The Canine Paradigm

In Episode 362 of The Canine Paradigm, we start with a short recap from our recent chat with Nick Benger and the wider issue of people in the industry who wear masks to dupe their followers. We talk about how performance and branding can replace honesty, and why that creates confusion for owners trying to do the right thing.

Then we get into the real value of this episode. When training starts to fall apart, most people try to fix ...

In Episode 361 of The Canine Paradigm, we sit together in the studio to welcome Dr Melanie Uhde to Australia. Melanie spent a week in the country with Glenn, fitting in as many sights as humanly possible, before delivering two weekend seminars, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. It was a big week, a lot of learning, and a lot of laughs.

We talk about what it was like bringing evidence-based education to Australian audiences, what ...

In Episode 360 of The Canine Paradigm, we sit down with UK trainer Nick Benger for a long, honest conversation that runs close to two hours. Nick has been a prominent part of the positive only dog training movement, however his thinking shifted after an epiphany while considering dog sport training. That shift led him to question what he believed, what he had been taught, and what he had been telling others.

In Episode 359 of The Canine Paradigm, Pat drops a classic ethics grenade on Glenn: the trolley problem of five versus one. An out of control trolley is racing down the track and you are standing next to the lever. On one track, five people are tied down. On the other, one person is tied down. You can pull the lever or you can do nothing, and either way someone pays the price.
We unpack what that dilemma reveals about values, respon...

In Episode 358 of The Canine Paradigm, we talk about tool bans and the wider pattern behind them. Across Australia and elsewhere, governments appear willing to trade away rights and privileges without proper consent, expert input, or ethical process. We unpack why this worries dog owners, trainers, and working-dog handlers, and why many feel angry and disappointed with leadership that seems to act first and consult later.
We discuss...

In Episode 357 of The Canine Paradigm, we unpack a simple truth. When a dog does not know what earns success, confusion grows, and confusion creates conflict. We look at how to define success clearly, how to show the dog what “good” looks like, and how to design training futures so today’s choices support tomorrow’s behaviour.

Happy New Year and welcome back to The Canine Paradigm. We start 2026 with a clear message. Too many rules and laws are being introduced at speed, without fair consultation, and often without evidence that they will achieve what is claimed. In Episode 356, I don’t approve so I want it banned is the belief we are pushing back against.

In Episode 355 of The Canine Paradigm, we ask a simple question with a messy answer. Is a tired dog a good dog, or just a flat one? We look at why clients and trainers sometimes try to tire the dog out before a lesson, and when that helps or hurts. Then, we weigh arousal, clarity, and quality of reps, and we talk about warm ups, decompression, and sensible resets.
We also touch on session design, neutral exposures, and how to set cr...

In this episode of The Canine Paradigm, Pat asks Glenn about travelling around Australia to work with Pet Resorts Australia teams on the floor. The focus is showing staff how to read dog behaviour in real time, so social boarding and daycare stay safe, structured, and enjoyable. We discuss how to set sessions up well, how to brief simple rules, and how to notice the early signs that a group needs a reset.

In Episode 353 of The Canine Paradigm, we talk about how genuine science gets twisted online and why that matters for dogs and their people. We begin with voices who keep the facts straight, including Dr Melanie Uhde, and show how clear reporting can upset those who rely on vibes over evidence. Then we look at the pattern that follows. Big personalities rarely enter the arena themselves. Instead, they rally highly engaged followers...

In Episode 352 of The Canine Paradigm, we look at stereotypes of dog owners on social media. First, we talk about how these labels form, why the algorithms reward them, and how that shapes what owners believe about training. Then we contrast two worlds. On one side, ethical and brilliant trainers who teach clearly and show real progress. On the other, clout chasers who market better than they train and turn drama into a business mo...

In this gloriously grubby edition of The Canine Paradigm, we lean right into the dog pooh life and answer the two questions you sent that made us laugh out loud. First, our worst dog diarrhoea story. We relive the slip, the splatter, and the sprint for paper towels, then talk through what the mess told us about health, how we calmed the situation, rehydrated, and reset the diet without drama. Next, a classic training confession. A ...

In this episode, we shift the lens away from outcomes and titles and look at what often gets overlooked, the dog’s experience during training. Is the dog learning with clarity, or simply complying under pressure? Are we building understanding or just building behaviour?

In Episode 349 of The Canine Paradigm, we dive deep into a question that gets to the heart of dog ownership, what do most families actually need their dog to be trained to do?

In this lively and insightful episode, Glenn sits down in person with three of the industry’s entertaining and passionate figures, Jacob Morgan from the Yorkshire Canine Academy, Ian Kirke, also from YCA, and Simon Moody (aka the Mutt Nut, aka the Best Dog Trainer in the Universe).

In this emotionally charged episode, Glenn and Pat hit the reset button after scrapping their original recording, something we don’t often do. The reason? Frustration and sadness. The original session had been overshadowed by anger and disbelief at the overwhelming wave of negativity sweeping through both the dog training community and the wider world.

In this episode, Glenn and Pat take a hard look at the ethical cracks forming in the professional dog training industry. Prompted by Justin Rigney, who continues to call out deceptive trainers, telling lies or hiding their use of tools, we dive deep into the consequences of rewarding the wrong behaviours, not in dogs, but in people.

In Episode 345 of The Canine Paradigm, we’re joined once again by our wonderful friend and regular guest, Birdy O’Sheedy. This conversation revolves around the real, often under appreciated, joy of simply living a full and present life with our dogs. It’s a reminder of why we do what we do.

In this eye-opening episode of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn and Pat explore the full weight of what happens when a dog is declared a nuisance, menacing, or dangerous by council authorities.