The Bitey End of the Dog

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

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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!

Dog training gets messy when we treat methods like identities and disagreement like a moral failing. I sit down with Jay Jack for a candid, sometimes blunt conversation about what actually helps dogs and what helps trainers grow. We talk about the real cost of staying inside a single “camp,” how cross-training in sports like MMA changed the level of skill overnight, and why dog training needs more curiosity and fewer boxes. Jay also shares how he draws a firm ethical line against cruelty while still being willing to study ideas from outside his comfort zone.

A big chunk of our conversation is about language. Words like punishment, pressure, and aversive can mean totally different things depending on whether you’re thinking in behavior science, psychology, or everyday speech. We dig into how misunderstandings start, how to slow down and define terms, and why even the four quadrants of operant conditioning make more sense when you think in gradients and zones instead of “allowed” versus “forbidden.”

Then we go deep on structured play as a behavior tool. Jay explains why play is a genetic need, how objective-based games teach focus and delayed gratification, and how toys, food, and personal play can become powerful systems for emotional regulation. We walk through how to use play in behavior modification for reactivity and aggression with clear steps, and why over-arousal is often a sign that the “game” has no real objective or boundaries. If you’re building a better relationship with your dog or sharpening your skills as a professional dog trainer, this one is packed with practical takeaways.

If this conversation helps you think differently, subscribe, share it with a trainer friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.

ABOUT JAY:

https://nldogs.com/

JAY'S PATREON:

https://www.patreon.com/nldogtalk?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=join_link
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!

For millions of people in Ukraine, air raid sirens have become part of daily life. They interrupt work, school, sleep, and any sense of normalcy. They also affect the dogs who share that experience, living with the same unpredictability and chronic stress as the families who care for them.
In this episode, we’re joined by Ukrainian dog trainer Nadiya Prokopyeva, now based in Romania, to discuss what it’s like to work with dogs during a time of war. Nadiya takes a science-based and holistic approach to behavior, recognizing the many ways stress, pain, health, and environment influence how dogs cope.
We talk about the behavioral challenges that have become increasingly common, including noise sensitivities, separation-related problems, fear, and reactivity. Nadiya explains how repeated exposure to air raid sirens, emergency evacuations, crowded shelters, and disrupted routines can leave dogs in a constant state of stress, making it difficult for them to recover before the next crisis begins.
Our conversation also explores the broader impact of war on animal welfare. We discuss the strain on veterinary professionals and trainers, limited access to veterinary behavior care and medication, the challenges facing shelters and street dogs, and concerns about public health in areas affected by conflict. We also examine how war influences breeding decisions, from the effects of prenatal stress to the difficult choices faced by ethical breeders.
Despite these extraordinary circumstances, Nadiya shares practical strategies that can help. We discuss creating predictable routines whenever possible, reducing stress where we can, supporting emotional recovery between stressful events, and recognizing when veterinary intervention, including medication, may be appropriate.

About Nadiya:

Nadiya Prokopyeva (Anteya), CSAP-BC, KPA-CTP - 26-year-old dog trainer from Ukraine - Specialize in separation anxiety, general behavior issues, aggression, and reactivity - Veterinary student on track to become a rehabilitation and orthopedic specialist - Galen Myotherapy student - Use low-frustration, force-free, science-based methods - Create Ukrainian-language educational content on ethical breeding, BYB awareness, and responsible dog ownership

Nadiya on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/anteya_k9?igsh=MWZyazE0bjM2anh3dQ== 
Ukrainian Gear 
https://www.instagram.com/darvin.dog.shop?igsh=MWF4emFodG5wbWc3cg==
https://www.instagram.com/lovyhav?igsh=MWg2N3hyZDFic29k
https://www.instagram.com/vivchar_dog_shop?igsh=OGZwMnRmM2o4dDk5
Adoptions and Shelters 
https://www.instagram.com/dogs_adopt_kyiv?igsh=MWczemh1enU3anFqaQ==
https://www.instagram.com/patron.center?igsh=b2Y3bzFmMHBvZ3dy
https://www.instagram.com/gostomel.shelter
https://www.instagram.com/dom.khvostov?igsh=MTk1ZHJvdmJ2d2VjNQ==
Antares - the search-and-rescue squad:
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2026/0430/ukraine-rescue-dogs-canine-unit-lost-persons-remains
https://www.instagram.com/antares.poshuk/?hl=en
Sternenko Fund - direct support to the army and soldiers:
https://www.sternenkofund.org/en/donate
United24 - one of the main official donation platforms for Ukraine:
https://u24.gov.ua
Prosthetics are extremely expensive and far beyond what an average person can afford, so even small recurring donations can make a real difference:
https://superhumans.com/en/donate-en/
https://curelieffundforukraine.com/projects/esper-program-for-ukrainians/
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!