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Fieldnotes - Dogs in Our World

Fieldnotes - Dogs in Our World

By: Adam Winston
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 Fieldnotes is where science, story, and lived experience converge. Explore podcast episodes, articles, and resources that deepen our understanding of dogs through empathy, behavior, and advocacy. Nature & Ecology Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Temple Grandin: Dogs and Autism

    Temple Grandin: Dogs and Autism
    Jan 9 2026
    Explore Our Services Episode Summary In this special episode of Dogs in Our World, host Adam Winston interviews Dr. Temple Grandin, a renowned expert in animal science and autism awareness. Dr. Grandin shares insights from her personal experience with autism and her extensive work in animal behavior. The episode explores the parallels between autism and animal cognition, the importance of early intervention, and the therapeutic role dogs can play for individuals on the autism spectrum. Read on for key takeaways, resource links, and the full transcript. Key Takeaways Autism spectrum: personal insights and scientific perspectivesSensory processing and repetitive behaviors in animals and humansThe human-animal bond and therapeutic benefits of dogsResponsibility and life skills development for individuals with autism Resources & Links AmazonYouTubeDiscordRSS FeedGoogleInstagramLinkedInSpotifyTikTokTwitch templegrandin.comTemple Grandin’s books on AmazonDogs in Our World episode page: dogsinourworld.com Episode Transcript Show Transcript Introduction With the help of some generous folks, I’m proud to finally present the first installment of what will hopefully be a monthly series. And, just so you know, links to everything we’re going to talk about in today’s show—pictures, comment sections for all of you to provide feedback, and more details—can be found at dogsinourworld.com. Part 1: Introduction and Insights on Autism Adam (0:23): Here we are, episode number six of Dogs in Our World. To celebrate the halfway point of this twelve-part series, I have a phenomenal guest to share with you. Temple Grandin is one of the biggest names in the worlds of animal science and autism awareness. She recently traveled to Vashon, Washington for a weekend of lectures and visits around the island and was kind enough to start her trip with us. If you haven’t heard of Dr. Grandin, I recommend the 2010 Emmy Award-winning HBO movie titled Temple Grandin and starring Claire Danes. In this very special episode of Dogs in Our World, Dr. Grandin tells us a bit about herself and offers advice to those of us who have a family member with an autism label. She also helps me better understand the autism spectrum, dogs, and the importance of volunteers in an animal shelter. All that and more in this nearly unedited conversation with Dr. Temple Grandin. Adam (1:35): And continue to tell me a little more about yourself, please. Dr. Grandin (1:38): Well, I’ve been at Colorado State University for twenty-six years, and I’m teaching a class in livestock behavior and cattle handling. I’ve done a lot of work with the meat industry to improve humane treatment of animals. I’ve got some books on animal behavior: Animals in Translation, Animals Make Us Human, both available on Amazon. I have a lot of books on livestock. I’ve got Humane Livestock Handling for large ranches, and I’ve just come out with a new one that’s got beautiful photographs. It would be really good for 4-H kids on handling cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. It’s called Temple Grandin’s Guide to Working with Farm Animals. That just came out. And then I’ve got textbooks, Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach. If you’re really into science, I’ve got Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals, but that’s an expensive textbook. Adam (2:26): Anything else that people might know you for? Dr. Grandin (2:28): I do a lot of talks on autism, because when I was a young child, I had all the full-blown symptoms of autism. No speech, didn’t talk until I was age four. Fortunately, I had very good early therapy. I can’t emphasize enough. If you have a young kid who’s not talking, you’ve got to start working with him. Teaching him how to talk, teaching him turn-taking. These kids have got to learn how to wait and take their turns. Autism goes from somebody who remains nonverbal and maybe has trouble dressing themselves, all the way up to Thomas Edison and Einstein. Einstein didn’t talk until age three. It’s a big, big, big continuum. See, a little bit of autism, you’ve gotta socially awkward person who may be just absolutely brilliant in the tech industry. Too much of that trait, and you’ve got a, you know, severe handicap. And there’s a parallel with animals. I read a fascinating study that was done over in Europe, looking at differences between wolves and dogs. And a brain can either be more social-emotional, or it can be more cognitive and thinking. And we’ve bred the dog to be super social-emotional towards us. And in a test that was done in Europe, they had a wolf watch another wolf open up a puzzle box to get some food. And the wolf does it easily. But, the domestic dog is so busy asking us for help and looking for us for help, it doesn’t pay enough attention to open the box. I also found another fascinating journal article on more social animals versus more solitary animals. Like, for example, lions are more social ...
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    29 mins
  • Julie Forbes: Dogs & Leadership

    Julie Forbes: Dogs & Leadership
    Nov 1 2025
    Explore Our Services Episode Summary In this episode of Dogs in Our World, host Adam Winston sits down with Julie Forbes, host and producer of the Dog Show with Julie Forbes, to explore the theme of “Dogs and Leadership.” Julie shares her extensive experience in dog training and behavior, emphasizing the importance of non-verbal communication, presence, and emotional tone in effective leadership with dogs. They discuss common misconceptions about leadership styles, including the outdated “alpha” model, and highlight the value of motivation, fun, and individualized approaches tailored to each dog’s unique temperament and needs. Julie and Adam also explore how lessons learned from working with dogs can translate to human leadership and personal growth. The episode concludes with a focus on self-awareness, authenticity, and the power of being present, offering listeners practical wisdom to enhance their relationships with their dogs and others. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own leadership styles and consider how they can foster healthier, more respectful connections with their canine companions. The episode also provides information on where to listen to Julie’s Dog Show and invites the audience to stay connected through Dogs in Our World’s social channels and newsletter. Read on for key takeaways, resource links, and the full transcript. Key Takeaways Leadership with dogs requires awareness of non-verbal communication and presence.The outdated “alpha” dominance model is misleading; a parental leadership approach is healthier.Every dog is unique; leadership and motivation must be tailored to individual temperaments and needs.Fear is an ineffective motivator; positive motivation and fun foster better learning and relationships.Setting a calm and consistent emotional tone is key to effective leadership Resources & Links AmazonYouTubeDiscordRSS FeedGoogleInstagramLinkedInSpotifyTikTokTwitch The Dog Show with Julie Forbes — Julie’s radio show and podcast with over 400 episodes.Sensitive Dog — Julie Forbes’ dog training and behavior consulting website. Episode Transcript Show Transcript Introduction Welcome to episode number five of Dogs in Our World. We’re going learn about thetopic of Dogs and Leadership. Stay tuned at the end of today’s show for some specialannouncements I have to share with you about upgrades and new offerings fromdogsinourworld.comOk. The first part of today’s show will revisit a familiar term you may rememberfrom our first episode and we’ll also better understand why leadership is necessary. Inpart 2, we’ll talk about the importance of motivation and we’ll briefly address anotherJULIE FORBES:DOGS AND LEADERSHIP558huge debate in the dog training world, and we’ll learn about the importance of havingfun. In the final part of today’s show, our guest will share with us ways that we can positionourselves to be better leaders.Ok. Let’s get started… Part 1: Understanding Leadership and Dogs Part 1: Dogs and Leadership Julie: My name is Julie Forbes. I’m the host and producer of the Dog Show with Julie Forbes, which is a local radio show here in Western Washington and also a podcast on iTunes and on our website, which is dogradioshow.com, SoundCloud, and on our Facebook page. I’ve been on-air for 8 years, I think, now. It was 2009. Adam: I actually did the math. I looked at your website and, yes, and I did the math. It’s been 8 years. Julie: 424 episodes I think. It’s so fun. Like you, I like to talk about dogs. And, it’s interesting, because a lot of times people will ask “it’s an hour show? don’t you run out of things to talk about?” Actually, it’s the opposite. The more people that I talk with, the more there is to talk about. It’s an educational show. Sort of an intellectual conversation, but all somehow connected to dogs. I also work locally here in Seattle and somewhat via skype helping people with training and behavior. My company is called sensitive dog. Adam: And do you have a website? Julie: sensitivedog.com. Adam: Do you have any other books or anything that the listeners can check out if they want to learn more about you? Julie: So, I am just about finished writing my first book. It’s been almost 5 years of working and researching on it. And, it’s really truly just about done. I’ve said that many times over the years. It’s a humbling experience writing a book. But, I’m excited about that and it’s a bit of a hybrid of the book. I weave my years of experience working with people and their dogs. And, also my own personal experience as a human being. As well as research that I did mostly on leadership, which is what we’ll be talking about today. And, what dogs can teach us about leadership and ourselves. Because they’re non-verbal, to be effective with dogs, we have to be aware of our non-verbal communication, which means being aware of and in our bodies, which is not a given for ...
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    46 mins
  • Adam Karp: Dogs & Law

    Adam Karp: Dogs & Law
    Oct 8 2025
    Explore Our Services Episode Summary In this episode, Adam Winston sits down with Adam P. Karp, a dedicated animal law attorney, to discuss the evolution of animal law, its impact on dogs and their owners, and the challenges and opportunities in this legal field. Topics include the history of animal law dating back to the Code of Hammurabi, current laws in Washington state, legal battles over animal custody, and the importance of responsible dog ownership. Read on for key takeaways, resource links, and the full transcript. Key Takeaways Animal law has ancient roots but has evolved significantly in the last 40-50 years.Dogs are legally considered property, but courts are beginning to recognize their unique status.Laws vary by jurisdiction, with some states allowing joint custody of pets in divorces.Responsible dog ownership includes managing noise, waste, and behavior to avoid legal issues.Service animal fraud is a growing concern with legal consequences. Resources & Links AmazonYouTubeDiscordRSS FeedGoogleInstagramLinkedInSpotifyTikTokTwitch Dogs in Our World WebsiteAnimal Legal Defense Fund (aldf.org)Adam P. Karp’s Book: Understanding Animal Law on AmazonHouseman vs. Dare Case Summary Episode Transcript Show Transcript Introduction Adam: Welcome to episode number four of Dogs in Our World. Today, we will learn about dogs and the law. I think there’s a little something for everyone in this show. We also have a really special featured guest for you to meet. I’m excited to finally get this episode into your ears. I think a lot of you will find something insightful in today’s installment. The first part of this show will be a very brief history and definition of animal law. The second part of this episode will look at some present-day, dog-related laws and issues. In the final part, and throughout the show, myself and our guest will share some simple tips on how all of us can be on the right side of the law and dog welfare. As always, we have a lot to cover, so let’s get started. Part 1: History and Definition of Animal Law Part 1: History and Definition of Animal LawAdam: Today’s show features someone whom I consider to be a hero. In my view, he is an animal welfare warrior. This dude is not playing. I initially set out to find someone who could teach me about Dog Law, and ended up meeting with one of the leading animal law practitioners in the United States.Karp: Full name. Adam … do you want my middle name?Adam: I don’t know. Whatever you want people to know.Karp: Adam P. Karp is fine. I run Animal Law Offices. Solo Practitioner. I’ve been practicing animal law, exclusively, for … I think this is my 19th year.Adam: Tell me about that book I saw on Amazon?Karp: So. Carolina Academic Press put out a book that’s part of a series called Understanding “something”. Right? So, Understanding Criminal Law, Understanding Bankruptcy Law, So, they created a new one called Understanding Animal Law and I was asked to write it. So, the book is about 700+ pages. Covers two-dozen or so areas of animal law. Although, that’s certainly not all. There’s probably 12-20 other topics that I could’ve covered, but there just wasn’t enough space and they weren’t going to wait any longer. So, that book really encapsulates a great deal of my experience in litigation and legal research, and will hopefully help law students and anyone who cares about animals and the law. Help them to understand what the field is about, how broad it is, and maybe incorporate it into their day-to-day.Adam: I know that there may not be a simple answer, but what is Animal Law?Karp: There are a lot of working definitions. Probably the easiest one is that something about the case turns on the life of an animal. Something about an animal. Whether it’s about how an animal is viewed in a religious sense for instance. How the animal is perceived at a genetic level. How the animal interacts with people at a social level. Something about the animal’s behavior. Whether the animal is a perpetrator, a victim …. a party (chuckles) … that’s another whole push of animal law, which is to try and recognize them as legal persons, but that’s not really what animal law is day-to-day. So, I’d say any type of case where the outcome turns on or something significant in the litigation itself turns on the life of an animal.Adam: By now, you guys should know how I do. Let’s start at the beginning and allow Mr. Karp to give us just a little background history of animal law.Karp: Well, go back to the Code of Hammurabi.Adam: What’s that?Karp: (chuckles) Middle east. Old, old codes. We’re talking hundreds and hundreds of years ago. There were laws that pertained to even veterinary malpractice. So, I think if a surgeon, an early veterinarian committed some type of malpractice involving a mule or a donkey.Adam: What years are we talking?Karp: Gosh. I’d have to look. Probably thousands of years ago.Adam: That’s ok. I’ll ...
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    40 mins
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