Welcome to The Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily – the podcast for dog guardians who want to better understand and support their canine companions.

In this episode, host Nathan Dunleavy is joined by Danielle Beck – trauma-informed behaviourist, aggression case specialist and creator of Control The Meerkat.

Together they dive into:

What trauma in dogs really is (and what it isn’t)

How fear, reactivity and “aggression” are often signs of emotional overwhelm

Why aggression is communication, not a personality trait

How trauma can develop even in kind, well-intentioned homes

The difference between a reactive dog and a trauma-impacted dog

Where to start with a dog who is shut down, fearful or over-aroused

The role of safety, consent, agency and choice in helping dogs heal

How enrichment, free work and pattern games support recovery

What happens when an assistance dog develops behaviour struggles

The emotional impact on guardians and how to balance both ends of the lead

If you live with a sensitive, reactive or traumatised dog, this conversation will help you reframe what you’re seeing, take the pressure off, and focus on safety, connection and small, meaningful steps forward.

💡 Episode Highlights

• Trauma in dogs = ongoing emotional overwhelm, not just one bad moment
• Aggression and reactivity are often the loudest form of communication
• Shut-down dogs and appeasing dogs are frequently overlooked in behaviour support
• You can’t “train trauma out” – but you can create conditions where healing is possible
• Assistance dogs are not robots; they can experience trauma and need decompression too

🔍 About Our Guest – Danielle Beck

Danielle Beck is a trauma-informed clinical animal behaviourist, aggression case specialist and creator of Control The Meerkat. She works with complex behaviour cases, trauma-impacted dogs and assistance dogs, with a focus on emotional safety, consent and welfare-first support.

🌐 Website: daniellebeck.co.uk

🐾 Project: Control The Meerkat

🐶 About The Yappy Hour & Yappily

The Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily, is the podcast for dog lovers who want ethical, science-based advice they can trust.

Yappily is the UK’s directory for qualified, kind and ethical dog professionals – from dog trainers and behaviourists to groomers, walkers, licensed boarders and doggy daycare providers.

🔎 Find local and ethical dog care near you: yappily.co.uk