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Animal Talk with Trisha McCagh

Animal Talk with Trisha McCagh

Written by: Trisha
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Welcome to Animal Talk with Trisha McCagh, the podcast that gives animals a voice. Join internationally renowned animal communicator Trisha McCagh as she helps humans understand animals on a profound emotional and energetic level.


In each episode, Trisha dives into the extraordinary world of animal communication, exploring the unseen connections that bind us with the creatures we share our planet with. We feature expert guests—from wildlife carers and veterinarians to animal trainers, behaviour specialists, —each bringing their own unique experiences and perspectives.


Stay informed with the latest animal news from around the world, including emerging welfare issues, conservation updates, and remarkable animal stories that will inspire and enlighten. Whether you're an animal lover, a pet parent, or simply curious about the deeper intelligence of the animal kingdom, this podcast is your gateway to understanding animals on a whole new level.

Tune in, open your heart, and start listening—because every animal has something to say.



© 2026 Animal Talk with Trisha McCagh
Episodes
  • The Incredible World of Tracking Dogs: How Dogs Find the Missing — Part 1

    The Incredible World of Tracking Dogs: How Dogs Find the Missing — Part 1
    Oct 7 2026
    Send us Fan Mail🐾 Episode DescriptionIn this episode of Animal Talk with Trisha McCagh, we continue Animals with Jobs and meet Sonya Bowditch from Canine Trackers Perth. Sonya has spent 18 years working with tracking dogs and supporting searches for missing loved ones across Western Australia.Sonya explains the difference between scent-specific tracking and human remains detection, how dogs distinguish one person's scent from thousands of others, and how wind, rain, water and terrain can affect a scent trail.We also explore the remarkable partnership between dog and handler. Every dog works differently: some track with their noses close to the ground, others air-scent, while some carefully follow a trail and others take a shortcut. The handler must learn to recognise these individual behaviours and understand what the dog is communicating.The conversation also looks at what happens when dogs go missing and revert to survival instincts, and Trisha shares a remarkable story about helping a family locate their missing dog through animal communication.🐾 Key TakeawaysA dog's sense of smell allows it to identify and follow incredibly specific scent information.Tracking is a partnership: the dog follows the scent while the handler must understand its behaviour and indications.Experience matters. Younger dogs may stay closely on a trail, while experienced dogs may confidently take a different route.Missing dogs can enter survival mode and behave very differently from how they behave at home.Understanding animal behaviour can be just as important as understanding the technology and training behind a search.⏱️ Episode Chapters00:00 — Welcome to Animals with Jobs02:07 — What Does a Tracking Dog Do?03:04 — Sonya's Journey to Canine Trackers Perth04:19 — Bella and Animal Communication06:24 — How Scent-Specific Tracking Works07:29 — Tracking Living People vs Human Remains09:46 — Wind, Rain and Environmental Factors11:21 — Reading the Dog13:04 — Can Tracking Dogs Find Missing Animals?16:16 — Missing Dogs and Survival Mode18:28 — A Remarkable Missing Dog Story21:22 — Every Dog Tracks Differently26:20 — When a Trail Goes Cold27:55 — Training for a Negative Indication29:07 — What Happens When a Dog Indicates Human Remains?🐾 Animal Talk Certified Practitioner programhttps://animaltalk.com.au/become-a-practitioner/https://animalcoaches.com/ppwa🐾 Animal NewsWe discuss a recent incident involving a male bonobo at Memphis Zoo who slammed into the enclosure glass after visitors reportedly taunted the animals. The incident opens a conversation about animal intelligence, respect and what animals may be communicating through their behaviour.While watching the footage, Trisha received a strong impression from the bonobo: “We are highly intelligent. Do not treat us like we are dumb.”Trisha then shares a remarkable story from a zoo workshop involving a turtle who appeared to respond to derogatory comments made by visitors. The story highlights the importance of remembering that animals may perceive far more than we realise—including the intent and energy behind our words.👤 About the GuestSonya Bowditch is part of Canine Trackers Perth, working with highly trained dogs in scent-specific tracking and human remains detection. Her journey began with her own dog, Bella, and grew into a commitment to helping families search for missing loved ones. Her experience provides a fascinating insight into the extraordinary abilities of tracking dogs and the relationship between canine and handler.https://www.facebook.com/K9trackersperth/🔮 Coming Up in Part 2In Part 2, Sonya shares some of the most extraordinary experiences from her 18 years of tracking, including a missing person case, a dog that reacted in a way she had never seen before, and the remarkable bond that develops between a handler and their canine partner.🎧 Listen, Share & StayIf you're enjoying Animal Talk, subscribe, follow and leave a review wherever you listen. And if you know someone who would enjoy this episode, please share it with them.Animal Talk with Trisha McCagh explores the lives, intelligence, communication and consciousness of animals—and the people who are listening.Because every animal has a voice and every story deserves to be heard.#AnimalTalk #AnimalsWithJobs #TrackingDogs #WorkingDogs #SearchAndRescueDogs #CanineIntelligence #DogBehaviour #AnimalCommunication #AnimalConsciousness #MissingDogs#Robert IrwinSupport the showContact us at www.animaltalk.com.au
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    52 mins
  • 🐾 The Dogs Who Went to War: Courage, Loyalty & Life Beyond Service | Part 2

    🐾 The Dogs Who Went to War: Courage, Loyalty & Life Beyond Service | Part 2
    Oct 5 2026
    Send us Fan MailEpisode Description 🐾What happens to a military working dog when the mission ends? In Part 2, Ryan Wilson takes us beyond the battlefield and into the reality of retirement, recovery and life after service.Ryan shares his firsthand experience of working alongside military dogs, including in Afghanistan. We explore whether dogs can experience trauma after operational service, how frightening experiences can create lasting associations, and the physical injuries they may carry into retirement.We also uncover a little-known reality: once a military dog retires, responsibility for its ongoing care can fall entirely to the handler or person who takes the dog home. Veterinary treatment, medication and surgery can become a significant financial burden, even when injuries were sustained during service.This is why Ryan and fellow dog handler Jace Kelly created Working Paws Australia, to support retired working dogs.We also explore the courage of these animals, the handler-dog relationship, and whether retired military working dogs should be recognised as veterans.Key Takeaways 🐾Their service doesn't end when their work ends. Many retired working dogs carry physical or emotional consequences from their years of service.Dogs are partners, not equipment. Ryan's experience highlights the trust and connection between handler and dog.Training can be completely real from a dog's perspective. This makes stress management especially important.The cost of service can continue long after retirement. Handlers can face substantial veterinary expenses for dogs injured during service.Awareness matters. Working Paws Australia raises awareness and provides financial support for retired military working dogs.Episode Chapters ⏱️00:00 – Returning to the story of military working dogs01:04 – Trisha's childhood sheepdog story04:15 – Can dogs experience PTSD?06:55 – Trauma and negative associations09:51 – Physical injuries and retirement11:26 – Do animals know their life's mission?13:05 – The handler's personality goes down the lead14:12 – How military dogs changed Ryan's perception17:36 – Life after military service19:16 – Why Working Paws Australia was created22:30 – Should military dogs be recognised as veterans?30:17 – What dogs can teach us about courage34:35 – The responsibility of the handler35:18 – Losing a working dog37:32 – ConclusionAnimal News 🐙This week, Animal News takes us beneath the ocean to meet some very opinionated octopuses — and it seems the ladies have something to say!Filming off the Australian coast captured octopuses propelling shells and other objects across the seabed, including towards other octopuses. So what exactly is going on?Are they being aggressive? Protecting their territory? Or are they simply saying, “Get out of my space!”?Trisha and Dana dive into the behaviour and discover that the female octopuses appear to have some very clear boundaries. They know their territory, they like their space, and when an unwanted male comes wandering in, apparently a few well-aimed shells can make the message very clear.No means no. Go away. Take a hike, buddy! 😂And then there's the really fascinating possibility that some of this behaviour could simply be because they're bored. Once you've eaten and done your usual octopus activities, what else is there to do on the ocean floor?Apparently… you can always throw something.If you come across an animal story, article or topic you think we should explore on Animal Talk, send it to us!trisha@animaltalk.com.auAbout the Guest 👤Ryan Wilson is a former Australian military operator and experienced military dog handler who worked closely with military working dogs, including during service in Afghanistan.He is also a co-founder of Working Paws Australia, supporting retired military working dogs with medical and veterinary expenses.Ryan brings a unique firsthand perspective on the courage, intelligence, training, physical demands and deep bonds involved in working alongside these remarkable animals.www.workingpawsaustralia.comListen, Share & Stay Connected 🎧If this conversation changed the way you think about military working dogs, please share and subscribe so that we can continue bringing you great stories and info.Pet Talk Program - Find out what your animal is thinking.institute.animaltalk.com.au/ #AnimalTalk #TrishaMcCagh #RyanWilson #MilitaryWorkingDogs #WorkingDogs #DogHandlers #WorkingPawsAustralia #AnimalWelfare #AnimalIntelligence #SteveIrwin #RobertIrwin #TheCrocodileHunter #AustralianWildlife #AustraliaZoo #AnimalNews #Octopus #AnimalCommunication #AnimalConsciousnessSupport the showContact us at www.animaltalk.com.au
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    55 mins
  • What's In Your Animal's Bowl - The Truth About nutrition Part 1

    What's In Your Animal's Bowl - The Truth About nutrition Part 1
    Sep 23 2026
    Send us Fan MailEpisode Description 🐾We’ve all heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” But what about our animals?In Part 1 of this fascinating conversation, Trisha McCagh is joined by holistic veterinarian, author and animal nutrition specialist Dr Clare Middle to explore one of the most important—and often misunderstood—foundations of animal health: nutrition.Clare shares the experiences that led her to question conventional approaches to feeding dogs and cats, beginning with her early years as one of the first students at Murdoch University and continuing through decades of veterinary practice, acupuncture, observation and research into natural diets.Trisha and Clare explore what dogs and cats are naturally adapted to eat, why cats have very different nutritional requirements from dogs, the importance of moisture, bone and organ meats, and why a diet that is simply labelled “raw” is not necessarily a balanced diet.They also discuss practical ways to transition animals away from dry food, including freeze-dried and air-dried options, the role of digestive support, and what guardians need to consider when an animal is fussy, has digestive issues or simply refuses to eat something new.Clare also shares her perspective on why nutrition education can be limited within conventional veterinary training, and how this gap can leave animal guardians confused when they receive conflicting advice.This is a conversation about looking more deeply at what we put into our animals’ bodies—and asking whether we have moved too far away from the foods and feeding patterns their bodies evolved to understand.And this is only Part 1.Key Takeaways🐾 Nutrition is more than simply filling the bowl. Clare discusses the relationship she sees between diet, digestion and overall wellbeing.🐾 Dogs and cats are not the same. 🐾 “Raw” does not automatically mean balanced. 🐾 Changing an animal’s diet may take time. 🐾 Know what you are feeding. Understanding the nutritional composition of an animal’s diet is essential before making significant dietary changes.🐾 There is no substitute for understanding the individual animal. Episode Chapters ⏱️00:00 – Introduction: You Are What You Eat01:23 – Welcome, Dr Clare Middle02:28 – Clare’s Journey into Animal Nutrition04:53 – The Cases That Changed Everything05:45 – What Are Dogs and Cats Designed to Eat?08:48 – Cats, Dogs and Their Ancient Partnerships with Humans13:15 – Helping a Cat with Digestive Problems15:36 – Transitioning Away from Dry Food18:39 – Freeze-Dried, Air-Dried and Cooked Food22:03 – Why “Just Feed Raw Meat” Isn’t Enough23:40 – When Cats Refuse to Eat What We Give Them28:35 – What About Rice?31:20 – What Can We Learn from Nature?34:49 – How Is Animal Food Regulated?36:55 – Why Nutrition Advice Can Be So Confusing39:07 – The Story Behind Clare’s Books40:32 – Why This Matters for Animal CommunicatorsAnimal News 🐾Meet Wavy Dave—the robot crab! 🦀Trisha and Dana Saidi discuss an extraordinary research experiment involving a robotic fiddler crab nicknamed Wavy Dave.Researchers placed the robotic crab among real fiddler crabs in southern Portugal during mating season. Trisha and Dana explore what the crabs’ reactions might tell us about recognition, behaviour, competition and the way animals respond to something that looks like one of their own but behaves differently.And, naturally, the conversation takes a humorous turn when they consider whether bigger really is better when it comes to a fiddler crab’s claw!About the Guest 👤Dr Clare Middle is a holistic veterinarian, author and animal nutrition specialist with decades of experience working with animals and exploring approaches to veterinary care beyond conventional treatment alone.She has written three books aimed at helping animal guardians understand nutrition, natural diets, holistic care and the foundations of lifelong health.Find Clare - www.claremiddle.comComing Up in Part 2 🔮The conversation with Dr Clare Middle continues.In Part 2, Trisha and Clare go even deeper into practical feeding—They also explore practical options for people who may not have the time to prepare every meal from scratch, and how to approach nutrition without becoming overwhelmed.Spotlight Product - 🐾 Cerule For Pets - The ultimate in health and wellbeing for your animalshttps://animaltalk.com.au/cerule-for-pets/Listen, Share & Stay Connected 🎧If this conversation gave you something to think about, share it with another animal guardian who might benefit from hearing a different perspective on nutrition.And if you enjoy Animal Talk with Trisha McCagh, subscribe, follow the podcast and stay connected.Hashtags#AnimalTalk #TrishaMcCagh #AnimalNutrition #PetNutrition #AnimalHealth #HolisticVeterinaryCare #NaturalDiet #DogNutrition #CatNutrition #AnimalWellbeing #AnimalCommunication #AnimalConsciousness #Dogs #Cats #VeterinaryCare #...
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    1 hr and 8 mins
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