About this episode

Dr. Julie Ashton discusses the connection between dog behavior, pain, and emotional wellbeing.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Julie Ashton, an ABTC-certified veterinary behaviorist, to unpack what’s really going on behind common dog behavior challenges, from reactivity and anxiety to sudden changes like house accidents or obsessive ball play. We explore the powerful connection between physical health, emotional wellbeing, and behavior, and why many issues are often misunderstood as “bad behavior” rather than signs of stress, fear, or even pain. This conversation is packed with practical, science-backed insights to help dog parents better understand their pets, avoid common mistakes, and build a calmer, more supportive environment for their dogs. Guest Bio: Our guest today is Dr. Julie Ashton, an ABTC-certified Veterinary Behaviourist who helps dogs and cats with complex behavioural challenges. Julie discovered her passion for behaviour while studying at Bristol Vet School, where she graduated in 2009 as both a veterinarian and with a degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. After working in London and later Sydney, she now runs her behaviour practice from rural Essex, supporting pet owners through referral behaviour consultations both online and in person. Takeaways…

People in this episode

Host: Mariska Nell

Guest: Dr. Julie Ashton

Topics covered

• dog behavior
• veterinary behaviorist
• emotional wellbeing
• reactivity
• pain in dogs
• pet care

Keywords

• dog behavior
• reactivity
• anxiety
• emotional distress
• veterinary behaviorist
• pet owners
• behavior problems

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ABTC, Bristol Vet School

Places: London, Sydney, rural Essex

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