Happy Dog Happy Human Podcast
Available to listen on:
YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | Stitcher | Google Podcast | and more
Follow us on Instagram — @happydog_happyhuman
HDHH podcast is brought to you by Sharon Vincuilla, Founder of Human Canine Collaborative & Angela Tuckerman, Founder of Cloud Doodles.
HDHH is a brave exploration of the intersection between human mental health and our relationships with dogs. We will talk about specific canine and human mental health experiences and how we can help each other thrive.
Listen for free on your favorite streaming app, or join our subscription for exclusive content, including: After Thoughts, mini conversations in which we reflect on our podcast chats and go deeper into your favorite topics; and our unique Care Tip Library, a collection of each episode’s care tips edited into brief tutorials so that you can care for yourself efficiently and incorporate somatic healing into your everyday life!
Episode 1: On Human Anxiety | November 15, 2022
In this episode, we explore the human experience of anxiety. We talk about what anxiety is, how our environments and societal structures contributes to anxiety, and how our dogs' behavior triggers anxiety responses in us.
Footnotes:
Walking the Tiger by Peter Levine: Read Here
Whole Brain Child by Dr. Dan Siegel: Read Here
Episode 2: On Dog Anxiety | November 29, 2022 |
In this episode we explore the dog experience of anxiety. We talk about what this looks like in our own dogs, Duchess and Muggins, how their anxiety impacts us, the environmental factors that contribute to dog anxiety, and strategies that we have found helpful.
Footnotes:
Article about differences in gaze toward humans between dogs and wolves by Bentosela et al. : Read here
Episode 3: On Human Trauma | December 13th, 2022
In this episode we talk about the human experience of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), how dogs can trigger trauma responses and how they can provide support as therapeutic partners, and our own personal experiences.
Footnotes:
Episode 4: On Dog Trauma | December 20, 2022
In this episode we talk about the experiences of trauma and post-traumatic stress in dogs, what causes post-traumatic stress, how this relates to reactivity and sensory sensitivity, how our dogs’ trauma-related reactions and behaviors impact us, and some strategies to support us both.
Footnotes:
Episode 5: On Human Grief | January 24, 2023:
In this episode we talk about the human experience of grief, what types of losses trigger grief, how to make sense of the complex emotional experience of grief, and how we grieve for our dogs both before and after they are gone.
Footnotes:
Article: It’s Time to Let the Five Stages of Grief Die (by Ada McVean)
Quality of Life Assessment by Dr. Roger Blankfein (an assessment to support you in deciding if it is time for humane euthanasia)
Grief Support Groups: Association for Pet Loss & Bereavement
Episode 6: On Dog Grief | February 7, 2023
In this episode we talk about the dog experience of grief, what this looks like in dogs, how we can help our dogs through grief, and we share stories about dogs we know who have grieved the death of their human or animal sibling, and stories from around the world of dogs who have demonstrated loyalty even after death.
Footnotes:
Animal Emotions: Exploring Passionate Natures by Marc Bekoff
The Emotional Lives of Animals by Marc Bekoff
Capitan, German Shepherd Dog in Argentina visits owner’s grave for 12 years after death (2006 - 2018)
Japanese Akita Hachiko visits train station to wait for owner every day for 9 years following death of owner, Ueno (1923 - 1935)
Shep, sheepdog in Montana, waited at train station for 5.5 years after seeing his human’s casket loaded onto the train (1936 - 1942)
Greyfriars Bobby, terrier who spent 14 years guarding the grave of his human in Edinburgh, Scotland (1855 - 1872)
Fido, an Italian dog, waited at bus stop after human’s death for 14 years (1941 - 1958)
West Paw Toy (for holding bully sticks)
Film: Black Fish
Episode 7: On Human Depression | February 21, 2023
In this episode, we discuss suicidal ideation and how to ask someone if they are thinking of killing themselves. We also talk about the emotional and physical experiences of depression, how depression is a component of everyone’s mood fluctuations and it is a normal response to stressful situations, and how living with a dog provides a variety of supportive opportunities for humans experiencing depression.
Footnotes:
Episode 9: On Human Psychosis | March 21, 2023
In this episode we talk about the human experience of psychosis, which refers to disorders of thought as well as hallucinations and delusional beliefs. Angela busts some myths about psychosis and helps us understand why we need to move past the DSM when supporting humans labeled with mental illness, and both Angela and Sharon share experiences with working with individuals who experience psychosis, our perspectives on the brilliance of individuals labeled with schizophrenia, and ways that dogs can support connection and engagement in meaningful activity for folks experiences psychosis.
Footnotes:
Episode 8: On Dog Depression | March 7, 2023
In this episode we will talk about the dog experience of depression, what depression looks like in dogs, what experiences put dogs at risk for experiencing depression, and how we can support our pups in moving through this experience.
Footnotes:
NY Times Opinion piece by Gregory Berns, “Dogs are people too”
Alice Walker “Am I Blue?” (and other writings)
Sniff Game pdf (free when you sign up for Sharon’s newsletter)
Alexandra Horowitiz: Smelling Themselves: Dogs investigate their odors longer when modified in an “olfactory mirror” test
Episode 10: On Dog Psychosis | April 4, 2023
In this final episode of Season 1, we review what psychosis is and Angela helps us differentiate between this and schizophrenia. Then we explore the experience of psychosis in dogs, illuminating the phenomena of “fly catching syndrome” and “star gazing”, touch on the health-related side-effects of selective breeding, and Sharon shares about a behavior case that highlights the importance of ruling out underlying medical causes when assessing dog behavior.
Footnotes:
Disclaimer: Even though we are licensed professionals in our own field of work Angela–LCSW; Sharon–OTD and CDBC, this podcast is not intended to replace individual therapy for humans or behavior support for dogs. We approach our conversations from an exploratory, observational, and strictly personal lens.
RESOURCES:
If you are experiencing a crisis, have recently endured a significantly stressful or traumatic event, or otherwise need support for your mental health, here are some resources:
In the US:
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
Crisis text line: text HELLO to 741741
People of Color Crisis Text line: text STEVE to 741741
Muslim crisis text line: text SALAM to 741741
The Trevor Lifeline (for LGBTQIA2S) (866) 488-7386
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
In Italy:
call 800 86 00 22 to connect with Samaritans OdV (www.samaritansonlus.org)
If you are struggling with your dog’s behavior, or your dog has recently experienced a significantly stressful or traumatic event, here are some resources:
If you and your dog are facing circumstances of homelessness, visit the links below for lists of resources for food, supplies, veterinary care, shelters, low-cost boarding, etc