Soul Touched by Dogs

Dog food and canine nutrition can feel like a minefield when your vet tells you one thing, but your dog's body is telling you something completely different. If you've ever stood in the pet food aisle overwhelmed, or watched your dog struggle with skin issues, digestive problems, or low energy despite "doing everything right," this conversation will give you clarity, confidence, and a path forward...

Sleep quality for dogs isn't something most of us think about — until now. We obsess over their food, their exercise, their training. But what about the 14 hours a day they spend resting? Dr Lauren Davis, a vet turned pet sleep expert, reveals why the bed your dog sleeps on could be just as important as the one you sleep on — and how we're missing some of the earliest signs that something's wrong....

Service dog training begins long before you might imagine—and the journey from newborn puppy to life-changing companion involves far more than teaching basic commands. For people with disabilities, the right service dog can mean the difference between needing round-the-clock care and living independently, but the process of matching dog to human requires insight, patience, and a deep understanding...

Animal communication isn't magic, and you don't need to be born with a gift to do it. If you've ever wondered what your dog really thinks about that new bed you bought, why they keep digging in the same spot, or how to support them through a tough vet visit, this conversation will show you that the answers might be closer than you think. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How to start hearing what your dog is alre...

Pet longevity science is revealing how to help dogs and cats live up to 25% longer through a combination of advanced diagnostics, integrative care, and lifestyle changes most pet parents overlook. This conversation offers practical, evidence-based strategies to extend not just the years in your dog's life, but the quality of those years — especially for older pets facing cancer, chronic pain, or h...

Pet loss and grief are rarely spoken about with the seriousness they deserve. When a beloved dog dies, many people find themselves lying to their employer, suppressing their heartbreak, or being told it's time to "just get another one." This conversation with Koryn Greenspan explores why grief for our animals is so misunderstood, what anticipatory grief really means, and how we can honour the bond...

Therapy dogs don't just comfort humans — they also help us understand grief, resilience, and the kind of love that doesn't end when a heartbeat stops. Peggy Frezon writes books that honour the human-animal bond, runs a retirement home for senior golden retrievers, and has learned how to hold space for both joy and loss at the same time. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN What makes a dog suited to therapy work — a...

Assistance dogs do far more than most people realise — not just guiding, but helping their humans shower, get dressed, and move through the world with dignity and independence. This conversation with Claudia Hendrix reveals what life with an assistance dog actually looks like when you're a wheelchair user living alone, and how a Labrador named Katya (yes, Cat) became the reason Claudia doesn't nee...

Holistic veterinary medicine isn't about rejecting science—it's about expanding it to include what we already know works: energy, joy, and the body's innate ability to heal. In this episode, Dr. Jeff Feinman shares how shifting focus from symptoms to something he calls BEAM (Behavior, Energy, Appetite, and Mood) can transform how we support our dogs' health and happiness. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why sym...

Herding goats with a working dog isn't about force or control—it's about partnership, patience, and understanding what your dog was bred to do. In this episode, we meet a farmer who traded in his old life three years ago to become a goat herder in Wisconsin, bringing regenerative agriculture to his land with the help of his English Shepherd, Dutch. Their work together is a beautiful reminder of wh...

Veterinary burnout is reaching crisis levels — but most vets don't see it coming until they hit the wall. If you've ever wondered why your vet seems stretched thin, or why practices feel different than they used to, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what's really happening behind the exam room door. What You'll Learn Why burnout in veterinary medicine often goes unnoticed until it's too...

What do you do when your dog turns into a tiny (or not-so-tiny) dragon over… a sock? This conversation with Sonia Fetherling goes far beyond “how to fix it.” Because what looks like stubbornness, dominance, or “bad behavior” is often something much more vulnerable underneath. We talk about resource guarding in a way that feels… human. The fear. The tension. The pressure it creates in a home. And w...

What if your dog already knows exactly what they need to heal? In this fascinating conversation, I’m joined by Irish animal healer and communicator Lisa Tully, who works with dogs and cats around the world using a deeply intuitive and holistic approach. Lisa combines animal communication, Chinese medicine principles, and plant-based healing to uncover the root causes of emotional and physical imba...

When Love Meets Innovation: Helping Pets Get the Care They Deserve Some dogs simply arrive one day… and change everything. In this episode of Soul Touched by Dogs, I’m joined by Adam Spencer, founder of Furlanthropy — an innovative nonprofit that’s reimagining how pet parents can access life-saving veterinary care when money stands in the way. Adam’s journey into animal welfare didn’t begin with a...

What if your dog’s behaviour isn’t something to fix… but something to listen to? In this beautifully grounding conversation, I’m joined by Miranda Wimbush, founder of The Mindful Canine, to explore what becomes possible when we slow down, soften our nervous systems, and reconnect with the wisdom that lives beneath the noise. Miranda brings together science, intuition, and embodied awareness in a w...

Yes… this episode should have gone out before Christmas. And yet, there’s something quietly perfect about sharing it now, at the very beginning of January. Because this conversation isn’t really about Christmas. It’s about connection. About slowing down enough to notice the magic that’s already there. And about the kind of presence dogs offer us - especially when the world feels loud, fast, or ove...

If your “sweet-as-sugar-until-a-squirrel-appears” dog can’t resist the thrill of the chase, this one’s for you. Force-free trainer Stephanie Rombough (Happy Hounds Dog Training, Alberta, Canada) joins me to share the reward-based process behind her new book inspired by her own high-drive herder, Nera. We dig into why chasing is so reinforcing, how to prevent dangerous rehearsals, and exactly how t...

A psychologist walks into a dog park… and realises half her clients have tails. That’s pretty much how Dr. Holly Tett discovered her calling — blending trauma-informed psychology with force-free dog training to heal both ends of the lead. In this lively, heartfelt conversation, we talk about why obedience can’t fix overwhelm, how to spot the difference between shut down and calm, and what happens...

What happens when a lifelong animal lover and environmental scientist weaves her passions into stories where dogs see ghosts, save the day, and change lives? In this episode, award-winning author Jill Hedgecock joins us to talk about her Shadow series — suspenseful, heart-filled novels that entertain while quietly teaching readers about compassion, responsible dog stewardship, and the beauty of th...

When Tricia Montgomery lost her beloved Moose to cancer, her world stopped. But out of heartbreak came a mission — to make sure no other pet parent wakes up one morning to find it’s too late. In this deeply moving conversation, Tricia shares how grief became fuel for purpose and how her non-profit, Moose’s March, is leading the charge for early detection of pet cancer so more dogs (and cats) can l...

When one chance encounter with a groomer feeding raw chicken legs made Toni Shelaske stop in her tracks, she had no idea it would set her on a path to becoming one of Pittsburgh’s most influential voices in pet wellness. From running her own pet sitting business to building four thriving natural pet supply stores, and now hosting the Toni Unleashed podcast, Toni has always been driven by curiosity...

What does it mean to be a good dog in the human world? In this heartfelt, eye-opening conversation, I’m joined by Vivian Zottola, human-dog relationship therapist, educator, and author, to talk about what it really takes to live in harmony with our dogs. Vivian brings decades of experience (and a deep well of wisdom) to help us shift the way we think about our relationships with our canine compani...

Ever felt like every walk with your dog is a tug-of-war—complete with the judgemental stares, unsolicited advice, and the odd “Who’s walking who?” quip from passersby? You’re not alone. In this episode, I chat with Lauren McKnight, founder of Lead with Luna in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Lauren started as a dog walker and quickly became the go-to person for reactive, strong, or “quirky” dogs that o...

Speaking for Spot: Becoming the Advocate Your Dog Deserves with Dr. Nancy Kay What if the biggest difference you could make in your dog’s life isn’t about training or nutrition, but learning to ask better questions? In this heartfelt, information-packed episode, I sit down with Dr. Nancy Kay - veterinarian, author, and passionate animal welfare advocate - to explore what it really means to "speak...

If you’ve ever shared life with a sensitive, traumatized, or reactive dog, you know how heart-wrenching it is to see them struggle. You want to help, but so much of the advice out there feels like a quick fix and often makes things worse. In this episode, I sit down with Marilyn Mele, founder of Dog Wisdom Workshop and creator of the Emotionally Intelligent Dog Academy, to talk about what truly he...