From Trees to Tails: How Mushrooms Mirror Our Bond with Dogs

Have you ever heard of mycelium? You know, mushrooms?

It’s a big thing lately. People are finding colors more vibrant, sounds more profound, and nature more awe-inspiring, through a simple little micro-dose. They are discovering a connection with a calm inner voice that resonates with their true self.

Underground Lifeline - Mushrooms

Mycelium, the scientific word for mushrooms, is like an underground web of fungal threads that acts as a lifeline for plants, connecting them much like the way our circulatory system connects the different parts of our body.

When mycelium teams up with plant roots, forming what’s called mycorrhiza, it helps plants exchange nutrients, water, and even information. This network lets trees and plants communicate, share resources, and alert each other to potential dangers.

It’s a way to energetically know how to care for one another.

In a forest, when a tree gets cut down, the mycelium network alerts the surrounding trees about the distress. These connected trees then send nutrients and water to the struggling tree's stump to help it survive. This interconnectedness is vital for the health and survival of the forest, with each tree playing an essential role in the ecosystem.

Dogs and Emotions

Now, think about how we share emotions and feelings with our loved ones, forming an invisible network of support, empathy or a sense of being cared for.

Our dogs are a big part of this network, sensing our emotions and responding with their unique form of communication.

Remember how, as a kid, you’d walk into a room where your parents were arguing, and suddenly everything went silent, replaced by a facade of calm?

But you knew it was anything but that feeling.

Similarly, recall the joy of game nights, where friends and family laughed and enjoyed each other's company, creating an undeniable sense of interconnectedness.

Just as the mycelium network supports and protects the forest, our connections with each other and our dogs create a strong, nurturing environment.

Understanding the profound connection we share with our dogs, much like the mycelium network in forests, can be the key to addressing challenges like leash pulling.

When we recognize that our dogs pick up on our emotions and energies, we can start to approach training with a more holistic perspective. Instead of seeing leash pulling as a battle of wills, we can find our way to dance with our dogs, and find communication tools that create connection rather than frustration and disruption.

Join me over on X for some fun and a lot of laughs. It’s where I dish out tips on staying healthy and vibrant for GenX & Boomer women with those energetic dogs that keep us young at heart (and always eloquently on our toes)!