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The Healing Highway: Understanding Your Dog’s Vagus Nerve
Published on:
24th February, 2026
In this episode, Nikki explores the vital role of the vagus nerve in your dog’s nervous system and how it directly influences behavior, stress, and emotional regulation. Often called the “nerve of safety,” the vagus nerve helps shift dogs out of survival mode and into connection, rest, and healing.
You’ll learn what the vagus nerve is, how it functions within the autonomic nervous system, what dysregulation looks like in dogs, and practical ways to support vagal tone through safety, co-regulation, touch, and environment. If your dog struggles with chronic stress, reactivity, anxiety, or shutdown behaviors, understanding the vagus nerve may change how you see their behavior—and how you support their healing.
