Sit, Stay, Grow: How dogs can help you worry less and walk into a better future

by Angelika von Sanden

Sit, Stay, Grow is a joyful guide to observing and learning with the dog in your life. In this book, counsellor Angelika von Sanden invites us to face life's challenges supported by our furry friends, but also to join into their playfulness and joy, and to use the daily dog walk as a time for meaningful contemplation. Across fourteen chapters, Sit, Stay, Grow explores how dogs can inspire us to have fun, teach us how to tackle difficult questions and to take different perspectives. Complete with a short 'Taking a thought for a walk' activity at the end of each chapter, this simple and accessible practice can help you lead a more enriching life. As well as giving us their unconditional love, in good times and in bad, dogs are great listeners. Observing their habits and how we interact with them, can help us live with less worries and more moments of happiness.

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2025

Reviews

[Between the Lines Podcast & Bookclub]

If you love dogs, this one's for you. It's a great guide to how curiosity and acceptance can be implemented to improve your mental health - all told through the analogy of looking after your dog. A great guide for those looking to be present in their lives a little more.

Big thanks to Angelika von Sanden for joining us for a podcast interview. It's scheduled for February 16 2026 - find more information here: https://www.betweenthelinesaustralia....

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a nice ACT/therapy/dog lovers little book. It looks like a coffee table book, but it's not. It's a self-help book that uses principles from ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy), through the lens of how dogs navigate their lives. The chapters are short and sweet but all come with personal anecdotes and strategies to use from ACT. As a therapist myself, I really liked this, and think I will probably also recommend this to clients.

Page count: 174

[Julie Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book on how to live mindfully and deal with stresses in life .