Soul Touched by Dogs

Anke Herrmann
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast, the show for dog lovers who see dogs not as toys or tools, but as wise souls worth our respect and care. The 30-minute interviews with "Pawsome Humans", people who do great work for dogs and their people, you're listening to here on the podcast are one of the ways we celebrate the human-canine connection and advocate for holistic approaches to canine health and well-being.

  1. 4d ago

    Dog Training Starts With You: Boundaries and Connection with Miranda van der Heijden

    Prefer video? Watch on YouTube. Setting boundaries with your dog isn't about being harsh—it's about creating safety, connection and calm for both of you. In this conversation, Dutch dog trainer Miranda van der Heijden walks us through the delicate balance between unconditional love and healthy limits, and why the struggles we see in our dogs often mirror the patterns we carry ourselves. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why setting boundaries for your dog is an act of love, not control—and how it helps them feel safer when you're not around How your dog's behaviour often mirrors your own fears, hesitations and resistance to change What it really takes to help a fearful dog move through something new (and why avoiding discomfort keeps them stuck) Why one-to-one training allows for deeper transformation than group classes—for both dogs and their people How agility, scent work and other activities can become therapeutic mirrors for personal growth The unexpected emotional work that comes with teaching people to train their dogs What it means to be connected with your dog without becoming enmeshed—and why that distinction matters A FAVOURITE MOMENT "I'm always training the person… because things don't change if you as a person do not change." — Miranda ABOUT MIRANDA VAN DER HEIJDEN Miranda van der Heijden has been training dogs in the Netherlands since 1987. After years of working with groups, she shifted her focus entirely to one-to-one sessions, where she can look beyond behaviour and into the relationship between dog and human. She's spent over three decades in competitive agility and now works with her own Border Collie in scent detection and mantrailing. Her training centre, located near 's-Hertogenbosch, is a space where dogs learn—and people discover what their dogs have been trying to teach them all along. CONNECT WITH MIRANDA VAN DER HEIJDEN Website: gehoorzamehuishond.nl Instagram: @miranda_gehoorzamehuishond Facebook: De Gehoorzame Huishond Facebook: Hand in Poot Email: gehoorzamehuishond@yahoo.com CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com. And if you're a dog lover who wants community, trusted expert resources and coaching to create a calmer, happier, healthier life with your dog, come find us at planetcalm.co—the Ultimate Hub for dogs and the people who love them.

    Dog Training Starts With You: Boundaries and Connection with Miranda van der Heijden

  2. Sep 5

    Learn From Your Dog: 13 Life Lessons That Actually Work with Bruce Littlefield

    LINK TO YOUTUBE Prefer video? Watch on youtube. Learning from dogs isn't just sentimental—it might be the most practical life advice you'll get this year. Bruce Littlefield, bestselling author and self-described "professional appreciator of American fun," stumbled into this truth one morning when his dog Felix was having the best day ever while Bruce was having the worst. What followed was a notebook full of observations that became a book, and a shift in how he approaches his entire day. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How one melted shirt on book launch day taught Bruce to shake things off—literally—the way dogs do when something goes wrong Why dogs wake up with enthusiasm every single morning, and what happened when Bruce decided to try doing the same thing The surprising side effect of taking 10-minute rest breaks during the day, inspired by watching Felix relax without guilt How a dog's patient vigil by the door reveals something deeper about waiting for what matters without complaint Why learning a few tricks—whether you're a dog or a human—keeps life playful and gives you something to share at parties How Felix's morning patrol around the property became a lesson in checking in, staying grounded, and knowing your boundaries What loyalty looks like in both dog and human form, and why Bruce says it's one of the most important traits we can cultivate A FAVOURITE MOMENT "Felix was like, 'Hey, this is the best day ever.' And so I thought, you know what? I'm going to follow Felix today." — Bruce ABOUT BRUCE LITTLEFIELD Bruce Littlefield is a bestselling author, television personality, designer, and the co-author of 20 books spanning everything from garage sales to Airstream trailers to dog wisdom. His newest book, Everything You Need to Know About Life You Can Learn from a Dog, published by Penguin Random House, is a funny and heartfelt celebration of dogs as the life coaches we never knew we needed. Bruce lives in New York and on his farm in the Catskills with his rescue dog Felix, a border collie/cattle dog mix who inspired the book after helping him shake off a very bad morning. CONNECT WITH BRUCE LITTLEFIELD Website: brucelittlefield.com Illustrator Maribel Lechuga: @maribellechugaillustration Publisher: @penguinkids CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com And if you're a dog lover who wants community, trusted expert resources and coaching to create a calmer, happier, healthier life with your dog, come find us at planetcalm.co - the Ultimate Hub for dogs, the people who love them.

    Learn From Your Dog: 13 Life Lessons That Actually Work with Bruce Littlefield

  3. Aug 29

    Dobermans as Family Dogs: What Nobody Tells You Before You Get One with John Walter

    Prefer video? Watch on YouTube. Doberman owners often wonder why their high-energy, intelligent dog seems harder to train than other breeds—or why four hours of daily walks still leave them with a restless, sometimes destructive companion. John Walter, founder of Doberman Planet, shares what makes this breed different, how they think in patterns and multi-step sequences, and why mental stimulation matters just as much as physical exercise when raising a loyal, balanced family Doberman. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why Dobermans are called emotional mirrors and what that means for daily life with themHow their pattern recognition can actually work against traditional training methods (and what to do instead)The surprising differences between male and female Dobermans in bonding, maturity and temperamentWhy over-exercising a Doberman can backfire and what they need mentally to truly settleWhat makes this breed both incredibly loyal and sometimes misunderstoodHow to know if a Doberman is the right fit for your family and lifestyleThe importance of routine, consistency and full integration into family life for this breedA FAVOURITE MOMENT "Dobermans think in patterns. They don't learn 'I got in position, I got the treat.' They learn 'I pulled, I went in position, then I got the treat.'" — John ABOUT JOHN WALTER John Walter is the founder of Doberman Planet, a leading online educational platform devoted exclusively to the Doberman Pinscher. Through hundreds of videos, in-depth articles, original breed studies and hands-on work with Dobermans and their families, John helps owners better understand this intelligent, sensitive and often misunderstood breed. With nearly 300,000 subscribers on YouTube and a combined audience of more than 700,000 across all platforms, his work focuses on practical training, behaviour, health and strengthening the bond between Dobermans and the people who love them. CONNECT WITH JOHN WALTER Website: dobermanplanet.com YouTube: youtube.com/dobermanplanet Dobie Masters Season 2 Playlist: Watch here Facebook: facebook.com/DobermanPlanet TikTok: tiktok.com/@thedobermanplanet CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com. And if you're a dog lover who wants community, trusted expert resources and coaching to create a calmer, happier, healthier life with your dog, come find us at planetcalm.co - the Ultimate Hub for dogs, the people who love them.

    Dobermans as Family Dogs: What Nobody Tells You Before You Get One with John Walter

  4. Aug 22

    Holistic Dog Nutrition and Healing: Trust Your Dog's Wisdom with Dr. Alexia Mellor

    Prefer video? Watch on youtube. Canine nutrition goes far beyond what sits in the bowl. When your dog won't eat, struggles with chronic health issues, or shows puzzling behavioral patterns, the answer might lie in how we understand nourishment itself. Dr. Alexia Mellor shares how her own dog's health crisis led her to question everything she thought she knew about feeding dogs—and ultimately transformed how she understands the bond between dogs and their people. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why "balanced and complete" is a marketing term, and what bioavailability actually means for your dog's ability to absorb nutrients How to start improving your dog's diet without overwhelm, beginning with simple fresh toppers that address what's missing from kibble The FETCH methodology for observing your dog holistically—from tracking behaviors at specific times of day to understanding what environmental factors might be affecting their wellbeing Why restlessness at 11 PM, nibbling at certain times, or seasonal changes in appetite might be telling you something about your dog's internal health How Chinese medicine principles and energetics can unlock puzzling health or behavior patterns that conventional approaches haven't solved What it means to work in partnership with your dog rather than treating them as an optimization project How curiosity about what your dog is showing you can become an entry point for deeper understanding—and why there's rarely just one root cause A FAVOURITE MOMENT "They are gateways to our own spiritual evolution." — Alexia ABOUT DR. ALEXIA MELLOR Dr. Alexia Mellor is a holistic canine nutrition consultant on a mission to transform how we nourish our dogs, ourselves, and the world we share. Through Mystic Dog Mama, she explores what it truly means to be nourished—using dogs as both teacher and guide. Her work brings together canine nutrition, holistic health, systems thinking, and the wisdom of the human-animal bond. With a background in participatory art, design, and climate research, Alexia approaches dog health with curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for the partnership between dogs and their people. CONNECT WITH DR. ALEXIA MELLOR Website: mysticdogmama.com Podcast: Search for "Mystic Dog Mama" wherever you listen to podcasts Free Resource: Mystic Dog Mama Nourishment Starter Kit at mysticdogmama.com CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com And if you're a dog lover who wants community, trusted expert resources and coaching to create a calmer, happier, healthier life with your dog, come find us at planetcalm.co - the Ultimate Hub for dogs, the people who love them.

    Holistic Dog Nutrition and Healing: Trust Your Dog's Wisdom with Dr. Alexia Mellor

  5. Aug 19

    Your Dog Heals You: Heart Synchronization to Transform Your Health with Michael Priv

    Prefer video? Watch on YouTube. Your dog heals you in ways you may not fully realize. The simple act of having a dog in your life already offers measurable health benefits, but there's a whole world of untapped potential in that relationship. This conversation explores how the human-dog bond can become a deliberate pathway to better physical health, emotional balance, and everyday wellbeing. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How synchronizing with your dog creates what Michael calls a "cocoon"—an energy system that amplifies wellbeing for both human and dog The measurable health benefits dogs offer, from increased oxytocin and serotonin to reduced cortisol, lower blood pressure, improved immune function, and even potential cancer prevention Why walking your dog while staring at your phone means you're missing the most healing part of the walk How simple rituals like placing your hand on your dog while visualizing love can calm an anxious or traumatized rescue dog The concept of "sniff walks" and why letting your dog lead the pace and choose what to investigate is actually mindfulness practice for you How dogs act as mirrors, reflecting back our own mental and emotional states in ways that can reveal what we need to address in ourselves Why setting too many boundaries with your dog—no couch, no bed, no jumping—might mean you're missing out on the deeper healing potential of the relationship A FAVOURITE MOMENT "Dogs are uniquely attuned to us all the time. We look at our dog, and we see our own mental state as a reflection." — Michael ABOUT MICHAEL PRIV Michael Priv is a wellness innovator, writer, and former energy healer who has spent decades exploring how the human-dog bond can become a powerful pathway to better health and emotional balance. He is the creator of HoundHeart, a human-dog synchronization app that uses paired wearable devices and AI-supported insights to help people unlock the wellness benefits of the relationship they already have with their dog. Michael believes those benefits can be strengthened, measured, and made more intentional through technology and simple daily rituals. CONNECT WITH MICHAEL PRIV Website: michaelpriv.com HoundHeart: houndheartwellness.com Facebook: facebook.com/michaelprivauthor LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaelpriv CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com. And if you're a dog lover who wants community, trusted expert resources and coaching to create a calmer, happier, healthier life with your dog, come find us at planetcalm.co — the Ultimate Hub for dogs, the people who love them.

    Your Dog Heals You: Heart Synchronization to Transform Your Health with Michael Priv

  6. Aug 15

    Dog-Friendly Offices: What It Means for Life With Your Dog with Emily Birch

    Dog-friendly offices aren't just a perk—they're a productivity strategy. If you've ever declined a job because you couldn't bear to leave your dog at home, or felt your stress spike during a late meeting knowing your pup had been alone all day, this conversation is for you. Emily Birch walks us through how companies can thoughtfully introduce dogs into the workplace in a way that benefits everyone—dogs, employees, and the business itself. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How dog-friendly offices actually increase productivity and employee retention, backed by peer-reviewed researchWhy predictability matters more than enthusiasm when it comes to managing dogs (and people) in shared workspacesThe traffic light system that helps dogs settle and prevents over-excitement without feeling restrictiveWhat makes a dog suitable for office life—and the one non-negotiable that rules a dog out entirelyHow to address common concerns like allergies, phobias, and the myth that offices will turn into chaotic doggy daycaresWhy some dogs need a "red light" approach even when they're friendly, and how that sets them up to succeedWhat happens when new management takes over, and how to make the case for keeping dogs in the officeA FAVOURITE MOMENT "I counted and I was like, 'We've got 18 dogs in here,' and yet you wouldn't know. Every dog was just fast asleep under the table." — Emily ABOUT EMILY BIRCH Emily Birch is the Owner and Director of The Office Dog, where she helps organisations introduce dogs into the workplace in a structured, safe, and genuinely beneficial way. She also runs a canine consultancy focused on behaviour work. Based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, Emily has been pioneering dog-friendly office environments since 2014, working with businesses at every stage—from policy creation and training through to implementation and probation sign-off. CONNECT WITH EMILY BIRCH Website: theofficedog.org CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com And if you're a dog lover who wants a calmer, happier dog, come find us at planetcalm.co. The Ultimate Hub for dogs, the people who love them, and the businesses they build.

    Dog-Friendly Offices: What It Means for Life With Your Dog with Emily Birch

  7. Aug 12

    Fear-Based Training Creates Shutdowns: What You're Really Seeing | with Annie Grossman

    Is your well-behaved dog actually shut down? A calm, compliant dog might look like the goal — but fear-based obedience isn't the same as trust. In this conversation, journalist-turned-dog-trainer Annie Grossman explains why understanding how your dog feels matters more than getting them to behave, and how a little science goes a long way in building the relationship you both deserve. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why a dog who looks calm and well-behaved might actually be scared and shut down — and how to tell the differenceWhat classical conditioning really means, and why it matters more than you think when it comes to how your dog experiences the worldHow punishment (yes, even "just a correction") can create hidden fallout you won't see in a 30-second Instagram videoWhy dog body language is so misunderstood — and what that little tongue flick actually meansHow focusing on what you want your dog to do instead of what you want them to stop changes everythingWhy there's no such thing as "just dog training" — it's all rooted in the science of behaviour, whether people know it or notWhat questions to ask before choosing a trainer, a method, or even a viral training hackA FAVOURITE MOMENT "A shut down dog can look like a well-behaved dog." — Annie ABOUT ANNIE GROSSMAN Annie Grossman is a dog trainer, journalist, and the author of How to Train Your Dog With Love + Science. A lifelong New Yorker, she spent over a decade running School For The Dogs, a storefront training centre in the East Village where she worked with thousands of dogs and their people. Before diving into dog training, Annie worked as a journalist and producer, writing for outlets like The New York Times and The Boston Globe. She's a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy and a passionate advocate for positive reinforcement rooted in behavioural science. These days, she writes Don't Be a Dick to Your Dog on Substack and speaks at conferences about making dog training less jargon-heavy and more human. CONNECT WITH ANNIE GROSSMAN Website: anniegrossman.com Instagram: @anniegrossman Facebook: @annie4thedogs Substack: dogtraining.substack.comGet the free guide on How Not To Be A Dick To Your Dog: https://dogtraining.substack.com/p/guide CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com And if you're a dog lover who wants a calmer, happier dog, come find us at planetcalm.co. The Ultimate Hub for dogs, the people who love them, and the businesses they build.

    Fear-Based Training Creates Shutdowns: What You're Really Seeing | with Annie Grossman

  8. Aug 8

    Pet Health Coaches and Vets Working Together for Your Dog with Dr. Ruth Roberts

    Pet health coaches offer support that many veterinarians simply don't have time to provide. When your dog faces a serious diagnosis or chronic condition, the clinical visit might last 15 minutes—but the questions, confusion, and overwhelm can last for weeks. This conversation explores how certified pet health coaches are stepping in to bridge that gap, working alongside veterinary care to help guardians make informed, confident decisions for their dogs. WHAT YOU''LL LEARN Why veterinarians often don't have time to answer all your questions, and how pet health coaches fill that critical gap without replacing veterinary care What actually happens during a pet health coaching session—from reviewing your dog's medical history to creating a personalized plan you can realistically follow How to know when your dog needs emergency veterinary attention versus when you can manage a health concern with lifestyle changes and support The questions you should be asking your vet to make appointments more efficient and effective for everyone involved Why lifestyle medicine matters for chronic conditions like kidney disease, allergies, and cancer—and where conventional treatments still play an essential role How to approach your veterinarian with information about integrative care without creating conflict or defensiveness What credentials to look for when choosing a pet health coach, and why real-world experience matters as much as education A FAVOURITE MOMENT "If Janet had not had me, Rosie would've been dead a year too early." — Ruth ABOUT DR. RUTH ROBERTS Dr. Ruth Roberts is an integrative veterinarian with over 30 years of experience and the creator of The Original CrockPet Diet. After retiring from clinical practice, she founded Holistic Pet Health Coach, an educational institution that trains and certifies professionals to become trusted guides for pet guardians navigating chronic illness and complex health decisions. Her work emerged from witnessing too many pets lose precious time because their guardians had nowhere to turn for reliable, personalized support beyond the exam room. CONNECT WITH DR. RUTH ROBERTS Website: drruthroberts.com Instagram: @dr.ruthroberts Facebook: @Crockpetdiet YouTube: @DrRuthRoberts Free guide: When Not to Go to the ER Vet CONNECT WITH SOUL TOUCHED BY DOGS To find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit soultouchedbydogs.com And if you're a dog lover who wants a calmer, happier dog, come find us at planetcalm.co. The Ultimate Hub for dogs, the people who love them, and the businesses they build.

    Pet Health Coaches and Vets Working Together for Your Dog with Dr. Ruth Roberts
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About

Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast, the show for dog lovers who see dogs not as toys or tools, but as wise souls worth our respect and care. The 30-minute interviews with "Pawsome Humans", people who do great work for dogs and their people, you're listening to here on the podcast are one of the ways we celebrate the human-canine connection and advocate for holistic approaches to canine health and well-being.

Information

  • Creator
    Anke Herrmann
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    138
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2024 Soul Touched by Dogs
  • Show Website
    Soul Touched by Dogs