S4:E15 How To Play With Your Dog (Part 2) Guest: Tim Pratt From Diverse Dogs. Welcome back to Part 2 of How To Play With Your Dog with Tim Pratt from Diverse Dogs. In this episode, we dive deeper into the fundamentals of play, explore the prey sequence to make your play sessions more fulfilling, and highlight what to avoid when playing with your dog. Tune in to discover how purposeful play can strengthen your bond, build confidence, and make training more fun for both you and your dog. Please re...
Aug 19, 2025•1 hr 59 min•Season 4Ep. 15
S4:E14 How To Play With Your Dog: Part 1 (Guest: Tim Pratt From Diverse Dogs). In this two part episode, Tim Pratt from Diverse Dogs returns for another insightful chat, this time it's all about the power of play in relationship & confidence building as well as training and behaviour management. Building on his first appearance in S4:E5, where Tim explored emotional regulation for handlers and dogs, he now dives into how structured play can strengthen bonds, build trust, and channel natural ...
Aug 05, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 14
S4:E13 When Things Go Wrong (Part 1) In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and Max explore real, anonymously submitted stories from the field — all centred around moments when things didn’t go to plan while working with a therapy dog. From unexpected behaviours to tricky client interactions and medical concerns, they unpack common themes and share practical tips for staying calm and professional. They also highlight the value of strong training ski...
Jul 22, 2025•48 min•Season 4Ep. 13
S4:E12 Why Scent Work Might Be The Training Tool You’ve Been Missing (Guests: Tanya Lawless & Leigh Russell) This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Max and Sam chat with Tanya Lawless and Leigh Russell from Unpacked Dog Education and Training. With a strong background in dog behaviour and scent detection, they share how scent work can support the overall well being of our dogs. From managing prey drive, to using sniffing games in behavioural consults, this episode is packed with ti...
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Season 4Ep. 12
S4:E11 Inside the Data: A Teacher’s Take on the Power of Therapy Dogs (Guests: Bree Rooney & Scott Gale) Sam and Max were joined this week by Bree Rooney and Scott Gale for a feel-good episode all about the success of Toormina High School’s therapy dog program. Bree and Scott shared how therapy dog Delilah and therapy dog in training Ellie have become an integral part of the school community—boosting student well-being, building confidence, reducing negative behaviours, and even helping one ...
Jun 24, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 11
S4:E10 Assistance Vs Therapy Dogs - Can You Have Both? Can an assistance dog also be a therapy dog? In this episode of the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and Amy discuss the differences between assistance dogs and therapy dogs, highlighting their distinct roles, training requirements, and behavioural characteristics. They explore the challenges and ethical considerations in managing these dogs' workloads, emphasising the importance of clear boundaries between different roles and responsible...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 10
S4:E9 Building Your Dog’s Confidence With The Box Training Method PAT HAS NOW GOT A DIRECT LINK TO THE BOX VIDEO https://www.seriousdogbusiness.com/thebox This week on the podcast Sam discusses a training technique called the Box Training Method that helps build a dog's confidence and can address some behavioral and handling issues. Therapy dogs need to be confident to safely to do their job and this method will be really useful for all of our current and past participants. Pat Stuart offers a F...
May 27, 2025•38 min•Season 4Ep. 9
S4:E8 Foundation Dog Training Advice For Every Owner - The Nooch's Pooches Method (Guest: Panos Anagnostou) Sam and I were joined by Panos Anagnostou this week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast. We are very excited because Panos has published a book called The Nooch's Pooches Method, that everyone in our community is going to greatly benefit from. We are strong advocates for continuous learning and having a range of material available that can be re-visited time and again. Sometimes, that me...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 4Ep. 8
S4:E7 How Hard Is It To Train A Therapy Dog? This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam dives into a really important question that maybe isn't asked enough- how hard is it to train a therapy dog? The answer may not be what you expect. Please remember to subscribe, follow and like this podcast if you enjoy it, a good review will help us a lot too. Enjoy! SUBSCRIBE! Interested in Animal-Assisted Therapy / Animal-Assisted Services and studying with Therapy Dogs Australia? Visit our websi...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 7
S4:E6 Retiring & Navigating The Passing Of A Therapy Dog (Guest: Sharlet Jensen) This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I got to sit down with Sharlet Jensen, a Speech Pathologist based in Seattle, who's experienced the emotional process of retiring not one, but two therapy dogs, coping with the passing of her retired therapy dog, Johnny Utah and breaking the news to her clients. Please remember to subscribe, follow and like this podcast if you enjoy it, a good review will ...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Season 4Ep. 6
S4:E5 Co-Regulation Between Handlers & Their Dogs, Impact On Relationship & Reactivity (Guest: Tim Pratt) This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I had an opportunity to sit down with Tim Pratt, founder of Diverse Dogs, who shared his background in working with dogs and discussed the importance of understanding and managing emotions for both handlers and their dogs. This episode covers various aspects of dog training, including handling reactive dogs, the benefits of bre...
Apr 01, 2025•2 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 5
S4: E4 Puppy Temperament Testing For Choosing A Future Therapy Dog (Guest: Serena Lynch) This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast we had the opportunity to sit down with Serena Lynch, the breeder & founder of M&M Companion Retrievers. This episode is best watched on our youtube channel as Serena shares some videos of temperament assessments from her previous litters and discusses what traits are especially important for puppies that may grow up to become therapy dogs one day. Ther...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 4Ep. 4
S4: E3 Starting An Animal-Assisted Activities Business. This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam sits down with go-getter Bree Rooney to discuss various aspects of running an animal-assisted activities business, including strategies for starting and growing the business, understanding roles and responsibilities, and best practices for working with dogs in different settings. They also cover the operational aspects such as billing, client communication, and the importance of proper do...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Season 4Ep. 3
S4:E2 School Therapy Dog: Sage’s Impact & Setting Up for Success (Guest: Natalie Esterhuysen). This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I are joined by Natalie who has a therapy dog named Sage. We cover the positive impact of Sage on students at their school, and strategies for managing Sage in such a busy environment. Natalie also shared her experience of introducing Sage into school, emphasizing the importance of thorough research, preparation, and community involvement. Pl...
Feb 11, 2025•47 min•Season 4Ep. 2
S4:E1 What's On In 2025 For Therapy Dogs Australia Sam and Max chat about what 2025 might have in store, the heartbreak and healing that comes with losing a beloved pet, and, somehow, aliens and air fryers make their way into the conversation. We also share updates about our pets and some exciting plans for future podcast guests and topics. If you enjoy the podcast, don’t forget to like, subscribe, follow, and leave us a glowing review! It helps us reach more people in the industry so we can all...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 36 min•Season 4Ep. 1
S3.E16 Sonny's Legacy E16 Sonny's Legacy. Sonny, Sam's beloved therapy dog, crossed the rainbow bridge early on Monday morning, leaving behind a profound legacy, too great to put into words on the page. In today’s episode, Sam reflects on Sonny’s incredible career, from guiding her through her personal growth as a young adult, leading them into a caerer in animal-assisted therapy (before most people knew what that was), and inspiring the creation of Therapy Dogs Australia. Join us as we honor So...
Nov 21, 2024•2 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 16
S3:E15 Regulation In The Industry – Does It Exist?! Welcome to the Therapy Dogs Australia podcast. In this episode, Sam and Amy dive into the pressing need for regulation and accountability in the animal-assisted therapy field. They unpack the risks involved, sharing insights on professional responsibility and the importance of setting standards to protect both clients and animals. The conversation also highlights issues around misrepresentation, where unqualified dogs are marketed as therapy an...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 15
S3.E14 Pet First Aid (Guest: Dr. Olga Lynn) Ready to learn pet first aid with Dr. Olga Lynn? Use this special discount code for 10% off: TDA10 Access the course here: https://drolgalynn.com.au/products/first-aid-course This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I are joined by Dr. Olga Lynn, a veterinarian who created an Online Pet First Aid Course. We discuss recognizing early signs of illness in animals, balancing prompt action with a calm demeanor, and handling emergencies durin...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 54 min•Season 3Ep. 14
S3:E13 Navigating NDIS - Third Parties, Animal ASSISTED Therapy vs 'Animal Therapy' Quick recap Sam discusses the complexities of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and its impact on therapy sessions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the distinction between animal therapy and animal-assisted therapy. She also clarifies the role of tools and objects in therapy sessions, and the use of animal experiences in therapy, arguing that therapists should (and do) have the autonomy ...
Oct 15, 2024•51 min•Season 3Ep. 13
S3:E12 Sam's Podcast Recommendations. See below the podcast/episodes recommended by Sam! Canine Paradigm: https://thecanineparadigm.com/ - Episode 275 Sam's Interview Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3UNthf2HXN7JYogDuu9ua7?si=y3CVGikIQlyji4Woa4Fzfw - Episode 276 Sam's Interview Part 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16322snDELZESZOFJiYWDn?si=xxIdGJLQSSWRl6SVsVF8bQ - Episode 284: Homeostasis of the brain with Dr. Melanie Uhde: https://open.spotify.com/episode/21mtdAnjFNVOg9y0p3Lmv0?si=B...
Oct 01, 2024•7 min•Season 3Ep. 12
S3:E11 On the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast today, Sam had the opportunity to speak with Sue Clarke-Smith, a social worker and child and family practitioner who originally did our Clinical course with her senior dog Mickey and upon deciding the work would be too demanding for him, Sue made the decision to instead adopt a rescue puppy called Fonzi who has now graduated as a therapy dog to work alongside her. They discuss on-going training and preparations when starting an outdoor practice and th...
Sep 17, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 11
S3:E10 Nurture Your Therapy Dog’s Personality & Hidden Talents With Breed-Specific Care On the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast today, Sam and Max are joined by Azelene Williams, a Counsellor, Social worker and Speaker who will almost always be accompanied by her therapy dog Zayda, a Hungarian Vizsla. Azelene goes into detail of how she brings out the best of Zayda's breed traits and personality for therapy work and meets Zayda's needs as a high energy working dog. Let's get into it! Azelene W...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Season 3Ep. 10
S3:E9 Dog Breed Genetics: Harness Your Dog’s Strengths & Manage Limitations (with Brittany Muscat). Today we have the wonderful Brittany Muscat, also known as The Pet Girl (@iamthepetgirl) on the podcast today to discuss the role of dog breed genetics and how we can harness our dog's strengths while managing their limitations. We also go down a few rabbit holes about including dogs in our busy lives, enjoying our dogs, and managing the influence of partners/other family members. If you're in...
Aug 13, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Season 3Ep. 9
S3:E8 GP’s With Therapy Dogs - Incorporating Therapy Dogs Australia Training Methods Into Your Existing Toolkit. Today on the podcast Sam and I are joined by Dr. Anke Doley, a rural GP in South Australia who works alongside her therapy dog Jesse when seeing patients. Dr. Anke already had previous therapy dog experience and training before she connected with Therapy Dogs Australia, and shares how she incorporated methods she learned with us into her existing toolkit. Enjoy! FOLLOW US! Interested ...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 3Ep. 8
S3:E7 Building Confidence & Resilience In Therapy Dogs. Today Sam is joined by Max O'Neill, owner of Down Under Dog Trainer, to discuss building confidence and resilience in current therapy dogs as well as in young dogs with a possible future therapy career. If you want to get in touch with Max you can head to his website www.downunderdogtrainer.com for more info. Enjoy! FOLLOW US! Interested in Animal-Assisted Therapy / Animal-Assisted Services and studying with Therapy Dogs Australia? Visi...
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 7
S3:E6 Assessing Therapy Dog & Handler Teams Today on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I discuss the assessment process for our courses, to assist those who may not understand the importance of the criteria and what we look for before we can pass a therapy dog and handler team from our courses. FOLLOW US! Interested in studying with Therapy Dogs Australia? Visit our website www.therapydog.com.au for more information or get in touch with us today by emailing info@therapydog.com.au a...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Season 3Ep. 6
S3:E5 Decompression For Therapy Dogs With KONG. Welcome back to the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, you're in for a treat because we have a very cool conversation lined up today with Brittany Muscat from KONG Australia! We're going to be discussing the importance of decompression and enrichment for our therapy dogs and how the KONG Company product range can assist with those activities, whilst also encouraging our dogs to express their natural behaviours in a safe way. These tips and tricks are ...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Season 3Ep. 5
S3:E4 AAT In Private Practice With Kids. Today on the podcast Sam and Max have a chance to speak with the lovely Maddi McLean. Maddi is a psychologist who works predominantly with kids, alongside her therapy dog Maple in private practice. We explore and discuss animal-assisted interventions that can be incorporated into therapy sessions and the challenges and joys that go along with that. Note that there is a slight abrupt ending to this episode because we did go over time but let's get into it!...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 3Ep. 4
S3:E3 Tips When Bringing Home A Puppy. Welcome to another episode on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast! Sam's Anatolian Shepherd puppy has arrived! She is raising Kiki to be a Livestock Guardian dog for her goats (hopefully!) and it's been an absolutely crazy first week. There's a lot of overlap and common considerations when raising a puppy, regardless of what future you intend for them - but especially when you have bought the dog for a working role (whatever that might be). We will talk abou...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 3
S3:E2 Frequently Asked Questions. So today on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, we're going to make our way through our most frequently asked questions - from the list on our website and beyond, diving into a whole lot of detail. This episode will be useful for people who like to understand the 'why' behind the answers to most of the FAQs that we get asked. This could be Animal Assisted Therapy providers, or Therapy Dog Trainers! If you have any extra questions at the end, send us a message on...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr 56 min•Season 3Ep. 2
