Mindful Pets

Mindful Pets I am fully qualified dog trainer, with degrees in psychology and psychotherapy.

My goal is to help dogs and their parents learn to live and thrive together in a peaceful and respectful reletionship and the comunication is key to having a strong bond.

In the 1940s, zoologist Rudolf Schenkel from the University of Basel observed a group of wolves kept in captivity.They w...
20/06/2025

In the 1940s, zoologist Rudolf Schenkel from the University of Basel observed a group of wolves kept in captivity.
They were adult wolves, unrelated, confined to a small space with limited resources. In that unnatural environment, intense conflict and “dominant” behaviours emerged.

That’s where the theory of the “alpha male” was born.
Too bad it wasn’t a real pack.

Years later, David Mech — who had helped spread the theory — rejected it after observing wolves in their natural habitat: wolf packs are cooperative families, not power hierarchies.

📍But why is dominance still taught in dog training today?
Because this belief justifies coercion.

Here are some methods still sadly in use:
🔸 Shock collars
🔸 Choke chains
🔸 Slip leads (pressure halters)
🔸 Harsh leash jerks
🔸 Kicking or stomping
🔸 Forced rollovers
🔸 Muzzle-grabbing
🔸 Leash whipping

Dogs obey.
But they do so out of fear of pain, not out of understanding or trust.
And very often, this leads to anxiety, chronic stress, or learned helplessness

📍Why do we still believe in coercion?
Because coercion works — on the surface.
Psychologically, it feeds on:

-Fear (of punishment, exclusion, pain)

-The desire for approval or to avoid conflict

-The need for control and safety

In dogs, as in humans, the threat — real or perceived — can paralyse judgement and trigger obedience.
But it’s an empty obedience, rooted in fear, not in relationship

📍Why is obedience still seen as a virtue today?
Because it makes us feel safe.

An obedient dog — like an obedient child or citizen — is reassuring.
It makes us feel like “good owners”, “authoritative parents”, “competent dog trainers”, “reliable dog sitters or walkers”.

📍But what does this need for control really say about us?

If I feel the need to control everything, it’s because I am afraid things won’t go my way.
Those who need to control have stopped trusting others… and perhaps even life itself.

But we can learn to dance with chaos, with uncertainty, with the unexpected.

Yes — control is comforting. But it’s in trust and collaboration that real growth happens. Sadly, we often seek reassurance more than authentic connection.

Full article in bio

📚The 2010 study "Automatic imitation in dogs" conducted from the Department of Cognitive Biology at the University of Vi...
13/05/2025

📚The 2010 study "Automatic imitation in dogs" conducted from the Department of Cognitive Biology at the University of Vienna revealed that dogs are capable of precisely imitating human movements. They use their paws and muzzle to reproduce gestures that humans make with their hands and mouth.

📍Just as we tend to automatically and unconsciously mimic the movements of others, dogs do the same. They refine this ability based on the depth of their bond with their human and the amount of time they spend together.

❣️The tendency to imitate is closely linked to the relationship: the deeper it is, the stronger the connection becomes, and the more likely the dog is to observe and replicate.
Interestingly, dogs imitate only their own human, which is a clear sign of the trust they place in them.

🐾Personally, I often notice this behaviour in dogs with whom I share a deep bond. It’s a powerful tool, especially when helping a dog overcome discomfort or distress. In those moments, the person becomes a model to follow.
A dog that sees their human remaining calm while they feel agitated receives an important message: “I can trust them, I can calm down too.” This is a fundamental part of emotional rehabilitation.

📸 In the photo that goes with this post, I was sitting and admiring the view. It can’t have been more than half a minute. At some point, I realised I couldn’t hear the dogs in the river anymore. When I turned around, I found them exactly as you see here. I couldn’t help but take a picture.

I never ask dogs to pose. They are not models. I’m always wary of photos where several dogs are sitting perfectly in a row. No dog should be forced to stay still just to "look good."
True calm comes from connection, not from control.

Sighthounds (Greyhound, Whippet, Saluki, Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, and so on) have an exceptionally wide fiel...
03/05/2025

Sighthounds (Greyhound, Whippet, Saluki, Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, and so on) have an exceptionally wide field of vision because their eyes are set on the sides of the skull. They can pick up what is happening all around them, up to ear level, yet they have very little binocular vision: they focus brilliantly at a distance but struggle to see objects that are close, especially those right in front of their nose.

For this reason a sighthound may appear distracted or “aloof” when, in fact, it simply cannot see well at close range. If another dog approaches too quickly or excitedly, the sighthound may be startled and react—not out of aggression, but because it cannot immediately work out what is coming towards it.

This phenomenon falls within cynognostics, the branch of canine science that studies a dog’s morphology and how its physical build affects the way its body works.

Veterinary surgeons use cynognostics to spot conditions linked to conformation.

Show judges rely on it to assess how closely a dog matches its breed standard.

Canine trainers should turn to it to read a dog’s signals correctly and adapt their work to its physical characteristics.

As a professional, I consider it my duty to share this knowledge with owners: understanding how a dog is built helps them interpret its behaviour, prevent situations that cause discomfort, manage any discomfort that does arise, and avoid mistaking physiological limitations for behavioural problems.

Enjoy your Saturday🥰
12/04/2025

Enjoy your Saturday🥰

Have you ever noticed how some dogs seem to blend in perfectly with their surroundings?A dog’s coat colour isn’t just ab...
24/03/2025

Have you ever noticed how some dogs seem to blend in perfectly with their surroundings?

A dog’s coat colour isn’t just about looks—many breeds were originally selected with specific colours that served a functional purpose.
Here are a few examples:

🟡 English Setter – Its light coat makes it easy to spot while hunting in open fields.

⚪ Fox Terrier – Its palecolouringg helped distinguish it from wild animals like foxes during hunts.

⚫ Border Collie – Its dark coat serves as a visual cue: sheep perceive it as a threat and respond accordingly, which helps the dog herd them.

🟤 Cairn Terrier Colours, like black or sandy brown, help it blend into rocky landscapes (like Clava Cairns) and bushes while hunting. The name “Cairn” actually refers to the stone piles typical of the Scottish countryside.

⚫⚪ Siberian Husky – The black and white contrast echoes the snowy landscapes of Siberia. While it may aid a bit in camouflage, it primarily reflects adaptation to harsh climates.

🟫 Dachshund – Originally bred for burrow hunting (like badgers), its brown coat—often in earthy shades—resembles the colour of soil and woodland. This helped it stay hidden from both prey and predators during underground pursuits.

✨ Have you ever wondered if your dog’s coatcolourr is tied to its past?

Tell me in the comments! And follow me for more breed facts and curiosities! 🐾

We make our dogs happy by understanding what they don't need.
13/05/2024

We make our dogs happy by understanding what they don't need.

Did you know these things about a puppy's mum? #
02/04/2024

Did you know these things about a puppy's mum?

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Dogs in season: everything you need to know and how to manage it.When I finish a puppy education course, the puppy has r...
26/01/2024

Dogs in season: everything you need to know and how to manage it.

When I finish a puppy education course, the puppy has reached 6 months. In case the dog is a female, I explain how the dog season works because it creates changes in the dog's body and mind.

Knowledge is useful support in managing everything to do with the dog. 'Knowledge is power' said Francis Bacon. the 16th century English philosopher and scientist.
Knowing how a dog's mind and body works helps us to create a powerful relationship with him/her.

What is the dog's season?
Do male dogs go into heat?
When does the first hear begin?
Does the bitch feeling pain?
Do bi***es go through menopause?
Does the batch change her behaviour?
How to deal with a bitch in heat?

You will find the answers to these and other questions in the article in bio.

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In a pack dog group, the puppies stay with their mother at least until they are six months old. In the pack dog group, t...
10/01/2024

In a pack dog group, the puppies stay with their mother at least until they are six months old. In the pack dog group, there are aunts, i.e. those dogs that help the mother dog during the education period. So, the puppy is also educated by them. We should consider that in a pack dog there is no one who dominates because the pack of dogs is structured on the concept of roles and cooperation.

But you adopt the puppy between eight and ten weeks to get it used to all the stimuli in the city. Adoption can no take place at the age of six months because late exposure to environmental stimuli can have a negative influence on the puppy's behavioural development.

A puppy grown in the countryside up to the age of 3 months will have great difficulty adapting to life in the city and may become phobic of, for example, noises, cars, cyclists and may decide it does not want to leave the house. This happens precisely because environmental socialization has not been considered from 8 to 10 weeks.

On the other hand, early adoption (before 8 weeks) can be destabilizing for the puppy because you take him away from his environment and siblings at the time when he needs them most. And you do not give the puppy a chance to identify with the species it belongs to, i.e. other dogs. When this does not happen, the puppy may manifest aggression in reaction to stimuli that are unfamiliar or otherwise recognized as potentially dangerous.

You should keep in mind that the mother dog not only feeds and warms the puppies, but she is the first and best teacher for the puppy. It is crucial that the puppy stays with its mother and siblings for 8 to 10 weeks.
Furthermore, the mother is the element that creates the psychic container. This means that the more the mother is present, the more emotional stability the puppy experiences. If a puppy is emotionally relaxed, the more the puppy learns.
Then, the new family will expose the puppy to all those stimuli that will be part of its future life (sounds, noises, people, children, etc.). Of course, these have to be done in the right way and at the right time. 

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17/12/2023

Do dog treats really help to manage a dog's behavioral issue?
I am usually contacted by people who have already tried to do something to manage their dog's behavioral problem.
They have watched some videos on the internet, received advice from the dog walker/sitter or friend, seen some dog training series tv and so on.
One of the things people use is food as a positive reinforcement.
However the problem gets worse or doesn't change. Why does this happen?

First of all, we should consider that the treat is a food. It is usually tastier than the food the dog eats every day. Some dogs love to eat treats because they love food so much. So we can say that food can be a tool of communicating with the dog, using something that some dogs really like.

But we should be aware that dogs do not use treats when they want to communicate to each other, when they need to solve problems, express themselves to each other or when they want to tell us something. Dogs use their language, made up of postures, facial expressions, vocalizations, proxemics and olfaction, markings, calming signals.
The use of treats can really cause problems.

Here's you can find the full article:
https://mindfulpets.co.uk/mindfulpets-post/do-dog-treats-really-help-to-manage-a-dogs-behavioral-issue/

I offer free charge online support to owners of an American Bull XL.Feel free to send an email to Mindfulpets and you wi...
25/11/2023

I offer free charge online support to owners of an American Bull XL.
Feel free to send an email to Mindfulpets and you will be given instructions for the consultation.

From 31 December 2023 all owners of XL Bully breed types must comply with strict conditions. Breeding, selling, exchanging, gifting, abandoning or allowing these dogs to stray will be banned. Owners will also be required to keep their dog on a lead and muzzled in public. We are encouraging all owners to start training their dogs to wear a muzzle and walk on a lead now, ahead of the restrictions coming into force on 31 December 2023.

From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to be in possession of an XL Bully in England and Wales, unless owners have a Certificate of Exemption. Further details on how to apply will be provided in due course. Owners will need to adhere to strict rules including holding public liability insurance and for the dog to be microchipped and neutered. Dogs that are less than one year old on 31 January 2024, will need to be neutered by 31 December 2024. Dogs that are older than one year old on 31 January 2024, must be neutered by 30 June 2024. We recommend that owners arrange for their dogs to be neutered as soon as possible to meet these deadlines.

Alternatively, where owners do not wish to keep their dogs, they can choose to euthanise them.

Banning America Bully XL will not solve the problem of dog accidents. An eight-kilogram poodle can seriously injure a three-year-old child or a smaller dog.

The problem is not in the breed. The problem is in the handling of the dog. It is as difficult to handle a Cocker Spaniel that bites as a hyperactive Doberman.
All dogs can be dangerous if handled badly. It is a great responsibility to have a dog and it is a relationship that requires commitment and patience.
It is important to select the right dog for our temperament, to be informed about your dog, to do a basic education when the dog is a puppy, to follow it when it is a teenager, to help it maintain a balance during the adult phase and to manage the senior phase.

19/11/2023

Reactivity of the dog towards a child. Example of a work on the person-dog relationship.

When working with reactivity issues, you first have to understand what triggered that kind of reactivity. We've already talked about that.

Then after identifying what triggers this dog's reactivity toward children, you create a plan for changing the dog's behavior. This stage is delicate, and if you get the diagnosis wrong, the strategies that will be applied in the change plan will also be wrong. This should be avoided in order not to waste time, money, energy and hope.

In the change plan one works in different areas but today I would like to focus on the intervention done on the dog's behavior through the relationship with the person in six months.

The moment you identify the cause, you have to work on both the cause and the behavior. It is not enough to eliminate the cause to eliminate the abnormal behavior and vice versa.

Here's you can read the full article:
https://mindfulpets.co.uk/mindfulpets-post/reactivity-of-the-dog-towards-a-child-example-of-a-work-on-the-person-dog-relationship/

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Finding peace in the relationship with a pet

I have many years’ experience in caring for people with anxiety/depression disorders as a psychotherapist, and I have helped people to achieve their goals, such as living without anxiety. I have discovered that I am able to understand the emotional needs of animals, especially dogs and cats, and I can help to improve the relationship between a person and their pets.

I would like to tell you a story.

I lived with my cat Matisse for 13 years. She was a gift from the sky – literally! In August 2001, she had been ejected from a moving car, and while travelling through the air she made contact with a female cyclist who was travelling behind the car. This woman saved her. At that time I didn’t like cats, and wasn’t looking for one, but a friend of mine, who knew the woman cyclist, insisted that I should come and see the cat. The moment I saw this scared little cat, and our eyes met, it was love at first sight! She was a poor, frightened thing – she trembled a lot – and I decided that she needed a place where she could feel safe. So, for the next month, every night she slept in my bed, in the hollow of my tummy. It seemed like a dream. I took care of this little vulnerable creature, and as I did so, the quality of her life improved markedly. At that time I assumed, quite presumptuously, that any progress in my own life then was due to myself. It was only years later that I realized this was untrue – any improvements to my life were due to Matisse, my little cat.