Episode 10: The Truth About Tennis Balls, Trauma and Growling

Your dog loves chasing a tennis ball—but what is really driving that behaviour? In this episode of Resident Wild, Kim and Neri explore a listener question about ball chasing and why it can be far more complex than it first appears. From instinctive behaviours to emotional states, we unpack what may actually be happening when your dog becomes obsessed with the game. In our Advice Given Online segment, we tackle a statement that stopped us in our tracks: Dog owners have become too soft, and trauma in dogs has been exaggerated. This sparked a passionate and thought-provoking discussion about behaviour, emotional wellbeing, and the lens through which we choose to view our dogs. And in our Debunk a Myth segment, we take a close look at the common advice that growling should be punished. What does a growl really mean, and what happens when we discourage one of the most important warning signals a dog can give? This episode is packed with conversation, challenge, and a deeper look at some of the beliefs that continue to shape the dog world today. 🐾 2:45 listener question 30:14 info on the wolf centre course 32:19 advice given online 42.22 debunk a myth