At Dogs For Our Brave, an organization that professionally trains service dogs at no cost, ever, to wounded veterans who have honorably served our country, they utilize the MBSR program each day to support their dogs’ overall wellness and quality of life while working.

In 24 months of training, these often-rescued service dogs enhance their veterans’ lives by providing life-changing support. There is no cost for the dogs, ever, and the organization even provides additional service dogs when a veteran’s service dog passes away or ages out of the program. Dogs For Our Brave covers the cost of food, medical treatment, treats, toys, annual training, and any equipment needed to care for the service dog.

What is the MBSR Program?

The organization’s holistic approach focuses on a dog’s Mind, Body, Spirit, and Relationship building. This disciplined approach provides the opportunity for dogs to assist veterans in their healing journey while challenging both veterans and dogs to become the best versions of themselves.

All dogs in training receive each aspect of the MBSR program every day. What that looks like can differ from dog to dog and breed to breed. What works a Great Dane’s mind could be a game of fetch, while that same activity may feed a Labrador Retriever’s spirit. As far as the body goes, training to be a service dog is similar to preparing for a professional athletic career—they need to be physically fit and ready to work for many hours at a time.

Here are some examples of how you can incorporate the MBSR program into your own dog’s daily routine:

MIND

What fills each dog’s mind category can be very different. Some activities could be figuring out a puzzle toy or enrichment, a short training session, watching the world go by in public, desensitization training, finding treats hidden in a cardboard box; the ideas are endless.

BODY

Activities that support the body could include neighborhood walks, jogging on a treadmill, playgroups with other dogs, stretches, and conditioning exercises. Anything that gets the body moving and blood flowing can be beneficial.

Proper nutrition also plays an important role in supporting a dog’s body. Feeding a diet built around quality animal proteins and whole food ingredients can help support an active lifestyle. Northwest Naturals, a family-owned raw pet food company focused on whole food nutrition, offers raw diets, treats, and toppers designed to provide dogs with minimally processed nutrition that complements an active and enriched lifestyle.

SPIRIT

Spirit activities are what fill the dog’s soul. Some dogs love free roaming, a sniffy walk, sunbathing, chewing on a bone, playing in the splash pad, or pool. This also can have a wide variety depending on the dog, their genetic fulfilment and interests. Northwest Naturals provides very smelly (the good kind) treats and food that can really fill the spirit of an olfactory-based dog by searching for those treats in a scatter feeding session.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Building strong relationships is one of the most important aspects of a dog’s life. Relationship-building activities can include spending quality time together, taking long walks, grooming sessions, belly rubs, games of fetch or tug, training sessions, and relaxing together at home.

Simply having fun and creating positive experiences with your dog helps strengthen the bond you share.

Many MBSR activities naturally overlap with one another. A sniff walk may support the mind, spirit, and relationship categories simultaneously. The most important aspect is consistently building trust and creating opportunities for your dog to feel fulfilled.

Why Is MBSR Beneficial for Your Dog’s Well-Being?

In any relationship with animals, especially working dogs, balance is essential. Dogs need opportunities to engage both mentally and physically so they can be the best versions of themselves and, in turn, become happier companions and family members.

When dogs do not have their genetic fulfillment and basic MBSR needs met, behavioral challenges can sometimes arise and disrupt household harmony.

For example, when hunting breeds such as Retrievers or Pointers do not have opportunities to use their noses, they may seek out their own ways to satisfy those instincts. Likewise, terriers, originally bred for digging and chasing small prey, may express those instincts through unwanted digging or chasing behaviors if they are not given appropriate outlets.

By providing appropriate outlets, enrichment, and stimulation as part of your dog’s daily routine, you may see improvements in many common behavioral challenges while helping create a calmer, more fulfilled companion.

If you’re struggling with your dog at home, consider how you can support each category of the MBSR program every day. It may provide some of the missing pieces needed to help your dog thrive and strengthen the bond you share.

Supporting the Whole Dog

Whether you’re raising a family companion, sporting dog, or service dog, balancing Mind, Body, Spirit, and Relationship needs can help create a happier and more fulfilled canine partner. Combined with appropriate nutrition, enrichment, training, and meaningful human connection, these daily practices can support lifelong well-being.

To learn more about Dogs For Our Brave and their mission of providing professionally trained service dogs to veterans at no cost, visit dfob.org or follow @DogsForOurBrave on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

This article was contributed by Dogs For Our Brave in partnership with Northwest Naturals.

About the Authors: Logan Boyle, Primary Trainer, and Carrie Johnson, Community Engagement Coordinator, work with Dogs For Our Brave to help train and place service dogs with veterans, creating life-changing partnerships that support independence, confidence, and healing.