From Zen Monastery to Vermont Dog Camp: John Godfrey on Discipline, Compassion, and Building a Life with Animals
- Valerie Naegele
- Sep 19
- 4 min read
Wild Awake is where training and business meet personal and spiritual growth—guided by the wisdom of our canine and equine companions. I’m your host, Valerie Naegele, and in this episode I had the chance to sit down with John Godfrey, whose life has taken him from Zen monasteries in Kyoto to founding Vermont Dog Camp and running Wonder Web Creative, a web design studio.
John’s story is not what you’d expect from someone opening a dog camp. Before he was a business owner and musician, he spent nearly a decade as a Zen Buddhist monk at Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto, Japan. His training was not the serene spa-like retreat many imagine—it was long hours of meditation, little sleep, no heat in the winter, no AC in the summer, and a discipline that demanded complete presence. Even something as simple as being offered food came with a strict rule: you had to eat it, no matter what.
That intensity shaped him, but leaving the monastery was a challenge of its own. Returning to the U.S. after ten years brought a culture shock and a new kind of training—figuring out how to be an adult outside of monastery walls. He laughs now about expecting to re-enter “regular life” with astronaut-like ease, only to find it far harder than he imagined.
Through all of this, animals were never far away. Even at the monastery, John found himself drawn to dogs and cats, and at one point a Shiba Inu he discovered in a cemetery became his companion. Later, a tiny parrot in his apartment surprised him by bonding so deeply that it followed him everywhere. As we talked, we both agreed—animals have a way of finding us exactly when we need them, carrying lessons we didn’t know we were ready for.
When it comes to dogs, John has a grounded but compassionate approach. He’s quick to point out the pitfalls of going to extremes: treating dogs as if they think exactly like humans, or swinging the other way and seeing them as little machines without emotions. In his words, “One side effect of pure behaviorism is that the learner can feel manipulated—because they are. You can still get results, but at a relationship cost. Use the science, but remember the being in front of you.”
His own goldendoodle was the dog who forced him to throw away the rulebook. Traditional leash training advice—“don’t move until the leash goes slack”—left them frozen for half an hour at a time. Nothing worked until he stopped trying to force the method and started listening to his dog’s needs: shorter leash sessions, more off-leash opportunities to run, and realistic exercise that fit the dog in front of him. That lesson carries into his work at Vermont Dog Camp, where he helps people see that training isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Throughout our conversation, we found ourselves circling back to the same themes: how consistency shapes a dog’s behavior, how structure actually brings a sense of freedom and safety, how space and distance can be a form of communication, and how our own energy—whether grounded or scattered—shows up in every interaction with our animals.
John was also honest about the bigger picture. Modern life isn’t built for most dogs. Long commutes, full-time jobs, and empty apartments leave dogs without the movement, social connection, and time with their people that they really need. Training can help, but sometimes the “solution” is logistical: a dog walker, a yard setup, or even choosing a breed whose energy fits your actual lifestyle.
When I asked him for his best piece of advice, John drew directly from his Zen training:
“Always be prepared for anything you strongly believe to be turned upside down.”
In the monastery, this lesson came in the form of rocks—massive landscaping stones he’d spend days moving, only to be told to flip them, angle them differently, or sometimes remove them altogether. The frustration was real, but the training was deeper: hold your perspective lightly, because life will always hand you a reason to see things another way.
That philosophy shows up in his work with dogs too. Sometimes the method you think will work falls apart, and the dog teaches you a new path forward. Flexibility isn’t weakness—it’s part of real discipline.
Before we wrapped up, John shared two books that have shaped him:
Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson, a classic on understanding how dogs see the world differently from us.
Mountains Upon Mountains by Sogen Yamakawa, transcriptions of talks by a Zen roshi John knew personally, translated by a brother disciple.
If you’re in Vermont and want to learn more, you can find John’s work here:
Vermont Dog Camp → vtdogcamp.com
Wonder Web Creative → wonderwebcreative.com
Talking with John was a reminder that training isn’t about rigid methods or quick fixes. It’s a conversation—between our nervous systems and our dogs’, between our beliefs and our reality. And as John’s path shows, discipline and compassion aren’t opposites. They’re the foundation for building a life with animals that actually works.

Valerie Naegele is a professional dog trainer, behavior specialist, and founder of Venture Doggie LLC. She helps dog owners who feel overwhelmed, unsure, or stuck finally find clarity, confidence, and connection with their dogs. you're tired of second-guessing your training, avoiding walks, or feeling like your dog just isn’t “getting it.” You’re not alone. Val understands what it’s like to love a dog deeply and still feel frustrated, embarrassed, or unsure of what to do next. Her work is designed to give you the tools, insight, and support you need to turn things around, not just on the surface, but in a way that feels good and lasts.
Val’s approach is relationship-based, emotionally intelligent, and rooted in practical science. Whether your dog is overly friendly, reactive, anxious, or just doesn’t listen, she helps you shift the dynamic—not by forcing obedience, but by building communication, structure, and trust. Her journey started with a deeply sensitive and reactive dog, and that experience opened the door to a lifetime of study in behavior, psychology, and the human-animal bond. With a background in vet clinics, shelters, ranches, and intensive mentorships with leading trainers, Val brings a rare mix of expertise, heart, and down-to-earth support to her work.
She’s not here to judge or pressure. She’s here to walk alongside you—to help you feel more capable, more connected, and prouder of the relationship you’re building with your dog.
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