Positively Dog Training - The Official Victoria Stilwell Podcast

Helen St. Pierre joins Victoria to share her inspiring journey from shelter work to founding Old Dogs Go to Helen, a sanctuary dedicated to providing end-of-life care for senior and special needs animals. They explore quality of life and how to support aging pets with dignity.They also talk about disease trajectories in aging pets, signs that indicate it's time for end-of-life decisions, the euthanasia process and what to expect, and supporting pet owners through grief and decision-making.Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

 In this podcast episode, Victoria Stilwell and Steve Dale discuss his new book, Ask the Dog, and the importance of consent and bite prevention. Their freewheeling conversation explores humane dog training, the dangers of aversive methods like shock collars, veterinary breakthroughs, and the far-reaching impact of scientific research in feline health. Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

Jo Pay joins Victoria to discuss her journey of raising a new puppy, Jig, a 16-week-old border collie. They explore the challenges and joys of puppy training, the importance of socialization, and the realities of managing expectations as a dog trainer and owner. Jo shares her experiences with choosing the right breeder, the significance of sleep for puppies, and strategies for socializing Jig in a safe and controlled manner. The conversation emphasizes the emotional resilience needed for both puppies and their owners, highlighting the rewarding yet demanding nature of raising a puppy.Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

Andrew Hale joins Victoria to discuss the profound impact of Sarah Fisher on the dog training community, emphasizing the importance of curiosity in both personal and professional development. They explore the joy of working with dogs, the concept of supportive walking, and the significance of understanding a dog's internal environment. The conversation also delves into the complexities of threat circuits and how they affect both humans and dogs, highlighting the need for a compassionate approach in dog training. Finally, they touch on the value of conferences and community in fostering growth and learning in the field of animal behavior.Links to conferences mentioned in podcast:Emotional Wellbeing in Animals Conference 2026, TorquayDog Behavior Conference - Registration now open!Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

Yaz Porritt joins Victoria to discuss the critical aspects of pain management and nutrition in dogs, including the importance of understanding pain as a multifaceted issue and the role of the microbiome in overall canine health. Their discussion also covers hydration, the four pillars of pain assessment, and the impact of dog conformation on health. They also delve into the controversial practices at Crufts, advocating for better welfare initiatives and the need for a shift in breeding standards to prioritize the health and well-being of dogs.Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

Beverly Cuddy joins Victoria to discuss the complexities surrounding dog breeding and health assessments in the UK, including the newly introduced Innate Health Assessment (IHA) tool, which aims to help potential dog owners choose healthier breeds. Beverley shares her concerns regarding the tool's effectiveness and the potential negative impact on certain breeds, underscoring the importance of ethical breeding practices and the need for legislation that protects both dogs and responsible breeders. Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Solve reactivity with Victoria's powerful course on Positively.com: Help! Stop Reactivity. Learn more & enroll here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

Victoria is joined by canine behavior consultant, anthropozoologist, and upcoming Dog Behavior Conference speaker Sindhoor Pangal to explore the pressing issues surrounding free-living dogs in India, particularly in light of recent government actions aimed at mass dog relocation. Sindhoor’s focus highlights the importance of understanding the ecological and ethical implications of such measures, including an appreciation of how counterproductive to public health and animal welfare they are. They also discuss the misconceptions surrounding free-living dogs and the societal dynamics that contribute to their treatment in urban environments.The conversation delves deep into the emotional and social health of dogs, contrasting the Western approach to dog ownership with the more communal and symbiotic relationships seen in India. Sindhoor advocates for a shift in perspective, urging listeners to recognize the value of free-living dogs in their communities and the importance of fostering coexistence rather than conflict.Hear more from Sindhoor at this year’s Dog Behavior Conference in April!Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

Victoria and Daniel Shaw delve into the complexities of canine behavior, focusing on trauma-informed care, the impact of stress on dogs, and the importance of understanding the dog’s individual needs. Daniel shares insights from his background in psychology and neuroscience, discussing how these fields inform his approach to working with dogs and cats. They also touch on the challenges of assessing dog behavior in legal contexts and developing more appropriate risk assessment tools when evaluating behavior while emphasizing the importance of context, secure relationships, and realistic expectations in canine care.Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

In this conversation, Kamal Fernandez and Victoria take a trip down memory lane discussing their rich and varied history together on TV shows like The Dog Academy and Dogs Might Fly, while exploring the complexities of living in a multi-dog household, the challenges that arise, and the importance of truly understanding dog behavior in dynamic situations. Kamal shares some key insights about the keys to living successfully in multi-dog households and his upcoming presentation about the topic at the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference. The discussion also delves into the concept of drive in dogs, highlighting the difference between arousal and purposeful drive, and the implications for training and behavior management.An finally, Victoria and Kamal reflect on the legacy of the beloved Sarah Fisher, a true guiding light in the world of dog training and beyond. Book your seat for the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference here. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here. Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at Positively.com. Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

What is separation anxiety and why do so many dogs suffer with this condition? How can you tell the difference between separation anxiety and boredom? Why is it so difficult to treat and what therapies are out there that can help?Victoria chats with VSPDT trainer Nicola Cook from the Poochie People about her work with dogs that have separation anxiety and what experts like Nicola can do to help families navigate the tricky waters of this common, but complex, issue.Victoria also introduces VSA’s brand new course for professional dog trainers: Reactivity for Dog Training and Behavior Professionals. This is a new and comprehensive approach to working with reactive behavior inside and outside the home, that will be available worldwide to all dog trainers and behavior professionals in the Autumn. The Reactivity for Dog Training and Behavior Professionals course incorporates The Reactivity Zones Approach, an innovative and effective method of helping dogs and guardians tackle reactive behavior without having to adopt tricky, long-winded DS/CC protocols. This course is a game changer for trainers, guardians and dogs that work and live with reactive behaviors.