Positively Dog Training - The Official Victoria Stilwell Podcast

In this episode, we explore the social health of dogs, insights from free living dogs, and how understanding their behavior can improve our relationships with our pets. Sindhoor Pangal joins Victoria following her presentation at the 2026 Dog Behavior Conference to share her research, observations, and practical advice for dog lovers and professionals.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns for the RSPCA, joins Victoria to talk about the history, achievements, and ongoing challenges in animal welfare campaigning, specifically with the RSPCA. They discuss legislation, public engagement, recent Crufts controversies, Lucy's Law, and the future of animal welfare efforts.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

UK dog trainer Kay Attwood joins Victoria to share behind-the-scenes stories from her new UK TV series, Wagging Rights, which features comedians and their dogs, and why she never hesitated to speak up for the dogs on set. She then explains what canine cognition really means and how brain games can transform the way dogs and their people work together.

The conversation turns to dementia in senior dogs: the early signs that are often mistaken for "naughty" behavior, whether enrichment still helps, and simple ways guardians can make life easier for a dog whose world is changing. Drawing on their own experiences caring for aging dogs, Victoria and Kay offer insight and compassion for anyone sharing their home with a senior dog.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

Victoria delves into the systemic welfare issues at Crufts 2026 with canine massage therapist and consultant Yaz Porritt, highlighting incidents of mishandling, lack of welfare measures, and the need for significant reforms to protect dogs. Join them as they discuss actionable solutions, the importance of accountability, and the future of dog shows.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

Join Victoria and Irith Bloom as they explore habituation, stress coping skills for animals, and how to effectively use these techniques in training and behavior modification. Irith shares insights on non-associative learning, practical applications, and her upcoming certification program, Carefree Companion.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

Join Victoria Stilwell as she interviews Vanessa Woods, a renowned researcher and director of Duke Puppy Kindergarten, about canine cognition, bonobos, and innovative puppy training methods. Discover how scientific research is transforming our understanding of dogs and improving training and welfare.

Genius of Dogs by Vanessa Woods - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A7U4V4Q

Duke K9 Cognition Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/duke_k9_cognition/

Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary - Friends of Bonobos

Canine Cognition Center at Duke University - https://sites.duke.edu/dognition/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/VanessaWoods

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/duke_k9_cognition/

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

Running a dog training business? Victoria hosts Gina Phairas and Veronica Boutelle from Dogbiz to discuss how dog trainers can build successful, sustainable businesses, the importance of community, and strategies for professional growth in the industry.

• 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.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Create your free Positively account here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at https://positively.com/.

In this episode, Victoria and Kristina Spaulding discuss learned helplessness and learned control in dogs, exploring their neurobiology, impact of trauma, and implications for training and rescue. They explore science-based strategies to enhance canine resilience, and how drastically a dog’s wellbeing can change as a result.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

In this episode, famed dog behavior expert Patricia McConnell joins Victoria Stilwell to discuss Patricia's new mystery novel, Away to Me, why no dogs die in her book, and the heart-wrenching saga of the Ridglan Beagles.

Victoria asks Patricia about her influential books, her journey from traditional to modern dog training, and her activism against unethical animal research. They explore the emotional and scientific aspects of animal behavior, the power of storytelling, and the importance of advocacy.

• 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.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Create your free Positively account here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at https://positively.com/.

Andrew Hale joins Victoria to explore supportive walking and practical strategies for understanding and managing dogs' behavior in challenging environments. They answer listener’s questions and discuss creating supportive and individualized environments for dogs and their owners, to build connection, communication, and trust for better outcomes.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

Separation anxiety expert Malena DeMartini joins Victoria to explore the causes, symptoms, and effective treatment strategies for canine separation anxiety. They explore how behavior modification, management, and professional help can improve your dog’s quality of life.

Guest Links:

• Malena DeMartini's Website
• CSAT Certification Program
• Find a CSAT Trainer Near You

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

Melissa McCue-McGrath joins Victoria to discuss her new book 'Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer,' her experiences with unconventional cases, and the challenges faced by women in the dog training industry. This episode offers insights into real-world dog training, industry dynamics, and empowering women professionals.

Guest Links:

Melissa McCuma McGrath's Website: https://www.melissamcgrath.com

Book: Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F4X9XK

• 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.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Create your free Positively account here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at https://positively.com/.

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.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

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.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

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.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

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, Torquay
• Dog Behavior Conference - Registration now open!

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

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.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

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.

• 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.

• Launch or level up your career as a professional dog trainer with the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Learn more here.

• Create your free Positively account here.

• Solve behavior problems and find tools to help live your best dog life at https://positively.com/.

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!

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.

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.

• 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.

• 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 https://positively.com/.