Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast
by Samantha King
For anyone working or interested in animal-assisted services, particularly with therapy dogs, this is the podcast for you! Samantha King is a Psychologist, accredited dog trainer and industry expert in the field of Animal Assisted Therapy with over 10 years of experience. Sam and co-host Max (Therapy Dogs Australia head of creativity) chat amongst themselves and to guests to highlight some of the challenges and golden moments experienced by those working in the industry. We regularly have animal assisted therapists and professional dog trainers on to share their knowledge with us, and you. Our goal is to provide a free resource for professional development and our input on the professional standards related to involving animals in therapy and educational settings.
Episodes
-
S5: E18 Full-Time School Therapy Dogs: What Students, Staff & Parents Had to Say (Guests: Bree Rooney & Scott Gale)
S5: E18 Full-Time School Therapy Dogs: What Students, Staff & Parents Had to Say (Guests: Bree Rooney & Scott Gale) What does it actually look like to have therapy dogs working in a high school five days a week? In this episode, Sam and Max welcome back Bree Rooney and Scott Gale from Toormina…
more -
S5:E17 From Graduation to Getting Noticed: Marketing Your Therapy Dog Team (Guest: Caroline Brunne)
S5:E17 From Graduation to Getting Noticed: Marketing Your Therapy Dog Team (Guest: Caroline Brunne) How do you actually market yourself as a therapy dog team? In this episode, Sam and Max chat with Caroline Brunne, a Trauma Survivor Coach, Breathwork Facilitator and TDA Graduate about the…
more -
S5:E16 Meet Chilli: Mount Buller’s Ski Patrol Therapy Dog (Guest: Tess Hoinville)
S5:E16 Meet Chilli: Mount Buller’s Ski Patrol Therapy Dog (Guest: Tess Hoinville) What does a therapy dog do on a ski patrol team? In this episode, Sam chats with Mount Buller ski patroller Tess about her Duck Tolling Retriever, Chilli, and the resort’s new canine support program. Tess shares how...
-
S5:E15 Mouthing & Jumping: Why This Matters When Training Therapy Dogs
S5:E15 Mouthing & Jumping: Why This Matters When Training Therapy Dogs Got an adolescent dog who loves using their mouth or jumping up at people? In this episode, Sam explains why mouthing and jumping can become important issues for future therapy dogs and what handlers can do about them. From...
-
S5:E14 Reading The Dog In Front Of You: Temperament Assessments & Behaviour (Guest: Jens Didriksen)
S5:E14 Reading The Dog In Front Of You: Temperament Assessments & Behaviour (Guest: Jens Didriksen) Dog trainer Jens Didriksen from NorAus Canine Services joins Sam and Max to chat about his journey into dog training and the experiences that shaped his approach. Jens is also one of our locum TDA...
-
S5:E13 Let’s Talk Insurance & Puppy Allocations!
S5:E13 Let’s Talk Insurance & Puppy Allocations! In this episode, Sam chats with Amy about some of the insurance pitfalls that can catch therapy dog handlers and animal-assisted professionals off guard, and why it’s so important to understand exactly what your policy covers. Then it’s onto…
more -
S5:E12 Kiki's Puppies Are Heading To Their New Homes: The Final Week
S5:E12 Kiki's Puppies Are Heading To Their New Homes: The Final Week Sam and Max are back with an update from the whelping box as Kiki’s three Anatolian Shepherd puppies prepare to head off to their new homes. At seven and a half weeks old, the puppies have grown quickly, and Sam shares what…
more -
S5:E11 Kiki's First Litter: Puppy Temperaments, Growth & Early Care
S5:E11 Kiki's First Litter: Puppy Temperaments, Growth & Early Care In this episode, Sam shares an update from the whelping box as Kiki settles into motherhood with her three Anatolian Shepherd puppies. She takes listeners behind the scenes of the first few weeks of life, discussing puppy growth,...
-
S5:E10 Choosing a Future Therapy Dog & Preparing for a Litter
S5:E10 Choosing a Future Therapy Dog & Preparing for a Litter In this TDA family chat episode, Sam, Max, and Amy introduce Norman, Amy’s new Australian Cobberdog puppy and future school therapy dog prospect. Amy shares her journey of finding the right breeder, what she looked for in a puppy, and...
-
S5:E9 School Leadership with a Therapy Dog (Guest: Elly Patterson)
S5:E9 School Leadership with a Therapy Dog (Guest: Elly Patterson) In this episode, Sam chats with Deputy Principal Elly Patterson about introducing her therapy dog Elphie into a school environment and the thoughtful planning behind building a successful therapy dog program. Elly shares how…
more -
S5:E8 Burnout, Boundaries & Better Leadership (Guest: Chelsea Beegling)
S5:E8 Burnout, Boundaries & Better Leadership (Guest: Chelsea Beegling) In this episode, Sam is joined by psychologist and business owner Chelsea Beegling to explore the realities of stepping into leadership, often without formal training. They discuss burnout, boundaries, and the transition from...
-
S5:E7 Puppy Board & Trains: What You Need to Know (Guest: Sue Chipperton)
S5:E7 Puppy Board & Trains: What You Need to Know (Guest: Sue Chipperton) In this episode, we’re joined by experienced Hawaii-based Professional studio animal trainer Sue Chipperton to unpack the often debated topic of puppy board-and-train programs. We explore common misconceptions, from bonding...
-
S5:E6 Navigating Consent and Image Sharing in Schools in the Age of AI (Guest: Christine Waters)
S5:E6 Navigating Consent and Image Sharing in Schools in the Age of AI (Guest: Christine Waters) In this episode, Christine Waters joins us again as we explore the growing complexities of consent and image sharing in school settings, particularly as AI continues to evolve. We unpack what media...
-
S5:E5 Safety, Standards & Speaking Up With Therapy Dogs (Guest: Christine Waters)
S5:E5 Safety, Standards & Speaking Up With Therapy Dogs (Guest: Christine Waters) In this episode, we’re joined by Christine Waters, a primary school chaplain and therapy dog handler, who shares her experience navigating a challenging situation involving another therapy dog in a school setting....
-
S5:E4 From Puppy School To Professional Therapy Dog & Handler Team (Guest: Melissa Ashford)
S5:E4 From Puppy School To Professional Therapy Dog & Handler Team (Guest: Melissa Ashford) In this episode, we chat with Mel, founder of Pynmanto in Far North Queensland, about her journey with Pascal, a mini Labradoodle who started as a “wet weather backup” and has now become a therapy dog...
-
S5:E3 AAI: Learning To Learn
S5:E3 AAI: Learning To Learn AAI (Animal-Assisted Intervention) Learning To Learn. In this episode, we dive into how therapy dogs can be thoughtfully integrated into clinical work with neurodivergent children and teens. From managing demand avoidance and school refusal to rebuilding confidence…
more -
S5:E2 If Your Dog Is Growling...
S5:E2 If Your Therapy Dog Is Growling In this episode, Sam shares some exciting wins from the Therapy Dogs Australia community- including the impressive scores of our latest graduates and celebrating the 2026 Australia Dog Of The Year who happens to be one of our teams! We also take a deeper look...
-
S5:E1 'What Is A Good Dog?' with Pat Stuart
S5:E1 'What Is A Good Dog?' with Pat Stuart In the first episode of Season 5 of the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam dives into a conversation with dog training expert Pat Stuart. Kicking off 2026, Sam and Pat discuss balancing high energy and drive in dogs, the importance of suitable breed...
-
S4: E20 Critical Thinking with Pat Stuart
S4:E20 Critical Thinking with Pat Stuart In this episode of the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam sits down with the one and only Pat Stuart, a professional dog trainer, co-host of The Canine Paradigm podcast, and owner of Serious Dog Business. Pat shares his journey from the Army to…
more -
S4:E19 Planning a Training Session for Your Dog
S4:E19 Planning a Training Session for Your Dog In this episode of the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, we break down how to plan and structure an effective training session for your dog — no matter what stage of training you’re in. Sam shares practical advice on creating a consistent training…
more -
S4:E18 Insights From Assessing Teams with K9 Essence (Guest: Brianna Mackay)
S4:E18 Insights From Assessing Teams with K9 Essence (Guest: Brianna Mackay) In this episode, Sam sits down with Brianna Mackay from K9 Essence, one of our locum dog trainers who conducts temperament assessments for Therapy Dogs Australia teams. Brianna shares valuable insights from her work with...
-
S4:E17 Creating Impactful Therapy Dog Programs (Guest: Chakera Houtby)
S4:E17 Creating Impactful Therapy Dog Programs (Guest: Chakera Houtby) In this episode, we sit down with Chakera Houtby to hear her inspiring journey into the world of animal-assisted therapy alongside her therapy dog, Alfie. 💜 We cover the realities of therapy dog visits – highlighting the...
-
S4:E16 When Things Go Wrong (Part 2)
S4:E16 When Things Go Wrong (Part 2) Listener discretion is advised: This episode includes references to self-harm and blood. In Part 2 of this episode, Sam and Max get into the spicier side of therapy dog work, sharing real, anonymously submitted stories where things really went off script. From...
-
S4:E15 How To Play With Your Dog (Part 2) Guest: Tim Pratt From Diverse Dogs.
S4:E15 How To Play With Your Dog (Part 2) Guest: Tim Pratt From Diverse Dogs. Welcome back to Part 2 of How To Play With Your Dog with Tim Pratt from Diverse Dogs. In this episode, we dive deeper into the fundamentals of play, explore the prey sequence to make your play sessions more fulfilling,...
-
S4:E14 How To Play With Your Dog: Part 1 (Guest: Tim Pratt)
S4:E14 How To Play With Your Dog: Part 1 (Guest: Tim Pratt From Diverse Dogs). In this two part episode, Tim Pratt from Diverse Dogs returns for another insightful chat, this time it's all about the power of play in relationship & confidence building as well as training and behaviour management....
-
S4:E13 When Things Go Wrong (Part 1)
S4:E13 When Things Go Wrong (Part 1) In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and Max explore real, anonymously submitted stories from the field — all centred around moments when things didn’t go to plan while working with a therapy dog. From…
more -
S4:E12 Why Scent Work Might Be The Training Tool You’ve Been Missing (Guests: Tanya Lawless & Leigh Russell)
S4:E12 Why Scent Work Might Be The Training Tool You’ve Been Missing (Guests: Tanya Lawless & Leigh Russell) This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Max and Sam chat with Tanya Lawless and Leigh Russell from Unpacked Dog Education and Training. With a strong background in dog behaviour…
more -
S4:E11 Inside the Data: A Teacher’s Take on the Power of Therapy Dogs (Guests: Bree Rooney & Scott Gale)
S4:E11 Inside the Data: A Teacher’s Take on the Power of Therapy Dogs (Guests: Bree Rooney & Scott Gale) Sam and Max were joined this week by Bree Rooney and Scott Gale for a feel-good episode all about the success of Toormina High School’s therapy dog program. Bree and Scott shared how therapy…
more -
S4:E10 Assistance Vs Therapy Dogs - Can You Have Both?
S4:E10 Assistance Vs Therapy Dogs - Can You Have Both? Can an assistance dog also be a therapy dog? In this episode of the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and Amy discuss the differences between assistance dogs and therapy dogs, highlighting their distinct roles, training requirements, and...
-
S4:E9 BOX FEEDING: Building Your Dog’s Confidence With 'The Box' Training Method
S4:E9 Building Your Dog’s Confidence With The Box Training Method PAT HAS NOW GOT A DIRECT LINK TO THE BOX VIDEO https://www.seriousdogbusiness.com/thebox This week on the podcast Sam discusses a training technique called the Box Training Method that helps build a dog's confidence and can address...
-
S4:E8 Foundation Dog Training Advice For Every Owner - The Nooch's Pooches Method (Guest: Panos Anagnostou)
S4:E8 Foundation Dog Training Advice For Every Owner - The Nooch's Pooches Method (Guest: Panos Anagnostou) Sam and I were joined by Panos Anagnostou this week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast. We are very excited because Panos has published a book called The Nooch's Pooches Method, that...
-
S4:E7 How Hard Is It To Train A Therapy Dog?
S4:E7 How Hard Is It To Train A Therapy Dog? This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam dives into a really important question that maybe isn't asked enough- how hard is it to train a therapy dog? The answer may not be what you expect. Please remember to subscribe, follow and like this...
-
S4:E6 Retiring & Navigating The Passing Of A Therapy Dog (Guest: Sharlet Jensen)
S4:E6 Retiring & Navigating The Passing Of A Therapy Dog (Guest: Sharlet Jensen) This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I got to sit down with Sharlet Jensen, a Speech Pathologist based in Seattle, who's experienced the emotional process of retiring not one, but two therapy…
more -
S4:E5 Co-Regulation Between Handlers & Their Dogs, Impact On Relationship & Reactivity (Guest: Tim Pratt)
S4:E5 Co-Regulation Between Handlers & Their Dogs, Impact On Relationship & Reactivity (Guest: Tim Pratt) This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I had an opportunity to sit down with Tim Pratt, founder of Diverse Dogs, who shared his background in working with dogs and discussed...
-
S4: E4 Puppy Temperament Testing For Choosing A Future Therapy Dog (Guest: Serena Lynch)
S4: E4 Puppy Temperament Testing For Choosing A Future Therapy Dog (Guest: Serena Lynch) This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast we had the opportunity to sit down with Serena Lynch, the breeder & founder of M&M Companion Retrievers. This episode is best watched on our youtube channel as...
-
S4: E3 Starting An Animal-Assisted Activities Business (Guest: Bree Rooney)
S4: E3 Starting An Animal-Assisted Activities Business. This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam sits down with go-getter Bree Rooney to discuss various aspects of running an animal-assisted activities business, including strategies for starting and growing the business, understanding...
-
S4:E2 School Therapy Dog: Sage’s Impact & Setting Up for Success (Guest: Natalie Esterhuysen)
S4:E2 School Therapy Dog: Sage’s Impact & Setting Up for Success (Guest: Natalie Esterhuysen). This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I are joined by Natalie who has a therapy dog named Sage. We cover the positive impact of Sage on students at their school, and strategies for...
-
S4:E1 What's On In 2025 For Therapy Dogs Australia
S4:E1 What's On In 2025 For Therapy Dogs Australia Sam and Max chat about what 2025 might have in store, the heartbreak and healing that comes with losing a beloved pet, and, somehow, aliens and air fryers make their way into the conversation. We also share updates about our pets and some…
more -
S3.E16 Sonny's Legacy
S3.E16 Sonny's Legacy E16 Sonny's Legacy. Sonny, Sam's beloved therapy dog, crossed the rainbow bridge early on Monday morning, leaving behind a profound legacy, too great to put into words on the page. In today’s episode, Sam reflects on Sonny’s incredible career, from guiding her through her...
-
S3:E15 Regulation In The Industry – Does It Exist?!
S3:E15 Regulation In The Industry – Does It Exist?! Welcome to the Therapy Dogs Australia podcast. In this episode, Sam and Amy dive into the pressing need for regulation and accountability in the animal-assisted therapy field. They unpack the risks involved, sharing insights on professional...
-
S3.E14 Pet First Aid (Guest: Dr. Olga Lynn)
S3.E14 Pet First Aid (Guest: Dr. Olga Lynn) Ready to learn pet first aid with Dr. Olga Lynn? This week on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I are joined by Dr. Olga Lynn, a veterinarian who created an Online Pet First Aid Course. We discuss recognizing early signs of illness in animals,...
-
S3:E13 Navigating NDIS - Third Parties, Animal ASSISTED Therapy vs 'Animal Therapy'
S3:E13 Navigating NDIS - Third Parties, Animal ASSISTED Therapy vs 'Animal Therapy' Quick recap Sam discusses the complexities of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and its impact on therapy sessions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the distinction between animal therapy...
-
S3:E12 Sam's Podcast Recommendations
S3:E12 Sam's Podcast Recommendations. See below the podcast/episodes recommended by Sam! Canine Paradigm: https://thecanineparadigm.com/ - Episode 275 Sam's Interview Part 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3UNthf2HXN7JYogDuu9ua7?si=y3CVGikIQlyji4Woa4Fzfw - Episode 276 Sam's Interview Part 2:...
-
S3:E11 When your first dog doesn't work out. Raising A Therapy Dog & Starting Outdoor Social Work Practice. (GUEST: Sue Clarke-Smith)
S3:E11 On the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast today, Sam had the opportunity to speak with Sue Clarke-Smith, a social worker and child and family practitioner who originally did our Clinical course with her senior dog Mickey and upon deciding the work would be too demanding for him, Sue made the...
-
S3:E10 Nurture Your Therapy Dog’s Personality & Hidden Talents With Breed-Specific Care (Guest: Azelene Williams)
S3:E10 Nurture Your Therapy Dog’s Personality & Hidden Talents With Breed-Specific Care On the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast today, Sam and Max are joined by Azelene Williams, a Counsellor, Social worker and Speaker who will almost always be accompanied by her therapy dog Zayda, a Hungarian...
-
S3:E9 THE PET GIRL Dog Breed Genetics: Harness Your Dog’s Strengths & Manage Limitations (with The Pet Girl, Brittany Muscat)
S3:E9 Dog Breed Genetics: Harness Your Dog’s Strengths & Manage Limitations (with Brittany Muscat). Today we have the wonderful Brittany Muscat, also known as The Pet Girl (@iamthepetgirl) on the podcast today to discuss the role of dog breed genetics and how we can harness our dog's strengths...
-
S3:E8 GP’s With Therapy Dogs - Incorporating Therapy Dogs Australia Training Methods Into Your Existing Toolkit (Guest: Dr. Anke Doley)
S3:E8 GP’s With Therapy Dogs - Incorporating Therapy Dogs Australia Training Methods Into Your Existing Toolkit. Today on the podcast Sam and I are joined by Dr. Anke Doley, a rural GP in South Australia who works alongside her therapy dog Jesse when seeing patients. Dr. Anke already had previous...
-
S3:E7 Building Confidence & Resilience In Therapy Dogs (Guest: Max O'Neill)
S3:E7 Building Confidence & Resilience In Therapy Dogs. Today Sam is joined by Max O'Neill, owner of Down Under Dog Trainer, to discuss building confidence and resilience in current therapy dogs as well as in young dogs with a possible future therapy career. If you want to get in touch with Max…
more -
S3:E6 Assessing Therapy Dog & Handler Teams
S3:E6 Assessing Therapy Dog & Handler Teams Today on the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, Sam and I discuss the assessment process for our courses, to assist those who may not understand the importance of the criteria and what we look for before we can pass a therapy dog and handler team from our...
-
S3:E5 Decompression For Therapy Dogs With KONG (Guest: Brittany Muscat)
S3:E5 Decompression For Therapy Dogs With KONG. Welcome back to the Therapy Dogs Australia Podcast, you're in for a treat because we have a very cool conversation lined up today with Brittany Muscat from KONG Australia! We're going to be discussing the importance of decompression and enrichment…
more
About this show
For anyone working or interested in animal-assisted services, particularly with therapy dogs, this is the podcast for you!
Samantha King is a Psychologist, accredited dog trainer and industry expert in the field of Animal Assisted Therapy with over 10 years of experience. Sam and co-host Max (Therapy Dogs Australia head of creativity) chat amongst themselves and to guests to highlight some of the challenges and golden moments experienced by those working in the industry.
We regularly have animal assisted therapists and professional dog trainers on to share their knowledge with us, and you.
Our goal is to provide a free resource for professional development and our input on the professional standards related to involving animals in therapy and educational settings.
Hosted by
Samantha King