Blog — Reactive Dogs

How your energy, intention, and emotional state affect your dog... Your dog just wants to be acknowledged. For who they are as a dog. For their individual strengths, weaknesses, fears, wants, likes/dislikes, and insecurities. Your dog wants to be treated with respect, wants to be trusted, wants to be able to trust you. Trust that you see them for who they are, and that you don't expect them to stuff their feelings and just be a robot who obeys commands. I started writing this post because I used to advise people to ignore their dog when they come home, until...

Your Dog’s Mental Health Your dog’s mental health stands on many of the same pillars that yours does! Exercise, nutrition, and emotional connection are the top three that stand out in my mind. This is, of course, after a base foundation of shelter and general safety are established. If your home is a relatively safe place (free from emotional and physical threats like excessive yelling and corporal punishments), and your dog is provided with adequate shelter, then we can look at these other pillars to make sure your dog’s mental health will be stable and balanced.  Exercise To me, this...

Moving Well = Feeling Well Your dog only wants to know one thing: How much energy can I move with you? When your dog's prey or play drive is aroused, they need to MOVE. When your dog's fight or flight energy is activated, they need to MOVE. When your dog feels attracted to another dog, another person, or a novel situation or environment, you need to be the magnet for their energy. Asking your dog to sit for a cookie, to "look at me," or to lay down and maintain stillness does not satisfy the internal pull they feel to...

The Somatic Hound Podcast is all about how to use somatic technology with your canine companion, helping you and your best doggie friend co-regulate and live a happy life together! I was honored to speak with Karishma Warr from Calm Canine Academy, all about biological fulfillment for your dog and how this affects their nervous system.     Subscribe on Spotify Support the show

  When you listen to your dog, your dog listens to you... But what does this actually mean? Your dog is like an outer manifestation of your nervous system. When you listen to your nervous system and practice good habits of self-care and self-regulation, your nervous system receives cues of safety. When you listen to your dog and respond to their need for connection and co-regulation, your dog receives cues of safety. Cues of safety calm the dog just like they calm your nervous system. Now we have a positive feedback loop. You are calm, your dog is calm, and...