Kay Attwood, Author of Canine Cognitive Skills, on teaching your dog to think for themselves

Caroline Griffith creator of Canine Flow on soul dogs, energy healing and how your emotional energy shapes your dog's behaviour

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Caroline Griffith, holistic canine expert, retreat facilitator and creator of Canine Flow, a transformational approach that explores the emotional and energetic bond between dogs and their guardians. Caroline shares why she believes dogs are feeling beings first and foremost, and how our subconscious emotional state can directly shape the way our dogs behave. If you've ever sensed something deeper at play in your relationship with your dog, this conversation will give you a whole new way of seeing it. What you'll learn in this episode: ✅ What Canine Flow is and why Caroline calls it "the missing half of the story" in dog care ✅ What a soul dog is and how to recognise if you've had one ✅ How your subconscious emotional energy can drive your dog's behaviour, reactivity and anxiety ✅ Why dogs are drawn to our feet, our worn socks, and the energy we carry in our hearts ✅ What happens on a Canine Flow retreat and why every single dog settles ✅ How to begin tuning into your dog's emotional world through mindfulness and daily practice ✅ The role grief plays in the human-dog bond and how dogs help us process it Key takeaways: * Dogs don't think their way through life, they feel and sense their way through it, responding to emotional frequencies we may not even be aware of * Behaviours we label as problems (separation anxiety, reactivity, barking) may be your dog's way of responding to stuck or stagnant emotional energy * You don't have to be spiritual to benefit from this work, presence, calm and emotional awareness help every dog guardian * Dogs seek to "ground" our energy, which is why they take your seat, lick your feet, and want to be near you. It's connection, not habit CONNECT WITH CAROLINE The Canine Flow website [https://canineflow.com/] Spiritual Dogs Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/spiritualdogs] Love, Woof and Wonder Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/LoveWoofandWonder] 🐾 Find ethical, qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily [https://yappily.co.uk] the directory for dog guardians who care about doing right by their dog. 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Yappy Hour and leave us a review — it helps more dog lovers find us!

Kay Attwood, Author of Canine Cognitive Skills, on teaching your dog to think for themselves

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Kay Attwood, founder of K9 Services and author of Canine Cognitive Skills, to explore a genuinely fascinating approach to dog training: Canine Cognitive Behaviour Training (CCBT). Kay explains how giving dogs the freedom to think, problem-solve, and make choices can transform behaviour from the inside out, particularly for anxious and reactive dogs. Whether you are a seasoned dog guardian or just starting out, this conversation will change the way you see what is going on behind your dog's eyes. What you'll learn in this episode: ✅ What Canine Cognitive Behaviour Training (CCBT) actually is and how it differs from conventional reward-based training ✅ The difference between the "play brain" and the "reactive brain" and why it matters for your dog's behaviour ✅ Why giving dogs real choices builds confidence and reduces stress hormones ✅ Simple, low-cost games you can try at home using everyday household items ✅ How cognitive enrichment can support anxious and reactive dogs without medication ✅ Why slowing down and letting your dog think is one of the most powerful things you can do as a guardian Key takeaways: * Dogs are continually looking for solutions; they are not trying to be difficult * Enrichment is not just about keeping dogs busy. It is about giving them meaningful mental engagement and genuine downtime * You do not need expensive equipment. A bag of plastic cups or empty water bottles can be the start of a cognitive training journey * The relationship between dog and guardian improves dramatically when both learn to communicate, not just instruct CONNECT WITH KAY ATTWOOD Kay's website [https://www.kay9services.co.uk/] Cognitive Canine Skills book on Amazon [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canine-Cognitive-Skills-Kay-Attwood/dp/1910488712/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1XQITQREHK3ZX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Tro2Fh2yx_bHykI067814w.F-FMRh0KdPSEnr7yX94ITMOLfs57o7xoNsoOkFbxVe4&dib_tag=se&keywords=kay+attwood&qid=1779018869&sprefix=kay+attwood%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1] Kay's Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/kay9Services] 🐾 Find ethical, qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily [https://yappily.co.uk] the directory for dog guardians who care about doing right by their dog. 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Yappy Hour and leave us a review — it helps more dog lovers find us!

Georgie Bleza from Trick Woofs talks about how simple dog training illustrations help dog guardians finally "get" their dogs

Georgie Bleza is a dog trainer, self-taught artist, and the creative mind behind Trick Woofs, a body of work that uses comics and illustrations to make dog behaviour accessible, relatable, and genuinely joyful. In this episode, Nathan chats with Georgie about the power of visual learning, what consent-based training really looks like in everyday life, and why trick training is far more useful than most people think. If you've ever struggled to explain what you know about dogs to someone else, Georgie's work might just do it for you. What you'll learn in this episode: ✅ Why visual resources help dog guardians understand behaviour in a way that words often can't ✅ What consent-based training actually means and how to start building it into daily life ✅ How to read when your dog is giving or withdrawing consent, from grooming to walks ✅ Why trick training builds confidence in anxious and nervous dogs ✅ How to slow down and give your dog processing time and why it makes all the difference ✅ What the "hold" trick can do for resource guarders and why a hand touch is one of the most versatile skills you can teach Key takeaways: * Consent isn't just a buzzword; it's about opening up a conversation with your dog and giving them a genuine stop/start button in situations they find difficult * Slowing down is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do, whether that's with a harness, a vet visit, or a training session * Trick training gives dogs a sense of purpose and confidence, and there's a practical use for almost every trick you can teach * Your dog feels your emotional state. If you're frustrated, they notice. A calm handler makes for a calmer dog * Science-based trainers are stronger together division creates noise that confuses dog guardians who are just trying to do right by their dogs 🐾 Find ethical, qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily [https://yappily.co.uk], the directory for dog guardians who care about doing right by their dog. 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Yappy Hour and leave us a review it helps more dog guardians find us!

What’s really in your dog’s food? Inside the pet food industry with Clayton Payne

In this episode, Nathan sits down with Clayton Payne, pet industry veteran, Chief Commercial Officer of The Bug Factory, and host of Pet Business Disruptors, for a refreshingly honest look behind the scenes of the pet food world. From growing up in his parents' pet shop to building a wholesale business for 22 years and now farming insects as a sustainable protein source, Clayton has seen every corner of this industry. Whether you're a curious dog guardian, a raw feeding convert, or someone just trying to do better by your dog, this conversation is packed with practical, no-nonsense insight. Pull up a chair, this one's a good one. What you'll learn in this episode: ✅ Why where you buy your dog's food says more than you might think, and what the difference really is between a supermarket, a pet shop, and a raw food retailer ✅ How dog food is actually made, from formulation and manufacturing to packaging and getting it on shelves ✅ Why the raw food market has grown from less than half a percent to around 10% of the UK market, and what's driving it ✅ What to actually look for on a dog food label (and what words to ignore entirely) ✅ The two big myths Clayton wants busted: mixing raw and kibble, and feeding the same protein every day ✅ What "natural," "wholesome," and "sustainable" actually mean on packaging. Spoiler: not much ✅ Where the pet industry is headed, and why mushroom-based supplements might be the next big thing Key takeaways: * If meat isn't the first ingredient, put it back on the shelf. There's usually something better in the same price range * You don't have to overhaul everything at once. Even small additions like bone broth or pumpkin powder alongside kibble can make a real difference * Don't just take your vet's word on nutrition. They're generalists, not nutritionists, and there are brilliant specialist resources out there * Variety of proteins matters. You wouldn't eat the same meal every night, and neither should your dog 🐾 Find ethical, qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily [https://yappily.co.uk] the directory for dog guardians who care about doing right by their dog. 🎙️ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Yappy Hour and leave us a review — it helps more dog lovers find us!

Rachel Rodgers on Separation Anxiety and Rescue Dogs. Essential listening if you're adopting a dog.

If you've ever brought home a rescue dog and felt like you were failing — this episode is for you. Rachel Rodgers is a registered clinical animal behaviourist, founder of Nose to Trail, and a specialist in separation anxiety with a background spanning over 15 years in UK rescue centres including Dogs Trust and the RSPCA. In this episode, she and host Nathan Dunleavy have an honest, warm, and deeply practical conversation about why rescue dogs are more prone to SA, what the early signs really look like, and why so many cases go unrecognised or get made worse with the wrong approach. If you're navigating separation anxiety with a rescue dog, this is the episode to share. In this episode: ✅ Why rescue dogs are more vulnerable to separation anxiety and what's really going on emotionally when a dog has been rehomed ✅ The early warning signs of SA that most new adopters miss (including one that looks like a toilet training problem) ✅ How pain and underlying health issues can masquerade as separation anxiety and why a vet referral matters more than you think ✅ What the settling-in period should actually look like, and why "just leave them to cry it out" can make things significantly worse ✅ How to gently build independence without causing stress from day one ✅ Why working with a certified separation anxiety professional or clinical animal behaviourist is so important, and how to tell the difference ✅ How to manage caregiver fatigue and find real support when you're struggling Key takeaways: * Separation anxiety in rescue dogs often has roots in broken attachment, kennel stress, and unknown history. It's not a training failure; it's an emotional response * Subtle signs like not eating, pacing, or toileting only when you're apart can be easy to miss without a camera, but they matter * Before starting any separation programme, a thorough vet check is essential; pain is a common and overlooked driver of SA * Caregiver fatigue is real. Building a support network of people your dog trusts isn't a luxury, it's part of the treatment plan 🐾 Subscribe to The Yappy Hour for more conversations that help you understand, connect with, and care for your dog. 🐕 Find ethical and qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily.co.uk [https://yappily.co.uk]