by Sasha Riess | 21.05.26. | Nutrition
“My dog keeps begging while I am eating at the table.” “He looks at me with those eyes, I feel sorry for him.” “I gave him just a little.”
And that is exactly where the problem begins. Not in the dog, but in us. Feeding a dog out of pity is one of the most common ways we unintentionally damage our relationship with our pets.
How Feeding Out of Pity Creates a Problem
When feeding a dog regularly while you are eating, the dog does not learn to eat at its own time. Instead, the dog:
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Learns that your presence is a condition for food.
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Connects safety with you being there.
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Loses structure in one of the most basic needs—nutrition.
The result is often not just a bad habit, but severe separation anxiety and the dog refusing meals when alone.
The Dog Does Not Understand Your Intention, Only the Context
You might think you are showing love, but the dog understands structure, rules, and consistency. When feeding a dog from the table or outside a routine, the dog interprets this as instability and an absence of leadership.
Urination is often a message of insecurity, not a health problem.
Why the Dog Refuses to Eat Its Own Meal
When it’s time for the dog’s actual meal, they are often already waiting for a “better option” because they know someone will give in. We often blame the dog for being “stubborn,” but in reality, we were the ones who said yes out of weakness.
Structure Is Not Coldness, Structure Is Safety
Structure means:
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The dog eats at its own time.
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The dog does not eat from the table.
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The dog does not receive food just because it asks.
A dog that has structure feels safer and can stay alone more easily. They don’t constantly seek validation because they trust your leadership.
Why Feeding Out of Pity Can Be Fatal
Over time, inconsistent habits in feeding a dog lead to anxiety and a loss of trust. A dog you constantly give in to does not trust that you are capable of leading. And a dog without trust is a dog that suffers.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that true love is expressed through clear boundaries. Proper habits in feeding a dog are the foundation of pureloveandharmony. Establish your leadership and structure today: Linktree Sasha Riess
Sasha Riess Pure Love & Harmony Duo Pack The Complete Dog Coat Care System
The Dog Groomer’s Dilemma: Journey Trough Burnout, Belonging and Becoming
by Sasha Riess | 20.05.26. | Wellbeing
Dog owners often become alarmed when they see changes on an X-ray that resemble hip dysplasia, especially if the dog is only 7 to 8 months old. Although the image may look like dysplasia, at this age, it is not possible to speak with certainty about a final diagnosis.
Development, Not Disease
An 8-month-old dog is still in an intensive phase of growth and development. Bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles do not develop at the same pace, which can create a temporary appearance of instability.
During this period:
On an X-ray, these developmental shifts can resemble hip dysplasia, but without considering the dog’s age, the image can be easily misinterpreted.
What Is the Real Issue at 8 Months?
Instead of labeling it as hip dysplasia, it is more important to consider:
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Growth Rate & Nutrition: How fast is the skeleton maturing?
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Joint Load: Are stairs, slippery floors, or jumping putting too much pressure on a developing system?
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Hormonal Status: Puberty affects ligament laxity.
Very often, this is simply a growth imbalance where the body seems to “fall apart” only to later reorganize into a stable structure.
A dog’s development is not linear and goes through phases of growth imbalance.
Why It Is Important to Look at the Bigger Picture
A dog’s development is never linear. A permanent diagnosis of hip dysplasia is confirmed only after growth is completed, most often around 18 to 24 months of age. If we ignore the developmental phase, we arrive at incorrect diagnoses and unnecessary fear.
An 8-month-old dog requires monitoring, not labeling. Always observe the whole dog, not just the X-ray image.
At Sasha Riess, we believe in patience and understanding the biological clock of development. Rushing a diagnosis of hip dysplasia before the body is fully formed can disrupt the path to pureloveandharmony. Learn more about supporting your dog’s growth: Linktree Sasha Riess
The Dog Groomer’s Dilemma: Journey Trough Burnout, Belonging and Becoming
by Sasha Riess | 19.05.26. | Wellbeing
When a dog has a urinary infection in dogs, the smell of urine often changes and can become stronger, unpleasant, or unusual. In many cases, this smell is noticeable, but smell alone is not a reliable diagnostic sign, especially in male dogs.
When Can the Smell of Urine Indicate an Infection?
With a urinary infection in dogs, urine often:
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Has a strong, heavy, or sweetly unpleasant odor.
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Appears cloudier than usual.
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Contains traces of blood.
However, the smell depends on the location of the infection. It can affect the bladder, the urinary tract, or the kidneys, and clinical signs vary accordingly.
Why Is Urine Analysis Necessary?
The most important step is a urine analysis performed by a veterinarian. This confirms or rules out infection and prevents incorrect treatment. Without professional analysis, any conclusion remains an assumption.
When the Problem Is Not a Urinary Infection
If a dog continues to urinate inside after a urinary infection in dogs has been ruled out—especially if it also defecates indoors—this is very often a sign of separation anxiety rather than a medical issue.
Urination is often a message of insecurity, not a health problem.
Urinating as a Message, Not a Disease
A dog with separation anxiety is not acting out of spite. They are sending a message of insecurity. By urinating, the dog tries to:
The Real Cause of Separation Anxiety
The dog doesn’t have a problem because it is alone, but because it feels excessive responsibility and lacks clearly established boundaries. It doesn’t trust that you are safe when you are apart. Distinguishing between a medical urinary infection in dogs and an emotional pattern is the first step toward a real solution.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that every symptom is a form of communication. Whether it’s a urinary infection in dogs or a sign of separation anxiety, the goal is to restore balance and pureloveandharmony. Discover how to understand your dog’s messages: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 19.05.26. | Nutrition
Dog kibble has been presented for years as the safest and most practical form of nutrition. However, more owners are questioning what is really inside those pellets and the long-term impact on a dog’s health. Conflicting opinions—from it being a balanced diet to a dangerous industrial compromise—add to the confusion.
Dog Kibble: Industrial Food or a Compromise?
Modern lifestyles have pushed dog kibble to the forefront because it is easy to dose and has a long shelf life. Still, the real question is not whether a dog can survive on it, but whether a dog can truly be healthy on it.
Sasha Riess: “Would You Eat a Pellet or a Drumstick?”
Sasha Riess openly speaks about the origin of industrial dog food, noting that over 22 million tons of animal by-products are processed annually.
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Hidden Ingredients: Labels mention „animal by-products,“ which often include remains from farms, zoos, and the egg industry.
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Additives: Sasha warns that dog kibble is full of preservatives, flavor enhancers, and artificial colors to make dehydrated food palatable.
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Hydration Issues: These additives force dogs to drink excessive water, potentially burdening the digestive and urinary systems.
His conclusion is a simple analogy: “Ask yourself, would you eat a pellet or a drumstick?”
Veterinarian Vladimir Terzin: “Kibble Is a Balanced Diet”
On the other hand, veterinarian Vladimir Terzin believes dog kibble is a safe option.
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Balance: He argues it contains necessary proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and trace elements.
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Normalization: Terzin emphasizes that many ingredients are also present in human food and shouldn’t be demonized.
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Practicality: For most owners, ready-made food remains an acceptable and convenient solution.
Dog kibble is the most common, yet most controversial, form of canine nutrition
Is Dog Kibble a Good Choice for Every Dog?
The truth is complex. While practical, dog kibble is not a universal solution. Some dogs develop allergies or chronic inflammation due to industrial ingredients. In such cases, nutrition must be individualized and adapted to the specific dog’s needs.
An Informed Decision Instead of Blind Trust
A dog cannot choose; the owner chooses on its behalf. Whether you decide on dog kibble, cooked food, or raw feeding, the key is to know what you are giving and how your dog responds. A dog’s health depends on the responsibility of the one who fills the bowl, not the marketing on the bag.
At Sasha Riess, we encourage owners to look beyond the label. Whether you use dog kibble or fresh food, the goal is always internal balance and pureloveandharmony. Discover more about our views on canine wellness: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 18.05.26. | Nutrition
Homemade dog treats can be the simplest and healthiest choice, but only if you know what you are doing. The real problem is often not the ingredients themselves, but the chemical processes and preservatives found in industrial products.
How to Make Homemade Dog Treats at Home
The process is simple and requires no special equipment. To ensure the highest quality:
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Buy raw ingredients (like pig ears or chicken feet) from a trusted butcher.
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Arrange them on a baking tray.
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Dry them in an oven or dehydrator at 70°C overnight.
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Let them cool and store them in glass jars.
Prepared this way, your homemade dog treats can last up to one month without any artificial preservatives.
Why Industrial Treats Are Not Harmless
There is very little discussion about what happens during the production of commercial treats. Nothing that lasts for years on a shelf is free of chemicals. Fatty raw materials naturally oxidize and become rancid, which is why industrial producers add strong preservatives to prevent spoilage. These additives can be far more harmful to your dog than not giving a treat at all.
Homemade treats are dried without preservatives.
The „Do It Yourself“ Rule
Even labels like “organic” or “natural” don’t reveal the chemical processes a product has undergone. The rule is simple: If you cannot make it yourself, do not buy it. A dog will not suffer without treats, but they can suffer from what we give them out of ignorance.
Simple, Natural, and Without Compromise
Real homemade dog treats do not need to last forever. They need to be safe, fresh, and of clear origin. By choosing to make them yourself, you are controlling exactly what enters your dog’s system.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that purity is the highest form of care. Making homemade dog treats without chemicals is a vital part of maintaining your dog’s internal balance and achieving pureloveandharmony. Discover more about our natural approach:Linktree Sasha Riess
