In this episode of The Dog People Podcast, we tackle a topic that can stir up strong opinions—buying from breeders.

While we absolutely recognise that many people are passionate advocates for adoption, we also know that some individuals choose to buy from breeders for personal, practical, or breed-specific reasons.

Our goal? To make sure that if you do go down the breeder path, you’re equipped with the knowledge to do it responsibly. We break down what ethical breeding looks like, how to spot red flags, and the questions you must ask before bringing a pup home. Whether you're a first-time buyer or just curious, this episode is all about making informed, welfare-focused decisions.

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

In this episode of The Dog People Podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked keys to a calm, happy, and well-behaved dog—giving them a job. Whether you’ve got a high-drive working breed or a chilled-out family companion, every dog benefits from mental stimulation and purpose.

Trainer Max O’Neil breaks down what it actually means to “give your dog a job”—and no, it doesn’t mean sending them to the office. From basic obedience roles to enrichment tasks and breed-specific games, we cover why purposeful activity helps drain your dog’s mental battery, reduce anxiety, and prevent behavioural issues before they even start.

Learn how to bring out your dog’s natural instincts in a healthy, productive way—so they feel fulfilled, focused, and content.

✅ Key topics: dog enrichment, breed-specific needs, mental stimulation, behaviour management, daily routines, fulfilling instincts.

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In this episode of The Dog People Podcast, we break down two of the most essential and misunderstood terms in dog training: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. If you’ve ever wondered why your dog keeps repeating certain behaviours—or why your rewards aren’t working—this one’s for you.

Trainer Max O’Neil joins us to demystify the four quadrants of operant conditioning and explain how dogs learn through consequence and clarity. We explore how both positive and negative reinforcement can be used ethically, humanely, and effectively to shape behaviour—and why knowing the difference between the two could be the key to unlocking better communication with your dog.

Learn how to reinforce the behaviours you want and avoid accidentally encouraging the ones you don’t. Clear, practical, and myth-busting—this episode is essential listening for dog owners at any stage of the journey.

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In this episode of The Dog People Podcast, we tackle one of the most misunderstood concepts in dog training: punishment.

For many, the word brings to mind shouting, harsh corrections, or outdated discipline methods. But real, ethical punishment in dog training is none of those things.

Together with professional dog trainer Max O’Neil, we unpack what punishment actually means—clear communication and boundary-setting—not fear, pain, or frustration. We explore how to help our dogs understand the difference between behaviours we want to reinforce and those we don’t, using safe, calm, and effective strategies.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone confused by conflicting dog training advice, or those looking to strike a balance between kindness and clarity when raising a well-behaved, confident pup.

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Recall isn’t just about your dog coming when called—it’s about trust, timing, and proof. In this episode, Max breaks down his Four Levels of Freedom:

1. Proofing
2. Reinforcement
3. Accountability
4. No Strings Attached

Jack shares what happened when he rushed Kira’s recall training and how stepping back and following Max’s process helped him build a rock solid recall. We’ll talk about how to gradually increase your dog’s freedom—from short lead to no lead—and what questions to ask yourself before moving to the next level.

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Barking is one of the most common frustrations for dog owners—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood behaviours. In this episode of The Dog People Pod, Jack and professional trainer Max O’Neil explore the many different reasons dogs bark. Whether it's alert barking, boredom, frustration, fear, excitement, or simply a way to get your attention, every bark tells a story.

Before you can effectively address the behaviour, you need to understand the why behind it. This episode is all about identifying which type of barking your dog is doing, and why recognising the root cause is crucial before you attempt to correct it. Max shares real-world examples and key insights to help you decode your dog’s vocal cues, setting the stage for deeper dives into each barking type in future episodes.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why won’t my dog stop barking?”—this is where your journey to peace and quiet begins.

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Your dog listens at home, but ignores you at the park? You might be stuck between stages. This week, Max explains the four stages of learning every dog owner needs to know—starting with Teaching the behaviour, moving into Training it with intent, Proofing it under real-world pressure, and finally Maintaining it so it lasts. Jack shares real-life examples from his journey with Kira, and together they break down how to get from "kind of knows it" to "nails it every time."

1. Teaching – Introducing your dog to a new behaviour.
2. Training – Repeating it with clarity, structure and expectation.
3. Proofing – Testing it with distance, duration, and distraction.
4. Maintenance – Keeping the behaviour sharp for life.

Whether you're raising a new pup or trying to take your current dog to the next level, this is the training framework that works.

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