The future of dog guardianship is: inquisitive.

Hi! I’m Andrea, the CEO of Pack Animals, dog guardian to Maggie, Certified Dog Trainer, and author of this newsletter. I’m passionate about helping you and your dog live a fulfilling life together, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading what I have put together.

Did you know…

More than 67% of people worldwide say they make wellbeing a top priority, yet a whopping 44% feel it is impossible to achieve, and only 12% said their wellbeing was where it should be (Lululemon Global Wellbeing Report).

When it comes to our dogs, Pack Animals surveys show that 61% of respondents have dogs with “behavioral issues.”

If you stop to think about it, it’s clear that the issues our dogs are facing - separation anxiety, reactivity, fearfulness, overexcitement, etc. - are the canine equivalent of mental and emotional health challenges.

What are the barriers to wellbeing for ourselves and for our dogs?

The top three reasons identified in the Wellbeing Report are reminiscent of findings from the 2022 White House Brief on Mental Health

• 51% are deprioritizing their wellbeing due to cost concerns.

• 39% feel the pressure to conform to societal norms negatively impacts their mental wellbeing.

• 30% don’t have the time to think about their wellbeing.

Wouldn’t you agree that cost, time, and social pressure also impact our ability to provide our dogs with the support to effectively improve their wellbeing? 

Decreasing barriers to access is beneficial, but there’s more to it than that. That’s why Pack Animals App will break down barriers and rise to the challenge of enabling effective change by improving canine and human health, simultaneously.

Knowledge Nugget
Feeling to learn

True or False: Feelings do qualify as behavior

Think about which option you would select. An explanation will be available at the bottom of this email.

• A) True

• B) False

Hot Tip: Be open. Be curious

When faced with a challenge, most of us rush to a solution or fall into complacency. Unfortunately, that speed of action often leads us to misdiagnose the cause of the problem and implement a solution that doesn’t offer effective results.

What if we allowed ourselves the time the evaluate a problem from various perspectives before we experimented with different solutions?

Let me explain with an image.

When I posted this image to @joinpackanimals instagram story, I received numerous messages from people saying some combination of “it’s confusing”, “I don’t get it”, “make this easier” followed by “ohhh I get it!,” “so cool”.

These messages made me happy. I didn’t want the text of the image to be immediately obvious because effective dog training (and human learning) rarely is! My goal was to get people thinking and, even if they weren’t able to decipher it on the first try, they started priming their mind to think differently.

If you’re wondering, the image above says “My Dog Gets Me”…. as in, my dog understands me. Now let’s try another.

After explaining how to interpret the first design, I sent this second one to people who commented they were confused.

Good news, almost every single person was able to figure it out more easily.

Some might say this was easier, others might say people knew what they were looking for by now. I’d say, both could be equally true, and it’s an effective exercise either way.

As a certified dog trainer, my education makes me better equipped to know what to look for when evaluating a behavior, but it’s also true that behaviors vary in difficulty. Were you able to pick up on “oh she’s friendly”?

Now for some fun: The first three people to reply to this email with the answer to what this third design says get a free 45 minute virtual training session with me.

What I’m Reading

• Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond - We keep dogs and are kept by them. We love dogs and (we assume) we are loved by them. We buy them sweaters, toys, shoes; we are concerned with their social lives, their food, and their health. The story of humans and dogs is thousands of years old but is far from understood. In Our Dogs, Ourselves, Alexandra Horowitz explores all aspects of this unique and complex interspecies pairing.

Key insights from my readings are translated into useful knowledge nuggets and lessons in the Pack Animals app. We find relatable inspiration from human and canine professionals alike. Have an idea of a useful resource I should read? Let me know!

Pack Animals Spotlight
Petzey

Petzey, an innovative pet telehealth app, makes it possible for you to consult with a veterinary professional anytime, anywhere, for a flat fee of $20 per phone call.

Pack Animals pre-launch bundles include a complimentary Teeth to Tails Wellness check with a Petzey veterinary professional! Why did we team up with Petzey? Because the future of dog guardianship is proactive, and all education should start with a health check.

Knowledge Nugget Explained
Feeling to Learn

Subscribers can continue reading for the explanation to the Knowledge Nugget above. Subscribers also can access the $50 Pack perk discount for the Pack Animals Pre-Launch bundles. Not a subscriber yet? Join now!