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by Dr Alexia Mellor
Mystic Dog Mama is the podcast for soul-led dog mamas where you will discover how to best nourish your dog - and yourself - mind, body, and soul. Join me, Dr. Alexia Mellor, as I talk with some of the most inspiring pet experts, spiritual leaders, health professionals, and more, as we explore how our dogs are teaching us about what it means to be human. This is the place for inspiring stories, along with practical tips and tricks on how to lead a more holistic, nourished, and soulful life with your canine companion.
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This week, we lost an absolute legend in the dog world, and such a beautiful human being who had a profound impact on so many people, including me and my relationship with my dog, Lucky. To honour Dr Laura Donaldson, this week I am replaying a conversation that I had earlier in the year with her and her dear friend and colleague, Annie Phenix.If you have been touched by Laura’s work, please feel free to leave a comment. I also encourage you to continue sharing Laura’s work and her wisdom with others.And, as Laura would say, Keep the Canine Faith.What if the future of dog care isn’t about better obedience…but about deeper safety?In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with Dr Laura Donaldson and Annie Phenix to explore their new course, Transformation and Healing: New Paradigms for You and Your Dog - and the larger shift happening in the world of canine care.We begin by honouring the late Sarah Fisher, whose work invited us to learn from our dogs rather than simply lead or manage them. Her legacy threads through this entire conversation.This episode challenges the long-held paradigm of compliance in our relationships with dogs. Instead of focusing on obedience and suppression of behaviour, we explore what becomes possible when we centre:*Deep safety*Emotional wellbeing*Agency*Resilience*Trust*Social supportWe discuss what it means to become trauma-informed in our approach — and why that shift is transformative, not additive.We explore:✨ Why compliance has shaped traditional dog training - and why it’s time to question it✨ Dogs as somatic beings (and how we’ve forgotten that we are too)✨ The intelligence and wisdom of all life forms - and dismantling the “humans at the top” worldview✨ Getting curious about behaviour instead of correcting it✨ The links between pain, nutrition, and behaviour✨ The power of a collaborative care team (vet, behaviour professional, nutrition consultant)✨ Becoming your dog’s advocate - and how that often becomes the path to advocating for yourselfWe also speak to something many of us feel but rarely name:Your dog may be your greatest teacher.Your “difficult” dog may be your healer in disguise.At the heart of this conversation is love - the kind that truly witnesses. The kind that listens. The kind that believes healing is possible.Because we can heal from trauma.And so can our dogs.And how embodied, courageous kindness is what moves us forward.If you’ve ever felt there must be another way to be with your dog, then this episode is for you.Join Dr Laura’s and Annie’s course, Transformation & Healing: New Paradigms for Our Lives With Dogs, here:https://laura-s-school-1f3f.thinkific.com/courses/transformationhealingJoin Annie’s free group The Canine Trauma Clinic here: https://community.caninetraumaclinic.comConnect with me!Website: https://mysticdogmama.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama Come join my free Facebook group, The Nourished Pack. It’s my sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection https://facebook.com/groups/thenourishedpack Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.
What if healing involves more than addressing our physical symptoms? And what if our relationships with our animals have something to teach us about our own health, emotional wellbeing and personal growth?In this episode of Mystic Dog Mama, I’m joined by Dr Niikee Schoendorfer, whose journey from naturopathic medicine, nutritional biochemistry and scientific research has led her into the world of energy medicine and intuitive healing.We explore what it means to look beyond the physical body and consider the bigger picture of health - including the emotions, beliefs and patterns that shape our experience. Dr Niikee shares her perspective on the relationship between emotional and physical wellbeing, the effects of stress, and how we can begin to reconnect with ourselves when life leaves us feeling disconnected or out of balance.We also get practical, exploring how breathwork can help us become more present and reconnect with our inner wisdom. From intuition and trusting what we sense to the role of energy in our experience of the world, this conversation invites us to become curious about dimensions of healing that may sit beyond our usual ways of understanding health.And, of course, we bring it back to our animals. Could our dogs be catalysts for our own healing and growth? What might our relationships with them reveal about ourselves, and how might the work we do within ourselves change the way we show up for them?We also venture into a bigger conversation about consciousness, energy and the idea of a New Earth — and what it might mean to live with greater awareness, connection and trust in our own intuitive knowing.This is an invitation to look at healing from a different perspective: not simply as a battle against what is wrong, but as a process of coming back into balance, reconnecting with ourselves and deepening the relationships that make life meaningful.If you’ve ever felt that your own wellbeing and your relationship with your dog are more deeply connected than we might ordinarily acknowledge, this conversation is an invitation to explore that connection with curiosity.Because nourishing our dogs - and ourselves - mind, body and soul begins with being open to what we might discover.Connect with Dr Niikee:Website: https://www.drniikee.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.niikee.mystic.medicine/Connect with me:Website: https://mysticdogmama.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmamaGet your free copy of The Mystic Dog Mma Nourishment Starter Kit: mysticdogmama.comJoin my free community, The Nourished Pack: facebook.com/groups/thenourishedpackIf this episode resonates with you, please share it with a fellow dog mama and leave a review. It helps more people discover Mystic Dog Mama and join us in exploring what it means to live a more connected, nourished life with our dogs.This podcast is for education and exploration and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent illness or to replace individual veterinary or professional advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and should be considered alongside the available evidence and appropriate professional guidance.
What if we stopped looking at our dogs as a collection of parts — and started looking at them as living systems?What if the symptom we're looking at isn't the whole story?What if health isn't simply about identifying the broken part and fixing it, but about understanding the complex web of communication, feedback, environment and relationship happening within the whole organism?In this episode of the Mystic Dog Mama podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Tom Lonsdale for our third conversation together, and we dive into one of his favourite — and most challenging — subjects: cybernetics.Cybernetics offers a way of looking at living systems not as collections of isolated components, but as dynamic, interconnected wholes.And that gives us a very different way of thinking about health.We talk about the relationship between the oral health and the rest of the body, chronic inflammation, diet, evolutionary biology and why Tom believes dogs and cats can offer us important insights into how biological systems work.But this conversation isn't really just about teeth.It becomes a much bigger conversation about how we think.And about what can happen when we start to question the assumptions underneath the systems we've inherited.We also explore what cybernetics might teach us about our relationship with nature.What happens when we stop seeing “humans” and “nature” as separate?What happens when we consider the ripple effects of our choices — from the food we feed our dogs to the chemicals we use, the food systems we depend upon, and the wider ecosystems of which we're part?In this episode, we explore:What is cybernetics? — and how communication, control and feedback help us understand living systemsPeriodontal disease in dogs and cats — why Tom believes the mouth can offer us a window into much bigger biological processesEvolution and the carnivore — what looking at dogs and cats through an evolutionary lens might tell us about their biologyOur relationship with nature — and what changes when we stop thinking of ourselves as separate from the ecosystems we inhabitChallenging the status quo — what happens when new ways of thinking collide with established systems and professional orthodoxiesThe power of the individual dog guardian — and why Tom and I believe there is significance in the choices we make for the animals in our carePerhaps the biggest question I took away from this conversation is this:What becomes possible when we stop asking only, “What is wrong with this part?” and start asking, “What is happening within the whole system?”Because our dogs aren't collections of symptoms. They're living, responsive, interconnected beings — embedded within families, communities and ecosystems. And perhaps learning to see those connections is one of the most important forms of nourishment we can offer.This episode is sponsored by AspirationeryAspirationery creates books, notebooks and stationery to support you in becoming all you aspire to be.Find out more on Instagram: https://instagram.com/aspirationeryConnect with Dr Tom Lonsdalehttps://www.thepetfoodcon.comContinue the conversation🌿 Get the Nourishment Starter Kit: https://mysticdogmama.com🐾 Join The Nourished Pack: https://facebook.com/groups/thenourishedpackIf this episode gave you something to think about, I'd love to hear what stayed with you. Come and find me @mysticdogmama or share the episode with someone who might enjoy the conversation.And if you're enjoying the podcast, please follow, leave a review and share it — it really helps more people find Mystic Dog Mama.This podcast is for education and exploration and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent illness or to replace individual veterinary or professional advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and should be considered alongside the available evidence and appropriate professional guidance.
Field Notes from Mystic Dog MamaField Notes are my short musings from walks with Lucky - the things I find myself noticing, wondering about, and turning over as we move through the seasons together.For this first Field Note, I'm thinking about balance as we arrive at Mabon and the Autumn Equinox.What if balance isn't fixed? What if it doesn't mean everything being equal, or getting everything right all the time, but instead means paying attention to what this particular moment, and this particular season, is asking of us?A reflection on our dogs, our own lives, our search for certainty, and the wisdom that can come from coming back to the present moment and asking:What does balance look like for me, right now?And a little invitation to notice the season in the small things - a change in the air, an autumn leaf, cinnamon in your coffee, or what your dog stops to investigate on your walk.Keep exploringContinue the season with the Seasonal Nourishment Journal. The Mystic Dog Mama Seasonal Nourishment Journal is a field guide to living a more nourished life with your dog - with space to notice the seasons, reflect on what you need, and make room for the small rituals and moments that often pass us by.Rooted in the Wheel of the Year, it follows the changing seasons with weekly reflections, mandalas, rituals and prompts for nourishing life with your dog, mind, body and soul.Explore the Seasonal Nourishment Journal:https://mysticdogmamastudio.etsy.comStart your nourishment journeyDownload the free Mystic Dog Mama Nourishment Starter Kit - an introduction to fresh food, energetics, targeted support, curiosity and holistic health.mysticdogmama.comJoin The Nourished PackCome and continue the conversation inside our free community for dog guardians exploring a more holistic approach to nourishment.Join The Nourished PackEnjoying Field Notes?Follow the podcast and, if you have a moment, leave a rating or review. It helps other soul-led dog guardians find Mystic Dog Mama.And if this episode made you think of someone, share it with them. Sometimes the right thought arrives at just the right moment.
What if the old stories still have something to teach us?As we move towards Mabon — the Autumn Equinox and a turning point on the Celtic Wheel of the Year — I’ve been thinking about what it means to live more in tune with the seasons, rather than simply following the dates on a calendar.So it felt fitting to end this summer’s Revisited series with my conversation with Irish mythologist Jen Murphy.We talk about dogs in Irish mythology, the role of the hound as guide and companion, animism, the wisdom held within the seasons, and the Irish concept of dán — our soul’s gift or creative destiny.It’s a beautiful conversation about mythology, purpose, nature and the ways our dogs can call us back into deeper relationship with the world around us.In this episode, we explore:Dogs and the hound in Irish mythologyThe Celtic Wheel of the Year and seasonal livingAnimism and our relationship with natureMythology as a living practiceDán — the idea of our soul’s gift or creative destinyFollowing the breadcrumbs rather than needing to know exactly where they leadAs we cross this seasonal threshold, perhaps it’s a good moment to ask: what is ready to be harvested, what are you ready to let go of, and what is calling you towards what comes next?Continue the conversationLearn more from Jen Murphyhttps://celticcreatives.comStart your holistic journeyDownload my free Mystic Dog Mama Nourishment Starter Kit for practical guidance on fresh food, energetics, targeted support, curiosity, and holistic health:https://mysticdogmama.comJoin The Nourished PackContinue the conversation with like-minded dog guardians inside our free community:https://facebook.com/groups/thenourishedpackJoin me for one of my upcoming Cook-Alongs!Saturday 26th September 10am-1pm UK timeSaturday 3rd October 5pm-8pm UK time (12pm ET// 10am MT// 9am PT)Information and booking: https://mysticdogmama.com/upcoming-eventsIf this episode resonated with you…Please consider following the podcast and leaving a rating or review. It helps more soul-led dog guardians discover these conversations and supports the growth of this community.And if someone came to mind while listening, I'd love for you to share this episode with them.Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.
Could “dampness” be part of what’s going on with your dog?Maybe your dog has recurring yeast or ear problems. Maybe their digestion seems to be constantly up and down, or you’re dealing with symptoms that improve for a while only to come back again.What if, instead of looking at each of these things as a separate problem, we started to look at the bigger picture?In this Revisited episode of the Mystic Dog Mama podcast, I’m bringing back my conversation with Dr. Neal Loh, holistic and integrative veterinarian, because there is so much in this conversation that continues to shape the way I think about nourishment and whole-dog health.Neil introduces us to the traditional Chinese medicine concept of dampness — a pattern that can sit beneath and contribute to a whole range of health imbalances.We talk about what dampness is, how it can show up in our dogs, where stagnation fits into the picture, and why food and food energetics can be such an important part of supporting the individual dog.But perhaps what I love most about this conversation is that it moves us away from the idea that there is one perfect food, one perfect diet, or one perfect solution.Because in traditional Chinese medicine, context matters.The individual dog matters. Their constitution matters. Their digestion, their environment, their emotional state and the foods they are eating all form part of a much bigger picture.In this episode, we explore:Dampness in traditional Chinese medicine — what it is, how it develops, and why it can be such a stubborn patternHow dampness can show up in our dogs — including recurring yeast, ear problems, digestive upset and other patterns of imbalanceStagnation and damp heat — and how these concepts can help us think differently about chronic or recurring symptomsFood energetics and individual constitution — why the same food can have very different effects on different dogsWhy “balanced” doesn’t have to mean perfect — and how TCM can help us move away from the pressure to get everything right in every single bowlLooking beyond the symptom — and beginning to see health as an interconnected picture rather than a collection of isolated problemsThe question I really want you to take away from this conversation is:What changes when we stop asking only “What symptom are we trying to fix?” and start asking “What is the whole dog telling us?”So whether you’re completely new to Traditional Chinese Medicine or you’ve been exploring food energetics and constitutional approaches for years, I think there’s something here for you.Continue the conversationLearn more from Dr Neal Lohhttps://www.holisticpetvet.com.au/Start your holistic journeyDownload my free Mystic Dog Mama Nourishment Starter Kit for practical guidance on fresh food, energetics, targeted support, curiosity, and holistic health:https://mysticdogmama.comJoin The Nourished PackContinue the conversation with like-minded dog guardians inside our free community:https://facebook.com/groups/thenourishedpackJoin me for one of my upcoming Cook-Alongs!Saturday 26th September 10am-1pm UK timeSaturday 3rd October 5pm-8pm UK time (12pm ET// 10am MT// 9am PT)Information and booking: https://mysticdogmama.com/upcoming-eventsIf this episode resonated with you…Please consider following the podcast and leaving a rating or review. It helps more soul-led dog guardians discover these conversations and supports the growth of this community.And if someone came to mind while listening, I'd love for you to share this episode with them.Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.
Is your dog “allergic” to everything?Maybe they can only eat one protein. Maybe you’ve been told to avoid chicken, beef, grains, dairy, or a whole list of other foods. Maybe you’ve tried food after food, supplement after supplement, and you’re still dealing with itchy skin, recurring ear problems, digestive upset or unexplained reactions.But what if we’ve been too quick to call all of these things an allergy?In this Revisited episode of the Mystic Dog Mama podcast, I’m bringing back my conversation with Dr. Katie Woodley, holistic veterinarian and founder of The Natural Pet Doctor, because this conversation feels particularly relevant right now.Since announcing my upcoming cook-along, I’ve had several dog guardians get in touch to ask whether it’s suitable for their dogs because they have allergies, sensitivities or intolerances — and some dogs apparently have an ever-shrinking list of foods they’re “allowed” to eat.And it got me thinking about how much fear and confusion can surround food when our dogs are struggling.Because allergies, intolerances and sensitivities are not necessarily the same thing.In this conversation, Katie helps us untangle some of that confusion and look beyond the ever-growing list of foods our dogs supposedly can't have.In this episode, we explore: Allergies vs intolerances vs sensitivities — what’s actually happening in the body, and why these terms are so often confusedFood and allergy testing — which types of testing can provide useful information, and why some tests may leave you with more questions (and fewer foods) than you started withThe gut–immune connection — and why gut health can be such an important piece of the puzzle when we’re seeing skin and digestive symptomsWhy it isn’t always about the food — and what digestion, absorption, the microbiome, stress and the nervous system might have to do with the pictureThe question I really want you to take away: instead of only asking “What food is causing this?”, what happens when we start asking “Why is my dog reacting in the first place?”So if you’ve been stuck in the cycle of food elimination, testing, changing diets and wondering what on earth your dog can actually eat anymore, this conversation is for you.And if you’re wondering whether my upcoming cook-along might be appropriate for your dog, I’d definitely give this episode a listen first.Come with your curiosity switched on.And let's look beyond the label.Continue the conversationLearn more from Dr Katie Woodleyhttps://thenaturalpetdoctor.comStart your holistic journeyDownload my free Mystic Dog Mama Nourishment Starter Kit for practical guidance on fresh food, energetics, targeted support, curiosity, and holistic health:https://mysticdogmama.comJoin The Nourished PackContinue the conversation with like-minded dog guardians inside our free community:https://facebook.com/groups/thenourishedpackJoin me for one of my upcoming Cook-Alongs!Saturday 26th September 10am-1pm UK timeSaturday 3rd October 5pm-8pm UK time (12pm ET// 10am MT// 9am PT)Information and booking: https://mysticdogmama.com/upcoming-eventsIf this episode resonated with you…Please consider following the podcast and leaving a rating or review. It helps more soul-led dog guardians discover these conversations and supports the growth of this community.And if someone came to mind while listening, I'd love for you to share this episode with them.Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.
What if “reactivity” isn't the whole story?What if the behaviour we find difficult in our dogs is actually communication - an expression of fear, overwhelm, a nervous system on high alert, or a dog who simply doesn't feel safe?In this Revisited episode of Mystic Dog Mama, I return to my very first conversation with Dr Laura Donaldson, a conversation that had a profound impact on how I understood Lucky and the way I approached our relationship.I first discovered Laura's work when I was desperately looking for help with Lucky's reactivity. At the time, I was experiencing so much of what can come with living alongside a dog who finds the world difficult: overwhelm, fear, isolation, grief, and the constant worry that somehow you're letting your dog down.Laura introduced me to a different way of seeing things.Rather than asking “How do I stop this behaviour?”, she encouraged me to become curious about what was happening underneath it - and to ask:“What do I need to learn from you to help you feel safe in this context?”That question has stayed with me. And over time, it became part of a much bigger shift in how I related to Lucky. Learning to listen differently, understanding regulation, paying attention to my own nervous system, supporting his gut health, and bringing together the physical, emotional and relational pieces of his wellbeing have all played a part.Today, Lucky is a dog who genuinely enjoys being in the world, and I enjoy being in it with him.That's why I wanted to revisit this conversation.In this episode, we explore:Why the language of “reactivity” can sometimes limit how we understand our dogsWhat might be happening underneath behaviours such as reactivity and aggressionUnderstanding trauma and its potential impact on our dogsThe importance of safety and emotional resilienceHow our own nervous systems and experiences can become part of the pictureAsking better questions of our dogs rather than simply trying to stop unwanted behavioursHow we can become stronger advocates for our dogsSupporting dogs who carry emotional charge in their bodiesLaura's approach to grounding and regulationEFT and energy work as possible tools for supporting emotional wellbeingThe relationship between compassion for our dogs and compassion for ourselvesContinue the conversationLearn more from Dr Laura Donaldsonhttps://fourpawsfourdirections.com/Start your holistic journeyDownload my free Mystic Dog Mama Nourishment Starter Kit for practical guidance on fresh food, energetics, targeted support, curiosity, and holistic health:https://mysticdogmama.comJoin The Nourished PackContinue the conversation with like-minded dog guardians inside our free community:https://facebook.com/groups/thenourishedpackJoin me for one of my upcoming Cook-Alongs!Saturday 26th September 10am-1pm UK timeSaturday 3rd October 5pm-8pm UK time (12pm ET// 10am MT// 9am PT)Information and booking: https://mysticdogmama.com/upcoming-eventsIf this episode resonated with you…Please consider following the podcast and leaving a rating or review. It helps more soul-led dog guardians discover these conversations and supports the growth of this community.And if someone came to mind while listening, I'd love for you to share this episode with them.Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.
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Mystic Dog Mama is the podcast for soul-led dog mamas where you will discover how to best nourish your dog - and yourself - mind, body, and soul. Join me, Dr. Alexia Mellor, as I talk with some of the most inspiring pet experts, spiritual leaders, health professionals, and more, as we explore how our dogs are teaching us about what it means to be human. This is the place for inspiring stories, along with practical tips and tricks on how to lead a more holistic, nourished, and soulful life with your canine companion.
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