Gundogs and Guard dogs

A few days into Crufts, what started as a fabulous celebration of dogs quickly revealed something more complicated, an underlying tension within the dog training world that’s becoming harder to ignore.
In this episode, we unpack the growing divide between so-called “balanced” training and “force-free” approaches.
Where did these labels come from, and what do they actually mean? When does training become ethical, and when does it cross into something else entirely?
The nuance matters, and so do the words we use.
We explore how dogs learn, what “consent” really looks like in training, and why the conversation often drifts away from science and into ideology.
From head collars and harnesses to prongs and slip leads, the dog training industry is full of tools, but also full of noise.
As legislation tightens, the law increasingly shapes what’s considered acceptable, regardless of real-world outcomes.
There’s also a crucial distinction at play, the difference between training for competitive dog sports and training for life. If your dog misses a trick in the ring, it’s no big deal. But if they can’t recall away from danger, that’s where training truly matters.
We also take a closer look at the contradictions on display, even at prestigious events like The Kennel Club flagship show, raising questions about tradition, equipment, and evolving standards.
Ultimately, this episode asks a simple question, are we sometimes being unkind in the name of kindness?
From the meaning of “no” and “stop,” to the difference between being qualified and truly knowledgeable, this is a grounded, honest conversation about what it really means to love and train our dogs well.

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Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.
Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).
Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).
They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.
They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists.
Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.Intrigued?
Want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

Dropping on Day 2 of Crufts by the The Royal Kennel Club, this episode dives into the world of show dogs, dog shows, and what it really means to be “Royal.”
Spoiler: we don’t have all the answers… and the future may be just as messy.

We chat about:
The ins and outs of showing dogs at Crufts with insights from people who’ve done it.
Breed-specific temperament “improvements”—are we actually improving, or just redefining roles? (Think ratting dogs, herding dogs, gundogs, livestock guardians, and companions.)
Puppy prices vs. dog rescue—what’s really worth it?
A lightning review of Crufts winners over the past 5 years.
The difference between training dogs and showing dogs.
And yes… a random shoutout to Clarges Street Cat that may make you laugh (or leave the room).
Plus, a sneak peek at upcoming episodes featuring expert guests. Trust us, you won’t want to miss what’s next!
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Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.
Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).
Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).
They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.
They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists. Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.
Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

An engaging and wide-ranging conversation with this episode’s guest, Colin Tennant MA — Chairman of the Canine & Feline Behaviour Association.

Colin reflects on a remarkable career spanning more than 50 years, from his early days working in kennels to serving as a police dog handler, including time in Saudi Arabia, and later pioneering work in London’s West End.

A move into dog behaviour saw him develop innovative methods and strategies to rehabilitate challenging dogs, helping to shape modern approaches to canine training and welfare.

The conversation culminates in Colin’s candid perspective on how the dog world has evolved — past, present, and where he fears it may be heading in the future.

Insightful, thought-provoking, and packed with experience, this is an episode not to be missed.
https://colintennant.uk/
---- oOo ----Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years. Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE). Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter). They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011. They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists. Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.
Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com

The usual nonsense returns, with hot, diluting juice dominating the intro, yet again, some things just don’t survive the M25 language barrier.
Emrys’s first shoot is covered, explaining what a “shoot” really involves when working with Gundogs, it’s all about the dog, not the dead birds, and listeners can probably guess which of the hosts is the city dweller, some might find this chat unpalatable, others refreshing.
The conversation then turns to tomatoes and maypole dancing, with a touch of cordial and even a musical moan, things get even more repulsive along the way.
Probably the most boring episode yet provides an education in fact after fact, many things listeners didn’t know they didn’t want to know.
The hosts give a quick overview of the upcoming Guild of Dog Trainers & CIDBT Networking Day, encouraging listeners to get involved and meet some of the GaGD crew.
Crufts and new CIDBT hoodies are also discussed, along with a short rant on WSAVA vaccine guidelines, with promises of future episodes diving deeper.
It’s a messy, funny, slightly repulsive start to what’s shaping up to be a very promising year for the hosts and their listeners.

Join Sue as she reflects on over 40 years in the veterinary world—a career shaped by curiosity, conscience, and a determination to look beyond convention.
A wake-up call during her dermatology studies sent her exploring alternative modalities in canine health and wellbeing, opening the door to a journey through homeopathy, acupuncture, laser therapy, and more.
From “the nibs, the nabs, the mibs, the mabs” to the rise of biologics, Sue breaks down what these treatments are, why they matter, and how they fit into today’s evolving vet landscape.
She also takes a candid look at how corporate structures are influencing the profession—asking whether financial pressures are overshadowing what’s best for animal health—and why fewer young vets seem willing (or able) to explore integrative therapies.
Other topics include:
• How highly processed “junk food” contributes to chronic disease
• Why monthly wellness schemes might not deliver true wellness
• The concerns around lifetime pharmaceuticals
• mRNA and genetic-code vaccines—innovation or uncertainty?
• Environmental toxins, flea and worm treatments, household products, and their cumulative effects
• What really makes a dog “senior”?
• And ultimately, why supporting the gut and the microbiome might be the key to lifelong vitality
At the heart of it all lies a simple message: helping our dogs thrive may be more common sense than rocket science.

SUE ARMSTRONG
MA VetMB VetFFHom CertIAVH MRCVS RsHom
(Director Sue Armstrong Consultancy Ltd)
Sue Armstrong qualified from Cambridge Veterinary School, England in 1984 and worked first in Oxford and then in a partnership in Leeds for twelve years.
She set up Balanced Being based in Wetherby in 2003, which was one of the first practices in the UK to offer truly integrative healthcare for animals with homeopathy as its core philosophy underpinning the individualised therapeutic approach when using all modalities including conventional mainstream veterinary medicine and surgery, homeopathy, acupuncture, laser therapy, nutraceuticals and nutritional therapy. Sue sold Balanced Being in February 2018 and now runs a referral only veterinary clinic in Thirsk, UK; Sue Armstrong Consultancy Ltd.
Sue lectures extensively internationally and has presented in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Switzerland and the USA.
Sue has published the Little Book of Thinking Dog and The Veterinary Homeopathy Oncology Series: Cancer in Animals. She is a contributor to the books Foundations of Health and Social Care (Adams, 2007) and Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health (Dodds, 2015).
Sue is passionate about sharing the experience she has of working in a truly integrative way for most of her veterinary career. ---- oOo ----
Lez and Ross have both been in the industry professionally for well over 20 years and each has been involved with dogs for over 40 years.
Whilst sensibly they have stayed away from the ‘limelight’ regarding TV offers, they have regularly been on national and local radio, spoken at national events at NDWA, CFBA, and Kennel Club / Crufts events as well as bespoke speaking engagements for the Dog Safety Education Executive (DogSEE).
Ross wrote for Dogs Monthly Magazine for over 12 years and
Lez was the first lady feature writer for a national Shooting Magazine (both Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter).
They were also 'study buddies' and were the first in the UK to achieve a Masters Degree (Professional Practice) in Canine Behaviour and Psychology in 2011.
They work well together and apart, support and work with dog rescue organisations and train professional dog trainers and behaviourists.
Different as chalk and cheese, but maybe not as different as they like to think.
Intrigued? want to know more? then check out our websites...www.rossmccarthy.com ~ www.lezgraham.com