The Dog People Podcast

Did you know your dog could save another dog's life? This week on The Dog People Podcast, Max and Jack are joined by Kim and Charlie from the Gold Coast Animal Blood Bank to talk about something most dog owners have never thought about: dog blood donors. Just like us, dogs sometimes need a blood transfusion, and that blood has to come from somewhere. Kim and Charlie walk us through all things...

More than 100 dogs were found suffering in 40 degree heat at a puppy farm in Perth's south. This week the man behind it, Jia Xu Dong, was jailed for nine months and fined $5,000, and the magistrate went as far as saying puppy farming should be abolished altogether. The RSPCA believes Dong bred at least 390 puppies over four years, with sales estimated at $1.17 million. Even after he pleaded gu...

Where your puppy comes from matters more than most people realise. So how do you tell a responsible breeder from one you should walk away from? This week Max and Jack are joined by Roy Dunn, Head of the Breeder Team at Knose Pet Insurance. Roy is an Australian Labradoodle breeder himself, with a focus on DNA testing and early puppy training, and he has worked closely with breeders across Australia...

What do you do when a pack of 15 Dutch Shepherds starts spiralling out of control? This week Max and Jack are joined by Ryan Keys of Ryan Keys Dog Training, who has been working with dogs since his late twenties. Ryan got a call about Dolph, a bloke with a big heart and an even bigger pack of Dutch Shepherds on a large rural property in northern New South Wales. After multiple bite incidents and g...

Does Australia just not like dogs? In this episode of The Dog People Podcast, Jack and Max are joined by Georgie from The Good Dog Gang to compare dog culture in the UK and Australia. Georgie is British, and so is Jack, and that shared background sparked a conversation about just how differently the two countries treat their dogs. In the UK, dogs are welcome in far more public spaces than they are...

Gun dog training is one of the most rewarding ways to channel a high-drive dog, and in this episode we dig into how to get started in the sport. Jack and Max sit down with Georgina from The Gun Dog Gang, the popular Instagram account, to talk all things gun dogs: what the sport actually involves, which breeds take to it best, and how to begin even if you've never picked up a dummy in your life...

Negativity bias and recency bias might sound like something from a psychology lecture, but they could be the hidden reason your dog's reactivity keeps coming back. It's easy to think one scary encounter won't matter if your dog has had plenty of good ones. The truth is, dogs are wired to hold on to the bad stuff, and the most recent experience often carries the most weight. In episode...

Ever wonder why your dog is a perfect angel off-lead but transforms into a reactive nightmare the moment you clip on their collar? Or the opposite - fine when free but loses it on the lead? In this episode of Reactivity Unpacked, Max breaks down exactly what's happening: barrier frustration. What starts as simple excitement to greet other dogs can escalate into frustration and, if left unchecked,...

Jack's old mate, comedian Dave Hughes, posted a video of his rescue dog Ginger having a very determined go at his drywall - and we couldn't resist bringing it to the show. Turns out, there's a lot to unpack when a dog decides your house is their personal demolition site. In this bonus episode, we dig into why dogs become destructive in the first place, what's actually driving that behaviour, and p...

We've learned so much about giving our dogs enrichment and meeting their breed-specific needs - but have we gone too far the other way? Many dogs now live in a constant state of stimulation, always doing, always going, always needing more. In this episode, Jack and Max sit down with Sarah from @TheHumanandTheHellHound to explore one of the most overlooked skills in dog training: teaching your dog...

Today we have a special guest in the Dog Pod HQ studio! Sarah from @TheHumanandTheHellHound is going to be hanging out with us for a couple of episodes to talk about her over 20 years of experience working with dogs, with many years of that experience going to working with RED ZONE dogs, the dogs that most of the world gives up on. Sarah loves nothing more than saving them from euthanasia. Sarah i...

In todays episode we take your questions from the Dog People Podcast facebook group! We handle some issues with a Kelpie who's decided that the bedroom is the only place to train and we tackle the question on Dog food, whats good and whats worth skipping! Need help with your four legged best friend? get intouch with Max at downunderdogtrainer.com This episode is brough to you by the team at knose...

How close can your dog get to their trigger before they tip over the edge? That distance is called threshold, and understanding it might be the single most useful thing you can learn about your reactive dog. In episode two of our Reactivity Unpacked mini-series, Max explains exactly what threshold means and breaks down his approach to working with it, using his method of green, yellow and red zone...

Is your dog hitting the roof at the sight of another dog, a passing car, or an unexpected sound? You're not alone. In this mini-series, we're pulling back the curtain on canine reactivity - exploring what it really is, where it comes from, when it shows up, and most importantly, what you can do about it. Join Max and me as we dig into the nitty gritty of reactivity in all its forms. Whether your d...

With Jack away on Holiday Max is flying solo this episode and taking you through his origin story. How he found himself as the highest rated dog trainer on the Gold Coast! so grab a coffee, tea or you're favourite bevvy sit back and get ready for story time! Need help with your four legged best friend? get intouch with Max at downunderdogtrainer.com This episode is brough to you by the team at kno...

Walk into any pet shop and you will find walls of leashes, harnesses and gadgets all promising to fix your dog's walking woes. But do you actually know what any of it was designed to do? In this episode, Max breaks down the world of dog equipment and the original purpose behind the tools we clip onto our dogs every day. We take a close look at harnesses, what they should and should not be used for...

AI is everywhere, and now it's coming for dog training. In this episode, Max reveals a project he's been working on: an AI version of himself. Built on his own ideas and training techniques, it even sounds like him. It's designed as a helpful tool for his clients, meaning if Max isn't immediately available, they can still get guidance that's true to his methods rather than turning to random and of...

Today is a BONUS Q&A episode thanks to the legends and KNOSE Pet insurance, It's time to open the inbox, because this week Jack and Max are answering your questions. First up, a dog whose world has been turned upside down by a house move. Since arriving in the new home seven months ago, this pup can't cope with being left alone, and the separation anxiety is getting worse. Max explains why a c...

"Adopt don't shop" is one of the most repeated phrases in the dog world. But what if it's part of the problem? In this episode, Max makes an argument that will surprise, and possibly frustrate, some of our listeners. As a dog trainer and behavioural expert, he believes that if everyone bought their dog from a reputable, ethical breeder, we would actually see fewer dogs ending up in shelters and fe...

If every person did these, 99% of dog trainers would be out of work! Recently Max listed 15 simple things you can do for your dog that can solve 99% of Behavioural issues. In this episode we tackle the rest of Max's list, talking off leash freedom, having rules in the home, using thier nose and more! Need help with your four legged best friend? get intouch with Max at downunderdogtrainer.com This...

If every person did these, 99% of dog trainers would be out of work! Recently Max listed 15 simple things you can do for your dog that can solve 99% of Behavioural issues. In this episode we tackle the first seven of them. Number 1 may suprise you. Need help with your four legged best friend? get intouch with Max at downunderdogtrainer.com This episode is brough to you by the team at knose Pet Ins...

If your dog lunges at other dogs on lead, barks at the postie, or loses the plot at the sight of a skateboard, you're not alone, and your dog isn't bad. They're reactive, and that's a very different thing. In this episode, Jack and Max unpack one of the most misunderstood behaviours in dog ownership. Max walks through the different types of reactivity, from fear-based and frustration-based to leas...

Living with a reactive dog can be exhausting. Walks become stressful, unexpected triggers create anxiety, and over time it can start to impact the relationship you have with your dog. In this episode of The Dog People Podcast , Jack Laurence and Max O’Neil dive deep into one of the most common challenges dog owners face, reactivity. With Max recently launching his new training program, Reactivity...

A wagging tail means a happy dog, right? Not quite. In this episode, Jack and Max bust one of the most widespread myths in dog ownership and explain why misreading the tail can put you, your kids, or another dog in a tricky spot. Max breaks down what different tail positions, heights, speeds, and movements actually communicate, from the loose full-body wag of a genuinely relaxed dog to the high, s...

Rescues do incredible work, but the breed on the listing isn't always the dog you bring home. In this episode, Jack and Max unpack why so many rescue dogs get mislabelled, what that means for unprepared owners, and how a bit of homework before adoption can save everyone a lot of heartache. Max shares a jaw-dropping story from his own experience as a trainer, turning up to help a client with what w...