Episode 359: The trolley problem of five versus one

Episode 359: The trolley problem of five versus one

From The Canine Paradigm by Glenn Cooke & Pat Stuart

February 10, 2026 · 1h 5m

About this episode

The episode discusses the trolley problem and its implications for decision making in dog training.

In Episode 359 of The Canine Paradigm, Pat drops a classic ethics grenade on Glenn: the trolley problem of five versus one. An out of control trolley is racing down the track and you are standing next to the lever. On one track, five people are tied down. On the other, one person is tied down. You can pull the lever or you can do nothing, and either way someone pays the price. We unpack what that dilemma reveals about values, responsibility, and how people justify hard decisions. Then, as we always do, we drag it back to dogs. Training and behaviour work often forces choices between competing outcomes, safety versus freedom, fairness versus convenience, short term compliance versus long term understanding. Sometimes the decision is not comfortable, but it is still required. This episode is part philosophy, part dog training reality check, and it will make you think about why you do what you do when the pressure is on. Further Details Are you in search of top-tier dog trainers and steadfast supporters of the Canine Paradigm? Below is a comprehensive list of individuals and businesses that stand by our mission, contribute to our operational costs, and make significant contributions…

People in this episode

Hosts: Glenn Cooke, Pat Stuart

Topics covered

  • ethics
  • decision making
  • dog training
  • values
  • responsibility

Keywords

  • trolley problem
  • ethics
  • dog training
  • decision making
  • values

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Canine Evolution, Pet Resorts Australia, Serious dog business

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