The Yappy Hour

Anyone in the UK can call themselves a dog trainer or behaviourist. They could have years of study and professional experience behind them, or very little at all.So when your dog is struggling, how are you supposed to know who you can trust?In this episode of The Yappy Hour, Nathan is joined by Ainsley Procter, Chair of the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter, to talk about the reality of choosing a dog professional in an unregulated industry.They explore why the Charter was created, what Charter Verified means, and how organisations from across the dog training and behaviour world are working together around shared standards for ethical, science-backed and welfare-led practice.They also get into what those terms actually mean for our dogs. Why should we care about the emotion behind a behaviour rather than simply trying to stop it? Why can a quick fix appear to work without addressing the underlying problem? And why has the Charter drawn a clear line around aversive training methods and equipment?Nathan and Ainsley also discuss some of the practical things dog guardians can look for when choosing a trainer or behaviourist, including qualifications, professional memberships, training methods, accountability and the questions it is absolutely okay to ask.They cover:• Why dog training and behaviour remains unregulated in the UK• What the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter is and why it was created• What Charter Verified means for dog guardians• Why ethical training considers how a dog feels, not just what they do• The problem with quick fixes and guaranteed results• How to check a trainer or behaviourist's professional credentials• Red flags to look out for on websites and social media• Why impressive before-and-after videos don't always tell the whole story• Why a good professional should be willing to explain what they're doing and why• What to do if something doesn't feel right during a training session• Why recognising the limits of your expertise can be a sign of a good professional• How the Charter's complaints and independent oversight process works• The role the Charter hopes to play in the future of dog training and behaviour in the UKThe message throughout is simple: you are allowed to ask questions about the person you're trusting with your dog.A good professional should help you understand your dog, explain why they're recommending a particular approach and keep your dog's welfare and emotional wellbeing at the centre of the process.Connect with the UK Dog Behaviour and Training CharterUK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter websiteUK Dog Behaviour And Training Charter Facebook pageThe Charter website also includes information for dog guardians and details of its member organisations.If this episode helps you think differently about who you trust with your dog, share it with another dog guardian who might find it useful.The Yappy Hour is powered by Yappily, helping dog guardians find trusted, welfare-led dog professionals.

Herding breeds might be incredibly clever, but living with that intelligence, sensitivity and intensity isn’t always simple.Tina Kristensen, founder of Tina’s Happy Hounds, joins Nathan on The Yappy Hour to explore what it’s really like to live with and support herding breeds. They talk about German Shepherds, Border Collies, Corgis, Australian Cattle Dogs and the instincts that can still influence these dogs even when they’ve never worked with livestock.Tina explains why physical exercise alone isn’t enough, how scent work and enrichment can give these dogs meaningful outlets, and why rest, predictability and connection are so important. They also explore hypervigilance, big feelings, choosing the right breed for your lifestyle and what to do when life with an intense dog starts to feel overwhelming.What You’ll Learn✅ Why smart doesn’t necessarily mean easy when it comes to herding breeds✅ How herding instincts can appear in everyday family life✅ Why chasing, controlling movement and intense focus may have roots in instinctive behaviour✅ Why some herding breeds struggle with busy or overstimulating environments✅ How scent work, free work, tracking and simple jobs can help provide fulfilling outlets✅ Why more exercise isn’t always the answer✅ Why slowing down, building trust and prioritising rest can make such a differenceKey Takeaways• Herding breeds were bred to work, think and respond to movement, and those instincts can remain strong in family dogs.• Intelligence comes with its own challenges. These dogs can learn quickly, but they can also notice patterns, anticipate routines and sometimes stay several steps ahead of us.• Mental fulfilment matters as much as physical exercise. Scent work, tracking, free work and purposeful activities can all give these dogs valuable outlets.• Overstimulation can show up in behaviour. Slowing things down and creating opportunities for genuine rest can be just as valuable as adding more activity.• Breed traits matter, but the individual dog matters more. Pay attention to the dog in front of you rather than relying on what they “should” be like.Connect with TinaTina's Happy Hounds WebsiteTina's Happy Hounds Facebook🐾 Find ethical, qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily - 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!

Has your once-responsive puppy suddenly stopped listening? Dog trainer Juanita Rogers explains what is really happening during canine adolescence and how to help your teenage dog through it.Canine adolescence can catch even experienced dog guardians off guard. Recall disappears, lead pulling returns, focus goes out the window and your previously confident puppy might suddenly become worried about things they never noticed before.In this episode of The Yappy Hour, Nathan is joined by dog trainer Juanita Rogers from K9 Klass to unpack what is actually happening inside the adolescent dog's brain and body. They explore hormones, brain development, fear periods, breed-specific behaviours and why your dog really hasn't forgotten everything you've taught them.Most importantly, Juanita shares practical ways to make this stage easier for both you and your dog, from going back to training basics and lowering expectations to enrichment, sniffing, decompression days and knowing when to ask for professional help.What you'll learn✅ When canine adolescence begins, how long it can last and why it varies between individual dogs✅ Why your teenage dog can suddenly seem to forget their recall, stop responding to their name or start pulling on the lead again✅ What's happening in the adolescent brain, including neural pruning, brain development and those frustrating moments of apparent "brain fog"✅ How hormones, emotional development and fear periods can affect your dog's behaviour and confidence✅ Why breed-specific behaviours such as herding and chasing can become more noticeable during adolescence✅ How short training sessions, enrichment, scent work, play and decompression days can help an adolescent dog cope✅ When to seek professional support and why choosing a qualified, force-free professional mattersKey takeaways• Your dog isn't doing it to spite you. Adolescence is a major developmental period involving physical growth, hormonal changes and changes within the brain.• Going backwards is sometimes exactly what your dog needs. Bring back the long line, practise recall at an easier level and keep training sessions short rather than expecting your dog to perform at their previous level.• Consistency gives your dog stability. Everyone involved with your dog needs to be working in roughly the same way, particularly while so much else is changing for them.• Enrichment isn't just about keeping your dog busy. Scent work, play and activities that give your dog an appropriate outlet for breed-specific behaviours can help with arousal, confidence and your relationship.• A walk isn't always what your dog needs. Sometimes a decompression day at home, with sniffing, enrichment and gentle training, can be more beneficial than adding another potentially stressful walk.• Adolescence doesn't last forever. Your dog needs support and guidance while they move through it, and struggling during this stage doesn't mean you've failed.Connect with JuanitaK9 Klass websiteK9 Klass Facebook🐾 Find ethical, qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily, 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!

Jeanette Muldoon is a trainer and behaviourist, and co-founder of Easy Peasy Puppy Training and the Family Dog Club, known for her calm, kind approach to raising confident, connected puppies. In this episode she talks through the reality of the first few weeks home, why puppy biting and barking are completely normal, and how to socialise a puppy without overwhelming them.Whether you're mid puppy-blues or preparing for a future arrival, this conversation is full of reassurance and practical, force-free advice. Settle in with a cuppa and give it a listen.What you'll learn in this episode:✅ Why the gap between puppy expectations and reality catches so many new dog guardians off guard✅ How to shift from "fixing problems" to building connection with your puppy✅ What actually matters in the crucial first week at home✅ Why puppy biting is normal, and how tiredness and arousal drive it✅ How to handle barking by understanding the reason behind it, not just stopping the noise✅ How to socialise a puppy calmly, on their own timeline, without overwhelm✅ How to lay the groundwork for home-alone confidence and healthy enrichmentKey takeaways:Puppyhood is joyful, but it's also a real adjustment. Puppy blues are common, you're not failing, you're just humanFocus on connection, not perfection. The relationship matters more than how many cues your puppy knows in month oneSocialisation is about calm, positive experiences. Confidence is built through gentle exposure and thoughtful support, not meeting every dog and every personArousal affects sleep and behaviour. An overtired puppy is a bitier, bouncier puppy, so watch their body language and let them restYou don't have to figure it all out alone. Support from a trainer or community like the Family Dog Club makes a real differenceConnect with JeanetteEasy Peasy Puppy Training websiteThe Family Dog Club websiteEasy Peasy Puppy Training FacebookThe Family Dog Club Facebook🐾 Find ethical, qualified pet professionals near you at Yappily 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!

Puppyhood is magical, exhausting, and nothing like the Instagram version this episode is the honest conversation every new puppy parent needs.In this episode of The Yappy Hour, host Nathan Dunleavy talks with Carrie of Carrie's Canines and Friends, a dog trainer with a decade of experience helping first-time puppy parents navigate the toughest early months. Carrie draws on her own journey - including raising a reactive dog - to unpack sleep deprivation, biting, puppy blues, and why building relationship and bond matters more than quick obedience wins. If you're in the thick of puppyhood (or preparing for it), this one will make you feel a lot less alone.In this episode:✅ Why "puppy blues" are completely normal and why even experienced trainers feel them✅ The real reason your puppy is nipping, jumping, or biting (hint: it's rarely about defiance)✅ How much sleep puppies actually need, and why overtiredness fuels bad behaviour✅ Why your puppy isn't a "blank slate" and how genetics and breeding shape who they become✅ How to build the relationship and bond that makes recall, lead work, and everything else easier✅ What socialisation really means (it's not meeting every dog and every person)✅ Why asking before letting your puppy be petted by strangers matters✅ How to set your puppy up for the life you actually want to live with them, pub trips, cottages, and allKey takeaways:• Puppy blues are a normal part of the adjustment and it's okay to find it hard, even when you love your puppy• Don't take water away before bed to manage toilet training; work through the overnight stage humanely instead• Hold off on expensive toys and beds early on as they're likely to be chewed before your puppy grows into them• Prioritise relationship and bond above obedience and the rest follows more easily once that's in place• Socialisation is about calm, positive exposure to the world in short bursts, not overwhelming your puppy with every dog and person you meet• Training doesn't end after a six-week puppy course - it continues for lifeCarries Canines websiteCarrie's Canines & Friends Facebook page🐾 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