WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.789 --> 00:00:06.320 Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast, the show for dog lovers who 00:00:06.340 --> 00:00:12.000 see dogs not as toys or tools, but wise souls worth our respect and care. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:14.559 I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host. 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:20.560 I talk to poor some humans, people who do great work for dogs and their people. 00:00:21.099 --> 00:00:23.360 So come and join us for today's conversation. 00:00:24.847 --> 00:00:26.307 Anke: Hello and welcome, Miranda. 00:00:26.337 --> 00:00:28.017 I'm so excited to have you here today. 00:00:28.927 --> 00:00:30.997 Miranda: Yeah, it's been a long time coming. 00:00:30.997 --> 00:00:33.217 It's great to sit down with you. 00:00:33.217 --> 00:00:33.487 Awesome. 00:00:33.987 --> 00:00:39.407 Anke: So before we dig into the topic, let's just give people a, you know, two 00:00:39.407 --> 00:00:43.537 minute overview of where you're based, what's the day job, you know, what's the 00:00:43.537 --> 00:00:45.237 business, and we'll take it from there. 00:00:46.127 --> 00:00:47.847 Miranda: Yeah, I'll try to keep it to two minutes. 00:00:47.857 --> 00:00:50.417 So I'm based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 00:00:50.777 --> 00:00:53.747 Um, I run a business called The Mindful Canine. 00:00:53.787 --> 00:00:55.207 I've had it for five years. 00:00:55.587 --> 00:00:59.037 Started out as an on the boots on the ground doing dog behavior work. 00:00:59.357 --> 00:01:05.897 Um, now I have a, you know, an online business that's growing and I offer 00:01:06.037 --> 00:01:11.532 virtual programs based upon wellness for humans and animals, humans and dogs. 00:01:11.542 --> 00:01:12.782 So that's my whole thing. 00:01:12.792 --> 00:01:16.952 Can we, can we learn, learn, grow and heal together? 00:01:18.092 --> 00:01:22.962 So I integrate a lot of, um, innovative things like mindfulness, 00:01:22.992 --> 00:01:25.552 um, like some somatic work. 00:01:26.102 --> 00:01:29.092 Um, a lot of building, a lot of my focus is. 00:01:30.232 --> 00:01:35.472 Building a lot of self awareness around our patterns, um, how we are with our dogs 00:01:35.512 --> 00:01:39.212 and the relationship with them is a mirror for how we are in our other relationships. 00:01:39.722 --> 00:01:47.002 Um, so my, my goal is that, um, people become empowered to, to really take 00:01:47.002 --> 00:01:52.532 action to support themselves so that they have a better life with their dogs, 00:01:52.872 --> 00:01:58.522 um, and they actually can then start to Think of how they want to contribute 00:01:58.602 --> 00:02:02.852 and make the world a better place for, um, for people and for animals. 00:02:04.082 --> 00:02:07.472 Anke: Couldn't love the small, but you know, , when I first stumbled 00:02:07.472 --> 00:02:10.262 across your lines, like, oh, I want her, I want her for this. 00:02:10.742 --> 00:02:18.342 Um, so I'm curious, so you started out with like dog behavior and I, I, I think, 00:02:18.402 --> 00:02:21.552 well, I, especially when I think back of like when I first found my first dog. 00:02:21.552 --> 00:02:26.272 So the kind of, the idea is like, oh, you know, people would go to 00:02:26.272 --> 00:02:30.172 a dog behaviorist, dog trainer to, can you help me fix my dog? 00:02:30.172 --> 00:02:30.262 Right? 00:02:30.657 --> 00:02:30.977 Mm-Hmm. 00:02:31.162 --> 00:02:34.102 . So how, how did you come across. 00:02:35.467 --> 00:02:39.047 How did you come to the insight of, well, actually the bigger, the bigger 00:02:39.047 --> 00:02:44.877 lever is on the other end and how do you help your clients understand that bit? 00:02:46.067 --> 00:02:46.837 Yeah, so 00:02:46.837 --> 00:02:47.847 Miranda: I love that question. 00:02:47.847 --> 00:02:52.537 And, um, I, my journey is, I have a background in, um, animal health. 00:02:52.637 --> 00:02:56.057 So I started in, as a vet tech, um, worked in pretty much every 00:02:56.057 --> 00:02:57.787 aspect of the animal industry. 00:02:58.127 --> 00:03:01.587 Um, and then I started, I was always interested in dog behavior, it was 00:03:01.587 --> 00:03:05.667 always a big theme ever since I was a child, ever since I was a child, really. 00:03:06.237 --> 00:03:11.547 Um, everything dogs, how do they work, um, all about them, so, um. 00:03:12.672 --> 00:03:17.462 I really dove deep into that space, um, and when I quit being a vet tech, 00:03:17.492 --> 00:03:19.372 that's when I started my business. 00:03:20.072 --> 00:03:26.672 And, um, this shift really happened for me when I started my own personal 00:03:26.822 --> 00:03:30.652 healing journey, um, which was seven years ago when my son was born. 00:03:31.082 --> 00:03:34.912 Um, and I recognized that there had been a lot of things that I hadn't 00:03:34.942 --> 00:03:36.902 looked at in my own personal life. 00:03:38.442 --> 00:03:41.062 There had been trauma that I hadn't acknowledged. 00:03:41.522 --> 00:03:46.322 Um, it came out as emotional reactivity, which is the, the piece 00:03:46.352 --> 00:03:48.752 that I support people in recognizing. 00:03:49.032 --> 00:03:55.282 Um, if you are emotionally reactive to your dog, um, to their behavior. 00:03:55.742 --> 00:04:00.552 There's an unhealed part of you that, um, that is, is asking to 00:04:00.552 --> 00:04:04.142 be seen, and so it's not the dog's fault and it's not your fault. 00:04:04.442 --> 00:04:10.172 Um, very likely both of you have trauma, and so it's looking at 00:04:10.172 --> 00:04:14.632 uncovering how can we support your dog in feeling better, feeling safer. 00:04:15.017 --> 00:04:19.187 And how can we support you in letting go of a lot of layers of guilt and 00:04:19.187 --> 00:04:24.277 shame and self judgment, um, and really healing, so that you can start 00:04:24.287 --> 00:04:30.687 to see kind of the, the trueness of who you are, um, which is how I see 00:04:30.687 --> 00:04:32.977 that our dogs, like, really see us as. 00:04:33.687 --> 00:04:37.257 But I think in order for us to be able to really, as animal people, live 00:04:37.257 --> 00:04:41.377 full and vibrant lives, We have to get to, we have to start to peel back 00:04:41.377 --> 00:04:46.577 those layers of conditioning so that we accept ourselves for who we are. 00:04:47.027 --> 00:04:49.957 Just like our dogs accept us for who we are unconditionally. 00:04:50.547 --> 00:04:53.927 Because in order to make a difference in the world, in order to be able to actually 00:04:54.257 --> 00:04:59.187 shift things in a big way, um, you have to be grounded in your own sense of self. 00:04:59.567 --> 00:05:03.967 Um, and that's the only way that you're gonna build connections and relationships. 00:05:04.357 --> 00:05:07.607 So in my journey, that's the thing that's made the biggest difference. 00:05:07.607 --> 00:05:15.422 I went from being a burnt out, like, just living to survive animal Professional, 00:05:15.422 --> 00:05:22.502 essentially, to now, you know, I can empower people, both pros and, um, you 00:05:22.502 --> 00:05:27.432 know, just, just guardians, to, to live their best life, that their dog, your 00:05:27.432 --> 00:05:31.842 dogs want you to live your best life, stop holding yourself back from that, um, 00:05:31.852 --> 00:05:35.672 and a lot of that is just uncovering the awareness that everything is connected, 00:05:35.962 --> 00:05:41.947 and so when we're focused 100 percent on our dog's behavior, um, It causes, it's 00:05:41.947 --> 00:05:46.047 like you're holding a mirror, like you're holding a picture too close to your face. 00:05:46.477 --> 00:05:50.797 So in order to be able to, I, my goal is to just, let's see if we can pull 00:05:50.797 --> 00:05:55.157 the picture back so you can see, um, that everything is really connected. 00:05:55.157 --> 00:05:59.177 So anything you do to support yourself directly supports 00:05:59.177 --> 00:06:00.247 your dog and their healing. 00:06:01.537 --> 00:06:03.307 Anke: Yeah, that makes so much sense to me. 00:06:03.307 --> 00:06:08.602 It's, it's, uh, it reminds me of, um, There's a book by Kevin Behan, Your Dog 00:06:08.602 --> 00:06:13.962 is Your Mirror, and there's actually, he basically, the piece I remember 00:06:13.972 --> 00:06:19.052 most was where he says, well, look at your dog and pick up on the things 00:06:19.062 --> 00:06:22.863 you most love about your dog and the stuff that drives you nuts, right? 00:06:22.863 --> 00:06:26.412 They're the two areas where you kind of really have to look at yourself 00:06:26.962 --> 00:06:29.382 and see how that, how that relates. 00:06:29.442 --> 00:06:32.942 And I think the moment you start looking through that lens, oh 00:06:32.942 --> 00:06:35.142 boy, the book, the more you see. 00:06:37.162 --> 00:06:41.882 Miranda: It's so interesting because your second person has mentioned this book. 00:06:42.612 --> 00:06:44.242 I have never read this book. 00:06:44.322 --> 00:06:50.112 It's, it's like, it's all the things that I kind of discovered. 00:06:50.132 --> 00:06:51.172 Well, not organically. 00:06:51.212 --> 00:06:53.482 There's, you know, there's definitely influences there. 00:06:53.542 --> 00:06:59.207 But, um, I think that that is a, there is so much truth to 00:06:59.207 --> 00:07:03.647 that, um, and it's just in that willingness to look at and explore. 00:07:04.007 --> 00:07:07.617 I, I always say, like, animals and children are our best teacher. 00:07:07.897 --> 00:07:12.187 Um, there's a huge movement in the, I have a son as well, so I follow a lot 00:07:12.187 --> 00:07:14.157 of the conscious parenting movement. 00:07:14.387 --> 00:07:19.307 There's a huge shift in that space, um, for empowerment for moms to start to 00:07:19.307 --> 00:07:23.822 look at themselves and healing their, themselves, so that they, They can heal 00:07:23.872 --> 00:07:29.452 their child, um, and I can see that that is possible in the dog industry, and we 00:07:29.452 --> 00:07:35.922 can start to treat animals with, um, you know, as sentient beings, with respect, 00:07:36.392 --> 00:07:41.717 that we, we honour them, um, Yeah, even more than that, like that we can honour 00:07:41.737 --> 00:07:45.797 and appreciate that they have a higher level of understanding a lot of times 00:07:45.807 --> 00:07:50.987 than we give them credit for, um, and so it's about time we stopped trying to 00:07:51.447 --> 00:07:56.067 dominate and control them and actually started to consciously connect with them 00:07:56.067 --> 00:07:58.007 and understand them on a deeper level. 00:07:58.487 --> 00:07:59.717 Anke: Yeah, I just couldn't. 00:07:59.767 --> 00:08:02.787 I mean, this is what you just, the way you just summed it up. 00:08:02.787 --> 00:08:05.097 It's like, yeah, this is why I started this project. 00:08:05.097 --> 00:08:09.627 Like, this is what I meant with that, you know, because it drives me crazy 00:08:09.627 --> 00:08:12.457 when people like, oh, you know, sit and, you know, it's like, as if it's 00:08:12.457 --> 00:08:15.417 like a little toy that you can just like, you know, if we don't want to 00:08:15.487 --> 00:08:19.257 have the little key at the end, kind of does you say something and the little 00:08:19.257 --> 00:08:21.267 thing does like talk to so much more. 00:08:21.267 --> 00:08:21.657 Yeah. 00:08:21.657 --> 00:08:21.677 Yeah. 00:08:22.057 --> 00:08:26.647 Yeah, if you take the time to actually look closer. 00:08:26.707 --> 00:08:26.957 Yeah. 00:08:26.957 --> 00:08:29.957 Well, there's a lot we can learn from them You know, I would say I want 00:08:29.957 --> 00:08:31.277 to be like my dogs when I grow up. 00:08:31.287 --> 00:08:37.607 I just gotta be more dog They have so much to give and to respect them for what they 00:08:37.607 --> 00:08:40.057 are and for how they are the same and how 00:08:41.557 --> 00:08:44.277 Miranda: they're different Absolutely, and this is the piece where I take it 00:08:44.277 --> 00:08:49.807 with people a layer deeper and go because whenever we have a trigger that's a it's 00:08:49.807 --> 00:08:52.217 a it's an unhealed part of ourselves. 00:08:52.227 --> 00:08:56.917 So when I notice I'm triggered, I ask, I start to ask myself, because most of 00:08:56.917 --> 00:09:00.917 our wounds are learned in childhood, I start to ask myself, okay, what part of 00:09:00.917 --> 00:09:05.397 this is like, is an unmet need for me? 00:09:05.577 --> 00:09:09.227 Like, where, and you know, so yeah, for me as well, people trying to 00:09:09.227 --> 00:09:12.847 micromanage their dogs or trying to control a force, huge trigger. 00:09:13.237 --> 00:09:16.342 So it's like, in me, Where is that unhealed part? 00:09:16.342 --> 00:09:22.772 Where was I controlled or subjected to things that were unfair that I 00:09:22.772 --> 00:09:24.982 haven't processed and worked through? 00:09:24.982 --> 00:09:25.332 That's 00:09:25.492 --> 00:09:28.442 Anke: really, what you just said is really interesting because I'm like, 00:09:28.552 --> 00:09:34.942 well, I get really triggered by, you know, when somebody tries to sort of 00:09:35.062 --> 00:09:38.862 forcefully control or yell at a dog, like I get super triggered by that. 00:09:38.882 --> 00:09:43.162 So, you know, it might be something to have a closer look at there. 00:09:43.212 --> 00:09:44.802 That's really, that's really interesting. 00:09:46.672 --> 00:09:50.782 Are there particular sort of patterns that show up a lot for, 00:09:50.782 --> 00:09:53.182 for, for your clients, for example? 00:09:54.587 --> 00:09:58.427 Miranda: Yeah, I mean, where, where I tend to support is, um, people that are 00:09:58.427 --> 00:10:04.427 a lot like me, so people that have huge hearts, give to everybody, um, have 00:10:04.427 --> 00:10:08.727 a challenge receiving, um, and have a challenge using their voice, speaking 00:10:08.727 --> 00:10:13.497 up for themselves, um, you know, taking action on the things that are important 00:10:13.517 --> 00:10:20.377 to them, um, and so, yeah, where I see it is there's an opportunity here where 00:10:20.487 --> 00:10:24.817 they can both Give their dog what they need, give themselves what they need. 00:10:25.217 --> 00:10:28.927 Um, and a lot of times too, it's, it's developing a voice through 00:10:28.927 --> 00:10:30.977 speaking for the dog initially. 00:10:31.567 --> 00:10:36.477 My, you know, because especially when there's a, when there's a particular 00:10:36.477 --> 00:10:39.777 challenge, there's an awareness that's being built around what the dog needs 00:10:39.777 --> 00:10:42.037 and why the dog is the way they are. 00:10:42.197 --> 00:10:50.537 And then we can move into, um, actually that compassion rather than judgment. 00:10:51.017 --> 00:10:53.647 Or, you know, that they're, they're the way they are, and labels. 00:10:54.047 --> 00:10:57.277 Like, essentially, if I can coach them through that, till the, till the point 00:10:57.277 --> 00:11:01.047 that they get to, they're empowered to advocate, that they understand their 00:11:01.047 --> 00:11:06.277 dog to the point where they're like, No, he's not reactive or aggressive, 00:11:06.397 --> 00:11:08.857 he's fearful and traumatized, and... 00:11:09.277 --> 00:11:13.197 You know, I can get them to that place where they're advocating for their dog. 00:11:13.657 --> 00:11:18.887 Um, the bridge there is, is then I, I want to bring them into it as well. 00:11:19.187 --> 00:11:24.467 Um, and in that building, that awareness that their dog has their own 00:11:25.207 --> 00:11:32.897 experience, um, that their dog has, you know, a very distinct emotional world. 00:11:33.477 --> 00:11:36.827 Um, I want to then bring that and see if they're willing 00:11:36.847 --> 00:11:39.527 to offer that same level of. 00:11:40.817 --> 00:11:47.437 Care, compassion, and understanding that, you know, their reactivity or their, um, 00:11:48.107 --> 00:11:53.017 challenges are often repressed wounds. 00:11:53.367 --> 00:11:58.522 Um, there are often things and patterns that Um, that have been, you know, just 00:11:58.542 --> 00:12:04.752 caused by pain, um, so it's a lot easier to extend compassion to another being, 00:12:04.902 --> 00:12:09.072 whether that be an animal, whether that be someone we love than it is to ourselves, 00:12:09.082 --> 00:12:13.812 so it's turning that around full circle and seeing if we can create some awareness 00:12:13.872 --> 00:12:15.562 that they're doing the best they can. 00:12:15.922 --> 00:12:20.312 Um, and start to, to move towards that level of personal 00:12:20.312 --> 00:12:21.952 acceptance and forgiveness. 00:12:23.342 --> 00:12:28.092 Anke: That's powerful because there is really, you know, so many entry points and 00:12:28.182 --> 00:12:33.262 everywhere you make a change, it impacts yourself, your dogs, people around you. 00:12:33.312 --> 00:12:38.602 So it's just that, you know, that beautiful wholeness that, that I think 00:12:38.792 --> 00:12:42.332 is really worthwhile having a closer look at and not just to say, well, 00:12:42.352 --> 00:12:46.122 there's a dog that needs to do things and, you know, so it's not that separate. 00:12:46.182 --> 00:12:46.732 That's all. 00:12:46.937 --> 00:12:50.887 I think the magic really shows when we actually look at it from 00:12:50.887 --> 00:12:52.477 this more holistic kind of place. 00:12:52.917 --> 00:12:53.777 It's wonderful. 00:12:54.547 --> 00:12:57.407 So where can people go and find out more about you? 00:12:57.407 --> 00:13:00.217 Where can they go connect with you, find out about your work? 00:13:01.327 --> 00:13:02.197 Miranda: Yeah, beautiful. 00:13:02.197 --> 00:13:05.692 So right now my website is Mindfulcanine. 00:13:05.702 --> 00:13:08.852 ca, we will be creating a new one that's just my name so I can 00:13:09.432 --> 00:13:12.682 branch out to all of my projects, but that's the one for right now. 00:13:12.972 --> 00:13:17.562 Um, I also run a group on Facebook, that's, that's the real 00:13:17.562 --> 00:13:20.912 space if you want us deeper dive into this, you want to connect. 00:13:21.252 --> 00:13:23.982 with people who think this way, I'm really creating a 00:13:23.982 --> 00:13:25.462 movement in the community there. 00:13:25.752 --> 00:13:32.292 Um, and so in there I do weekly lives, um, I do Q& As, I also run a monthly 00:13:32.292 --> 00:13:36.612 masterclass, and that is geared all around emotional healing for you and your dog. 00:13:36.862 --> 00:13:39.872 Um, so the concept that you can heal synergistically. 00:13:40.122 --> 00:13:45.642 Um, from wounding, from trauma, and, um, build a more peaceful, 00:13:45.652 --> 00:13:48.602 calm, present existence. 00:13:49.002 --> 00:13:52.382 Um, because I think that at the base of it, that's what we all really want. 00:13:52.702 --> 00:13:53.592 We want to be seen. 00:13:53.602 --> 00:13:54.862 Your dog wants to be seen. 00:13:55.262 --> 00:13:58.002 You want to be seen and acknowledged for who you really are. 00:13:58.332 --> 00:14:02.152 And, um, that's the first step, is allowing yourself to 00:14:02.152 --> 00:14:04.492 be witnessed, seen, supported. 00:14:04.982 --> 00:14:10.172 Um, and then from there, that level of acceptance, um, and 00:14:10.172 --> 00:14:11.242 awareness starts to grow. 00:14:13.282 --> 00:14:16.482 Anke: So obviously, if you're listening on the podcast, the links are in the show 00:14:16.482 --> 00:14:20.702 notes, and if you're on the newsletter, obviously it's right below this video. 00:14:20.752 --> 00:14:24.062 So go connect with Miranda, you won't regret it, I promise. 00:14:25.552 --> 00:14:26.122 Thank you so 00:14:26.122 --> 00:14:26.362 Miranda: much. 00:14:27.282 --> 00:14:27.662 Absolutely. 00:14:28.642 --> 00:14:29.832 It was an honor to be here. 00:14:30.531 --> 00:14:31.761 Thanks so much for listening. 00:14:32.281 --> 00:14:36.581 If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review so 00:14:36.681 --> 00:14:38.461 other dog lovers can find the show. 00:14:39.251 --> 00:14:42.741 If you haven't already, head over to soul touched by dogs. 00:14:43.171 --> 00:14:48.741 com and sign up for weekly doggy cuteness tips, recommendations, and personal 00:14:48.841 --> 00:14:51.211 stories to warm your dog loving heart. 00:14:51.211 --> 00:14:54.941 And if you know a pawsome human you think I should interview, 00:14:55.361 --> 00:14:56.501 I'd love an introduction. 00:14:56.981 --> 00:14:58.811 Email me at Anke. 00:14:59.081 --> 00:15:03.316 That's A N k E at Soul touched by dogs.com.