The Puppy Coach Podcast

What happens when bringing home your dream dog ends up becoming a living nightmare? After years of hoping for their very own Miniature Dachshund, Emily and Matt were finally able to adopt Frank in the wake of the pandemic in 2021, while living in a flat in London. They were quickly pushed to breaking point, however, as Frank's behaviour became increasingly hostile and challenging. Following years of heartache and misdirection, they were finally able to seek some relief when they were put in touch with Jo. In this candid conversation, Emily and Jo delve into their journey in helping Frank and also explore the nature of animal companionship when two dedicated and loving owners are driven to their absolute limits.

After his beloved Border Terrier Murphy was brutally attacked and nearly killed, inventor and businessman Peter Antonio was inspired to create the revolutionary DogFender dog attack prevention collar, to protect dogs and owners from the same horrendous yet avoidable circumstances. With instances of dog attacks steadily rising in the UK, Jo and Peter discuss what can be done to tackle the problem and how dog owners can keep their pets safe.

This episode is the first in the second series of the Puppy Coach Podcast!

Welcome to the world of Canicross, the fast growing sport of trail running with your dog! Jo is joined by Lara, a passionate trail runner, UKA Run Leader and DogFit® Certified Canicross Trainer, to discuss the Canicross and Cannitrek phenomenon, how it has affected her personal journey with her rescue dogs Tilly and Reggie, and how anyone from beginner to running enthusiasts can get involved to bond with their dog outdoors.

Dave spent 39 years in the police service and 34 years as an operation dog handler, working for 17 years as an Inspector in charge of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary Dog Section. During that time he undertook roles as an armed dog handler, drugs detection, firearms support, and explosives detection dog handling duties, as well as commanding Public Order and Major Sporting Events, search operations for high profile persons, missing persons and crime scene searches.

Dave is a Master Trainer with the Guild of Dog Trainers (MGoDT), a member of the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE), a member of the British Police and Services Canine Association (BPSCA), and has a Masters Degree (MA) from Middlesex University (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology. Since leaving the police service in 2013, Dave has used his experience of dog training and behaviour to assist pet dog owners to resolve training and behavioural issues with their dogs. 

Anna is a broadcaster, podcaster, author, and host BBC Radio London's 'The Barking Hour' alongside fellow broadcaster Jo Good. She is an expert in canine behaviour and nutrition, having contributed to ITV1's Titchmarsh show, Channel 5's Gabby Logan show, and SKY1's 'dogumentary' A Different Breed, as well as national radio including Talk Radio, Radio 2, Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio London and more. Anna co-authored The Barking Blonde's with Jo Good and now has her own podcast, A Dog’s Life, investigates modern dog ownership and the extraordinary nature of dogs, including interviews with scientists and experts who are changing the nations understanding of dogs. Anna is also an Ambassador for charities including All Dogs Matter and Dogs on the Streets, a columnist for several dog and health magazines, including Your Dog, Animal Therapies Magazine and My Weekly and an expert spokesperson for The Express.

Jo and Abbie take a fascinating look into the world of gun dogs and gun dog training, including how it could benefit the average dog owner. Abbie started her gun dog training career 14 years ago when she first got her black labrador Mya as an 8 week old puppy, and is now an IABTC Qualified Dog Instructor, a Member of the Guild of Dog Trainers and has gained her Diploma in Canine Psychology. After working for 3 years as an Assistant Gundog Trainer at Ashleygrove Gundogs, she started Riverlily Working Dogs in 2012, offering relaxed and friendly reward-based gun dog training to build a working bond of trust and respect between dog and owner. Abbie currently has 10 working dogs and competes in Working Tests in the summer months and works on shoots in the winter months.

What is socialisation and how important is it to socialise your puppy during the critical learning and development stage? Jo discusses all the key implications of dog socialisation for the average owner, including her top tips and tricks as well as the dangers of failing to acclimate your dog to living life alongside humans. She also catches up with a new client, Emma, to talk through how they can work together to effectively prepare her new German Shepherd puppy for social situations.

Jo takes a fascinating deep dive into the mind of the Border Collie with Barbara Sykes, the owner and founder of Mainline Border Collie Center and The Freedom of Spirit Trust for Border Collies, and the author of 7 books including Training the Sheep Dog, Understanding Border Collies, and Understanding Your Dog, with a new book on the way at the end of the year. She has grown up with Border Collies and been involved with canine training and teaching for over 40 years, competing in nine English National Trials and qualifying to be in the English team at the International Trials. Barbara has appeared on TV and written in national newspapers on the subject of Border Collies and dog behaviour, and is a member of the Canine & Feline Behaviour Association and the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers.

Jo discusses all things Rottweilers with resident Rottie expert Ross McCarthy of The London Dog Behaviour Company. Ross has over 25 years experience working with Rottweilers, including training for working trials and personal protection, and explores with Jo breed traits, training methods and approaches to working with guarding breeds within the industry.