Award-winning writer Wendy Lyons Sunshine is author of TENDER PAWS: How science-based parenting can transform our relationship with dogs, released in May 2024 by HCI Books/Recorded Books.
TENDER PAWS was inspired by Wendy’s struggle to raise a special needs rescue puppy and her work helping child development experts write The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family, an award-winning classic that has been translated into multiple languages, and Raising the Challenging Child, a 5-star parenting resource.
Wendy discovered that the same principles that help struggling children can also help us raise well-adjusted puppies and dogs, and even support our own personal growth. She has discussed these concepts on podcasts, radio, streaming media outlets, and TV, including:
- Victoria Stilwell’s Positively Podcast
- Andrew Hale’s Dog Centred Care Podcast
- KATU2 ABC Afternoon Live Portland
- Tracie Hotchner’s Dog Talk ® (and Kitties Too!) on NPR station, WLIW.FM
Wendy’s articles and essays have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, PsychologyToday.com, AORN Journal, Practical Pain Management, D CEO, AARP Magazine, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Weekly, and other publications. She has managed websites and publication teams, ghostwritten for thought leaders, and assisted behind the scenes for Positively, IFAW, and other fine organizations.
AWARDS
♦ First Place, Outstanding Small Market Reporting, Print, Society of Environmental Journalists
♦ First Amendment Award, Society of Professional Journalists, Fort Worth
♦ Second Place, Business Reporting, Lone Star Award, Houston Press Club
♦ Certificate of Excellence, Press Club of Dallas
♦ Outstanding Book of the Year, American Society of Journalists & Authors
EDUCATION
♦ Masters of Arts in Professional and Technical Communication, environmental science cognate, University of North Texas; Teaching Fellow; Research Fellow.
♦ Bachelor of Arts in English, phi beta kappa, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
♦ FDM®, L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Professional
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
♦ Dr. Karyn Purvis on the difference between connected parenting and disconnected parenting.
♦ Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) explained by Dr. Karyn Purvis.
♦ Karen Doyle Buckwalter on investing in the relationship bank.