If you are a dog parent, you may be familiar with various ways to strengthen the bond between you and your dog and to establish a strong connection over time.    In this episode of Enlightened by Dogs, Kathy dives into the value of gratitude and appreciation and shares different research studies that show evidence of the immense benefits of connecting heart-to-heart with your dogs.     Kathy talks about the important details of a study by the HeartMath Institute research team, a practice of the simple heart focus technique, and other relevant studies and shows their importance for you and your amazing four-legged furry friends.    In this episode:  The value of gratitude and appreciation The interconnection of all life forms through a rich tapestry of intersecting magnetic fields The immense benefits of connecting heart-to-heart with dogs   Quotes:   “Gratitude is such a powerful amplifier of heart, energy, and love. And it's one of the quickest ways to offset stress, and to lift our mood.”   “Gratitude most definitely opens our mind in ways that are just simply life-changing.”   “Gratitude and appreciation are powerful emotions that activate the brain's reward pathways, feel-good hormones, and endorphins, all of which are known to greatly improve our outlook on life, among other things.”    “Dogs are uniquely attuned to our emotional states, and they have been shown to display a notable capacity for empathy.”    “A caring relationship between humans and their dogs is a prescription for wellness for all involved.”    “We put so much focus on heart connections. And on us, the dog moms, learning how to become more brilliant by the day so that we can be the brilliant partner that our dogs need to thrive while we simultaneously get the immediate benefit of feeling good.” LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.   Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS:Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/