Barks from the Bookshelf

• #86 Danny Nelis-Rouse - Tug-E-Nuff: Building Better Bonds & Businesses With Play

  Alright, fellow dog fanatics, prepare for an episode of Barks from the Bookshelf that's got more bounces than a super-excited Border Collie! Steve and Corrin are back from their beach break (and likely still shaking sand out of their ears) to dive into a seriously fun chat with the brilliant Danny Nelis-Rouse from Tug-E-Nuff!Ever wondered how a passion for pups turns into a booming business? Danny spills the beans on his journey, inspired by his own furry companions. We get the inside scoop on:Making Toys That Last: How Tug-E-Nuff battles the chew-monster challenge.Eco-Friendly Fetch: Their awesome commitment to sustainability – because a happy planet means happy dogs!The Power of Play: Why a good game of tug is more than just fun, it's bond-building magic!Myth-Busting for Mutts: Danny's take on debunking common training misconceptions.Growing Old Playfully: How they might look forward to designing toys for our "golden oldies" and their changing play needs.Plus, we talk about the sheer joy of seeing your product loved, the importance of your feedback in creating awesome toys, and how to keep that business passion burning bright.And if that wasn't enough, Steve and Corrin dish on their own dog ownership joys, tease some very exciting upcoming webinars and DOGX conference snippets, and give you a sneak peek at future podcast guests. Get ready for a listen that's as fun as a squeaky toy and as insightful as a perfectly timed recall! WOOF!Danny Facts:Danny Nelis-Rouse, Managing Director of Tug-E-Nuff, the award-winning tug-toy company exclusively for dogs Danny Nelis-Rouse left a corporate career in call centres behind to join his family business Tug-E-Nuff in 2013. Since then, he's played an integral role in reshaping Tug-E-Nuff's direction toward the broader dog training market, establishing it as more than just another business selling dog toys. Today, Tug-E-Nuff is known across the UK, US and Europe for its quality range of interactive training toys - each designed to bring change, enrichment and positivity to dogs of all breeds and backgrounds through the power of play. Links:Get your DOGX Tickets hereTug E Nuff Website hereTug E Nuff Partner Programme here

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• #85: Jamie & Gemma Pound from UK Sniffer Dogs: Great Laughs, Good Sniffs & Game-Changing Training

  Alrighty then Bookshelvers, settle in with your favourite beverage (and maybe a tasty morsel, or two, for your furry co-listener) because this episode is a HOOT! We’re still wiping away tears of laughter reminiscing with our amazing guests, the legendary Jamie and Gemma Pound from UK Sniffer Dogs. We spend a bit of time reminiscing on the hilarious antics and, shall we say, memorable moments from behind-the-scenes shenanigans at Crufts. Let’s just say what happens at Crufts, mostly stays at Crufts... until it’s shared on a podcast!We also get the fascinating origin story of UK Sniffer Dogs – how sniffing completely turned their dog training world upside down (in the best possible way!) and the incredible positive waves it sends through a dog's behaviour. Spoiler: it’s pretty magical. We chat about why making dog training feel less like homework and more like a party is crucial for both ends of the lead, and the sheer joy of finding your dog-loving tribe.But it's not all giggles and games (okay, it mostly is!). We dive into the serious business of making dog training a genuinely inclusive and enjoyable space for everyone. Think less "drill sergeant" and more "super-fun camp counsellor." Jamie and Gemma spill the beans on:Classroom Zen: Smart setup and management so classes are calm, cool, and collected (well, mostly!).Engagement Secrets: Techniques to get those tails wagging and brains buzzing.Scent Work Superpowers: Why scent work is like a magic wand for dogs who find the world a bit much (yep, we’re talking about our beloved reactive pups!). Seriously, this stuff is versatile, super safe, and a fantastic outlet for dogs of all ages, creeds, and sniffing abilities.The sniffing adventures don't stop there! We explore some of the innovative tools that make scent work even more exciting, how to make sure every dog can join in (no matter their ability), and the eternal quest for the perfect sniffing venue (because not all lampposts are created equal).And for our fellow dog pros listening, we even peek into the business end of things – making your passion profitable while keeping it accessible. Because sharing the joy of dog training shouldn’t break the bank!Naturally, this being "Barks from the Bookshelf," we couldn't let them go without squeezing out some top-tier book recommendations to get your human brains just as engaged as your dog's nose.So, pop in those earbuds, prepare for some laugh-out-loud moments, and get ready to be inspired by the wonderful world of UK Sniffer Dogs!Links:UK Sniffer DogsTrain Your Dog to Save the Environment - WebinarDOGx Tickets

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• #84: Niki French - Stop! Walking Your Dog

  We hope this pod finds you well Bookshelvers This week Steve sails the Barks From Podship solo across the canine geek ocean! Luckily for him he has a wonderful book to get stuck in to!  This week we are thrilled to be joined by the awesome Niki French to talk (amongst other stuff) all about her book 'Stop Walking Your Dog'. There is so much to unpack about Niki and her journey to writing the book as well as all the other amazing “project pies” Niki has her fingers in. This was an insightful and relaxed interview that we feel you’ll love! Amongst other amazing things, Niki shares her insights on the importance of short training sessions and how to make training enjoyable for both dogs and their owners, her favourite games that can enhance the training experience and bond. We delve into various aspects of dog training, focusing on understanding dog behaviour, the significance of boundary games, and the role of calmness in training. We discuss the ACE-free work approach and its benefits, and touch on the challenges of navigating controversies in the dog training industry and where Niki falls on the need for regulation and recognition of trainers' qualifications. Niki shares all about her dog Bodhi, a Battersea rescue, detailing the challenges and triumphs of training him. We talk about 'Don't Walk Your Dog Day' and the concept (and strange controversy) around it. Niki is also kind enough to reflect on her experiences as a writer and the impact of her book on dog training and behaviour discussions. We hope that this conversation will fire you all up, make you smile, make you think and ultimately help highlight the significance of nurturing a dog's well-being through various activities (not just walkies). Of course there’s more… There always is! And this week Steve also pulls out some "stand out" parts of the book with our usual sections.  So what are you waiting for? Indulge your brain box and your chuckle sack simultaneously… WOOF!Niki Facts: Niki French is a dog-mad, people-loving, award-winning dog trainer, bestselling author, and podcaster. Niki French is the founder of Pup Talk and author of Amazon best seller STOP! Walking Your Dog. After a 30-year career as an international Sales and Marketing Director, a serious bicycle accident in 2014 became the catalyst for a complete life change. Niki followed a childhood dream of working with animals and, in 2019, launched Pup Talk and Twickenham Dog Services. Niki is a Certified ACE Trainer, KAD (Kids Around Dogs) Approved Professional, UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter Member and part of the Pet Professional Network.  She specialises in helping overwhelmed pet parents with nervous, reactive, or over-excitable dogs. Her kind and empowering approach combines practical support with a deep understanding of emotional well-being – for both dogs and people. She’s especially passionate about activities that support dogs physically and mentally, beyond the traditional walk. She offers 1-2-1 training, often featuring ACE Free Work, in-person in Middlesex, Surrey and West London and online globally. She also supports people with Pup Talk The Pack membership.  Niki lives in Twickenham with boyfriend Ash and their rescue dog Bodie, a handsome Collie Lurcher X. He launched into their lives from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home when he was 8 months old.Links:Link to buy Niki's book hereLink to Niki's Puptalk website hereLink to Niki's Youtube Channel here

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• #83: Daniel Shaw - Brains, Behaviour & the ABK Conference

  Alrighty then Bookshelvers!?It's time to get comfy, pop the kettle on, slip those nice socks you like on and open your ears, minds and hearts! This episode was a real treat because we (finally) got to chat with the brilliant Daniel Shaw from Animal Behaviour Kent, and ooooh boy, did we cover some fascinating ground! We talk about Daniels super interesting journey into the world of dog behaviour and training and why understanding the brain side of things (yep, we're talking neuroscience) not only rings his bell but is absolutely key to effective training. We talk about how to inject fun into training and being sure that our interactions are enjoyable, positive experiences for everyone involved. He also gave us some wise nuggets all about interpreting science and reminded us just why being great communicators is crucial in our industry, especially when we're trying to help the humans on the other end of the leash make changes. We chatted about our shared passion for putting on conferences and zoomed in on the upcoming ABK conference with its theme of 'resilience' in dogs front and centre and a mind blowing list of the speakers appearing this year. We also got to give you all a peek behind the curtain at the challenges of putting on such a huge events like the ABK and DOGX conferences and how much thought goes into choosing just the right people to speak. We also got excited about the latest buzz in dog behaviour and emotions research – there’s always something new to learn! As well as all that truly top notch chitchat hosts Steve and Corrin delve into the psychology behind human behaviour, superstition and scientific reasoning alongside sharing a surprising kitchen mishap and BIG news on Dave the Sparrow! Delay no further dog geek… this’ll make your inner ears sing with joy Link to buy tickets to the ABK Conference hereLink to the blog Daniel talked about on the Art of Persuasion here Link to buy tickets for DOGX 2025 here

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• #82: Clara Hewson - Making Muzzles & Building Movements

  How's tricks you lovely Bookshelvers?It's all go here at PACT HQ and over the last few weeks we've had the absolute pleasure of talking with some amazing guests (all of which will be invading your earholes soon enough). This means that every fortnight we can't contain our excitement when we know release day is incoming. SO.... Without further ado we bring you yet another wonderful human working in the dog profession Clara Hewson! For those of you who aren't yet familiar with The Muzzle Movement we can't wait to share Clara's story with you. It is very important though that we state in all honesty that Clara (and her amazing team) aren't just make muzzles, they're building a movement! It was a genuinely inspirational chat that left Nat and Steve feeling enthused. We cover LOADS, Clara gets down to business talking about bringing her muzzle idea to life! Inspired by loss and a desire to make things better, she reveals the ups and downs of launching a start-up – from finding the funds to leaning on community power. Hear first-hand why she’s so passionate about educating everyone on muzzles. She even explains how design choices are helping to give muzzles a much-needed image makeover!!! We chat about giving muzzled dogs the visibility they deserve and the advocacy efforts supporting their humans AND, learn about the values at the heart of her work. Clara also shares insights into the challenges within the dog world and her exciting plans for future projects to keep pushing dog welfare forward. All that and much more including Nat and Steve updating everyone on Dave the Sparrow and a welcome return of Natalie's Injury Odyssey.Go on... Slip us in your auris interna. You won't regret it.Link to the Muzzle Movements Website hereLink to DOGX 2025 Tickets here

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