Dogs and Sprogs is a podcast about children, dogs, behaviour, and what sits underneath.
Our conversations are shaped by a shared belief that behaviour is communication and that safety, understanding, and emotional wellbeing must come before judgement or control.
This podcast exists to explore the emotional and relational world of children and dogs, and to challenge oversimplified narratives about “naughty behaviour”, “problem dogs”, or “bad parenting”
Our Values
1. Compassion Over Control
We value curiosity, empathy, and understanding over rigid behaviour management.
We are more interested in why something happens than simply stopping it.
2. Safety Before Compliance
Emotional and physical safety comes before obedience, performance, or appearance of “good behaviour”.
3. Evidence-Informed, Not Trend-Driven
Our discussions are grounded in psychology, child development, and modern understanding of animal behaviour — not fear-based or dominance-based models.
4. Respect for Both Species
Children and dogs deserve to be understood as individuals with their own emotional worlds, limits, and needs.
5. Honest Conversation
We value real stories, real challenges, and real reflection. This is not a space for perfection or judgement.
At the heart of Dogs and Sprogs is the belief that behaviour is not random or meaningless.
Whether it comes from a child or a dog, behaviour tells a story about an emotional state,
unmet needs, stress and overwhelm, safety and trust.
We believe meaningful change happens when we ask:
“What is this behaviour telling us?”
rather than
“How do we stop it?”
Our ethos is rooted in trauma-informed thinking. This means we recognise that experiences shape behaviour and that past stress, fear, or unpredictability can influence how both children and dogs respond to the world.
A trauma-informed, welfare first approach means:
prioritising emotional safety
avoiding shame or punishment-based responses
understanding triggers and stress signals
supporting regulation before expectation
We aim to hold space for complexity rather than quick fixes.