by Sasha Riess | 04.06.26. | Wellbeing
In the world of dogs, defecation is not just a physiological need; it is an act of marking territory. On the left and right sides of the anal opening are anal glands that secrete a specific fluid. When the stool has the proper firmness, it applies pressure as it passes, releasing this secretion and leaving a unique scent signature on the feces.
The problem arises when this natural mechanism fails.
How Food Solves the Problem of Blockage
The secretion inside the glands must remain fluid in order to be released easily.
However, if the dog does not have firm and compact stool, the necessary pressure on the anal glands is missing. The secretion stays inside, thickens, and leads to blockage.
The solution is not constant manual expression, but proper nutrition. One fresh, raw bone per week can be enough to improve stool firmness and allow the anal glands to empty naturally, on their own.
One raw bone per week supports the natural emptying of the glands.
Symptoms That “Shout”: The Glands Are Full
How can you recognize that your dog has a problem with its anal glands? Pay attention to these signs:
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Scooting: The dog drags its rear on the ground to relieve pressure.
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Hair loss: Intense scratching and hair loss around the base of the tail and lower back.
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Physical changes: Swelling or redness around the sides of the anal opening, often accompanied by visible discomfort or agitation.
If you notice your dog constantly scratching the rear area or losing hair in that region, do not wait. The anal glands should first be manually expressed by a veterinarian or groomer, followed by an immediate adjustment in diet. Compact stool is the only way for this system to function as nature intended.
At Sasha Riess, we believe in addressing the cause, not just the symptom. Supporting the natural function of anal glands through proper biology is essential for pureloveandharmony. Keep the system moving: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 03.06.26. | Behaviour
In recent years, one topic has been increasingly emerging in the world of human-dog relationships: the rise of anxiety in dogs. What was once considered an isolated issue is now becoming a pattern seen in almost every society where dogs live closely with humans.
This phenomenon is now discussed in scientific research, veterinary practice, and even in major media outlets. Recently, The New York Times dedicated an extensive report to this very issue, trying to understand why more and more dogs show signs of stress, fear, or separation anxiety in dogs.
Changed Living Conditions and Rising Stress
The modern dog often lives in an environment shaped by the human pace of life. Apartments, confined spaces, and the emotional pressure people carry from daily life all create a reality very different from the one in which the human-dog relationship developed over thousands of years. In such an environment, the dog is part of the system.
In my book About Dogs and Awakening (2018), I wrote that we would see more behavioral issues if we did not begin to understand the deeper connections between humans and animals. Today, we are living in that world.
Dogs as Carriers of Emotional Patterns
Dogs live within a relational field. Biologist Rupert Sheldrake described the concept of morphic fields—informational fields that connect living beings. In this context, anxiety in dogs may not always originate within the dog itself. Dogs respond to tension and insecurity in the human nervous system long before we become aware of them.
The dog is a mirror of the system in which it lives.
Symptoms That Require Understanding the System
When the dog’s nervous system becomes oversensitive, symptoms of anxiety in dogs appear: fear of sounds, distress when left alone, or constant tension. If the dog is part of a broader emotional system, then behavior is not just a matter of discipline. It is a signal that the relationship is seeking balance.
Perhaps the dog is the first to show that the system we live in is not in balance. If we see this as part of the relationship, it becomes valuable information.
Conclusion: A Shared Connection
Dogs have developed an extraordinary ability to read our emotions over thousands of years. The relationship between a human and a dog is not just a shared living space. It is a shared nervous system.
At Sasha Riess, we look beyond the symptoms to find the source of the imbalance. Addressing anxiety in dogs requires a holistic approach to the shared nervous system, leading back to pureloveandharmony. Find balance together:Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 02.06.26. | Behaviour
You can change your hairstyle, makeup, car, high heels, or botox, but none of it can replace the inner happy woman who is at one with herself. An authentic woman is one a husband cherishes for her femininity, a woman who does not have to carry everything on her own shoulders.
She carries her parents within her, not searching for a substitute for her father in a partner, nor running away from herself.
Your Dog Sees What Botox Tries to Hide
Our dogs see exactly that woman within us, the one we often fail to see or feel ashamed of. Your makeup is irrelevant to them; they sense inner harmony or its absence. When an authentic woman lives her essence through her wrinkles and gray hair, embracing both mother and father within herself, her dog finally relaxes.
The dog no longer has to carry the burden of her need for validation from the outside world. Dogs seek authenticity, not perfection. They love a woman who does not run from her femininity and who does not project her unfulfilled needs onto them. An authentic woman does not seek validation from the outside; her peace becomes an anchor for herself and for the dog who follows her without hesitation.
Your peace becomes an anchor for yourself and your dog.
An Authentic Woman Does Not Project Restlessness Onto Her Dog
When a woman embraces her essence, she stops searching for external substitutes for inner emptiness. A healthy relationship with a dog can help you discover a unique strength and embrace your femininity.
If we learn to see a dog for what it truly is, perhaps we will gather the courage to look in the mirror and love what we see. Only then do you become an authentic woman whose peace the dog follows effortlessly. It is time to break the masks.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that being an authentic woman is the foundation of a healthy bond with your dog. When you embrace your true self, you create a space of pureloveandharmony where masks are no longer needed. Discover your inner strength: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 01.06.26. | Behaviour
Unlike humans, dogs do not have the ability to live in the future. They do not make plans, set goals, or fear what tomorrow may bring. A dog lives in the moment, fully present here and now, exactly as they are. This is a lesson in presence we must learn.
A Dog Does Not Imagine the World, It Feels It
While we analyze the past or worry about the future, the dog is there, in its body. It does not search for answers and is not confused, even though it asks no questions. Because a dog lives in the moment, it is content; in that instance, nothing is missing. This calm presence is what makes dogs the most stable members of our environment.
The Power of the Present Over the Past
Many owners worry about their dog’s past, especially with adopted pets. However, canine psychology tells us that what is new can always overcome what once was. Because a dog lives in the moment, they have an incredible physiological capacity to adapt. In every moment, they seek:
Your strength in the present moment directly shapes how your dog feels.
Why Your Stability Is Essential for Your Dog
A dog senses destiny through you. Since a dog lives in the moment, it expects calmness and serenity from its leader. If you are distracted, the dog suffers because it cannot find the peace it expects. To be a leader means staying „here and now,“ allowing your dog to feel safe even when life is challenging.
At Sasha Riess, we recognize that a dog lives in the moment to teach us about our own presence. Our goal is to provide the stability they need to maintain pureloveandharmony. Focus on the now:Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 31.05.26. | Behaviour
The dog and the present moment show us how life truly unfolds here and now. A dog is not here to be “fixed,” nor to correct our behavior. It connects us with ourselves and with the world around us. Within that lies its strength and its role in our lives.
A Connection That Cannot Be Pretended
When you work with a dog, you are not learning what you should do, but what you are doing right now that leads the dog to behave exactly as it does. A dog responds to your presence, tension, absence, focus, or distraction. It does not read your promises, plans, or intentions. It reads you. Now.
The Dog and the Present Moment: The Body as the Only Voice
A dog does not think about how it looks or what others might say. It lives in the dog and the present moment, within a body that feels pain, discomfort, tension, or relief. Topics such as ear cropping are questions of projection—moments when a human stops listening to the dog and instead listens to their own need for control.
On the other hand, when we speak about health, the dog shows the way. Its body clearly signals when support is needed, especially in states of stress or joint strain. This is why the role of vitamin C in dogs is vital for maintaining connective tissue and immunity.
A dog brings us back to where life truly exists – the present moment.
Self-Discipline Through the Dog and the Present Moment
Through simple actions like walking or guiding on a leash, self-discipline develops. The dog and the present moment bring you back to your body, your breath, and your step. If you are absent, the dog shows it; if you are present, the dog settles. This is not training—it is a mirror.
Why Our Dogs Teach Us to Live in the Now
A dog does not try to change the world. It simply is. Through the dog, we learn to stop projecting fear and begin living where life truly happens: Here. Now.
At Sasha Riess, we honor the natural state of being. Embracing the dog and the present moment allows us to move away from control and toward pureloveandharmony. Connect with your dog’s true nature: Linktree Sasha Riess
