Mystic Dog Mama

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Tom Lonsdale - veterinary surgeon, long-time advocate for raw meaty bones, and author of the new book, Spin Doctors.
This conversation invites us to step back from the noise, the labels, and the often polarised debates around dog food—and instead, to look more closely at the foundations those conversations are built upon.
Because this isn’t about kibble versus raw. It’s about understanding the animal in front of us… and the systems that have shaped how we care for them.
We explore what it means to feed a dog in alignment with their biology as a facultative carnivore, and how modern feeding practices compare to that reality. From feeding trials and the origins of “balanced and complete,” to the rise of ultra-processed diets, and the growing conversation around vegan dog food, BARF, Prey Model Raw, etc—this episode gently but courageously questions the narratives many of us have inherited.
We also speak about trust, how it is formed and outsources - and what it might look like to begin reclaiming it—not through fear or perfectionism, but through curiosity, observation, and discernment.
At its heart, this conversation is not just about food. It’s about power, conditioning, and the quiet invitation to see more clearly.

A question to sit with:
What assumptions have I made about how to feed my dog—and where did they come from?

If this episode resonated:
Share it with a fellow dog mama who’s been quietly questioning what’s in the bowl.
And if you feel called, leave a review - it helps more people find these conversations.
Learn more about Dr Tom Lonsdale and his books:
https://www.thepetfoodcon.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thepetfoodcon
Connect with me!
Website: https://mysticdogmama.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama
Come join my free Facebook group, First Light. It’s my sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight
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.

Walking our dogs has become one of those unquestioned “shoulds” of dog guardianship.
But what if it’s not always the most supportive choice?
In this conversation with dog trainer and behaviour consultant, Niki French, we gently challenge the idea that going for a walk is always the best thing for our dogs—and explore what it really means to meet the needs of the dog in front of us.
We dive into ACE Free Work, developed by Sarah Fisher - a practice that might look simple on the surface, but offers something profound underneath:
A way for our dogs to be, rather than perform.
Through thoughtfully designed setups using everyday objects, ACE Free Work allows dogs to:
Move at their own pace
Make choices without pressure
Process their environment
Regulate their nervous system
Communicate in ways we often miss in more structured settings

We explore how this work can be especially supportive for:
Dogs who find walks overwhelming or dysregulating
Dogs recovering from surgery or injury
Guardians who want to better understand behaviour beyond labels

We also talk about the intention behind Don’t Walk Your Dog Day happening on April 2nd - a gentle disruption of the idea that going for a walk is always the answer. Because sometimes, the behaviour we’re trying to “fix” is actually a message. And sometimes, the most supportive thing we can do
is create space to listen.
This episode is an invitation to shift from doing to noticing, from controlling to collaborating, and from assumption to curiosity.
To connect with Niki:
https://puptalk.co.uk
Instagram https://instagram.com/puptalk101

Connect with me!
Website: https://mysticdogmama.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama
Come join my free Facebook group, First Light. It’s my sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

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.

Are flea, tick, and worm treatments actually necessary for dogs—or have we just been told they are?
If you’ve ever felt uneasy about routine parasite prevention, this episode will help you take a more informed, conscious approach.
I’m joined by holistic veterinarian Dr Lise Hansen to explore how we can move beyond fear-based, one-size-fits-all flea, tick, and worm treatments… and instead consider what’s truly right for our individual dogs.
This episode is released on World Rethink Flea and Tick Prevention Day—a day created to raise awareness around the routine use of chemical parasite treatments, and their potential impact on our dogs, our ecosystems, and ourselves.
Because true prevention isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing what’s right for your dog.

🐾 In this episode, we cover:
Flea, tick, and worm prevention for dogs
The risks and realities of routine chemical treatments
How to assess your dog’s individual parasite risk
When treatments might be necessary (and how to approach them consciously)
What to do if you find a tick on your dog
Why exposure doesn’t always lead to illness
Natural and holistic approaches to parasite prevention
What “true prevention” really means

🌿 A more conscious way forward
I also share how I use my F.E.T.C.H. framework - Fresh food, Energetics, Targeted care, Curiosity, and Holistic health - to support dogs from the ground up, whether or not chemical treatments are part of the picture.

🤍 Continue the conversation
If this resonates and you’d like support in taking a more conscious, grounded approach to your dog’s care, you’re so welcome to join us inside my free Facebook community: FETCH First Light https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight
To connect with Dr Lise Hansen: https://alternative-vet.co.uk/
Connect with me!
Website: https://mysticdogmama.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

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.

When behaviour begins in the body
When a dog struggles with anxiety, impulsivity, or reactivity, the conversation almost always starts with training.
But what if behaviour doesn’t only begin with what we see on the outside? What if part of the story begins inside the body - in the gut, the nervous system, and the nutrients that shape them both?
In this episode, I’m joined by fellow canine nutrition consultant and behaviour professional Sam van Eggermond for a fascinating conversation exploring the emerging connections between nutrition, the gut microbiome, and behaviour in dogs.
Sam’s journey into this work began in shelters and rescue environments, supporting dogs with complex behavioural challenges. Over time, she started noticing patterns. Many of the dogs struggling most with anxiety, impulsivity, or reactivity were also dealing with digestive issues, sensitivities, or diets that simply weren’t supporting their physiology.
Those observations sparked a deeper investigation into nutrition and the gut microbiome - as well as a critical look at some of the research shaping behaviour advice today.
In this conversation, Sam brings both curiosity and nuance to a rapidly evolving field. Together, we explore how behaviour might sometimes be a biological signal as much as a training challenge, and why supporting the body can be an important part of supporting the mind.

In this episode we explore
Sam’s early work in shelters and rescues, and how it shaped her approach to behaviour and nutrition
• The patterns she began noticing between digestive health and behavioural challenges
• How nutrition and the gut microbiome may influence stress, mood, and emotional regulation in dogs
• Why some studies on diet and behaviour deserve closer scrutiny
• Questions guardians can begin asking when their dog is struggling with anxiety or reactivity
• The vision behind the UK Centre for Canine Reactivity and Aggression dedicated to supporting dogs with complex behaviours, and the guardians who love them

To learn more and connect with Sam:
https://www.ukccra.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/ukcaninereactivity/
https://www.instagram.com/feedingcaninebehaviour/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576355878714

Connect with me!
Website: https://mysticdogmama.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama
Come join my free Facebook group, First Light. It’s my sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

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.

Around 80% of the world’s dogs are free-roaming, living in streets, villages, and communities alongside people rather than inside homes. Yet much of what we believe about dog welfare, safety, and rescue comes from a Western model of dog ownership.
In this episode, I’m joined by Vanessa of Spicy Dogs, a certified canine behaviour consultant based in Sri Lanka who helps adopters of village and street dogs understand behaviour through the lenses of ethology, trauma awareness, and co-regulation — building trust rather than control.
Together we explore the complexity of street dog lives, the tensions that arise when Western rescue impulses meet different cultural realities, and the deeper question: what actually makes a good life for a dog?
In this episode we discuss:
• What daily life looks like for street and village dogs
• Why the narrative of constant suffering can miss the richness of their lives
• How language and labels shape the way we see “street dogs”
• When rescue helps — and when it can unintentionally cause harm
• What can change when dogs are removed from their cultural and ecological context
• How different cultures understand dog welfare
• What street dogs might teach us about living alongside dogs rather than controlling them
This is a thoughtful, sometimes uncomfortable conversation that invites us to loosen our grip on what we think dogs should be - and see them through a wider cultural and ecological lens.
To connect with Vanessa:
https://instagram.com/spicydogsbehaviour
Connect with me!
Website: https://mysticdogmama.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama
Come join my free Facebook group, First Light. It’s my sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

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.