Healing Hounds and Humans with Adventure Hounds

At Oh Vienna, we love connecting with people who share our passion for helping dogs live their best lives. Recently, we chatted with Sam from Adventure Hounds about something you don’t often hear discussed in New Zealand: dogs nervous systems. Sam’s approach looks at both the dog and the human, and how time in nature can regulate behaviour, build resilience, and strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

Meet Sam from Adventure Hounds

Sam’s story with dogs began when she was just eight years old. Her first “training client” was Tahoe, a neighbourhood escape artist who loved to bowl over kids and steal their toys. With her parents’ help, she taught Tahoe some basics -and discovered a lifelong passion.

“I even started Sam’s Sitting Service with business cards,” she laughs. “By 12, I was shadowing my local vet, and by 18 I’d handled hundreds of dogs. That time really shaped how I learned to read and work with so many different dog personalities.”

                 

The Link Between Human and Dog Nervous Systems

Sam’s biggest breakthrough didn’t come from training - it came from healing her own nervous system.

“In my late teens, I went through a really tough time with my mental health. Learning to regulate my own nervous system was life-changing. I went on to study Psychology, Somatic Psychology, and Yoga Therapy, but I always found myself circling back to dogs. Watching them, I could see how clearly their nervous systems shaped their behaviour - and how similar it was to what I was learning in humans.”

Adventure Hounds was born from that connection: a way of helping both humans and dogs nervous systems thrive together.

Why Nature is Non-Negotiable

For Sam, time in nature is essential - for dogs and their people.

“Dogs weren’t built for a world of car horns, crowded sidewalks, and constant stimulation. They’re built to explore, rest, and connect with us. Nature gives them space to breathe, move, and just be dogs. That’s why we see so many behaviour challenges -like reactivity-when the dog’s nervous system doesn’t get that outlet.”

Making Nature Accessible

Not all of us live near mountains or beaches. Sam’s currently in Dallas with her dog Hanalei - a busy American city where nature isn’t so easy to find.

“This morning I skipped the park sidewalk and walked along the treeline instead. We slowed right down, avoided the hustle, and it was so much calmer. That’s what I recommend -find the green space that is available. Even sitting on your porch in the sunshine with your dog can make a difference.”

Her tip? Search for green patches on Google Maps when you’re in a new place.

“It doesn’t have to be a big hike -just be intentional and find ways to weave nature into your dog’s routine.”

Healing Together

Sam has seen huge shifts when owners start caring for their own nervous systems too.

“Owners who go to therapy, practice breathwork or yoga, or even just learn to slow down- they see the biggest changes in their dogs. It’s about awareness: realising that your state directly affects your dog’s.”

Her top piece of advice? Slow everything down.

“Walk slower. Train slower. Talk slower. Most of us are rushing, and our dogs need us to slow right down. That’s when regulation happens, and that’s when real connection grows.”

 

Why Dogs Nervous Systems Matters to Us at Oh Vienna

At Oh Vienna, conversations like this remind us why we do what we do. Life with our dogs isn’t just about the daily walk or the gear we use -it’s about creating calmer, more connected moments together. Sam’s perspective is a beautiful reminder that slowing down and tuning in benefits both ends of the leash.

Vienna and I have also personally completed Sam’s Healing Hounds + Humans course -and we loved it. It gave us so many practical tools to slow down, tune in, and build more calm into our daily routine. It’s a reminder that when both ours and our dogs nervous systems are cared for, life feels lighter and our bond grows stronger.

✨ If you’d like to explore it for yourself, you can check out Sam’s Healing Hounds + Humans course here.

Check out our other blogs here.