#7 Sarah Tapsell - From Wolf Encounters to Rescue Frontlines

#7 Sarah Tapsell - From Wolf Encounters to Rescue Frontlines

In this episode, Steve sits down with Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) and rescue powerhouse, Sarah Tapsell. From her hilariously inventive childhood tactics to get her very first pet rabbit (involving 100 printed signs and a very confused neighbor), to a sliding-doors moment that steered her away from sports dietetics and straight into ethology, Sarah’s path is anything but linear. Steve and Sarah unpack the raw reality of frontline rescue work—explaining why it's the ultimate immersive learning environment for dog trainers, how to navigate the heavy emotional toll of complex behavioral cases, and why understanding the true why behind an animal's behavior changes everything. If you've ever felt burnt out, wondered how to get into rescue, or wanted to know how to properly advocate for your own mental health in this industry, this episode is a must-listen. Key Topics Covered: * The "100 Pieces of Paper" Strategy: Sarah's childhood campaign for a pet rabbit. * The Sliding Doors Moment: How a wolf experience at age 19 completely derailed a career in sports dietetics. * The Pressure Cooker of Rescue: Why shelter work offers an unparalleled immersive learning environment for dog handlers and behaviorists. * Navigating the Dark Days: Facing compassion fatigue, accepting that "nothing is perfect," and learning how to decompress and advocate for yourself. * The Danger of Labels: Disregarding the "D-word" (Dominance) and transitioning to understanding true emotional motivations. * Hopes for the Profession: Why marrying top-tier practical handling with robust theoretical education is vital for the future of animal welfare. Guest Biography: Sarah Tapsell is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB), a member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC), and a PACT-accredited Animal Training Instructor. She has dedicated two decades to animal welfare, rescue, and clinical behavior roles. Sarah has held senior and frontline behavior positions with some of the UK’s most prominent organizations, including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, the RSPCA, and Dogs Trust, alongside running her own self-employed private clinical practice (OABT) with her colleague Ryan. Specializing in complex, trauma-related, and high-risk behaviors, Sarah brings a strong shelter-medicine perspective to her work. She currently works in rescue as a Senior Clinical Animal Behaviourist and lives near Exmoor with her beloved rescued animals: three Chihuahuas, a Basset Hound, and four mini lop rabbits. Helpful Links & Resources Mentioned: * Book Recommendation: Learn more about navigating compassion fatigue and looking after yourself in the industry with Emotional Well-being for Animal Welfare Professionals by Tamsin Durston [https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/emotional-well-being-for-animal-welfare-professionals-book-tamsin-durston-9781789247794#9875589005585] * Find Out More About PACT: Ready to take your dog training or behavior journey to the gold standard? Start your journey with PACT here [https://pact-dogs.com]. * Get Your Tickets to DogX: Don't miss the ultimate dog training event of the year! Grab your DogX tickets here [https://dogxconference.com].

#6 Honour Smith - From Woodlice to Lincoln: The Honour in Ditching the Comfort Zone

Ever wondered how a childhood obsession with garden woodlice can spiral into a top-tier career as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist? This week, Steve sits down with the incredibly talented Honour Smith (BSc, MSc, CCAB, ABTC-ATI) to unpack her brilliant journey through the animal behaviour world. Honour shares how she navigated multiple "animal careers" before finding her true calling. We dive deep into why practical skills are just as vital as heavy theory, the art of translating Jedi-level behavior science into human-friendly analogies, and what training cats can teach you about absolute patience. If you've ever battled imposter syndrome or wondered what it really takes to publish groundbreaking research, this episode is your ultimate guide. What We Covered: * The Journey: Moving around the UK and stepping out of comfort zones. * The Lincoln Experience: What actually happens at the famous Lincoln Animal Behaviour Clinic and why the masters program is so revered. * Theory vs. Practice: Why being "book smart" isn't enough when you're standing in front of a real dog and a real client. * The Power of Analogy: How a trip to the local pub can explain a dog's core temperament perfectly to an owner. * Groundbreaking Research: Honour’s journey to publishing her thesis on Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) and catching cognitive decline earlier. * The "F" Word (Finances): Why charging your worth actually makes clients take training more seriously. Important Links & Resources: * Grab your tickets to the ultimate dog event: DogX Dog Conference [https://dogxconference.com] * Ready to kickstart your own training journey? Find out more about PACT: PACT Dogs [https://pact-dogs.com] * Connect with Honour and her team: Lincoln Animal Behaviour Clinic [https://www.lincoln.ac.uk]

#5 Charlie Houghton - From the High Seas to Houghton's Hounds

Welcome back folks :) In this episode, Steve sits down with the incredible Charlie Houghton, founder of Houghton’s Hounds. We navigate through Charlie's fascinating 10-year career as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Navy and discover how teaching leadership to sailors perfectly prepared her for teaching puppies (and their humans!). We covered: * The Navy-to-K9 Pivot: How a passion for adult education and leadership coaching transformed into a career in dog training. * Public Speaking for Introverts: Why you might need to "fake it 'til you make it" when stepping into the center of a training ring. * The "Safe Space" Philosophy: Drawing inspiration from trainers like Ollie Juste and the importance of kindness. * The Money Talk: Why the industry needs to be more transparent about finances and "knowing your worth." * Lessons from Jet: A candid look at crate training, choice, and why doing better starts with knowing better. Guest Bio: If you’d asked 5-year-old Charlie what she wanted to be, the answer was always "a vet." After a decade-long "detour" as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Navy—visiting 13 countries and clocking 15,000 miles at sea—she discovered her true calling: instructing. Today, Charlie is an ABTC-accredited Animal Training Instructor and the owner of Houghton’s Hounds in Worcester. Combining her background in adult education with certifications from PACT, Puppy School, and the IMDT, she helps owners find harmony with their dogs through 1-2-1s and expert puppy classes. Relevant Links: * Find Charlie: houghtonshounds.co.uk [http://www.houghtonshounds.co.uk] * Charlie’s Book Recommendation: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. * Link to "A Dogs Best Friend" Podcast with Oli Juste: https://open.spotify.com/show/07nvgqwv572548BdNxublI [https://open.spotify.com/show/07nvgqwv572548BdNxublI] * DogX Conference Tickets: dogxconference.com [https://dogxconference.com/] * Start Your Journey with PACT: pact-dogs.com [https://pact-dogs.com/]

#4 Haych Brassil - TV Traumas, Super Dogs and the Art of Agency

In this episode, Steve sits down with the wonderful Haych Brassil. We take a "Scooby-Doo" trip back to the Northeast coast of Ireland to discover the journeys that sparked a lifelong mission to help the helpless. What We Covered: * The "Otter Trauma": How 80s wildlife documentaries created an emotional blueprint for empathy. * Manga & The European Road: the fascinating story of five years traveling Europe with a dog that had more agency than most humans. * Animal Rescue Kerala: Mopeds, dirt tracks, and learning from "punk" dogs in India. * The Human Connection: How a career supporting young migrants and marginalized people translates into "listening" to dogs. * Theo the "Adorable": The reality of living with a complex rescue and why professionals shouldn't be afraid to ask for help. About Our Guest: Haych Brassil is a PACT Animal Training Instructor and Animal Behaviour Technician registered with ABTC. Haych spent five years roaming Europe with the 'fateful encounter' dog, and then traveling to various places in the world where they could help dogs, they are now deep in the weeds of a Level 6 in Applied Animal Behavior. Based on the outskirts of Brighton, Haych is currently putting all that knowledge into practice with the adorable yet complex rescue dog, Theo.  Relevant Links: * Check out Haych’s business Dog Complex here [https://www.dogcomplex.co.uk/] * Mark Bekoff: The Emotional Lives of Animals (Haych’s top recommendation). Buy it here [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emotional-Lives-Animals-Surprising-Compassion/dp/1577315610]. * DogX 2026: Grab your tickets for the ultimate conference. dogxconference.com [https://www.dogxconference.com] * Start Your Journey: Join the PACT family and start your training career. pact-dogs.com [https://www.pact-dogs.com]

#3 Jason Cortis - The Shepherd in the Van

In this weeks episode I got to sit down with Jason Cortis—a man who has lived several lives already, all of which have given him insights into the world of training and behaviour that are well worth listening to.  We'll hear about his early careers as part of the parachute regiment, a military dog handler and paramedics technician . Jason shares the exact moment of realisation, standing in the back of a military van with a German Shepherd, where his path turned him towards a deeper understanding of dogs. We explore his journey from the high-stakes adrenaline of the parachute regiment and the ambulance service to the quiet, vital science of animal behaviour. Jason discusses his work with the Blue Cross, the importance of scent as a canine superpower, and why the recognising a journey of life long learning is one of our superpowers. I loved chatting with Jason and I think you'll love him too Links: * Nosey Dogs: www.noseydogs.co.uk [https://www.noseydogs.co.uk] – Dive into scent detection, tracking, and mantrailing. * JCDT (Jason Cortis Dog Training): www.jcdogtrainer.com [https://www.jcdogtrainer.com] – 1:1 sessions, classes, and Jason’s excellent blog. * Blue Cross RDOC: Responsible Dog Ownership Course [https://www.bluecross.org.uk] – Learn more about the education work Jason does for animal welfare. * PACT (Professional Association of Canine Trainers): pact-dogs.com [https://www.pact-dogs.com] * ABTC (Animal Behaviour & Training Council): abtc.org.uk [https://abtc.org.uk]