Bark & Swagger

08/11/2024

Inside the mind of a dog.

A new doc film on Netflix. I just finished watching and had to share. I highly recommend this movie to all dog parents and dog lovers. It is a beautiful film giving us insights into how our best friends think, featuring powerful and emotional story lines, including the amazing program Canine Companions, which trains and then pairs its dogs with special needs people. My friend and wonderful dog trainer, Matt Beisner, owner of The Zen Dog, was featured in the film and gave some thoughtful insights about assessing a dog's state based on body language and some of what he's seen in his practice. Dr. Brian Hare and his wife, Vanessa Woods, director of the Duke University Puppy Kindergarden, were featured. Brian is the Chair of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University and is the founded The Duke Canine Cognition Center, to study how dogs think and the bond we have with them.

I interviewed Vanessa about 10 years ago for my blog, Bark & Swagger, about Dognition, the company they created together to help dog parents understand how their dog thinks and to strengthen the bond between them, because each dog, like each of us, is an individual. I remember getting some Dognition exercises which I did with my Sophie, who was only about 1 or so back then. They were fun, bonding and educational.

So much has happened in this space since, and this film firmly connected me to how amazing and wonderful these beautiful beings are, how deep and rich their emotions are and how powerful they are as healers and educators. The science behind what we've learned about how dogs think is both inspiring and fascinating.

Inside The Mind of a Dog, a film by Andy Mitchell who also did Inside The Mind of a Cat, and narrated by Rob Lowe, is such worthwhile time spent. I hope you enjoy as much as I did. Streaming now on Netflix.

05/15/2024

Does your pet suffer from mental health issues?

The pain and suffering from the epidemic proportions of mental health issues in the world today is overwhelming. I just came back from a powerful and wonderful event in Los Angeles called Hollywood + Mind, created and produced by Cathy Applefeld Olson and held at United Talent Agency. It drew producers, directors, actors and those in the mental health field associated with Hollywood, with the purpose of educating and inspiring those bringing projects to the big and small screen to portray mental health issues in a more realistic light. And, to get involved in whatever ways they can to support solutions for the rampant mental health challenges us humans face globally today. The panels were powerful; the attendees smart, savvy and doing good, with more solutions in play than I'd heard about before. Good news.

One panel featured a psychologist with a therapy dog on her lap. We don't have to look far to find proof of how much pets help us with our mental health. But, what about the mental health of our animals?

Science has proven they feel the emotions like we do. And statistics tell us 75% of dogs in the U.S. suffer some form of anxiety. What about them?

More pets suffer the pain of mental health issues than we might realize. And, what they suffer from closely resembles the mental health conditions we humans suffer from, too. Obsessive Compulsive Anxiety Disorders. PTSD.

What are the signs? What can we do to help these beautiful, sentient beings in our care who can't talk, but do demonstrate what they are feeling if we know the signs and signals and observe.

This is a good article on mental health and pets which, no matter what month of the year, is a good idea to pay attention to in order to have a truly healthy animal. Mind, body, soul - holistic care and healing is what true health looks like.

https://bettervet.com/resources/pet-health-care/looking-out-for-your-pets-mental-health

04/30/2024

He spoke for the first time in days, after this visit.

I remember when my sweet Sophie was a pup, about a year old or so, when we took the Delta Society therapy dog course and became a therapy team. We spent a year at an adult recreation center for people with mental health or nervous system disorders. We spent another year at a school for kids with cognitive and degenerative illnesses that kept them in wheelchairs and challenged by the everyday things we take for granted. It was a humbling experience to see how these people interacted with life; the adults often childlike; the kids struggling to be kids.

What was clear was that their lives were made better from seeing Sophie, getting to pet her and interact with her and her gentle spirit. What they didn't know was how much they did for us.

Today, Delta is called Pet Partners and the holiday they created to recognize the powerful work therapy animals do is being celebrated right now - National Pet Therapy Day.

I did an interview with Pet Partners' Chief Mission Officer, Mary Margaret Callahan on my podcast, The Pet Health Coach, and it's up now:

https://www.petliferadio.com/thepethealthcoachep25.html

And, the man who spoke for the first time? He had recently arrived at a facility, was struggling with dementia and trying to make sense of where he was. His therapy animal visit struck a chord in him, opened him up and was his bridge to engage in the world. How beautiful and amazing is that?

We know this...the power of the love we feel and joy we experience through animals.

Mary Margaret tells wonderful stories like this on the podcast.

Today, we honor those therapy animals and their handlers who give so much and touch so many lives for the better. And I can honor my sweet girl who was the best therapy team partner a girl could have!

Happy National Pet Therapy Day!

04/24/2024

🌿 I cured my UTI in 3 hours.

For anyone who gets an occasional UTI or whose dog or cat gets UTI's, it is downright POWERFUL when you know what to do naturally to heal. I had to share this because I am constantly in awe of how intelligent our bodies are in healing, when we get out of its way.

I woke up with a UTI this morning. I've been stressed; I just completed a particularly tough move and have been working extra hard lately. Maybe you can relate, too. I don't have time to be laid up sick!

My first thought was homeopathy, a very effective, do-no-harm way to treat UTI's, by stimulating the body to heal itself. Cantharis is a popular remedy for this, although not the only one. With homeopathy, how you are exhibiting your symptoms individually matters. But, cantharis felt right, so I took one dose. I also took a dose of Urinari-X by Life Seasons, a Cranberry, D-Mannose, Uva Ursi, Grapefruit Seed and Caprylic Acid formulation.

Cranberry: rich in antioxidants; may prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract.

D-Mannose: promotes the balance of healthy flora; believed to create a non‐stick surface on the bladder wall, as well as around the bacteria, so the bacteria is then expelled when urinating.

Uva Ursi: immune booster; promotes urinary tract health.

Grapefruit Seed Extract: promotes healthy balance of microflora in the urogenital system; contains flavanoids that are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal.

Caprylic Acid: fatty acid found in coconut that boosts immunity, normalizes pH and also has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory properties. It is said to help prevent urinary tract infections.

Urinari-X is a beautiful formation that is very helpful when you are coming down with a UTI. Catching things early, just when you start to feel your first symptom is key, too.

Now, a few hours later and my symptoms are 90% gone and I know they will be completely gone by later today. I will also up my Vitamin C and Zinc, both immune system boosters. I'll take Echinacea and of Goldenseal tinctures in some filtered water. Echinacea is also an immune system booster and Goldenseal is a great antimicrobial.

‼️ This is a doable protocol to head off or move quickly through a UTI!

You can use Cantharis for your dog or cat, too, as well as Urinari-X. They are safe for dogs and cats. Echinacea and goldenseal tinctures are also safe for dogs and cats, but in much less quantity. 12-15 drops of echinacea in some filtered water and 3-4 drops of Goldenseal in same.

A good guide is most supplements are dosed according to a 150 lb human so work backwards from there.

From a former student of mine about her dog with a UTI, 24 hours after consulting with me and giving Cantharis: "Her symptoms seem to be gone...She really seems better to me!!"

You can always book a complementary discovery session with me here: https://calendly.com/peoplepethealthcoach/15min

To our best health ever!

04/02/2024

Hi pet loving friends! I just moved houses yesterday and am up to my you know what in boxes, digging out. LOL! However, I did come across this post from my friend and knowledgeable/amazing human, Susan Thixton on her Truth About Pet Food site about pet feeding trials, what we read on the labels of pet food; how accurate that is and what we need to know as conscious pet parents. Wanted to share. Please reach out with any questions which Susan or I can answer.

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/usda-finds-malnourished-diseased-dogs-in-pet-food-feeding-trial-facility/

What is your POV on what you read on the label of pet food? Do you believe what they've written? What's your trust level? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks and have a beautiful day!

This facility makes you think twice about pet food feeding trials.

03/20/2024

So excited to be at Global Pet Expo again! It's my 10th year! What I love about it:

* discovering new products that can help pet parents, some before they hit the market
* seeing all of the dogs, cats, etc.
* seeing some friends I only see in person once a year...here!
* seeing all of the dogs, cats, etc.
* having the opportunity to spread the word about a wonderful pre/pro/postbiotic for dogs, cats and people my friend Michelle Griffin created with her brand The Culture Club with the products MuttGut KittyGut and EquineGut. There is nothing else like it on the market. Find out why. I use it with my animals and sometimes with me, too. For Michelle, it cured her myasthenia gravis dis-ease.
* interviewing wonderful brands doing creative, innovative things to benefit pet parents and our beloved pets
* seeing all of the dogs, cats, etc.

Ok! I especially love seeing the animals! And, I do. It's happiness abounding in a waggy tail, wet kiss or a sweet pat.

Pet Expo rocks!

Stay tuned for sharing what I love from the floor of one of the largest, most important pet trade shows of the year.

02/18/2024

It's happening...

Maybe you think you don't have time for it or it's just more stuff that won't help. But, if you have a dog with anxiety that is affecting both of your lives every day, don't sleep on this. Starting tomorrow is an opportunity for you to cherry pick knowledge and learn tools from experts in this field.

From the unique training techniques of my friend Billie Groom to the sacred connection between us and our pets from my friend, holistic veterinarian Jeff Feinman of Holistic Actions, to how we think and use energy as medicine to heal anxiety in our pets from my own talk, there are wonderful tools that work at your disposal...for free! Take advantage of them, the support and knowledge transfer of 15 experts in the healing anxiety space.

Thank you to my friend Anke Herrmann of Soul Touched by Dogs, for creating this beautiful Panic To Peace Summit!

Register to attend free here: https://soultouchedbydogs.com/panic-to-peace?ref=jteiche

Stick around, too, because this Friday, February 23 from 11 - 12noon est will be a live Q&A opportunity to ask us anything. Link on that to follow this week.

To their best health ever!

For virtual conference for dogs lovers hosted by Anke Herrmann

02/11/2024

Shaking, scratching, whining, whimpering. And, destroying.

Anxiety. This is what it can do. If your dog suffers with it, as 75% of all dogs in the U.S. do (yes that is a real statistic!), your best friends are the tools you learn to manage, calm, even solve their anxiety problems. Because when you learn these tools, they're happier and so are you.

Join me from February 19 - 25 for my friend, Anke Herrmann's From Panic To Peace Summit, focusing on anxiety in rescue dogs. If your dog isn't a rescue and suffers with anxiety, these tools apply to you, too!

Link to join free: https://soultouchedbydogs.com/panic-to-peace?ref=jteiche

I'm honored to be included as an expert speaker. My topic is Unleashing the Power of Energy Medicine to Heal Anxiety In Our Pets. There are 15 experts in all speaking, like my friend Billie Groom, who created the unique and effective method of training called Canine Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Definitely seek her out and take the time to check out her talk, too! Our individual work is intrinsically compatible.

There is hope for your anxious pup to live a calmer, happier life. Imagine what it would feel like to go out without trepidation, to bring them out without fear.

Link to join free! https://soultouchedbydogs.com/panic-to-peace?ref=jteiche

The dogs in this photo are the goal. Vibrantly healthy, comfortable in their own skin...happy. Hope to see you there!

Jody

02/08/2024

UPDATE ON PET FOOD MAKING PETS SICK

Dr. Judy Morgan's Naturally Healthy Pets recorded an update on what she has been doing, as one of the forefront veterinarians trying to get to the bottom of why so many pets are getting sick and some dying after eating certain brands of food. We know something is there; we just don't know what.

This video gives you a glimpse into where we are, what Dr. Judy is doing at her own expense to try to uncover what the culprit is, a commendable act she is receiving flak and hate mail over. Even finding a lab to do that testing of food Dr. Judy purchased off the shelves herself, has been challenging regarding conflict of interest issues. So, I hope those of you who are following this and are concerned about the brands named (that list has grown; please see latest update here) as you may be using one of them, will reserve judgement and withhold vitriol until we get more definitive information.

It is my suggestion to be safer right now until we know more and not expose your animal to these foods. And always, if your pet refuses to eat their food, please please listen to them. Our dogs and cats are very intuitive and may not want to eat food because something is wrong with it or it is not what their bodies need or want at that time. Working with our animals is an important way to honor them and keep them the healthiest they can be.

https://youtu.be/5entIa31eVM?feature=shared

01/30/2024

How helpless do you feel when your dog suffers with anxiety?

The weight of their distress can be overwhelming to watch. If you either don't know the root cause or have the tools to calm them, even teach them how to calm themselves, the feelings of persistent worry and guilt persist; the problem persists. It's not fun for anyone.

I'm sharing the power of energy medicine in various forms to help calm our dogs and even teach them to calm themselves as part of my friend, Anke Herrmann's Soul Touched by Dogs' Summit - Panic to Peace - Holistic Approaches to Easing Anxiety in Rescue Dogs. My talk will be "Unleashing The Power of Energy Medicine To Heal Anxiety In Your Pets."

The Summit runs from February 19-25, 2024 and you can reserve your spot here:

https://soultouchedbydogs.com/panic-to-peace?ref=jteich

What would it feel like to leave the house without stress or drama? Or to take your dog into a place with other dogs and not be anxious yourself? Explore the knowledge and options of the 15 experts gathered inside the Summit. Let us support you in solving these issues holistically.

See you there!

Jody 🙏 🐾

01/26/2024

Human Health: Why am I tired & moody, and my hair's so thin?

You may have a thyroid that's out of balance. Maybe you have a hard time losing weight or have those vertical ridges on your nails and they break a lot. There are many symptoms of either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism (less common), and knowing what they are so you can explore further is important. A chronically unbalanced thyroid can lead to other health issues like heart dis-ease and heart failure, as well as breathing problems.

I've done a deep dive into thyroid health and ways to naturally balance in my latest post. Especially if you're over 50, it's an important read.

What symptoms do you experience on a regular basis? Put them in the comments below and I'll cover them in future posts.

https://teichewellness.com/thyroid-symptoms-uncovered-achieving-balance-through-natural-healing/

01/21/2024

What could you be doing right now to help your dog heal from anxiety?

We have powerful tools and knowledge available to us today as pet parents. I'm honored to be talking about some of them with Anke Herrmann on her podcast, Soul Touched by Dogs. Learn about modalities and techniques I teach pet parents to address anxiety; things you can start doing right now that will create a difference.

Thank you, Anke, for inviting me onto your show and helping us reach more people who love their dogs and want only the best for them! 🙏

You can listen here: https://soultouchedbydogs.transistor.fm/episodes/jody-teiche-beyond-pharmaceuticals-natural-alternatives-for-pet-health

➡️🌟 And learn even more about how to create relief from anxiety, when you join me at Anke's Panic To Peace Summit, where I'm participating with a host of holistic practitioners addressing this epidemic issue. Did you know 70% of all dogs in the U.S. suffer from some sort of anxiety? You're not alone. Learn simple techniques and solutions you can start now to help your dog and you feel calmer, happier and have a better quality of life.

Stay tuned for more info on this. Happy Sunday!