by Sasha Riess | 12.06.26. | Emotions
Unlived wounds that we keep silent about become quiet alarms in our homes, and this is why dogs are the first to recognize them. What we often mistake for calmness is, in reality, trauma that is afraid of itself. If we do nothing, we will leave our children to face the consequences of our silence and our pretense that everything was fine.
The Illusion of Stability and the Denial of Pain
In my previous column, I wrote about how, in our attempt to protect ourselves from overwhelming pain, we left dogs to be the first to show the consequences of our silence. A comment recently appeared: “There was no panic or chaos. The dog had its routine.”
This sentence is a perfect example of how unlived wounds are created through denial. When collective trauma strikes so deeply, the easiest way to survive is to say that nothing happened. But this denial is not proof of stability; it is a symptom of a wound. No one wants to admit the world stopped, because that would mean admitting what that stoppage did to our internal systems.
A Dangerous Inheritance for Children and Dogs
Adults find ways to survive even when life collapses, but children and dogs do not have the mechanisms to store trauma in internal drawers. They will live out what we do not dare to acknowledge.
The sentence “The dog had a routine” is actually a sentence of fear. It speaks about a person who needed that routine as an anchor to endure an unbearable period. If we continue to close our eyes to who we became during the pandemic, we only close another circle of silence. Silence creates generations that carry the weight of their parents without knowing why.
Emotional Imprints: When Dogs Speak for Us
Dogs are already showing us the results of these unlived wounds. We see it in:
-
Severe separation anxiety
-
Increased reactivity
-
Panic when humans return to work
-
Inability to be separated for even five minutes
These are not „problem dogs.“ These are emotional imprints of human pain that was never fully processed. They speak through their behavior because we chose to remain silent.
The sentence “The dog had a routine” is often not proof of stability, but the deepest scream of fear hidden behind an appearance of normalcy.
Acknowledgment as the Path to Healing
We must not leave our children and dogs an inheritance of silence. The price of silence always comes; it just needs time. It is time to stop defending ourselves with „there was no panic.“
Acknowledging that it was hard and painful is not weakness. Acknowledgment is the only way to ensure that we do not pass our unlived wounds to our children and our dogs as an invisible inheritance. Truth, not silence, is what leads to stability.
At Sasha Riess, we understand that a dog’s peace is tied to the human’s honesty. Facing our unlived wounds is the only way to protect our pets and children, leading us all toward pureloveandharmony. Discover more about our holistic approach: Linktree Sasha Riess
The Dog Groomer’s Dilemma: Journey Trough Burnout, Belonging and Becoming
by Sasha Riess | 11.06.26. | Nutrition
Most owners believe that problems with a dog’s teeth and gums can only be solved through brushing and expensive products. The truth, however, is far more natural. Dog care and jaw health rest on three pillars: mechanical cleaning, saliva chemistry, and stress control. If your dog does not chew, its teeth cannot be healthy, no matter how much you scrub them with artificial toothpaste.
A Bone as the Perfect Tool and “Toothbrush”
Every dog has an instinctive need to chew. Giving large, raw bones, such as shoulder bones, twice a week is one of the best ways for a dog to maintain its own dental hygiene. Chewing a firm bone mechanically removes buildup, but more importantly, it stimulates saliva production.
The Power of Saliva and pH Balance
Saliva is the most powerful natural protection. It contains enzymes essential for digestion and, most importantly, regulates the pH of the oral cavity. When a dog chews intensively, it produces rich saliva that washes away bacteria and prevents buildup.
Instead of commercial products filled with chemicals, the best “toothpaste” you can offer is coconut oil. It has natural antibacterial properties and dogs love it. Chewing bones twice a week is one of the best forms of prevention against tartar.
Chewing bones twice a week is the best stone prevention.
Tartar as a Sign of Stress
It is important to understand that plaque and tartar are not solved only through mechanics. Tartar is often an indicator of stress a dog is experiencing. In that sense, a bone is also a release valve, allowing the dog to discharge internal tension.
However, true care sometimes requires more than just offering a bone. In certain cases, applying coconut oil directly to the gums can provide additional support, especially in dogs under chronic stress that alters the composition of their saliva.
At Sasha Riess, we respect the canine anatomy by providing natural solutions for dog care and jaw health. Returning to instinctive chewing promotes oral hygiene and emotional pureloveandharmony. Restore their natural balance:Linktree Sasha Riess
The Dog Groomer’s Dilemma: Journey Trough Burnout, Belonging and Becoming
by Sasha Riess | 11.06.26. | Coat Care
The Dalmatian is a dog Novak wants to get, but he is not sure whether to choose a short-haired or a long-haired one. He has heard from friends that long-haired Dalmatians shed less, but also that they are not “true” Dalmatians. So the question arises which one to choose.
Biological Difference: Why Do Long-Haired Dogs “Shed Less”?
Dalmatians are not unique in this. Similar variations exist in Vizslas, Collies, and pointers.
The question is only whether selective breeding will preserve or eliminate that trait. The more interesting question is why dogs with longer coats appear to shed less.
The answer lies in the hair growth cycle. If short hair needs around twenty-one days to grow and fall out, long hair has a significantly longer cycle, for example around forty-five days. In addition, long-haired dogs often have a wool-like undercoat that holds dead hair “attached,” so it does not fall off as visibly around the home. In simple terms, the cycle is longer, so shedding appears less frequent.
Coat as a Symptom of Deeper Changes
In the context of Dalmatian breed development, the appearance of a long-haired variety can be sporadic. It is important to understand that the activation of genes responsible for coat length may also signal the presence of other active or inactive genes that influence the development of certain conditions. Sometimes a physical trait is only a surface expression of deeper biological changes that affect the dog’s life.
If the breed standard disqualifies long-haired Dalmatians, it is often not only about aesthetics, but about underlying imbalances that may not be visible to the eye.
Sasha Riess Pure Love & Harmony Duo Pack The Complete Dog Coat Care System
The Real Solution to Shedding Regardless of Coat Type
Regardless of coat variation, the Dalmatian is a being that goes beyond spots and hair length. It is a being of connection that teaches us lessons far greater than appearance.
The only real solution to shedding, whether you choose a short-haired or long-haired dog, is regular bathing, especially during spring and autumn. With proper bathing every seven to ten days, using both shampoo and conditioner, dead hair is removed in the bath instead of ending up around your home. At the same time, the skin renews, and both you and your dog benefit from a cleaner, healthier environment.
At Sasha Riess, we look beyond surface aesthetics like spots or coat length to understand a dog’s underlying blueprint. Honoring the genetic and biological reality of your Dalmatian is the first step toward lifelong pureloveandharmony. Protect their health: Linktree Sasha Riess
Awakening With Dogs : Exploring the Profound Connection Between Dogs and Humans: Love, Resonance, and Healing Kindle Edition
by Sasha Riess | 10.06.26. | Behaviour
Trauma in dogs is often overlooked in modern training because we rely too heavily on treats. When a dog receives a reward for something it did “right,” we rarely notice the other side of that process: the moment when the reward is absent.
Although the reward system is considered “positive,” for a dog’s physiology it can be deeply counterproductive.
Trauma Hidden in Expectation
Many people ask: what kind of trauma can occur when I reward my dog for being good? The problem is not in the moment of the reward itself. The problem arises in the moment when the dog is not “good” and the reward is missing.
For the dog, there is no theory or training method in that moment. There is only the experience of absence. Learning through pure conditioning directly affects the dog’s physiology, but not in the way we think. Positive stimulation through food is only one side of the coin. The other side is the negative effect that appears in the dog’s body when it does something and the expected reward does not come.
Relationship Above Method: Preventing Trauma in Dogs
The question is not only how we teach a dog, but what kind of relationship we build while conditioning it. Are we building a partnership based on understanding, or a dependency that disturbs inner balance?
Build a relationship that doesn’t depend on a piece of food in your pocket.
True communication with a dog does not come through a piece of food in your hand. It comes through alignment that leaves no space for physiological stress that later develops into chronic conditions. Remember, every time you rely on conditioning, you risk creating trauma in dogs that is difficult to resolve later.
At Sasha Riess, we believe true communication bypasses the stress of bribery. Moving beyond food conditioning prevents underlying trauma in dogs, paving the way for authentic pureloveandharmony. Build a real partnership: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 10.06.26. | Nutrition
In dog nutrition we often talk about proteins, fats, and calories. But deep within the body there is a relationship that determines far more profoundly how the organism uses food. That relationship is the balance between calcium and phosphorus.
How Dog Nutrition and Metabolism Depend on Minerals
This mineral pair is not important only for bones. It actually regulates the speed of metabolism, meaning the way the body burns energy. Calcium tends to slow metabolic processes and stabilize cellular activity, while phosphorus accelerates energy production and intensifies metabolic reactions. When their balance changes, the rhythm at which the body functions changes as well.
For this reason, physiology often speaks about so-called fast and slow oxidative metabolic types. These terms do not simply mean that metabolism is fast or slow in the usual sense. They describe the way cells burn fuel.
Different Metabolic Types and Dog Nutrition
A fast oxidative type is an organism that converts food into energy very quickly. Cells intensively use fuel, the nervous system reacts rapidly, and energy is consumed at a high pace. Such an organism has a powerful energetic rhythm, but often also a greater need to stabilize that rhythm.
A slow oxidative type releases energy more slowly and in a more controlled way. Fuel is burned steadily but at a slower rate. Such an organism often has a different relationship with proteins, fats, and minerals because energy does not leave the cells at the same speed as in fast types.
The difference between these two metabolic types has a direct influence on the way a dog uses proteins.
The Influence of Proteins on Oxidative Types
In the fast oxidative type, the body often uses proteins as fuel. When metabolism operates at a high tempo, amino acids are quickly broken down to produce energy. This means that too much protein can further accelerate a system that is already running fast.
In such cases, food with a lower share of protein, around forty percent in the overall structure of the meal, often helps stabilize the organism. Such a meal provides energy without placing additional pressure on the metabolic system.
In the slow oxidative type, the situation is different. The body does not burn fuel quickly enough and often struggles to produce energy from food. In those cases, the organism responds better to a higher share of protein, sometimes up to eighty percent in the structure of the meal, because proteins stimulate metabolic activity and help the body initiate energy production.
Each dog requires a unique ratio of nutrients.
The Trap of Universal Nutrition
This is where modern dog nutrition and metabolism science often makes a mistake. In recent years, raw and high-protein diets have become almost a universal recommendation for dogs. The idea that a dog should eat mostly meat or almost exclusively protein-rich food appears logical, since the dog is a carnivore. But physiology is not that simple.
If a dog belongs to the fast oxidative type, a diet composed almost entirely of protein can further accelerate a system that is already overloaded. The nervous system may become overstimulated, stress tolerance may decrease, and the body may begin to consume its own tissues to maintain the energetic rhythm. In such cases, what was intended as natural nutrition can actually worsen the dog’s condition.
On the other hand, a slower oxidative type may benefit from a higher protein intake because such food helps the body increase metabolic activity and energy production. The real question therefore is not whether raw or protein-rich food is good or bad. The question is for which dog.
Two dogs can eat the same meal and have completely different physiological reactions. One may become more stable and energetic. The other may become more tense, more fatigued, or metabolically burdened. The reason often lies precisely in the calcium and phosphorus balance that determines the tempo of metabolism.
When this balance is stable, the body can properly use proteins, fats, and energy from food. When it is not, even high-quality food can become a metabolic burden. That is why the most important step in feeding a dog is understanding its metabolic type. Only when we understand whether the body burns energy quickly or slowly can we begin to build a diet that truly supports its physiology.
Food then stops being a universal formula and becomes a tool that helps the body find its natural rhythm. Because a dog does not live from the percentage of protein written on the label. A dog lives from balance that allows its body to function.
At Sasha Riess, we look past the generic labels to discover the real needs of your pet. True health relies on a tailored understanding of dog nutrition and metabolism, allowing you to guide them toward lifelong pureloveandharmony. Learn your dog’s rhythm: Linktree Sasha Riess
Awakening With Dogs : Exploring the Profound Connection Between Dogs and Humans: Love, Resonance, and Healing Kindle Edition
by Sasha Riess | 09.06.26. | Coat Care
There is never enough discussion about hygiene. It is interesting how often happy owners tell me that the Chow Chow was their choice because it is “as clean as a cat.” They believe the claim that bathing this dog two or three times a year is sufficient, since it licks and cleans itself. Through conversations with people, I have gained the impression that the Chow Chow is perceived as one of the cleanest breeds, but this is a dangerous misconception.
Factors That Influence the Chow Chow’s Coat
What matters most is where and under what conditions the dog lives. Coat quality and the amount of lanolin are the result of multiple factors. External factors, what the dog eats, whether it sleeps in a bed or on a terrace, whether it lives in the city center or on the outskirts, directly affect hygiene. Internal factors such as genetics, hormones, age, and sex also determine the condition of a Chow Chow’s coat.
As a brand, we move away from the belief that a dog should be groomed solely according to coat type. A dog is groomed in relation to its proximity to humans. If your dog sleeps in your kitchen or your bed, it must adapt to your lifestyle, not the other way around.
Hygiene as the Foundation of the Human-Dog Relationship
People and dogs often separate because a person cannot tolerate a “smelly house.” And the house smells because the owner does not bathe the dog, trusting advice that one bath per year is enough. If you take your dog into the city three times a day, infrequent bathing is unrealistic. Lanolin is a sticky fat that attracts urban dirt. When the odor becomes unbearable, the dog often ends up on the street.
A dog living in the house must be adapted to the hygiene standards of the owner.
A person should not become a servant to the Chow Chow breed and its coat. In selective breeding, coat was always a secondary outcome, while character and working ability were the priorities. Today, when dogs are no longer needed for work, the focus has shifted to appearance, yet the relationship between humans and dogs is far deeper than that. A dog that lives in the home must be aligned with the owner’s hygiene standards.
Specific Challenges: The Chow Chow and Wrinkle Hygiene
The Chow Chow is an exceptionally sensitive breed. It has a long coat, abundant skin, and numerous wrinkles where hair grows in different directions. This creates an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi. Hygiene is essential here not because of “naturalness,” but because of health and coexistence with humans.
The myth that the Chow Chow cleans itself like a cat is actually a misinterpretation. What often appears as self-cleaning is the dog attempting to scratch because the wrinkles itch. Care for your dog in accordance with the standard of your own life. The breed is not what matters; what matters is the dog that sleeps beside your children. Everything else is the result of eugenics, similar to the idea once imposed on humans, a concept that places the breed above the living being.
At Sasha Riess, we break the myths that separate families. Grooming your Chow Chow according to human standards ensures a clean home and true pureloveandharmony. Align your hygiene: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 08.06.26. | Emotions
Many of us believe we are stable because we have maintained our daily habits, but very often that routine is nothing more than the pain trap we fall into in order to hide our unprocessed wounds. In my previous column, I spoke about how, in an attempt to protect ourselves from overwhelming pain, we allowed dogs to be the first to show the consequences of our silence.
Denial: How the Pain Trap Is Formed Through Unprocessed Wounds
A recent comment stated: “There was no panic or chaos. The dog had its routine.” This sentence is a perfect example of the very truth I was writing about. It is born when the memory of pain is too heavy to open. When social trauma strikes so deeply that the easiest way to survive is to say that nothing happened.
But this kind of denial is not proof of stability. It is proof of a wound. The pain trap is a survival mechanism where we minimize trauma because we cannot yet bear to confront it.
The Most Dangerous Pattern of Collective Psychology
The normalization of suppression is dangerous—not just for adults, but for children and dogs. They do not have mechanisms to lock everything away in inner drawers. They will live what we do not dare to admit. Dogs are already living the symptoms of silence; children will inherit them if we continue on this path.
[Image representing the contrast between outward routine and inner emotional weight]
Symptoms of Silence: What Dogs Tell Us About Our Pain
When we say „the dog had its routine,“ we are often speaking about our own need to maintain the illusion of normality. But dogs have already shown us what happens when emotions remain without a voice. We see it in:
These are not „problem dogs.“ These are emotional imprints of human pain that was never fully processed within the pain trap.
Our children and pets do not know how to hide what we are silent about.
Acknowledgment as the Path to Healing
If we do not speak about what happened, those who should not will speak instead: our children and our dogs. They speak through behavior, through the body, and through restlessness. We must not leave them an inheritance of a burden that belongs to us.
Acknowledging that it was hard and painful is not weakness. It is the only way to ensure we do not pass our own trauma on as an invisible inheritance. The pain trap only loses its power when we find the courage to speak the truth.
At Sasha Riess, we understand that a dog’s behavior is often a reflection of the human’s inner state. Breaking free from the pain trap is essential to achieving true pureloveandharmony. Start your journey of acknowledgment here: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 08.06.26. | Nutrition
Many owners become worried when black stool in dogs appears, immediately suspecting internal parasites or bleeding. However, the truth is often much simpler. Just like in humans, stool color is a reflection of what your dog has eaten in the past hours.
When Is Dark Stool in Dogs Normal?
Dark stool is common in dogs that consume a lot of meat, especially organ meats, or eat cooked food. Certain foods can significantly change stool color. Just as beetroot can cause red shades in humans, specific ingredients can lead to black stool in dogs.
However, it is important to know that a black, tar-like stool can sometimes indicate internal bleeding in the upper parts of the digestive tract. That is why it is essential to observe behavior, not just color.
How to Recognize If Black Stool in Dogs Is Dangerous
Color alone is rarely the only symptom. If your dog has diarrhea but is still cheerful, active, and eating normally, it is most likely a temporary stomach irritation.
But if black stool in dogs appears along with the following symptoms, immediate attention is needed:
-
Loss of appetite and refusal to drink;
-
Vomiting or pronounced lethargy;
-
A drastic change in normal behavior.
First Aid for Digestive Disturbances
If you notice the problem without severe symptoms, the first step is to pause feeding for a short period. After that, for the next three days, offer a light diet: cooked rice and lean white meat with very little salt. This will help stabilize digestion, even if black stool in dogs was temporarily present.
At Sasha Riess, we look at the whole system to find balance. When dealing with issues like black stool in dogs, observing behavior alongside physiology brings pureloveandharmony. Keep track of their health: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 06.06.26. | Coat Care
Dragana has a Bichon and wants to know what she should do to prevent matting. She has been warned that a Bichon must be brushed regularly or the coat will tangle, and she was even frightened with claims that wounds can develop beneath mats. These are common concerns among owners of this breed.
Proper Routine and the Bichon
A proper routine includes regular bathing and brushing exclusively during the drying and blow-drying process. Brushing is not dismissed as an idea, it is simply moved to another phase of the dog’s care. In this phase, you achieve a healthier, well-maintained coat, and your relationship with the dog improves significantly. What is the value of an unmatted coat if the dog is unhappy?
With an unhappy dog, it is impossible to build a good relationship if the dog approaches you out of fear or because it is being bribed with food. Only professional groomers can develop a comfortable dry-brushing technique in which both the person and the Bichon feel at ease. When the coat is dry and brushed incorrectly, the process is painful, and the hair tangles more than it is actually brushed out. Because the Bichon’s coat is very dense, with a thick undercoat and curls, maintaining it with dry brushing is extremely difficult.
The Importance of Blow-Drying and Equipment
Brushes used during blow-drying must be of precise quality, firmness, and pin shape so they can penetrate the coat correctly. That is why I repeatedly emphasize how important it is to bathe a Bichon regularly and, as part of that routine, brush only during blow-drying.
How often this should be done depends on age, nutrition, and lifestyle, but it can generally be carried out every 5, 7, or 10 days. An adult dog that is maintained regularly can be bathed every 10 to 15 days, with mandatory use of both shampoo and conditioner. Conditioner further supports proper coat growth and helps keep it clean. Remember, brushing only during blow-drying. This eliminates the fear of matting and provides the dog with a higher quality of life.
The key to success: Bichon brushing brings results only during the blow-drying process.
Why Do Wounds Develop in Bichons?
It is true that when the coat becomes matted, wounds can form beneath the mats. Because the Bichon has a dense undercoat, oxygen cannot reach the skin. Lack of oxygen, combined with moisture and a body temperature of about 38°C, creates ideal conditions for bacteria to develop, infect the skin, and cause painful sores. Proper hydration and correct drying technique are the best forms of prevention.
At Sasha Riess, we advocate for grooming methods that respect both canine anatomy and psychology. Shifting care to wet-brushing ensures your Bichon lives a life of comfort and pureloveandharmony. Protect their skin: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 06.06.26. | Nutrition
When it comes to canine nutrition, owners often have doubts about foods that we use in our daily diet. The short and simple answer to the question of whether can dogs eat oranges, mandarins, kiwi, grapefruit, lemon, and chestnuts is yes. However, this answer comes with an important “but,” which relates to moderation and the individual needs of your dog.
Everything Depends on Quantity and Frequency
Although these foods are generally safe, they should not be a daily part of the diet. It is recommended to give them once or twice a week, or even every other week, depending on how your dog is normally fed.
The most important thing is to observe your dog. For some dogs, these fruits may be an easy treat they tolerate without problems. For another dog, even a small piece may act like a “test pill” for the stomach.
Observe Your Dog’s Digestive System
The decision about whether something is good for your dog always depends on the condition of its body. Before offering kiwi or citrus fruits, ask yourself:
-
How stable is my dog’s digestive system?
-
Is the stomach sensitive or already irritated?
-
Is the stomach acidity too weak or too strong?
All these factors influence how a dog will react. Even a generally safe food can cause problems if the stomach is not ready to process it.
The safety of food is always relative to the individual health of the dog.
You Make the Final Decision
The safety of foods such as chestnuts or lemons is always relative to the individual health of the dog. Your role as an owner is to observe your dog’s reactions and make decisions accordingly. Dog nutrition is not a universal template, but a living process that you adapt to the individual being you know best.
At Sasha Riess, we believe nutrition is a conversation between the leader and the dog’s biology. When we listen to their digestive system, we create pureloveandharmony. Discover more insights: Linktree Sasha Riess
