54. Season 5 Kick-Off, and Dog Trends in the US!

Ever heard of a COI? 🧬 It stands for Coefficient of Inbreeding – a measure of how closely related a puppy’s parents are.This week, George and Nathan unpack this concept, and how breeders ensure genetic diversity in their breeding programs.

This week, we've dived into our back catalogue to bring you a What The Bark classic episode, all about Dog Temperaments!Dogs have personalities too! This week, we discuss Dog Temperaments with RightPaw breeder and show-dog judge Ginnette Loft. We delve into how dogs develop their temperaments, how dogs even in the same breed group can be polar opposites, and how breeders can conduct 'temperament testing' on their pups to match them with the right families.If you want to read more about Ginnette, you can visit her Emeraldcity Cairn Terriers profile on RightPaw.

Ever wondered how someone first becomes a breeder? What's involved in getting started?We sat down with Jessica from Hapapi Papillons, who shares how she started her breeding journey, and the many considerations along the way.From finding a mentor, to your foundation dogs, to planning the first litter - Jessica generously shares her experience becoming a breeder!

What The Bark is back for 2025, and raring to go!Nathan and George share some of the important life events that put a short pause on the pod for a few months.And George tells all about the US conferences he attended, and how the dog world is done differently in the US!

Have you ever wondered how Breed ID tests determine the make-up of your beloved pooch? George and Nathan sit down to discuss Breed ID testing, how the tests works, and the watch-outs to know when interpreting your results.

What breed is one of the oldest native breeds, and also the face of a cryptocurrency? Enter the Shiba Inu! This week we are joined by Lyne from Kortmar Shiba Inu to discuss this much loved breed. We dive into the breed origins,"Shiba glitter", its history as a famous 'meme', and lots of fun facts along the way.

Have you ever wondered why Worming is so important for dogs and puppies? This week, Dr. Sooan Choi from Drontal (one of Australia's leading worming brands) joins us to dive into all things worming. We learn all about the main types of worms, how dogs may pick these up, why puppies are more at risk, and how to ensure your dogs are best protected against parasites. For more information, you can visit Drontal or Vetoquinol. Label disclaimer: Always read the label for full claim details and directions.

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a DNA testing laboratory? This week, Genetic George gives us an inside look into how a dog DNA test goes from a saliva sample to a fully fledged result!

We've all heard people say "Adopt, Don't Shop" for a dog, but is it really as simple as that? Nathan and George dive into this controversial topic - discussing the ethics of buying vs. adopting, why adopting is not for everyone, and how buying from a responsible breeder can help reduce the burden on shelters.

We're joined by Robyn from Pomfire Pomeranians, in a special spotlight on this fiery little breed! We discuss the breed's origins, how Poms were once much larger than what we know today, and how this is our first case of sibling guests on the podcast!