For me, the answer always begins with this practice: Silencing the world a little. Not total silence.Just less noise.Less rush.Less “what’s next?” When I walk into a home, I intentionally soften everything first: my pace, my voice, even my thoughts. I let my nervous system settle before I ever reach for a leash, food bowl, or toy. What I’ve noticed over time is that pets respond to that before they respond to anything I do with my hands. At meet & greets, many companions rela
