In this episode of The Yappy Hour Podcast, host Nathan Dunleavy chats with Sarah Jones, founder of My Anxious Dog and the #DogsInYellow campaign. Discover her inspiring journey of advocating for anxious dogs and practical tips for dog parents. Whether you’re a dog guardian or simply love dogs, this episode is packed with helpful insights.

Welcome to the Yappy Hour, powered

by Yappily, the podcast for dog

2

lovers, dog parents, and anyone who

wants to deepen their connection

3

with their four legged friends.

4

I'm your host, Nathan Dunleavy, and I'm so

excited to bring you our second episode.

5

In this episode, we're joined by

Sarah Jones, the inspiring founder of

6

Sarah is a multi award winning advocate

for Anxious Dogs and the creator of the

7

hashtag Dogs in Yellow Awareness Day.

8

We had a heartfelt conversation about

what it's really like to own an anxious

9

dog, the challenges, the joys and the

emotional journey that comes with it.

10

Whether you have an anxious dog or just

want to learn how to support those who

11

do, you won't want to miss this episode.

12

So grab a cup of tea, settle

in, and let's get started.

13

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Welcome to the second episode of the

14

Yappy Hour podcast powered by Yappily.

15

I'm your host Nathan Dunleavy

and I'm so excited to have you

16

with me for what's going to be

another brilliant conversation.

17

Today's episode is particularly

special because we're talking about

18

something that so many dog owners

can't Can relate to the emotional

19

journey of owning an anxious dog.

20

Joining me is someone who has made

a huge impact in this area, area.

21

Sarah Jones, the founder

of My Anxious Dog.

22

Sarah, welcome to the Yappy Hour.

23

Thank you so much for being here today.

24

You're my second guest on

the show, so no pressure.

25

But how are you doing today?

26

Sarah #dogsinyellow:

Yeah, I'm good, thank you.

27

A little bit chilly today because

I've been sitting in a cold field

28

with Bella for two hours, but

29

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, wow.

30

Oh, were you doing some, you were

doing some man trailing this morning.

31

Sarah #dogsinyellow: hunting,

32

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Trial hunting.

33

Sarah #dogsinyellow: hunting

now, so that's a new smell.

34

So yeah, we, we've done all

sorts now and that's the

35

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: How,

36

Sarah #dogsinyellow: to, to

37

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

how exciting.

38

So our listeners, we will

be having someone on to talk

39

about that in the future.

40

There's a little reveal for you.

41

So that's great.

42

So at least you're in the warm now.

43

So welcome to the show.

44

Could you first tell me a little bit about

yourself and your background, please?

45

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yes.

46

So I'm new to the dog world.

47

fairly new anyway.

48

So my name's Sarah.

49

I'm 58 from Berkshire.

50

Sounds like I'm on a

dating agency or something.

51

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

It's not blind date.

52

Sarah #dogsinyellow: And my background is

sales and I used to be a managing director

53

in sales for an electronics company.

54

That's me.

55

That's what I used to do and the

reason I came into the dog world

56

was because back in 2012, got a

gorgeous looking little puppy called

57

Bella who's she's a Cocker Spaniel.

58

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Lovely.

59

Sarah #dogsinyellow: So yeah, so

that's how I never knew I was gonna

60

put my toe into the dog world, but

that, that's a bit of my background.

61

So yeah, I'm not a

62

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

63

Sarah #dogsinyellow: or a

dog walker or a groomer or a

64

behaviourist or any of those things.

65

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Wow.

66

What a, what a complete contrast

from what you were doing.

67

So for those that may not know, could

you tell us a little bit about my anxious

68

dog and what inspired you to start it?

69

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yes.

70

So my anxious dog is all

around my anxious dog, Bella.

71

And it's funny because a memory came

up on my Facebook a couple of days ago.

72

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I saw that

73

Sarah #dogsinyellow: And it was 11 years

ago and I was asking if anybody knew a

74

company or where I could get something

for my dog that said, do not touch me.

75

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

76

Sarah #dogsinyellow: and that was

the start of my journey because

77

literally I, I needed something.

78

And what happened was.

79

got Bella back in 2012.

80

She was eight months old.

81

And when I went to pick her up,

the, I didn't get to see her mum.

82

I was told that they'd been separated.

83

and Bella had had a traumatic birth.

84

Her mum had to have an emergency cesarean.

85

one

86

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh gosh.

87

Sarah #dogsinyellow: had died.

88

So she'd come into the world in tears.

89

in trauma.

90

So that's the start of her journey.

91

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Gosh.

92

Sarah #dogsinyellow: was about five or

six weeks old and she got bitten by one

93

of the litter mates, probably playing.

94

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh.

95

Sarah #dogsinyellow: obviously

hurt because when I got to her

96

a couple of weeks later, she

still had a mark on her back.

97

So

98

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, my goodness.

99

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Puppy, so to speak.

100

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: my gosh.

101

Sarah #dogsinyellow: socialization

And there was, you know, four or five

102

puppies, but she wasn't really interested.

103

She just sat under my chair

watching all this chaos going,

104

going on in front of her.

105

And, and then, you know, I didn't

know anything about anxious dogs.

106

So, she went to training

and she was really good.

107

She was really obedient.

108

She learned really quickly, but

she would completely fixate on me.

109

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

110

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I thought, oh, it's

because I'm a wonderful mother to her.

111

just loves me

112

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Of course.

113

Sarah #dogsinyellow: But it wasn't, it

was because I've learned it's because

114

she didn't want to engage or have

anything to do with the rest of the room.

115

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

116

Sarah #dogsinyellow: would

117

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: okay.

118

Sarah #dogsinyellow: fixate on me as if

there's nothing going on here, you know.

119

And then she got, got to a point with

the training where she wasn't happy.

120

We went up to an advanced class and she

wasn't happy just being, if I told her to

121

wait and leave in the room, she wouldn't

just sit there, you know, really still.

122

So

123

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

124

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I just thought

this, what am I doing this for now?

125

She's not enjoying it.

126

So, and it just

127

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Why?

128

Sarah #dogsinyellow: problem

after problem, she got

129

attacked and hurt and yeah.

130

And I

131

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh my

132

Sarah #dogsinyellow: that.

133

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

goodness.

134

Sarah #dogsinyellow: signs

and yeah, I had a problem.

135

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, wow.

136

Okay.

137

Gosh, what a what a story and what

a rough start for little Bella.

138

Bless her.

139

She's had a few things

to contend with there.

140

I love that you've created dogs

in yellow or hashtag dogs in

141

yellow and we're going to be going

into that in a lot more detail.

142

But what sparked the idea for a, and

a national, a national awareness day?

143

day and how has it

grown since you started?

144

Sarah #dogsinyellow: think it came

from, it stemmed from using the yellow.

145

I, it was like a wow moment for

me when someone told me about

146

the yellow, it was a wow moment.

147

And then like, even today when I

got out the car, someone said to me,

148

Oh, I've got a really reactive dog.

149

And I looked at her and said, so have I.

150

And that's why she's wearing yellow.

151

And she said, Oh, but

152

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

153

Sarah #dogsinyellow: And I was

154

We all used it, everybody would know.

155

And it sort of, it comes from that.

156

So didn't want to give up with it.

157

I found it was such a

confidence thing for me.

158

So I started off by doing poo bin

stickers and wheelie bin stickers and

159

car stickers and posters to the point

it was like, right, this is going to be.

160

I need something big as well,

and the dog's in yellow.

161

Yeah, I, I pitched for

the, for the Awareness Day

162

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

163

Sarah #dogsinyellow: and it got approved.

164

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

165

So who do you have to pitch it to then?

166

Sarah #dogsinyellow:

It's, it's been so long, I

167

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

168

Sarah #dogsinyellow: can't

remember, but I'm sure

169

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: No.

170

Sarah #dogsinyellow:

got a podcast for that.

171

I can't

172

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

I just, I just wondered, I just didn't

173

know how you, how you sort of like,

created these aware days and when you

174

said like, you pitched it, I wondered

who had to sign it off or something, but,

175

Sarah #dogsinyellow:

it's an official thing.

176

You have to go to a

177

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

178

Sarah #dogsinyellow: can't

remember who they are.

179

But

180

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

No, that's fine.

181

But I just didn't know that you had

to, like you say, you had to officially

182

Sarah #dogsinyellow: yeah,

183

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

to a company and get it approved.

184

So brilliant.

185

So that's on March the 20th, isn't it?

186

Sarah #dogsinyellow: it's

187

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yes, I got it right.

188

So you're in your fourth year.

189

So we're going to be talking

a little bit more about the

190

Awareness Day as we go through.

191

This episode, so March the

20th mark your diaries.

192

Okay, so we're going to be moving on to

owning an anxious dog and the emotional

193

journey that's involved with that.

194

Sarah #dogsinyellow: coming up.

195

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: What

would you say are some of the biggest

196

emotional challenges you've seen as

you've seen anxious dog owners face?

197

Sarah #dogsinyellow:

a failure, embarrassed

198

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

199

Sarah #dogsinyellow: side of it.

200

Yeah.

201

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

202

Sarah #dogsinyellow: get judged.

203

Yeah.

204

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

gosh, right.

205

Sarah #dogsinyellow: really, really hard.

206

When, first started reacting.

207

It was a buildup because I have,

I have never worked with dogs

208

before or anything like that.

209

Never had an anxious one.

210

I would, I had the opposite,

you know, I would let my dog

211

off in the park and eventually

212

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, okay.

213

Okay.

214

Sarah #dogsinyellow: back to me, you know,

that, but that was quite a long time ago.

215

But when they first start showing the

signs, if you don't see it, Bella then

216

got on to growling and lunging because

she had got a tat when she was young.

217

She was, was all bruised down one side.

218

Obviously I didn't know that.

219

So when people touched her,

she just, it caused pain.

220

So she never forgot that.

221

So she was really funny about strangers

putting the hand down and it got to

222

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

223

Sarah #dogsinyellow: where she

actually started growling and snapping.

224

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Gosh.

225

Yes.

226

Sarah #dogsinyellow: so

227

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

So the trauma sticks.

228

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yes, so when

someone does that and your dog

229

responds with that, you can imagine

fear you have yourself, the panic

230

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

231

Sarah #dogsinyellow: And then people

just your dog's being aggressive, it

232

shouldn't be out, it should be put to

233

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh God.

234

Oh God.

235

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah,

236

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

my goodness.

237

I didn't realize people

were saying that as well.

238

Oh God.

239

Sarah #dogsinyellow: You can, it can

be really, really hard, really hard.

240

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Really hard.

241

Gosh.

242

I'm sorry there.

243

You know, you've had

some of those comments.

244

So as someone who's been through

it yourself, how do you manage or

245

how did you manage those feelings

of guilt or frustration that can

246

come with caring for an anxious dog?

247

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I think you have to

at some point and think, no, it's okay.

248

This is, it's a bit like with humans.

249

I am what I am and

250

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

251

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I'm,

I'm going to go with it.

252

And it's the same with

your dog, with Bella.

253

It was like her, personality.

254

That's what, you know, the way she is.

255

And I think even the dogs that you

see out that are having a wonderful

256

time and doing all the lovely things.

257

you want to do or your dog to do, there's

probably other issues going on somewhere

258

else, you know, with all the people that

I talk to at the dog shows and everything.

259

If it's not one

260

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

261

Sarah #dogsinyellow: else, you know?

262

So

263

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

264

Oh, okay.

265

So there's often judgment from

others like you've just explained

266

there when your dog doesn't sort

of behave perfectly in public.

267

How do you think owners can deal

with these situations and stay

268

confident in their journeys?

269

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I always say

to people, who's the most important

270

person when a situation or someone's

looking at you, do you love your dog?

271

Or do you love what that person

is thinking over there that you

272

possibly will never see again?

273

You know, let's get it.

274

know, your dog is the most

important thing to you.

275

don't worry about what

someone is saying or thinking.

276

It's hard, really hard.

277

Sometimes you just got

to take a deep breath

278

and focus back on your dog and not worry

about what the other people are saying

279

to you, or, It's really important as well

not to turn into a reactive dog owner.

280

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Absolutely.

281

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Because

282

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

283

Sarah #dogsinyellow: happen too.

284

You know, I've had Bella telling another

dog off and there's me going as well.

285

And there's the two of

us all like barking.

286

So, I've, I've, I've managed to stop

that and think, you know, that's wrong.

287

I need to, learn to deal with that.

288

Because it, it is hard.

289

You know, you get stuck in for yourself as

well as, you know, for your dog as well.

290

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, you're fighting like

291

you're fighting for your dog.

292

You're being your dog superhero.

293

You want to stick up for them.

294

But then you want to, like you

say, stick up for yourself.

295

And it's a bit of a

vicious circle, isn't it?

296

So but it is hard and I like how

you said with the previous question

297

where you just, I am what I am.

298

It is what it is.

299

You know, you take it or leave it

at the end of the day, don't you?

300

So,

301

Sarah #dogsinyellow: You do it

302

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

303

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I don't see why

304

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: you do.

305

Sarah #dogsinyellow: dogs.

306

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

And we're not always going

307

to be everyone's cup of tea.

308

So,

309

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I know, I know, it

is, it is really hard, but I just think

310

there's so many different personalities

311

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

there it is.

312

Sarah #dogsinyellow: and there's so

many personalities with dogs, but also,

313

having experienced trauma myself, now

understand as well what trauma can feel

314

like So what does it feel like in dogs?

315

You know, some of these dogs as

well that wear yellow, had the most

316

horrendous stuff happen to them in life.

317

It's not, you know, Bella, she's had

a few issues, but nothing horrific.

318

And some of the stories I've heard

and been told can make you cry and

319

you just the whole point of my dog's

in yellow day as well was to other

320

people to just to stop and think as

well about what that owner is trying

321

to do for that dog and what possible

322

That dog's been through.

323

So, know, it's it works both both ways.

324

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It does.

325

Brilliant.

326

Thank you.

327

What's the one thing you wish

every anxious dog owner knew about

328

their own emotional well being?

329

Sarah #dogsinyellow: They're a superhero.

330

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

They're a superhero.

331

Yeah.

332

Sarah #dogsinyellow: they are, it's

hard, you know, it's not just a case of

333

butterflies and and things like that going

on, it can be really tough, really, really

334

tough to step foot outside the front door,

And yeah, I think they're amazing people

335

that, you know, you, you come across and,

you know, going out for a dog walk is

336

meant to be a lovely, a lovely experience.

337

And sometimes

338

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: is.

339

It is.

340

It is.

341

It is.

342

Sarah #dogsinyellow: be

quite stressful as well.

343

So

344

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, stressful for you, the owners

345

and obviously the dog as well.

346

I mean, you don't want to be putting

yourself through that, let alone your dog.

347

So yeah, I absolutely love

that, that they're a superhero.

348

So always remember that.

349

Sarah #dogsinyellow: yeah.

350

Yeah.

351

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

brilliant.

352

So moving on to obviously

the dogs in yellow campaign.

353

So could you just tell us the story

behind like the yellow gear for anxious

354

dogs and why it's such a powerful symbol.

355

So there's obviously lots of

different gear you, you've got now.

356

So, did it just start off like with

a lead or how did it all come about?

357

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Well, the yellow

started when I've traced it back, it

358

came from a dog trainer called Terry

359

And the idea of it is yellow is the

official warning color for caution.

360

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right.

361

Okay.

362

Sarah #dogsinyellow: the ribbon

idea came from the horse world.

363

So if you had a kicking horse, people

would tie a red ribbon onto the

364

horse's tail to warn people that it

365

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

366

Sarah #dogsinyellow: kicker.

367

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: okay.

368

Sarah #dogsinyellow: So

369

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

never knew that.

370

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah, so all

of that came from from that idea.

371

That's where the yellow ribbon came from.

372

And then obviously a yellow ribbon on

a dog like Bella just a you can't see

373

it from a distance and be sometimes

it can make a dog look cute, so

374

they want to touch them even more.

375

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh

god, yes, you're almost drawing people

376

in and bringing that attention in, which

is the opposite of what you want, isn't

377

Sarah #dogsinyellow: absolutely.

378

So so it stemmed to having yellow

products, yellow leads, yellow lead

379

slips and coats and things like that.

380

So 11 years ago I had the issue of

trying to find something like do not

381

touch, cause it was more important

than I need space or nervous.

382

I wanted something very clear.

383

That's how it started.

384

So then I I had some samples made

up and things like that with the,

385

where I had a keep away lead, keep

away harness, and I do not touch.

386

One as well.

387

Lead.

388

And it just

389

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: it?

390

Sarah #dogsinyellow: out there

weren't very good as well.

391

So I wanted something Bella that

I would want to use every day.

392

Difficult enough putting

on your yellow cape.

393

So you wanted a good

yellow cape to put on.

394

So yeah, I had issues with it fading

or ripping or so, and it just stemmed

395

a product for her that I'd want to use.

396

So now we've gone from collars and

harnesses to jumpers and coats and

397

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

It's evolved.

398

There's, I mean, I, I believe

there's stuff for humans as well

399

now, like you say, coats and jumpers.

400

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yep.

401

Yep.

402

Yep.

403

There's everything.

404

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

you could kit out your wardrobe

405

with some, some yellow gear.

406

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

407

So even written on the

back of my camper van.

408

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, right.

409

Okay.

410

So is that like a sticker or something?

411

Sarah #dogsinyellow: no.

412

So last year I done 8, 000 miles

traveling the UK doing the dog

413

shows with our yellow space

414

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

415

Sarah #dogsinyellow: but on the back of

416

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Right.

417

Sarah #dogsinyellow: van in bright

yellow, it just says hashtag

418

dogs in yellow needs space.

419

everybody that sat behind

me on the motorway or,

420

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, wow.

421

Sarah #dogsinyellow: seen it.

422

So

423

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's a big audience to get.

424

Yeah.

425

I absolutely love that.

426

Brilliant.

427

So have you got a rewarding moment or

story that you've heard about in, in

428

regards to dogs and yellow and how it's

helped an anxious dog and their owner?

429

Sarah #dogsinyellow:

I've got lots of stories.

430

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, I bet you have.

431

Sarah #dogsinyellow: yeah, I get lots

of messages on socials and posts.

432

And some of them make me cry as well.

433

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, oh bless.

434

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I just know

how rewarding it is because I

435

use it and believe in it myself.

436

I know how it makes, how it's

437

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: sucks.

438

Sarah #dogsinyellow: my

439

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Exactly.

440

You've got that first hand experience.

441

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah, absolutely.

442

And it, and it's the acceptance

of, of using it as well.

443

When people say to me about the products

or how things help or because it's not,

444

you know, there's a whole package as well.

445

So obviously the training, you know,

seeing a behaviourist and things like

446

that, I found that after I'd done

that journey with Bella and found

447

out all the things that I could do

for her when I was out in public.

448

In public, I still, she still

didn't have a voice and that's

449

obviously where the yellow came in.

450

But yeah, it.

451

There's a, there's a whole thing to it.

452

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: pretty.

453

Now it must be so rewarding for you

just to get those stories as well.

454

Obviously, like you say, you, you know,

how it is firsthand, but to hear like

455

the messages from other owners on social

media you know, that must, that must

456

make it all worthwhile for you even more.

457

Sarah #dogsinyellow: It does.

458

It really, really does.

459

And, and it's funny because even

when we go to the dog shows and

460

you, you, you meet people face to

face, they all say the same thing.

461

When the dogs are at home.

462

You know, my dog at home is lovely.

463

Everybody has to tell you

how wonderful their dog is.

464

And because

465

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It

466

Sarah #dogsinyellow: safe space, you know.

467

And that's how we

468

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: is,

469

Sarah #dogsinyellow: we feel that

everyone's judging our dog on

470

how they're acting of the home.

471

But they are all lovely dogs.

472

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: exactly.

473

They just need that little bit of

extra support and space, as you say.

474

Brilliant.

475

So how can dog owners and the

wider community get involved

476

in supporting dogs in yellow?

477

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Well,

obviously sharing their stories

478

when they use their yellow.

479

take a photo, put it on your socials.

480

I mean, I always think people must be

getting so fed up with seeing Bella

481

on socials or on my Facebook, but

just never stop talking about it.

482

Be proud to use it and

explain your story as well.

483

I'm trying at the moment, I'm doing

some work with a dog training school to

484

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, wow.

485

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Talk about

the yellow more to trainers

486

as well, so that we can get.

487

You know, I see a lot of classes

on social media and things like

488

that for reactive and anxious dogs,

but you hardly see any yellow.

489

So it's trying to get the trainers and

the behaviourists to use in the yellow and

490

getting involved in the campaign, then to

491

Another way we're trying to get

get the message out, out as well.

492

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, sure.

493

Sarah #dogsinyellow: sharing it and

talking about it and getting involved.

494

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

they've got a big audience, haven't they?

495

Trainers and behaviourists.

496

So it's just about getting out in front

of those different people and just

497

raising awareness and educating new

puppy owners, for example, like in puppy

498

classes and stuff that's a good shout.

499

Sarah #dogsinyellow: yeah, I have

I've spoken to a few of the trainers

500

and people like this morning I went

to trail hunt and it was my first.

501

First one that we've done and

the conversation straight away

502

was talking about, got two dogs

in yellow here explaining what

503

that meant and interactions.

504

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: wow.

505

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

506

And I, I trained with Wonder.

507

I've been training with Wonder Marts

and they were talking about, you

508

know, they, they encourage people with

anxious and reactive dogs to come.

509

They have cer, you know, they

don't have big classes, but they,

510

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's good.

511

Sarah #dogsinyellow: They

both have anxious and reactive

512

dogs as well, the trainers.

513

So it's okay.

514

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

515

Sarah #dogsinyellow: like.

516

And it's really, really good to feel

like you're in, you can be included.

517

I might sit on the end,

518

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

519

Sarah #dogsinyellow: but you can still

have a distant chat, you know, it's,

520

it's just, it's so lovely for things

like that to happen as well, rather

521

than seeing posts where dogs and things

like that, you know, almost feel, you

522

always feel like you're being excluded.

523

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

524

Yeah.

525

I, I must've, I've seen some

where they've said, Oh if you've

526

got a reactive, not to come and

527

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

528

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that, and that instantly

529

makes you feel excluded, isn't

530

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah, absolutely.

531

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

a nice feeling.

532

Sarah #dogsinyellow: come and try?

533

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Exactly.

534

Yeah.

535

Brilliant.

536

Oh, I'm so glad that you're enjoying that.

537

So we're going to move on

to some practical advice for

538

owners of anxious dogs now.

539

So what would be one small, but

impactful change owners can make to

540

better support their anxious dog?

541

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I would,

it's quite hard with one thing.

542

I definitely, definitely, if

you've got a dog that needs

543

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

can have as many things.

544

Sarah #dogsinyellow: is use some

yellow, you know, use a little

545

bit of, because it, it makes it

fair as well for the other people.

546

You know, if you don't want a dog

running up, I know there's lead

547

etiquette, but at least show that you've

got an anxious or a There's so many

548

words for anxious, reactive, nervous,

fizzy, sensitive, you know, at least

549

show a little bit, help, help people.

550

So you can at least say, no, I've had

people say to me, I'm sorry, I just didn't

551

know, notice a yellow, but now I see it.

552

You know, I'll remember it or I'll explain

what the yellow means if it's an older

553

person, start with some yellow at least.

554

And then if you're anything like me,

you go from a little bit of yellow

555

to now Bella's covered in yellow.

556

A whole wardrobe is yellow

because I love it so much.

557

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

It's, I mean, yellow is a lovely

558

vibrant and bright color, isn't it?

559

So, you know,

560

Sarah #dogsinyellow: people use, it's

not a color that people use really.

561

I mean most of the colors for the normal

dog owners that I would say, they would,

562

they use red or purple or blue or black,

you know, it's not, very rarely see

563

someone using yellow unless they've

got a, a dog that needs, needs space.

564

So

565

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

yeah, sure.

566

Sarah #dogsinyellow: that's a good

start and it gives, It gave me a

567

little bit of confidence as well.

568

So I think it brings your levels down

because you are visually showing, you

569

know, you don't have to start shouting

across, you know, to put your hand up and

570

all this business that some people do.

571

I have yellow on, and if I'm walking

somewhere, I now, and an awfully

572

over because it still happens.

573

You know, it's not a miracle

574

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

575

Sarah #dogsinyellow: running sort of game.

576

And then I try and run, encourage

the dog from their owner.

577

So then the other owner of the

other dog goes, Oh my you know?

578

And it's like, well, you

know, work on recall.

579

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, yeah.

580

It is, half the battle is like,

it's other owners, isn't it?

581

Rather than the dogs.

582

Oh, it's okay, my dog's friendly or

583

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah, it's okay.

584

My dog's friendly means I've

got no recall on my dog.

585

It, you know, it shouldn't be

off lead and it's just charging

586

around doing what it wants.

587

It's understandable, you know,

if you haven't had an anxious and

588

reactive dog before, sometimes you're

oblivious, you know, I, I, and again,

589

that's part of the campaign is trying

to show people we want, but it's

590

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

591

I think if I had a pound for

every time I heard someone say,

592

it's okay, my dog's friendly.

593

My dog's friendly.

594

I'd be a millionaire because there's

many reasons why the dog's on lead

595

for a reason, or, you know, it's, it's

anxious, it's elderly, it's, it's just

596

had surgery, but you know, it is a lot

around the other dog, you know, it's

597

probably not got great week or training.

598

But I kind of like where you, where

you sort of say, Oh, just run the other

599

way and make, make a game out of it.

600

Sarah #dogsinyellow: standing in

one place panicking doesn't work.

601

It just doesn't

602

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Doesn't work.

603

Sarah #dogsinyellow: So I change

direction and walk away or do a detour

604

and sometimes if I can see a dog running

over I don't, I turn around and then

605

I try and do a play game with Bella.

606

I don't just run away type thing.

607

But I just try and get her to trot, you

know, and just make it something fun

608

and what we're going to do and what's

over there and That type of thing.

609

Then she can't see it well, but it just,

610

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

611

Sarah #dogsinyellow: know, we're just,

rather than standing there and shouting

612

and waving your arms, because then Bella's

going to go, what the hell is going on?

613

You know,

614

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

yeah, and it,

615

Sarah #dogsinyellow: shouting, so

616

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

it might,

617

Sarah #dogsinyellow: up.

618

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I

better start shouting then you've got

619

a shout off and then the dog that's off

lead like thinking, Oh, this looks fun.

620

I'll hang out here.

621

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah, exactly.

622

So,

623

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Defeats the object of what you're

624

trying to do, trying to shoo him away.

625

And obviously I, I liked, well, we're

trying to get away from this term

626

reactive now because there's, there's

a lot of reasons why a dog could be

627

reactive and it doesn't necessarily

always mean that they're aggressive.

628

But I'm kind of liking

the, the change in words.

629

So we're using sort of like the

word sensitive instead, instead.

630

So,

631

Sarah #dogsinyellow: yeah.

632

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

know, the dog sensitive or,

633

Sarah #dogsinyellow: But,

634

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: fearful

635

Sarah #dogsinyellow: think people

use spicy, but we're all reactive.

636

We all

637

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: spicy.

638

Sarah #dogsinyellow: you know.

639

If someone took my

dinner away, I'd go, Oi!

640

Say, you know.

641

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

So would I.

642

I don't know about that.

643

Sarah #dogsinyellow: if somebody woke me

up in the middle of the night when I'm

644

sleeping, again, I'd be going, shouting

or, what the hell are you doing to me?

645

And it's, to me, it's just, their voice

and it's us that doesn't understand some,

646

you know, what the dog's Trying to say

to us, it's just saying the same things

647

as, you know, if someone ran up at me

in a park and tried to play with me,

648

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Silence.

649

Sarah #dogsinyellow: know, some of us have

different personalities and want to do

650

certain things the same as our dogs do.

651

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah, I

once heard someone say when a dog was off

652

lead or whatever, Oh, my dog's got fleas

or something like that, or got a disease.

653

And that soon sort of made the

other dog owner get their dog

654

on lead quite, quite sharpish.

655

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Oh, it's, it's crazy.

656

She's, she's really scared of other

dogs because she's been attacked.

657

And most people will

658

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

659

Sarah #dogsinyellow: you know, but

660

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

661

Sarah #dogsinyellow: to explain, but we

feel we do because we don't want them

662

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

663

Sarah #dogsinyellow: our dogs.

664

That's the, that's the trouble, trouble

665

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

666

Sarah #dogsinyellow: but it's

667

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

And then that goes back to, Yeah,

668

that goes back to advocating for your

dog and being your dog's superhero.

669

I must admit, I did like the word spicy.

670

I've not heard that one before.

671

So yeah, my dog's a bit spicy.

672

I often say, I often say my dog's special.

673

My dog's special, so, well,

they're all special, aren't they?

674

Sarah #dogsinyellow: They are

675

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: So how

can owners learn to advocate for their

676

dog's needs, especially in those public

spaces where people might not understand?

677

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Again, it's

just be, you know, feeling the

678

love for your dog and accepting.

679

What your dog is and how they

feel as well, I think is really,

680

really an important thing to do.

681

It's like trying to change.

682

Your husband, your partner's personality,

you know, there might be something that

683

you don't quite like halfway through

and then in a relationship, and then

684

you want to change something, it's, you

have to accept you've got, don't you?

685

And, and, and work with it and try

and help them and make them feel

686

safe, you know, the best way you

can, and people that have, These

687

anxious and sensitive and spicy dogs,

you know, they're amazing people.

688

And I think the whole package of,

you know, going to a trainer or a

689

behaviourist to learn like I did of

the communication signs that dogs give.

690

And then there's lots of other

things that you can do as well.

691

I mean, were talking to Andy hell

last week and Bella's been using now

692

for the last six months with the car.

693

You know, she has a calming

spray sprayed on a harness.

694

Cause you've

695

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh yes, yeah,

696

Sarah #dogsinyellow: calming spray powered

by pet remedy, which I'm very proud

697

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yes, you

have, and I use their products as well,

698

Sarah #dogsinyellow: and I've seen

a change in Bella over the last six

699

months, all these little things.

700

So we've got the, the calming spray.

701

I've used the calming drinks.

702

Poured, do a calming drink.

703

It's again, all natural things.

704

And all of these little things,

have really helped her in the last

705

six months, even, you know, having

706

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: oh wow,

707

Sarah #dogsinyellow: looked at and having

bone broth, then, because that's all the

708

thing, you know, like humans, it's now

looked at in dogs and their behaviour and

709

their wellbeing, know, so there's a whole

710

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

711

Sarah #dogsinyellow: of

stuff that goes with it.

712

These dogs nowadays vehicle dogs.

713

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, definitely.

714

I love the pet remedy stuff.

715

I've got their plugin.

716

We use their plugin, but we also use a

bandana and have some of the spray on

717

the bandana for a couple of my dogs.

718

So yeah, brilliant.

719

What would be your advice to owners on

recognizing and celebrating progress,

720

even if it's small feels small.

721

So just those small wins,

what would be your advice on

722

recognizing, celebrating and that?

723

Sarah #dogsinyellow: You're

doing so much for that dog,

724

making it feel safe, you know?

725

So do focus on the little things that

go well and not the, you know, the,

726

the, something else that happened,

you know, 80 percent of that walk

727

could have been good and 20 percent

of it could have been quite stressful.

728

But, know, just make sure that you focus

on, the good stuff and the positive stuff.

729

It's like today, you know, doing

the trail hunt, Bella was, amazing.

730

You know, she was so good.

731

We sat on the end.

732

We had lots of squeezy cheese in the

squeezy rewards for distraction work.

733

Yeah.

734

And it, and, and you came away,

I came away really proud of her.

735

but

736

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh,

737

Sarah #dogsinyellow: yeah.

738

Just,

739

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's nice.

740

Sarah #dogsinyellow: focus on on the

little things cause you've done them.

741

You've, you've helped

those little things happen.

742

So

743

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

744

And you mentioned the squeezy cheese.

745

So you've also got these little

yellow dispensers now, haven't you?

746

That you can put cheese in and squeezy

747

Sarah #dogsinyellow: so this

748

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: cheese.

749

Sarah #dogsinyellow: distraction work

is, is really important as well, so

750

finding a class that will you and your

dog's happy with and you, and you gel

751

with the, the trainer doing the classes.

752

I found with Bella, she really

liked, you know, obviously

753

licking is very calm, calming for

754

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: does.

755

Yeah.

756

It helps.

757

Yeah.

758

Sarah #dogsinyellow: know, going around

with the Primula squeezy cheese in

759

your pocket and unscrewing it and all

this thing is quite, quite hard work.

760

If you also have a dog that

you want to keep close to you.

761

So yeah, we have these squeezy rewards.

762

They clip onto your, I have a

walking belt when I'm doing classes

763

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

764

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Like a little pouch

from a frankfurter sausages it just

765

clips on there but it's on a reel so

you can extend it so it's always there.

766

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

767

Sarah #dogsinyellow: and it just means

when somebody else is doing something

768

or it's or someone's close by, you

know, she can focus on the squeezy

769

cheese because she loves squeezy cheese.

770

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Brilliant.

771

Yeah.

772

Oh, I love a bit of squeezy cheese.

773

No, that's brilliant.

774

I'm, I'm really pleased.

775

And yes, the licking does help

bring their arousal levels

776

down helps promote calmness.

777

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

778

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

and, and it's really good for their

779

brain and mental stimulation as well.

780

So she's getting that as well

as, so I think that's great.

781

Brilliant.

782

Okay.

783

So I know you said you get sick.

784

I've sent loads of stories and stuff, but

do you have a personal story that reminds

785

you of why this work is so important

for both you and the wider community?

786

Sarah #dogsinyellow: I suppose the

personal story is about the best way

787

for me to give an example is Bella.

788

I would say probably now over the

last, I've been probably doing

789

this after Matt had an accident.

790

So in 2019, so I've been

doing it full on since then.

791

And

792

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Okay.

793

Sarah #dogsinyellow: if I walk past 10

people, whether it's in the woods, or

794

on the road, or wherever I am, and I

don't necessarily go through a park,

795

but Six, seven of those 10 people

will put their dog back on a lead.

796

And that's huge.

797

You know, it makes

798

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That is huge.

799

Sarah #dogsinyellow: one when

people say it doesn't work, but

800

even if one or two people do it,

that's better than the 10, you know?

801

So it w it's taking that level,

that stacking, you know, the

802

bucket of water filling up.

803

And I do

804

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

805

Yeah.

806

Yeah.

807

Yeah.

808

Sarah #dogsinyellow: You

know, I'm really, really

809

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

810

Sarah #dogsinyellow: saying that.

811

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's good.

812

Brilliant.

813

Thank you.

814

I mean, I'm a big believer

in one is better than none.

815

So if you're getting six

or seven out of the ten,

816

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

817

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

you know, great.

818

You know, we'll get there to the

point where it's everyone soon enough.

819

So by spreading this message.

820

Sarah #dogsinyellow: done a little

bit of awareness in their own area,

821

because that's what I've done.

822

I've done it more than in

my area now, my own area.

823

But, you know, we sell poo bin stickers,

wheelie bin stickers, car stickers.

824

We do packs that people can take

to their vets or the pet shop.

825

You know, there's so much

that you can do just to put.

826

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah,

827

Sarah #dogsinyellow: done a little

bit themselves, it would be.

828

nine out of 10.

829

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

830

And we mentioned the pet remedy products.

831

Is the spray in conjunction with pet

remedy or is it a different spray?

832

It is, isn't it?

833

Sarah #dogsinyellow: it's still,

it's powered by pet remedy.

834

So it's, it's

835

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Ah, powered by pet remedy.

836

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

837

So it's a calming spray, but

it's, it's obviously got Bella

838

on it and dogs in yellow.

839

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, that's

840

Sarah #dogsinyellow: So yeah.

841

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's good.

842

And going back to the point you said

earlier about, oh, people probably getting

843

fed up of seeing pictures of Bella.

844

I don't think we could ever

get fed up of cute dog pictures

845

or cute pictures of Bella.

846

So, you know, I say the more the merrier.

847

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Thank you.

848

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

So Sarah, if you could give one

849

piece of reassurance to an anxious

dog owner who feels like they're

850

struggling, what would it be?

851

Sarah #dogsinyellow: If they're

struggling by being judged, don't

852

take any notice of anybody else.

853

You know, I suppose that covers lots

of issues, doesn't it, in the world?

854

Just don't worry about what other people

think about your dog, you, you know,

855

whether you've got pink hair or blue hair,

it's just, got that bond with your dog.

856

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

yellow hair.

857

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Or

858

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

You could have yellow hair.

859

Sarah #dogsinyellow:

yeah, don't give me ideas.

860

It's, it, it's,

861

it's have, you know, have

faith in, in you, you know.

862

If they

863

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hmm.

864

Sarah #dogsinyellow: you know, if they're

struggling and somebody's judging you,

865

just walk away from that person, you know.

866

They're not important in your life,

so just concentrate on your dog.

867

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

868

Let, like you say, let it go.

869

And in the,

870

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Best

871

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

words of frozen,

872

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah, let it go.

873

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

let it go, start busting out

874

in the frozen theme tune.

875

No, that's brilliant.

876

And yeah, just, just don't,

don't worry about anyone else.

877

Just be, you know,

focused on your, your dog.

878

Sarah #dogsinyellow: They bring,

they bring, if someone said, would

879

you, could you, would you change

Bella into that, know, dog that

880

wants to be petted and wants to go

and play with all the other dogs?

881

Would you change her?

882

I wouldn't now.

883

No, she's just shown

884

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: No.

885

Sarah #dogsinyellow: a whole different

way of thinking and thought, and she's

886

brought so much, obviously, into my life.

887

With these issues.

888

And so many, I've met so

many amazing people as well.

889

So because of it.

890

So

891

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

You wouldn't want to change, you

892

wouldn't want to change it now

because that's just who she is.

893

Sarah #dogsinyellow: yeah,

894

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

You know,

895

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

896

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

you know,

897

Sarah #dogsinyellow: all different.

898

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: we

are all different and why should we,

899

you know, why should we change it?

900

It would be boring if

everyone was the same, you

901

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

902

We don't want to conform.

903

Nor do my dogs.

904

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

and like.

905

And like you say you've you've

met loads of different people

906

through this whole journey.

907

You know, being, going from where

you were and what you used to do

908

and now, you know, working with

obviously different dog professionals.

909

And you've won some awards

as well, haven't you, Sarah?

910

Haven't you?

911

Could you tell me a little bit

about a couple of your awards?

912

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yes.

913

I won pet Quip Award.

914

I won a silver marketing, trade

marketing campaign for dogs in yellow.

915

And I was against fros, so that was

916

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh yes,

917

Sarah #dogsinyellow: won

918

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

the ice cream.

919

Sarah #dogsinyellow: So that the

ice cream, so that's a huge company.

920

So for.

921

little old me to come and get a silver.

922

I was, you know, that was really amazing.

923

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Amazing.

924

Sarah #dogsinyellow: and

925

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

926

Sarah #dogsinyellow: been a

finalist in the PIF awards as

927

well, you know, and that's again,

928

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, so that's

929

Sarah #dogsinyellow: category.

930

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: the

Pet, pet Industry Federation, isn't it?

931

Yeah.

932

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

933

so yeah, I've had a few, few

awards, which is lovely, you

934

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: No,

935

Sarah #dogsinyellow: to be

appreciated, but it's, it's just,

936

but they help with the awareness for,

you know, it's not, not about me.

937

And it's about getting that message out

for, you know, what a dog in yellow means.

938

So that's,

939

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah.

940

I mean, it's nice to have the rec

recognition, but like you say, it's all

941

about raising the awareness, isn't it?

942

And just how can you reach more people,

943

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yes.

944

Yeah,

945

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

you know?

946

It is, it's not necessary dog owners.

947

It's the, it is everyone, isn't it?

948

Because if you've not got a dog and you

are out, like you're just walking down

949

the park and you see a dog in yellow, if

you're not a dog owner, you may not know.

950

what that means.

951

So it's, it's, it's, it comes back to

education, just everyone, isn't it really?

952

Sarah #dogsinyellow: And it's been a

real opportunity as well to be able

953

to do the yellow space zones that the

like at dog fest, we're going to good

954

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

955

Sarah #dogsinyellow: year.

956

And, and that has been a huge.

957

Campaign for helping with it as

well, because it's, it's strange.

958

Cause people say, Oh, you shouldn't

encourage, you know, anxious

959

dogs to go to places like that.

960

And I, and I, my answer to them is

I'm not, I'm not encouraging people

961

to come for a full day, they come,

you know, I've been going to dog

962

shows now for eight to 10 years and

963

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

964

Sarah #dogsinyellow: they are

brought to shows, unfortunately.

965

And you know, you, you, you.

966

You see them shutting down

and struggling and and I had

967

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Well,

968

Sarah #dogsinyellow: a show not

last year, the year before to go

969

and see Ali from Be Kind Rescue.

970

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes.

971

Sarah #dogsinyellow: and it

was a village show, I thought.

972

And when I got there,

it's quite a big show.

973

And obviously Bella was muzzled

cause there's children there

974

and also covered in yellow.

975

But when we went to get something to

eat and a drink, It was just too busy.

976

There was nowhere to go.

977

so we ended up going behind the

vans, and sitting down eating there,

978

trying to find a little bit of quiet

space so that we could relaxed to eat

979

ourselves, you know, let alone Bella.

980

And this is where

981

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

982

Sarah #dogsinyellow: for that

came, because I just thought

983

wasn't, there wasn't a safe

space for us that we could sit.

984

Bella.

985

and then I just thought, well, let's see.

986

My first shows I was doing

was all about dog shows.

987

My first one was in Newbury and I pitched

the idea to them and they loved it.

988

And then it's just snowballed from there.

989

And it's amazing the, the,

990

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

I think it's a great idea.

991

Such a great concept.

992

Sarah #dogsinyellow: The amount of

pictures that we took in the summer

993

where people would come, you know, we've

got pictures of muzzles on the little

994

haystacks on the hay bale, sorry, where

they've come in and been able to take

995

the muzzles off and let their dogs have

a, you know, mooch around or, you know,

996

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

997

Sarah #dogsinyellow: sniffing and playing

with the toys that we've got in there.

998

been huge that has, and also

helped with the awareness.

999

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: And

I've going back to your point where

00:45:07,994 --> 00:45:11,504

someone said that you shouldn't take a

reactive dog there, but why shouldn't

00:45:11,614 --> 00:45:16,564

a reactive dog be allowed to go to

a show and not be able to enjoy,

00:45:16,915 --> 00:45:17,325

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

00:45:17,364 --> 00:45:18,284

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

know, some of that.

00:45:18,475 --> 00:45:18,585

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Bella.

00:45:19,545 --> 00:45:19,815

go.

00:45:20,985 --> 00:45:25,975

what I've been talking to some of the

events is a lot of them are two days.

00:45:25,985 --> 00:45:27,475

They do a Saturday and a Sunday.

00:45:28,275 --> 00:45:30,885

Most people have gone

on before the last hour.

00:45:30,905 --> 00:45:36,265

So we're trying to, we, the first event

we've done it for was the yellow hour.

00:45:37,065 --> 00:45:42,655

the last hour of the Saturday, it meant

that dogs in yellow or any dogs that

00:45:42,655 --> 00:45:47,125

wanted some quiet time could come for

that last hour because it was quite empty.

00:45:47,595 --> 00:45:49,245

And that's worked quite well.

00:45:49,625 --> 00:45:53,085

Some, some of them can, but

some of them come when they

00:45:53,375 --> 00:45:55,005

really shouldn't come at all.

00:45:55,035 --> 00:45:58,155

You know, I've, seen dogs

that are just all over the

00:45:58,155 --> 00:46:00,315

place and completely shut down

00:46:00,394 --> 00:46:00,944

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, gosh.

00:46:01,265 --> 00:46:05,585

Sarah #dogsinyellow: But it's just

hopefully providing a little safe space

00:46:06,085 --> 00:46:11,245

and making, Some dogs that if they had

a little bit of space could come and

00:46:11,245 --> 00:46:13,955

have a go at things because I remember

00:46:13,974 --> 00:46:14,214

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Mm.

00:46:14,985 --> 00:46:17,505

Sarah #dogsinyellow: at some of the shows

thinking, Oh, Bella would love that.

00:46:17,515 --> 00:46:21,035

I wish she could come or I wish I

could do that with Bella, you know?

00:46:22,005 --> 00:46:24,565

So yeah, that's been a

00:46:24,634 --> 00:46:25,434

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Nothing is great.

00:46:25,454 --> 00:46:25,714

It's a good.

00:46:27,480 --> 00:46:27,700

Sarah #dogsinyellow: It's

00:46:27,849 --> 00:46:29,319

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Yeah, I think it's brilliant and

00:46:29,560 --> 00:46:32,600

Sarah #dogsinyellow: the shows

to be able to, like Dogfest or

00:46:32,650 --> 00:46:36,280

Goodwith, you know, to put what Dogs

in Yellow means on their website.

00:46:37,170 --> 00:46:37,890

It's been,

00:46:38,419 --> 00:46:38,699

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

that's huge.

00:46:38,920 --> 00:46:40,210

Sarah #dogsinyellow: massive for, for

00:46:41,369 --> 00:46:41,799

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:46:42,829 --> 00:46:46,669

I think even as humans, we might want to

like a little chill out area to get away

00:46:46,959 --> 00:46:48,669

from the hustle and bustle of everything.

00:46:49,520 --> 00:46:51,310

Sarah #dogsinyellow: It's funny

you should say that because quite

00:46:51,310 --> 00:46:55,000

a few, we put these little pop up

camping tents in there as well.

00:46:55,340 --> 00:46:58,110

And I had one lady, I'm sure

she fell asleep in there.

00:47:00,589 --> 00:47:01,199

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

That's brilliant.

00:47:01,199 --> 00:47:05,174

It goes to show how nice of an area is.

00:47:05,454 --> 00:47:05,844

Brilliant.

00:47:05,844 --> 00:47:09,604

So we're gonna start sort of

wrapping up this episode for the

00:47:09,604 --> 00:47:12,154

last sort of five or so minutes.

00:47:12,184 --> 00:47:16,784

So just some some final questions

and points, if that's okay.

00:47:17,204 --> 00:47:23,374

So where can people find out more

about you, Sarah, and my anxious dog.

00:47:23,865 --> 00:47:26,835

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Well, my

website is my anxious dog.co

00:47:27,045 --> 00:47:29,595

uk and all my socials are the same.

00:47:29,685 --> 00:47:30,705

My anxious dog.

00:47:30,705 --> 00:47:34,815

So we're on Instagram

and Facebook as well,

00:47:35,164 --> 00:47:35,614

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Brilliant.

00:47:36,314 --> 00:47:36,794

Okay.

00:47:37,094 --> 00:47:42,374

And just remind us again of the date

for the, the dogs in Yellow awareness.

00:47:42,519 --> 00:47:42,879

day.

00:47:43,095 --> 00:47:44,325

Sarah #dogsinyellow: 20th of March.

00:47:44,325 --> 00:47:46,185

But it's always a dogs in Yellow Day

00:47:48,179 --> 00:47:52,459

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yes,

it's always a dogs in yellow day, but the

00:47:52,459 --> 00:47:58,589

actual awareness day we've got is coming

up in the next couple of months, isn't it?

00:47:58,589 --> 00:48:02,609

It's the fourth one this year

and that's on the 20th of March.

00:48:02,609 --> 00:48:02,929

Yeah.

00:48:03,755 --> 00:48:04,086

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah, yeah.

00:48:04,325 --> 00:48:06,185

So yeah, that's all about

00:48:06,319 --> 00:48:06,379

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Perfect.

00:48:07,055 --> 00:48:10,115

Sarah #dogsinyellow: if you own an anxious

dog, you know, get pictures up, talk

00:48:10,115 --> 00:48:12,095

about your dog on social media, you know?

00:48:13,275 --> 00:48:14,145

That type of thing.

00:48:14,145 --> 00:48:14,455

So,

00:48:14,979 --> 00:48:15,619

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Brilliant.

00:48:15,775 --> 00:48:15,955

Sarah #dogsinyellow: there.

00:48:18,049 --> 00:48:18,419

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:48:18,769 --> 00:48:21,799

So go and check out obviously

Sarah's website and all our

00:48:21,799 --> 00:48:23,929

different social media channels.

00:48:23,979 --> 00:48:28,449

So a couple of questions then

to end finally, Sarah, if dogs

00:48:28,479 --> 00:48:32,389

could give us one piece of advice,

what do you think they'd say?

00:48:34,455 --> 00:48:35,465

Sarah #dogsinyellow: You doing alright?

00:48:36,215 --> 00:48:37,735

You know, you're my safe world.

00:48:38,425 --> 00:48:39,815

know you're doing alright for

00:48:39,939 --> 00:48:40,289

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:48:42,299 --> 00:48:42,729

Yeah.

00:48:42,909 --> 00:48:43,699

Oh, I love that.

00:48:43,769 --> 00:48:44,589

Absolutely love that.

00:48:44,629 --> 00:48:46,089

If, if only they could talk.

00:48:46,089 --> 00:48:46,539

Okay.

00:48:46,695 --> 00:48:47,175

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

00:48:48,209 --> 00:48:49,629

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

so yeah, I love that.

00:48:49,629 --> 00:48:50,479

You're doing all right.

00:48:50,549 --> 00:48:51,579

You're doing a good job.

00:48:51,675 --> 00:48:52,595

Sarah #dogsinyellow: doing a good job.

00:48:52,669 --> 00:48:53,369

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Thumbs up.

00:48:56,029 --> 00:48:57,349

And that's all we can do, isn't it?

00:48:57,565 --> 00:48:57,695

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah.

00:48:57,695 --> 00:48:59,040

Yeah.

00:49:01,019 --> 00:49:01,509

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: cool.

00:49:01,849 --> 00:49:04,989

So we've got various different guests

lined up for the yuppie hour, but

00:49:04,989 --> 00:49:08,659

if there was one person or a couple

of people you think we should invite

00:49:08,659 --> 00:49:12,359

on to the podcast as a guest, do

you have any suggestions at all?

00:49:13,835 --> 00:49:17,615

Sarah #dogsinyellow: A very special lady

that helps me in the yellow space zone.

00:49:17,965 --> 00:49:18,915

Nikki French.

00:49:19,820 --> 00:49:20,870

So she works

00:49:21,399 --> 00:49:21,809

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I know.

00:49:22,330 --> 00:49:24,710

Sarah #dogsinyellow: with me

a lot and works with a lot of

00:49:24,949 --> 00:49:25,319

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:49:25,410 --> 00:49:28,320

Sarah #dogsinyellow: reactive dogs,

and she's written Stop Walking Your

00:49:28,320 --> 00:49:30,690

Dog book as well, which is amazing.

00:49:32,689 --> 00:49:32,979

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah.

00:49:33,059 --> 00:49:33,799

So Nikki French.

00:49:33,799 --> 00:49:33,879

Yeah.

00:49:33,919 --> 00:49:38,329

She was mentioned by Andy on our

last episode actually, so I think

00:49:38,329 --> 00:49:41,969

that's definitely a sign that I

need to invite invite Nikki on

00:49:42,420 --> 00:49:43,370

Sarah #dogsinyellow: Yeah, she's lovely.

00:49:43,590 --> 00:49:43,875

Really,

00:49:44,159 --> 00:49:45,989

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Brilliant Brilliant.

00:49:46,639 --> 00:49:47,199

Okay.

00:49:47,429 --> 00:49:50,489

So for our listeners, we've got

some cracking guests lined up.

00:49:50,499 --> 00:49:56,289

We've got a renowned separation anxiety

expert, a gundog, a spaniel specialist.

00:49:56,289 --> 00:49:59,349

We've got a couple of vets that are

going to be coming on and they're going

00:49:59,349 --> 00:50:02,719

to be talking about desensitization

to things like obviously going to

00:50:02,719 --> 00:50:04,759

the vets and how important that is.

00:50:04,759 --> 00:50:05,919

We've got groomers.

00:50:07,134 --> 00:50:09,674

So we've got lots of different

guests lined up for the happy hour.

00:50:10,004 --> 00:50:14,354

Sarah, thank you so much for

your time this afternoon.

00:50:14,644 --> 00:50:17,544

And just, I just want to say

the impact you're having on the

00:50:17,574 --> 00:50:20,444

community is absolutely amazing.

00:50:20,914 --> 00:50:23,364

Thank you so much for

joining me on the Yappy Hour.

00:50:23,614 --> 00:50:27,844

It's been an absolute pleasure talking

with you and learning more about your

00:50:27,854 --> 00:50:32,494

journey with My Anxious Dog and Bella

and the incredible work that you've been

00:50:32,494 --> 00:50:35,054

doing for anxious dogs and their owners.

00:50:35,414 --> 00:50:38,824

Your passion and dedication in

creating awareness and support

00:50:39,104 --> 00:50:43,014

for initiatives like the Dogs in

Yellow Day are truly inspiring.

00:50:43,469 --> 00:50:47,159

You not only give anxious dogs

a voice, but you also empower so

00:50:47,159 --> 00:50:51,809

many owners to feel seen, supported

and confident in their journeys.

00:50:52,199 --> 00:50:56,379

Your impact on the dog community

is undeniable, and I know that so

00:50:56,429 --> 00:51:00,749

many listeners, including myself,

will all walk away from this

00:51:00,779 --> 00:51:03,619

conversation feeling both inspired.

00:51:06,044 --> 00:51:11,184

for everything you do, and I can't

wait to see the continued growth of My

00:51:11,184 --> 00:51:16,324

Anxious Dog and all the amazing work

that you'll be doing in the future.

00:51:17,094 --> 00:51:18,034

Thank you, Sarah.

00:51:18,840 --> 00:51:20,940

Sarah #dogsinyellow: That's made

me quite emotional, thank you!

00:51:20,940 --> 00:51:22,140

LAUGHS

00:51:22,864 --> 00:51:23,624

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour:

Oh, bless you.

00:51:25,374 --> 00:51:27,684

Thank you so much for joining me today.

00:51:27,950 --> 00:51:29,010

Sarah #dogsinyellow: You're very welcome.

00:51:34,307 --> 00:51:38,817

Before I jump into today's recap, I

wanted to give a huge shout out to some

00:51:38,817 --> 00:51:43,607

of our listeners who took part in the

teaser post we shared on social media.

00:51:44,117 --> 00:51:47,267

We asked you to guess who

our first two podcast guests

00:51:47,267 --> 00:51:50,197

were, based on some fun clues.

00:51:50,617 --> 00:51:52,837

And we had some brilliant guesses come in.

00:51:53,297 --> 00:51:58,567

For our very first guest, Andy Howe,

congratulations to Tracy Ordesh.

00:51:58,767 --> 00:52:03,217

Di Sedi and Rachel Hunter

for all getting it spot on.

00:52:03,367 --> 00:52:05,027

You absolutely nailed it.

00:52:05,657 --> 00:52:10,267

And for our second guest, Sarah

Jones, a big round of applause to

00:52:10,287 --> 00:52:16,107

Vicky Mann, Louise Hughes and Jessica

Bradley for all guessing correctly.

00:52:16,397 --> 00:52:17,807

Great work all of you.

00:52:18,317 --> 00:52:20,267

Thank you so much to

everyone who took part.

00:52:20,337 --> 00:52:24,047

It was great fun seeing all your

guesses come through and keep your

00:52:24,077 --> 00:52:27,687

eyes peeled because we'll definitely

be doing more of this in the future.

00:52:28,537 --> 00:52:31,507

Now let's dive into today's key takeaways.

00:52:32,007 --> 00:52:34,717

What an incredible

conversation with Sarah Jones.

00:52:34,977 --> 00:52:40,167

Her insights into the emotional side

of owning an anxious dog and her work

00:52:40,167 --> 00:52:42,627

with My Anxious Dog are so inspiring.

00:52:43,157 --> 00:52:46,677

If you're caring for an anxious

dog or know someone who is, I

00:52:46,677 --> 00:52:51,227

hope you found this episode as

reassuring and eye opening as I did.

00:52:51,757 --> 00:52:54,127

Here are some key takeaways from our chat.

00:52:54,927 --> 00:53:00,467

Number one, owning an anxious dog is

an emotional journey and that's okay.

00:53:00,807 --> 00:53:05,607

Sarah reminded us that it's normal

to feel guilt, frustration and even

00:53:05,607 --> 00:53:10,967

isolation, but it's also a journey

of growth, patience and connection.

00:53:10,967 --> 00:53:13,417

Again, Advocacy is key.

00:53:13,857 --> 00:53:18,107

The hashtag dogs in yellow campaign

is such a simple yet powerful way

00:53:18,477 --> 00:53:23,517

to communicate your dog's needs and

create awareness in public spaces.

00:53:23,847 --> 00:53:28,597

It's a movement that helps anxious

dogs feel safer and more understood.

00:53:29,482 --> 00:53:30,352

Number three.

00:53:30,662 --> 00:53:32,132

Small wins matter.

00:53:32,442 --> 00:53:36,092

Whether it's a calm walk or your

dog relaxing in a new environment,

00:53:36,392 --> 00:53:40,272

Sarah emphasised celebrating

the little victories because

00:53:40,272 --> 00:53:42,302

they add up to big progress.

00:53:42,922 --> 00:53:43,942

And number four.

00:53:44,292 --> 00:53:47,482

Most importantly, don't forget

to take care of yourself.

00:53:47,987 --> 00:53:51,897

Supporting an anxious dog can be

challenging, but as Sarah said,

00:53:51,947 --> 00:53:54,067

you can't pour from an empty cup.

00:53:54,907 --> 00:53:59,297

Sarah, thank you so much for sharing

your story and your invaluable advice.

00:53:59,637 --> 00:54:02,887

Your work is making such a

difference in the lives of

00:54:02,937 --> 00:54:05,137

anxious dogs and their owners.

00:54:05,777 --> 00:54:09,377

If you enjoyed this episode,

please consider leaving a review

00:54:09,767 --> 00:54:13,197

or sharing it with someone that

could benefit from Sarah's wisdom.

00:54:13,827 --> 00:54:18,127

And don't forget to check out

my anxious dog and the hashtag

00:54:18,157 --> 00:54:19,607

dogs in yellow campaign.

00:54:20,007 --> 00:54:22,247

March the 20th is the big day.

00:54:22,657 --> 00:54:24,317

Let's help spread the word.

00:54:25,157 --> 00:54:27,417

Thank you for listening to the Yappy Hour.

00:54:27,707 --> 00:54:30,817

Don't forget to subscribe so

you never miss an episode.

00:54:31,367 --> 00:54:32,727

And I'll see you next time.