A Solstice Reflection

Image shows Sharon, a white human wearing blue jeans and a grey top, holding a teal ball overhead with a playfully mischievous smile. Muggins, a large black-and-white pup licks their lips as they look up and wonder how to get the ball.

Happy Holidays!

Please use the code WARMPUPPY to get 33% off everything!

(from now until 11:59pm on December 31, 2022)

Hi collaborator!

The end-of-year and solstice vibes have my brain centered on reflection, so I thought I would share with you a few things that I accomplished this year:

Some big things come to mind, such as rebranding my business and launching Human Canine Collaborative, booking 1:1 coaching spots at every pricing tier, offering 3 live virtual courses, turning those live courses into purchasable recorded classes, overcoming a humiliating Instagram hacking to create a new account that has more engagement than ever, and starting a podcast!

My good friend, Meenadchi, is so wise. She reminded me the other day that accomplishments are meaningless. The things that truly matter have nothing to do with business, sales, followers, or wealth. So, here is a list of things I did this year that are truly worth celebrating:

at a family holiday gathering last month, I was told several times that “Muggins is so good” and they have “come such a long way”
Muggins no longer displays anxious food-burying behaviors - when I put their bowl down, they eat all the food right away (thanks to co-regulation and some consulting with a canine nutritionist)
I made several new friends with Muggins at the local dog park
I can take a walk with Muggins, and pass other dogs and squirrels, without Muggins dragging me (most of the time, haha)
I learned to tell my partner when I am struggling, as soon as I feel it
I said “no” more than I ever have (and didn’t feel guilty!)
I asked for help more specifically and effectively than I ever have
I began volunteering with the Racial Justice Working Group at the Co-Sheltering Collaborative
I set aside time every week to connect with my friend FyerLyon to practice nonviolent communication and support our anti-racism journeys
I listened to my body, followed my heart, and began cultivating a community where I truly belong

Thank you so much for being here, for witnessing my journey, and for supporting my progress. I am so grateful for your presence, the way you love your dog, and the ways in which you remind me why I do this work.

Now I want to hear about the truly meaningful things that YOU DID this year to listen to your body, honor your dog, or fill your heart - send me a reply with your list!

~ Sharon

Image has a tan puppy belly background. A white circle in the center holds a dark chocolate line drawing of a human and dog connecting through a closed-eye breath amidst moss green and lavender clouds. Letters in black say "Episode 4: On Dog Trauma"

The Happy Dog Happy Human Podcast (a collaboration with Angela Tuckerman from Cloud Doodles) is going steady - with 4 episodes to close out the year!

Episode 3: On Human Trauma just dropped last week! In this episode, I share about my experiences with complex PTSD, and Angela and I discuss how dogs can both trigger trauma responses and provide support as therapeutic partners.

Episode 4: On Dog Trauma dropped yesterday! In this episode, we talk about the experiences of trauma and post-traumatic stress in dogs, what causes this, how this relates to reactivity and sensory sensitivity, how our dogs’ trauma-related reactions and behaviors impact us, and some strategies to support us both.

LISTEN NOW

Help us keep this podcast going in the new year! We need support to fund marketing, host our websites, graphically design things, and compensate our editor (TomFoxPhotos.com). And of course we need a few bucks to get Muggins and Duchess some treats - so, if you have some extra funds this holiday, consider sharing a few to keep Happy Dog Happy Human going!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Do you know someone who:

recently rescued a dog from the shelter?
lives with a dog who has developed an aggressive behavior?
is struggling after the loss of their dog?
needs support to resume care of their dog after discharging from treatment?
dreams of incorporating a dog into their healthcare practice?

Give the gift of the human-dog bond <3

*Upon checkout, you will be able to enter the recipient’s name and email, plus write a personalized message, and the gift will be sent directly to your loved one.

Shop

Image shows a snow-covered path through a tall pine forest, established with several tracks of paw and footprints. The tree branches are lined with snow. We see a human and a dog at a distance, traveling together and imagining what they will find.

Photo by Tom at tomfoxphotos.com

Grief Guidance Sessions

I am taking 3 new clients for grief guidance in January, 2023.

This offering is for any human who:

lost a dog, at any point in their life, to death or rehoming
feels alone, dismissed, stuck, or hopeless in their grief
is struggling to get through their daily routine or engage in activities that are (or were) meaningful
is struggling with ruminating thoughts, overwhelming regret, or difficulty getting out of bed
feels desperate for a container in which to collapse, fall apart, or not be okay
desires to celebrate your dog and the truly valuable being that they were
yearns to feel seen, held, and normal in their grief

Sliding scale pricing and payment plans available.

EXPLORE GRIEF GUIDANCE

Recorded Classes are here!

Recorded classes are a great way to start your co-regulation journey with your dog, at your own pace, and in the comfort of your own home!

If you live with a dog who behaves with reactivity, anxiety, or aggression, you long to connect better with your dog around distractions, you desire clear and effective communication with your dog, or you want to learn strategies to manage stress better for both you and your dog - these classes are for you!

Each class includes a dynamic educational component, guided somatic exercises, and a video tutorial for skills that you can teach your dog!

Intro to Co-Regulation - 33 min ($25) Learn what co-regulation is and explore somatic work with guided breathing, a visualization and body scan, a shake off stress activity, and an exercise to improve your dog’s ability to pay attention around distractions.

Everything But The Words (for companions) - 1 hr 17 min ($75) Build knowledge and skills for recognizing and interpreting nonverbal cues in yourself, your dog, and others! This class will help you identify and communicate your needs, better understand your dog’s behavior, and proactively reduce stress for both of you!

Everything But The Words (CEU for dog pros) - 2 hours ($95) Designed for any professional who works with dogs to build knowledge and skills in trauma-informed care and consent-based interactions with dogs. Build knowledge and skills on nonverbal cues of human and dog nervous systems so you can clearly illuminate dog behavior for your clients, expertly adjust the task and environment to improve outcomes, and practically reduce stress to improve participation for both your human and your dog clients. (2 CUEs through CCPDT)

Each recording is available with closed captioning.

SHOP RECORDED CLASSES

Consulting is also available!

Adoption Consulting - Thinking about adopting an emotional support or assistance dog, let’s talk through your needs, learn associated laws, determine which type of dog would best suit your needs, and identify community partners that can help!

Animal Assisted Intervention Consulting - For healthcare and human service professionals who incorporate dogs into their practice. Let’s review best practices, conduct a strengths/needs/barriers/resources analysis, develop a screening process for clients, create a written proposal for key stakeholders, or design a program that enhances client outcomes!

Behavior Consulting - This service is for any dog guardian who feels:

at a loss regarding their dog’s anxious, reactive, or aggressive behavior
heartbroken because they have been told to re-home or euthanize their dog for behavioral reasons
afraid because their dog’s behavior is so unpredictable that they are walking on eggshells in their own home
overwhelming shame or fear because their dog bit someone

When you don’t know what you don’t know, or fear is telling you that you don’t have any options, I can help you find a way.

Sessions are 60 min each, conducted virtually, with sliding scale pricing.

EXPLORE CONSULTING SERVICES

Many thanks for reading this - I look forward to collaborating with you!

In warmth and light,

~ Sharon ~