shares all about her dog Bodhi, a Battersea rescue, detailing the challenges and triumphs of training him. We talk about 'Don't Walk Your Dog Day' and the concept (and strange controversy) around it. Niki is also kind enough to reflect on her experiences as a writer and the impact of her book on dog training and behaviour discussions. We hope that this conversation will fire you all up, make you smile, make you think and ultimately help highlight the significance of nurturing a dog's well-being through various activities (not just walkies). Of course there’s more… There always is! And this week Steve also pulls out some "stand out" parts of the book with our usual sections. 

So what are you waiting for? Indulge your brain box and your chuckle sack simultaneously… WOOF!

Niki Facts:

Niki French is a dog-mad, people-loving, award-winning dog trainer, bestselling author, and podcaster.

Niki French is the founder of Pup Talk and author of Amazon best seller STOP! Walking Your Dog.

After a 30-year career as an international Sales and Marketing Director, a serious bicycle accident in 2014 became the catalyst for a complete life change. Niki followed a childhood dream of working with animals and, in 2019, launched Pup Talk and Twickenham Dog Services.

Niki is a Certified ACE Trainer, KAD (Kids Around Dogs) Approved Professional, UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter Member and part of the Pet Professional Network. 

She specialises in helping overwhelmed pet parents with nervous, reactive, or over-excitable dogs. Her kind and empowering approach combines practical support with a deep understanding of emotional well-being – for both dogs and people. She’s especially passionate about activities that support dogs physically and mentally, beyond the traditional walk.

She offers 1-2-1 training, often featuring ACE Free Work, in-person in Middlesex, Surrey and West London and online globally. She also supports people with Pup Talk The Pack membership. 

Niki lives in Twickenham with boyfriend Ash and their rescue dog Bodie, a handsome Collie Lurcher X. He launched into their lives from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home when he was 8 months old.

Links:

Link to buy Niki's book here

Link to Niki's Puptalk website here

Link to Niki's Youtube Channel here

Alrighty then Bookshelvers!?

It's time to get comfy, pop the kettle on, slip those nice socks you like on and open your ears, minds and hearts! This episode was a real treat because we (finally) got to chat with the brilliant Daniel Shaw from Animal Behaviour Kent, and ooooh boy, did we cover some fascinating ground! 

We talk about Daniels super interesting journey into the world of dog behaviour and training and why understanding the brain side of things (yep, we're talking neuroscience) not only rings his bell but is absolutely key to effective training. 

We talk about how to inject fun into training and being sure that our interactions are enjoyable, positive experiences for everyone involved. 

He also gave us some wise nuggets all about interpreting science and reminded us just why being great communicators is crucial in our industry, especially when we're trying to help the humans on the other end of the leash make changes. 

We chatted about our shared passion for putting on conferences and zoomed in on the upcoming ABK conference with its theme of 'resilience' in dogs front and centre and a mind blowing list of the speakers appearing this year. We also got to give you all a peek behind the curtain at the challenges of putting on such a huge events like the ABK and DOGX conferences and how much thought goes into choosing just the right people to speak. We also got excited about the latest buzz in dog behaviour and emotions research – there’s always something new to learn! 

As well as all that truly top notch chitchat hosts Steve and Corrin delve into the psychology behind human behaviour, superstition and scientific reasoning alongside sharing a surprising kitchen mishap and BIG news on Dave the Sparrow! 

Delay no further dog geek… this’ll make your inner ears sing with joy

Link to buy tickets to the ABK Conference here

Link to the blog Daniel talked about on the Art of Persuasion here

Link to buy tickets for DOGX 2025 here

How's tricks you lovely Bookshelvers?

It's all go here at PACT HQ and over the last few weeks we've had the absolute pleasure of talking with some amazing guests (all of which will be invading your earholes soon enough). This means that every fortnight we can't contain our excitement when we know release day is incoming. SO.... Without further ado we bring you yet another wonderful human working in the dog profession Clara Hewson!

For those of you who aren't yet familiar with The Muzzle Movement we can't wait to share Clara's story with you. It is very important though that we state in all honesty that Clara (and her amazing team) aren't just make muzzles, they're building a movement! It was a genuinely inspirational chat that left Nat and Steve feeling enthused. We cover LOADS, Clara gets down to business talking about bringing her muzzle idea to life! Inspired by loss and a desire to make things better, she reveals the ups and downs of launching a start-up – from finding the funds to leaning on community power. Hear first-hand why she’s so passionate about educating everyone on muzzles. She even explains how design choices are helping to give muzzles a much-needed image makeover!!! We chat about giving muzzled dogs the visibility they deserve and the advocacy efforts supporting their humans AND, learn about the values at the heart of her work. Clara also shares insights into the challenges within the dog world and her exciting plans for future projects to keep pushing dog welfare forward.

All that and much more including Nat and Steve updating everyone on Dave the Sparrow and a welcome return of Natalie's Injury Odyssey.

Go on... Slip us in your auris interna. You won't regret it.

Link to the Muzzle Movements Website here
Link to DOGX 2025 Tickets here

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.