What The Bark - The RightPaw Podcast

The dog world. Done differently. Join Nathan Olivieri of RightPaw and George Sofronidis of Orivet as they discuss the latest news, topics, and content that matters to dog breeders and owners. RightPaw is on a mission to help every dog and owner start off on the right paw. This podcast will see us provide dog breeders and owners with the latest education on health, behaviour, socialisation, the latest advocacy news, and much more! We'll also have special guests - both animal and human - coming along for the ride!

58. Vale Charlie - Saying goodbye to a pet

This week, we celebrate the life of George's dog Charlie, the lovable Boston Terrier and an iconic figure in the Orivet journey.Nathan and George talk about saying goodbye to a pet, the decisions around it, and coping with the grief that comes with such an irreplaceable loss.

09-18
26:38

56. Inbreeding Coefficients Explained!

Ever heard of a COI? 🧬 It stands for Coefficient of Inbreeding – a measure of how closely related a puppy’s parents are.This week, George and Nathan unpack this concept, and how breeders ensure genetic diversity in their breeding programs.

06-16
23:53

Rewind Ep - 7. Dog Temperaments with Ginette Loft

This week, we've dived into our back catalogue to bring you a What The Bark classic episode, all about Dog Temperaments!Dogs have personalities too! This week, we discuss Dog Temperaments with RightPaw breeder and show-dog judge Ginnette Loft. We delve into how dogs develop their temperaments, how dogs even in the same breed group can be polar opposites, and how breeders can conduct 'temperament testing' on their pups to match them with the right families.If you want to read more about Ginnette, you can visit her Emeraldcity Cairn Terriers profile on RightPaw.

05-21
48:04

55. Becoming a breeder, with Jessica from Hapapi Papillons

Ever wondered how someone first becomes a breeder? What's involved in getting started?We sat down with Jessica from Hapapi Papillons, who shares how she started her breeding journey, and the many considerations along the way.From finding a mentor, to your foundation dogs, to planning the first litter - Jessica generously shares her experience becoming a breeder!

04-23
30:21

54. Season 5 Kick-Off, and Dog Trends in the US!

What The Bark is back for 2025, and raring to go!Nathan and George share some of the important life events that put a short pause on the pod for a few months.And George tells all about the US conferences he attended, and how the dog world is done differently in the US!

03-26
21:50

53. Breed ID Tests Explained

Have you ever wondered how Breed ID tests determine the make-up of your beloved pooch? George and Nathan sit down to discuss Breed ID testing, how the tests works, and the watch-outs to know when interpreting your results.

11-06
29:10

52. Shiba Inu Breed Spotlight, with Lyne Browning (Kortmar Shiba Inu)

What breed is one of the oldest native breeds, and also the face of a cryptocurrency? Enter the Shiba Inu! This week we are joined by Lyne from Kortmar Shiba Inu to discuss this much loved breed. We dive into the breed origins,"Shiba glitter", its history as a famous 'meme', and lots of fun facts along the way.

10-09
39:57

51. All about Worming, with Dr. Sooan from Drontal

Have you ever wondered why Worming is so important for dogs and puppies? This week, Dr. Sooan Choi from Drontal (one of Australia's leading worming brands) joins us to dive into all things worming. We learn all about the main types of worms, how dogs may pick these up, why puppies are more at risk, and how to ensure your dogs are best protected against parasites. For more information, you can visit Drontal or Vetoquinol. Label disclaimer: Always read the label for full claim details and directions.

09-04
30:17

50. Inside the Orivet Testing Laboratory

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a DNA testing laboratory? This week, Genetic George gives us an inside look into how a dog DNA test goes from a saliva sample to a fully fledged result!

07-08
32:11

49. "Adopt, Don't Shop" - An ethical discussion

We've all heard people say "Adopt, Don't Shop" for a dog, but is it really as simple as that? Nathan and George dive into this controversial topic - discussing the ethics of buying vs. adopting, why adopting is not for everyone, and how buying from a responsible breeder can help reduce the burden on shelters.

05-29
24:33

48. Pomeranian Breed Spotlight, with Robyn Dodds (Pomfire Pomeranians)

We're joined by Robyn from Pomfire Pomeranians, in a special spotlight on this fiery little breed! We discuss the breed's origins, how Poms were once much larger than what we know today, and how this is our first case of sibling guests on the podcast!

05-08
32:59

47. "Mythbusting" Breeding with DNA Carriers

There are a lot of myths out there about breeding with DNA disease carriers, so we asked the expert! This week, Genetic George talks us through the safest way to breed with DNA carriers in your breeding program. The great news - having a DNA carrier does not stop a dog from being part of a successful breeding program! Also, we apologise for some of the audio in this episode - Nathan had some microphone issues, but we should be back to normal next week!

04-17
19:08

46. Staffy Breed Spotlight, with Kim Reeder (Gamester Staffords)

Did you know Staffies are nicknamed "the nanny dog", for their reputation for being great with kids? We're spotlighting Staffies this week, with renowned breeder Kim Reeder of Gamester Staffords. We dive into the history of the breed, their origins in dog fighting, how the breed changed during the world wars, and how they are the ideal family dog! Kim is also part of her own podcast, The Dog Show Show.

03-28
42:04

44. Scottish Terriers, with Jason Rhodes (Dumbarton)

Did you know the Monopoly 'dog' is modelled off the Scottish Terrier? This week on What The Bark, we talk all things Scotties with Jason Rhodes, from Dumbarton Scottish Terriers. We dive into the breed history, why Scotties have a special relationship with US Presidents, and how Jason has built a near 20k following of Scottie lovers around the world. You can learn more about Jason via his Linktree profile here.

02-14
44:30

43. The National Dog Show in Philadelphia

What The Bark is back for 2024! And so is Genetic George - back from his visit to The National Dog Show, in Philadelphia USA! He shares his observations into the US dog scene, how it differs from Australia, and some minor celebrities he met along the way!

01-23
33:02

34. Dogs and Coat Colour (Part 3)

Tune in for the final instalment in our series on dog coat colour! In Part 3, we discuss two of the most rare colour variations - piebald (pied) and merle - and delve into the health conditions owners and breeders of merle dogs need to be aware of. You can read more here about the Langevin merle scale via the link here, and check out a great educational and visual resource for Dog Coat Colour here.

05-17
46:43

33. Dogs and Coat Colour (Part 2)

We're back with Part 2 in our special episode all about dog coat colour! In Part 2, we look at some of the more unusual colour variations, including sable, brindle, and black and tan - and what it means for dog owners of those breeds. Here is the link to the great educational resource discussed in the episode, explaining coat colour with great visuals: http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/index.htm

04-12
32:46

32. Dogs and Coat Colour (Part 1)

Ever wondered how a black labrador can produce yellow puppies? In a special series of episodes, Genetic George guides us through how coat colour works in dogs! In Part 1, we dive into dog DNA; how all dog coats can be traced back to two base colours; and how different DNA variations produce all the colours we see today! Here is the link to the great educational resource discussed in the episode, explaining coat colour with great visuals: http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/index.htm

03-29
45:48

31. Golden Retriever "Breed Spotlight", with Camuka Golden Retrievers

A whole podcast episode on the Golden Retriever? Sign us up!  This week on "What The Bark", we shone our 'Breed Spotlight' on one of the world's most popular breeds.  Joining us was Jane Hodges from Camuka Golden Retrievers, as we dive into the origins of the breed, their temperament and standard, important health concerns, and why they're so enduringly popular.  Jane has even written a book on how to raise a Golden Retriever puppy, which is a fantastic read for new GR parents! You can find out more at camuka.com

03-15
28:25

30. The ADAMTS3 Genetic Test, with Nathan and Genetic George

This week, we’re tackling one of the most commonly asked questions from breeders in the last 6 months…what is ADAMTS3? This new genetic health test has raised a lot of questions and concerns, so we thought we would demystify the most frequent questions, and look at how this affects breeding programs. Please note, the information in this episode is for general advice only, and we always recommend consulting with your vet on any health decisions.

02-21
27:39

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