The Dog Expert Podcast

Join us live as Caroline joins us to further explore her incredible work spanning the last 40 years.   Caroline has dedicated to her approach is to help animals use their innate ability to self-select remedies. In practice, an animal is offered a range of plant extracts, essential oils, clays, macerated herbs, seaweeds and similar materials, and the practitioner observes which ones the animal chooses to inhale, lick, taste or rub against, and in what quantity, on the theory that the animal selects what addresses its current need and stops when satiated.  

What if animals already know how to heal themselves?   In this episode of The Dog Expert Podcast, Jo Middleton, Emily Dustan and Penny Wood are joined by Caroline Ingraham, founder of Applied Zoopharmacognosy and one of the world’s leading experts in animal self-medication. With over 35 years of experience,   Caroline’s work explores how animals instinctively select plants, oils and natural substances to support their physical and emotional wellbeing.   Together, we explore a fascinating and sometimes controversial question: what happens when we step back and allow animals more choice in their own healing? In this episode, we discuss: • What zoopharmacognosy actually is — and how animals self-medicate in the wild • How this knowledge is applied to domestic animals through Caroline’s work • The role of choice, agency and observation in supporting wellbeing • Why Caroline feels so strongly about giving animals a voice in their own care • Where this approach fits alongside modern veterinary and behavioural practice   This conversation sits at the intersection of instinct, science, and philosophy. It invites us to consider not just what we do to dogs, but what we might learn by allowing them to guide us.   As always, we encourage listeners to stay curious, think critically, and keep the welfare of the animal at the centre of every decision.  

Flat-faced breeds are among the most loved dogs in the UK, but they are also among the most vulnerable when it comes to respiratory compromise and chronic health challenges.   In this episode, we’re joined by Lindsey Taylor, Co-Founder of OxyPet, and Karla Pearson of No Bull Just Natural Health for Dogs, to explore the realities of airway health in brachycephalic breeds. We discuss what the science tells us about oxygenation, exercise tolerance and thermal stress, what pet parents should be looking out for, and how we can shift the conversation from normalising struggle to prioritising welfare.

When most people think about dogs, they picture pets living in homes. But globally, that represents only a minority of the canine population. Around 80% of the world’s dogs live as free-living community dogs, particularly across parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.   In this episode of The Dog Expert Podcast, Jo Middleton and Penny Wood are joined by Sindhoor Pangal to explore the reality of these populations, how they coexist alongside human communities, and why understanding them is essential to improving canine welfare worldwide.   Together we discuss: • What free-living community dogs actually are and why they are not simply “strays” • Why stable community dog populations can support public health through vaccination and sterilisation programmes • Why removal-based population control strategies repeatedly fail • The current situation in India, where proposals to remove community dogs at scale have raised serious welfare and scientific concerns • How humane, evidence-based coexistence strategies can protect both people and dogs

Join us the two Jo's as they talk about all things ACE! Joanne Burton from Paw & Order Noosa, Australia’s first certified ACE Freework Practitioner and Associate Tutor, joins Jo Middleton to we explore Animal Centred Education (ACE) Freework ... a gentle, choice-based approach that supports dogs’ emotional and physical wellbeing by inviting them to explore, self-regulate, and learn at their own pace.   Joanne shares what ACE Freework is, why she’s so passionate about it, and practical tips for anyone just starting out, from creating sensory stations using everyday items to interpreting your dog’s subtle cues of comfort and trust. Whether your dog is shy, anxious, reactive or simply needs a calmer foundation for learning, this conversation offers deep insight into how giving dogs choice leads to empowerment, confidence and lasting behavioural change.   Find out more about Joanne's work over on her website here: https://pawordernoosa.com.au/   #acefreework #rememberingSarahFisher #thedogexpertpocast #forcefree #fearfree    

In this episode of The Dog Expert Podcast, we’re joined by Dan O'Neill, Marisa Heath, and Vanessa Barnes from APGAW to discuss the recently launched Innate Health Assessment (IHA).   Since its release in December 2025, the IHA has generated strong reactions across parts of the dog world. Some have welcomed it as a much-needed welfare tool. Others have raised concerns about scope, science, impact and implementation.   Rather than amplifying noise, this episode creates space for something more useful ... an evidence-led and constructive discussion about what the IHA is and what it isn’t.   We explore:   The purpose and vision behind the Innate Health Assessment How it was developed and who contributed to its framework Whether a checklist model can meaningfully influence breeding standards The scientific thinking underpinning the approach How voluntary welfare tools interact with regulation and public perception What the creators hope will happen next   Importantly, this conversation is not about hostility, point-scoring or social media rhetoric. It is about animal welfare and how we, as professionals and guardians, navigate reform in a sector that is both emotionally charged and deeply complex.   Strong feelings often reflect how much people care. But meaningful progress requires thoughtful dialogue, not polarisation.   If you work in behaviour, training, veterinary science, breeding, policy, or simply care deeply about the future of dogs, this episode offers insight into the intentions behind the IHA and an opportunity to engage with the debate in a measured and informed way.   As always, we invite listeners to reflect critically, think scientifically, and keep welfare at the centre of every conversation.

🎙️ THE DOG EXPERT PODCAST - SEASON 4 LAUNCH! LIVE NOW!   We’re busting myths and breaking moulds 🐾   🎧 Watch us live @6.30pm GMT TONIGHT on our YouTube channel here:    / @thedogexpertpodcast   Or the Canine Principles Facebook Page or Instagram   In our first episode back, Emily Dustan from See Spot Learn by Emily Dustan and I are joined by new co-host Penny Wood aka Dr Zoolittle ... . .. and we’re kicking things off by tackling one BIG question: What’s one myth about dogs you wish we could erase forever?   Here are some I've heard over the years, but I'd love to know ones you've heard ...   💥 “Bad behaviour just needs firmer handling.” 💥 “You need to show them who is the boss.” 💥 “They’re just doing it for attention.”   Yeah… no.   #TheDogExpertPodcast #Season4 #DogMyths #DogBehaviour #ForceFree #BehaviourisCommunication #EthicalDogTraining Transcript

Scent & Strategy: How Nosework Changes Behaviour with Jamie (UK Sniffer Dogs)   Think nosework is just a fun trick? Think again.   Jamie from UK Sniffer Dogs joins us to explore how scent work rewires behaviour, reduces stress, and helps dogs thrive, while also offering trainers a valuable tool to diversify their services.   🎧 Listen now and try your first scent game today ❤️   🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/66429817...  

Behaviour is rarely just about what you see. It’s the visible edge of deeper systems — environments, thresholds, human psychology, stress accumulation, and more.   This week on The Dog Expert Podcast, Jo and Emily speak with Sparky Smith, a canine psychologist and systems expert who brings a powerful lens to complex behaviour change. Drawing from her work at DogParentology, Sparky shows how understanding the system behind behaviour — rather than chasing symptoms — allows caretakers and professionals to create lasting, meaningful change.   You’ll learn how to: Recognize the hidden systems influencing your dog’s behaviour Use guiding principles to predict “stuck points” before relapse Change the language you use: from “fixing” to stabilizing systems Take practical steps today to begin seeing behaviour as a system you can shape If you’ve ever felt stuck with a dog whose behaviour keeps resurfacing, this episode will give you a new vantage point — one that sees beyond just the behaviour.   #dogbehavioursystems #dogtraining #caninepsychology #dogprofessionals #dogpodcast   🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/66429817...    

As our dogs live longer, the real question becomes: how well do they age?   In this episode, we speak with Prof Carri Westgarth, lead researcher behind the Ageing Canine Toolkit - a resource designed to help guardians and veterinary teams differentiate normal aging from potential disease and support better quality of life in senior dogs.   You’ll learn: How the toolkit was developed from owner and vet research Key health and behavioural signs to monitor using the traffic‑light checklist What changes are “red flags” and when to seek veterinary care Practical strategies to support mobility, cognition, comfort, and wellbeing in aging dogs How to use the toolkit as a conversation bridge with vets   Whether your dog is entering their golden years or you’re preparing ahead, this episode gives you the tools to see aging not as decline but as a stage to support with clarity, empathy, and intention.   🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/66429817...