Welcome,
To this regulating practice dedicated especially to you as a pet parent.
My name is Biggie Junge,
I'm a dog trainer and behaviour consultant as well as a coach for dog guardians.
Join me in this meditation to soften your breathing and create a sense of safety your pet can feel,
Be it a cat,
A dog,
A rabbit,
Bird,
Horse or whichever animal lives in your heart.
Take a moment to settle wherever you are.
Your pet might be beside you,
Near you or somewhere else in the room or house.
However they are showing up right now is perfectly fine.
You don't need them to do anything special for this practice.
Just begin by bringing your attention to your breath.
Notice the inhale and the soft release of the exhale.
Let the breath move slowly and naturally and if it feels comfortable allow the exhale to become a little longer.
Breathe in and breathe out slowly.
Again inhale and a soft steady exhale.
With each breath out allow your shoulders to drop a little,
Your jaw to unclench,
Your face to soften.
Your body does not need to be on high alert right now.
Just breathe.
Now slowly shift your awareness to your pets.
Maybe you can notice the rhythm of their breathing.
Maybe you hear a small movement or you can simply feel their presence nearby.
Animals communicate constantly through their bodies,
Through breath,
Posture and subtle shifts we may not always notice.
In this moment you're simply becoming aware of that quiet conversation.
Take another slow breath in and as you exhale imagine that your calm travels outward from you.
Notice something you push or force.
Just a sense of steadiness that naturally moves through space,
Through the space you share with your pets.
Like warmth slowly filling a room.
Your pet may respond or they may simply continue doing what they were doing.
Both are completely okay.
Coregulation does not mean controlling the moment.
It simply means offering your nervous system as a place of calm.
And safety.
Take another breath.
Inhale softly and exhale slowly.
If your pet is close enough you might notice the rhythm of their body.
The rise and fall of their chest.
The quiet presence of another living being sharing this space with you.
And if your pet's farther away that is okay too.
Connection doesn't require closeness.
Just awareness.
Let your breath remain slow and easy.
With each exhale imagine the space around you becoming a little more settled,
Little by little,
And a little quieter.
Animals are often incredibly skilled at sensing when the environment feels safe.
And your calm presence is part of that environment.
Take another slow breath in.
And let it go again.
For the next few moments simply sit with your pet in this shared space.
Two nervous systems.
Two bodies.
Sharing the same moment.
No fixing.
No asking.
Just being.
Now take one more gentle breath.
And slowly let it go again.
And when you're ready allow your attention to widen again to the room around you.
Notice the space you're in.
Notice your pet once more.
And carry this quiet sense of steadiness with you as you continue your time together.
The calm we cultivate inside ourselves becomes something our animals can feel.
And sometimes simply being present together is enough.
If you enjoyed this meditation,
There are many more like this in my teacher profile here on Inside Timer.
They are all designed specifically for you as a pet parent.
So you and your pet can live the best possible life together.
Take good care of yourself and of your pet.
Bye for now.
