Wholistic Hounds

09/09/2025

When it comes to holistic grooming, is everyone on the same page?

A lot of holistic groomers market themselves as force-free, consent-based or behavior led. And for us here at Wholistic Hounds, this is only one facet of holistic dog grooming. To us, wholistic grooming is about healing pets as a whole - Mind, Body and Soul.

Yes, wholistic grooming focuses on cooperative care, positive reinforcement training and consent-based handling. But holistic groomers may be missing an important part of the puzzle.

Wholistic Hounds is setting a new standard of care for wholistic groomers, emphasizing the need to be educated in healthy nutrition, nontoxic grooming products and holistic veterinary care. Without these three essential elements, we may not be operating as holistically as we claim.

That’s why Wholistic Hounds wrote Wholistic Grooming for the Soul, an educational guide for both pet guardians and pet professionals about the intricacies of authentic holistic animal care. You don’t need to delve out hundreds or thousands of dollars to learn what it means to be a holistic groomer. Instead, you can get started with our educational guide. This book includes information about behavior, positive training, nutrition, energy healing, holistic veterinary care and more!!

We all might not agree on what “holistic grooming” means to us, but this revolutionary title will be a valuable asset for pet guardians, pet groomers and pet professionals everywhere. Whether you are already a holistic groomer or are interested in a holistic grooming experience for your pet, this book will be a treasure trove of information for you and your furry family.

You don’t have to just take a holistic groomer’s word for it, you can ensure you are receiving authentic holistic animal care by reading this guide and exploring the concept of wholistic grooming from a brand new perspective.

Coming to you in less than two months, Wholistic Grooming for the Soul can change your entire perspective on holistic care. Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to launch day!

09/08/2025

The certification isn't everything, the learning journey is!
Continuing your education means expansion, growth and evolution.
It means asking questions, expanding your knowledge and learning from more than one resource.

Lately, I’ve noticed a shift. More and more people are chasing certificates in dog care, not out of passion, but simply to have something to show. And while I understand the pride in earning a certificate (I love them too!), it’s not the certificate that drives me. It’s the knowledge. The growth. The ability to better support the dogs and people I work with.
But when the certificate becomes the goal, rather than the learning itself, we risk undoing years of hard work by passionate professionals who’ve fought to raise standards in our field.

1. Qualifications Don’t Make You Great
There are plenty of qualified people in every profession who aren’t good at what they do. Most courses can be passed without deep engagement. You can tick boxes, write the essays, and still miss the heart of the work.
To be good at this job, really good, you need passion. You need to care. You need to keep asking questions long after the course ends.

2. But Qualifications Still Matter
On the flip side, just because someone is great without formal qualifications doesn’t mean qualifications are irrelevant. The right course can open doors to knowledge you didn’t even know existed. It can challenge assumptions, broaden perspectives, and introduce you to disciplines you’ve never considered.
Experience is essential, but it’s not everything. We need both: lived insight and structured learning. And we need to learn from many angles, not just the ones we’re comfortable with.

3. The Minefield of an Unregulated Industry
The dog care industry is unregulated, which means anyone can create a qualification. And many do, driven by profit, not ethics. This makes it incredibly difficult for well-meaning learners to know what’s worth their time, money, and trust.
Without transparency, people end up with certificates that carry little weight, and even less substance. And the cycle continues.

4. Even Regulated Industries Get It Wrong
Let’s not pretend regulation solves everything. Even in regulated fields, education can be driven by financial incentives rather than ethical ones. The pressure to produce graduates, meet quotas, or sell courses can dilute the integrity of learning.
That’s why, when we study, we must do it from a place of passion, empathy, and a genuine desire for truth. Not just to level up. Not just to get more work. But to become better, or the dogs, for the people, and for ourselves.

I don’t have all the answers. But I do know this: if we’re chasing certificates without for the sake of the cert, we need to pause. If we’re learning just to say we’ve reached a certain level, we need to ask why.
Education should be a personal journey. A way to deepen our understanding, challenge our biases, and offer better care. Not a badge. Not a shortcut.
And if we’re not learning for the right reasons, imposter syndrome will find us. Because deep down, we’ll know we’re not standing on solid ground.
Let’s choose education that feeds us. That stretches us. That honours the dogs we serve.

09/04/2025

Today we got a call from an aspiring groomer looking for a job with Wholistic Hounds!
The real kicker - she was from Ohio!

This serves as a powerful reminder that Wholistic Hounds is growing. We certainly had high hopes that we'd already be hiring groomers and having our mobile grooming vans up and running, but that just isn't the reality. However, with some recent "wins" for the business, we think that hiring someone may be a reality sooner than later.

Thank you to any and all who support our small business as we get off the ground, get our name out there and continue to grow. You are all amazing and we truly couldn't do it without you!

09/02/2025

I was checking out The Truth About Canine Cancer series by Avaiya University and noticed there was a presentation about the potential connection between cancer and grooming products! 😳

As someone who is very passionate about educating people about truly non-toxic products, this piqued my interest. And with Wholistic Grooming for the Soul getting closer and closer to launch day, I figured tuning in and gathering info would be a perfect opportunity to add more educational info to the book.

It turns out Melissa Boland, the owner of 4Legger is the one speaking on the topic. This felt even more in alignment because that's the company Wholistic Hounds started using after learning more about grooming product ingredients!

Learning about ingredients can at first be a little overwhelming. But once you really break down the info into sizable chunks, you can gather a deeper understanding of commercial grooming products, their ingredients and what's truly safe for our furry friends.

Surfactants, synthetic fragrances & phthalates are probably the top 3 most toxic ingredients in grooming products! But how many groomers or guardians do you think even know what those are? Or what the side effects of such substances are?

A lot of common ingredients in grooming products have been known to be toxic to humans. The majority of them are known carcinogens and can absolutely contribute to the formation of cancer cells (along with many other factors, of course).

These ingredients are known to be:
-Endocrine disruptors (affecting hormones, mood, and homeostasis)

-Carcinogenic (cancer causing)

-Harmful to the skin & gut microbiome (affecting immune system)

-Contaminated with harmful petrochemicals

In our modern world, the environment is increasingly more toxic. Our pets are always being exposed to toxins and some of them are out of our control, but empowering ourselves to select nontoxic grooming products can be a small step that creates big change. Nontoxic grooming products help to protect pets, people and the planet!

Chapter 15 in Wholistic Grooming for the Soul is all about Grooming Products and goes into this topic a bit more in-depth. You don't need to take an extensive course about canine dermatology or aesthetics to learn how to select nontoxic grooming products! Your dog's skin and immune system will thank you 🐶🐾

09/01/2025

Today, Wholistic Hounds is celebrating 4 years in business!

And technically, we’ve formed two separate LLCs in two different states! A huge move across the country was risky, but it has become a solid business decision that has supported our growth and evolution.

2021-2023 Cleveland, Ohio
2023-2025 Bend, Oregon

We thank you for your continued support!!

Wholistic Hounds has a lot in store for you this year to celebrate our 4 year anniversary, including new products, new books, brand new services, and new educational opportunities.

Be sure to follow us to stay in the loop about what’s going on with WH!

WWW.WHOLISTICHOUNDS.DOG

08/29/2025

Our friends at Think Wild Central Oregon are seeing a lot of pet-caught wildlife encounters this season, serving as a reminder to monitor your pets well to protect wildlife!

Surprisingly enough, dogs aren't the major trouble makers in this regard - instead, our feline friends are the usual culprits. Cats shouldn't be allowed to free roam, as even bell collars can fail to keep wildlife safe. Instead, practice monitored outings with your cats using a harness and a leash, enclosed catios, or travel carriers like backpacks or play pens.

Domestic felines are NOT a natural predator to wildlife, so it's our job as their caretakers to protect other animals. We want cats to enjoy the outdoors as much as you do, but we also know how critically important it is to keep wildlife safe. As a reminder, birds that are caught by cats need to be admitted to the nearest wildlife rehabber or veterinary clinic, as the bacteria in cats' saliva can cause death within 24 hours without prompt treatment.

The wild animals and the rehabbers who care for them thank you!

08/28/2025

TW: End of Life Care / Aging Pet

This beautiful dog right here is 13 years old and very likely in her End of Life. I wanted to make a post for anyone else who may be dealing with something similar or who has dealt with it in the past.

Recently, a friend of mine lost his dog to the big C after getting a terminal diagnosis. Even though I’m not very close to this friend, it was very clear how much of an emotional toll his dog’s End of Life journey took on him. I did my best to support him, offering kind words of encouragement and reminding him that he was doing a great job supporting him until the end.

My childhood dog, a handsome 11 year old Saint Bernard named Ludo is also in his End of Life. My mom, his sole caretaker, isn’t dealing with it well either. The emotional toll it takes on us can be debilitating.

And Jade here, our perfect rescue pup. We’ve had her for about 3 years now, but she’s everything to us. The emotional depth this dog has is like no other – she just UNDERSTANDS us completely. She’s been my best friend, my soul mate, and the one who understands my trauma the most since hers is very similar. Without having the official title, she’s acted as service dog to me in many moments where I was having a panic attack, using gentle pressure to bring me back to the moment - none of which was trained, she has done it completely on her own.

Recently, she’s been having some incontinence problems and will occasionally leak urine in the bed, mainly overnight during resting hours. Although she doesn’t currently have any known diagnosis, we have suspected that something might be off. Is it kidney impairment, or is it just a common symptom of aging? Jade is fed an all organic, homemade diet which helps keep any health maladies at bay. She does have arthritis and aches and pains, which we treat with supplements, food therapy and organic CBD oil. Her behavior, energy, appetite and mood is perfect nearly every single day, so we think she has at least a year (maybe two) left. All of this is showing me that it isn’t Jade who needs to prepare for the end - it’s me. My partner, our cats, the whole family will be different without her.

This has allowed me to focus on what’s important: spending the rest of her days the best, most joyful way we can! I don’t need to overly focus on work, as Jade is so much more important than meeting a deadline or stressing over timing. Jade is my world, my life, my heart. And this End of Life journey is just as much about her as it is about our family, our spiritual growth. I promise and vow right now to send Jade to the Rainbow Bridge with so much love, letting all fear and doubt dissipate. It’s easy KNOWING she’ll always be with me and that her spirit will live on, but it’s another to put it into practice and accept that my soulmate will soon pass on to another realm. That part, I’m preparing for.

To all of those facing the End of Life journey with your pets – you’re not alone. All the emotions that come up are meant to help us heal, help us release, help us soften. We can get through this together with love, trust and a whole lot of patience. Our animal friends are the best friends we’ll ever have – let’s do our best to honor them both in life and in death. So it is.

08/25/2025

I'm not sure if there's any truth behind this or if they're just trying to sell their product, but this is definitely something to consider when using traditional nail clippers on your dog's nails!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CkYJeswfn/

08/25/2025

Wholistic Grooming for the Soul has a chapter dedicated to the evolution of wolves and how they transformed into the modern pet dogs we know today.

The chapter is called "Evolution in Motion" and is becoming perhaps the most important chapter in the book! I've been researching and studying for many months now and have learned a whole treasure trove of information about how our beloved dogs came to be.

Why is understanding the evolution of Canis lupus so important?

Well, because if we don't gather a deeper understanding and appreciation for Canis lupus, the gray wolf, the closest living ancestor to modern pet dogs, how can we TRULY understand and appreciate dogs?

The sad reality is that many dog lovers know little to nothing about wolves, which can make it harder to understand the dog you have at home cuddled next to you.

You'll be amazed at what you'll learn when you dive in to Wholistic Grooming for the Soul. Chances are, you'll gain a greater respect for how dogs came to me. And maybe you'll learn to love wolves even more, since we wouldn't have dogs without their wild counterparts, the wonderful wolves.

Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to launch day!

08/25/2025

I made some small edits on the writing for the back cover -- how exciting!!
This cover is more intentional than you might think and incorporates some hidden meaning.

Can anyone guess what the front cover of Wholistic Grooming for the Soul symbolizes?
Hint: The mirror and the birds both have a hidden meaning. Let us know in the comments below if you know what those hidden meanings might be!

Wholistic Grooming for the Soul, set to be released in eBook form this October 21, 2025. Physical copies will be available shortly after, hopefully by early 2026.

08/15/2025

Where has Wholistic Hounds been?!

Along with enjoying the rest of our summer here in Central Oregon, Wholistic Hounds' owner, Morgan, has been busy at work putting the finishing touches on our upcoming book, Wholistic Grooming for the Soul.

And in all honesty, this book is getting more and more amazing with each passing day! This isn't something you'll want to miss!

Set to be released October 21, 2025, this revolutionary title will change the game for holistic grooming.

We hope you are just as excited as we are!! Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to launch day.