Mindfulness & Dogs - Introduction

Does walking your dog sometimes feel more like a battle than a joy? Maybe your dog barks, lunges, or reacts at the drop of a hat. Maybe you find yourself dreading walks, feeling embarrassed, frustrated, or even angry. If that sounds familiar… you’re not alone. I’m Biggi. For many years, I was guardian to Charlie, a wonderful but very reactive Spanish Sighthound. He was the reason I became a dog trainer. And later… the reason I discovered something even more important: that calm doesn’t start with the dog. It starts with us. dogs, This podcast, mindfulness & dogs, is a space for exactly that. Together, we’ll explore practical, force-free tools for navigating reactivity on walks, grounding practices that help you stay calm when things get tough, and compassionate strategies rooted in mindfulness, and nervous system regulation. Because calmer walks don’t start with a quick fix. They start with you. And your calm is your dog’s safe place.

Transcript

Does walking your dog sometimes feel more like a battle than a joy?

Maybe your dog barks,

Lunges,

Or reacts at the drop of a hat.

Maybe you find yourself dreading walks,

Feeling embarrassed,

Frustrated,

Or even angry.

If that sounds familiar,

You're not alone.

Hi,

I'm Biggie.

For many years,

I was guardian to Charlie,

A wonderful but very reactive Spanish sighthound.

He was the reason I became a dog trainer,

And later,

The reason,

I discovered something even more important,

That calm doesn't start with a dog,

It starts with us.

Charlie taught me that my nervous system,

My emotions,

My breath,

My presence,

Shaped his world more than I realized.

That's what led me to dive deep into mindfulness,

Nervous system regulation,

And force-free ethical approaches to dog training.

And now,

I help guardians like you.

Guardians who love their dogs deeply,

Who are willing to do the inner work,

And who are ready to walk a path of growth,

Not just for their dogs,

But for themselves too.

This podcast,

Mindfulness and Dogs,

Is a space for exactly that.

Together,

We'll explore practical,

Force-free tools for navigating reactivity on walks,

Grounding practices that help you stay calm when things get tough,

And compassionate strategies rooted in mindfulness and nervous system regulation.

But more than that,

This is a space where we honor the bond between you and your dog,

And where we acknowledge that yes,

It can be really hard,

And also incredibly rewarding.

If you've ever thought,

How do I stop getting angry at my dog?

How can I help my dog calm down?

And how can I calm myself down in the moment?

Then you're in the right place.

So,

Join me here on a regular basis,

We'll talk,

We'll breathe,

We'll laugh,

And we'll lean into the edges,

Those challenging places where growth really happens.

Because calmer walks don't start with a quick fix.

They start with you.

And your calm is your dog's safe place.

I'm Biggie,

And this is Mindfulness and Dogs.