Soul Touched by Dogs

Veterinary burnout is reaching crisis levels — but most vets don't see it coming until they hit the wall. If you've ever wondered why your vet seems stretched thin, or why practices feel different than they used to, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what's really happening behind the exam room door.\n\nWhat You'll Learn\n\nWhy burnout in veterinary medicine often goes unnoticed until it's too late, and what signs to watch for in yourself or someone you care about\nHow the demands of modern veterinary practice have shifted dramatically from previous generations, and why that matters for both vets and pet owners\nWhat makes emergency and critical care both the most rewarding and most emotionally taxing area of veterinary medicine\nWhy euthanasia can be both deeply honoring and profoundly difficult, depending on the circumstances surrounding the decision\nHow crushing student debt and lower-than-expected salaries contribute to mental health challenges in the profession\nWhat pet owners often misunderstand about veterinary care, costs, and the realities vets face daily\nWhy so many veterinarians feel trapped in their career path, and what options actually exist beyond traditional clinical practice\n\n\nA Favourite Moment\n'It was never really communicated to me how hard it was.' — Marie\n\nAbout Dr. Marie Holowaychuk\nDr. Marie Holowaychuk is a veterinarian and board-certified emergency and critical care specialist with over 20 years of practice experience. After experiencing severe burnout while working at a veterinary college, she founded Reviving Veterinary Medicine to address mental health and wellness in the profession through evidence-based programs and resources. A certified coach, yoga teacher, and author of A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian, Marie now speaks globally about sustainable veterinary careers while still practicing the emergency medicine she loves.\n\nConnect with Dr. Marie Holowaychuk\nWebsite: www.marieholowaychuk.com\nFree Resource: 10 Things Your Veterinarian Wishes You Knew\nFacebook: @drmarieholowaychuk\nInstagram: @marieholowaychuk\nLinkedIn: @drmarieholowaychuk\nYouTube: @marieholowaychukdvm\n\nConnect with Soul Touched by Dogs\nTo find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit https://soultouchedbydogs.com

Veterinary burnout is reaching crisis levels — but most vets don't see it coming until they hit the wall. If you've ever wondered why your vet seems stretched thin, or why practices feel different than they used to, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what's really happening behind the exam room door.What You'll LearnWhy burnout in veterinary medicine often goes unnoticed until it's too late, and what signs to watch for in yourself or someone you care aboutHow the demands of modern veterinary practice have shifted dramatically from previous generations, and why that matters for both vets and pet ownersWhat makes emergency and critical care both the most rewarding and most emotionally taxing area of veterinary medicineWhy euthanasia can be both deeply honoring and profoundly difficult, depending on the circumstances surrounding the decisionHow crushing student debt and lower-than-expected salaries contribute to mental health challenges in the professionWhat pet owners often misunderstand about veterinary care, costs, and the realities vets face dailyWhy so many veterinarians feel trapped in their career path, and what options actually exist beyond traditional clinical practiceA Favourite Moment'It was never really communicated to me how hard it was.' — MarieAbout Dr. Marie HolowaychukDr. Marie Holowaychuk is a veterinarian and board-certified emergency and critical care specialist with over 20 years of practice experience. After experiencing severe burnout while working at a veterinary college, she founded Reviving Veterinary Medicine to address mental health and wellness in the profession through evidence-based programs and resources. A certified coach, yoga teacher, and author of A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian, Marie now speaks globally about sustainable veterinary careers while still practicing the emergency medicine she loves.Connect with Dr. Marie HolowaychukWebsite: www.marieholowaychuk.comFree Resource: 10 Things Your Veterinarian Wishes You KnewFacebook: @drmarieholowaychuk Instagram: @marieholowaychuk LinkedIn: @drmarieholowaychuk YouTube: @marieholowaychukdvmConnect with Soul Touched by DogsTo find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, visit https://soultouchedbydogs.com

What do you do when your dog turns into a tiny (or not-so-tiny) dragon over… a sock?This conversation with Sonia Fetherling goes far beyond “how to fix it.”Because what looks like stubbornness, dominance, or “bad behavior” is often something much more vulnerable underneath.We talk about resource guarding in a way that feels… human.The fear.The tension.The pressure it creates in a home.And what becomes possible when we stop trying to control the behavior, and start understanding what’s driving it.Sonia shares not just her professional experience, but the journey with her own dog, who pushed her to question everything she thought she knew.This isn’t about quick fixes.It’s about trust, patience… and seeing your dog (and yourself) differently.🐾 Key Takeaways👉 The one mistake even experienced dog guardians make with resource guardingTrying to stop the behavior instead of understanding what’s underneath it.👉 Why the “quick fix” approach to dog behavior will get you stuckBecause lasting change doesn’t come from control, it comes from shifting emotions, trust, and safety.👉 The truth behind resource guardingIt’s not about your dog being difficult.It’s often about insecurity, unpredictability, and a need to feel safe.👉 How to avoid the biggest mistake when your dog guards objectsTaking things away without building trust first… which can make the behavior worse.👉 Why it’s actually more simple (and more powerful) to think in terms of “recovery”Not fixing your dog, but supporting them in an ongoing process of feeling safer.👉 How a simple shift - from conflict to collaboration - can change everythingA dog bringing you a stolen shoe to trade?That’s not failure. That’s communication.👉 The often-overlooked factor that changes behavior faster than training techniquesThe relationship. The trust. The predictability.💬 A Favorite Moment“It’s a marathon, not a sprint…Sometimes you’re running, sometimes you’re hobbling.But you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”00:00 Podcast Welcome00:38 Meet Sonya Best of Behavior02:16 Training Without Owning03:56 Mentors and Dolphin Lessons05:09 Marathon Not Sprint10:38 Patience and Family Dynamics12:30 In Person and Virtual Work13:55 Cats and Referrals14:50 Finding Her Niche14:58 Adopting Kismet After Loss17:59 Shelter Surprise Resource Guarding18:39 Living With A Thief19:20 Dogs As Teachers20:29 Beyond Counterconditioning21:28 Socks Shoes And Swallows22:26 Root Causes Of Guarding23:04 When Trading Backfires24:05 Decompression And Deprivation27:15 Board And Train Reset29:27 Recovery Not Cure31:31 Reward The Swap33:41 Where To Find Sonia35:27 Closing Thanks And OutroFind out more and connect with SoniaSonia is the owner of Best of Behavior, a dog training and behavior consulting business based near Chicago, Illinois.With over 25 years of experience, she works with dogs and their humans on everything from reactivity and aggression to everyday training—with a deeply compassionate, relationship-focused approach.What makes Sonia’s work stand out is her willingness to go beyond surface-level solutions and explore the emotional roots of behavior—both in dogs and their humans.She also works professionally with cats (yes, really 😉), helping with complex household dynamics and behavior challenges.🔗 Connect with Sonia🌐 Website: https://www.bestofbehavior.com📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobdogtraining📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestofbehavior/?hl=enAs always, to find out all about Soul Touched by Dogs, go to https://soultouchedbydogs.com

What if your dog already knows exactly what they need to heal?In this fascinating conversation, I’m joined by Irish animal healer and communicator Lisa Tully, who works with dogs and cats around the world using a deeply intuitive and holistic approach.Lisa combines animal communication, Chinese medicine principles, and plant-based healing to uncover the root causes of emotional and physical imbalance in animals. And sometimes… the answers point right back to us.We explore how animals can mirror their guardians’ emotions, why some dogs seem “misunderstood,” how animals instinctively choose their own botanicals for healing, and what happens when we start listening to them in a whole new way.If you’ve ever wondered whether your dog understands more than we give them credit for… this episode may change the way you see them forever.In This Episode🐾 Why the “standard” approach to behaviour problems often misses the real issueAnd how understanding a dog’s unique constitution can change everything.🐾 How dogs instinctively know which plants help them healLisa explains the concept of animal self-medication and botanical selection.🐾 The surprising ways dogs mirror their humans’ emotionsEspecially fear, grief, and unresolved stress.🐾 Why some dogs are labeled “difficult” when they’re actually deeply sensitiveIncluding a fascinating example of the “water element” dog in Chinese medicine.🐾 How healing can flow both directions on the leadWhen the human shifts, the dog often does too.🐾 What happens during an animal communication sessionIncluding the powerful question Lisa always asks first.🐾 Why many people only find holistic healing after trying everything elseA Favourite Moment“Have you asked the dog what it is they need to heal?”Sometimes the answers we’re searching for aren’t in another training method… but in learning how to listen.00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:38 Meet Lisa in Ireland03:16 Her Path to Healing07:21 Why Clients Seek Help08:11 Five Elements Water Dog12:33 Dogs Mirror Their Humans15:23 Pandemic Puppies and Grief20:26 How Dogs Choose Essences22:28 How Lisa Receives Messages25:10 Animals She Works With27:26 Meditation Gift and Programs30:22 Website and Farewell30:48 Subscribe and OutroAbout Lisa TullyLisa Tully is a professional animal healer and communicator from Ireland with an international practice supporting dogs and cats.Her work blends animal communication with botanical healing and holistic approaches to uncover the emotional, physical, and energetic root causes of imbalance in animals.Lisa believes animals are active participants in their own healing process. Through her work, animals can guide the selection of natural remedies, helping them return to balance so they can live longer, healthier lives alongside the people who love them.She collaborates with holistic veterinarians worldwide and supports animals dealing with emotional challenges, behavioural issues, and chronic health conditions.Connect with LisaWebsitehttps://animalhealing.ieFree Guided Meditation (Start Healing Your Animals Today)https://animalhealing.ie/guided-meditation/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/animalhealinglisatully/TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@animalhealinglisatullyFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/animalhealinglisatullyAs always, to find out all about Soul Touched by Dogs, go tohttps://soultouchedbydogs.com

When Love Meets Innovation: Helping Pets Get the Care They DeserveSome dogs simply arrive one day… and change everything.In this episode of Soul Touched by Dogs, I’m joined by Adam Spencer, founder of Furlanthropy — an innovative nonprofit that’s reimagining how pet parents can access life-saving veterinary care when money stands in the way.Adam’s journey into animal welfare didn’t begin with a lifelong love of dogs. In fact, it started with reluctance… and a rescue dog named Hazelnut who quietly cracked his heart wide open.What followed was the creation of the first nonprofit-owned crowdfunding platform designed specifically for pets — one that protects donors, supports veterinarians, and keeps families together during their most vulnerable moments.This is a conversation about compassion, dignity, and what becomes possible when we stop accepting “that’s just how it is.”🐾 Key Takeaways🐾 The truth behind “I can’t afford treatment”Why financial barriers are now one of the leading reasons pets don’t receive care — and how this crisis is quietly growing.🐾 The one basic secret of ethical crowdfundingHow trust, verification, and transparency change everything for donors, vets, and pet parents alike.🐾 Why even loving, responsible guardians get stuck:  How rising veterinary costs and debt traps leave families with impossible choices — and why this isn’t a personal failure.🐾 How a single rescue dog can ripple outward:Hazelnut’s story — and how one soul-deep connection inspired help for hundreds of pets across the country.🐾 The overlooked support system behind the scenes: Why veterinarians are often carrying emotional and financial burdens we rarely talk about — and why they matter here too.💬 Favourite Quote“When you touch someone’s heart, you don’t have to convince them to care.”00:00 Introduction to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast00:24 Meet Adam and His Journey with Furlanthropy01:40 The Heartwarming Story of Adopting Hazelnut06:25 The Birth of Furlanthropy: A Mission to Help Pets09:37 Challenges in Pet Care and the Role of Furlanthropy14:28 How Furlanthropy Operates and Its Impact17:54 Fundraising Tips and Reaching Potential Donors28:11 How Furlanthropy Supports Various Pet Needs30:45 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAbout the Guest: Adam SpencerAdam Spencer is the Founder and President of Furlanthropy, an innovative nonprofit charity created to help pet parents raise funds for veterinary expenses — from emergency surgeries to long-term treatment and recovery.With over 20 years of experience as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Adam has raised millions of dollars for causes close to the heart. Furlanthropy was inspired by the rescue of his dog Hazelnut — a moment that transformed Adam’s life and redirected his professional mission toward animal welfare.Adam is a passionate advocate for ethical giving, transparency in fundraising, and innovative solutions that keep pets with the people who love them.He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with his wife Erica, their five children, and two rescue dogs — enjoying pickleball, e-bike rides, and imported lobster rolls.🔗 Connect with Adam & FurlanthropyWebsite: https://www.furlanthropy.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/furlanthropycharityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/furlanthropycharityAs always, to find out all about Soul Touched by Dogs, go to👉 https://soultouchedbydogs.com