The Canine Paradigm is an honest and practical dog training podcast hosted by Glenn Cooke and Pat Stuart. Drawing on decades of experience with pet dogs, working dogs, obedience, canine sport, law enforcement and scent work, Glenn and Pat examine what works, what does not and why. Episodes explore dog behaviour, aggression, reactivity, learning theory, training methods, handler development and the realities of living and working with dogs. The conversations are practical, candid and occasionally challenging, without being restricted to one training ideology. Created for dog owners, trainers, handlers and canine professionals who want to think more clearly about dogs, behaviour and training.
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Données mises à jour le 30/10/2026
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Haz Othman had already travelled to Europe for the WUSV World Championship when, he says, he learnt that a clip from his training footage had cost him his place in the event.
In Episode 377 of The Canine Paradigm, Haz joins Glenn Cooke and Pat Stuart to talk through what happened, the dog behind the footage and the wider questions it raises for dog training.
Contains strong language and discussion of serious dog bites.
Haz Othman and the WUSV controversy
Haz explains how he qualified for the Canadian team and what happened after footage from a longer Patreon training video was shared with officials. He describes receiving the news that he would not be competing, his attempts to get an explanation and the conversation that eventually followed.
His concern was that the excerpt showed pressure being applied without the surrounding training or the dog’s response when that pressure stopped. He explains why he felt the full case had not been considered.
We discuss what an organisation should establish when a welfare concern is raised, how trainers should be given the opportunity to respond and what a fair assessment of the footage would involve.
The dog behind the footage
The dog involved belonged to a client and had a history of serious aggression towards its handler. Haz talks through the circumstances of an attack, the owner’s decision to continue working with the dog and the training that followed.
He makes clear that the filmed session was one part of that work. There were other training and handling protocols, and the dog still presented risks that needed to be managed.
We ask how the dog is doing now and how the owner is getting on. Those questions lead into a discussion about the responsibilities involved in handling dangerous dogs, explaining difficult training decisions and looking at what happens beyond a single recorded session.
Showing the work and protecting the sport
The conversation also turns to the pressures facing dog sport and what happens when trainers become reluctant to show their work. We discuss the difference between raising a legitimate concern and reaching a conclusion from incomplete information.
Haz shares his views on the direction of IGP and what he would like its governing organisations to do differently. We also explore how experience with working dogs can inform the way trainers understand and manage aggression.
Throughout the conversation, Haz returns to his desire to train, compete and see the sport grow. His experience raises questions for anyone who teaches dog training, shares footage or belongs to an organisation making decisions about its members.
When a training clip raises a concern, what would you expect a fair investigation to include? Join The Canine Paradigm discussion group and let us know.
Further Details
Find out more about Haz and his work at Shield K9.
Jane Stuart, Avery Keller and Zoie Neidy contribute their artwork and creativity to the show. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Episode 376: Pat Stuart, From Special Forces to Dog Training
vendredi 2 octobre 2026 • Durée 01:27:11
Pat Stuart had planned to spend his life in the Army. Becoming a professional dog trainer was never the plan.
In Episode 376 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn Cooke puts Pat back in the interview chair as we revisit our original episode two. Following our conversation about Glenn and Harley, it is Pat’s turn to explain how he got here. This is a new conversation, not a replay, about the experiences, mentors and unexpected turns behind the voice listeners know. episode 376 episode 376
Content note: Contains strong language and detailed descriptions of military combat, deaths and serious injury, including injury to a child. Discussion of coping and memories reflects personal experience, not mental health advice. episode 376 episode 376
Pat Stuart before dog training
Pat’s story starts with an apprenticeship in stonemasonry and a lift to an Army recruiting centre that took his life in an unexpected direction. He looks back on joining Special Forces, committing himself to a military career and the experiences that made that role such a significant part of his identity. episode 376 episode 376 episode 376
He also recalls the military working dog that first captured his interest, the back injury that changed his options and the difficult decision to leave the Army. The challenge was not simply finding another job. It was working out what life could look like beyond the future he had imagined. episode 376 episode 376
The mentors who taught him to teach
Some of Pat’s most lasting lessons came from people who expected more of him than he initially expected of himself. We revisit the clerk’s course he did not want to take, the mentor who made him understand the work of the people around him, and a carefully prepared PowerPoint presentation that fell apart when the power disappeared. episode 376 episode 376
Those stories lead into a discussion about preparation, responsibility and knowing your subject well enough to teach when the equipment is no longer doing the work. Glenn explains why the PowerPoint story also changed how he approached staff training and the responsibilities that come with teaching people to handle dogs. episode 376
Finding a different purpose through dogs
Pat reflects on becoming a father, building a life outside the Army and turning an intense interest in dogs into professional work. He acknowledges the trainers who invested in him, the early puppy-training project with Sam Montgomery and the opportunities that came from starting The Canine Paradigm. episode 376 episode 376
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Episode 375: Glenn Cooke and the Dog That Started It All
mardi 22 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:07:28
Glenn Cooke and his mate Mark wanted a dog for their share house. They each put in $100 and bought a puppy through the Trading Post. They called him Harley. What began as a decision to get a dog became the starting point for a very different life.
In episode 375 of The Canine Paradigm, Pat Stuart puts Glenn back in the interview chair as we revisit our original episode one. This is a new conversation, not a replay. For listeners who have joined us along the way, it is a chance to discover how Glenn got started. For those who have been here from the beginning, it is a return to the dogs, people and experiences behind the familiar voice.
From an electrician with a puppy to a life in dog training
Before the training career, Glenn was an electrician learning to live with a puppy who brought sleepless nights, bathroom repairs and a growing sense of responsibility. Harley opened up a world that went well beyond teaching a dog to sit. As their relationship developed, so did Glenn’s interest in what dogs could learn and what it meant to work alongside them.
That interest connected with another important relationship. Glenn knew Boyd Hooper through kickboxing, but a conversation about Harley led to an invitation to Australian Dog Training. We revisit that first training night, the early NDTF years and the opportunity that eventually turned Glenn from a client into an employee.
Boyd’s influence was not limited to working dogs. Glenn reflects on being expected to mature, take responsibility and lead by example. The lessons were about handling people as well as dogs, and understanding what others should be able to expect from someone in a position of leadership.
From there, the conversation follows Glenn through decoy work, behaviour rehabilitation, private lessons, board and train, and the responsibilities of caring for dogs in boarding facilities. He looks back on the mentors and friendships that broadened his experience, the move into managing businesses and teams, and the work at Pet Resorts Australia that eventually brought him and Pat together.
The dog, the people and the stories that stayed
Glenn also explains why the podcast has become the book he always wanted to write. The conversations have given him somewhere to record the stories, acknowledge the people who helped him and share how his thinking has developed. His appreciation of Pat and Boyd brings the episode back to Harley, the dog he credits with setting so much of it in motion.
Related listening
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Episode 374: AI Slop and the Dog Training Echo Chamber
jeudi 10 septembre 2026 • Durée 56:02
When polished content replaces practical experience.
In Episode 374 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn Cooke and Pat Stuart examine AI slop in dog training and the growing distance between content that looks authoritative and work that survives contact with a real dog.
The conversation begins with an attempt to modernise the podcast’s episode artwork using artificial intelligence. At first glance, the result looked convincing. Look more closely and Pat and Glenn’s faces had changed, the dogs had been subtly altered and the words on Pat’s T-shirt had become complete nonsense.
It was polished, visually appealing and almost right.
That failure became the starting point for a much larger discussion: what happens when “almost right” information is presented with enough confidence and professional design that people stop examining it properly?
From there, Glenn and Pat explore artificial intelligence, online echo chambers, practical dog-training skill, professional accountability, legislative pressure and the increasingly hostile divide between sections of the dog-training industry.
Episode note: This is a candid and sometimes blunt discussion. Criticism within the episode is directed at particular forms of online conduct, ideological campaigning and claims made without equivalent practical scrutiny. It is not a blanket criticism of force-free trainers. Glenn and Pat explicitly acknowledge capable trainers across different methodologies and discuss professional referrals in both directions.
In This Episode
Glenn and Pat discuss:
The AI-generated image that changed their faces and produced nonsense text
Why AI promotional material is beginning to look increasingly repetitive
How artificial intelligence can reinforce a user’s existing beliefs
The difference between information about dog training and the physical skill of training a dog
The difficult space between reinforcement and the next shaping repetition
Timing, restraint, release, pressure and frustration during practical training
AI Slop in Dog Training
Can AI Replace Practical Dog-Training Experience?
Practical Experience Must Be Measurable
Real Owners and Serious Dogs
When Methodology Becomes Identity
Good Trainers Can Still Find Common Ground
Near Enough Isn’t Good Enough
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https://thecanineparadigm.com/2021/03/06/episode-168-breaking-free-from-an-echo-chamber/
Episode 373: From Elephants to Dogs with David McKelson
samedi 29 août 2026 • Durée 01:17:46
In Episode 373 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn Cooke and Pat Stuart sit down with David McKelson, founder of Pro Dog Training.
David has one of the more unusual backgrounds in Australian dog training. Before moving into dogs, he spent 17 years working in zoos. Much of that time was centred around elephant handling and training.
He also worked with marine mammals and assisted with the training of many other species. Those included gorillas, giraffes and maned wolves.
That experience gave David a very different perspective on training, animal welfare, staff development and risk management.
From Elephants to Dog Training
David’s career with animals began in a small wildlife park before he eventually secured a position at a major zoo.
Early in his career, he worked across several departments. He eventually moved into elephant handling, where he remained for many years.
Working with elephants carried serious consequences. David explains that when things go wrong with an elephant, the result may not simply be an injury.
That reality shaped the way his team approached training.
Clear systems mattered. Preparation mattered. Staff development mattered. David also became increasingly focused on creating training processes that reduced unnecessary errors.
Over time, he travelled internationally and worked alongside experienced elephant trainers in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia.
Animal Welfare, Suppression and Enrichment
One of the strongest parts of the episode explores the relationship between training and animal welfare.
David discusses elephants that had experienced heavily suppressive handling earlier in life. Some became extremely difficult and potentially dangerous.
One female elephant provides a particularly striking example.
She rarely vocalised and displayed repetitive behaviour. She also struggled to settle and sleep normally.
Training Versus Public Perception
What This Means for Dogs
Building Pro Dog Training
Leadership and Developing Trainers
Creating Safer Dog Daycare Systems
Systems, Franchising and Business Growth
Dr Stuart Hilliard
A Conversation About More Than Dogs
Further Details
Episode 372: Does Your Dog Love the Game or Just the Reward?
jeudi 20 août 2026 • Durée 55:29
Dog training motivation is not simply about how quickly a dog performs or how intensely they pursue a reward. Does your dog genuinely enjoy training, or have they simply learned to chase the food, ball or tug at the end of it? The difference matters. When the reward is the only valuable part, performance can become dependent on what the dog can see, while the training itself holds very little value.
In Episode 372 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn Cooke and Pat Stuart explore dog training motivation, what actually matters to the individual dog, and how handlers can build training that dogs actively choose to participate in.
What Actually Matters to Your Dog?
Owners can easily assume they know what their dog values. Some dogs are strongly motivated by food, while others place greater value on play, movement, social interaction, environmental access, relief from pressure or the opportunity to perform the work itself.
Understanding dog training motivation requires us to observe the individual dog rather than decide what should motivate them. A reward is only reinforcing if it genuinely increases or strengthens the behaviour that preceded it.
Creating Dog Training Motivation That Lasts
Creating value in the game means allowing the handler, cues, equipment and opportunity to work to predict worthwhile outcomes. Sessions should be clear, rewarding and short enough to preserve the dog’s enthusiasm.
Visible lures should gradually disappear. Reward placement and timing should support the next repetition, while difficulty should increase without producing constant failure. The aim is a dog that engages before seeing the payment, persists when challenged and recovers comfortably from mistakes.
For sporting and working dogs, intensity alone is not enough. Strong motivation also includes clarity, connection and the ability to settle after the work finishes. Fair pressure and well-timed correction can exist within balanced training, but they cannot compensate for confusing criteria or a game the dog was never taught to value.
Key Takeaways
Motivation is individual and can change with the situation.
Reinforcement is defined by its effect on behaviour, not the handler’s intention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using food mean my dog only works for food?
How can I tell whether my dog enjoys training?
Can corrections reduce a dog’s motivation?
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Episode 371: People are reflected in their dogs
mercredi 12 août 2026 • Durée 01:10:17
In Episode 371 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn and Pat explore the idea that people are often reflected in their dogs. This topic came from conversations Pat had with his boot camp attendees and Skool subscribers, where the discussion turned to how much a trainer can observe about an owner simply by watching the dog.
Dogs do not live in isolation. They live inside our habits, our timing, our emotional patterns, our inconsistencies, and our expectations. As a result, the way a dog behaves can often reveal the structure, confusion, pressure, or clarity that exists in the human side of the relationship.
In this episode, Glenn and Pat discuss how trainers can read these patterns without turning it into judgement or blame. Sometimes the dog’s behaviour tells us the owner lacks clarity. Sometimes it shows too much emotion, poor timing, mixed rules, or a household that has no consistent system. However, it can also show dedication, effort, improvement, and a person trying hard to get better.
Further Details
This conversation is about learning to observe the whole picture. If we want to help the dog, we often need to help the person first. Better owners create better outcomes, and better coaching helps both ends of the lead.
Are you looking for trusted dog trainers, canine professionals, and supporters of The Canine Paradigm? Below are the people, businesses, and organisations that help support the show, contribute to the wider canine community, and keep the podcast moving forward.
You can support The Canine Paradigm and access exclusive content through our Patreon page. Your support helps cover the ongoing costs of producing the show, and we are deeply grateful for the community that continues to grow around it.
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Episode 370: What makes people aggressive talking about punishment
mardi 28 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:15:14
In Episode 370 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn and Pat begin with a quick recap on The Bear and the lessons carried over from the previous conversation. However, the main focus quickly moves into a topic that always seems to stir emotion in the dog training world: punishment.
Recently, parts of the training community have been poking holes in each other’s understanding of punishment, learning theory, and how these concepts apply in real dog training. Some of those conversations have been useful. They have encouraged trainers to think harder, define terms more clearly, and question whether they truly understand the concepts they discuss. In that sense, good critique can improve the industry.
At the same time, not all of it has been helpful. Some discussions have looked less like education and more like performance. When the goal shifts from clarity to clicks, the conversation can quickly become personal, hostile, and unproductive.
In this episode, Glenn and Pat try to stay out of the cheap shots while still spitballing their own thoughts on punishment, communication, consequence, and education. The aim is not to win an argument. Instead, it is to think more clearly about a difficult topic and encourage better conversations around training.
Further Details
Are you in search of top-tier dog trainers and steadfast supporters of the Canine Paradigm? Below is a comprehensive list of individuals and businesses that stand by our mission, contribute to our operational costs, and make significant contributions to the canine community.
Glenn Cooke oversees a wide range of canine-related services at Pet Resorts Australia.
Pat Stuart offers a full suite of coaching and dog training services through Serious dog business
We invite you to support our show and access exclusive content on our P. Your contributions directly support the show’s ongoing production, and we deeply appreciate the wonderful community that has formed around it. If you’re unsure how to contribute, feel free to reach out to us for assistance.
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Episode 369: Dog life lessons from The Bear
jeudi 16 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:06:35
In Episode 369 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn and Pat catch up after a run of recent adventures, including PSA trials, Red Team work, and the arrival of a new dog. However, the main thread of this episode comes from two powerful episodes of The Bear, titled Fishes and Forks and the phrase, every second counts.
Glenn explains how he interpreted those episodes through a dog training lens. Fishes shows chaos, pressure, poor communication, emotional overload, and the damage that can happen when people are stuck reacting instead of leading. In contrast, Forks shows what can happen when someone is placed in the right environment, given structure, trusted with responsibility, and allowed to discover their own value.
From there, we connect those ideas back to dogs, handlers, and trainers. Some dogs live in constant noise, pressure, and confusion. Others begin to change when we give them clarity, standards, purpose, and a chance to succeed. The same applies to people learning the craft. Training is not just about commands. It is about environment, timing, leadership, confidence, and creating moments where the learner starts to believe they can do better.
This episode is part catch-up, part television breakdown, and part dog training reflection. If you loved The Bear, or if you care about how pressure and purpose shape behaviour, this one will make sense.
Further Details
Are you in search of top-tier dog trainers and steadfast supporters of the Canine Paradigm? Below is a comprehensive list of individuals and businesses that stand by our mission, contribute to our operational costs, and make significant contributions to the canine community.
Glenn Cooke oversees a wide range of canine-related services at Pet Resorts Australia.
Pat Stuart offers a full suite of coaching and dog training services through Serious dog business
We invite you to support our show and access exclusive content on our . Your contributions directly support the show’s ongoing production, and we deeply appreciate the wonderful community that has formed around it. If you’re unsure how to contribute, feel free to reach out to us for assistance.
Support Our Supporters
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Episode 368: How unbearable does aggression need to be
mercredi 24 juin 2026 • Durée 01:14:00
In Episode 368 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn and Pat discuss the uncomfortable reality of aggression in dogs and the question many owners quietly ask themselves. How unbearable does aggression need to be before people seek help, change course, or finally admit the situation is no longer manageable?
Aggression affects millions of dog owners around the world, yet it is often misunderstood, minimised, excused, or handled too late. In this episode, we explore the nuance behind aggressive behaviour, including fear, conflict, frustration, genetics, environment, learning history, and poor management. We also discuss why aggression is not always loud, obvious, or dramatic. Sometimes it builds slowly through small warnings that people miss or dismiss.
The conversation looks at the emotional toll aggression places on families, the risk to visitors, other animals, and the wider community, and why owners often become stuck between love, guilt, fear, and responsibility. We also talk about the importance of accurate assessment, honest advice, and realistic training plans.
This is not a simple topic, and it should never be treated like one. However, with better understanding, earlier intervention, and clearer decision-making, many owners can make safer and more informed choices for their dogs and everyone around them.
Further Details
Are you in search of top-tier dog trainers and steadfast supporters of the Canine Paradigm? Below is a comprehensive list of individuals and businesses that stand by our mission, contribute to our operational costs, and make significant contributions to the canine community.
Glenn Cooke oversees a wide range of canine-related services at Pet Resorts Australia.
Pat Stuart offers a full suite of coaching and dog training services through Serious dog business
We invite you to support our show and access exclusive content on our P. Your contributions directly support the show’s ongoing production, and we deeply appreciate the wonderful community that has formed around it. If you’re unsure how to contribute, feel free to reach out to us for assistance.
Support Our Supporters
Special Thanks
We also talk about the experience of travelling to teach while continuing to learn from the people who invited him. Alongside those opportunities came decisions about independence, family and the relationships he was not prepared to sacrifice for work. episode 376 episode 376
There is a catch-up on Valerie, Remco and Sundance, and Pat explains why teaching online and spending less time away from his family are now important priorities. episode 376
For long-time listeners, this adds context to stories and opinions heard across the show. For anyone who has only recently joined us, it is a chance to understand how Pat found his way into dogs and the people who helped him find his feet.
Who helped you find your way into dogs, and which lesson from them has stayed with you? Join the conversation in The Canine Paradigm discussion group.
Thank you to our contributing artists, Jane Stuart, Avery Keller and Zoie Neidy, for their creative contributions to the show.
We catch up on life with Narelle, Mando, Opie, Ladybug and Pixel, before talking about Glenn’s interest in returning to dog sports and making more room for training at home.
Whether you are a trainer, a dog owner or someone whose plans changed after bringing a puppy home, this episode asks a familiar question: which dog changed the direction of your life?
Content note: Contains strong language and graphic descriptions of violence and dog-bite injuries.
Thank you to our contributing artists, Jane Stuart, Avery Keller and Zoie Neidy, for their creative contributions to the show.
The importance of measurable outcomes and professional accountability
Online echo chambers and the rewards attached to polarised content
Owners living with dangerous or severely challenging dogs
Dog-training timelines that may not be practical for every household
Attempts to restrict or prohibit particular training methods
The difference between methodological disagreement and personal campaigning
Common ground between capable balanced and force-free trainers
The role of professional friendships, observation and appropriate client referrals
Glenn’s closing reflection on respectful disagreement and the future of the industry
The phrase “AI slop” is often used to describe the flood of generic, repetitive material now appearing online. The individual image, article or graphic may initially look impressive, but the effect diminishes when the same structure, wording and design appear everywhere.
Glenn and Pat discuss seeing the same dark backgrounds, repeated layouts, predictable typography and recycled arguments across community groups, dog-training pages and professional advertising.
The greater concern is not simply unoriginal artwork. It is the possibility that artificial intelligence can give a polished form to ideas that have not been properly examined.
Someone can begin with anger, certainty or a fixed ideological position and ask an AI system to formulate the argument. The resulting material may appear articulate, balanced and professionally produced even though the original premise has never been tested against practical outcomes.
Repeated approval can then produce its own feedback loop. A person publishes increasingly polarised content, receives validation from a like-minded audience and becomes more committed to producing the material that generated the attention.
The strongest practical section of the episode centres on shaping.
When a dog offers a desired behaviour, the trainer marks and reinforces it. However, the period between the dog receiving the reinforcer and beginning the next repetition can be one of the messiest parts of the exercise.
The dog may still be eating. The handler may begin talking too soon. The dog may wander immediately back towards the target without a clear separation between repetitions.
Glenn explains that the trainer may need to hold or restrain the dog briefly, create separation, feel the dog beginning to lean back towards the task and then release at the appropriate moment.
That restriction and release can also create useful frustration, energy and clarity.
It is possible to describe the general process in words, but competent application depends on timing, observation and physical feel. Those qualities are developed by repeatedly working dogs, making errors, adjusting technique and learning to recognise what is happening in front of you.
AI can provide information. It cannot physically feel the dog loading into the task, assess the quality of the next repetition or adjust its hands in real time.
Glenn and Pat argue that professional dog trainers should be prepared to have their work measured.
That measurement may come through dog sports, client outcomes, repeat business, behavioural change or the trainer’s ability to demonstrate work under scrutiny.
A paying client does not have to remain with a trainer whose advice produces no improvement. A competitor enters the field knowing that their handling and training will be assessed. A professional whose business depends on retaining students must continually provide information that those students find useful.
That creates a feedback system between theory and outcome.
Online commentary does not necessarily carry the same level of accountability. A person can publish attractive graphics, quote studies and repeat an accepted position without regularly demonstrating how the recommendations perform with complex dogs in real environments.
The central question is not whether someone can explain a theory. It is whether they can apply it, test it, adjust it and produce a meaningful result.
The conversation becomes more serious when Glenn describes owners living with severe behavioural problems.
These are not abstract debates conducted through comments and social-media graphics. They involve people sitting in their homes, questioning whether they can continue living with the dog and, in some cases, whether the dog can remain alive.
Some owners may accept a long-term process measured in years. Others are dealing with immediate safety concerns, deteriorating quality of life or a household that is close to collapse.
Glenn and Pat argue that trainers must be able to discuss different options honestly. The owner should understand the likely timeframe, the risks, the practical requirements and the probable consequences of each approach.
Dog training cannot be separated from the circumstances of the people living with the dog. A theoretical programme that cannot be maintained within the household may offer little practical value, regardless of how defensible it appears online.
A significant portion of the episode examines what happens when a training preference becomes an ideological identity.
Glenn and Pat distinguish between practitioners who genuinely prefer to minimise pressure and commentators whose public output appears to focus primarily on condemning other trainers.
Disagreement about training methods is legitimate. Trainers can examine evidence, question techniques, debate welfare and decide that they would not personally use a particular approach.
The problem arises when disagreement becomes a campaign to label all opposing practice as abuse, prevent owners from accessing alternatives or legislate competing methods out of existence.
The episode also addresses a hostile review left about the podcast. Rather than allowing it to dictate the entire discussion, Glenn uses it to make a broader point: some online accounts appear to gain recognition through being combative towards others rather than through demonstrating the quality of their own training.
The hosts’ concern is that decisions about dogs may increasingly be influenced by partial information, public pressure and people who do not fully understand the practical consequences of the restrictions they support.
One of the most important sections of Episode 374 is the acknowledgement that capable balanced and force-free trainers often have far more in common than social media suggests.
Pat estimates that a good balanced trainer and a good force-free trainer may conduct approximately 80 per cent of their work similarly. Both may use reinforcement, develop motivation, build clear communication, structure repetitions and adjust the programme to the dog in front of them.
The differences may still matter, but they do not erase the considerable common ground.
Pat also explains that there are dogs he trains through an essentially force-free process because those dogs already possess sufficient power, drive and intensity. Other dogs may benefit from carefully managed adversity, pressure or consequences.
Different dogs can require different approaches.
The discussion then turns to professional relationships. Glenn mentions Nick, a trainer who maintained a friendship with Pat despite sitting on the opposite side of the methodological debate for many years. They exchanged ideas, gave one another advice and remained able to discuss dog training without demanding ideological agreement.
Pat also describes receiving referrals from force-free trainers who recognise that a particular case has reached the boundary of their preferred approach. He explains that he has likewise referred clients to suitable force-free trainers when that practitioner was the better fit for the owner.
That is the standard Glenn and Pat believe real professionals should pursue: honest discussion, appropriate referral and the welfare of the dog taking priority over ownership of the client.
The failed AI artwork becomes the episode’s central metaphor.
It looked right until people examined it.
The faces were nearly right. The dogs were nearly right. The shirt was nearly right. The overall composition was professional enough to obscure the errors for a moment.
Dog-training information deserves greater scrutiny.
Before accepting a confident online claim, Glenn encourages people to do the physical legwork. Visit trainers. Observe dogs. Examine outcomes. Ask how the method performs outside the graphic, caption or theoretical statement.
Good presentation is not proof of good training.
Popularity is not proof of practical competence.
Agreement within an online community is not proof that the underlying position is correct.
Near enough is not good enough when an owner, a family, a neighbourhood or a dog may have to live with the consequences.
The episode closes with Glenn reflecting on the many years he has spent in the profession. He remembers an industry in which people could disagree strongly, remain respectful and still learn from one another.
Despite his frustration with the current hostility, he retains faith that enough people still value honest conversation, professional growth and genuine concern for dogs to move the industry in a better direction.
Glenn Cooke works across canine training, education and professional development with Pet Resorts Australia.
Pat Stuart provides dog training, coaching and professional education through Serious Dog Business.
Support The Canine Paradigm through Patreon for access to the extended archive and additional educational content.
You can also support the show by subscribing through your preferred podcast platform, following The Canine Paradigm on YouTube, leaving a review and sharing episodes with dog owners, trainers and canine professionals.
Join The Canine Paradigm Discussion Group on Facebook to continue the conversation.
After listening to Episode 374, tell us:
Where can artificial intelligence genuinely assist dog trainers and owners, and where does practical experience remain irreplaceable?
Narelle Cooke hosts Natural Health for People and Pets, available through major podcast platforms.
For premium human-grade canine supplements, visit Canine Ceuticals. Canine Ceuticals is also available in the United States.
Jason Firmin of Einzweck Dog Quip is another proud supporter of the show.
For daycare and heartfelt dog-training services, visit From the Heart Dog Training.
Our dear friend and regular contributor Birdy O’Sheedy can be found at The Magic in Dogs.
A sincere thank you to The Canine Paradigm’s contributing artists:
Jane Stuart Avery Keller Zoie Neidy
After she was introduced to another female elephant, her behaviour changed dramatically. She began vocalising and later started lying down to sleep.
The discussion highlights the importance of social needs, enrichment and appropriate relationships.
It also raises a larger question.
Are animal management decisions always being made because they improve welfare, or are some decisions influenced by how things appear to the public?
David explains how elephant management within zoos began changing.
There was increasing pressure to move away from free-contact programs and towards protected-contact systems.
Safety was part of that discussion. Public perception was another.
David describes the difficulty of balancing staff safety, animal welfare and the opportunities created through training.
The group also discusses how removing training opportunities can sometimes create another problem.
Animals still require stimulation.
They need opportunities to move, solve problems, interact and engage with their environment.
David makes the point that training itself can be an important form of enrichment.
That same principle carries directly into dogs.
Glenn, Pat and David draw several comparisons between zoo animals and domestic dogs.
Simply providing more space does not automatically create better welfare.
An animal can have space and still lack meaningful activity.
Dogs in boarding or daycare environments may also struggle when they spend too much time without appropriate interaction or stimulation.
The conversation examines the importance of enrichment, training and experienced staff.
Good animal care requires people who can observe behaviour and recognise when something is beginning to change.
That can be particularly important in daycare environments, where group dynamics can shift quickly.
After leaving the zoo industry, David began moving into professional dog training.
He completed the NDTF Certificate III and continued developing his practical dog training experience.
David later established Pro Dog Training.
The business developed from dog training and daycare into a much larger professional operation.
Training eventually became approximately 70 per cent of the business.
At the time of this conversation, the West Footscray operation was delivering around 80 private lessons each week, along with approximately 40 to 50 classes.
David explains that one of the areas he is most proud of is client retention.
Many clients who begin with puppy training continue progressing through higher levels of the Pro Dog system.
David’s zoo career also shaped the way he approaches staff development.
He had already spent years managing teams before entering the dog training industry.
That included dealing with strong personalities, workplace culture and the challenges that come with highly specialised animal professionals.
David explains that technical skill is only one part of building a good organisation.
Communication matters.
Leadership matters.
Culture matters.
Those principles later became central to the way Pro Dog developed.
Pro Dog also takes a structured approach to daycare.
Dogs generally attend on the same day each week rather than entering the system casually.
This allows the team to develop more stable groups.
David believes this creates a safer environment and allows staff to understand the individual dogs more thoroughly.
The group also discusses one of the biggest mistakes new daycare operations can make.
Growing too quickly can create significant risk.
Adding large numbers of unfamiliar dogs into an inexperienced system can quickly overwhelm staff and destabilise groups.
Good daycare requires patience, observation and competent supervision.
The discussion then moves into franchising and business systems.
David explains that Pro Dog spent considerable time developing its operating procedures before offering franchise opportunities.
The business created extensive systems, manuals and processes.
However, David does not believe documentation replaces good leadership.
Franchise operators still need support, communication and access to experienced people.
He also explains that Pro Dog is not pursuing growth at any cost.
In fact, David says they often try to talk potential franchise applicants out of proceeding.
The objective is to find people who understand the workload and genuinely want to operate the system properly.
The episode finishes with a discussion about Dr Stuart Hilliard and his upcoming Australian seminars.
David explains Stuart’s background in working dogs, behavioural science and military dog programs.
The seminars will explore topics including Pavlovian conditioning, instrumental conditioning, reward, sign tracking, goal tracking and ethology.
The discussion also touches on Stuart’s long history in working dogs and his contribution to the development of modern training knowledge.
For serious dog trainers, David believes the opportunity to learn from someone with Stuart’s depth of experience is significant.
Episode 373 covers much more than David McKelson’s journey into dog training.
It explores animal welfare, enrichment, risk, leadership, business systems and the consequences of removing meaningful activity from intelligent animals.
Most importantly, it asks a question that applies across many areas of animal training.
Are we making decisions because they genuinely improve the animal’s life, or because they are easier to explain and defend publicly?
That question runs throughout David’s story, from elephants and zoo management through to dogs, daycare and professional training.
Learn more about David McKelson and Pro Dog Training, including their dog training programs, daycare services and professional education.
You can also follow Pro Dog Training through their social media channels for updates on workshops and future events.
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A visible reward can support learning, but it should not become the dog’s only reason to perform.
Genuine engagement includes enthusiasm, clarity, resilience and connection with the handler.
The goal is to create a dog that chooses the training game, even before the payment appears.
No. Food can help establish a strong reinforcement history. The aim is to prevent the dog from becoming dependent on seeing the food before performing.
Look for voluntary engagement, anticipation, resilience after mistakes and a willingness to participate when the reward is not visible.
Poorly timed, confusing or excessive corrections can create conflict. Fair and understandable communication should clarify the task without overwhelming the value already built into the activity.
For practical training education and foundational health resources, visit our Dog Training and Canine Wellness page. It brings together Serious Dog Business and Canine Ceuticals for dog owners, trainers and handlers.
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If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast directory you use. Reviews help more dog owners, trainers, and canine professionals find the show.
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We also encourage you to check out Dogs Playing for Life, a transformational rescue process making a positive impact on dogs across the USA.
Narelle Cooke hosts her own podcast, Natural Health for People and Pets, available on all major podcast platforms. Be sure to listen in.
For the finest human-grade supplements for your dogs, visit Canine Ceuticals. Now available in the USA. SHOW SPONSOR
Explore our complete range of merchandise at our Teespring store.
You can also help by spreading the word within the canine community or suggesting special guests for future interviews.
For information on how to listen to our podcast, please visit this link.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video content and updates.
If you enjoyed the podcast, we would greatly appreciate your reviews on iTunes, Spotify, and other podcast directories.
Details on joining the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) can be found here. We highly recommend membership for anyone serious about advancing in the canine industry.
We also encourage you to check out Dogs Playing for Life, a transformational rescue process making a positive impact on dogs across the USA.
Narelle Cooke hosts her own podcast, Natural Health for People and Pets, available on all major podcast platforms. Be sure to listen in.
For the finest human-grade supplements for your dogs, visit Canine Ceuticals. Now available in the USA. SHOW SPONSOR
Explore our complete range of merchandise at our Teespring store.
You can also help by spreading the word within the canine community or suggesting special guests for future interviews.
For information on how to listen to our podcast, please visit this link.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video content and updates.
If you enjoyed the podcast, we would greatly appreciate your reviews on iTunes, Spotify, and other podcast directories.
Details on joining the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) can be found here. We highly recommend membership for anyone serious about advancing in the canine industry.
We also encourage you to check out Dogs Playing for Life, a transformational rescue process making a positive impact on dogs across the USA.
Narelle Cooke hosts her own podcast, Natural Health for People and Pets, available on all major podcast platforms. Be sure to listen in.
For the finest human-grade supplements for your dogs, visit Canine Ceuticals. Now available in the USA. SHOW SPONSOR
