The Dog Expert Podcast

The Dog Expert Podcast | Season 4 | Episode 6

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.

Season 4, Ep 5 - Breathing Easier: Rethinking Welfare for Flat-Faced Dogs

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.

Season 4, Episode 4: Free-Living Community Dogs with Sindhoor Pangal

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

Season 4, Episode 3: The Dog Expert Podcast. The Power of Choice, Safety & Lasting Change with Joanne Burton

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/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkV2MVA5SWloZ0lVLUdfX1BKM3hKa1RaZjlNZ3xBQ3Jtc0trZmkzVk1HQjZ5TUdiOXR4LVZwb0UwZHoxLTVxaWtjTTVaR1pnWFlLbUxSc3dybERjSlJ1YzlqSHIzM2FoQXNLSER1dm83NWQ1dmhVTnJwVFR0OHVPOFNpUF9CVTRTcVExSmNqc0xGUDE2c2YwY0ZfNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpawordernoosa.com.au%2F&v=8weCe2HTu1c]   #acefreework [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/acefreework] #rememberingSarahFisher [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/rememberingsarahfisher] #thedogexpertpocast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thedogexpertpocast] #forcefree [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/forcefree] #fearfree [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fearfree]

Season 4, Episode 2: The Dog Expert Podcast. IHA - Innate Health Assessment Tool

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.