Inside Battersea (Episode 213) from Canicross Conversations

Canicross Conversations

Michelle Mortimer and Louise Humphrey

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Inside Battersea (Episode 213)

44 minutes Posted Jun 26, 2026 at 6:00 am.

– Meet Courtney Her role splits two ways: hands-on behaviour work with the more complex dogs, and training and mentoring the staff, volunteers and fosterers. No two days look the same.

– Three sites, 160 dogs Brands Hatch, London and Old Windsor each have their own strengths, from rural space to on-site clinics. Battersea is completely charity funded with no government money, caring for around 160 dogs at a time.

– Why dogs end up at Battersea A big rise in strays, the financial squeeze meaning people can no longer afford their pets, the knock-on from COVID-era ownership, and life changes like new babies and returning to the office. Courtney also touches on the new Renters' Rights Bill and what it could mean for keeping dogs in rented homes.

– History helps, but it can cut both ways Why a dog with no known background isn't always harder to place, and how a long list of "can't live with this, can't cope with that" can become a barrier of its own.

– Behaviour modification plans How the team builds a plan for any flagged dog so they can see the behaviour for themselves, make progress, and then be completely honest with new owners about what's been done and what they'll need to take on.

– The first three days Why every new arrival gets a decompression period to settle, build bonds with their care group, and start showing the team their likes, dislikes and motivations before anything formal begins.

– The assessment process Formal handling, play with and without toys, dog-to-dog assessments and more, always at the dog's pace. If something flags up, they pause, train, and set the dog up to succeed.

– The success story that says it all A foster dog from abroad who arrived so shut down they could only use a single lead on his collar. Weeks of patience, tiny glimmers of joy, paddock zoomies, and eventually a completely different dog whose personality shone. Have the tissues ready.

– Matching dogs and owners (a bit like a dating site) It starts online with a form about your lifestyle and what you're looking for, then the rehomers match you on what suits you both. The takeaway: get registered early, because you could be matched before a dog even hits the website.

– Going home and aftercare Check-in calls, a settling-in window, and aftercare cases that stay open to 28 days, with the Behaviour Advice Service on hand for the more complex dogs. Plus a gentle reminder to keep those first few weeks calm and quiet.

– Early teething issues Toileting indoors, struggling when left, and behaviours spiking at home after so much change. All normal, all manageable with calm, fun and plenty of enrichment.

– What "reactive" really means Spoiler: it's not always fear. It can be frustration, excitement, or a mix that shifts moment to moment. Courtney explains why reactivity is a spectrum, not a fixed label.

– Prey drive and what to do with it Why you often can't train it out, and how to redirect that genetic desire instead, using a flirt pole, a long line or a favourite toy so the dog has a productive outlet for the chase.

– Why

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Show notes

Louise and Michelle are joined by Courtney Goodright, a Canine Behaviourist and Training Advisor at Battersea.

Courtney pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes at one of the country's best-known rescues, from the moment a dog arrives to the day it goes home.

We learn why strays are on the rise, what those first three decompression days look like, and how the team works out what makes each individual dog tick. There's a beautiful success story about a shut-down foster dog who completely blossomed, an honest chat about what reactivity actually means, and a lovely thread running right through it all: every dog needs a job, and that is exactly where canicross comes in.

Warm, fascinating, and genuinely useful whether you're thinking about adopting or just want to understand your own dog a little better.

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