What The Bark - The RightPaw Podcast

Ever wanted to know what happens on the ground at Crufts? This week, we're joined by Dr. Samantha Van Buren, geneticist and Mudi breeder, who shares her experience at the world's most renowned dog show. We hear about the glamour, the paperwork, and the shopping! Plus, George shares the new addition to his canine family!

What The Bark is back for 2026! After a little paw-se over the summer break, Nathan and George catch-up on what’s happened over summer, the winners at the recent Canberra Royal, and how dog breeds start to become ‘rare’. Have a topic you’d love to hear us discuss? Email in at info@rightpaw.com.au !

You googled, and we answered! Nathan and Genetic George sit down to talk through the 10 most searched pet genetics questions of 2025, and offer our answers. From dog ancestry, to DNA test reliability, and coat colour, we walk through what you were googling in 2025. This is our last episode for the year, and we will be back in 2026, with more What The Bark!

This week, we're here to demystify a very complex topic in the animal world - pet insurance. Nathan and George are joined by Dr. Steve Rose from Trupanion Australia, to break down the ins and outs of pet insurance, what all the different policies and terms mean, and the benefits for pets and their owners. A quick disclaimer:Trupanion Pet Insurance is issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty...

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.

Have you ever wondered whether stem cell therapy could work in dogs, as well as humans? We sat down with Paloma Newton, co-founder of Elita, a Melbourne start-up that is pioneering stem cell therapy and banking for dogs in Australia. We discuss the science behind it, the impact it can have on older dogs, and the real case studies that already exist!

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.

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 'temp...

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!

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!

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.

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.

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...

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!

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.

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!

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 micro...

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,...

This week on What The Bark, we get our crystal balls out to predict some dog trends for 2024! Nathan and George give their Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down to trends such as pet holidays, doggy cooking, breed bans, and more.

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...

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!

Would you, or should you, clone your pet? This week, Nathan visits George at the Orivet office to discuss the new practice of pet cloning - and the moral and ethical questions it raises. It's a growing trend, but it will cost you!

It's time for another of our "mythbusting" educational episodes, as What The Bark dives into DNA Parentage. Genetic George from Orivet explains what parentage testing is, why breeders do it, parentage vs. ancestry, and the different methods of testing.

On What The Bark this week, listeners have been asking for an intro to dog training theory - so here we are! With George away, Dr. Imogen has stepped in to give an overview into dog training 101. We dive into the research, different training methods, and how to find a reputable trainer. And here are links to the APDT and to the Delta Institute , both mentioned on the podcast.

Do you know how many Aussies have uploaded a picture of their dog to social media? In this episode, Nathan and Genetic George pull out the most fascinating stats from Orivet's 2022 survey of dog ownership in today's world. From dog selfies, to breed choices, to home-cooked meals for dogs, you'll be amazed at the lengths we go to for our furry friends.