Your Dog Is Training You, Using Pets as a Path to Calm and Awareness

In this episode of the Own Your Awkward Podcast, Andy Vargo sits down with Vrushali, a mentor who teaches families how to use their dogs as a calming force to create more balance, awareness, and kindness in everyday life. Through stories of stress, self discovery, and embracing what once felt awkward, Vrushali shares how dogs often mirror our inner world and quietly guide us toward healthier habits. This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful teachers are already sitting at our feet.

From the very beginning, this episode blends warmth, curiosity, and a willingness to explore ideas that many people quietly believe but rarely say out loud. Vrushali’s journey is not about training dogs to obey humans, it is about learning how dogs are constantly training us.

Kindness as a Daily Practice

One of the earliest themes in the conversation is kindness. Vrushali shares her belief that kindness is not disappearing from the world, it is actually being practiced more than we realize. She offers a simple yet powerful example, drivers slowing down and patiently waiting for street dogs to cross the road during a busy season. That small act of patience prevents accidents, reduces fear for the animals, and creates a calmer environment for everyone involved.

Kindness, as Vrushali explains, is not just about grand gestures. It is built through everyday choices. When we practice kindness internally, it shows up externally in how we treat people, animals, and even ourselves.

Supporting Local and Values Based Businesses

Andy and Vrushali also bond over something that might seem small on the surface but reflects deeper values, supporting local businesses. Vrushali shares how she intentionally seeks out queer owned, local, and sustainable businesses when purchasing gifts or merchandise. Even from across the world, she found a local Tacoma artist to create a custom painted mug for Andy.

For Vrushali, this is not about trends or optics. It is about alignment. She believes in sustainability, reducing waste, and forming real human connections through commerce. When our spending reflects our values, business becomes another way to practice kindness.

Owning the Awkward Gift of Talking to Animals

The heart of the episode centers on what Vrushali once considered her most awkward trait, her ability to communicate with animals telepathically. Growing up on cartoons and animated movies, she believed animals talked naturally. As she got older and realized that belief was not widely accepted, she learned to keep that part of herself quiet to avoid judgment or laughter.

Like many people who feel different, Vrushali learned to shut down a natural ability because it did not fit neatly into the world around her. It was not until later in life, through her relationship with her golden retriever Blossom, that she realized this ability was not something to hide.

How Blossom Revealed Stress

One of the most powerful stories in the episode involves Blossom scratching herself excessively. Vrushali initially assumed something was physically wrong and searched for pests or allergies. Nothing showed up. When she finally paused and connected with Blossom, the answer surprised her.

Blossom reflected Vrushali’s stress.

Whenever Vrushali was glued to her laptop, rushing through calls, or juggling too many tasks, Blossom responded with stress behaviors of her own. When Vrushali slowed down and took breaks, Blossom’s scratching eased. This moment became a turning point. Vrushali realized her dog was acting as a mirror, showing her what she could not yet see in herself.

Turning Awkward Into a Business Model

Rather than dismissing these experiences, Vrushali leaned into them. She began to explore how her connection with animals could help others. Over time, she developed a mentoring practice that teaches dog families how to use their pets as guides to stress reduction, mindfulness, and productivity.

She also connects this work to science. Interacting with dogs releases oxytocin and dopamine, hormones associated with bonding, calm, and well being. What feels mystical to some also has measurable benefits in the body.

By owning her awkwardness, Vrushali did not just find personal peace, she created meaningful work that aligns with who she truly is.

Dogs Are Training Us Too

Another memorable moment in the episode flips a common belief on its head. Vrushali shares that dogs are always trying to train humans, not the other way around. Whether it is begging for treats, reacting to our moods, or pushing boundaries, dogs are constantly testing patterns.

These moments become opportunities for awareness. Overfeeding, inconsistent routines, or emotional reactions often reflect human habits more than canine ones. As Vrushali puts it, it becomes a practice where the better man wins, not through dominance, but through conscious choice.

Building a Life With Non Negotiables

Leaving corporate life was not easy for Vrushali. Her transition into dog focused work was gradual, filled with trial and error since 2018. What guided her were non negotiables, values she refused to compromise, such as being a hands on dog parent and living sustainably.

She also emphasizes the importance of balance. Keeping multiple income streams allowed her to build a life aligned with her purpose without burning out or taking reckless risks.

A Simple Daily Awareness Practice

The episode closes with a deceptively simple challenge. Vrushali invites listeners to reflect daily with the phrase, “Just for today, I am aware about _____.”

That blank space becomes a doorway to mindfulness. Stress, kindness, impatience, gratitude, or joy. Awareness is where change begins.

Owning Your Awkward Changes Everything

This conversation is a perfect example of what Own Your Awkward is all about. The things we hide, minimize, or label as strange often hold the keys to our purpose. When we stop fighting who we are and start listening, sometimes even listening to our dogs, we find clarity we never expected.