In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with writer and journalist Wendy Lyons Sunshine about her book “Tender Paws: How Science-based Parenting Can Transform Our Relationship with Dogs” and how this can enrich our overall understanding of parenting. Whether you are taking care of a child or a dog, there are different parenting styles that are applicable and certain methods that are preferred and recommended. Wendy explains the links and parallels while proposing and advocating the broad and holistic HEARTS approach, principles and goals that are helpful for and beneficial to the raising of both children and dogs. At the same time, it reinforces that these sentient beings are unique in their personality traits as well as their needs, desires, and wishes. It is important to be responsive to them and yet to leave some space for them to figure things out on their own and have time to be themselves while playing, learning, and exploring freely. As we are guiding and leading them, it is a great chance not only to break old harmful patterns, upgrade our skills and heal ourselves from negative experiences rooted in our own respective childhood but also to be able to pause and start anew as we try our best and keep learning with and growing from each new challenge and opportunity in the parental realm, be it human or canine.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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