Life With Your Dog

In this episode of Life With Your Dog, Panos sits down with Joe Dickinson for a deep dive into the art and science of dog behaviour and training.   We explore why it’s important to stop simply labelling dogs as stubborn, dominant, anxious or aggressive and instead start observing the dog in front of us. Behaviour doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and understanding the individual dog means considering en...

In this episode of Life With Your Dog, Panos sits down with Roger Mayer APM (Australian Police Medal)— former NSW Police Dog Unit Sergeant, instructor and highly experienced working-dog trainer.   Roger spent decades working with police and working dogs, developing an understanding of what makes dogs tick when reliability really matters. His career has included handling and training police dogs, t...

Panos is joined by Brent Dry from The K9 Company for a conversation about skill acquisition, generalisation and reliability in dog training.   What does it actually mean for a dog to know something?   Teaching a behaviour is only the beginning. In this episode, Panos and Brent unpack the process of taking a newly learned skill and developing it into something the dog can perform across different e...

Roger Wallace has been an avid supporter and listener of Life With Your Dog since 2019 — and after all these years, we finally get to sit down and talk dogs. Roger's passion for dog training has grown well beyond simply listening to the podcast. He's immersed himself in the craft, attending seminars, following and learning from different trainers, asking questions, and more recently beginning to o...

In the past seven days, Panos has worked with four dogs across three different households that have been declared dangerous by council — something he routinely encounters as a dog trainer.   In this episode, Panos and Luke discuss nuisance, menacing and dangerous dogs, what can lead to a council declaration, and what owners should do when aggressive or unruly behaviour starts becoming a genuine ri...

Does your dog growl when you ask them to get off the couch? Guard their bed? Ignore you inside the house but behave well outside? You're not alone.   In this episode, Panos dives into one of the most common issues dog owners face: a lack of structure at home. Many behaviour problems don't begin on the walk—they begin in the living room. Topics covered: - Why dogs become possessive of furniture and...

In this episode of Life With Your Dog, Panos sits down with Brett Bailey, founder of Who's A Good Boy Industries in New York City. Brett is a professional dog trainer whose work blends practical experience with a deep interest in canine cognition, neuroscience, and behaviour change. We explore how dogs learn, the role emotions play in behaviour, why so many owners unintentionally reinforce the pro...

Many dog owners say they want their dog's behaviours to change... but are we willing to change ourselves? In this episode, we explore a simple idea that has a huge impact on dog training: if nothing has changed, nothing will change. More often than not, lasting behaviour change starts with the owner, not the dog. We discuss how our daily habits, consistency, timing and expectations shape our dogs'...

In this episode, Panos explores the gap between what people say and what they actually do and why dogs are often the most honest judges of our behaviour. Dogs don't listen to our intentions. They don't care about our excuses. They respond to the patterns we create every day. In this episode: Why actions reveal more than words Why you can't lie to your dog What dogs are actually looking at when dec...

Bringing home a new baby is one of the biggest changes your family will ever experience—and your dog is going through that transition too.   In this episode, Panos, Luke and Sebastian Lemaire discuss how to prepare your dog before your baby arrives, what to do during pregnancy, and how to create a safe and positive relationship between your dog and your newborn from day one.   Topics covered in th...

On this episode of Life With Your Dog, Panos talks about the concept of Play, Train & Exercise and why the best sessions with your dog combine all three together. Rather than separating walks, obedience and play into completely different activities, Panos explains how engagement, structure, rewards and movement can all work together naturally in everyday life. From structured walks and tug gam...

In Episode 276, Panos and Luke sit down with Lisa Wray, who spent 16 years working and managing the shelter where Panos has volunteered for over a decade. Lisa shares what it really takes to run a high-functioning shelter—from building a tight-knit team to creating an environment where both staff and dogs can thrive. Her leadership played a key role in improving the welfare of the animals, proving...

Most dog owners are accidentally reinforcing bad behaviour on every walk. In this episode, Panos breaks down the biggest mistake - putting the walk on autopilot. Pulling, scanning, and ignoring you all get rehearsed daily without realising. Walks aren’t just exercise - they’re training. Learn how small changes in structure and intention can completely change your dog’s behaviour.   Panos' book - T...

Buddy Spohn from Lateral K9 joins Panos and Luke for a deep dive into what really drives dog training success. They unpack how to build true motivation in any dog, why scent work is such a powerful outlet, and how modern social media is confusing more dog owners than it’s helping. Training should always feel like play—and explores what that mindset actually creates in dogs over time. The boys disc...

Paul Zubcic from Summerland Dog Training joins Panos to dive into the world of K9 tracking. As a former police K9 handler, Paul shares his real-world experience working tracking dogs and breaks down the fundamentals—what tracking actually is, how dogs follow human scent, and how everyday dog owners can start teaching it themselves. They explore the process of building a reliable tracking dog, comm...

Panos sits down with renowned trainer Jay Jack for a direct and thought-provoking conversation about the craft of dog training and personal development. Jay breaks down his concept of “windows of opportunity” — explaining that most windows in life are natural… except for “work.” Work is not something that magically presents itself. It must be created, pursued, and stepped into deliberately. The co...

Panos sits down with Dr Will Magness — veterinarian and founder of 5 Hounds dog food, to unpack some of the biggest (and often most misunderstood) topics affecting dogs today.   The conversation explores the three major factors influencing dog health, why Dr Will started 5 Hounds, and the common issues seen in kibble-only diets. It also dives into proper feeding, the link between food and allergie...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jas Whiting founder of Prime Canine to break down the real process of raising and developing high-drive Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd puppies destined for police, military, and corrections work. Jas walks us through what it takes to raise multiple working-line puppies at the same time, laying strong foundations for tracking, bite work, environmental confiden...

Training your dog isn’t about flashy skills or perfect reps in perfect conditions — it’s about reliability in the real world. In this episode, we break down what proofing really means and why so many dog owners get stuck when behaviour “falls apart” outside the training session. We talk about why you started training in the first place, how your lifestyle should shape your dog’s training, and why...

Dan returns for round two, and this one goes deep. In this episode, we unpack intrinsic motivation in dogs—from prey drive to play drive—and how those drives differ, overlap, and actually show up in real-world training. Not theory for theory’s sake, but how these concepts matter when you’re working dogs day in, day out. Dan shares lessons learned from years of working dogs, alongside his experienc...

Most dog owners walk their dogs every day… and still end up with pulling, reactivity, and chaos on the leash. Why is that? In this episode, Panos and Luke break down the 20/20/20 Rule — a simple, repeatable walking structure that balances discipline, freedom, and training. You’ll learn why the walk should be split into three clear phases: • A structured loose leash walk to set the mental tone • Fr...

In this episode Panos sits down with Simon, “The Mutt Nut”, a UK-based trainer who’s worked at both extremes of the dog-training world — from sled dogs in Norway, to street dogs across Europe, to guide dogs, pet dogs and heavy-duty aggression cases through rescue organisations. Simon’s known for his no-nonsense motto: “Cut the fluff and focus on what works.”We dive deep into his journey, the lesso...

This episode, we sit down with Calem from K9 Kuriosity for a deep dive into the realities of working with reactive dogs and the owners guiding them. We cover his concept of the sliding scales and how owners can better understand thresholds, triggers, and progression when addressing reactivity. Calem shares his approach to building true confidence and resilience in dogs, what it actually looks like...

In this episode, Panos sits down once again with Samantha Walsh from Man’s Best Friend to discuss a unique case — a rescued dingo pup and the long, delicate process of helping him adapt to suburban life in Sydney. After reaching out to Sam for advice and guidance, Panos shares his client’s story and the challenges of domesticating a dingo in a busy urban environment. Together, they unpack the key...

Panos and Luke break down what truly makes a great puppy class. From choosing an experienced trainer to understanding the importance of environment, structure, and socialisation, they share insights from years of hands-on experience working with puppies and their owners. They discuss how to tailor group sessions to individual dogs, why having a calm adult dog in class can accelerate learning, and...