Soul Touched by Dogs

Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs
Podcast, the show for dog lovers who

see dogs not as toys or tools, but
wise souls worth our respect and care.

I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host.

I talk to poor some humans, people who
do great work for dogs and their people.

So come and join us for
today's conversation.

Anke: Hello, and welcome, Heather.

I'm so excited to have you.

It's always fun to talk to you.

Heather: Oh, thank you
so much for having me on.

I so appreciate it.

And to spend time with you as well.

Anke: Thank you.

It's always fun.

We haven't been a while, have We yeah.

And and a big cuddle to your sweet test.

I can see her in the background there.

Yeah.

Heather: There she is.

Yeah.

The chilled 1.

Let's say.

Anke: But we're gonna
talk about the other 1.

So let's talk before we get into
talking about The foster dog.

Give us a, like, a 2
minute bird's eye overview.

Where are you based?

You know?

What's your connection with dogs?

Heather: So I'm currently
based in place called Market

Drayton, which is in Shropshire.

It's UK, uh, countryside
And, uh, Market Town.

Yeah.

Um, and, um, we do property development.

So this is our kind of house project
that we moved into last year, Um, that

we're just finishing off inside the
house at the moment and developing that.

So I'm based here for now, Um, and more
of that will probably come out as we go on

the conversation as to what that's about.

But, um, yeah.

So I I guess the, uh, did you say
what do I do, or did you say Both?

About.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well, so I'm all about, Uh,
transformation, whether that be

property, animals, or people.

Anke: So Love a good place, Trent.

Heather: The crossroads,
yeah, that come all together.

Um, and I typically have been
working in this sort of coach mental

space for the last 8 years now.

Um, and I've just started to share
those skills with animals, um, which

brings us on to obviously, Um, why
we wanted to have this conversation

or even ask you for a random my
first experience of fostering a dog.

So you've had

Anke: Tess

Heather: oh, Pesna?

Uh, so Tess is gonna be 7 in July.

Anke: Wow.

Time flies.

It feels like kinda yesterday
that she was I know.

I know.

So so what well, first of first
of all, what inspired you to

even consider fostering it

Heather: all.

It's such a beautiful question.

And at the time, I probably would not
have been able to answer it other than

or go deep with the answer other than I
really wanted a second dog for my Tessie

to play with, like a little playmate.

Um, so I was, like, hell bent on having
the second dog at some point when the

time is right, um, and that's Where the
decision kind of came from originally.

Um, I didn't know when, and I
didn't know what type of dog.

Like, all of those things.

I just of had in my mind, it would be
really nice to have a playmate for her.

So that's when we kind of started.

So

Anke: so so fosters, and I'm
like, let's see how it goes.

And in case of, you know, if if if all
goes well, it's gonna be a foster failure.

Heather: I didn't hear any of
that because I've literally just

kicked off to hang the front door,

Anke: reel off.

So, basically, the initial plan was,
let's just bring her in, see how it

goes, and, you know, if all goes well,
it's gonna be a positive failure.

I'm just

Heather: gonna stay.

Um, was it that?

No.

Actually, because of the circumstances
of this particular dog, Sparky,

He's, uh, about 3 and a half,
and his story um, Tessie's from a

rescue called Sadie's dog rescue.

And I've supported them
ever since I got Tessie.

Right?

Because it was really, it was the
first opportunity or Place I really

started to trust and love another thing.

Um, so it was like it was
always a supporter of them.

I did, Um, do you a big spaathon
with them and volunteer to do

that out in, um, Romania, which
is where they rescue their dogs.

Um, and, unfortunately, for
Sparky's situation, he was put

surrendered by his previous owners,
um, because he wasn't getting on

with the resident dog, Um, so much.

And he was very reactive, um, and not
necessarily in a really good place.

So after him being there for 3 years,
Um, they surrendered him just before

I think it was November last year,
and he actually was put in kennels,

like, an hour away from my house.

So it was more circumstantial, like,
when he showed up and they asked

for, like, an emergency foster.

Um, I'd already filled out,
like, Applications for them, and

I already work as, like, a home
checker for the charity anyway.

So I said, oh, do you think, you
know, that We could be considered.

Like, do you think because it was perfect
because it meant that I could let Tessie

meet him before having him in the house.

Whereas if I just Had 1 that was
rescued from Romania straight away,

then it would just be, there's the
dog, and keep my fingers crossed

that Tessie would get on with it.

You know?

Um, but she was a decision maker in
whether or not he was a go or not.

So that's it was more circumstantial,
um, than it was, Um, timing or any

of those things really Thank you.

That led me to this particular dog anyway.

Anke: And so what was the experience like?

Like, you know, like, I think
what I'm curious about, was it

what you thought it would be?

And, you know, was it
like, what was different?

Like, what were the surprises?

Good or bad and bad.

Whatever.

Heather: Well, the biggest surprise
is I have no clue how much it

would really, um, deepen my current
relationship with my partner.

Yeah.

Um, not only that deep in the relationship
I have with fear, Um, or my own kind of

emotions and feelings, um, and energy.

Um, I also have no idea How fulfilling it
would be, you know, to watch someone come

from being really scared of everything,
um, Um, and not wanting to leave the house

to I mean, this morning just this morning,
I had the kindest guy, um, wanting To

meet the foster dog, even though I said,
look, he's not necessarily the best

with males, like, he but he was patient.

He was kind, and and he did.

Like, he got a stroke From Sparky, and
I was like, well, that's a milestone.

You know?

Um, I think he's being in
this 10 weeks Saturday.

So, You know, the the kind of the
lows, um, I think how exhausting

it is in the beginning to really
manage and Get to know each other.

Um, I think that's the biggest,
like, noticing the signs when

something wasn't quite right or when
he was gonna react, Noticing Wade

kind of had too much needed rest.

So, yeah, there were And, also, you
know, there were a few moments where

he he didn't really take a liking to
my partner, so that was not the best.

So, um, navigating all of that and and and
also, you know, coming out the other side.

Wow.

I'm so changed.

Right?

Um, so that was the biggest
unexpected kind of Amazing.

It's interesting.

That's

Anke: fascinating.

It's not kind see, this is like yeah.

I love this because it's not kind
of what you'd normally expect.

Like, you wouldn't expect
that it's, um, yeah.

I mean, I don't know.

Like, it just reminds me when
when, like, my second dog you

know, when a 1 dog household
turns into a multi dog household?

Yeah.

It's a bigger change

Heather: than you think.

All that.

Yeah.

Mhmm.

So true.

Yeah.

Just having 2 instead of 1 to care for.

Yeah.

And it's the

Anke: relationship between them as well.

How do like, what's the
testing of all of this?

Heather: In the beginning, I think she
was kind of happy that she had someone to

zoom around the garden with, not happy to
share food or sofa cuddles or me, like,

specifically, um, or even, like, time
in in the office, like, here chilling.

Um, so, yeah, there was a
lot of adjustments for her.

And, like, I wanna say, Tessie,
my resident dog, her leadership

Has also been so amazing.

Um, I think to have a foster dog and
not a resident dog that can kind of

teach them or Educate them about some
of the do's and don'ts around the house

without having it being me all the time.

It's phenomenal to watch
that as well, to be honest.

Anke: That that is so true.

Like, actually, it's an experience
I've had with with the with my puppy.

Well, she's not a puppy anymore.

But, You know, the sec my second dog,
like, literally taught you everything.

It's easy as puppy to raise, but
I didn't have to do anything.

So it's like She did it all, and
she kinda put up with all the puppy

antics and and taught her whatever.

It's it's, yeah, it's remarkable.

So What did you like, is there something
specific you did or, like, how did

you go about helping Have a relax.

Heather: Um, I lit literally took
care of myself, um, in terms of,

like, what What's going on with me?

Um, started every day as a new day.

Um, really didn't try my to kind of
remove, release, kind of, um, not

bring what happened in the past into
the future, um, or cloud my kind of

opinion or thoughts about the dog.

And I guess I said this to someone
actually the other week with a client.

I was Speaking to them about
fear, and and I said to him, look.

If I showed up to that dog with
any fear in me, you know, then he

would be fearful all the time, and
it was like I had to start every

day completely in love with him.

Um, and, obviously, for me to do that,
I had to really Stay completely in love

with myself and not, like, beat myself up
if something didn't go according to plan

or, You know, if there was an incident
that I didn't manage correctly or, um, if

I didn't notice the signs in him, um, you
know, and then he'd kind of have a little

nip at my partner, Tell my partner off
for being in his space and doing something

wrong and because really, you know, it
it I think you shared it the other week.

It's like, You know, it's only
because they're having a hard

time understanding and not being
able to read or know what to do.

And it's like when you get into that place
of realizing, like, it's not personal, all

like they're not doing anything to you.

It's just that they're just confused,
and everything's new and, uh, like,

adds adds, like, Having more space
as well because this dog was kept

creative for 3 years pretty much.

Only had the house or the
garden to kind of explore.

So it's wild.

It was very small in the beginning,
so it's like, hold on a minute.

If I was, let's say, Going to work for
my first day at a new job, it would be

you'd be exhausted by the end of the
day because of all the stuff you've got

taken and learned, and it's the Same
same for for taking on a foster dog,

especially in the past 2 or 3 weeks.

Anke: Yeah.

I mean, I I like, I think if

Heather: somebody Tessie's
barking from the camera.

Anke: I think if if people just
Took away this 1 thing, you know,

to remember that the dog never
does anything just to piss you off.

Yeah.

I think that that alone is a game changer.

Heather: Yeah.

Yeah.

Hundred percent.

Nothing they do, they don't mean it.

Um, and, obviously, I told
you, you know, there was lots

of lessons I learned from it.

And this, you know, 1 specifically,
it's You know, they're they're

they're a soul just like we are.

Right?

So, you know, if we want to Past
judgment on them or if we want to

write them off because of certain
behaviors that they're displaying.

It's like, well, where are you
displaying those behaviors in yourself?

Right?

You know?

So it was such big, big movement in our
household around Well, if I'm coming

in every day from a place of love,
where are you coming in from, dear?

You know?

You know, if they love me and
they're kind of reacting to you,

like, what is it you're not?

What's the behavior displaying
that's suggesting to them

that that you don't love them?

Right.

You know, it's that type of conversation
that are difficult conversations and also

very Exact conversations at the same time.

Anke: That is so true, though, isn't it?

Like, you know, I don't know.

For the, um, you know, for the
for the Panic to peace someone.

I spoke to all these people, and
there was this, you know, 1 red thread

throughout all the conversations.

Like, you can Bullshit another person.

You cannot bullshit at all.

Right?

They read they read you.

Like, they see through like,
you can say whatever you want.

You can Body language, like, no.

No.

No.

No.

They see they they feel
what's really going on.

Like, you cannot trick a dog.

Right?

Heather: Oh my god.

And that's completely the thing.

Like, every human being wants to really
be seen and really be heard, right, and

acknowledged for that without Be made
to feel that there's anything wrong with

them, um, or have it played back to them.

Right?

And it's the same with the dog.

Like, But in the sense that they
do really see, like, you and they

really know you and, like, there's
definitely no getting away from that.

And it's like when you surrender
though to that, when you know,

like, that they know you inside
and out, Then you're like, what?

Like, this is literally a mirror of me
walking around showing me exactly what

I am and what I'm not and who I'm being.

And And it's like, oh my god.

This is gold.

You know?

Yeah.

There's,

Anke: you know, there's a book by
Kevin Beam, Your Dog is Your Mirror.

Right?

It's really fascinating because
it catches, like, you know, all

the different, like, each dog.

Mhmm.

Because my initial thing last
night, yeah, of course, also

this, but then it's like, yeah.

But now I have 3.

You know?

Like, how and they're all different.

Right?

How can they all be a mirror?

And and, yes, they can because
they all mirror different aspects.

You know?

It's really it's really fascinating,
and it's absolutely true.

Yeah.

So so given the experience you've had
so far, you know, What's the plan?

Like, I mean, are you do you
already know how long you keep him?

How long how much longer
he's gonna stay with you?

Would you do it again?

Would you, like, consider keeping him?

Like, so what's what are your
thoughts with that at the moment?

Heather: Okay.

So the the none.

There isn't any clear
answer to those questions.

Um, you know, I'm not gonna lie.

I have to say, you know, I have the
support of the the rescue director, like,

on the phone if I needed them, And I had a
behaviorist on speed dial for the first 6

weeks pretty much, and and I had meltdowns
every week for the first 6 weeks.

Right?

Because There's just
there's so unpredictable.

You can't plan.

Right?

You don't know.

Now Probably 2 weeks ago.

Like, literally, I wrote the post
for them to advertise for him to

have his find his forever home.

Right.

Because it was that much,
so much, like, to manage.

And then since, like, there's It's
been another big change corner turned,

um, because like us humans, like,
there's massive protests, isn't there?

Or a big fight before we
come out the other side.

Um, and so that big fight happened
a couple of weeks ago, and I

was like, honestly, this is
just gonna like, I've given up.

And then as that minute happened
within the day, everything's

completely shifted again.

Um, so it's like a roller coaster,
but a roller coaster that there

is still Upgoing upness going on.

Like, you're still, you know,
moving, um, and evolving up.

So I think the plan is to get him into
a place Where he is very attractive

to, um, being adopted forever by
somebody who Has a more quieter life.

Um, someone who has quite a basic simple
life that he can slot right into and Not

have too many things going on at once.

You know?

Um, and as I couldn't purely
because This house isn't finished.

You know, there's still
work that needs to be done.

That sets him up a little bit sometimes.

Um, and we can have a quiet life for
a while, and it's like, And he could

have and deserves a quiet life forever.

Do do you see what I mean?

Yeah.

So I think I've never
answered this question before.

So I think the long and short of it
actually, Anky, thanks for letting

me see this, is, like, he deserves
to have the best Forever home.

Um, and our situation and the fact
that we move quite a lot right now

It's probably not the best for him.

However, I'm committed to
getting him to the best place

so that he can find the best.

You know?

I love

Anke: that.

I love that.

So would you would you do it again?

Heather: Hundred percent.

I mean, this is just the start
of my journey because probably

7 weeks And even my partner was
like, why why did you do this?

Heather, like crazy.

And I was like, sat there
going, I I think I am crazy.

Yeah.

Why did I do this?

And then, like, I literally
found myself floored.

I was out walking.

He didn't wanna come
that morning for a walk.

So I was just with Tessie, and, um, I
was like, of course, this is happening.

Because it's part of my kind of vision.

I want Uh, Wealth of You Lodge where
I can bring rescue all types of

different animals that need support and
transformation, and people can come.

Group of cottages, luxury, like,
it's all part of my vision.

So this is literally
just the start of that.

You know, he's the first 1.

Um, and it's funny.

I also told myself, Heather, Skinning
the dog doesn't mean that you

have to bring in 1 that's really
fearful and aggressive either.

You could rescue 1 that's got
disabilities or, you know, so, like,

the range so fast that I'm like, no.

This is just the first 1.

Don't don't tell my fellow, though.

Right?

Anke: We're not gonna you know?

No.

You just don't don't share that episode.

But it makes it makes All
the sense in the world.

Like, you know, you said at the
beginning, you're about transformation.

Right?

So there's almost like, Yeah.

This dog's gonna be with you
whoever, you know, is is gonna be

with you for the transformation.

Mhmm.

You know?

So and when they're ready to
you know, I Absolutely love it.

So if, you know, somebody needs their
own con transformation or, you know,

wants to get in touch with you and find
out more about what you do And and your

vision with the cottages and all of
that because that sounds delightful.

Um, where can people go and
find out more and get in touch

Heather: with you?

Oh, I love connecting
with people on Facebook.

It's just simple Heather Eggington.

Um, I'm also on LinkedIn.

Um, probably more professional
stuff on LinkedIn.

Um, and they can also subscribe to my
website if they wanna get involved with

more vulnerable, open kind of Share
stories like this 1 today, for example.

I did share a bit of my
fostering dog journey with them.

I actually said that I've got
the biggest challenging client

yet, Um, I think was the title.

Right?

So, um, so they can go to my website,
which is also heather eggington dot com.

So They can find me there, um,
and connect however they wish.

Um, Yeah.

Just Even Obviously,

Anke: the links are gonna be, you
know, in the show notes below this

video if you'll, uh, watching on the
you know, through the newsletter.

So it's gonna make easy to find you.

Heather: Oh, thank you.

Thanks so much

Anke: for sharing this because
it's like, I'm always fascinated

with people who foster.

So it's the first time that I had, like,
a chance to dig in there and and find

out what's going on behind the scenes.

So thank you for sharing

Heather: that.

No.

Honest Anky, honestly, thank you.

Like, Some of the questions, I
haven't really sat with myself on.

So just the fact that you really
brought them to the table and And

allowed me to really just express what
was coming through in that moment.

This is brilliant.

And for getting the dogs to sleep.

Right?

Anke: Yeah.

I mean, I think this is like the
that's the I don't know whether you've

heard of the the trust technique.

Like, that's that's
what this is all about.

Like, the present moment, and I think
when we're both really present, the

dog drop, the dog's drop around you.

Like, it's it's Reliable.

They don't promise.

We are.

We are.

Done.

Awesome.

Well, thank you.

Heather: Oh, my.

Thank you, love.

Heather Egginton

Thanks so much for listening.

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And if you know a pawsome human
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That's A N k E at Soul
touched by dogs.com.