#13 Zaynab Bukhari - From Bird Watching & Wolf Obsessions to Scent Work and Cultural Inclusion

In this episode of Dog Trainers UnPACT, Steve sits down with Zaynab Bukhari, founder of Dogs on Track. Zaynab shares her journey from childhood bird watching and a passion for wolves to becoming a PACT ATI, scent work specialist, and assistance dog advocate.Steve and Zaynab dive into her experiences navigating the dog training world as a Muslim Pakistani woman, tackling cultural misconceptions surrounding dogs, and addressing the barriers still present in the industry today. They also explore why scent work and tracking are so transformative, why active listening and 'therapy skills' are essential for dog trainers, and the importance of giving dog guardians time and empathy.Zaynab Facts: Zaynab Bukhari is the founder of Dogs on Track and an ABTC-registered Animal Training Instructor through PACT. She is currently completing her Level 5 Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour and is a qualified Detection Dog Handler with the UK College of Scent Dogs. Zaynab specialises in scent work, behaviour, and helping schools introduce therapy dogs, whilst advocating for greater diversity and inclusion across the canine industry.Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Dogs on Track: dogsontrack.co.uk | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogs_on_track/PACT (Professional Association of Canine Trainers): pact-dogs.com (Check out the January CTIC intake!)DogX 2026 Conference: dogxconference.com (Get your tickets now!)UK College of Scent Dogs: ukcsd.comRecommended App: Merlin Bird ID