Tilly’s Story Reminded Me We Still Have So Much to Learn From Our Dogs
Every now and then something happens that makes us wonder whether our dogs know far more than we give them credit for. This was one of those moments for me, and it’s a story that I simply couldn’t keep to myself because it touches on something I’ve become increasingly fascinated by over the years. It isn’t about proving that a plant or a supplement can diagnose, treat or cure disease. It isn’t about making extraordinary claims. It’s about observation, curiosity, intuition and remembering that our dogs still possess instincts that we may be ignoring.
The story began with a phone call from Amy at The Pet Food Shop. Amy told me about a beautiful nine year old Boxer named Tilly who has been facing some significant health challenges. While Tilly was in the store, someone happened to be unpacking wormwood. Without hesitation, Tilly made her way over, buried her head towards the herb and became completely absorbed in smelling it. She wasn’t interested in the person holding it. She wasn’t looking for food. She was captivated by the plant itself.
Amy immediately thought of Caroline Ingraham because Amy had attended Canine Masters and watched Caroline present on one of the most fascinating topics in the animal world, zoopharmacognosy — the observation that animals may instinctively investigate or select certain plants, minerals and other natural substances, a behaviour that continues to be studied by researchers around the world. As Amy described what she had witnessed, she couldn’t help but think back to Caroline explaining how animals sometimes show an instinctive interest in particular plants and natural substances when they are simply given the opportunity to investigate them. You can imagine how we are that Caroline Ingraham is coming back to Canine Masters on October 31st.
A few days later I received another phone call, but this one made the story even more remarkable. It wasn’t Amy calling again. It was Tilly’s mum, Stacie. What amazed me was that Amy hadn’t referred her to me at all. Instead, Dagmar, who is behind the incredible team at Boxer Rescue Network Australia had encouraged Stacie to get in touch. Sometimes life has a funny way of connecting people who are all working towards the same goal. When enough people genuinely care about helping animals, paths seem to cross in the most unexpected ways.
Stacie and I had a conversation about Tilly's healthy problems, nutrition and Caroline Ingraham’s work. I suggested she have a look at a few Augustine Approved products that may provide nutritional support, and naturally our discussion turned to the fascinating concept of self-selection. Then something happened that genuinely surprised me. Without me asking, suggesting or even knowing she intended to do it, Stacie placed a selection of Augustine Approved products in front of Tilly and simply allowed her to choose.
The following video on YouTube shows what happens next.
I want to make something absolutely clear because this is incredibly important. This article is not suggesting that because a dog chooses a particular herb, food or supplement it can diagnose a disease, identify a medical condition or prove that a product will treat, cure or prevent illness. That would be an extraordinary claim, and it is not what this story is about. What fascinated me was not the product Tilly showed interest in. It was the behaviour itself. Sometimes the most interesting questions don’t come from the answers we think we have. They come from observing something we can’t easily explain.
What Is Zoopharmacognosy?
Long before I had ever heard the word zoopharmacognosy, I had already been introduced to the idea that animals may sometimes seek out particular plants instinctively. Back in 2012 years ago I watched a documentary on YouTube called Cancer: The Forbidden Cures, which explored many possible cures, including the story of Harry Hoxsey and the herbal approach that later became known as the Hoxsey method. According to the documentary, the story began with Harry Hoxsey’s grandfather, who owned a horse that had developed cancer. Believing there was little that could be done, the horse was turned out to pasture to die. Some time later, however, the horse reportedly returned in far better condition and the tumour had apparently disappeared. The story claims that the horse had been eating a selection of wild herbs that it would not ordinarily have had access to, and this observation became the inspiration for the herbal formula that Harry Hoxsey's grandfather later developed. Whether every aspect of that historical account is accurate has been the subject of considerable debate over the years, but the story itself fascinated me because it introduced me to the broader idea that animals may sometimes interact with nature in ways we don’t fully understand. Looking back now, it was probably my first introduction to the concept that we now recognise as zoopharmacognosy.
Although the word sounds complicated, the idea behind it is surprisingly simple. Zoopharmacognosy is the term used to describe the behaviour of animals selecting plants, minerals, clays or other natural substances that may help them maintain or restore their wellbeing. Researchers have observed this behaviour in many different species living in the wild, including primates, birds, elephants and insects. While scientists continue to study exactly how these behaviours arise and what they mean, there is little doubt that they are both real and fascinating.
No modern educator has done more to introduce this subject to animal lovers than Caroline Ingraham. Over more than four decades, Caroline has developed what she calls Applied Zoopharmacognosy, an approach that allows domesticated animals to investigate carefully selected natural substances using their own senses. Rather than forcing an animal towards a particular plant or scent, the process allows the animal complete freedom to approach, ignore or move away. Caroline has written extensively on the subject, published several respected books and trained practitioners around the world, helping countless people see their animals through an entirely different lens. Whether you ultimately agree with every aspect of her work or not, there is no denying the enormous influence she has had in bringing this fascinating field to the attention of veterinarians, behaviourists, therapists and pet owners across the globe.
One of the reasons I admire Caroline’s work so much is that it encourages something our modern world rarely rewards. It encourages us to slow down. Instead of assuming we already know everything our dogs are trying to tell us, it asks us to become better observers. Our lives are increasingly driven by speed, technology and instant answers, yet our dogs still experience the world in much the same way they always have. Their noses remain their primary source of information. Their senses are astonishingly sophisticated. Their instincts have been shaped over thousands of years. Perhaps the first lesson we should learn is not to rush to conclusions, but to pay closer attention.
What We've Lost With Modern Lifestyles
When I think about our ancestors, I often wonder whether we’ve lost something important along the way. They lived much closer to nature than we do today. They understood the changing seasons. They recognised plants. They watched wildlife. They learned through observation because observation was essential for survival. Today we have extraordinary technology. We have pathology laboratories, artificial intelligence and access to more information than at any other time in human history. Yet for all our advances, I sometimes wonder whether we’ve become a little less observant than those who came before us.
Our dogs, on the other hand, haven’t changed nearly as much as we have. They still investigate the world through scent. They still pause over things we walk straight past. They still refuse foods one day and seek out particular smells the next. Whether it’s eating grass, investigating a particular plant, refusing a meal they normally love or showing unexpected interest in something they’ve never encountered before, I believe these moments deserve curiosity rather than immediate dismissal. Curiosity doesn’t require us to accept extraordinary claims. It simply requires us to remain open to learning.
Our Dogs Remember What We've Forgotten
Watching Tilly calmly investigate several products before showing particular interest in one of them didn’t convince me that I had witnessed proof of anything medical. What it did remind me was that our dogs continue to surprise us when we allow them the opportunity to express themselves. Too often we assume we already know what they’re thinking because we view the world through human eyes. Perhaps we should spend a little more time trying to understand it through theirs.
If you’ve followed my work for any length of time, you’ll already know that I’ve always believed nutrition should be the foundation of health. Fresh food, minimally processed ingredients and species appropriate nutrition have always been the cornerstones of everything we do at Augustine Approved. Good nutrition doesn’t replace appropriate veterinary care, but it does provide the foundation upon which health is built. That’s one of the reasons Tilly’s story resonated with me so deeply — because it reminds us that nature is often far more sophisticated than we realise, and that our dogs still possess instincts that deserve our respect.
I also think Tilly’s story carries a lesson that extends well beyond dogs. Modern life has disconnected many of us from the natural world. We spend more time looking at screens than we do observing the environment around us. We often override our own instincts in favour of convenience, routine or noise. Maybe one of the greatest gifts our dogs can give us isn’t simply companionship. Maybe it’s the reminder to slow down, pay attention and reconnect with the natural world that shaped both them and us.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Amy and everyone at The Pet Food Shop for recognising something unusual and taking the time to share it. Thank you to Dagmar and the extraordinary volunteers at Boxer Rescue Network Australia for the remarkable work you continue to do helping Boxers find loving homes. Most importantly, thank you to Stacie. The love, patience and dedication you’ve shown Tilly are obvious to anyone who watches her story, and your willingness to share that journey may encourage countless others to look at their own dogs with a little more curiosity.
Finally, thank you to Caroline Ingraham. Whether people agree with every aspect of Applied Zoopharmacognosy or simply find it thought provoking, your work has inspired thousands of people around the world to observe more carefully, ask better questions and appreciate the extraordinary intuition of the animals who share our lives. That is a conversation worth having.
Perhaps Tilly’s story isn’t really about mushrooms at all. Perhaps it isn’t even about self selection. Perhaps it’s simply a reminder that our dogs still carry an ancient wisdom within them, and that every now and then they invite us to slow down, observe a little more carefully and remember where we came from. If we can do that, we might just rediscover a little of our own intuition along the way.
Quick Summary
- Zoopharmacognosy is the study of animals instinctively selecting plants, minerals and other natural substances.
- Caroline Ingraham has spent more than four decades pioneering Applied Zoopharmacognosy and teaching people how to better observe animal behaviour.
- Tilly’s story is not presented as evidence that a product can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. It is simply a fascinating observation of animal behaviour.
- Dogs experience the world very differently from us, relying primarily on their extraordinary sense of smell and instincts.
- Sometimes slowing down and observing our dogs can reveal behaviours that deserve curiosity rather than immediate dismissal.
- Good nutrition should always form the foundation of canine health and wellbeing.
- Our dogs may still possess instincts that remind us of a much closer connection to nature than many of us experience today.
- Every dog is unique, and any concerns about your dog’s health should always be discussed with your veterinarian.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is zoopharmacognosy?
Zoopharmacognosy is the study of animals instinctively selecting plants, minerals, clays and other natural substances that may help support their wellbeing. The behaviour has been observed in many species throughout nature and continues to be studied by researchers around the world.
What is Applied Zoopharmacognosy?
Applied Zoopharmacognosy is an approach developed by Caroline Ingraham that allows domesticated animals to investigate carefully selected natural substances using their own senses. The animal is always given choice and is never forced towards a particular herb, oil or plant.
Who is Caroline Ingraham?
Caroline Ingraham is an internationally recognised pioneer of Applied Zoopharmacognosy. She has spent more than forty years researching animal self-selection, has written numerous books on the subject and has trained practitioners around the world.
Can dogs instinctively choose herbs or supplements?
Dogs can certainly show interest in particular smells, herbs, foods or natural substances. Whether those choices have biological significance is still an area of ongoing scientific interest. Observing this behaviour does not demonstrate that a dog can diagnose disease or that any particular substance will treat or prevent illness.
Does this mean dogs can diagnose their own illnesses?
No. This article does not suggest that dogs can diagnose medical conditions or select treatments for disease. Tilly’s story is shared because it highlights an interesting behaviour that encourages curiosity and observation, not because it proves any medical claim.
Why was Tilly interested in the mushroom supplement?
No one can say with certainty. Tilly simply showed interest in one particular product when she was freely offered a selection to investigate. That observation is interesting, but it should not be interpreted as evidence that the product was needed or that it would provide any therapeutic benefit.
Is self-selection scientifically proven?
There is scientific literature describing naturally occurring zoopharmacognosy in wild animals, and animal self-selection continues to be an active area of research. However, many aspects of why animals make particular choices remain the subject of ongoing scientific investigation and discussion.
Should I let my dog self-select herbs or supplements at home?
If you are interested in learning more about self-selection, it is important to educate yourself first and to work with appropriately qualified professionals where necessary. Never assume that because a substance is natural it is automatically safe for every dog. Some herbs, essential oils and plants can be harmful.
Does Augustine Approved claim its products diagnose, treat or cure disease?
No. Augustine Approved products are formulated to provide nutritional support. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as suggesting that any Augustine Approved product diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents disease.
What is the main lesson from Tilly’s story?
The biggest lesson isn’t about mushrooms or supplements. It’s about observation. Tilly’s story reminds us that our dogs still possess remarkable instincts, that nature often has more to teach us than we realise, and that slowing down to truly observe our animals can sometimes be one of the most valuable things we do.
Educational Disclaimer
The information shared in this article is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. It is designed to encourage observation, curiosity and discussion around animal behaviour, nutrition and the fascinating field of zoopharmacognosy. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as suggesting that any herb, food, supplement or other natural substance can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition in animals.
Every dog is an individual, and decisions about your dog’s health should always be made in consultation with a licensed veterinarian or other suitably qualified veterinary professional who is familiar with your dog’s individual circumstances. If your dog is unwell or you have concerns about its health, please seek professional veterinary advice without delay.
