Positively Dog Training - The Official Victoria Stilwell Podcast

David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns for the RSPCA, joins Victoria to talk about the history, achievements, and ongoing challenges in animal welfare campaigning, specifically with the RSPCA. They discuss legislation, public engagement, recent Crufts controversies, Lucy's Law, and the future of animal welfare efforts.

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

UK dog trainer Kay Attwood joins Victoria to share behind-the-scenes stories from her new UK TV series, Wagging Rights, which features comedians and their dogs, and why she never hesitated to speak up for the dogs on set. She then explains what canine cognition really means and how brain games can transform the way dogs and their people work together.

The conversation turns to dementia in senior dogs: the early signs that are often mistaken for "naughty" behavior, whether enrichment still helps, and simple ways guardians can make life easier for a dog whose world is changing. Drawing on their own experiences caring for aging dogs, Victoria and Kay offer insight and compassion for anyone sharing their home with a senior dog.

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

Victoria delves into the systemic welfare issues at Crufts 2026 with canine massage therapist and consultant Yaz Porritt, highlighting incidents of mishandling, lack of welfare measures, and the need for significant reforms to protect dogs. Join them as they discuss actionable solutions, the importance of accountability, and the future of dog shows.

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

Join Victoria and Irith Bloom as they explore habituation, stress coping skills for animals, and how to effectively use these techniques in training and behavior modification. Irith shares insights on non-associative learning, practical applications, and her upcoming certification program, Carefree Companion.

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

Join Victoria Stilwell as she interviews Vanessa Woods, a renowned researcher and director of Duke Puppy Kindergarten, about canine cognition, bonobos, and innovative puppy training methods. Discover how scientific research is transforming our understanding of dogs and improving training and welfare.

Genius of Dogs by Vanessa Woods - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A7U4V4Q

Duke K9 Cognition Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/duke_k9_cognition/

Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary - Friends of Bonobos 

Canine Cognition Center at Duke University - https://sites.duke.edu/dognition/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/VanessaWoods

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/duke_k9_cognition/

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

Running a dog training business? Victoria hosts Gina Phairas and Veronica Boutelle from Dogbiz to discuss how dog trainers can build successful, sustainable businesses, the importance of community, and strategies for professional growth in the industry.

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Create your free Positively account here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

In this episode, Victoria and Kristina Spaulding discuss learned helplessness and learned control in dogs, exploring their neurobiology, impact of trauma, and implications for training and rescue. They explore science-based strategies to enhance canine resilience, and how drastically a dog’s wellbeing can change as a result.

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

In this episode, famed dog behavior expert Patricia McConnell joins Victoria Stilwell to discuss Patricia's new mystery novel, Away to Me, why no dogs die in her book, and the heart-wrenching saga of the Ridglan Beagles.

Victoria asks Patricia about her influential books, her journey from traditional to modern dog training, and her activism against unethical animal research. They explore the emotional and scientific aspects of animal behavior, the power of storytelling, and the importance of advocacy.

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Create your free Positively account here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

Andrew Hale joins Victoria to explore supportive walking and practical strategies for understanding and managing dogs' behavior in challenging environments. They answer listener’s questions and discuss creating supportive and individualized environments for dogs and their owners, to build connection, communication, and trust for better outcomes.

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.

Separation anxiety expert Malena DeMartini joins Victoria to explore the causes, symptoms, and effective treatment strategies for canine separation anxiety. They explore how behavior modification, management, and professional help can improve your dog’s quality of life.

Guest Links:

• Malena DeMartini's Website
• CSAT Certification Program
• Find a CSAT Trainer Near You

• Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com.