Just a Dog Podcast
Society & Culture
About
Just a Dog Podcast isn’t about obedience or quick fixes. It’s about reflection. Host Nadine, a long-time volunteer dog walker and soon-to-be fosterer, speaks with psychologists, behaviourists, artists, and everyday dog guardians to explore what our treatment of dogs reveals about us as individuals and as a society. This isn’t a how-to. It’s a mirror. A space for asking better questions, challenging inherited beliefs, and living more intentionally, with dogs, and with ourselves. Because they’re never just a dog.
Episodes
- Why dogs react | Stress, trauma, and the canine brain | Daniel Shaw | Forensic Dog Behaviourist
Daniel Shaw, a forensic dog behaviorist, explains why dogs react, focusing on the biological processes, stress, trauma, and brain changes. He discusses cortisol, amygdala sensitivity, the impact of chronic stress, and the Dangerous Dogs Ac…
- Behaviour is information | Why what we read as 'bad' behaviour is usually a dog in pain | Dr Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB
This episode with Dr. Lisa Radosta explores how dogs communicate pain, fear, or distress through behavior often perceived as 'bad.' It discusses the influence of the home environment and provides guidance on when to consult a trainer versu…
- Cashmere from dogs | Turning discarded dog undercoat into luxury yarn | Sebastian Salvat, Chiora
Sebastian Salvat, founder of Chiora, is turning discarded dog undercoat into a cashmere-like yarn. The episode discusses the ethics and economics of using animal byproducts for luxury materials, referencing historical precedents.
- BONUS Episode | If you love dogs, come to Brighton this May | Sally Muir
This podcast features artist Sally Muir, known for her dog paintings and books like 'A Dog a Day'. She discusses her work, including murals for a dog rescue, and promotes The Dog Show, an exhibition of dog art in Brighton.
- Consumers fix industries | The pet owners changing how dogs are trained | Niki Tudge | Pet Professional Guild
Niki Tudge, founder of the Pet Professional Guild, discusses how consumer demand can drive change in the dog training industry. The episode explores the shift toward force-free training and the impact of pet owner choices on industry stand…
- Dog leather looks exactly like cow leather. Did you know that? | Abigail Forsyth, PETA Asia
Abigail Forsyth from PETA Asia details the hidden industries of dog leather, puppy mills, and the dog meat trade, highlighting animal exploitation and the power of consumer choice to drive change.
- Good owners, unhappy dogs | The gap between good intentions and what dogs actually need | Dr. Jessica Pierce | Bioethicist & Author
Bioethicist Dr. Jessica Pierce explains that many dog behaviors, often seen as problems, are natural canine instincts. She argues owners should consider the dog's perspective and sensory experience, which differs greatly from humans, rathe…
- Dog rescue starts before the shelter: Tom Candy on prevention and responsibility
This episode features clinical animal behaviourist Tom Candy discussing the preventative measures and responsibilities needed in dog rescue, arguing that solutions must be implemented before dogs reach shelters.
- Your dog isn't broken | What no one told you about behaviour | Andrew Hale
Certified canine behaviourist Andrew Hale argues that challenging dog behaviours are communications of unmet needs, not inherent flaws. He discusses how understanding a dog's behaviour requires self-reflection and addressing emotional pain.
- Fluent In Dog | Why dogs need understanding not control | Marc Bekoff | Jane Goodall Institute
This episode features Marc Bekoff discussing how dogs experience the world and thrive emotionally, socially, and psychologically. He explains canine communication, individuality, and the central role of choice, safety, and trust in relatio…
- Dog behaviour science | How biology, environment and human relationships shape dogs | Professor Ádám Miklósi | Eötvös Loránd University
This episode features Professor Ádám Miklósi discussing dog behaviour science, emphasizing how biology, environment, and human relationships influence canine cognition and social behaviour. The conversation covers individuality, attachment…
- Care is political | Changing the systems that harm dogs | Dr. Marc Abraham OBE
Dr. Marc Abraham OBE discusses his shift from treating dogs to systemic change, detailing grassroots campaigning strategies and the importance of patience and kindness. The episode covers puppy farming, ethical breeding, rescue, political…
- Pedigree dog health | What we normalised without noticing | Extreme Conformation | Marisa Heath | APGAW | Innate Health Assessment
Marisa Heath from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare discusses the impact of extreme conformation in pedigree dogs. The episode examines how physical traits that hinder a dog's health have become normalized and introduces…
- When optics dominate | The fight to protect Morocco’s dogs before FIFA World Cup 2030 | Les Ward MBE | Debbie Wilson | IAWPC
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2030, Morocco's plan to manage free-roaming dogs has faltered, leading to increased killings. Experts Les Ward MBE and Debbie Wilson detail the evidence, political factors, and the negative impact of these actio…
- Building safety together | Understanding fear, trust and the weight of expectation | Sam Walker-Arends | Sam the Dog Coach
This episode of Just a Dog Podcast with Sam Walker-Arends explores the gap between a dog's inner world and imagined life, emphasizing that every dog is an individual with unique needs for safety. It discusses confronting stress and expecta…
- Tools or companions | The quiet activism for Spain’s forgotten Galgos and Podencos | Gemma & Adva | Free Spanish Hounds & Hope for Podencos
This episode discusses the treatment of Spain's Galgos and Podencos, who are often discarded after the hunting season. Gemma and Adva from Free Spanish Hounds share insights on turning empathy into action and the significance of collective…
- Dog rescue reality | What really happens behind the scenes and the quiet hope that keeps it going | Jenna Miller | Spirit of the Dog Rescue
Jenna Miller of Spirit of the Dog Rescue shares an honest look at the realities of running a volunteer-based rescue, including the emotional toll, systemic issues, and the daily challenges of animal care.
- Power, pain, and perception | What dogs teach us about control, care, and the systems that shape us | Rose Bao | RoseK9Behaviourist
Rose Bao discusses the emotional lives of dogs and how societal systems influence our relationships with them, drawing on her background in biomedical engineering and animal behavior research.
- The Dogs We Mirror | Guilt, Grief, and the Inner Work They Reveal | Hannah Greeno | Canine Facilitated Coaching
This episode features Hannah Greeno, founder of Canine Needs, discussing Canine Facilitated Coaching. She explains how dogs mirror our inner selves, bringing up emotions like guilt and grief, and how this process aids in confronting loss a…
- Breeding, preservation and the hidden costs of our choices | Hasan Yiğit Aktaş | Yume Canine Academy
This episode features animal behaviourist and breeder Hasan Yiğit Aktaş discussing dog breeding, focusing on preservation over profit, the influence of genetics on health and temperament, and the ethics of common practices within the dog w…
- The Accidental Breeder: A conversation with primitive breeds breeder Hasan Yiğit Aktaş
Hasan Yiğit Aktaş recounts his unplanned transition to becoming a breeder of primitive dog breeds, including Akitas, Shibas, and Shikokus, after a mistaken diagnosis led to an unexpected litter. The episode delves into the historical purpo…
- Fostering as an Antidote to Disposable Dog Culture | Lisa | Long Term Foster Carer
This episode features long-term foster carer Lisa discussing the meaning of fostering rescue dogs amidst a crisis. She shares insights into helping traumatized dogs and reflects on how fostering challenges the perception of dogs as disposa…
- When Dogs Are Never Naughty | A Different Take on Canine Leadership | Judy Comer Calder | The Devon Dog Lady
This episode features Judy Comer-Calder, "The Devon Dog Lady," who presents a philosophy that dogs are never naughty and are always doing their best. The discussion covers how human actions can inadvertently teach unwanted behaviors, explo…
- Tools, Training and Trust: A Balanced Trainer's Defense of Aversives | Jack Tutty | J&P Canine Academy | Part 2
Jack Tutty defends controversial dog training tools, arguing they can be kinder than accepted alternatives. The discussion examines the gap between positive training ideals and the reality of difficult cases, questioning the evidence and e…
- The Tools We Use | A Balanced Trainer's Perspective on Dogs, Control, and Controversy | Jack Tutty | J&P Canine Academy | Part 1
This episode features Jack Tutty of J&P Canine Academy discussing controversial dog training methods, including the use of prong collars alongside positive reinforcement for severe behavioral cases and competition dogs. The conversation ex…
- Taking the Government to Court | XL Bully Ban | Sophie Coulthard | Don't Ban Me License Me | DBMLM
Sophie Coulthard details her journey from TikTok dog trainer to activist founder of the 'Don't Ban Me License Me' movement, which raised over £200,000 to legally challenge the UK's XL Bully ban. The episode covers the hidden consequences o…
- Dogs deserve better | When good intentions meet broken systems | Nina May | Wunderdog Magazine
Nina May of Wunderdog Magazine highlights contradictions in UK dog welfare, where buying puppies online is easy but rescuing dogs is difficult. Despite her expertise, she was rejected by 12 rescue charities and adopted a dog from Romania,…
- Art as Advocacy | How Art Can Change the Way We See Rescue Dogs | Elena Marci | Pawtiqe
Elena Marci, founder of Pawtiqe, shares how her minimalist black and white photography advocates for rescue dogs, particularly greyhounds and galgos. Her work aims to change perceptions by showcasing dogs as art, celebrating their individu…
- When Caring Hurts: Protecting Your Mental Health While Advocating for Dogs | Just a Dog Podcast
This episode discusses the emotional toll of witnessing animal suffering and provides practical tools for self-soothing and sustainable advocacy, featuring psychologist Dr. Tara Quinn. It emphasizes self-care as essential for effective ani…
- The Question That Changed Everything | Just a Dog Podcast
This episode features host Nadine discussing how witnessing a dog's grief led her to question established ideas about canine emotions and behavior. The podcast explores human-dog relationships, welfare, and rescue through various conversat…