Hilda, the dog who taught me how to breathe

The being who taught me how to breathe Hilda, the dog who taught me how to breathe is a deeply sensitive, funny, and moving autobiographical account. The author recounts how the arrival of a young Mastiff from Denmark transformed her life, not as a mere dog, but as a quiet force, a calming presence, an inner mirror. This testimony is not a dog training manual: it is the story of an encounter that heals and restructures a life weakened by anxiety, trauma, social difficulties, autism spectrum disorder (ADHD), morbid obesity, and workplace violence. "She arrived without warning. She deconstructed everything. She taught me what I hadn't asked for... And I said thank you, because she changed my life." This book is about love, companionship, doubts, and questioning. It explores the human-dog relationship as a bond between equals, far from the clichés of training. This is not a “book about a dog.” It is a book about what animals reveal about us and repair in us. Alexia Cherifi is a state-certified dog trainer. She lives in Ardèche with five dogs, mud on her Dr. Martens, and a deep-rooted commitment to respecting all living things.