Wendy Lyons Sunshine is author of TENDER PAWS: How science-based parenting can transform our relationship with dogs (May 2024, HCI Books), the critically acclaimed book that introduces HEARTS principles.
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 found that the same principles that help struggling children can also help puppies and dogs, and even support our own personal growth. These principles are summed up by HEARTS (Heal the body, Enrich the brain, Appropriate environments, Respectful secure relationships, Teach sensitively, and Support the individual). She has discussed HEARTS and related topics on podcasts, radio, streaming media outlets, and TV, such as:
- 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, taught writing at universities, and assists behind the scenes at Positively and IFAW.
AWARDS
♦ Finalist (Category 36, Books – Rescue or Adoption), Dog Writers Association of America (winners to be announced 2/10/25)
♦ 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.