In Episode 16 of Resident Wild, Kim and Neri answer a listener question from Katie in Melbourne about introducing a puppy into a family that already has a dog.

It's a situation many families experience, but bringing a puppy home can change far more than just the number of dogs in the house. We explore the changing family dynamic, the existing dog's relationship with their humans, the puppy's development, and why simply expecting the dogs to "work it out" can miss some very important pieces of the puzzle.

In Advice Given Online, we unpack the increasingly common advice to make dogs "work" for every piece of food they receive. Is food something that should always be earned, or is there another way to understand feeding, enrichment and our relationship with our dogs?

Then in Debunk a Myth, we tackle one of the oldest pieces of advice in the dog world:

"Just let them sort it out themselves."

When it comes to dogs, this advice can be far more dangerous than it sounds. We explore why stepping back isn't always the neutral choice we think it is, and why understanding what's happening between dogs matters.

And finally, Speak English Proper returns with another Australian-versus-English linguistic mystery involving something you might use to cut the grass. 🌱

A deep dive into puppies, existing dogs, relationships, development and what happens when we add another member to the family.

🐾 Because when we stop asking, "How do I stop this behaviour?" and start asking, "What is my dog trying to tell me?", everything begins to change.

listener question 3:22

advice given online 19:25

Debunk a myth 26:54

speak english proper 31:20

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Should your dog be paying attention to you... or to the world around them?This week on Resident Wild, Kim and Neri answer a listener question from Elle in Scotland, who wonders why her dog spends so much time sniffing on walks instead of focusing on her. Together, they explore why sniffing is one of the most important ways dogs experience the world, what they're actually learning through their noses, and why allowing dogs to gather information can play an important role in their emotional wellbeing.In Advice Given Online, they unpack the increasingly common claim that dogs can have autism. While some dogs may display behaviours that appear similar to those seen in people, Kim and Neri discuss why applying human diagnostic labels to dogs isn't supported by current evidence, and why it's more helpful to understand the individual dog, their experiences and the behaviours they're showing.Then, in Debunk a Myth, they tackle a saying we've all heard: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Is there any truth to it, or are older dogs far more capable of learning than we've been led to believe?And to finish, another light-hearted edition of Speak English Proper, where Kim and Neri discover that what Australians call thongs, the British know as flip-flops.Join us for another episode exploring the science, psychology and relationships that shape the lives of our dogs.🐾 Because when we stop asking, "How do I stop this behaviour?" and start asking, "What is my dog trying to tell me?", everything begins to change.listener question 3:07advice given online 21:00debunk a myth 29:11speak english proper 32.43

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If your dog follows you everywhere, is it a sign of love—or could it be something else?In this episode of Resident Wild, Kim and Neri answer a listener question about a Border Collie that never leaves its owner's side. Whether it's moving from room to room or stopping the moment their owner stops, the behaviour raises an important question: is this simply loyalty, or could anxiety be playing a role?Together, they explore how looking beyond the behaviour itself can help us better understand what our dogs are actually experiencing, and why context is everything when interpreting behaviours like "velcro dogs."In Advice Given Online, they unpack the long-standing belief that dogs should never walk in front of their owners on a lead. Where did this idea come from, and does walking in front really mean anything about your relationship with your dog?Then, in Debunk a Myth, they tackle another common belief—that allowing your dog to sleep on your bed will make them dominant. It's a myth that has persisted for decades, but as always, the reality is far more nuanced.To finish, Kim and Neri introduce a brand-new light-hearted segment, Speak English Proper, where they compare the wonderfully different wordsand phrases used in Australia and England. It's a fun way to end an episode filled with thoughtful conversation, practical insights and plenty of laughs.Join us as we continue to challenge old beliefs and encourage a deeper understanding of the dogs who share our lives. 🐾listener question - 2:37community spotlight -15:07advice given online - 16:35Debunk a myth - 21:43Speak english Proper - 26:32

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This week on Resident Wild, Kim and Neri are joined by comedian and all-round legend Bradford Oakes, co-host of the podcast Fool Me Twice with Steven Van Aperen, where they explore deception, psychology and the fascinating ways humans can be fooled.Bradford brings a brilliant question to the table: Do dogs lie?What follows is one of the most entertaining conversations we've had, filled with laughs, unexpected tangents and some thought-provoking discussion about whether dogs are truly capable of deception—or whether we're simply interpreting their behaviour through a human lens.In Advice Given Online, Kim and Neri unpack the growing trend of "teaching calm" and explain why genuine calmness isn't something that can simply be trained on cue. From a psychological perspective, true emotional regulation develops through safety, relationship and co-regulation—not by asking a dog to remain still.Then, in Debunk a Myth, they tackle another common misconception: Does a dog pee inside to get back at its owner? They explore why this belief has persisted for so long and what house-soiling behaviour is far more likely to be communicating.A fun, thought-provoking episode that blends wolves, dogs, people, psychology, comedy and a whole lot of curiosity about the dogs we share our lives with.🐾 Because the more we understand our dogs, the better we can understand the behaviour they show us.listener question 4:08Advice given on line 28:15Debunk a myth 35:40

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Why is my dog reactive on the lead but perfectly fine when they're off it?This week Kim and Neri answer a listener question about one of the most common behaviour concerns dog owners experience—lead reactivity. Together, they explore why a dog's behaviour can change so dramatically depending on whether they're attached to a lead, and why understanding the emotions behind the behaviour is far more valuable than simply trying to stop the reaction.In Advice Given Online, they unpack a video showing a trainer insisting a dog remain "calm" before leaving for a walk. But was the dog genuinely calm... or had something else happened? It's a fascinating discussion about the difference between emotional regulation and emotional shutdown—with a memorable Gandalf reference from Kim along the way.Then, in Debunk a Myth, they tackle one of the oldest pieces of dog advice around: Should you always let a dog sniff your hand before greeting them? Like many things in the dog world, the answer isn't nearly as straightforward as we've been led to believe.Join Kim and Neri as they continue to challenge common assumptions and explore the deeper reasons behind the behaviours we see every day.🐾 Because when we understand the dog, the behaviour starts to make sense.Listener question 1:56Community spotlight 19:47Advice given online 21:13Debunk a myth 31:48

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A rescue dog barking at people walking past the house... but is it really about the people? In this episode of Resident Wild, Kim and Neri answer a listener question (4:10s) about a rescue dog that barks whenever someone passes the front of the home. Together, they explore the deeper reasons behind this behaviour, looking beyond the barking itself to better understand what the dog may be experiencing and communicating.In Advice Given Online, (26:25s) they unpack a social media post about dog body language and discuss why reading a dog's emotions is rarely as simple as ticking off a checklist. Context, individual differences and the whole picture matter far more than any single signal.Then, in Debunk a Myth (39:43s), they tackle one of the most common misunderstandings in dog behaviour: Does a wagging tail always mean a dog is happy? The answer may surprise you, as they explore what a wagging tail can—and can't—tell us about how a dog is feeling.Ifyou've ever wondered what your dog is really trying to communicate, this episode is packed with practical insights that encourage us to look beyond the obvious and understand the dog in front of us. 🐾4:10 listener question24.55 - community spotlight26.25 - advice given online39.43 - de bunk a myth

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Your dog loves chasing a tennis ball—but what is really driving that behaviour?

In this episode of Resident Wild, Kim and Neri explore a listener question about ball chasing and why it can be far more complex than it first appears. From instinctive behaviours to emotional states, we unpack what may actually be happening when your dog becomes obsessed with the game.

In our Advice Given Online segment, we tackle a statement that stopped us in our tracks: Dog owners have become too soft, and trauma in dogs has been exaggerated. This sparked a passionate and thought-provoking discussion about behaviour, emotional wellbeing, and the lens through which we choose to view our dogs.

And in our Debunk a Myth segment, we take a close look at the common advice that growling should be punished. What does a growl really mean, and what happens when we discourage one of the most important warning signals a dog can give?

This episode is packed with conversation, challenge, and a deeper look at some of the beliefs that continue to shape the dog world today. 🐾

2:45 listener question

30:14 info on the wolf centre course

32:19 advice given online

42.22 debunk a myth

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Has my puppy missed out on socialisation?This week on Resident Wild, Kim and Neri answer a listener question from who is worried her 12-week-old puppy may have fallen behind after spending the past four weeks at home completing his vaccination schedule.The conversation opens up the broader topic of socialisation and challenges some of the common misconceptions surrounding it. What does healthy socialisation actually look like? Is it about meeting as many dogs, people and environments as possible, or is there something more important at play?We also introduce a brand-new segment, Advice Given Online, where we take a closer look at popular dog advice found on social media and the internet. First up: a claim that puppies must meet 60 dogs in 60 days.And in our Debunk a Myth segment, we unpack the belief that dogs know when they've done something wrong. Is your dog really feeling guilty, or are we totally misunderstanding what we're seeing?Join us for an episode all about socialisation, learning, and looking beyond the headlines to better understand our dogs. 🐾

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