When Beauty Becomes Background Noise: Reconnecting with Nature, Yourself, and Your Dog

We live in a world where it’s become normal to scroll past sunsets, miss the hawk soaring above us, and ignore our dog's gently trying to get our attention from our phones.

Even when we hike in nature, many of us still aren’t really there.

We walk through trails while talking to our best friends about work or with our headphones in listening to the newest music. We bring our dogs to the beach but stay glued to our phones. We’re physically present but emotionally disconnected — and often, we don’t even realize it.

As someone who’s spent years studying psychology, dog behavior, and human-nature relationships across the world, I believe this emotional muting is one of the biggest barriers to well-being — for us and for our dogs.

You Can’t Attune to Nature (or Your Dog) Without First Attuning to Yourself

Attunement is a word I come back to often in my work. It’s the practice of being fully present with — and responsive to — what’s happening within and around you.

But how can we attune to the rhythms of nature, or the emotional needs of our dogs, if we’re not attuned to our own inner experience?

We can’t. And that disconnection has a cost — it shapes how we relate to ourselves, to others, to the land, and to our animals.

Nature Became My Mirror

I didn’t grow up outdoorsy. I was raised in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Massachusetts, where “hiking” usually meant a short walk on a flat trail at the local state park. We didn’t camp. We didn’t venture far into the wild. Most of my connection to nature came from backyard daydreaming and time spent with animals.

Still, something in me always ached for more — more wonder, more wildness, more depth.

That longing led me, fresh out of college, to move to Hawaii — sight unseen. That move changed everything.

It wasn’t just the beaches or the dense, green rainforests that changed me — it was the way of being that Hawaii invited. For the first time, nature didn’t feel like a scenic backdrop. It felt alive. It felt relational. And for the first time, I felt like I was a part of it.

There was a rhythm to the land — a quiet, steady wisdom that asked me to slow down, to listen more than I spoke, and to move with intention.

That rhythm has shown up like greeting an old friend throughout my life, especially during seasons of travel and exploration. In both Brazil and southern Africa, I spent time tracking wild animals and learning from people whose lives were deeply intertwined with the land. Each of these experiences deepened my understanding of reverence, rhythm, and relationship — not only with nature, but with myself.

When we learn to slow down, pay attention, and honor the rhythms around us, we become more present and responsive—not only to the natural world but also to the animals we share our lives with.
This presence is the foundation for meaningful relationships, effective communication, and ultimately, better outcomes in dog training and everyday life.

Your Relationship with Your Dog Is An Invitation 

The lessons I learned from slowing down and truly being present in nature—like attuning to rhythms, noticing subtle signals, and honoring connection—are the foundation of how I approach working with dogs today. And in many ways, our relationship with our dogs is an invitation to practice this same presence and connection - by calling us to slow down, pay attention, and engage with intention.

When we’re disconnected from ourselves and the world around us, it’s easy to overlook what’s really happening or fill in the blanks with assumptions and stories that may not be accurate. This affects how we see our dogs’ behavior and can create misunderstandings that impact our relationship.

Because our perceptions shape how we respond, these misunderstandings can lead to patterns of frustration, confusion, or miscommunication with our dogs. The key to changing these patterns is developing greater self-awareness and emotional regulation, so we can respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

You don’t need a certification or a perfect lifestyle to practice attunement. All it takes is a willingness to make small, intentional shifts.

Simple shifts like:

• Going on a walk with your dog without your phone.

• Paying close attention to what captures your dog’s interest.

• Checking in with your own body—Are you breathing shallowly? Are your shoulders tense? Is your jaw tight?

Pause when your dog pauses. Breathe more deeply. Speak less. Look around.

Ask yourself: What am I noticing today that I usually overlook? Can I find something beautiful right here, right now?

You Deserve a Deeper Connection — And So Does Your Dog

The magic of this practice is that it’s all connected. When you slow down and reconnect with nature, you naturally reconnect with yourself. From there, your relationship with your dog (and the world around you) grows richer, smoother, and more meaningful.

For many dogs who spend much of their lives indoors or in apartments, time in nature isn’t just a nice change—it’s deeply healing. Natural sights, sounds, and smells engage their senses and calm their nervous systems in ways that indoor life often can’t.

It might sound kind of wild to say that just noticing the beauty around you could change your dog’s behavior, but that’s exactly where the real shift starts.

Because at the end of the day, healthy relationships aren't built from commands, control, or tricks. They're built from one simple concept:

Showing up. Fully present. With open eyes, an open heart, and an open mind.

Want to Go Deeper?

If you’re ready for more personalized support:
Work with me 1:1

You can also listen to my full podcast episode here:
Attunement: The Missing Link Between You, Nature, and Your Dog