One Health is the understanding that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are deeply interconnected.
It’s a widely accepted framework used by organizations like the CDC, WHO, AVMA, environmental and epidemiological sciences, and veterinary and public health institutions around the world.
Consider this:
- A dog living in a chaotic, overstimulating environment is more likely to develop chronic stress or reactivity
- Environmental degradation increases disease risk for humans and our fellow animals
- Human stress, instability, and lack of support directly impact how we interact with and care for our dogs
- Many dogs live in environments that don’t meet their needs
- Many people are overwhelmed, unsupported, or misinformed
- Entire industries currently profit from quick fixes instead of long-term wellbeing
These aren’t separate problems. They’re different expressions of the same system.
And behavior is often the first visible indicator that something in that system isn’t working.
Traditional training models focus on controlling behavior, suppressing unwanted responses, and compliance as the main goal.
A One Health-informed approach changes the focus toward reducing stress at the source, meeting biological and emotional needs, and building communication and trust.
Training is not just about behavior change. It’s part of care.
Today, different parts of the dog training and animal care world are operating from different assumptions:
Some prioritize observable behavior change, regardless of underlying state of their learner. Others prioritize emotional wellbeing and long-term outcomes. And many are trying to navigate both, within systems that reward quick results.
The bottom line is this:
When we care for animals, people, and the environment as connected systems – not separate problems – we create conditions where better behavior, better health, and better outcomes naturally follow.
One Health: A new definition for a sustainable and healthy future
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)
Contributing to One World, One Health: A Strategic Framework for Reducing Risks of Infectious Diseases at the Animal-Human-Ecosystems Interface – produced by FAO, OIE, WHO, UN System Influenza Coordination, UNICEF and WORLD BANK