Gundogs and Guard dogs

Flappy things, flying tangents, and a very warm welcome back!

This episode kicks off with a not-so-gentle reminder to like, rate, and share, because apparently that’s what they’re supposed to say.

They don’t share a threesome… not quite the terminology they were going for when describing guest episodes!

It’s HOT in Scotland… 24 degrees.

Their London representative scoffs at that while recording in 35 degrees.

Lez has been bargain shopping to keep her dogs cool… Ross may have slightly lost the will to live listening to it!

The conversation moves on to pop-up tents in the lounge and a throwback to the 80s with door coverings.

Naturally, it turns back to the heatwave and how that affects the dogs and their work.

Dog professionals cancelling everything, while dog owners carry on as normal!

There’s a review of the CIDBT and GoDT networking event, which was AWESOME. Plenty of food… but no headset microphone for pri-Madonna!

A quick chat about Golden (or Cream!) Retriever breeding and genetics.

Then a more sombre moment touching on the AvD Night Trials… the less said about the week’s events, the better. Distasteful.

The ice is broken by a sneeze, just before little Latte is introduced, followed by a lesson in pronunciation… which is nothing short of laughable listening to those two!

It started with hairy balls and ended with saggy scrotums.Don’t forget to rate and review this wonderful content!

---- oOo ----

Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.

Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).

Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).

They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.

They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists.

Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...

www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

David Cavill joins Lez and Ross to chat about a life in dogs that spans well over 50 years. The man has a CV in dogs beyond imagination. It all started with a Finnish Spitz puppy, courtesy of his wife Angela, and led to an incredible journey through the dog world.

David and Angela’s Toveri Finnish Spitz are internationally renowned and admired, even by the Finns themselves.

From Animal Care College through Battersea, Our Dogs, and PETbc, you can’t have a journey like this without learning a huge amount about both dogs and people.

How has the world of show dogs changed over the last 50 years, and why? Do Pedigree Chum and Mars have anything to do with it?

How have the breeds we own changed? What about aesthetics and temperament?

Where have all the proper dog people gone? And what about designer crossbreeds and “hybrid vigour”? Genetics might be more complicated than that.

Rottweilers these days are said to be pussy cats. Not in West London for the working dog fanatic, but they’re certainly different from 30 years ago. More sound than ever? Maybe. Maybe not.

Big rescue charities, what’s really driving them? Saving dogs or paying staff? What does your donation actually do?

Popular breeds keep shifting. The Dachshund is top of the pops, and no, it’s not a “dash-hound”. Society itself feels a bit all over the place.

Plenty of questions here, not all the answers. But a fascinating, honest chat with one of the dog world’s most influential figures.

---- oOo ----Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years. Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE). Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter). They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011. They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists. Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

A wonderful conversation with Adem Fehmi, who very kindly does most of the talking (ranting!), allowing Lez and Ross to enjoy something of a day off.

From a childhood love of animals to a successful career, it all started with Trigger, the West Highland White Terrier.

Adem has now been working with dogs for over three decades, and like many of us, his journey began with a passion that grew, supported along the way by mentorship from some of the big names in obedience.

This episode goes on to explore a wide range of topics, including the rise in dog bites, changes in breeds and lifestyles, and puppy rearing, both when it’s done right and when it’s done very wrong.

The discussion also touches on imported street dogs, variations within breeds, and the role of breeders, with a clear message throughout that education needs to happen at every level.

If you’d like to meet Adem in person, join him on 24th May at the Greenwich Dog Show, where he’ll be representing The House of Health & Wellbeing at the historic Old Royal Naval College, alongside your very own Mr McCarthy.

Learn more:The House of Health & Wellbeing

Event location:Old Royal Naval College

So sit back, take a breath, maybe keep your blood pressure meds nearby, and enjoy this fascinating conversation.

---- oOo ----

Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.

Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).

Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).

They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.

They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists.

Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.

Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...

www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

There’s a big difference between theory and practice… and they’re right in the middle of it.It starts in the “pleasure zone,” or at least it should. One of them has been working, the other playing, and somehow they both end up exhausted. Between the yawns, they attempt a quick dive into Lez’s behaviour masterclass… until Ross derails things with a passionate rant about a tree.But that’s just the warm-up.This episode takes a serious turn as they tackle the growing issue of fatal dog attacks in the UK. Rising rescue numbers, soaring puppy prices, and devastating consequences — from babies to pensioners, lives are being lost.It’s a difficult, emotional conversation. There are more questions than answers, and a lot of frustration about where things are going wrong, from ownership and training to wider cultural attitudes. Why are people struggling to understand the animals they claim to love?They don’t solve it, but they don’t shy away from it either.And there are some incredible guests lined up for the episodes ahead.Stick with them. It gets better. ---- oOo ----Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years. Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE). Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter). They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011. They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists. Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

Let’s start with something that might make you uncomfortable. What if everything you’ve been told about vaccinating your dog isn’t entirely true? What if the idea of the “annual vaccination” isn’t just outdated, but flat-out wrong? Because here’s the reality—there is no such thing as an annual vaccination. So why are so many people still doing it?

And while we’re at it, why are we so obsessed with controlling every tiny risk that we forget to actually let dogs be dogs? Let them sniff. Let them explore. Because the irony is, in trying to protect them from everything, we might be causing harm anyway.

If you’ve ever felt uneasy about this—if you’ve ever thought, “Hang on, this doesn’t quite add up…” you’re not wrong. And you’re definitely not alone. So maybe it’s time to ask a bigger question. Are we making decisions based on science, or habit? Or worse—money?

Because here’s where it gets uncomfortable. Even the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, as mainstream as it gets, says very clearly: vaccinate as little as possible. Not every year. Not automatically. As little as possible. So again, why is that not what’s happening everywhere?

Let’s talk about risk. Vaccines are not neutral. They have side effects. Sometimes mild, sometimes not. We’re talking immune reactions that can range from nothing, to seizures, to chronic disease, to death. And yet, how often is that conversation actually had openly and honestly, without being shut down?

And here’s another one. Does it make any sense that a tiny Pomeranian and a massive Great Dane get the exact same dose? Same injection. Same volume. No adjustment. Really?

Then there’s leptospirosis. Lepto 2. Lepto 4. Non-core vaccines. So what’s the real risk of the disease, and what’s the real risk of the vaccine? Because those are not the same conversation, but they’re often treated like they are.

Now let’s talk puppies, because this is where things start to unravel. Multiple vaccines, strict schedules—and yet, we don’t actually know which vaccine will take. So we give more, and more, instead of asking why not test first? Why not use titre testing to see what immunity already exists? Because in many cases, one successful vaccine may be enough.

And then we hit the real dilemma—socialisation versus vaccination. Because here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud. If you keep your puppy locked away “just to be safe,” you might be trading one risk for a much bigger one: fear, anxiety, aggression, and in the worst cases, behavioural euthanasia. So what’s actually more dangerous? A controlled exposure to the real world, or raising a dog that’s terrified of it?

We talk a lot about safety, but life itself involves risk. And maybe part of responsible dog ownership is learning which risks actually matter.

And before we wrap this intro—worming, flea treatments. Routine. Automatic. Constant. But based on what? Evidence, or just what we’ve always done?

This isn’t a comfortable conversation. It’s not supposed to be. Because asking better questions means challenging what feels familiar, and that makes people nervous. Good. It should.

This is just the beginning. And we’re going all the way in.Dr Lise Hansen—let’s talk about what’s really going on. 🎙️🔥https://alternative-vet.co.uk/

---- oOo ----

Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.

They were 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011. They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists.

Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...

www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

A few days into Crufts, what started as a fabulous celebration of dogs quickly revealed something more complicated, an underlying tension within the dog training world that’s becoming harder to ignore.

In this episode, we unpack the growing divide between so-called “balanced” training and “force-free” approaches.

Where did these labels come from, and what do they actually mean? When does training become ethical, and when does it cross into something else entirely?

The nuance matters, and so do the words we use.

We explore how dogs learn, what “consent” really looks like in training, and why the conversation often drifts away from science and into ideology.

From head collars and harnesses to prongs and slip leads, the dog training industry is full of tools, but also full of noise.

As legislation tightens, the law increasingly shapes what’s considered acceptable, regardless of real-world outcomes.

There’s also a crucial distinction at play, the difference between training for competitive dog sports and training for life. If your dog misses a trick in the ring, it’s no big deal. But if they can’t recall away from danger, that’s where training truly matters.

We also take a closer look at the contradictions on display, even at prestigious events like The Kennel Club flagship show, raising questions about tradition, equipment, and evolving standards.

Ultimately, this episode asks a simple question, are we sometimes being unkind in the name of kindness?

From the meaning of “no” and “stop,” to the difference between being qualified and truly knowledgeable, this is a grounded, honest conversation about what it really means to love and train our dogs well.

---- oOo ----

Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.

Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).

Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).

They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.

They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists.

Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.Intrigued?

Want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

Dropping on Day 2 of Crufts by the The Royal Kennel Club, this episode dives into the world of show dogs, dog shows, and what it really means to be “Royal.”

Spoiler: we don’t have all the answers… and the future may be just as messy.

We chat about:

The ins and outs of showing dogs at Crufts with insights from people who’ve done it.

Breed-specific temperament “improvements”—are we actually improving, or just redefining roles? (Think ratting dogs, herding dogs, gundogs, livestock guardians, and companions.)

Puppy prices vs. dog rescue—what’s really worth it?

A lightning review of Crufts winners over the past 5 years.

The difference between training dogs and showing dogs.

And yes… a random shoutout to Clarges Street Cat that may make you laugh (or leave the room).

Plus, a sneak peek at upcoming episodes featuring expert guests. Trust us, you won’t want to miss what’s next!

---- oOo ----

Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.

Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).

Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).

They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.

They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists. Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.

Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

An engaging and wide-ranging conversation with this episode’s guest, Colin Tennant MA — Chairman of the Canine & Feline Behaviour Association.

Colin reflects on a remarkable career spanning more than 50 years, from his early days working in kennels to serving as a police dog handler, including time in Saudi Arabia, and later pioneering work in London’s West End.

A move into dog behaviour saw him develop innovative methods and strategies to rehabilitate challenging dogs, helping to shape modern approaches to canine training and welfare.

The conversation culminates in Colin’s candid perspective on how the dog world has evolved — past, present, and where he fears it may be heading in the future.

Insightful, thought-provoking, and packed with experience, this is an episode not to be missed.

https://colintennant.uk/

---- oOo ----Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years. Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE). Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter). They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011. They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists. Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.

Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

The usual nonsense returns, with hot, diluting juice dominating the intro, yet again, some things just don’t survive the M25 language barrier.

Emrys’s first shoot is covered, explaining what a “shoot” really involves when working with Gundogs, it’s all about the dog, not the dead birds, and listeners can probably guess which of the hosts is the city dweller, some might find this chat unpalatable, others refreshing.

The conversation then turns to tomatoes and maypole dancing, with a touch of cordial and even a musical moan, things get even more repulsive along the way.

Probably the most boring episode yet provides an education in fact after fact, many things listeners didn’t know they didn’t want to know.

The hosts give a quick overview of the upcoming Guild of Dog Trainers & CIDBT Networking Day, encouraging listeners to get involved and meet some of the GaGD crew.

Crufts and new CIDBT hoodies are also discussed, along with a short rant on WSAVA vaccine guidelines, with promises of future episodes diving deeper.

It’s a messy, funny, slightly repulsive start to what’s shaping up to be a very promising year for the hosts and their listeners.

Join Sue as she reflects on over 40 years in the veterinary world—a career shaped by curiosity, conscience, and a determination to look beyond convention.

A wake-up call during her dermatology studies sent her exploring alternative modalities in canine health and wellbeing, opening the door to a journey through homeopathy, acupuncture, laser therapy, and more.

From “the nibs, the nabs, the mibs, the mabs” to the rise of biologics, Sue breaks down what these treatments are, why they matter, and how they fit into today’s evolving vet landscape.

She also takes a candid look at how corporate structures are influencing the profession—asking whether financial pressures are overshadowing what’s best for animal health—and why fewer young vets seem willing (or able) to explore integrative therapies.

Other topics include:

• How highly processed “junk food” contributes to chronic disease

• Why monthly wellness schemes might not deliver true wellness

• The concerns around lifetime pharmaceuticals

• mRNA and genetic-code vaccines—innovation or uncertainty?

• Environmental toxins, flea and worm treatments, household products, and their cumulative effects

• What really makes a dog “senior”?

• And ultimately, why supporting the gut and the microbiome might be the key to lifelong vitality

At the heart of it all lies a simple message: helping our dogs thrive may be more common sense than rocket science.

SUE ARMSTRONG

MA VetMB VetFFHom CertIAVH MRCVS RsHom

(Director Sue Armstrong Consultancy Ltd)

Sue Armstrong qualified from Cambridge Veterinary School, England in 1984 and worked first in Oxford and then in a partnership in Leeds for twelve years.

She set up Balanced Being based in Wetherby in 2003, which was one of the first practices in the UK to offer truly integrative healthcare for animals with homeopathy as its core philosophy underpinning the individualised therapeutic approach when using all modalities including conventional mainstream veterinary medicine and surgery, homeopathy, acupuncture, laser therapy, nutraceuticals and nutritional therapy. Sue sold Balanced Being in February 2018 and now runs a referral only veterinary clinic in Thirsk, UK; Sue Armstrong Consultancy Ltd.

Sue lectures extensively internationally and has presented in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Switzerland and the USA.

Sue has published the Little Book of Thinking Dog and The Veterinary Homeopathy Oncology Series: Cancer in Animals. She is a contributor to the books Foundations of Health and Social Care (Adams, 2007) and Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health (Dodds, 2015).

Sue is passionate about sharing the experience she has of working in a truly integrative way for most of her veterinary career. ---- oOo ----

Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.

Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).

Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and

Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).

They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.

They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists.

Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.

Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com