Brain and Behaviour

About Brain and Behaviour

The Brain and Behaviour Podcast with Daniel Shaw MSc, CDBC dives into the science behind complex dog and cat behaviour. Blending neuroscience, real-world cases, and expert insights, Daniel explores topics like aggression, trauma, and training to help listeners better understand the animals in their lives.

Publisher

Daniel Shaw

Category

kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Jun 2025

Latest episode

11 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Sept 2026

   Reactivity, Unpacking a Label

   Daniel is joined by Lynn Hewison and Chirag Patel to question a word we all use and rarely define, reactivity. They look at why it means something different to almost everyone who says it, and what a more useful approach looks like when the dog is in front of you. Lynn Hewison is a Clinical Animal Behaviourist who led the MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Lincoln. Chirag Patel is an internationally recognised behaviour and training consultant. Links from this episode: Lynn Hewison, The Pet Behaviour Company, for her reactivity webinars and courses: https://www.petbehaviourcompany.co.uk/the-team (https://www.petbehaviourcompany.co.uk/the-team) Lynn and Chirag's coaching for professionals, BYS Coaching: https://www.byscoaching.com/ (https://www.byscoaching.com/) The B.F. Skinner Foundation, recommended by Chirag for its free resources and quarterly magazine: https://www.bfskinner.org/ ( https://www.bfskinner.org/) Find more from Brain and Behaviour Academy at https://www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk (https://www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk). If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a colleague.

2. 

   21 Mar 2026

   The Reactivity Zones Approach with Victoria Stilwell

   In this episode Daniel is joined by Victoria Stilwell to discuss her new Reactivity Zones Approach as well as her journey into dog training, her early experience as a dog trainer in New York City, and her projects and collaborations with incredible trainers all over the world. Victoria will be involved in a number of events in 2026 including the Emotional Wellbeing in Animals Conference, a UK seminar on the Reactivity Zones in June (link below), as well offering lots of great courses via her platforms Positively and the Victoria Stilwell Academy. https://standishdogtrainer.co.uk/seminars-conferences/ (https://standishdogtrainer.co.uk/seminars-conferences/) https://positively.com/ (https://positively.com/) https://www.vsdogtrainingacademy.com/ (https://www.vsdogtrainingacademy.com/) Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk (www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk)

3. 

   26 Feb 2026

   Episode 22 - Beyond Training Formulas - Suzanne Clothier

   Episode Summary In this conversation, Suzanne Clothier explores why behaviour work must begin with the individual animal rather than rigid training formulas or one-size-fits-all methods. She reflects on her evolution as a trainer, her concerns about overly transactional models, and why relationship, context, and the animal’s lived experience are central to meaningful behaviour change. Suzanne introduces her six elemental questions as a practical framework for understanding animals, including interest in interaction, individual differences, present-moment experience, capability, permission, and what is possible together. She explains how these questions help trainers and guardians move beyond assumptions and better interpret what the animal is actually communicating. The episode also covers Suzanne’s assessment tools and her emphasis on function, including physiological, cognitive, and social wellbeing. She discusses why details such as sleep, pain, mobility, and everyday functioning are often missed in behaviour cases, and how these factors can fundamentally shape behaviour outcomes. The conversation then turns to reactivity, where Suzanne challenges the broad use of the term and advocates for a more nuanced, individualised approach. She discusses handler skill, leash handling, self-regulation, relationship dynamics, and decision points in training, highlighting the importance of helping both dog and human stay in the “think and learn zone” rather than relying on generic recipes. Want to learn more? Explore science-backed courses, webinars, and resources for dog behaviour professionals at our online platform: www.brainandbehaviouracademy.co.uk

Who has been a guest on Brain and Behaviour

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Katriina Tiira
• Trish McMillan
• Dr Moira Hechenleitner
• Simon Gadbois

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,929

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

4.7 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 72 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

83

Social presence

94

YouTube

74

Engagement

32

Contact Brain and Behaviour

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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