The Bitey End of the Dog

Breeding is one of the quickest ways to start a fight in the dog world, but we wanted a different angle: what if breeder decisions are one of the biggest upstream drivers of the behavior problems we’re all trying to solve downstream? I’m joined by Kate Dalman, founder of Herzog’s Heroes, to connect the dots between breeding practices, puppy development, and the aggression and reactivity cases that land on a trainer’s schedule years later.

We get specific about what separates a conscientious breeder from someone who just markets well: selecting parent dogs for balanced temperament, pairing complementary traits, reducing prenatal stress, using written early socialization protocols, and doing the hard work of matching the right puppy to the right home. Kate also explains why the simple promise to take a dog back at any point in its life reshapes everything, from buyer screening to long-term owner support, and how that mindset can prevent shelter surrender before it starts.

Then we zoom out to the bigger system. We talk about the cultural divide between breeders, rescues, and trainers, why “adopt don’t shop” can miss key realities, and how transparency and verifiable standards could help the public compare breeders apples to apples. If you care about dog behavior, dog welfare, and reducing shelter intake, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for “breed better, shelter less.”

About Kate:
https://herzogsheroes.org/about-us
Herzog's Heroes:
https://herzogsheroes.org/
Learn more about options for help for dogs with aggression here:
AggressiveDog.com

Learn more about the CANIS Conference here:
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Dog training has a short memory, and that’s a problem when the best solutions are often the oldest ones. I’m joined by Dr. Ian Dunbar, veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and one of the key forces behind reward-based training and off-leash puppy socialization, to walk through how the profession got built, what we got right, and where we’ve drifted. If you’ve ever wondered why puppy classes feel optional while aggression and reactivity consults feel “advanced,” this conversation flips that story on its head.

We go back to Ian’s early years with off-leash dogs, his first shock at watching leash-correction culture, and the practical roots of lure reward training before it even had a name. From there, we unpack the rise of off-leash puppy classes, and the early conferences that helped professionalize dog training. Ian shares what those “glory years” felt like and why openness and community mattered as much as technique.

Then we get into the messy middle: ideology, the meaning of “aversive,” the social media dynamics that punish nuance, and why many trainers are scared to show real training on video. We also talk about prevention at a skill level, not a slogan: early socialization, play and enrichment as reinforcement, bite inhibition, and fast ways to change behavior so the dog’s emotional response can change too. Ian makes a strong case for using simple metrics and real-world testing so “science-based dog training” means measurable improvement, not just theory.

If you’re ready to rebuild your foundation with puppies, prevention, and practical training you can see and track, you’ll get a lot out of this one. 

ABOUT IAN:

Dr. Ian Dunbar is one of the world's most respected experts on dog training and behavior. 
He grew up on a farm in the English countryside training cows, chickens and yes, dogs using time-honored lure reward training techniques learned from his family. 
He went on to receive his veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College at London University and his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. 
In 1982, he designed and taught the world's very first off-leash puppy socialization and training classes – SIRIUS® Puppy Training. These puppy classes would go on to become immensely popular and imitated all around the world. 
The success and popularity of these classes ultimately revolutionized the world of dog training by putting a much needed focus on puppyhood and easy, enjoyable, and effective methods, at a time when most training was boring and unpleasant.
Subsequently, Ian went on to create and develop the San Francisco SPCA's Animal Behavior Department, he started the American Kennel Club's Gazette "Behavior" column, which he wrote for seven years, and he designed and organized the K9 GAMES®. 
In 1993, he founded the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. With over 5000 members in 48 countries, the APDT has grown to be the world's largest association of dog trainers.
He has authored numerous books and videos, including five seasons of Dogs with Dunbar, a popular television program in the UK. He has given over one thousand seminars and workshops around the world and has been instrumental in the rise of reward-based, fun and games, scientifically sound dog training methods.
https://www.dunbaracademy.com/

Barking Up the Right Tree book:
https://www.dunbaracademy.com/pages/barking-up-the-right-tree
Learn more about options for help for dogs with aggression here:
AggressiveDog.com

Learn more about the CANIS Conference here:
CANIS Conference

Subscribe to the bonus episodes available here:
The Bitey End of the Dog Bonus Episodes

Check out all of our webinars, courses, and educational content here:
Webinars, courses, and more!

A severe dog bite doesn’t end when the wound is stitched or the adrenaline wears off. It keeps going in your sleep, in your startle response to barking, and in the quiet shame that can hit hardest when you’re “the professional” who’s supposed to know better. That’s why we wanted to hold space for Marilyn Gilchrist, a respected dog training and behavior professional, to tell the full truth of what happened when a foster visit turned into a serious attack and a life-altering injury. 

We walk step by step through the incident, the ER reality check, and the long physical healing process, but we spend just as much time on the invisible aftermath: panic around unfamiliar dogs, hypervigilance, replaying every second for missed signals, and the identity crisis of wondering who you are if dogs no longer feel safe. Marilyn shares how quickly she shut down her business, how hard it was to find useful resources for dog bite trauma, and why some online spaces made things worse through blame and sensationalism. 

From there, we get practical. Marilyn explains what helped her most, including a trauma-informed therapist who prioritized safety, immediate coping tools, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, and hypnotherapy that proved far more effective than she expected. We also talk about support networks that actually show up, returning to work in a way that feels doable, and how her experience sharpened her commitment to listening to dog body language and protecting consent, even if that means disappointing people. 

If you work with dogs, especially aggression and reactivity cases, this conversation is a grounded reminder that recovery is possible and you don’t have to do it alone. Subscribe for more honest conversations, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review with the one part you wish our industry talked about more.

ABOUT MARILYN: 
Marilyn Gilchrist has pursued extensive education in dog behaviour and training, earning qualifications from a number of institutions including PACT and is a registered Animal Training Instructor through the ABTC.  She has a profound passion for trailing which started in 2017 with her rescue dog Lola! Now trailing her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Scout (who has attained Expert Level status) and Spicy Dachshund Jem, Marilyn has seen first hand the benefits trailing can bring to a dog’s wellbeing. Deciding to focus on trailing in 2022, Marilyn went on to set up The Canine School of Trailing with Rachel Rodgers where they focus on teaching other dog professionals how to add this enriching activity to their businesses.

https://thecanineschooloftrailing.co.uk/
Learn more about options for help for dogs with aggression here:
AggressiveDog.com

Learn more about the CANIS Conference here:
CANIS Conference

Subscribe to the bonus episodes available here:
The Bitey End of the Dog Bonus Episodes

Check out all of our webinars, courses, and educational content here:
Webinars, courses, and more!

This week, a special episode from our friends at the RISK! podcast. 

A kid gets invited into the neighbor's yard, and within seconds a dog attack turns a normal evening into an emergency. Jill Karliner's story is graphic, emotional, and unforgettable as she shares what comes next: emergency surgery, a burn unit, night terrors, and the slow realization that childhood trauma can shape how someone experiences the world for decades. 
Then John and Kate LaSala join the conversation to explore the bigger question Jill's story raises: how can the same species that caused the worst moment of your life also become a source of comfort, purpose, and healing? They discuss fear of dogs and exposure therapy, how repeated safe experiences can rebuild trust, and how Jill's family ultimately found healing by fostering puppies for a guide dog program, helping raise future guide dogs and service dogs for people who are blind. 
Kate also shares her perspective as a dog behavior consultant and companion animal end-of-life doula, discussing what meaningful supervision really looks like in homes with dogs and children, why management alone eventually fails, why the myth that "good dogs tolerate everything" places children at unnecessary risk, and how planning ahead for a pet's final chapter can bring greater peace when the time comes.
If this episode resonates with you, share it with a fellow dog lover, subscribe, and leave a review so more listeners can discover the show. We'd also love to hear from you: what's one "two truths" moment you've experienced in your own life?
Learn more about options for help for dogs with aggression here:
AggressiveDog.com

Learn more about the CANIS Conference here:
CANIS Conference

Subscribe to the bonus episodes available here:
The Bitey End of the Dog Bonus Episodes

Check out all of our webinars, courses, and educational content here:
Webinars, courses, and more!

Your dog can look “fine” while their nervous system is working overtime, and that mismatch is where so many training plans go off the rails. I sit down with Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB, to get precise about canine stress, resilience, and what the science says about how dogs cope with change. We talk through the sympathetic nervous system, the HPA axis, and the difference between stress (the internal response) and stressors (the external triggers) so your next decision is based on biology, not buzzwords.

We also tackle the messy middle: good stress, tolerable stress, and toxic stress. You’ll hear why “stress inoculation” is not a free pass to flood dogs with scary experiences, and how agency and coping skills change the outcome. We break down what to watch for beyond single body language cues like yawns or lip licks, including approach vs avoid behavior, recovery time, and the early signs of chronic stress such as emotional dysregulation, shutdown, and escalating reactivity that can spill into aggression.

Then we shift gears into responsible research literacy for the dog training industry. Dr. Spaulding explains scientific consensus, why a handful of papers can’t carry that label, how bias shows up in both writing and reading studies, and why replication and broader evidence across species often matter when dog-specific research is thin.

Learn more about Kristina:
http://www.sciencemattersllc.com/
Unlocking Resilience Course:
https://go.sciencemattersllc.com/unlocking-resilience-landing
Learn more about options for help for dogs with aggression here:
AggressiveDog.com

Learn more about the CANIS Conference here:
CANIS Conference

Subscribe to the bonus episodes available here:
The Bitey End of the Dog Bonus Episodes

Check out all of our webinars, courses, and educational content here:
Webinars, courses, and more!