#6 Honour Smith - From Woodlice to Lincoln: The Honour in Ditching the Comfort Zone

Ever wondered how a childhood obsession with garden woodlice can spiral into a top-tier career as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist? This week, Steve sits down with the incredibly talented Honour Smith (BSc, MSc, CCAB, ABTC-ATI) to unpack her brilliant journey through the animal behaviour world.Honour shares how she navigated multiple "animal careers" before finding her true calling. We dive deep into why practical skills are just as vital as heavy theory, the art of translating Jedi-level behavior science into human-friendly analogies, and what training cats can teach you about absolute patience. If you've ever battled imposter syndrome or wondered what it really takes to publish groundbreaking research, this episode is your ultimate guide.What We Covered:The Journey: Moving around the UK and stepping out of comfort zones.The Lincoln Experience: What actually happens at the famous Lincoln Animal Behaviour Clinic and why the masters program is so revered.Theory vs. Practice: Why being "book smart" isn't enough when you're standing in front of a real dog and a real client.The Power of Analogy: How a trip to the local pub can explain a dog's core temperament perfectly to an owner.Groundbreaking Research: Honour’s journey to publishing her thesis on Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) and catching cognitive decline earlier.The "F" Word (Finances): Why charging your worth actually makes clients take training more seriously.Important Links & Resources:Grab your tickets to the ultimate dog event: DogX Dog ConferenceReady to kickstart your own training journey? Find out more about PACT: PACT DogsConnect with Honour and her team: Lincoln Animal Behaviour Clinic