Behavior is communication.

That’s not just true for dogs but I guess, especially for dogs who don’t have words to make their needs and wants clear.

The question is, are we listening?

And are we interpreting the messages correctly?

Leo was extremely skilled at letting me know what he wanted and, perhaps even more so, what he didn’t want.

The funniest moment was watching him start to limp on a pre-dinner walk (yes, watching my dog limp turned out to be funny .. hear me out .. :-)

We were visiting my parents in Germany and he knew my mum was making dinner. A few minutes into the walk I noticed him limping. Immediately worried, I checked out his paw and leg but couldn’t detect a noticeable source of pain but I didn’t want to take any risks.

So I turned around.

A minute into the way back I noticed that he was limping but .. with the other leg ..

And the moment we got close to home, he stopped limping altogether and started running ..

And no, in case you’re concerned, the limp didn’t come back. There was nothing wrong with him, other than that he disagreed about going on a pre-dinner walk 🤣

I so loved (and love) this dog! Certainly a bit too smart for his own good at times but that’s part of what made him special to me.

The thing is, it’s not always that easy to understand what our dogs need and want from us. So we end up calling them stubborn, naughty, willful.

But they never are ..

That’s part of what I’m discussing with this week’s Pawsome Human, Dr. Laura Donaldson.

This week’s Pawsome Human: Dr. Laura Donaldson - Compliance is not Cooperation

In this enlightening episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Donaldson to delve into the crucial topic of becoming trauma-informed when it comes to our dogs.

Dr. Donaldson shares her extensive knowledge on what trauma is, how it manifests in dogs, and the often-overlooked microtraumas that can significantly impact their well-being.

We discuss the parallels between human and canine trauma responses and the fundamental importance of ensuring safety and trust for traumatised dogs.

Dr. Donaldson offers practical advice on recognising signs of trauma, the importance of respecting a dog's need for agency, and ways to create a healing environment.

And, she highlights some valuable resources, including her Thinkific webinar, 'Why Becoming Trauma Informed Will Change Everything You Do With Dogs,' for those interested in a deeper dive into the subject.

Grab a cuppa and join us to find out what it is (and yes, please like and subscribe to help the baby YouTube channel grow 🙏)

To find out more and connect with Dr. Laura:

Website: https://fourpawsfourdirections.com

Bio: Dr. Laura Donaldson, PhD, CDBC, KPA CTP, CCUI is a Professor Emeritus from Cornell University located in Ithaca, New York, northeastern United States. She is an award-winning writer on dog behavior who has worked as a canine behavior specialist for 20+ years. Laura is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), a Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP) and a Certified Trauma Professional.

She created the popular program called Slow Thinking is Lifesaving for Dogs®. Laura currently resides in upstate New York with her husband, two dogs, three cats, and an African Gray Parrot named Obi. When she isn’t speaking, teaching or writing, you will find Laura partnering with her working Border Collies to tend her flock of Navajo Churro sheep.

Your FREE gift: Free Webinar on GROUNDING: dogs healing from trauma. To register, click on this link: https://laura-s-school-1f3f.thinkific.com/courses/grounding-dogs-healing-from-trauma

Social media links:https://www.facebook.com/ledonaldson

Additional resources:

Dr. Laura Donaldson's almost-free webinar:

Why Becoming Trauma Informed Will Change Everything You Do With Dogs

https://laura-s-school-1f3f.thinkific.com/courses/why-becoming-trauma-informed-will-change-everything-you-do-with-dogs

The series of articles on canine trauma for Happy, Healthy Dog mentioned during the episode Hidden in Plain Sight: Is Your Dog Experiencing Microtrauma?

https://happyhealthydog.org/drlauranov

Traumatized Dogs Need Empathy, Not Toxic Labels

https://happyhealthydog.org/drlauraddec

Why Becoming Trauma Informed Should Be Your 2025 New Year’s Resolution

https://happyhealthydog.org/drlaurajan

The Neurobiology of Trauma: Why It Is Important & What You Need to Know

https://happyhealthydog.org/drlaurafeb

If you prefer to listen ... subscribe to the PODCAST

It’s on Apple podcasts and everywhere else, so you can access it from your favourite podcast app.

If you enjoy listening, please consider leaving a rating and review so other dog lovers can find the show and join the doggie fun.

If you’re not using Apple podcasts, GoodPods is a great app that makes that easy.

Found at https://www.facebook.com/dogsdisclosed

How to help your dog relax and recover from stress

with what you already have in your home - nowhere to go, nothing to buy, just …

a few minutes of ACE Freework a day.

On March 2nd, Jo Burton (who you might remember from her podcast episode) interviews Annie Phenix (who was on the podcast just a couple of weeks ago) to unpack how.

Maybe you’re now thinking .. ACE Freework .. what on earth is that?

Or maybe you’ve heard the term but aren’t quite sure what exactly it actually is and what it can do for YOUR dog.

If you’re just a little bit curious, I highly recommend you check out the event.

I know both Jo and Annie so I know for sure it will be insightful, informative and fun.

Here is how Jo describes it:

“You know the feeling when something stressful happens - like a near car accident or someone trying to snatch your bag, or some other sudden scare - and your whole body tenses? 

Maybe your heart races, your muscles tighten, and you stay on edge for quite a while, sometimes for a long time.

Dogs experience that too.

Just imagine

• The puppy ripped away from mom and litter mates, for the first time without anything familiar, often alone in a crate with nothing but impatient “sshhh” sounds in response to the cries

• The rescue dog, still trying to make sense of losing their previous home(s), now struggling to figure out what to think of yours

• The dog park encounter that started out as fun but turned sour and scary, leaving the pup struggling to trust anyone

• Car rides, strangers over, loud noises, losing someone, staying alone at home .. the list goes on

The human world can be a scary place for dogs.

But unlike us, they don’t have words to process what happened. 

And if the stress isn’t released, it stays stuck in their bodies.

That’s how you end up seeing behaviors like:

🐾 Barking, lunging, or hiding at the slightest sound

🐾 Pacing, whining, or constantly checking their environment

🐾 Freezing or shutting down, as if they’ve disappeared inside themselves

The thing is, dogs are not disobedient or stubborn. 

It’s unprocessed stress, unprocessed trauma. 

And until that’s addressed, no amount of training will work.

So, to help your dog be the “good boy/girl” you know they can be, your job is to help them relax and release the trauma.

But how?

Well, that’s what I’ll discuss with my friend and colleague Annie Phenix, a dog trainer with a 25+ year track record of helping dogs and their people, and author of two bestselling books: The Midnight Dog Walkers: Positive Training and Practical Advice for Living with Reactive and Aggressive Dogs (Fox Chapel Publishing, 2016)

As a trauma survivor herself, she gets it. When she adopted her own Heeler pups in a severely traumatized state, she set out to study everything she could about human and canine trauma to help her dogs.

Today, Finn and Cooper are “The Happy Heelers” and Annie has used what she learned to help hundreds of rescue and clients’ dogs heal from trauma and develop the resilience and confidence that turns them into amazing companions.

She’s now compiled all her knowledge and experience into The Phenix Healing Protocol so she can teach others how to help dogs heal, and ACE Freework is a big part of that.

If you’ve been in my world for any length of time, you know that I think ACE Freework should be in every dog guardian’s toolbox, it’s just that simple and powerful.

Annie agrees, and in our interview, she’ll share how ACE Freework has turned into the Swiss Army Knife in her trauma recovery work.

So, if you

• Have heard the term ACE Freework thrown around but aren’t quite sure what it is, and what it might do for YOUR dog, or

• Have a dog who’s experienced something they struggle to cope with, or

• Have a dog with behavior issues you’re not quite sure what to do about, or

• Simply want to be prepared to help your dogs when they need it (because unfortunately, for most it’s a matter of “when”, not “if)

I’d love you to click the orange button on this page and join us for what I can guarantee to be an insightful, value-packed hour.

You’ll be able to ask questions, and yes, there will be a recording if you have to hop off early or life gets in the way.

For less than a pizza you might just change your dog’s (and your) life“

This week’s product pick:

“Powered by Coffee & Dog Cuddles“

If your perfect day starts with a hot cup of coffee and a snuggle (is there a theme today? 😛) session with your furry best friend, this hoodie was made for you! Designed for caffeine-fueled, dog-loving souls, it’s the ultimate blend of cozy comfort and undeniable truth.

Whether you're heading out for a brisk morning walk, sipping your favorite brew, or curling up for quality time with your pup, this hoodie has you covered, literally.

Soft, warm, and effortlessly stylish, it’s the perfect choice for anyone who runs on caffeine and canine cuddles. Bonus: it pairs perfectly with your favorite mug and a tail-wagging companion!

Grab yours here (different colors available)

FREE worldwide shipping for ALL products.

15% off your first order (enter coupon code STBD15 during checkout) as an exclusive thank you for being a Soul Touched by Dogs subscriber.

Since we’re an international bunch with me in Spain and you most likely in the US, UK or somewhere else, I chose a supplier that produces in different places around the world so you won’t have to wait weeks to receive your order.

And yes, 25% of the profits will be donated to a Pawsome human or non-profit (details to be announced).

What do you think? I’d still like to hear your thoughts

Do you buy a lot of books but only read a fraction of them?

Me too 😛

So I’ve been thinking about hosting a Pawsome Book Club to not just read the books I’m buying but to discuss insights and learning with others, and meet the author if possible.

Thinking of starting with Annie’s book Positive Training for Reactive and Aggressive Dogs (and yes, I’ve asked her and she’d be happy to join a live author Q&A call)

Is that something you’d be interested in? And if so, what would make it a no-brainer to join?

Please let me know here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepFl842Xn7ox4XQqkpHR-uyKa35MvBhQEBEHfBWc4U2xl2KQ/viewform?usp=header

It’s anonymous and takes literally 30 seconds.

So far, there is a lot of agreement among the people who responded .. still time to add your two cents worth to the conversation.

Are you a canine professional?

A trainer, coach, behaviorist, nutritionist, holistic vet, or other canine expert with a holistic, kindness-first approach?

Would you like to be a guest on the podcast? Do you know someone you think would make a great guest?

Is your business ready for an additional revenue stream that makes 1:1 or in-person consults optional?

Go (or send them) to https://soultouchedbydogs.com/pros

And as always ..

If you know another Soul Touched by Dogs, please send them to https://soultouchedbydogs.com 🙏🙏🐾🐾

Until next week,

Anke