
Ep. 59 Reactivity Training in the Shelter: What We've Learnt with Jess wheatcraft
From Simplifying Shelter Behaviour by Simplifying Shelter Behaviour
April 10, 2026 · 50 min
About this episode
Jessica Wheatcraft discusses her experiences and insights on training reactive shelter dogs.
In this episode, we're joined by Jessica Wheatcraft, who shares her honest reflections on years spent working with reactive shelter dogs, those that lunge, bark, and snap at the world around them. Jessica talks through how her approach has evolved over time, what she wishes she'd known earlier, and why so many well-intentioned training efforts fall flat in the shelter environment. She offers a thoughtful look at what actually moves the needle for these dogs, and how the people around them play a bigger role than most realise. Whether you work in a shelter, volunteer on weekends, or have recently adopted a reactive dog, this is a conversation full of practical wisdom and hard-won insight. About Jessica Wheatcraft Jessica Wheatcraft is a canine behaviour specialist with years of hands-on experience working with reactive and hard-to-place shelter dogs. Passionate about bridging the gap between behaviour science and real-world shelter practice, she has dedicated much of her career to helping dogs that are often overlooked find and keep their forever homes. Jessica is known for her compassionate, honest approach and her commitment to supporting the people who work alongside these dogs…
People in this episode
Host: Simplifying Shelter Behaviour
Guest: Jessica Wheatcraft
Topics covered
- reactive dogs
- shelter training
- canine behaviour
- training challenges
- animal welfare
Keywords
- reactive dogs
- shelter training
- canine behaviour
- training methods
- animal welfare
- dog adoption
- behaviour science
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Simplifying Shelter Behaviour
More episodes of Simplifying Shelter Behaviour
- Ep. 63 The Cognitive Currency of Recovery with Jo Middleton · June 3, 2026 · 35 min
- Ep. 62 The Dopamine Box with Karen Deeds · May 20, 2026 · 42 min
- Ep. 61 community interventions, changing the traditional animal control approach with Rachel Horton · May 5, 2026 · 30 min
- Ep. 60 Considering a Good Death: A Hospice Approach for Animals," with Helen St. Pierre · April 22, 2026 · 54 min
- Ep. 58 Quality of Life for Dogs, Staff and Adopters with Kelly Bollen · March 25, 2026 · 46 min
- Ep. 57. Intergrating behaviour into shelter operations with Dr. Meghan Herron · March 12, 2026 · 1h 2m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Simplifying Shelter Behaviour podcast page.