What if everything we thought about puppy training was backward? In this transformative conversation, Annie Phenix – author of "Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs" – challenges conventional wisdom about how we welcome dogs into our lives. Drawing from her 25+ years working with traumatized dogs, Annie reveals why healing must precede training for truly balanced, happy canine companions.

Annie's journey from rescue worker to trauma-informed trainer illuminates the hidden suffering many dogs experience. Having fostered over 400 dogs and witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of early separation from mothers, inappropriate training methods, and misunderstood behaviors, she offers a revolutionary framework for understanding our dogs' needs.

Through the poignant story of her own dogs, Finn and Cooper – traumatically separated from their mother at just five weeks old – Annie demonstrates how traditional training approaches fail to address the fundamental nervous system dysregulation that underlies many behavioral issues. She introduces concepts like "deep safety," free work, consent-based handling, and the importance of recognizing subtle body language that transforms our understanding of what dogs are communicating.

This episode dismantles myths about socialization, challenges our rush to train before establishing trust, and provides practical guidance for helping dogs heal. You'll discover why jumping up might actually be a self-regulation strategy for dogs, how "doing less faster" creates more resilient companions, and why watching for slow blinks and calming signals reveals what your dog is really feeling.

Whether you're welcoming a new puppy, working with a rescue, or seeking to deepen your bond with your current companion, this conversation offers a compassionate, science-based approach to canine wellbeing that honors dogs as the sentient beings they are. Ready to transform your relationship with your dog? Listen now and discover the healing journey that awaits you both.

Free gift from Annie: https://phenix-dogs-canine-behavior-experts-llc.kit.com/7-steps

Support the show

Get Dr Edwards New Book! - Discover The Breakthrough Method Thousands Have Been Using To Find and Ease Their Pet’s “Silent Pain”

Order Now

Access current and previous Intensive workshops discussed on these podcasts!

• Intensive Workshop: Heal Your Voice, Empower Your Life - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Pets with Kind Training - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Animal Whispering at Home - Practice Edition - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Understanding The Primal Energy and Karmic Connections Between You And Your Pets - ...

The silent heroes who serve alongside our military personnel often walk on four legs. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Kassara Andre draws from her experience as an Army veterinarian to explore the profound world of military working dogs – their training, deployment, and the complex psychological impacts of their service.

These remarkable canine soldiers are selected for their exceptional drive, intelligence, and resilience. They operate in high-stakes environments, often taking the greatest risks as they lead their units through dangerous terrain or detect explosives with their extraordinary senses. But what happens when their service ends? Dr. Kassara reveals how these dogs face challenges similar to their human counterparts, including symptoms consistent with PTSD.

Most fascinating is the bidirectional healing relationship between handlers and their dogs. When working with traumatized military dogs, Dr. Kassara observed that teaching regulation techniques benefited both species simultaneously – as handlers helped their dogs calm down, their own nervous systems would follow suit, creating a mutual healing pathway that traditional therapies often miss.

The conversation takes a forward-looking turn as Dr. Kassara discusses emerging research possibilities, including careful exploration of psychedelic therapies for canine veterans. She emphasizes that any such research must proceed with extraordinary attention to ethics and consent, highlighting that the most significant healing occurs not during treatment but in the integration period afterward.

Whether you're a dog lover, interested in therapeutic modalities, or simply curious about the powerful interspecies bonds that form in extreme circumstances, this episode offers remarkable insights into how we might better honor and care for all beings who serve. Listen now to gain a deeper understanding of these extraordinary canine warriors and what their experiences can teach us about healing across species boundaries.

Support the show

Get Dr Edwards New Book! - Discover The Breakthrough Method Thousands Have Been Using To Find and Ease Their Pet’s “Silent Pain”

Order Now

Access current and previous Intensive workshops discussed on these podcasts!

• Intensive Workshop: Heal Your Voice, Empower Your Life - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Pets with Kind Training - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Animal Whispering at Home - Practice Edition - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Understanding The Primal Energy and Karmic Connections Between You And Your Pets - ...

Support the show

Get Dr Edwards New Book! - Discover The Breakthrough Method Thousands Have Been Using To Find and Ease Their Pet’s “Silent Pain”

Order Now

Access current and previous Intensive workshops discussed on these podcasts!

• Intensive Workshop: Heal Your Voice, Empower Your Life - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Pets with Kind Training - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Animal Whispering at Home - Practice Edition - Register For The Intensive Workshop.
• Intensive Workshop: Understanding The Primal Energy and Karmic Connections Between You And Your Pets - ...