Blog — Holistic Healing

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my dog training career is this: much of what actually works with dogs can feel counterintuitive at first.   Want your dog to stop barking? Teach him how to bark on cue. Want him to stop jumping on people? Give him appropriate opportunities to jump on you. Want a dog who is social rather than aggressive? Allow him to engage in appropriate, structured play—even letting him win in games like tug. Want a soft mouth? Teach him how to bite with intention. Want a powerful bite? Teach softness and control. Want a reliable...

If you're leaning toward a more holistic approach to your dog’s health and wellness, here are a few practices I personally incorporate into my own routine. To be clear, I am not a veterinarian, and I always recommend consulting with a trusted (ideally holistic) vet when making decisions about your dog’s care. What follows is simply a reflection of the choices I’ve made for my own dogs—choices that have supported their health and well-being in ways that feel aligned for me and my fur-family.   Nourishment: Feeding a Raw Diet One of the most impactful changes I’ve made is feeding...

I currently have my dogs on an “attention diet.” That means no touch, no talk, no eye contact—as Cesar Millan would say (and I promise you, this is both the first and last time I will ever quote Cesar!). Why do my dogs need an attention diet? Because they’ve had way too much attention indoors for most of their lives. They’ve been anthropomorphized, overstimulated, over-petted, over-cooed at, and wrapped up in a fairly co-dependent relationship with me. It’s only day two, and so far, so good. I was able to go almost completely cold turkey, and as I type this,...

The Vagus Nerve: A Shared Biology Dogs are like humans in many ways—including their biology. One of the most important systems we share is the 10th cranial nerve, also known as the vagus nerve. This nerve connects the brain to the body and plays a central role in regulating the autonomic nervous system in both humans and dogs. When everything is going well, the ventral vagal system is in charge. In this state, we feel: Safe Comfortable Social and connected Breathing is easy. Movement feels fluid and joyful. We’re in a state of flow—playful, curious, and open to interaction. But...