What if letting your dog follow their nose was more than just enrichment—but a path to healing the Earth and ourselves?

In this heart-expanding episode, I’m joined by Laura Holder, Owner of Conservation Dogs Collective, whose work with scent-detection dogs is not only protecting endangered species and ecosystems but also inviting us to reconnect with nature in powerful ways.

We explore the incredible ways dogs are being trained to track native wildlife, detect invasive species, and support conservation efforts across the country. But we also dive deeper—into what it means to let our dogs truly be dogs, how sniffing is their way of engaging with the world, and how tuning into their natural instincts can help us remember our own.

This conversation is a call to slow down, honour the wisdom of the natural world, and step more fully into our role as stewards of the planet—paw in hand.

Before we get started, I wanted to let you know that this episode is sponsored by FETCH. This conversation builds upon the FETCH First Friday episode that Stacey Renphrey of Hozho Hounds and I did on how to take a different approach to parasite prevention in order to protect our dogs and the environment. 

🌿 Want to support your dog’s health with a more holistic approach?If you’re curious about how to evaluate your own dog’s parasite risk and prevent parasites naturally—without harsh chemicals—you’ll love our FETCH Parasites & Our Dogs: A Paradigm Shift ebook. Grab your copy at https://mysticdogmama.com/shop, and feel empowered to protect your pup, naturally.

To get in touch with Laura and to learn more about what the conservation dogs are up to, check out their website https://conservationdogscollective.org

Join our FREE Facebook group, FETCH First Light, where we dive deep into how to take a whole dog, whole person approach to your dog’s health: https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight