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This week on The Dog People Podcast, it’s all about kids and canines—and how to help them live together safely and harmoniously.

Jack is joined by regular co-host Max O’Neil, who’s getting ready to welcome a new baby into the home, and special guest Sebastian Lemaire from Canines on Cue, who’s just become a new dad himself. Between the three, they cover every stage—from preparing your dog for a baby, to helping toddlers and young kids understand and respect a dog’s boundaries.

Max shares his top 3 tips for baby prep, Sebastian brings his real-world experience as a trainer and new parent, and Jack talks about raising his 4 and 6 year old to live safely and respectfully with the family dog.

Whether you’ve got a baby on the way or busy kids already in the mix, this episode is a must-listen for any dog-loving parent.

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In this episode of The Dog People Podcast, Jack opens up about a recent scare with Kira running through open doors left ajar by tradies—a potentially life-threatening habit that needed fixing fast. He turns to Max for expert advice on threshold training, a simple yet powerful tool to teach your dog patience and impulse control around doorways, gates, and cars.

🎥 Watch the accompanying training video now on The Dog People Podcast Facebook page!

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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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