The Dog Expert Podcast

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 phy...

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, ...

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 co...

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 ...

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 tha...

🎙️ 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 Zool...

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 ou...

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 behin...

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 be...

✨ NEW EPISODE: “Ethics in Action” with Vicky Skinner 🐶

Thinking about starting, or already running, an animal‑business (boarding, grooming, dog visits, interventions)? Doing well means doing good.

This week on The Dog Expert Podcast, we chat with Vicky Skinner, founder of Animal Focused Alliance, about what it really takes to run an ethical animal business:

What animal welfare really looks like in everyday practi...

If you know a dog that struggles when left ... barking, chewing, pacing, panicking you’re not alone… and neither are they.

This week on The Dog Expert Podcast, we’re joined by Ness Jones, a leading expert in separation anxiety and creator of the A.L.O.N.E. Method.

💬 We unpack:

🔍 What separation anxiety really is

🧠 Why it’s emotional, not behavioural

🛟 How to help dogs feel safe, secure, and truly ...

NEW EPISODE: “Bouncing Back” with Daniel Shaw MSc

Why do some dogs recover from fear or stress, while others crumble?

This week on The Dog Expert Podcast, we’re joined by behaviourist and neuroscientist Daniel Shaw to explore the fascinating science of resilience in dogs:

🔬 What resilience really means

🧬 The genetic + environmental factors behind emotional recovery

💥 Why coping dogs aren't always comfortable...

🚨 NEW EPISODE: Bomb Proof, Bullet Proof 🐶🧠🛡️

What if you could raise a dog that’s emotionally unshakeable and physically resilient just by focusing on the first 12 weeks?

Today on The Dog Expert Podcast, we’re joined by Dr Zoolittle to talk:

💥 Bomb-proof = no separation anxiety, calm confidence

🧬 Bullet-proof = cellular, biological resilience built from day one

⏳ 8–20 weeks = the most powerful window you&r...

NEW EPISODE 🎧: “Mine! The Truth About Resource Guarding” 🐾

Food. Toys. The sofa. If your dog growls or guards their stuff - it’s not about being “dominant.” It’s about feeling unsafe.

This week on The Dog Expert Podcast, Jo and Emily are joined by special guest Holly Leake to unpack resource guarding. What causes it? How to help? And why safety beats control every time.

🎧 Listen in - becau...

Living with a reactive dog can be overwhelming, isolating and misunderstood.

But you’re not alone - and your dog isn’t broken.

In this powerful episode, Jo Middleton and Emily Dustan are joined by reactive dog expert and author, Jay Gurden. Together they unpack what reactivity really is, why it happens and how to support your dog with empathy, science, and calm leadership.

From trigger stacking and thresholds to pract...

For many dogs, grooming is more than uncomfortable — it’s downright terrifying. In this episode of The Dog Expert Podcast, we’re joined by author and ethical groomer Sue Williamson to explore why so many dogs dread the groomer… and what we can do about it.

Sue shares powerful insights into the emotional triggers dogs face during grooming, the harm of outdated industry practices, and how her welfare-led appr...

What Your Dog Is Really Feeling?   What if your dog’s "bad behaviour" isn’t disobedience - but communication?   In this episode of The Dog Expert Podcast, Jo Middleton, Emily Dustan and guests Linda Michaels M.A. and Dr. Jessica Pierce, dive into the emotional lives of dogs. From joy and fear to frustration and grief, we explore the emotions behind common behaviours - and why recognising them is the key to...

 The Dog Expert podcast. The podcast dogs would want you to listen to. Powered by canine principles.com. Helping passionate dog people go from feeling unsure and overwhelmed to confident, compassionate, and science savvy through a rich library of online courses and formal qualifications. Each week on the podcast, we dive deep into the real, raw and rewarding world of dogs.

This isn't about obedience. This is about understanding bec...