What Dogs Have Taught Me

About What Dogs Have Taught Me

Have you ever stopped to wonder if we're truly grasping the lessons our canine companions are trying to teach us? I'm Julie Hart, expert dog rehabilitator, here with something you may not know: the greatest teachers about dogs aren't necessarily human – they're actually the dogs themselves. Welcome to What Dogs Have Taught Me, where we dive deep into the educational, practical, and sometimes controversial aspects of understanding our canine companions. Join me and a lineup of special guests and industry professionals as we tackle the struggles of dog training and rehabilitation, offering honest and truthful insights into how to navigate them using dogs as our guides. Whether you're a seasoned dog trainer, a devoted rescuer, a loving foster parent, or simply someone who shares their life with a dog, this podcast is for you. My mission is to enhance the lives of dogs and humans alike by sharing the unique perspective of our four-legged friends and uncovering what we can learn from them. Get ready for entertaining stories, factual research, and practical tips that you can implement right away. With over a decade of experience rehabilitating and training dogs for clients and rescue, I've had the privilege of working with some of the most challenging cases, including severe fearful and feral dogs. Through fostering, rescuing, and training thousands of dogs, I've honed my approach and integrated the wisdom of my mentors with my own style. As a Certified Relationship-Based Trainer and a Certified Dog Trainer, I'm committed to applying the true essence of training principles into my work. So, whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of dog behavior, refine your training techniques, or simply revel in the magic of all things dogs, you're in the right place. Let’s have a Hart to Heart!

Publisher

Julie Hart

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Mar 2020

Latest episode

18 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

32 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Apr 2026

   The Nervous System in a Dog Suit

   This episode is a deep dive into the science behind your dog’s behavior—one that can genuinely change how you understand your dog. In this conversation, my guest Kristen Clarkson and I explore how the nervous system drives decision-making in dogs, why all living beings are motivated to maintain homeostasis, and what that really means for behavior. We unpack how dogs experience the world internally, how their emotional processing differs from ours, and what we can do to help regulate and support their nervous systems. We also get into big, often misunderstood topics—like internal sensory input (interoception), the role of arousal and emotional valence, and how much we truly understand about behavioral medications in dogs. Kristen Clarkson holds a PhD in immunology and currently works as a neuroimmunologist in therapeutic drug development for neurological autoimmune diseases (for ex. MS). She specializes in how the immune system and nervous system interact with each other and how therapeutic drugs impact each of these systems in different disease settings. Although not her primary area of research, Kristen also has a special interest in affective neuroscience and understanding how the nervous system interprets both external and internal sensory inputs, leading to subsequent action/behavior. And as if that weren’t enough, Kristen has spent over 20 years competing in agility with her Kelpies at a national level and has taught agility for many years, giving her a practical, hands-on understanding of canine behavior. I first met Kristen in October 2023 at a workshop Phyllis Smuland and I taught in Virginia. She later joined me again in May 2024 for the FFD workshop in New Mexico. For this episode, Kristen also created visual slides to support our discussion. You can view them on my YouTube channel, What Dogs Have Taught Me, under the podcasts playlist. Look for the Nervous System in a Dog Suit podcast. One of the most powerful visuals explores the relationship between homeostasis, arousal, and valence—a concept that may completely reshape how you think about behavior. Link to podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/6CsL9-LHIGA

2. 

   6 Mar 2026

   Dog training myths with Phyllis Smuland: Bite Suits, Flirt Poles, and ECollars

   In this episode, we take a closer look at some surprising trends circulating in the dog training world on social media. Are trainers really wearing bite suits to evaluate everyday pet dogs? Can flirt poles and tug toys the only way to meet a dog's activity needs? And why do e-collars seem to be recommended for nearly every dog problem? Join me for a thoughtful conversation with veteran dog trainer Phyllis Smuland, who brings more than four decades of experience working with dogs and their people. Together we discuss what we’re seeing online, the potential drawbacks of these approaches, and why thoughtful, individualized training matters more than following trends. If you’re a dog owner or dog professional trying to make sense of conflicting training advice, this episode will give you practical perspective and plenty to think about. Photo credit 1963 France Photographer unknown

3. 

   17 Feb 2026

   Survival and Trust: The importance for dogs

   Today's conversation is a powerful one, featuring two industry leaders in canine behavior, Julie Hart and Nelson Hodges. In this episode, we explore a misunderstood population, fearful and feral dogs. We unravel misconceptions, diving deep into what a fearful/ feral dog is, how they differ, and what they need from their human companions. Please join us to learn about this area of dog rehabilitation, whose lessons can improve the lives of all dogs. Canine Human Relationship Institute www.chrinstitute.com Monthly online live talks https://www.chrinstitute.com/monthly-class/ Hart to Heart Canine www.hart2heartcanine.com workshops https://hart2heartcanine.com/dog-workshops

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

208,006

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100

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

Quality

52

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

71

Contact What Dogs Have Taught Me

Guest appearances

Books guests

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