Advertise on podcast: What The Bark - The RightPaw Podcast

You googled, and we answered! Nathan and Genetic George sit down to talk through the 10 most searched pet genetics questions of 2025, and offer our answers. From dog ancestry, to DNA test reliability, and coat colour, we walk through what you were googling in 2025. This is our last episode for the year, and we will be back in 2026, with more What The Bark!

This week, we're here to demystify a very complex topic in the animal world - pet insurance. Nathan and George are joined by Dr. Steve Rose from Trupanion Australia, to break down the ins and outs of pet insurance, what all the different policies and terms mean, and the benefits for pets and their owners. A quick disclaimer:Trupanion Pet Insurance is issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436, and distributed, promoted and administered by Trupanion Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 33626393628, AR 1268213) as an authorised representative of Hollard. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing. PDS and Target Market Determination and Privacy Policy available at Trupanion.com.au

This week, we celebrate the life of George's dog Charlie, the lovable Boston Terrier and an iconic figure in the Orivet journey. Nathan and George talk about saying goodbye to a pet, the decisions around it, and coping with the grief that comes with such an irreplaceable loss.

Have you ever wondered whether stem cell therapy could work in dogs, as well as humans? We sat down with Paloma Newton, co-founder of Elita, a Melbourne start-up that is pioneering stem cell therapy and banking for dogs in Australia. We discuss the science behind it, the impact it can have on older dogs, and the real case studies that already exist!

Ever heard of a COI? 🧬 It stands for Coefficient of Inbreeding – a measure of how closely related a puppy’s parents are. This week, George and Nathan unpack this concept, and how breeders ensure genetic diversity in their breeding programs.

This week, we've dived into our back catalogue to bring you a What The Bark classic episode, all about Dog Temperaments! Dogs have personalities too! This week, we discuss Dog Temperaments with RightPaw breeder and show-dog judge Ginnette Loft. We delve into how dogs develop their temperaments, how dogs even in the same breed group can be polar opposites, and how breeders can conduct 'temperament testing' on their pups to match them with the right families. If you want to read more about Ginnette, you can visit her Emeraldcity Cairn Terriers profile on RightPaw.

Ever wondered how someone first becomes a breeder? What's involved in getting started? We sat down with Jessica from Hapapi Papillons, who shares how she started her breeding journey, and the many considerations along the way. From finding a mentor, to your foundation dogs, to planning the first litter - Jessica generously shares her experience becoming a breeder!

What The Bark is back for 2025, and raring to go! Nathan and George share some of the important life events that put a short pause on the pod for a few months. And George tells all about the US conferences he attended, and how the dog world is done differently in the US!

Have you ever wondered how Breed ID tests determine the make-up of your beloved pooch? George and Nathan sit down to discuss Breed ID testing, how the tests works, and the watch-outs to know when interpreting your results.

What breed is one of the oldest native breeds, and also the face of a cryptocurrency? Enter the Shiba Inu! This week we are joined by Lyne from Kortmar Shiba Inu to discuss this much loved breed. We dive into the breed origins,"Shiba glitter", its history as a famous 'meme', and lots of fun facts along the way.

Have you ever wondered why Worming is so important for dogs and puppies? This week, Dr. Sooan Choi from Drontal (one of Australia's leading worming brands) joins us to dive into all things worming. We learn all about the main types of worms, how dogs may pick these up, why puppies are more at risk, and how to ensure your dogs are best protected against parasites. For more information, you can visit Drontal or Vetoquinol. Label disclaimer: Always read the label for full claim details and directions.

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a DNA testing laboratory? This week, Genetic George gives us an inside look into how a dog DNA test goes from a saliva sample to a fully fledged result!

We've all heard people say "Adopt, Don't Shop" for a dog, but is it really as simple as that? Nathan and George dive into this controversial topic - discussing the ethics of buying vs. adopting, why adopting is not for everyone, and how buying from a responsible breeder can help reduce the burden on shelters.

We're joined by Robyn from Pomfire Pomeranians, in a special spotlight on this fiery little breed! We discuss the breed's origins, how Poms were once much larger than what we know today, and how this is our first case of sibling guests on the podcast!

There are a lot of myths out there about breeding with DNA disease carriers, so we asked the expert! This week, Genetic George talks us through the safest way to breed with DNA carriers in your breeding program. The great news - having a DNA carrier does not stop a dog from being part of a successful breeding program! Also, we apologise for some of the audio in this episode - Nathan had some microphone issues, but we should be back to normal next week!