Episode 378: Have You Forgotten to Enjoy Your Dog?

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Birdy O’Sheedy returns to join Glenn Cooke and Pat Stuart for Episode 378 of The Canine Paradigm, Have You Forgotten to Enjoy Your Dog? Birdy was our very first guest back in episode three, so as we revisit the beginnings of the podcast, it’s a good time to catch up on where life has taken her.

Her focus now is The Magic in Dogs, a community built around appreciating the everyday moments we share with our dogs. That leads us into a conversation about something that can quietly disappear when we become absorbed in training, competing or working through difficult behaviour: enjoying the dog we already have.

Contains strong language. Please do not take part in the guided meditation while driving.

When enjoying your dog becomes another job

One of Birdy’s observations will sound familiar to plenty of dog people. We mention something our dog did well, then immediately follow it with everything that still needs work.

Progress gets measured against the next goal. Before long, the dog can start to feel like another item on an already crowded to-do list.

We talk about making room to appreciate what went well. Training goals matter, and we can keep working towards them while enjoying the experience along the way. Sometimes that means letting a good moment have a little time of its own before planning the next session.

Appreciation when things are difficult

That can be harder when your relationship with your dog is under pressure. If you’re dealing with challenging behaviour, simply being told to feel grateful may not reflect what your day has actually been like.

Birdy talks about starting with appreciation. There might be something you can value today, even if the bigger picture still feels difficult. A moment of connection, something you’ve learnt or a part of the day you both enjoyed can be a starting point.

We also discuss the common ground between sport handlers pursuing a goal and owners working through behaviour problems. Both can become caught up in progress, setbacks and what comes next. Having people around you who understand that experience can make it easier to talk honestly about the good days and the hard ones.

Making time for connection

The conversation broadens into attention, friendship and the people we trust enough to be honest with. We talk about how much competes for our attention, and how easy it is to overlook what’s happening right in front of us.

Birdy’s work encourages people to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary. With dogs, that might be the greeting when you get home, their enthusiasm for joining you outside or the quiet companionship at the end of the day. Those moments are part of why we wanted dogs in our lives in the first place.

We finish with a guided meditation led by Birdy, giving listeners an opportunity to pause and reflect on their relationship with their dog. We talk about spending time together without constantly assessing the dog’s behaviour.

Have a listen, and look up Birdy O’Sheedy and The Magic in Dogs to find out more about her work. What’s something you appreciate about your dog today? Join The Canine Paradigm discussion group and let us know.

Further Details

Find out more about Birdy O’Sheedy at The Magic in Dogs and explore The Magic in Dogs community on Skool.

Birdy’s Sydney workshop is listed for Saturday 21 November 2026, from 10 am to 4 pm at Serious Dog Business in Leichhardt. See her workshop announcement and booking information for details.

For more with Birdy, revisit Episode 343: The magic in dogs.

Explore Glenn’s work through Pet Resorts Australia and Pat’s coaching through Serious Dog Business.

Help keep the podcast going through Patreon, or browse our merchandise. Find your preferred way to listen on our subscription page and follow us on YouTube.

You can contact us at info@thecanineparadigm.com.

Support Our Supporters

Discover Narelle Cooke’s Canine Ceuticals and her podcast, Natural Health for People and Pets.

We also appreciate the support of Jason Firmin at Einzweck Dog Quip, From the Heart Dog Training and Birdy O’Sheedy at The Magic in Dogs.

Special Thanks

Jane Stuart, Avery Keller and Zoie Neidy contribute their artwork and creativity to the show. Thank you for your ongoing support.

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Episode 377: Trial by Clip with Haz Othman

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Haz Othman had already travelled to Europe for the WUSV World Championship when, he says, he learnt that a clip from his training footage had cost him his place in the event.

In Episode 377 of The Canine Paradigm, Haz joins Glenn Cooke and Pat Stuart to talk through what happened, the dog behind the footage and the wider questions it raises for dog training.

Contains strong language and discussion of serious dog bites.

Haz Othman and the WUSV controversy

Haz explains how he qualified for the Canadian team and what happened after footage from a longer Patreon training video was shared with officials. He describes receiving the news that he would not be competing, his attempts to get an explanation and the conversation that eventually followed.

His concern was that the excerpt showed pressure being applied without the surrounding training or the dog’s response when that pressure stopped. He explains why he felt the full case had not been considered.

We discuss what an organisation should establish when a welfare concern is raised, how trainers should be given the opportunity to respond and what a fair assessment of the footage would involve.

The dog behind the footage

The dog involved belonged to a client and had a history of serious aggression towards its handler. Haz talks through the circumstances of an attack, the owner’s decision to continue working with the dog and the training that followed.

He makes clear that the filmed session was one part of that work. There were other training and handling protocols, and the dog still presented risks that needed to be managed.

We ask how the dog is doing now and how the owner is getting on. Those questions lead into a discussion about the responsibilities involved in handling dangerous dogs, explaining difficult training decisions and looking at what happens beyond a single recorded session.

Showing the work and protecting the sport

The conversation also turns to the pressures facing dog sport and what happens when trainers become reluctant to show their work. We discuss the difference between raising a legitimate concern and reaching a conclusion from incomplete information.

Haz shares his views on the direction of IGP and what he would like its governing organisations to do differently. We also explore how experience with working dogs can inform the way trainers understand and manage aggression.

Throughout the conversation, Haz returns to his desire to train, compete and see the sport grow. His experience raises questions for anyone who teaches dog training, shares footage or belongs to an organisation making decisions about its members.

When a training clip raises a concern, what would you expect a fair investigation to include? Join The Canine Paradigm discussion group and let us know.

Further Details

Find out more about Haz and his work at Shield K9.

Explore Glenn’s work through Pet Resorts Australia and Pat’s coaching through Serious Dog Business.

Help keep the podcast going through Patreon, or browse our merchandise. Find your preferred way to listen on our subscription page and follow us on YouTube.

You can contact us at info@thecanineparadigm.com.

Support Our Supporters

Discover Narelle Cooke’s Canine Ceuticals and her podcast, Natural Health for People and Pets.

We also appreciate the support of Jason Firmin at Einzweck Dog Quip, From the Heart Dog Training and Birdy O’Sheedy at The Magic in Dogs.

Special Thanks

Jane Stuart, Avery Keller and Zoie Neidy contribute their artwork and creativity to the show. Thank you for your ongoing support.

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Episode 376: Pat Stuart, From Special Forces to Dog Training

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Pat Stuart had planned to spend his life in the Army. Becoming a professional dog trainer was never the plan.

In Episode 376 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn Cooke puts Pat back in the interview chair as we revisit our original episode two. Following our conversation about Glenn and Harley, it is Pat’s turn to explain how he got here. This is a new conversation, not a replay, about the experiences, mentors and unexpected turns behind the voice listeners know. episode 376 episode 376

Content note: Contains strong language and detailed descriptions of military combat, deaths and serious injury, including injury to a child. Discussion of coping and memories reflects personal experience, not mental health advice. episode 376 episode 376

Pat Stuart before dog training

Pat’s story starts with an apprenticeship in stonemasonry and a lift to an Army recruiting centre that took his life in an unexpected direction. He looks back on joining Special Forces, committing himself to a military career and the experiences that made that role such a significant part of his identity. episode 376 episode 376 episode 376

He also recalls the military working dog that first captured his interest, the back injury that changed his options and the difficult decision to leave the Army. The challenge was not simply finding another job. It was working out what life could look like beyond the future he had imagined. episode 376 episode 376

The mentors who taught him to teach

Some of Pat’s most lasting lessons came from people who expected more of him than he initially expected of himself. We revisit the clerk’s course he did not want to take, the mentor who made him understand the work of the people around him, and a carefully prepared PowerPoint presentation that fell apart when the power disappeared. episode 376 episode 376

Those stories lead into a discussion about preparation, responsibility and knowing your subject well enough to teach when the equipment is no longer doing the work. Glenn explains why the PowerPoint story also changed how he approached staff training and the responsibilities that come with teaching people to handle dogs. episode 376

Finding a different purpose through dogs

Pat reflects on becoming a father, building a life outside the Army and turning an intense interest in dogs into professional work. He acknowledges the trainers who invested in him, the early puppy-training project with Sam Montgomery and the opportunities that came from starting The Canine Paradigm. episode 376 episode 376

We also talk about the experience of travelling to teach while continuing to learn from the people who invited him. Alongside those opportunities came decisions about independence, family and the relationships he was not prepared to sacrifice for work. episode 376 episode 376

There is a catch-up on Valerie, Remco and Sundance, and Pat explains why teaching online and spending less time away from his family are now important priorities. episode 376

For long-time listeners, this adds context to stories and opinions heard across the show. For anyone who has only recently joined us, it is a chance to understand how Pat found his way into dogs and the people who helped him find his feet.

Who helped you find your way into dogs, and which lesson from them has stayed with you? Join the conversation in The Canine Paradigm discussion group.

Further Details

Find Glenn’s work through Pet Resorts Australia and Pat’s coaching and education through Serious Dog Business.

Support the show and access additional content through our Patreon page, or visit our merchandise store.

Explore our podcast listening options and subscribe to The Canine Paradigm on YouTube. Share the episode with a friend, leave a review, or get in touch at info@thecanineparadigm.com.

Support Our Supporters

Visit Narelle Cooke’s Canine Ceuticals and listen to her podcast, Natural Health for People and Pets.

Our thanks also go to Jason Firmin at Einzweck Dog Quip, From the Heart Dog Training, and Birdy O’Sheedy at The Magic in Dogs.

Special Thanks

Thank you to our contributing artists, Jane Stuart, Avery Keller and Zoie Neidy, for their creative contributions to the show.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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