Integrative Canine Wellness & Education
Improve your dog’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being
I Be-Live
I believe that our working canine partners’ long and healthy lives relies on our ability to be a whole, healthy human first.
I believe that our dogs deserve the same level of holistic consideration that we give our selves.
Why?
Because I caused my first working dog to get cancer.
When I got Desmo, I was living in a state of fight or flight 24/7 – it was all I knew, coming from a background of trauma and dysfunction.
I could see that he was anxious, but at the time, I didn’t know why.
By the time I figured it out, it was too late for him.
He’d marinated in my elevated cortisol levels 24/7, and as a result, developed hemangiosarcoma. By the time we made the diagnosis, the cancer had spread throught his abdomen, and the kindest thing to do was painlessly let him go.
Enough stress, left un-addressed, will shorten your dog’s life, and your own.
Desmo’s crossing over was the catalyst for my deep dive into self-inquiry, getting to know all of my different identity states, ego states, and ego aspects, and meeting my Higher Self.
During that same time, I dove deep into figuring out where I‘d fallen short as a handler and canine caretaker. I’d fed him (what I thought was) the best food at the time, given him regular mental and physical stimulation, and selected holistic veterinarians—all to give him the best life possible.
So why did Desmo suffer?
It was me.
It was me all along.
I had to work on me, and level up as a human be-ing before I could be the sort of handler that every dog deserves as their partner and caretaker, for the entirety of their lives on this plane.
If you want the best from your dog, they deserve the best from you.
Educating & Empowering Working Dog Handlers
Connect With Your Dog On A Deeper Level
Do you find yourself:
- Becoming anxious when your dog gets anxious?
- Questioning which kibble is best for your dog’s specific needs?
- Unsure how to take charge of your dog’s healthcare?
- Questioning your trainers’ methods?
- Bouncing between various trainers (both online and offline), looking for one who you feel will give your dog the best foundation?
- Wondering if you’re doing the right thing for your dog(s) at the end of the day?
There’s a better option.
I’ve Been There
I’ve tried listening to the gurus online and offline, and gotten nowhere fast.
- I’ve bounced between trainers, and I ended up confused, wondering which one is “correct.” I’ll let you in on a secret: None of them are; it’s all about what works for you and the dog in front of you.
- I’ve played with numerous food options, searching for the “best” diet for my dogs. Kibble, dehydrated, and raw are a few of the forms I’ve tried because at the end of the day, I didn’t know if the food I was giving my dogs was specifically balanced for them. I’ve since become certified in canine nutrition, so I now know without a doubt that what I’m giving my guys works for their specific health profile. No more guessing and saying “well I think they’re doing ok on this kibble, so I’ll keep feeding it.”
- I damaged my relationship with my first working dog by introducing control and corrections too early. As a result, he wasn’t as forward, confident, and problem-solving as I’d have liked. I vowed to never do that again, and as a result, my current working GSD is a GREAT problem solver, and actively thinks on his own.
Empowering Working Canine Owners
Let me introduce you to my Holistic Canine-Human Wellness Methodology. We’ll work together to empower you to improve your dog’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being through my three-pillar approach:
Mind
You’ll learn how to tune into your mental state, and how to communicate effectively with your dog.
Body
We’ll work together to tweak your dog’s nutrition, identify subtle areas of tension in their body, and improve their learning capacity through proprioception exercises.
Spirit
You’ll learn how to balance your energy and your dog’s energy, and to tune into your emotional state and theirs. Remember that emotions travel down the leash.
Why Integrative Canine?
In my experience, I’ve found that canine professionals are mainly focused on one aspect of the dog; ie training, nutrition, health care, etc. However, not many look at the whole dog.
- I’ve learned how to bond with my dogs on a deeper level, and how to train them while keeping that bond intact.
- I’ve learned how canine nutrition, behavior, movement, training, and cognition are all integrated.
- I’ve learned how to apply my equine studies in biomechanics, movement, training, behavior, and husbandry to the canine world.
- I’ve learned how to be aware of my energy to affect my dogs’ energy.
- I’ve learned how to apply holistic remedies to myself and my dogs.
This is how I see it.
Got Questions?
I have answers. Drop me a line!