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So You Want to Run a Dog RescueAuthor: Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh
Join the women behind the magic of Dog Gone Seattle, the largest foster-based dog rescue in the Pacific Northwest, and hear the behind-the-scenes chronicles of rescue, the comedies and the errors, the celebrations and the abject failures, and everything in between, including expert opinions on all things Dog. Language: en-us Genres: Kids & Family, Pets & Animals Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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3.7 — “Science Says” - Stress, Welfare, and Punishment: Dogma vs. Reality with Dr. Melanie Uhde
Episode 7
Thursday, 1 January, 2026
“Science” is often invoked in dog training discussions to signal intelligence, moral superiority, and to shame those who advocate for balanced approaches. In Episode 3.7, hosts Jenny Nordin and Ashlyn Kauh sit down with neurobiologist and dog trainer Dr. Melanie Uhde to examine what science actually says about stress, punishment, welfare, and learning—and what that means for modern dog training.Together, they unpack the studies most commonly cited to condemn punishment, explaining why many fail to reflect real-world training and why metrics like cortisol or body language alone don’t capture long-term outcomes such as confidence, resilience, and success in real homes. They differentiate acute vs. chronic stress and explore stress inoculation, highlighting research that shows how appropriate stress can build coping skills and improve behavioral and neurological outcomes.The conversation also tackles aversive control, discussing why—when applied correctly—it can be more reliable, persistent, and generalizable than reward-only approaches. Finally, they connect the science to everyday life with dogs, addressing puppies, fosters, fearful dogs, and why aversive control shouldn’t be treated as a last resort. This is a nuanced, evidence-based discussion focused on moving past ideology and toward training that genuinely improves dogs’ lives in the real world.Mentions:Melanie Uhde BiographMichael EllisCooper studyIvan's podcast discussion on Cooper studyShocking rats causes aggressionStress inoculation in miceDopamine and aversive controlScientific terms defined:Confirmation BiasMethodsCausationCorrelationControlCortisolStress inoculationHippocampusLearned helplessnessEarly Neurological Stimulation (ENS)Social:Dr. Melanie UhdeFacebook: @Dr.Melanie.UhdeInstagram: @caninedecodedSo You Want to Run a Dog RescueFacebook: @DGS.PodcastInstagram: @DGS.PodcastEmail: soyouwanttorunadogrescue@gmail.com00:00 3.7: Science Says with Dr. Melanie Uhde06:11 Why this conversation matters right now15:03 Methodological issues with frequently cited studies26:51 Welfare conclusions37:08 The case for stress44:26 Implications for epidemic of anxious dogs49:56 The role of ENS53:13 The case for punishment58:14 How to prevent fallout from punishment01:04:30 Why punishment should not be a 'last resort'01:11:20 Advice for adopters01:15:33 Simply daily habits for the average dog owner to build dog's resilience01:20:08 Final last questions
