What Dogs Have Taught Me

This episode is a deep dive into the science behind your dog’s behavior—one that can genuinely change how you understand your dog.

In this conversation, my guest Kristen Clarkson and I explore how the nervous system drives decision-making in dogs, why all living beings are motivated to maintain homeostasis, and what that really means for behavior. We unpack how dogs experience the world internally, how their emotional processing differs from ours, and what we can do to help regulate and support their nervous systems.

We also get into big, often misunderstood topics—like internal sensory input (interoception), the role of arousal and emotional valence, and how much we truly understand about behavioral medications in dogs.

Kristen Clarkson holds a PhD in immunology and currently works as a neuroimmunologist in therapeutic drug development for neurological autoimmune diseases (for ex. MS). She specializes in how the immune system and nervous system interact with each other and how therapeutic drugs impact each of these systems in different disease settings. Although not her primary area of research, Kristen also has a special interest in affective neuroscience and understanding how the nervous system interprets both external and internal sensory inputs, leading to subsequent action/behavior.

And as if that weren’t enough, Kristen has spent over 20 years competing in agility with her Kelpies at a national level and has taught agility for many years, giving her a practical, hands-on understanding of canine behavior.

I first met Kristen in October 2023 at a workshop Phyllis Smuland and I taught in Virginia. She later joined me again in May 2024 for the FFD workshop in New Mexico.

For this episode, Kristen also created visual slides to support our discussion. You can view them on my YouTube channel, What Dogs Have Taught Me, under the podcasts playlist. Look for the Nervous System in a Dog Suit podcast. One of the most powerful visuals explores the relationship between homeostasis, arousal, and valence—a concept that may completely reshape how you think about behavior. Link to podcast on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/6CsL9-LHIGA

In this episode, we take a closer look at some surprising trends circulating in the dog training world on social media. Are trainers really wearing bite suits to evaluate everyday pet dogs? Can flirt poles and tug toys the only way to meet a dog's activity needs? And why do e-collars seem to be recommended for nearly every dog problem?

Join me for a thoughtful conversation with veteran dog trainer Phyllis Smuland, who brings more than four decades of experience working with dogs and their people. Together we discuss what we’re seeing online, the potential drawbacks of these approaches, and why thoughtful, individualized training matters more than following trends.

If you’re a dog owner or dog professional trying to make sense of conflicting training advice, this episode will give you practical perspective and plenty to think about.

Photo credit 1963 France Photographer unknown

Today's conversation is a powerful one, featuring two industry leaders in canine behavior, Julie Hart and Nelson Hodges. In this episode, we explore a misunderstood population, fearful and feral dogs. We unravel misconceptions, diving deep into what a fearful/ feral dog is, how they differ, and what they need from their human companions. Please join us to learn about this area of dog rehabilitation, whose lessons can improve the lives of all dogs.

Canine Human Relationship Institute

www.chrinstitute.com

Monthly online live talks

https://www.chrinstitute.com/monthly-class/

Hart to Heart Canine

www.hart2heartcanine.com

workshops

https://hart2heartcanine.com/dog-workshops

Suggestions on how to avoid the most common mistakes made with fearful & feral dogs, and what to do instead by feral/fearful dog rehabilitator, Julie Hart.

Robyn Carlson, of Kudos 2 Canines in Salt Lake City, shares years of insight and wisdom from running a highly successful dog training facility while balancing a family life and dog rescue work. Robyn talks about her journey of listening to her rescue heart and trainer brain to find the right balance. Her business website is www.Kudos2Canines.com

Get the inside scoop from the participants of the first-ever Feral Dog Immersion Program. Hear their experiences, what surprised them, and what they learned that will make a difference in the lives of the four dogs who were with us in the program, and help them with all other dogs too. The dogs that participated got a super experience that propelled them towards becoming dogs with a human companion.

To learn more about the Feral Dog Immersion Program, check out my website for 2026 dates at www.hart2heartcanine.com and check out my YouTube channel "What Dogs Have Taught Me" for a film of the program.

If you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall listening to two great minds discuss dogs and Pit Bulls in particular, then you are in luck. My guest, Diane Jessup, is an author and a legend and author in the world of pit bulls and titling dogs. Her dog Dread had the most titles of any dog of any breed. She competed in many dog sports when not doing her day job as an animal control officer. Diane's shares opinions about pit bulls, sound temperament, safe dog rescue practices, and how her dog Dread acted in a scene with a child movie star.

Here is some background info about Diane Jessup taken from her book The Working Pit Bull and her website that lists her Cairn terriers and Dobermans she meticulously breeds, DanBar Ranch.com. Diane worked for 20 years in animal control ,which itself is an amazing accomplishment. But she also was the director of the Canine Aggression Outreach center where she did consulting services for animal control and public services on canine human interaction. Diane and her pit bulldogs traveled to give seminars on dog behavior and law enforcement.

Diane competed extensively with her pit bulls and her banddog Dread had the record for holding the most titles in the most sports of any dog of any breed. Diane competed in shutzhund, weight pull, tracking obedience, conformation, and guard work, and herding with Dread and her other dogs. This is all while using positive marking methods for training her dogs. She has written three books, The Working Pit Bull, Colbys Book of the American Pit Bull Terrier, and The Dog Who Spoke with Gods.

Her dogs have been in five films and many other media and she has been featured in many TV shows including Oprah and CNN. She is currently retired from official work, but breeds and cares for Dobermans and Cairn Terriers. We are so honored she is joining us today to share her love and knowledge of pit bulsl and other things dog.

What can we learn and observe from wolves that may teach us about our dogs? In this episode I interview Dr. Nathan Varley, co-founder of Yellowstone Wolftracker. Nathan has studied wildlife for his entire life, and specifically was invovled in the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. Learn what insights he has that relate to wolves and our semi-domesticated little wolves that live in our homes, plus lots of other cool information about the wolves in Yellowstone. Nathan's company website is www.wolftracker.com

Hear real examples and case studies of the dogs that Phyllis and I have trained, illustrating the principle that sometimes less is more. One case is how Phyllis took a dog aggressive pit bull and taught her to live with her pack of dogs. We emphasize the importance of keeping things simple. We start with the foundational elements, which are often rushed when training dogs. We analyze whether a dog follows our lead, how to build trust, and what clients truly need from their training experience. This podcast offers numerous examples of how we have guided clients to change their behavior in order to improve their dogs' performance in lieu of over-training the dog

However, this podcast isn't just for dog trainers. Dog owners will also find valuable tips to enhance their relationship with their pets.

Phyllis Smuland has been training challenging dogs for nearly four decades. Her clients often become loyal supporters, frequently returning to her for help with multiple dogs across generations. She relied on referrals for nearly 35 years without a website or formal marketing until about five years ago, yet she managed to build a successful income based solely on word-of-mouth recommendations.

In this engaging and insightful conversation with fearful and feral dog expert, Julie Hart, we explore the nuances of working with fearful and feral dogs. Julie shares her journey, beginning with her early experiences fostering dogs and how she transitioned into specializing in canine rehabilitation. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing a dog’s innate ability to adapt and learn through natural social interactions rather than relying solely on food rewards and obedience training. Julie shares personal stories, including her deep bond with Chardonnay, a foster dog she ultimately kept, and how each of her dogs has played a role in shaping her understanding of canine behavior. This podcast is from A Dog's Eye View Podcast also available on Spotify