Barks from the Bookshelf

• #81: Alex Conner - Brains, Barks, and Banter - ADHD Unpacked

  Hey there fellow Dog Geek Extraordinaires. A bit of stray off our, well-trodden, dog training and behaviour path today. We invited the wonderful Professor Alex Conner (co-author of ADHD Unpacked and co-host of the ADHD Adults Podcast) onto the podcast. For a while now we’ve been planning on having a conversation that advocates for compassion and understanding in what it must be like for neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD diagnosis, navigating a neurotypical world. We also thought it might be helpful to understand how ADHD might impact both trainers and people who might be attending classes or 121’s. What unfolded was a fascinating conversation that enabled us to delve into the complexities of ADHD, discussing its impact on communication and relationships, emphasizing the importance of understanding and supporting one another within our relationships and communities.We get to explore the intricate relationship between dog training and ADHD, delve into the parallels in understanding behaviour, the importance of environment and the need for emotional acceptance. We find out how dog body language can inform our understanding of ADHD, the impact of genetics versus environment, and the challenges faced by individuals with ADHD in various settings. Alex effortlessly and expertly addresses misconceptions about ADHD and the societal perceptions that contribute to a stigmas. We hear how things people might take for granted, like the setting of boundaries and self-care, can be unique challenges faced by individuals with ADHD. We explore how personal experiences shape their understanding of self-worth and the importance of community support. Of course, we touch on the complexities of dog training, the nuances of behaviour, and the importance of understanding both dogs and humans and the significance of empathy in fostering connections.On top of all that top notch audio goodness Nat and Steve talk about Alex’s book, discuss the challenges of understanding neurodiversity, discuss the arrival of spring and the emotional connection they feel towards nature (particularly a sparrow named Dave). Steve also briefly flirts with the concept of utopia and it's potential pitfalls (through the lens of B F Skinner). We ramble about the importance of emotional awareness, the dynamics of social media, and the influence of culture on behaviour, all while introducing a BRAND NEW segment dedicated to a beloved figure in the bookshelver community…. The Greg Pattison Moment!!!Don’t just sit there! Poke us right up your ear canals!!!Link to Alex's bookLink to Alex's PodcastLink to PACT's Free CoursesLink to DOGX tickets

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• #80: Gretta Ford - Building a Thriving Dog Training Business. Marketing, Mindset, and More!

  Happy Spring Time Bookshelvers!As the temperatures are rising in the UK and spring has truly sprung we thought it would be a great time to spring clean our noggins about all things dog businesses. We are thrilled this week to bring you a talk with the wonderful Gretta Ford. Not only is Gretta a member of PACT, an ABTC Registered Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB), a full member of the APBC and FABC (which is pretty darn impressive) but Gretta is also a business strategist for trainers and behaviourists! Steve and Nat speak from experience when they say that Gretta has helped them out with all sorts in terms of the business side of PACT and we wanted an informal chat that would be beneficial to people with both existing businesses in the dog training world AND those of you starting out. We cover A LOT! Including: The challenges faced by dog trainers in building successful businesses, The importance of having that “business mindset”, the crowded market for dog training services, and the emotional burdens that come with running a business, the need for support and fresh perspectives in the industry, the significance of focusing on one's own business and the importance of emotional health in the face of external pressures. We talk about the dreaded imposter syndrome and the importance of a stoic mindset. We explore strategies for effective marketing, the significance of having a strong online presence through a website, and the challenges of navigating social media. The discussion also touches on the potential for passive income streams, the role of gratitude in professional relationships, and the environmental impact of business practices in the dog training industry. We also chatted about the super interesting topic of the significance of aligning personal and business values, particularly in the dog training industry AND niching in dog training. All that as well as hearing all about Gretta’s journey! All that along with some waffle from Nat and Steve about their brand spanking NEW FREE course and haberdashery’s and what you may find within one… don’t ask.You know you’ll be have a better brain for listening so what on earth are you waiting for? Get it in your lug holes human!LINKS:Link to Gretta's amazing Set Up To Succeed website hereLink to Gretta's Dog Training & Behaviour website hereLink to PACTS free Breed & Body Language Course here

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• #79: Roz Pooley (The Mutty Professor) - DogX Speaker Special

  Howdy doody Bookshelvers!We’re thrilled to bring you another one of our awesome DOGX 2025 speakers today… drumroll please… It’s Roz Pooley! We had a ball chatting with Roz and got into a LOT! From sharing her journey from a retail background to becoming a prominent figure in dog training and behaviour, her experiences in dog walking, the evolution of training methods, and the importance of understanding dog behaviour and social dynamics. We also discuss the significance of continuous learning and adapting to the changing landscape of dog training, while also getting Roz’s perspective on the unique roles that different dogs play within their social groups. We also couldn’t chat with Roz without discussing the overwhelming influence of social media on guardians and the pressure of perfection in dog training and the unrealistic expectations placed on trainers and their dogs. We wax lyrical about a world where a more realistic and empathetic approach to dog training that embraces imperfection and prioritizes the well-being of both dogs AND  their owners might exist. We touch on the impact of seasonal changes on dog behaviour and share a spoiler of what Roz will be talking about at DOGX! All this and our usual waffle for your earbud pleasure! Go on… pop it in your auditory canalLink to The Mutty ProfessorLink to DOGX TicketsLink to PACT'S Free Courses

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• #78: ABTC Special with Jane Williams & Hanne Grice

  Greetings BookshelversWe are coming to you a few days late this week as the team is currently knee dee in Crufts shenanigans. If anyone of you are visiting Crufts this year do pop by and see us at Hall 3 stand 117 as we'd love to meet some podcast listeners!Todays offering has been a long time coming. As many of know PACT are a member organisation of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). We set up a special podcast to speak to Hanne Grice and Jane Williams so they could tell you folks all about the ABTC. We took a whole bunch of Bookshelver questions and amalgamated them to ask Hanne and Jane. We had a blast exploring its structure, purpose, and the importance of being a registered practitioner. We talk about the rigorous assessment processes, the need for regulation in the industry, and our (and others) community's role in supporting that mission. Hanne and Jane also talk about the importance of ethical training and the ongoing efforts to improve standards within the animal behaviour and training sector. We tried our best to get all questions answered but we did have time constraints that meant we couldn't get to them all. We'll just have to invite them back :) You'll get the idea of just how passionate we all are about the importance of open communication and ethical considerations in our industry.Link to find out more about the ABTC:  https://abtc.org.uk/Link to get a DOGX ticket at a discounted rate until 10th march 2025: https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2025Link to interesting paper all about regulation: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=paij  Link to interesting paper all about regulation: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=paij

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• #77: Chirag Patel - DOGx 2025 Keynote Speaker Special!

  The wonderful human being that is Chirag Patel is this years DOGx 2025 Keynote Speaker so it was only a matter of time before we got together to chat! What resulted was one of our favourite ever episodes and we couldn’t be any more excited for this years conference. Click the link below NOW to register your interest to know when the tickets go on sale at an exclusive early bird rate and make bloomin’ sure you botty is on one of those seats!Register your interest for DOGX 2025 now!https://www.pact-dogs.com/dogx2025#register-your-interestThis was a jam packed show where we left no stone unturned. We explore Chirag's early experiences with the dog named Kane that sparked it all, how some wonderful early mentorship opportunities have shaped his views on giving back to the training community, delve into how we us trainers can foster creativity and the importance of observation. We also discuss mindfulness, how engaging fully with clients can lead to wonderful outcomes and where we should be putting our efforts in terms of inspiring the next wave of awesome animal trainers. We celebrate the realities of where positive training has got us and talk through the potential pitfalls of any movement that doesn’t follow the evidence. Chirag also muses on how societal changes have evolved our training styles and talks about being a proud Radical Behaviourist. No chat with Chirag would be complete without a good dose of Skinner and Chirag talks passionately about Skinner's philosophies including areas he wrote about that many haven’t explored.  On top of all that we also chew the fat over how social media can distort perceptions of animal training practices, How the very nature of scientific inquiry requires a level of uncertainty to flourish AND the importance of balancing technical knowledge with practical application when it comes to dog training.As an added “Bookshelver bonus” we’ve also captured Nat’s LIVE reaction to seeing Benson Boones performance at the Grammys (spoiler…she enjoyed it) Honestly this was one of our favourite shows EVER and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it from start to end! Now make like a Benson, flip off a piano and get this episode in you ear-holes... WOOF!

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