Thinking about desexing your dog? This episode delivers the answers you need from two leading experts who break down the science, myths, and real-world impacts of neutering and spaying.

Join podcast host Jack alongside renowned dog trainer Max O'Neil and veterinary behaviorist Ingrid from Creature Connections for an in-depth conversation about one of the most common, yet widely misunderstood, decisions dog owners face.

What you'll discover:

• The medical pros and cons of desexing at different life stages
• How neutering affects behavior, aggression, and anxiety in male and female dogs
• Timing considerations: early desexing vs. waiting until maturity
• Breed-specific factors that influence the decision
• Common myths debunked by veterinary science

Whether you're a new puppy parent or reconsidering desexing for your adult dog, this expert-led discussion cuts through the confusion with evidence-based insights and practical advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perfection doesn’t exist in dog training and chasing it can suck the fun out of life with your dog.

In this episode, Jack and professional trainer Max talk about the importance of picking your battles. Not every behaviour needs fixing, and not every rule needs to be enforced. The real work is figuring out what actually matters to you.

It's important to break behaviours down into three simple categories:

• Non-negotiables
• Nice to haves
• Doesn’t matter

Jack shares his long-running (and eventually abandoned) battle with Kira jumping on the furniture, while Max talks about living with Nelson and his sneaky licking. Together, they unpack why trying to control every detail often leads to frustration, for both the human and the dog.

The goal isn’t a perfect dog.

It’s a functional, enjoyable life together.

If training has started to feel like a constant fight, this episode will help you step back, reset your priorities, and remember why you got a dog in the first place.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most common things dog trainers hear is: “He’s not aggressive, he’s just protecting me.”

In this episode, Max O’Neill explains why that explanation is almost always incorrect.

We cover:

• Why dogs don’t “protect” owners the way people think

• How dogs can see owners as a resource, not someone to defend

• Why reactivity often shows up when people approach you

• The uncomfortable truth about what would likely happen in a real emergency

If your dog is reactive, understanding the real cause is the first step to actually helping them.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.