This week I am joined by Hasan Yiğit Aktaş, an animal behaviourist and breeder of primitive and spitz breeds such as Akitas, Shibas and Shikokus.

Hasan’s path into breeding began by accident, yet over time he has combined academic study in animal behaviour with the lived experience of generations of family breeding and hands-on work with horses and dogs.

We explore what it might mean to breed for preservation rather than profit, the hidden influence of genetics on a dog’s health and temperament, and the ethics of practices that many people see as normal, from dog shows to fertility clinics.

Hasan explains why for him temperament matters more than trophies, how cultural attitudes shape our treatment of dogs, and what it takes to put welfare before convenience.

This is not a simple conversation about breeding. It is an invitation to think more carefully about the categories we create, such as pet dog versus product dog, and preservation versus profit. These categories shape our choices, and those choices reveal something about us as humans.

The episode runs for three hours because Hasan had much to say and we cover a wide range of issues in the dog world.

Some of these conversations may be triggering for listeners and viewers.

While the views expressed are Hasan’s own, the purpose of Just a Dog Podcast is not to endorse or dismiss any single perspective. Instead, it is to create space for open dialogue across the dog industry, because hearing different voices helps us reflect more deeply on our own assumptions and choices.

When Hasan Yiğit Aktaş’s Akita started gaining weight, his vet assured him it was a phantom pregnancy. Seven puppies later, he was a breeder—accidentally.

That moment shaped a path Hasan never planned, but which now defines his life with dogs.

Speaking from rural Lithuania, Hasan shares his journey with primitive breeds: Akitas, Shibas and the rare Shikoku.

These are dogs with deep history, bred for specific purposes, and not always suited to the lives we ask of them today.

Together we explore what it means to care for breeds that hold on to strong prey drives, same-sex aggression, and instincts that urban pet life often clashes with.

This episode goes beneath the surface of romanticised ideas—whether from films like Hachiko or glossy kennel club pedigrees—to ask harder questions.

What do pedigree papers really tell us?

How much protection do health tests actually provide?

And what happens when our expectations of “ancient” dogs collide with the realities of their behaviour?

In Part 1, Hasan reflects on:

• ​The seven “phantom” puppies that began his professional breeding journey
• ​The original working purposes of Akitas, Shibas and Shikokus
• ​Why some instincts have endured while others have faded
• ​The difference between pedigree registration and true health guarantees
• ​How moving from Brighton to rural Lithuania reshaped his dogs’ behaviour

This is not a how-to episode about breeding. It’s a conversation about the space between human desire and canine reality.

About the choices we make when we preserve certain breeds, and what those choices reveal about our assumptions, our responsibilities, and our willingness—or reluctance—to truly see dogs for who they are.

In this episode I sit down with Lisa, a long term foster carer for Galgos, Podencos, and mixed breeds to explore what fostering really means in the middle of today’s rescue crisis.

Lisa shares the quiet routines that help traumatised dogs begin to trust again and the reality of letting them go so that another dog can take their place.

But this is about more than one person’s foster story. It is about a wider culture that treats dogs as disposable, fuelling gridlocked kennels and a constant demand for foster homes.

Together we unpick what fostering reveals about us as a society, how it challenges the mindset of dogs as lifestyle accessories, and why opening your home is an act of resistance as much as it is an act of care.

If you have ever wondered whether fostering is for you, or if you want to think more deeply about what our treatment of dogs says about us, this conversation is for you.

❗️ This episode discusses various training approaches. We believe examining different perspectives contributes to thoughtful decision-making for dog owners.

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Jack Tutty from J&P Canine Academy⁠ returns to defend the most controversial tools in dog training, arguing they're kinder than alternatives we accept without question.

This conversation challenges how we think about training tools and animal welfare. Jack breaks down what "aversive" actually means and questions why we accept certain methods whilst condemning others that may be less harmful.

He argues our emotional reactions to specific words prevent objective evaluation of what actually helps dogs.

The discussion reveals the gap between expensive "positive" solutions and the reality of working with difficult cases. Jack examines the billion-pound industry built around these distinctions and questions whether our standards are based on evidence or emotion.

We explore what separates good trainers from exceptional ones, the culture around competitive dog sports, and why Jack believes some dogs need clear boundaries backed by consequences.

The conversation touches on regulation, expertise, and who gets to decide what's ethical in animal training.

Jack's perspective forces uncomfortable questions about the difference between what makes us feel good and what actually serves dogs.

Whether you agree with his methods or not, his arguments challenge assumptions about kindness, control, and effectiveness in training.

The question isn't whether you'll use these tools. It's whether you're willing to examine why certain approaches make you uncomfortable whilst others don't.

❗️ This episode discusses various training approaches. We believe examining different perspectives contributes to thoughtful decision-making for dog owners.

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Jack Tutty from J&P Canine Academy works with severe behavioural cases and trains competition dogs using methods many find controversial.

In this two-part conversation, we explore the divide in dog training - and what it reveals about how we approach difficult conversations.

Jack works with a wide range of training cases, though reactivity and resource guarding are among his more common pet clients. He trains his Rottweiler in IGP sport and uses tools like prong collars alongside positive reinforcement.

His approach raises questions about genetics, urban environments, and what different dogs actually need to thrive.

This conversation isn't about adopting any particular method. It's about examining our assumptions - like why we bring working dogs into cities then expect them to behave like pets, or whether our emotional reactions to certain tools prevent us from seeing the full picture.

Jack argues that every dog decides what's reinforcing to them, and that suppressing genetic drives doesn't eliminate them - it redirects them. He believes some dogs need clear boundaries backed by consequences, whilst others thrive with gentler approaches.

The discussion challenges us to think beyond categories like "positive" or "balanced" training toward understanding individual dogs. Whether you agree with Jack's methods or not, his perspective forces us to examine what we actually know versus what we assume about canine behaviour and learning.

We explore why this industry has become so polarised, and what happens when ideology meets the reality of powerful, driven animals in our human-designed world.

Sometimes understanding different viewpoints helps us make better decisions for the dogs in our care.

Part two will be published on Thursday, 11 September 2025.

When the UK government announced the XL Bully ban in September 2023, Sophie Coulthard went from posting dog training videos on TikTok to founding a grassroots movement that would raise over £200,000 and challenge the government in court.

In this episode, Sophie reveals what really happens when breed-specific legislation becomes law - the hidden consequences that go far beyond what most people imagine, and why the system of identifying "dangerous" dogs might not work the way you think it does.

We explore how an ordinary dog owner became an accidental activist, the personal costs of taking on the government, and what she learned about building a campaign from scratch.

Sophie also shares what she'd do differently if she could design dog policy, and why the legal challenge continues despite the odds.

This conversation goes beyond the headlines to examine what breed bans actually mean for families, communities, and the dogs caught in the middle.

Find Don't Ban Me License Me: @dontbanmelicenseme (Instagram/Facebook)

Please note: This episode contains discussion of dog attacks and related legislation that some listeners may find concerning.

In Episode 4, Nina May, founder of Wunderdog magazine, exposes the maddening contradictions in dog welfare.

You can impulse-buy a puppy on Instagram and have it delivered like a takeaway. Yet rescue charities reject potential adopters for not having gardens in London.

The system makes it easier to buy a poorly bred puppy from a dodgy dealer than to save a dog's life from a rescue.

Nina herself - who runs a rescue dog magazine and knows more about dog welfare than most - was rejected by 12 different dog charities.

Despite her expertise and passion, she couldn't adopt from UK charities and had to get her dog from Romania instead.

This episode reveals the brutal reality behind the 72% of lockdown pets abandoned after the pandemic.

A crisis so predictable that charities kept their kennels ready, knowing the dogs would return.

Thousands of impulse purchases became unwanted problems when life returned to normal.

Through her personal journey from failed foster to dog advocate, Nina shares why we desperately need dog licences to stop impulse buying.

She argues that if you need a licence to drive a car, you should need one to own a living creature that depends on you for everything.

Find Nina & Wunderdog here: Facebook | Instagram | Website

UK Charities mentioned in this episode:

• All Dogs Matter (London)
• Pro Dogs Direct (London, South East England)
• Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
• Dogs Trust
• Many Tears Rescue (Wales - deals with ex-breeding bitches)

Overseas Rescue:

• Romanian Rescue Appeal
• Paws to Rescue (run by Alison Standbridge)
• Underdog International

Other Organizations/Initiatives:

• Sussex Beagle group
• Wunderdog Magazine (Nina's publication)
• The Dog Manifesto (Nina's campaign for dog licensing)

Individuals:

• Niall Harbison - Happy Doggo (Thailand)
• Luke Balsam - Luke's Dog School (dog trainer/consultant)

Diseases/Health Issues Mentioned:

• Brucellosis (disease case that came to UK)
• Rabies (case from Morocco)
• Lymphoma (Pippa's cancer)

The podcast also references various locations where rescue work happens including Romania, Greece, Thailand, and across the UK.

⚠️ This episode contains discussion of distressing topics including animal cruelty and mistreatment in the racing and hunting industries.

Can beautiful photography change hearts and minds about rescue dogs? Elena Marchi, the award-winning photographer behind Pawtiqe, believes it can.

With a unique monochrome approach, Elena creates elegant, minimalistic black and white portraits that celebrate the subtle art of being a dog in London.

After several failed greyhound adoption attempts, Elena is committed to raising awareness around these dogs and their potential for adaptability, showing how they can thrive in urban environments if they are given the chance.

As an animal welfare advocate, Elena believes that "dog is art" and treats every subject with the same care and reverence as any fine art portrait.

Her work highlights the individuality of each dog, embracing their imperfections and quirks, while stripping away the unnecessary - including colour - to let them take centre stage.

In this episode, we explore Elena's journey from university photography student to creating stunning portraits that treat every dog as a living masterpiece.

Her current project photographs adopted greyhounds and galgos across London's boroughs, using art to advocate for animal welfare.

We also explore how her upcoming book aims to raise awareness without showing distressing images, and the therapeutic power of slowing down and working at a dog's pace.

Elena's work goes beyond traditional pet photography. She's creating collector's pieces that celebrate dogs as the sentient beings they truly are, whilst raising funds for Project Galgo rescue charity.

Find Elena: @pawtiqe on social media | www.pawtiqe.com

We've all been there scrolling through social media, witnessing questionable advice or practices, and feeling that familiar surge of helplessness and frustration.

With so much suffering in the world right now, from global conflicts to environmental destruction, many of us are experiencing what some are calling "global mourning."

When we're already carrying this collective sadness, how do we honour our deep care for dogs without burning ourselves out?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tara Quinn, a chartered psychologist with over 20 years of experience, and founder of the Human Animal Welfare Alliance.

We explore the emotional toll of witnessing animal suffering and discuss practical tools for staying grounded when our compassion threatens to overwhelm us.

Dr. Tara shares insights from her work supporting those on the front lines of animal welfare, revealing why understanding our nervous system responses is crucial for sustainable advocacy.

You'll discover simple, portable techniques for self-soothing that you can use anywhere, from coffee shop queues to heated Facebook debates.

Because here's the truth: we can't pour from an empty cup. Learning to care for ourselves isn't selfish; it's essential for creating the change we want to see.

This conversation might just shift how you approach both your own wellbeing and your advocacy for dogs. To learn more about #APDAWG, The All-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group visit: https://apdawg.co.uk/

New episodes of Just a Dog Podcast drop every Thursday.

What happens when a dog's grief forces you to question everything you thought you knew about dogs?

Host Nadine shares the moment that changed her assumptions about canine emotions and launched her down a rabbit hole of discovery that's taken her from Parliament to greyhound tracks to rescue centres across the UK.

After witnessing a black cockapoo named Lola mourn the death of her father, Nadine realised she'd been fundamentally wrong about dog behaviour, dog psychology, and what it really means to share our lives with these sentient beings.

If dogs can grieve, something that seemed obvious in hindsight but revolutionary in the moment, what else are we getting wrong about our relationships with them?

This isn't your typical dog training podcast. It's an exploration of how humans and dogs actually live together, examining everything from dog welfare and rescue to the systems that help or harm dogs.

Through conversations with dog behaviourists, rescue workers, researchers, and everyday dog guardians, we'll question inherited beliefs about dog care, dog training, and what it truly means to advocate for animals who can't speak for themselves.

Whether you're a dog owner questioning your approach, someone considering dog adoption, or simply curious about the relationship between humans and animals, this episode will make you see dogs and maybe yourself differently.

Because no sentient being is ever "just" anything.