by Sasha Riess | 04.05.26. | Behaviour
Nibbling hands, clothes, or skin often confuses dog owners, but it is important to understand that a dog who nibbles is not showing aggression. The dog is trying to communicate. The real question is not whether the dog nibbles, but how and in what context it happens.
Is Nibbling Play or a Problem?
In dogs, especially young ones, nibbling is a natural part of play and stress regulation. The problem begins when a human unknowingly participates in that play and reinforces it. Behaviors such as pushing the dog away, laughing, pulling the hand back suddenly, or shouting phrases like “hey, stop” actually do the following:
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Increase excitement
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Raise stress levels
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Prolong the behavior
In these moments, the dog does not receive the message “no.” Instead, the dog receives confirmation that play is still ongoing.
[Image showing a dog nibbling and the correct human response]
How to Respond Properly When a Dog Nibbles
When a dog starts nibbling, the response must be calm, clear, and consistent.
The First Step: Stop the Interaction Gently move your hand away and clearly say: “Ay” or “No.” There should be no shouting, no additional words, and no explanations. This gives the dog a clear signal that a boundary has been crossed.
The Five-Minute Rule If the dog continues despite the warning, the rule of separation applies:
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Calmly lead the dog into another room.
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No talking, no anger, no physical contact.
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The dog stays alone for approximately five minutes.
For a dog, separation from the group is the strongest message possible. This is not punishment in the human sense, but clear information: “With this behavior, you do not belong in the group.”
Why Separation Works
Dogs are social beings. Belonging to the group is more important to them than any physical correction. When separation is done calmly and without drama:
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The dog connects behavior with consequence.
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Understanding comes quickly.
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Boundaries are learned without fear.
A dog does not think like a human, but instinctively understands exclusion from the group. Separation is communication, not punishment.
Isolation is a message, not a punishment.
What Should Never Be Done
To successfully address why dogs nibble, avoid these common mistakes:
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Do not hit the dog.
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Do not shout.
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Do not explain.
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Do not push your hand into the dog’s mouth.
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Do not turn everything into play.
Dogs do not learn rules through noise and chaos, but through clear, consistent rituals.
Nibbling Is a Message, Not Disobedience
It is essential to understand this: a dog is not raised through punishment, but through rules of belonging. A dog that knows where it belongs has no need to test boundaries with its teeth.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that every interaction is an opportunity for clarity. Understanding why dogs nibble allows you to set boundaries that build trust rather than fear, leading to a state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 03.05.26. | Emotions
Affective connection with a dog in a quiet and gentle moment
Today I want to look beneath the surface and explore how our deepest emotional bonds, especially those with our mothers, shape the way we connect with our dogs. These loyal companions often become mirrors of our inner struggles, touching the places we try the hardest to hide.
I know that discussing family relationships and emotional wounds can be difficult, so take your time with this reading. If you feel the need to pause, please do. I wrote this text with understanding for everyone who carries their own silent burdens. Let us gently explore how our early emotional environment, especially the relationship with our mother, shapes how we love and care for our dogs.
The Affective Bond with a Dog: What They Touch in Us Without Words
Dogs are often the first witnesses to our quietest moments. They are there when we laugh, when we cry, and when we struggle with silence inside ourselves. Their gaze, a warm wag of the tail, or quiet presence beside us can bring comfort we cannot find anywhere else.
This bond is not accidental. It is deeply rooted in our human need for connection. If you have ever felt that your dog understands you without a single word, you know exactly what I mean. They become part of our family, part of our emotional life, and through that connection we do not only give, we also receive something precious, the feeling of belonging.
In earlier writings we explored how our approach to dogs, whether through punishment or harmony, shapes their behavior and inner state. Today I want us to go one step further, gently and honestly, and explore how these relationships reflect our own emotional patterns. How the world shaped us, and how that shaping flows into our relationship with our dogs. This is not a story about guilt or blame, but about understanding, toward ourselves and toward those who share life with us.
Dogs often recognize our silent emotions better than people do.
A dog sensing the emotion of its owner and reacting to the affective bond
Dogs often recognize our silent emotions better than people do. Affective bonds are emotional attachments that give us security, comfort and the sense that we are not alone. They begin in early childhood, through relationships with parents or caregivers, and shape how we later love, trust and seek closeness. If it has ever been hard for you to open up to others or if you worry excessively about those you love, this may be a reflection of those early attachments. And that is alright. We all carry our stories, and every one of them matters.
How Early Maternal Fields Shape Our Relationship with Dogs
When it comes to dogs, they often become our safe base. Their unconditional love, the way they greet us without judgment and without expectations, can feel like healing for wounds we carry. They do not demand explanations and do not ask questions. They simply stay. But we also project onto them our needs, our fears and the way we learned to love.
If we grew up in an environment where love was conditional, we may expect perfect obedience from our dog. If we learned to fear loss, we might overprotect our dog even when it is unnecessary. This is not something to feel guilty about. It is the echo of what lives inside us.
The relationship with our mother, the first and most intimate bond, is not always ideal even though society insists it should be. The concept I call the Broken Mother Field refers to the emotional wounds many of us carry from this relationship, whether due to absence, overcontrol, emotional distance or trauma. This is not an accusation toward mothers. They too are often victims of their own circumstances and histories. But this bond shapes us in ways we cannot ignore, and it inevitably spills into all our relationships, including the one with our dog.
Broken Mother Field: When the Mother’s Shadow Influences the Bond with the Dog
If the maternal relationship was colored by fear of abandonment, we may cling too tightly to our dog, using control instead of trust. If maternal love was conditional, we may expect our dog to earn affection through perfect behavior, creating a dynamic of punishment rather than understanding. This is difficult to acknowledge and may be painful for some, but facing these wounds, even privately, can be the first step toward liberation, not only for us but also for our dogs, who often carry the weight of our unspoken emotions.
How Culture Shapes Our Bond with Dogs
The way we bond with dogs is not only personal. It is shaped by the society around us. In some cultures, dogs are viewed as tools, guardians or workers, beings that must be controlled. In such environments punishment becomes a common method of shaping the dog, reflecting a broader cultural attitude based on control rather than understanding. In other cultures, dogs are seen as equal members of the family and the relationship is built on empathy and companionship. This is not a matter of right or wrong. It is a matter of what we learned and what shaped us.
Science also shows how these bonds influence us biologically. When we pet or play with a dog, both our bodies and theirs release oxytocin, the hormone of bonding and reduced stress. This is not just emotion, this is physiology. Our relationship with dogs can heal us in ways we do not immediately notice. But if we bring fear or control into the relationship, we can create the opposite effect, stress and tension for both.
Dogs as Mirrors of Our Unspoken Feelings
Let me share a story that shows how the affective bond with a dog can be both healing and challenging. I will call her Ana, though that is not her real name. Ana grew up in a family where discipline was strict and emotions were suppressed. When she adopted a small mixed breed dog named Max, she unknowingly repeated the same pattern. Whenever Max barked or chewed on something, Ana reacted sharply by yelling or isolating him. She was not cruel. She simply repeated what she had learned in childhood.
But Max began to change. He became withdrawn, stopped wagging his tail, and hid under tables. Ana felt guilty but did not know what to do. Through conversations and inner work she realized Max was not a dog who refused to listen, he was a mirror of her inner world. Her fear of losing control, learned in childhood, had become his fear of existing freely.
When she changed her approach, using patience, rewards and gentle communication, Max slowly returned. He played, he ran to her, he showed joy. And Ana felt lighter, as if she let go of a burden she had carried for years.
This story is not unique. Many of us live out old patterns in our relationships with dogs. If you ever felt your dog was not listening or that you cannot create a bond, it may be worth asking what inside you is being reflected.
Control, Fear and Projection: How a Dog Feels What We Suppress
This is not a question of placing blame. It is about understanding. We all learn, grow and make mistakes on the way to finding a better path. Affective connection with dogs is a two way street. Dogs feel our emotions. When we are under stress, they sense it and often become anxious. When we are calm, they become our companions in peace.
When a Dog Actually Heals Us: The Biological and Emotional Truth
Dogs also teach us. Their unconditional love reminds us what it means to love without expectation, to exist in the present moment. If you have ever felt that your dog understands you better than people, perhaps it is because dogs do not judge or analyze. They simply are.
Do we shape their world through our behavior, or do they shape us by teaching empathy and unconditional love? I believe the answer is both. We bring our stories, fears and hopes into the relationship, and the dog reflects them back. But dogs also offer us the chance to change, to learn a new way of connecting, to free ourselves from old patterns. This is not easy, and for some it may be painful to face this inner mirror. Yet step by step, with gentleness toward ourselves, we can find the path to a deeper bond with our dogs and with ourselves.
Small Steps Toward a Healthier Affective Bond with Your Dog
If you want to nurture a healthy emotional bond with your dog, here are a few gentle suggestions:
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Be patient with your dog and with yourself. If you feel frustration when your dog does not listen, take a breath and ask what is truly upsetting you. It may not be the dog, but something deeper within.
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Use rewards and praise instead of punishment. Let your dog know it is loved even when it makes mistakes.
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Spend quality time together through walks, play or quiet moments. These experiences build trust that heals both of you.
A hug that heals—the dog as a gentle witness to our deepest feelings.
If you struggle to connect with your dog or to face the emotions that the relationship awakens, know you are not alone. Seeking support through conversation, reflection or education can be a step toward peace. By nurturing harmony with our dogs, we nurture ourselves. We learn to love, to face our past and to be present.
As I write these final lines, I want to remind you that every relationship, including the one with your dog, is an opportunity for growth. If you ever felt guilt or confusion about how you relate to your dog, know that it is alright. We all carry our stories, and every one of them deserves understanding.
Dogs remind us of the strength of unconditional love, but they also teach us to offer that love to ourselves first. Let your next moment with your dog be a moment of presence. Look into your dog’s eyes, feel its warmth, and allow yourself to be vulnerable. You might discover that your dog is not only your companion but your mirror, showing not only your fears but your capacity to love, to change and to grow.
The world shapes us in many ways, and the relationship with the mother often leaves the deepest imprint. Yet through these gentle bonds with our dogs, we have the opportunity to reshape ourselves for the better, to heal the broken fields within and to find the peace we deserve.
Thank you for being here until the end of this text. May your path with your dog be filled with harmony, understanding and true love.
At Sasha Riess, we understand that our pets are the custodians of our unspoken truths. Exploring why dogs touch the places where it hurts is an act of courage that leads us to a state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more:Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 03.05.26. | Nutrition
Many owners, with the best intentions, feed their dog at the same time every day. What looks like routine, however, can create a strong conditioned reflex that turns into a physical problem. To understand why dogs should not eat at the same time, we must look at how their digestive system reacts to the clock.
How Digestive Problems Are Created
If you feed your dog every day at 5 p.m., their body starts preparing at 4:30 p.m. Stomach acid begins to secrete, and the digestive system switches on. If the food doesn’t arrive because you are delayed, that acid remains without anything to digest. This often leads to:
At that point, a habit becomes a stressful physical reaction.
The Goal: A Dog That Doesn’t Live by the Clock
The goal is for the dog to know food will come, but not exactly when. In nature, dogs do not eat by the clock. A dog that is not tied to a fixed schedule:
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Does not experience stress while waiting
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Does not produce excessive stomach acid
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Adapts easily to changes in your daily life
This is the primary reason why dogs should not eat at the same time—it builds resilience instead of dependency.
A dog that does not know the exact feeding time is more stable.
How to Change the Habit
The solution requires consistency. Vary the feeding times so the dog can’t predict them:
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Feed before work one day, and after returning the next.
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Change the person who feeds the dog.
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Skip a meal occasionally or feed much later than usual.
Organize Life, Not the Clock
A dog should adapt to family life, not the other way around. When this balance is achieved, the dog is calmer and the digestive system is more stable. Routine is good, but fixed feeding times are not.
At Sasha Riess, we believe in harmony with nature, not the clock. Understanding why dogs should not eat at the same time allows your pet to live without the stress of expectation, leading them to a more grounded and peaceful state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 01.05.26. | Behaviour
During the show “1000 Whys and 4 Hows,” a viewer asked why her dog seems dehydrated even though he always has fresh water available. This is a common concern. Here is the truth about why dogs that eat dry food are often dehydrated—and why water alone isn’t enough.
Water Alone Isn’t Enough
Many dogs that eat exclusively dry food are chronically dehydrated because they cannot drink enough water to properly digest that type of food. When a dog drinks only after feeling thirsty, it is already too late—thirst is a sign that dehydration has begun.
For the body to stay truly hydrated, electrolytes are essential. These are minerals that help water actually reach and enter the cells. Without them, water simply “passes through” the body without being absorbed.
How Dry Food Causes Dehydration
When a dog eats a dry meal, the body must pull water from its own cells and tissues to help with digestion. This leaves the internal environment „dry.“ Over time, this chronic state leads to serious consequences, such as:
These are typical signs of chronic dehydration in dogs that are fed a strictly dry diet.
Bone broth for your pet’s health: a natural source of minerals and electrolytes.
How to Prevent Dehydration Naturally
The best way to keep your dog hydrated is to move away from a „dry-only“ approach:
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Home-Cooked Meals: These naturally contain the moisture and nutrients the body needs.
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Add Bone Broth: This is a miracle addition. Bone broth provides natural electrolytes and minerals that help the cells retain fluid.
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Hydrated Digestion: A well-hydrated dog has better kidney function and overall health.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that hydration is the flow of life. When you understand why dogs that eat dry food are often dehydrated, you can take the necessary steps to restore their internal balance. By adding moisture and minerals, you move your pet from survival mode to a state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 01.05.26. | Behaviour
Many owners wonder why dogs lick everything and attack, jump on people, or show aggression toward other dogs. The answer often lies in the absence of a stable, trusting bond. When a dog lacks emotional security, it feels responsible for defending both itself and its human. That burden leads to overreactions, stress, and behavioral issues.
Licking and Aggression as Communication
When a dog constantly licks, jumps, or clings, it’s not just a habit—it’s communication. It can be a way of seeking reassurance or relief from anxiety. If this is paired with aggression, the root is usually insecurity. The dog believes it must take control because it doesn’t trust that the human is calm and in charge.
The Three Fear Responses: Flight, Freeze, Fight
Just like humans, dogs respond to fear in three main ways:
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Flight: Trying to escape.
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Freeze: Becoming stiff and motionless.
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Fight: Aggression as a last resort. Growling or barking are not signs of dominance—they are expressions of fear and confusion.
How to Correct Behavioral Problems
A dog’s reactions depend on the quality of the bond. To address why dogs lick everything and attack, you must build a secure emotional attachment based on trust:
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Consistency: The owner must be calm and predictable.
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Rituals: Regular hours for feeding and walking create security.
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Gradual Socialization: Introduce new environments in a controlled, low-stress way.
Paw licking is often a sign of insecurity and anxiety in dogs.
Trust: The Foundation of Balance
Excessive licking or barking are signals that the dog is seeking safety. When you become the calm center your dog can rely on, they no longer need aggression to feel safe. They become peaceful, not because they are trained to obey, but because they finally feel safe to simply be.
At Sasha Riess, we know that behavior is a mirror of the soul. When you understand why dogs lick everything and attack, you can stop managing symptoms and start building the trust that leads to pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 30.04.26. | Nutrition
Many dog owners often wonder why dogs eat grass. While it might seem harmless or even odd, this behavior often hides subtle signals your dog is sending about their digestion or overall health. Understanding those signals is the first step in providing support and relief.
Is It Normal for Dogs to Eat Grass?
Occasional grass-eating is common and usually nothing to worry about. Most often, the reason lies in the digestive system; dogs instinctively eat grass to soothe stomach discomfort or speed up digestion. Sometimes it triggers vomiting, a natural detox process that helps the stomach release excess acid or undigested food.
A dog’s stomach produces incredibly strong acid, powerful enough to digest even raw bones. However, when the system is out of balance, grass becomes their natural medicine.
Warning Signs to Watch For
If you are asking why dogs eat grass more frequently than usual, look for these accompanying signs:
Zeolite: Natural Support for Detox
Zeolite is a natural mineral that helps detoxify the body and restore intestinal balance. For dogs, it can significantly reduce issues such as acid reflux and poor digestion.
How to Prepare Zeolite Water:
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Add one tablespoon of zeolite powder to a glass of water.
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Let it sit overnight.
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In the morning, use only the clear water and discard the sediment.
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Add one tablespoon of this water daily to your dog’s food or drinking water for about a month.
Chronic Gastritis in Dogs – When the Problem Is Not Only in the Stomach
Zeolite is a natural aid for dogs with stomach issues and digestive discomfort.
Conclusion – Understanding the Signal
A dog that occasionally eats grass is often just following instinct. However, frequent grass-eating is a clear sign that the digestive system needs help. Natural support can cleanse the body and strengthen the stomach. By observing your dog carefully, you can act early to maintain their health and vitality.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that nature provides the best solutions. When you understand why dogs eat grass, you can stop worrying and start supporting your pet’s natural detox process, bringing them back to a state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more:Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 30.04.26. | Behaviour
Many dog owners become confused and worried when they notice their dog eating feces from other animals or even other dogs. This behavior, known as coprophagia, may seem strange, but it actually has deeper roots. To understand why do dogs eat feces, we must look at their evolutionary history, their gut health, and their relationship with us.
Instinctive Habits and Maternal Care
In nature, mother dogs have a biological instinct to keep the nest clean. They may consume the feces of their puppies to maintain hygiene and hide their scent from predators. While this behavior naturally fades as puppies grow, the instinctual blueprint remains.
Nutritional Deficiencies and the Role of Probiotics
One of the primary reasons why do dogs eat feces is a search for missing nutrients.
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Dietary Gaps: A diet too high in carbohydrates or low-quality proteins can leave a dog seeking digestive enzymes or bacteria elsewhere.
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The Probiotic Solution: Adding probiotics, fermented vegetables, or natural supplements can balance the gut flora and significantly reduce the urge to seek out waste.
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Natural Minerals: Offering a raw or dried bone once a week provides essential minerals and supports dental health, fulfilling a natural craving for raw nutrients.
Boredom and the Attention Trap
Sometimes, the answer to why do dogs eat feces is simply a cry for attention. If a dog is bored and notices that eating feces triggers a loud, high-energy reaction from the owner, they may repeat it just to get your focus.
Nutrition plays a key role in dog behavior and habits.
How to Address the Behavior
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Improve Food Quality: Reduce fillers and increase bioavailable nutrients.
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Calm Communication: If you catch them in the act, respond calmly. Do not shout; simply redirect and lead them away.
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Mental Stimulation: Ensure your dog has enough play and training to prevent boredom-based habits.
At Sasha Riess, we view every „bad“ habit as a message. When you understand why do dogs eat feces, you stop reacting with disgust and start responding with care, providing the enzymes and leadership your dog needs for pureloveandharmony. Discover more:Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 29.04.26. | Behaviour
Anxiety in dogs is not random and it does not appear by accident. It is built through daily dynamics, tone of voice, and the emotions we express—or even more, the emotions we suppress. Many owners believe they have done everything “by the book,” yet they wonder why dogs become anxious. The answer almost never lies in the dog itself, but in what the dog feels from us.
The Dog Listens to the Heart, Not the Words
Imagine a young wolf in nature. If his mother panics, he concludes the world is dangerous. Your dog does the same. When an owner is emotionally unstable or insecure, the dog doesn’t listen to words—the dog listens to the heart, the breathing, and the body language. If the human feels unsafe, the dog forms an anxious pattern.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Anxiety
To understand why dogs become anxious, we must look at how we treat them:
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Treating the Dog Like a Child: Phrases like „You are my everything“ place an emotional burden on the dog. They feel responsible for your state, a weight no dog can carry.
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Suppressed Anxiety: You might say you aren’t anxious, but the dog feels what you hide. Suppressed fear transfers directly to them.
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Overprotection: Constant „careful“ warnings signal that the world is a dangerous place where even you cannot protect them.
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Inconsistent Boundaries: When rules change daily, the dog loses the structure they need for peace.
When we impose our emotions on a dog, we create a burden they don’t know how to carry.
How to Help a Dog Live a Stable Life
A dog does not need emotional worship; they need a stable owner. To resolve why dogs become anxious, provide:
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Calm energy and routine
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Clear rules and boundaries
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Space for the dog to simply be a dog
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The feeling that someone else is responsible for safety
When the owner is centered, the dog no longer feels the need to take over that role, and anxiety disappears as a natural consequence.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that a stable dog starts with a centered owner. By understanding why dogs become anxious, you can stop being an emotional burden and start being a calm guide, leading your pet back to pureloveandharmony. Discover more:Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 29.04.26. | Behaviour
If your dog constantly sticks to you, asks for cuddles, and never leaves your side, the reason is not only love. There is a deeper emotional mechanism that many owners do not see. Understanding why does my dog stick to me is the first step toward building a balanced relationship.
When Affection Becomes Control
It may seem sweet when a dog climbs into your lap and repeatedly asks to be petted. And it is sweet, but only as long as you are the one deciding when the cuddling happens. The moment the dog begins to set the pace, it becomes a small game of power. Dogs are masters at gently pulling us into their rituals, and we often unintentionally hand over authority.
How to Restore Balance and Leadership
The problem is not the need for closeness, but who initiates it. If you are wondering why does my dog stick to me in a way that feels demanding, try this:
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Briefly ignore the request: When the dog comes for cuddles, remain calm and do not respond.
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Wait for them to settle: Once the dog walks away and relaxes, wait a minute or two.
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Initiate the contact: Call the dog to you. Now, the same cuddling happens, but on your initiative.
Affection is vital, but it should happen when you initiate it.
The Leader as a Provider of Safety
A dog does not need a boss; he needs a guide. Think of a wolf mother—she protects, gives boundaries, and offers love, but she also clearly shows what is allowed. This authority gives the pup a sense of safety. Without it, a dog feels lost, insecure, and constantly tense.
Our task is to give them a framework and the feeling that someone is steering the ship. That is what brings dogs peace.
At Sasha Riess, we know that true affection requires a foundation of structure. When you understand why does my dog stick to me, you can transition from being controlled to being a calm guide, restoring pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 28.04.26. | Behaviour
Nothing in nature happens by accident, including maternal instinct in dogs. A mother dog has a very specific and time-limited internal biological mechanism that allows her to hear the high-frequency cry of her puppies, but only during a precisely defined period. Understanding why a mother dog stops hearing her puppies after approximately thirteen days is key to understanding canine physiology.
A Special Frequency Activated by Birth
Immediately after giving birth, a specific auditory mechanism is activated in the mother dog. It can be described as a biological filter that allows her to register only one very specific frequency: the distress call of her puppies.
This sound triggers an immediate response, activating carrying, licking, warming, and protective behaviors. If a puppy falls out of the nest, the mother reacts exclusively to this sound. If she sees the puppy but does not hear that specific cry, she is physiologically unable to respond.
The 13-Day Shift: Why the Ability Disappears
Between approximately the tenth and thirteenth day of life, puppies begin to open their eyes and start to hear. At this point, their survival no longer depends solely on the mother’s immediate reaction to sound. Consequently:
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The specific frequency of the cry disappears.
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The mother’s auditory filter shuts down.
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Protective instinct transitions into other forms of behavior.
This is a biological limitation, not neglect. Nature transitions the mother’s role because the puppies are no longer perceived as helpless infants.
Opening their eyes and hearing changes the biological bond between mother and pups.
Nature Changes Roles, Not Hearts
From that moment onward, the mother is no longer an extension of the puppies’ nervous system. She becomes a guide who gradually prepares them for independence. This shift is not rejection; it is precisely timed evolution. Understanding why a mother dog stops hearing her puppies helps us respect the natural boundaries of canine development.
At Sasha Riess, we honor the biological laws of nature. When you understand why a mother dog stops hearing her puppies, you gain a deeper appreciation for the transition from infancy to independence and pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
