Why dogs need agency, choice, and consent. Behaviour, ethics, and the dog with Marc Bekoff

Professor Marc Bekoff started watching animals when he was 2 years old. He sat on the steps of his Brooklyn home talking to dogs, cats, birds, mice, and ants. Decades later, he spent 8 years studying wild coyotes in the field. He lived with dogs in the Colorado mountains, where they ran free. And he helped write the books that put "animal emotions" on the scientific map. Now Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Boulder, Marc joins Nadine to talk about his late friend Dr Jane Goodall, what dogs really need from us, and why so much of what we tell ourselves about loving them is worth questioning. His view is that dogs are not our best friends and don't love us unconditionally. The bond has to be earned, through safety and trust, every single day. Dogs are sentient. They are emotionally intelligent. They are individuals. And they deserve agency, choice, and consent in their own lives. Professor Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Boulder. Author of many books on animal behaviour and emotions, including Minding Animals, Wild Justice, Canine Confidential, Unleashing Your Dog (with Jessica Pierce), and Dogs Demystified. A new children's book he co-authored with Dr Jane Goodall is due to be published in early 2027. Professor Marc Bekoff: https://marcbekoff.com Listen to Just a Dog Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Instagram:   / justadogpodcast   Substack: https://goofles.substack.com/subscribe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... TikTok:   / justadogpodcast   Hosted by Nadine.