# The Art of Softening the Mood: Samantha (Pack Life LA) on Defense Drive, Raw Feeding, and Power Struggles

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/doggie-stoic-7686006/the-art-of-softening-the-mood-samantha-pack-life-la-on-defense-drive-raw-feeding-and-power-struggles
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/doggie-stoic-7686006/the-art-of-softening-the-mood-samantha-pack-life-la-on-defense-drive-raw-feeding-and-power-struggles.md
Podcast: [Doggie Stoic](https://stenobird.com/podcast/doggie-stoic-7686006)
Published: 2026-04-02T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/doggie-stoic/2682386
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/370863/2682386/doggie-stoic/2026_04_02_08_17_49_9b56c69a-cb64-462b-aa14-9e0711328920.mp3
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Duration seconds: 4801

## Resource

In this episode of the Doggie Stoic podcast, we’re joined by Samantha of Pack Life LA , a trainer known for her deep empathy and "loosey-goosey" approach to complex behavioral issues. Samantha shares her journey from pre-med to becoming a head trainer under Cesar Millan, and eventually developing her own philosophy centered on "softening the mood" rather than winning power struggles. We dive deep into the nuances of defense drive versus prey drive, the realities of behavioral euthanasia, and why your dog's nervous system is often a mirror of your own.

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## Transcript

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