Journal

“Play is the highest form of research.” This quote from Albert Einstein applies not only to human learning, but also beautifully captures the essence of todays Journal in human-animal-interaction. When we engage in fair, mindful play with our pets, both sides can grow, learn, and connect on a deeper level.

What Play Reveals About Your Pet

Play isn’t just fun or a way to ‘tire-out’ your pet – its a language, a tool and a gift. It allows you to connect, communicate and grow together. Through play, I can sense how my dog is feeling today. Playing also tells me how much stress it may need to release, what development stage my pet is in and how connected we are right now. No relationship is the same every day. Just like with humans, we go through phases. Regular, intentional play is a way to check in and strengthen your connection.

Why Playing with Your Dog Matters
Here are six powerful reasons why playing with your dog is so much more than just a game

1. Promotes Social Skills
   Play teaches dogs essential social behaviors such as communication, boundaries, and mutual respect. This is especially important for puppies and young dogs who are still learning how to interact with others.
2. Reduces Stress
   Playing releases happiness hormones—in both your dog and yourself. It helps to relieve stress, encourages relaxation, and contributes to a more balanced dog.
3. Supports Training
   Every good game has rules. Rough biting or being knocked over by an overexcited dog isn’t fun. Fair, respectful play reinforces manners, impulse control, and social behavior and is therefore an additional support to your regular training.
4. Strengthens the Bond
   Shared play builds trust and emotional closeness. It enhances understanding between you and your dog and deepens the relationship—forming the foundation for a happy, harmonious life together.
5. Provides Mental Stimulation
   Especially when games involve thinking or problem-solving, they keep your dog’s brain sharp. Mental stimulation prevents boredom, which is a common trigger for unwanted behaviors.
6. Ensures Physical Activity
   Dogs need regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Whether you’re throwing a ball, playing chase, or hide and seek, play helps your dog burn off energy and stay fit.

I have been working as an educator for 19 years, supporting children and young people through various stages of their development. My own story, however, began much earlier—on a small farm where I grew up surrounded by animals. From an early age, animals were a central part of my everyday life. Our bond with our farm animals was deep, almost sacred. These early experiences shaped my emotional world and were essential in forming my personality.

The connection between children and animals is something truly special. Animals offer non-judgmental companionship, emotional safety, and opportunities to develop empathy, responsibility, and self-awareness. Especially in times of emotional distress, animals can be soothing, grounding, and healing companions.

My professional path first led me to a preschool, and later to a youth rehabilitation center. During this time, I was reminded again and again of the healing power that animals had during my own youth. In 2014 I decided to combine my professional work with my conviction that humans need animals—and began a certified training in animal-assisted education.

Since then, I have been guiding children, teenagers, and adults in creating mindful and healing connections with animals. Whether it’s building trust, developing emotional resilience, or simply finding peace—animals can open doors that remain closed to words.

Would you like to deepen your relationship with your own pet, or experience a more conscious connection with animals? Feel free to reach out. Together, we can rediscover the quiet wisdom animals offer us—and how they can support our personal journey.

We invite you to join our Friday Morning Chores at Walk With Me – Healing Steps

Why We Need to Connect With Animals: A Journal from the Farm

There’s something profoundly grounding about being around animals.

Animals encourage us to listen. To slow down. To be present. And when we care for them, even in small ways, we start to feel more grounded and alive ourselves.

Friday Morning Chores is more than just a morning of activity. It is animal-assisted education in its most natural form—learning by doing, observing, and connecting.

Our Friday Morning Chores offer a gentle introduction to farm life for people of all ages. Whether it’s brushing a goat, gathering eggs, create enriching activities for animals or simply observe how animals communicate without words, every task offers an opportunity to learn empathy, patience, and responsibility.

It helps us reconnect with the nature, builds confidence, nurtures understanding and compassion for relationships and sparks curiosity. Our mornings also include nature-based activities/crafts —designed to inspire play, discovery, and reflection. It’s not about doing things perfectly. It’s about being part of something real.

No prior farm experience is needed. Just bring your sense of wonder, your open heart, and a pair of boots you don’t mind getting dirty.

We’d love to welcome you.

📍 Friday Morning Chores at Walk With Me – Healing Steps, Conover
📞 Call or text us 828-962-1026 with any questions, or sign up and try it out.