Lavender Garden Animal Services

08/07/2025

You know that moment when everything just… tightens?

Your dog barks.
The lead wraps around your legs.
Someone gives you that look.
And suddenly your chest feels heavy, your jaw clenches, and you can feel the spiral beginning.

That’s the moment this reset is for.

It’s something I shared recently on The Mindful Dog Parent Podcast - because I know how quickly a simple walk can turn into a wave of emotional overload.

When that happens, try my 30-second reset:

1. Pause - stop moving if it’s safe to.
2. Exhale slowly - make the exhale longer than the inhale. Let it sound like a sigh.
3. Notice three things - the feel of the lead in your hand, the texture of your dog’s fur, your feet on the ground.
4. Then say (out loud or silently):
“This moment is hard, but I’m safe. I’m allowed to feel. I can reset.”

That’s your 30-Second Reset.
Not to fix everything.
Not to bypass how hard it is.
But to gently interrupt the spiral…
and remind your nervous system (and your dog) that you’re not in danger. You’re just in a moment.

🎧 If you want to hear me guide it, you’ll find it on The Mindful Dog Parent Podcast - Episode 3: Why Your Dog’s Behaviour Feels So Triggering (And What to Do About It).

Because sometimes it’s not about training harder.
It’s about finding your breath, softening your shoulders, and remembering: you’re not alone in this.

08/07/2025

Most dog training advice focuses on what you need to do.

Use this cue.
Be more consistent.
Stay calm.
Reward this, interrupt that.

But here’s the problem no one talks about:

👉 None of that sticks if you don’t feel safe in your own body.

I work with dog parents every week who are intelligent, compassionate, and committed - and still feel like they’re getting it all wrong.

Not because they’re not trying.
Not because they’re not “confident enough.”

But because they’re stuck in survival mode.

💡 In that state, your nervous system is primed for threat - not connection.
And training can’t land when your body is screaming at you to protect, defend, or shut down.

This is why I always say:

> You don’t need better training advice.
You need nervous system support.

Because when you shift - emotionally, physiologically, energetically - your dog does too.

That’s not a mindset trick. That’s co-regulation.

And if the dog training world isn’t talking about this yet?
It should be.

07/07/2025

“Why does my dog hate me?”

It’s one of those searches we rarely admit to -
But so many of us have typed it at 11pm, after a long day and a complete emotional spiral.

Maybe your dog growled at you.
Maybe they ran away when you reached out.
Maybe they ignored everything you asked - and it felt personal.

It’s not that you don’t love them.
It’s that you feel like they don’t love you.

If that’s you, please know this:

👉 Your dog doesn’t hate you.
They’re not punishing you.
They’re trying to communicate something - and they’re doing it in the only way they know how.

And if that moment hit something in you - a childhood wound, a pattern of rejection, the weight of perfectionism - you’re not alone.

✨ Your dog doesn’t need you to be perfect.
They just need you to be calm enough to connect.
And when you support your nervous system, you change everything.

You’re not failing.
You’re just in a hard moment - and you both deserve some softness.

07/07/2025

I used to think I was the problem.

I followed the advice.
I wanted to be calm and patient and consistent…

But I couldn’t stop snapping.
I couldn’t stop feeling like I was on edge all the time.
And I hated the version of me that showed up with my dog some days.

Then one day - in the middle of yet another barking spiral - I felt myself break.

And instead of asking “How do I fix my dog?”
I finally asked:

🧠 What’s going on inside me?

That was the moment it all shifted.

Because I realised it wasn’t about failing.
It was about being dysregulated.

My nervous system was overwhelmed.
I wasn’t calm - and neither was my dog.
Because we were feeding off each other’s energy without even realising it.

And I say this now, with so much softness for anyone who needs it:

💛 If you feel like you’re “getting it wrong”…
💛 If you feel like you know what to do but you just can’t seem to do it…

You are not broken.
You’re not a bad dog parent.
You’re probably just running on empty - and your nervous system is asking for help.

✨ This is why I created a different approach.
One that doesn’t ignore you in the training process.
Because real change starts from the inside out.

🎧 Listen to The Mindful Dog Parent Podcast for gentle support.
📘 Or explore my online courses - made for you and your dog.

07/07/2025

You’ve tried the tips.
The recall games.
The distraction techniques.
The “be more confident” advice.

And yet… it still feels like you’re failing.

If no one’s told you this yet, let me be the first:

👉 You don’t need more dog training tips. You need to feel safe in your own nervous system first.

Because when you’re running on anxiety, shame, or overwhelm…
your dog feels it.
And no cue in the world can cut through that kind of emotional noise.

This is why I created a completely different approach - one that doesn’t ignore you in the training process.

So if you’re an anxious, exhausted, or emotionally tapped-out dog parent:
You’re not broken.
You’re not failing.
You’re burnt out - and your body is asking for calm.

🧡 Start small.
🧘‍♀️ Breathe.
🎧 Tune into the Mindful Dog Parent Podcast for gentle support.
📚 Or explore my online courses — designed for calm, connection, and confidence (for both of you).

You’re doing better than you think. And you don’t have to do it all alone.

05/07/2025

Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

💔 You can love your dog completely - and still feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burnt out.
💬 You can show up every day - and still wonder if it’s enough.
🐾 You can be the very best dog parent for your dog - and still need support sometimes.

If that’s you, I see you.
You’re not alone in this.

✨ The Mindful Dog Parent podcast is for you! Go binge the first three episodes now: https://the-mindful-dog-parent.captivate.fm/
(listen wherever you find your podcasts!)

For the dog mums (and dads) who love hard, feel deeply, and just need a space where it’s okay to not have it all together.

04/07/2025

🕙 Set your alarms…
The Mindful Dog Parent Podcast drops at 10am TODAY! 🎉

Come walk with me, cry with me, and learn alongside me. This podcast is the hug you didn’t know you needed as a dog parent. 💛

03/07/2025

If you’ve ever cried after a walk, cancelled plans because your dog’s having a tough day, or felt like everyone else is nailing this dog parenting thing but you’re quietly struggling - I made something for you.

🎧 The Mindful Dog Parent podcast

Launching tomorrow at 10am

For overwhelmed, anxious dog owners who just want to feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

(with plenty of dog training tips thrown in!)

03/07/2025

There was a time I truly believed I was failing my dog.
Every meltdown, every bad walk, every “why can’t I do this?” moment… it added to the guilt.

But what I’ve learned since then?
You’re not a bad dog parent. You’re just human.
And you're not alone.

Tomorrow, I’m launching something really special - for every overwhelmed, anxious, guilt-ridden dog parent who just wants to feel seen.
Stay close. 💛

01/07/2025

📺💙 Ever wondered why your dog seems glued to the screen when Bluey is on?

I was featured in a new article by diving into this exact question - and there’s actually a lot going on under the surface. From how dogs see colours to the emotional energy they pick up from us, it’s not just “cute”, it can also help the connection with our dogs.

Head to kinship.co.uk to read more 🐾

📰 Article: Why Do Dogs Love Watching Bluey?

💬 Let me know if your pup is a Bluey fan!

01/07/2025

📣 Media Feature!

I’m so pleased to be featured in this article from Kinship UK about why dogs love watching Bluey - turns out, there’s more to it than just cute animation!

We covered how dogs process colours, sound, movement, and even emotional vibes… and how that all links to screen time with our pups 🐾

Have a read here:
🔗 https://www.kinship.co.uk/dog-lifestyle/bluey-tv-show-dogs

A big thank you to Kinship for including me 💜

Discover why dogs are just as captivated by Bluey as kids are. Science reveals what makes this animated show so appealing to our furry friends.

26/06/2025

Puppy biting isn’t bad behaviour, it’s totally normal. They’re exploring the world… with their mouths!

They can also be ...
😫 overtired (puppies need 18-20hrs sleep)
🦷teething (they're in pain)

If their biting leaving YOU frazzled (or in pain), here’s how to handle it without losing your mind:

🧩 Redirect: Offer a chew, toy or short training session when those sharp little shark teeth show up.

⏸️ Pause the fun: Take a short, calm break when biting continues. It communicates better than a yell ever could.

📚 Structure the moment: Teach simple cues (like “sit” or “touch”) to help them reset.

🎉 Celebrate calm: Reward them for chewing gently or sitting quietly.

Biting won’t disappear overnight, but with consistent, compassionate responses? You’ll see your pup learn what behaviours are worth repeating.

Save this post to use as your crisis plan, and tag a puppy-parent friend who needs this today 🌿