When Bentley and Patch came to stay for a week, I honestly wasn’t sure how it would go. I’m always careful with new dogs in my home—especially with Einstein—because I never assume everyone will get along right away. I do slow introductions, watch body language closely, and set things up so each dog feels they have their own safe spot. By the end of day one, we’d found a rhythm—no food fights, respect for space, and even an unspoken agreement about how to share the couch and bed.

Bentley was 11 years old, 25 lbs, with the quiet air of someone just going through the motions. Once the baby of his family, he’d been gently pushed aside after a human child and another dog joined the household. Patch, younger and 15 lbs, had grown up in the noise and unpredictability, so he was more self-regulated. Einstein, my 4-lb Yorkie, is used to being the center of my world—with all the affection, couch time, and bedtime snuggles that come with it.

In their home, the couch was off-limits. Here, it was an open invitation—but Bentley and Patch hesitated, as if unsure if it was truly allowed. I didn’t coax or push. Instead, we settled into a daily flow—walks with new scents, goat’s milk and yogurt for digestion, bone broth with glucosamine for joint support, and quiet connection time. I kept meals separate so everyone could relax, and I paid attention to the smallest shifts in energy.

Small Daily Moments That Help Dogs Heal

By day three, Bentley started to come alive. Instead of sleeping all day, he began following me from room to room, looking for my approval, and—my favorite—doing a little spin after his rooftop potty breaks, as if to say, See what a good boy I am? His slow drunken shuffle turned into a light hop-run, helped by the joint care and maybe the feeling of being noticed again. He leaned into the massages I gave him, asking for more. When Einstein got attention, Bentley made it clear he wanted some too. I found myself petting two dogs at once, with Patch happily nearby.

That week wasn’t about me “fixing” anyone. It was about creating the kind of environment where each dog could rediscover a part of themselves they’d tucked away. One afternoon, I set out a snuffle mat with treats. To my surprise, they each took turns without pushing in or stealing. It was as rare and sweet as watching children share toys naturally when they feel safe and supported.

We even went to restaurants together. Einstein is a pro, but Bentley and Patch were hesitant—especially in the lunch rush crowd. They shook, unsure of the noise and movement. I crouched to reassure them, explaining what we were doing and praising them for waiting. By our second visit, they knew the routine. Dogs—like kids—don’t need to understand every word to understand your tone, your energy, and the safety you project.

How Dogs Show Us the Path to Healing Our Inner Child

Watching them made me think about how childhood conditioning works in humans. When we experience unsafe or painful moments early in life, we often bury the emotional memory because it’s too heavy to carry consciously. Years—or decades—can pass without us realizing how much those moments still shape our reactions. We learn to avoid certain situations, or we tense up without knowing why, because our bodies remember what our minds have hidden. The only way to truly change that is to create new, safe experiences that overwrite the old ones—exactly what Bentley and Patch were doing, moment by moment.

What Three Dogs Taught Me About Healing Old Wounds

When their owners returned for pick-up, Bentley shook with uncertainty. I knelt beside him, met his eyes, and told him he’d be okay. It wasn’t just words—it was the kind of steady energy you feel in your body. Slowly, the shaking stopped. His owner admitted Bentley had been “lost in the shuffle” since the baby and second dog arrived, and promised to give him more attention.

That moment stayed with me. Healing—whether for a dog or a person—rarely happens in one big breakthrough. It’s built from small, consistent signals that tell us: You’re safe now. You matter. You belong here. You are worthy of love.

With enough patience, care, and consistency, even the deepest layers of old conditioning can begin to soften. Those survival patterns we’ve carried for years—learning to shrink, hide, or hold back in order to stay safe—don’t disappear overnight. But when we allow ourselves the gentle, repeated experiences of safety, attention, and love, those old defenses start to loosen.

Step by step, moment by moment, we can unlearn the strategies that kept us small and begin to trust that the world can be kind, that our needs matter, and that we are allowed to take up space. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, joy returns—not as something forced or earned, but as a natural expression of feeling safe, seen, and valued. This is the essence of healing: creating the conditions for our authentic selves to emerge, to stretch, play, and live fully again.

Since that first visit, Bentley and Patch have returned twice more. Each time they arrive, their tails wag, they hop into my arms, and you can see the excitement in their eyes—proof that a consistent, loving environment can help even the most reserved hearts feel safe and joyful.

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If that resonates with you, you already understand the essence of inner child healing. The same principles that helped Bentley find his wag again can help you reconnect with the parts of yourself you’ve put away. In my book, Inner Child Healing, I share how to recognize the wounds we carry from early life, gently rewrite those patterns, and create an inner environment where your true self feels safe to come out—just like Bentley did. Healing isn’t about being perfect; it’s about finally feeling at home in yourself.

Sometimes the smallest changes—a warm couch, a safe place to rest—are all it takes for the heart to remember how to wag.

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About the Author

Susye Weng-Reeder, known online as SincerelySusye™, is a Google-Verified Internet Personality, published author, and former tech industry insider with experience at Facebook, Apple, and Zoom. One of the first human AI-indexed influencers, her digital footprint spans more than 27.7 million Google search results, with her work surfaced across AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Felo AI.

In addition to her work on digital resilience and personal transformation, Susye also writes under the pen name S. M. Weng, where she focuses on spiritual healing and intuitive practices. Her books, including Inner Child Healing, explore how small, consistent acts of safety and care can help us unlearn survival patterns and reconnect with our authentic selves.

Through both SincerelySusye™ and S. M. Weng, she bridges the digital and spiritual—guiding readers toward resilience, belonging, and the reminder that healing is not about perfection but about feeling at home in yourself.