We're all screwed up (and that's OK)

Do dogs have situations where they have a choice? Should they?

In this conversation between Dawn Walton (human therapist) and Jess Probst (Dog behaviourist) we once more find ourselves comparing dogs to young children, particularly when it comes to choices and the consequences of having no choice. We talk about how risky Christmas can be to dogs and what you can do to mitigate the risks. 

We also have a foray into the world of willpower and Dawn explains how willpower works in your brain. 

Oh and Jess has a new toy - an Apple watch - and she keeps on getting distracted by it!

It's the environment, stupid!

In this episode we talk about sense of self and how much that is formed by our environment and the people in our lives, especially as we grow up. If we aren't our thoughts, our behaviours, or our appearance, then how do we know who we are? This is the link to the Dove Sketch artist experiment that Jess mentioned

Check out the poll if you are listening on spotify, to tell us if you are happy with yourself. 

Also, as this a conversation between a human therapist (Dawn Walton) and a dog behaviourist (Jess Probst), we talk about dog behaviours and how many people are just deciding to give up on their dog and talking about putting them down. We talk about teenagers who slam their doors in frutstation, and ask what a teenage dog is expected to do when they have the same frustration. Jess realises that dogs are NPCs (non player characters) who are those characters in games that only have one dimension and one function. They are characters that we can't control or change. 

Jess Probst, a dog behaviourist, and Dawn Walton, a human therapist, discuss the use of ecollars in training dogs. We explain how praise is more effective than punishment in dogs and children, and how to use an ecollar as a postive reinforcement. We also discuss the difference they can make to lives of people with deaf dogs, disabled people who can't hold a lead, and people with anxiety who can't walk their dog in public for fear of its behaviour. How do we use them as a tool to improve the welfare of the dog and the mental state of the human owner. 

In this episode Dawn and Jess explore the subconscious, the cognitive conscious brain, and the possibility of something in between the two - the autopilot brain. Dawn delves into fears and where they come from, and how the brain can be reprogrammed to free us up. We also discuss the idea of an ever observant part of the brain that Dawn calls the Observer or Narrator. Lots of therapy stuff and a little bit of dog stuff!

Is it possible to talk about Serial Killers and dating in a podcast and find common ground? Listen and you will find out! Who has more emotional detachment - Dawn or Jess?

Jess Probst and Dawn Walton still comparing dog and human psychology. 

What makes a good escape room experience

Best ways to organise early dates  

Imposter syndrome  Is dog ownership a skill

Thinkfulness   - a tools for not believing your inner voice  

Are our dogs a projection of us?

Expectation v reality   

Do we think all our dogs are Hollywood dogs?

Importance of sleep for dogs and humans

We can’t see change

Is being part of a pack more important than being top of the pack?

Punishment 

Predicting the future 

Experience based learning 

Memory reference 

Caveman survival 

Innate learning 

Function for survival 

Pyjama day 

Aversives interactions 

consistency in training 

Addiction, 

Ocd behaviour, 

boredom v purpose 

Loneliness 

Communication needs, creating rapport Interview skills