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Brain and Behaviour: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Daniel Shaw
The Brain and Behaviour Podcast with Daniel Shaw MSc, CDBC dives into the science behind complex dog and cat behaviour. Blending neuroscience, real-world cases, and expert insights, Daniel explores topics like aggression, trauma, and training to help listeners better understand the animals in their lives.
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- Mar 21, 20261h 20m
The Reactivity Zones Approach with Victoria Stilwell
In this episode Daniel is joined by Victoria Stilwell to discuss her new Reactivity Zones Approach as well as her journey into dog training, her early experience as a dog trainer in New York City, and her projects and collaborations with incredible trainers all over the world. Victoria will be involved in a number of events in 2026 including the Emotional Wellbeing in Animals Conference, a UK seminar on the Reactivity Zones in June (link below), as well offering lots of great courses via her platforms Positively and the Victoria Stilwell Academy. https://standishdogtrainer.co.uk/seminars-conferences/https://positively.com/https://www.vsdogtrainingacademy.com/Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk
- Feb 26, 20261h 34m
Episode 22 - Beyond Training Formulas - Suzanne Clothier
Episode SummaryIn this conversation, Suzanne Clothier explores why behaviour work must begin with the individual animal rather than rigid training formulas or one-size-fits-all methods. She reflects on her evolution as a trainer, her concerns about overly transactional models, and why relationship, context, and the animal’s lived experience are central to meaningful behaviour change.Suzanne introduces her six elemental questions as a practical framework for understanding animals, including interest in interaction, individual differences, present-moment experience, capability, permission, and what is possible together. She explains how these questions help trainers and guardians move beyond assumptions and better interpret what the animal is actually communicating.The episode also covers Suzanne’s assessment tools and her emphasis on function, including physiological, cognitive, and social wellbeing. She discusses why details such as sleep, pain, mobility, and everyday functioning are often missed in behaviour cases, and how these factors can fundamentally shape behaviour outcomes.The conversation then turns to reactivity, where Suzanne challenges the broad use of the term and advocates for a more nuanced, individualised approach. She discusses handler skill, leash handling, self-regulation, relationship dynamics, and decision points in training, highlighting the importance of helping both dog and human stay in the “think and learn zone” rather than relying on generic recipes.Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk
- Jan 26, 20261h 4m
Episode 21 - How to Judge Bite Risk - Dr. Helen Howell
Guest BioDr Helen Howell is a forensic behaviourist and expert witness. Helen spent 16 years as a police detective, much of which was spent working on a child protection unit. Following retirement through injury Helen became a clinical animal behaviourist. Helen has worked with dogs all over the world including street dogs in India and Sri Lanka and game bred American Pit Bull terriers from dog fighting cases in the United States. Helen now works predominantly as an expert witness for Dangerous Dog cases involving injury or fatality and has recently completed a PhD at the University of Lincoln. For her doctoral thesis Helen has developed evidence based dog bite risk assessment guidance. This new approach to the assessment of dog bite risk is a holistic and more ethical approach than many current methods with the intention of better prediction and prevention of dog bites.Episode SummaryHelen explains why traditional, stimulus-provocation style “temperament tests” are poor predictors of real-world risk and outlines a new, evidence-based approach using structured professional judgment. She introduces two tools under development, the DBR24 for comprehensive expert assessments and the DBRT triage tool for frontline professionals, both designed to shift focus from a dog’s appearance to the factors that actually drive bite risk: environment, management, owner understanding, predictability, and safeguarding. The conversation contrasts this with breed-specific legislation in the UK, highlighting subjectivity in type identification, why breed is a weak proxy for risk, and how better home-context assessments, owner capability, and practical management plans more effectively protect public safety.Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk
- Dec 17, 20251h 9m
Episode 20 - Resource Guarding Behaviour - Sonia Fetherling
Episode SummaryIn this episode, Sonia Fetherling joins Daniel to unpack the complexity and nuance of resource guarding. Sonia explains why typical protocols often fall apart in real homes, particularly with dogs who steal items, escalate quickly, or have developed poisoned cues around trading and food delivery. Drawing from her work with severe cases Sonia outlines why resource guarding is rarely just about “the item”.Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk
- Dec 3, 20251h 8m
Episode 19 - Talking Separation Anxiety - Malena DeMartini
In this episode Daniel talks to the incredible Malena DeMartini about all things separation anxiety in dogs. Malena dives into some fascinating topics including the dog–caregiver relationship in the context of separation anxiety protocols, tracking data in separation cases, and the practical considerations for supporting dogs with separation anxiety. To find out more, visit Malena’s website https://malenademartini.com/ Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk
- Nov 19, 20251h 10m
Episode 18 - Microbiomes, Meals, and Mood: Nutrition’s Role in Behaviour - Alyssa Ralph
Episode SummaryAlyssa joins Daniel to explore the critical intersection of nutrition and behaviour. She shares her journey from zoo animal welfare to canine nutrition, inspired by both professional experience and personal health challenges. The conversation covers the science of the microbiome, the similarities between human and canine nutrition, and how diet can exacerbate or alleviate behaviour issues.Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk
- Nov 5, 20251h 22m
Episode 17 - The Play Way - Dr Amy Cook
Guest Bio:Dr. Cook is an International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, a longstanding professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and was one of the first trainers nationally to become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through independent evaluation. Dr. Cook received her Ph.D. in Psychology from UC Berkeley, with her research focusing on the dog-human relationship and its effect on the problem solving strategies dogs employ. Dr. Cook is the founder and creator of the Play Way and a popular instructor for the online school, The Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. She has been training dogs for nearly 30 years, and has specialized in the rehabilitation of shy and fearful dogs for over 20 yearsEpisode Summary:Amy and Daniel explore the origins and applications of The Play Way. Amy explains how she combined insights from child play therapy, human psychology, and dog training to create a system that helps fearful and anxious dogs feel safe and connected. They discuss the role of social buffering, laughter, and expectation-free play in building resilience, and why traditional conditioning methods often leave underlying fear untouched. The conversation is full of practical insights into how play can transform the dog-human relationship.Amy's signature Play Way class starting in December looking at using the Play Way to support fearful and reactive dogs: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/84Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk
- Oct 22, 20251h 4m
Episode 16 - Campaigning and Advocacy - Hannah Molloy
Episode Summary:Hannah and Daniel discuss the role of campaigning, policy, and communication in advancing dog welfare. Hannah shares her journey from hands-on training to TV, authorship, and policy work, and explains how being able to connect with different stakeholders —from dog owners to vets to MPs—is a critical skill. They explore the successes of APPG for Dog Welfare, grassroots campaigning, and how public opinion and expert advocacy can combine to make lasting change for dogs.Relevant LinksAPPG for Dog Welfare (APDAWG): https://apdawg.co.ukBook What’s My Dog Thinking?: https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241419832-whats-my-dog-thinkingThe Future of Dogs Podcast: https://futureofdogs.buzzsprout.com/Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk.
About Brain and Behaviour
The Brain and Behaviour Podcast with Daniel Shaw MSc, CDBC dives into the science behind complex dog and cat behaviour. Blending neuroscience, real-world cases, and expert insights, Daniel explores topics like aggression, trauma, and training to help listeners better understand the animals in their lives.
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