Life With Your Dog

In this episode of Life With Your Dog, Panos sits down with Joe Dickinson for a deep dive into the art and science of dog behaviour and training.

We explore why it’s important to stop simply labelling dogs as stubborn, dominant, anxious or aggressive and instead start observing the dog in front of us. Behaviour doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and understanding the individual dog means considering environment, arousal, reinforcement history, physical condition and, importantly, the person on the other end of the leash.

Joe also shares her approach to training dog trainers—teaching people not just how to follow a method or apply a technique, but how to observe, think critically and adapt their training based on the feedback the dog is giving them.

We discuss why the same training plan can work brilliantly for one dog and fall apart with another, the importance of understanding the why behind behaviour, and the balance between the science of learning and the art of actually reading and working with dogs.

A great conversation for dog owners and trainers alike about moving beyond labels, looking at what’s actually happening in front of you, and becoming a better observer of your dog.

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

In this episode of Life With Your Dog, Panos sits down with Roger Mayer APM (Australian Police Medal)— former NSW Police Dog Unit Sergeant, instructor and highly experienced working-dog trainer.

Roger spent decades working with police and working dogs, developing an understanding of what makes dogs tick when reliability really matters. His career has included handling and training police dogs, tracking offenders, search work and developing dogs capable of performing under pressure. Roger was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2012 for his service.

Panos and Roger dive into the world of working dogs and discuss genetics, drive, selecting the right dog for the job, building motivation, obedience, tracking, scent work, pressure in training and the relationship between a dog and its handler.

They also explore what decades of working with dogs have taught Roger about modern dog training — and how lessons developed in the working-dog world can apply to the everyday dogs living in our homes.

There are plenty of stories along the way, but more importantly, plenty of lessons from a man who has spent a lifetime watching dogs work when the stakes are real.

A fascinating conversation about dogs, training, instinct, reliability and trusting the animal on the other end of the lead.

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

Panos is joined by Brent Dry from The K9 Company for a conversation about skill acquisition, generalisation and reliability in dog training.

What does it actually mean for a dog to know something?

Teaching a behaviour is only the beginning. In this episode, Panos and Brent unpack the process of taking a newly learned skill and developing it into something the dog can perform across different environments, distractions and situations — and ultimately, something the owner can rely on when it matters.

They discuss the difference between acquisition, generalisation and reliability, why a dog performing perfectly at home doesn't necessarily mean the behaviour has been fully learned, and how repetition, experience, feedback and appropriate levels of difficulty shape dependable behaviour.

The conversation also goes beyond the dog. Panos and Brent explore skill acquisition from the trainer and owner's perspective — how timing, handling, observation and decision-making develop through experience, and why knowing the theory of dog training isn't the same as possessing the practical skill to execute it.

A conversation about learning, practice, experience and the process of turning knowledge into genuine capability — for both ends of the leash.

Brent Dry — The K9 Company

Website: https://www.thek9company.com.au

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

In the past seven days, Panos has worked with four dogs across three different households that have been declared dangerous by council — something he routinely encounters as a dog trainer.

In this episode, Panos and Luke discuss nuisance, menacing and dangerous dogs, what can lead to a council declaration, and what owners should do when aggressive or unruly behaviour starts becoming a genuine risk.

But a dangerous dog declaration doesn't necessarily mean the story is over.

Sometimes the consequences of an incident are the wake-up call an owner needs. With proper management, training, structure and a commitment to change, the 12 months following a declaration can result in a dog that is far better trained, better managed and safer than it was before.

We discuss taking responsibility before things escalate, what rehabilitation actually looks like, and why the goal shouldn't simply be getting through the order — it should be building a better dog and owner on the other side of it.

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK

Bringing home a new baby is one of the biggest changes your family will ever experience—and your dog is going through that transition too.

In this episode, Panos, Luke and Sebastian Lemaire discuss how to prepare your dog before your baby arrives, what to do during pregnancy, and how to create a safe and positive relationship between your dog and your newborn from day one.

Topics covered in this episode:

Sebastian also shares details from his new program, SAFE START: How to Introduce Your Dog to Your Baby, designed to help expecting parents confidently navigate the transition and build a safe, positive foundation between their dog and newborn.

Learn more about SAFE START here:

Whether you're expecting your first child, planning for the future, or already have a newborn at home, this episode is packed with practical advice to help your dog and baby thrive together. Listen now and start preparing before your baby arrives.

Panos' book - The Nooch's Pooches Method: A Comprehensive Guide to Training and Living with Your Dog https://amzn.asia/d/f1wzLQK