Learn How To Talk To Animals

Animal Communication Training with Val Heart

Animal Talk Blog

Why You Should Not Own a Cat and Dog Together

Do you own a cat and dog together? 

Do you sometimes wish that you didn’t?

Cats are wonderful on their own—intuitive, filled with unique personality, (usually) loving and playful. They even take care of you, bringing you your own freshly-killed meals! 

Dogs, too, are extremely rewarding companions in so many ways. But put the two of them together, and you could suddenly have two neurotic, aggressive animals bringing tension into your household.

The cat and dog together TV cliché: too close to truth!

For instance, consider Odie and Garfield. Tom and Spike. Snowball and Santa’s Little Helper. The cats and dogs in the entire Cats & Dogs movie franchise. 

These are just some examples of the “cat vs dog” dichotomy that is so popular in TV and movies. In fact, this rivalry is one of the oldest and most popular animal tropes in media.  

Comparing cats to dogs is like comparing apples to oranges; all it does is point out how vastly different they are. Yet cats and dogs are constantly pitted against one another in the media. 

Think about it: dogs are usually associated with kind-hearted heroes while cats are seated on the laps of villains. Right? Another popular use of the cat/dog dichotomy is to portray dogs as dumb creatures while cats are seen as cunning and hostile.

As with most tropes in popular culture, there is some truth to the cliche, and if you have a cat and dog together in your home, you know this better than anyone. 

cat and dog faces

Putting a cat and dog together can be like trying to mix oil and water!

While cats and dogs make great pets on their own, having both animals living together is another matter. Cats and dogs are so different, personality-wise, that it’s easy to understand why they get along like, well “cats and dogs”. If you are someone who is planning to have a cat-and-dog household, you may want to think again.

If you have not already done so, now would be a good time to reflect on the kind of pet companion you are and ask yourself this simple question: “Am I really ready to own a cat and a dog?”

Getting a pet is a lot of work in and of itself, but getting another literally doubles the responsibility, not to mention the cost. Think about it realistically: cats and dogs have very different needs. Will you be able to meet all of them, separately and fairly? Do you have precautions in place, like insurance? In the event of a sudden illness or accident, would you be able to afford their treatments? Now might be a good time to research how much vet care costs over a pet’s entire lifetime. Can you truly give them the proper love and care that they deserve?

Here are other important points to consider before owning a cat and a dog together:

scaredy cat

Cats and dogs suit different lifestyles.

There’s a reason that the question “are you a cat person or a dog person?” is so popular—it says a lot about you! 

Cats and dogs tend to be representative of their owners. Are you the outdoorsy type? If yes, then a dog would be a perfect fit for you; cats less so as they like to stick close to home and don’t generally travel well. Ever tried to get a cat to “heel” on a walk? Enough said. 

Do you want your relationship with your pet to be that of equals, with your pet free to roam around the house and seek your affection on their own terms? If so then you will love cats; a properly trained dog understands that you are the “alpha” and ideally will do what you ask, whereas cats will never agree that you are alpha over them.  It’s not going to happen.

Cats are generally more laidback and self-sufficient—they prefer to socialize only when they feel like it.

They need a safe place (or several) in the house where they can retreat to and rest. And they often don’t mind being left alone for days at a time, as long as you leave them with enough provisions and someone to check in on them regularly. Cats are resourceful creatures and will find a way to thrive, no matter the conditions. After all, these are animals that basically domesticated themselves when they learned it would make their (nine) lives easier if they gave a show of affection occasionally and meowed, sometimes a lot!

Dogs, on the other hand, are more high-maintenance.

Dogs require exercise regularly and are entirely dependent on their human for food, water and bathroom breaks. They need daily supervision and attention. On the upside, they are generous with their affection and intensely loyal.

Dogs, when properly socialized, are open and friendly, but don’t let that fool you. Dogs are intuitive judges of character and aren’t afraid to show when they don’t trust someone. They can go from wagging their tails to a crouching attack stance at the first hint of danger.

Beyond these generalizations, traits vary from breed to breed as well, so there is a significant difference in the care each pet requires of its human—double that if you have a cat and dog together. 

You’re on your way! It’s time to learn how to talk to animals. Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook – Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets 

via GIPHY

Cats and dogs are natural enemies.

Cats and dogs have a long, drawn out history of being natural enemies. When cats and dogs encounter one another, their natural instinct is to revert to fight-or-flight mode. It’s biological and not something you can totally eliminate. When putting a cat and dog together for the first time, you must facilitate it carefully. Make sure your cat knows where its escape route is, and you may want to keep your dog on a leash.

Cats and dogs have different styles of play.

This is a huge factor to consider. Different styles of play can result in frequent altercations when you have a cat and dog together. Cats and dogs have distinct preferences for games that are very different: cats prefer to stalk and pounce while dogs like to chase and run after things. Why does this matter so much, you ask? 

Well, for one, this means there are bound to be misunderstandings between the two. A dog chasing after a cat may think he and his new friend are just playing, but the cat might be absolutely terrified. 

On the other hand, a dog might be confused and hurt as to why the cat keeps swiping him whenever he approaches. What he doesn’t realize is he’s getting too close into the cat’s personal space. These misinterpretations could go on forever and the only way to fix them would be to set some ground rules in the household and train both pets.

These are just a few reasons why you should not have a cat and dog together. 

But the main reason is there’s a lot of risk involved, not just for both animals, but for the peace and harmony in your household. Should you decide to go ahead and get a dog and a cat anyway, just be aware that you will have your work cut out for you! 

<><> Update!

From the feedback we’ve gotten on this post, it seems that many of our animal loving readers disagree!

Not just a little disagreement, but strongly disagree!

Good for you!  I’m loving the discussion, keep it coming.

Here’s the thing:  I don’t disagree with you.

However, from a professional animal communicator’s viewpoint whose specialty is solving problems with pets including these kinds of problems, here’s what you could be missing from this discussion.

Let me explain a bit more:

We didn’t mean to imply that you could never, ever have both dogs and cats together, only that it requires more work to do it the right way and keep everyone safe and happy.

So, if you’re going to do it anyway, here’s a few more guidelines to avoid trouble:Solve Problems with Your Pet

  1.  You must know up front that both animals of each species are open and willing to be friends with each other.  That requires discussing it with them in advance.  And to do that right, you have to be able to communicate with them.  If your dog has a strong prejudice against cats and only wants to kill them on sight, you’ve got a serious problem to sort out.  Don’t condemn a cat to violent death by not handling this ahead of time, or put your dog at risk from being scratched and bullied or terrorized by your kitty either!
  2.  Establish the ground rules for engagement, and proper house rules for good boundaries, limitations and clarity.  Again, this requires a conversation and sometimes a negotiation.  It also requires you to be vigilant and consistent, paying attention to the dynamics between your cat and dog.  Provide proper direction and guidance to sooth over the rough spots.  Every relationship has rough spots now and then, but if you don’t catch it in time to redirect aggression with your pets, then they will likely escalate their concerns and keep taunting and teasing each other until somebody snaps.  You don’t want that.
  3.  When you introduce the cat to your dog, hold them securely and possessively in your arms.  Tell your dog that this cat is MINE.  Claim ownership and confer protected status to the cat so your dog knows to hold them with respect.  Problems come when dogs are triggered in to chase and hunt instincts, so when the kitty runs the dog chases.  If the dog catches the cat, they can easily kill them.  Or the cat can scratch the dogs eyes out.  Not good. You don’t want that either.

Abide by these principles and all should be well!

So yes for the naysayers, you’re right.  Dogs and cats and all kinds of species can in fact live happily together but only when proper preparation, respect, leadership and good pet parenting is in place.

Otherwise it can be more like a pet disaster and nobody wants that, including your pets.

It’s time to learn how to talk to animals. Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook – Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets 

.

Enjoyed this article? Here are some other popular posts you might like:

Time travel is the best superpower to help abused animals heal negative emotions.

Three fundamental animal talk principles.

Easing stress for you and your pets in challenging times.

Learn More

Why You Should Not Own a Cat and Dog Together

Do you own a cat and dog together? 

Do you sometimes wish that you didn’t?

Cats are wonderful on their own—intuitive, filled with unique personality, (usually) loving and playful. They even take care of you, bringing you your own freshly-killed meals! 

Dogs, too, are extremely rewarding companions in so many ways. But put the two of them together, and you could suddenly have two neurotic, aggressive animals bringing tension into your household.

The cat and dog together TV cliché: too close to truth!

For instance, consider Odie and Garfield. Tom and Spike. Snowball and Santa’s Little Helper. The cats and dogs in the entire Cats & Dogs movie franchise. 

These are just some examples of the “cat vs dog” dichotomy that is so popular in TV and movies. In fact, this rivalry is one of the oldest and most popular animal tropes in media.  

Comparing cats to dogs is like comparing apples to oranges; all it does is point out how vastly different they are. Yet cats and dogs are constantly pitted against one another in the media. 

Think about it: dogs are usually associated with kind-hearted heroes while cats are seated on the laps of villains. Right? Another popular use of the cat/dog dichotomy is to portray dogs as dumb creatures while cats are seen as cunning and hostile.

As with most tropes in popular culture, there is some truth to the cliche, and if you have a cat and dog together in your home, you know this better than anyone. 

cat and dog faces

Putting a cat and dog together can be like trying to mix oil and water!

While cats and dogs make great pets on their own, having both animals living together is another matter. Cats and dogs are so different, personality-wise, that it’s easy to understand why they get along like, well “cats and dogs”. If you are someone who is planning to have a cat-and-dog household, you may want to think again.

If you have not already done so, now would be a good time to reflect on the kind of pet companion you are and ask yourself this simple question: “Am I really ready to own a cat and a dog?”

Getting a pet is a lot of work in and of itself, but getting another literally doubles the responsibility, not to mention the cost. Think about it realistically: cats and dogs have very different needs. Will you be able to meet all of them, separately and fairly? Do you have precautions in place, like insurance? In the event of a sudden illness or accident, would you be able to afford their treatments? Now might be a good time to research how much vet care costs over a pet’s entire lifetime. Can you truly give them the proper love and care that they deserve?

Here are other important points to consider before owning a cat and a dog together:

scaredy cat

Cats and dogs suit different lifestyles.

There’s a reason that the question “are you a cat person or a dog person?” is so popular—it says a lot about you! 

Cats and dogs tend to be representative of their owners. Are you the outdoorsy type? If yes, then a dog would be a perfect fit for you; cats less so as they like to stick close to home and don’t generally travel well. Ever tried to get a cat to “heel” on a walk? Enough said. 

Do you want your relationship with your pet to be that of equals, with your pet free to roam around the house and seek your affection on their own terms? If so then you will love cats; a properly trained dog understands that you are the “alpha” and ideally will do what you ask, whereas cats will never agree that you are alpha over them.  It’s not going to happen.

Cats are generally more laidback and self-sufficient—they prefer to socialize only when they feel like it.

They need a safe place (or several) in the house where they can retreat to and rest. And they often don’t mind being left alone for days at a time, as long as you leave them with enough provisions and someone to check in on them regularly. Cats are resourceful creatures and will find a way to thrive, no matter the conditions. After all, these are animals that basically domesticated themselves when they learned it would make their (nine) lives easier if they gave a show of affection occasionally and meowed, sometimes a lot!

Dogs, on the other hand, are more high-maintenance.

Dogs require exercise regularly and are entirely dependent on their human for food, water and bathroom breaks. They need daily supervision and attention. On the upside, they are generous with their affection and intensely loyal.

Dogs, when properly socialized, are open and friendly, but don’t let that fool you. Dogs are intuitive judges of character and aren’t afraid to show when they don’t trust someone. They can go from wagging their tails to a crouching attack stance at the first hint of danger.

Beyond these generalizations, traits vary from breed to breed as well, so there is a significant difference in the care each pet requires of its human—double that if you have a cat and dog together. 

You’re on your way! It’s time to learn how to talk to animals. Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook – Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets 

via GIPHY

Cats and dogs are natural enemies.

Cats and dogs have a long, drawn out history of being natural enemies. When cats and dogs encounter one another, their natural instinct is to revert to fight-or-flight mode. It’s biological and not something you can totally eliminate. When putting a cat and dog together for the first time, you must facilitate it carefully. Make sure your cat knows where its escape route is, and you may want to keep your dog on a leash.

Cats and dogs have different styles of play.

This is a huge factor to consider. Different styles of play can result in frequent altercations when you have a cat and dog together. Cats and dogs have distinct preferences for games that are very different: cats prefer to stalk and pounce while dogs like to chase and run after things. Why does this matter so much, you ask? 

Well, for one, this means there are bound to be misunderstandings between the two. A dog chasing after a cat may think he and his new friend are just playing, but the cat might be absolutely terrified. 

On the other hand, a dog might be confused and hurt as to why the cat keeps swiping him whenever he approaches. What he doesn’t realize is he’s getting too close into the cat’s personal space. These misinterpretations could go on forever and the only way to fix them would be to set some ground rules in the household and train both pets.

These are just a few reasons why you should not have a cat and dog together. 

But the main reason is there’s a lot of risk involved, not just for both animals, but for the peace and harmony in your household. Should you decide to go ahead and get a dog and a cat anyway, just be aware that you will have your work cut out for you! 

<><> Update!

From the feedback we’ve gotten on this post, it seems that many of our animal loving readers disagree!

Not just a little disagreement, but strongly disagree!

Good for you!  I’m loving the discussion, keep it coming.

Here’s the thing:  I don’t disagree with you.

However, from a professional animal communicator’s viewpoint whose specialty is solving problems with pets including these kinds of problems, here’s what you could be missing from this discussion.

Let me explain a bit more:

We didn’t mean to imply that you could never, ever have both dogs and cats together, only that it requires more work to do it the right way and keep everyone safe and happy.

So, if you’re going to do it anyway, here’s a few more guidelines to avoid trouble:Solve Problems with Your Pet

  1.  You must know up front that both animals of each species are open and willing to be friends with each other.  That requires discussing it with them in advance.  And to do that right, you have to be able to communicate with them.  If your dog has a strong prejudice against cats and only wants to kill them on sight, you’ve got a serious problem to sort out.  Don’t condemn a cat to violent death by not handling this ahead of time, or put your dog at risk from being scratched and bullied or terrorized by your kitty either!
  2.  Establish the ground rules for engagement, and proper house rules for good boundaries, limitations and clarity.  Again, this requires a conversation and sometimes a negotiation.  It also requires you to be vigilant and consistent, paying attention to the dynamics between your cat and dog.  Provide proper direction and guidance to sooth over the rough spots.  Every relationship has rough spots now and then, but if you don’t catch it in time to redirect aggression with your pets, then they will likely escalate their concerns and keep taunting and teasing each other until somebody snaps.  You don’t want that.
  3.  When you introduce the cat to your dog, hold them securely and possessively in your arms.  Tell your dog that this cat is MINE.  Claim ownership and confer protected status to the cat so your dog knows to hold them with respect.  Problems come when dogs are triggered in to chase and hunt instincts, so when the kitty runs the dog chases.  If the dog catches the cat, they can easily kill them.  Or the cat can scratch the dogs eyes out.  Not good. You don’t want that either.

Abide by these principles and all should be well!

So yes for the naysayers, you’re right.  Dogs and cats and all kinds of species can in fact live happily together but only when proper preparation, respect, leadership and good pet parenting is in place.

Otherwise it can be more like a pet disaster and nobody wants that, including your pets.

It’s time to learn how to talk to animals. Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook – Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets 

.

Enjoyed this article? Here are some other popular posts you might like:

Time travel is the best superpower to help abused animals heal negative emotions.

Three fundamental animal talk principles.

Easing stress for you and your pets in challenging times.

TV for Dogs: Does Your Dog Even Care?

Have you ever wondered about TV for dogs, and whether or not it is actually beneficial for your furrkid companions? 

Whether you’re cheering on your favorite football team or binge-watching the latest crime drama or laughing at the funny bits or crying with the tear jerkers, every dog guardian knows that often their dog comes running when the TV is switched on. 

But why do they do this? Is it because they just want to cuddle with you, or is there really something to TV for dogs? 

TV Dog

DOGTV – yes or no?

The idea that dogs actually enjoy watching TV—and that they need something to occupy them while they’re home alone and bored all day—is the concept behind DOGTV.

As the website explains, DOGTV is the first-ever network specially designed with only your four-legged friends in mind. Digital TV programs play round the clock so that when you head off to work in the morning or for a night out, TV for dogs will keep them company and entertained until you get back. 

This in turn will keep them happy, relaxed, and stress-free while you’re away.

What a relief, right? Who wouldn’t want such an easy and simple way to keep their dogs happy?

Another way to help them be happy, relaxed and entertained is to learn how to speak their language!  You can be your own dog whisperer – Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook 

The possible benefits of TV for dogs

You may be wondering if TV for dogs is something that will really help your beloved dog, and if paying for yet another entertainment service is worth it.

As Evan MacLean, co-director of the Duke Canine Cognition Center notes, TV for dogs may be beneficial for canines who spend a lot of time at home by themselves.

Older TVs are more difficult for dogs to watch due to the way their eyes are constructed. The newer high definition models have better refresh rates. This may make it easier for your dogs to actually see the images that are on the screen.

dog in chair

Unlike the shows you watch, DOGTV was specifically created with dogs in mind. 

For instance, shows that are meant to be stimulating for dogs might show their fellow canines chasing balls or Frisbees on the beach, with lots of dog centered action going on.

Or a more relaxing show would show calm landscapes with classical music playing and dogs enjoying a lovely day which has been shown in studies to be calming for dogs.

Additionally, some TV for dogs shows are meant for help with desensitization games with exposure.  Meaning, they help your pets get used to scary, real-life stimuli like vacuum cleaners or thunderstorms or fireworks. 

The possible disadvantages of TV for dogs 

Yes, TV for dogs is a very interesting idea. But it seems to be more designed to make people feel better about leaving their pets at home rather than actually benefiting your dogs.

Even if you feel less guilty about leaving your precious friend home alone for hours, leaving DOGTV running all day may not be the answer.

Truthfully, most dogs aren’t interested in watching TV while you’re not there. They’d rather catch up on their sleep so they’re nice and rested and ready for action when you get home. 

So in fact, having TV for dogs playing all day might be more of a disturbance or annoyance for your dogs more than it will interest them.

Furthermore, many dogs are not visual creatures like humans are, explains an article on Slate. They do not react to the TV just like they may not react to your voice on the phone. Whatever they can’t smell doesn’t exist to them. They experience their world with their senses and noses, not flashing images on a screen.

So, while it may seem like your dogs love to watch television because they come running when they hear the NFL theme song, chances are good it’s because they want to snuggle with you for a few hours, not that they’re interested in what the score is.

Download my FREE Ebook Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Dogs – just click on the picture below!


Learn How to Talk with Animals

How do you know for sure whether your dog likes it or not?

ASK them!  All dogs are unique individuals, and some like watching TV more than others who don’t care about TV at all. 

Learn how to talk to dogs! It’s easy as 1-2-3!  Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets 

 

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more you might find helpful:

Time travel is the best superpower to help abused animals heal negative emotions.

Horse sense for humans.

Animal communication training; protect your pet from predatory pests.

This article has been updated from a previously published version.

Learn More

TV for Dogs: Does Your Dog Even Care?

Have you ever wondered about TV for dogs, and whether or not it is actually beneficial for your furrkid companions? 

Whether you’re cheering on your favorite football team or binge-watching the latest crime drama or laughing at the funny bits or crying with the tear jerkers, every dog guardian knows that often their dog comes running when the TV is switched on. 

But why do they do this? Is it because they just want to cuddle with you, or is there really something to TV for dogs? 

TV Dog

DOGTV – yes or no?

The idea that dogs actually enjoy watching TV—and that they need something to occupy them while they’re home alone and bored all day—is the concept behind DOGTV.

As the website explains, DOGTV is the first-ever network specially designed with only your four-legged friends in mind. Digital TV programs play round the clock so that when you head off to work in the morning or for a night out, TV for dogs will keep them company and entertained until you get back. 

This in turn will keep them happy, relaxed, and stress-free while you’re away.

What a relief, right? Who wouldn’t want such an easy and simple way to keep their dogs happy?

Another way to help them be happy, relaxed and entertained is to learn how to speak their language!  You can be your own dog whisperer – Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook 

The possible benefits of TV for dogs

You may be wondering if TV for dogs is something that will really help your beloved dog, and if paying for yet another entertainment service is worth it.

As Evan MacLean, co-director of the Duke Canine Cognition Center notes, TV for dogs may be beneficial for canines who spend a lot of time at home by themselves.

Older TVs are more difficult for dogs to watch due to the way their eyes are constructed. The newer high definition models have better refresh rates. This may make it easier for your dogs to actually see the images that are on the screen.

dog in chair

Unlike the shows you watch, DOGTV was specifically created with dogs in mind. 

For instance, shows that are meant to be stimulating for dogs might show their fellow canines chasing balls or Frisbees on the beach, with lots of dog centered action going on.

Or a more relaxing show would show calm landscapes with classical music playing and dogs enjoying a lovely day which has been shown in studies to be calming for dogs.

Additionally, some TV for dogs shows are meant for help with desensitization games with exposure.  Meaning, they help your pets get used to scary, real-life stimuli like vacuum cleaners or thunderstorms or fireworks. 

The possible disadvantages of TV for dogs 

Yes, TV for dogs is a very interesting idea. But it seems to be more designed to make people feel better about leaving their pets at home rather than actually benefiting your dogs.

Even if you feel less guilty about leaving your precious friend home alone for hours, leaving DOGTV running all day may not be the answer.

Truthfully, most dogs aren’t interested in watching TV while you’re not there. They’d rather catch up on their sleep so they’re nice and rested and ready for action when you get home. 

So in fact, having TV for dogs playing all day might be more of a disturbance or annoyance for your dogs more than it will interest them.

Furthermore, many dogs are not visual creatures like humans are, explains an article on Slate. They do not react to the TV just like they may not react to your voice on the phone. Whatever they can’t smell doesn’t exist to them. They experience their world with their senses and noses, not flashing images on a screen.

So, while it may seem like your dogs love to watch television because they come running when they hear the NFL theme song, chances are good it’s because they want to snuggle with you for a few hours, not that they’re interested in what the score is.

Download my FREE Ebook Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Dogs – just click on the picture below!


Learn How to Talk with Animals

How do you know for sure whether your dog likes it or not?

ASK them!  All dogs are unique individuals, and some like watching TV more than others who don’t care about TV at all. 

Learn how to talk to dogs! It’s easy as 1-2-3!  Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication® with your free ebook Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets 

 

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more you might find helpful:

Time travel is the best superpower to help abused animals heal negative emotions.

Horse sense for humans.

Animal communication training; protect your pet from predatory pests.

This article has been updated from a previously published version.

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

Do you know how to calm down a dog in the event of fireworks or storms? How about a dog that is filled with fear and panic?

If you have a dog that is afraid of fireworks, knowing how to calm down a dog is an essential skill that not everyone knows how to do. Being an animal communicator for years, I’ve learned many different ways to calm down a dog, with varying degrees of success. I only keep and use the techniques that work really well, like this one. The one I’m going to teach you in this post is the simplest, and it’s very effective.

How to soothe your dog’s panic

I’ve spent the last few posts talking about pets’ fear of fireworks and other loud noises. This terrible panic can overwhelm your pets and even cost them their life.

Not mention the panic that you as their caretaker endure, along with the fear, worry, dread, and frustration that can cause.

One of my favorite techniques for helping to calm animals who are in shock and can’t think clearly, or are hugely overstimulated, is this.

I call it the Feel My Hand Technique.

(I teach this and many other wonderful healing techniques in the Advanced Animal Talk Mastery Course along with many other animal communication techniques).

It’s especially useful for animals who are in shock, who are so filled with fear that they have lost track of where they are; they’re lost in their head, possibly injured, and are severely hyperstimulated and disconnected.

I once saved the lives of two three-month-old bobcat cubs using this technique.

And I also used it with huge success with an abused school horse, and with so many other cases too! But those are stories for another day.

One of my clients used it with their out of control, fear-stricken dog. They were afraid she would have a heart attack, which often happens when an animal is frightened out of their mind.

The dog only felt slightly more safe in the bathtub, so they crouched there alongside her for hours as she trembled like a leaf, crying and panted like a bellows.

Before they tried the Feel My Hand Technique, the dog would normally stay in the tub for hours, sometimes even days…, as long as the noise continued, which could be all night (or even multiple nights). It was a nightmare situation for them.

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

How to calm down a dog: the Feel My Hand Technique really works!

But after they tried my healing technique?

As a result, within just a few minutes, their pet was calmer and breathing more normally. They survived another fireworks event, with much less stress and anxiety, for them and their pet.

So how does this calm down technique work?

For instance, it’s helpful to begin doing this at other times when your dog is not in a panic, so they can more easily relax into it once they know what you’re doing and how it feels. But if they are in a full-blown fear state and unable to calm down, then it will help then too.

The 7 Steps of the Feel My Hand Technique work like this:

1) If the pet is conscious, ask permission to touch them.

Speak out loud in a soft loving voice, not so loud that you’re yelling at them and not so soft that they can’t hear you over their panic state.

If they are not conscious (maybe they are in a coma just like the bobcat cubs were), then ask them out loud or in your mind: “May I touch you?”

Getting their permission is important. They need to be aware of you on some level, and willing to connect, to let you near them.

2) When you feel or sense a response from them indicating that yes, that would be okay, place your hand somewhere on their body and feel their body and energy.

Let yourself connect deeply. Let your energy merge with theirs. Notice how their body feels, their warmth (or coolness). Notice the energy flowing in their body, where it is strong, and where it is weak.

Take this moment to find your own peace within so you can share it with them.

3) Ask them to feel your hand.

Then wait until you sense that their awareness has shifted to your hand.

You may feel more warmth if the area was cold or numb before, or a normalizing of over heated areas. As you continue you’ll notice that the agitated energy begins to smooth out and settle.

You may not notice much at this point and that’s okay. Be patient and stay with it.

4) Calmly, confidently, and patiently wait for them to respond energetically.

Breath deeply, feel your own peace, and relax.  Mentally connect with your hand, or listen for them to tell you they can feel your hand.

5) Tell them, “Thank you.”

6) Lift your hand slowly and calmly, then move to a new spot on their body.

Do steps 2 – 5 again.

7) Repeat the process.

Your animal will be calmer and more settled, and their breathing will change to be more normal as they calm down.

Anyone can do this.

For more tips on how to calm down a dog, check out this post, and this post.

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

Try it right now with your pet and see what happens, for you AND for them.

Now is the perfect time to teach yourself how to calm down a dog who is scared or panicking. Seriously, even if they aren’t terrified right now—begin practicing right now so you both get the hang of it and you’ll be ready to spring into action the next time there’s a fireworks night or a thunderstorm or unsettling noise.

There is always room for more peace and calm in our lives, right?

Because once you’ve figured out how this feels, when they are calm and can connect with you when they’re thinking straight, you’ll have a much better chance of helping them when they’re freaking out.

Observe all the things that are happening for both of you as you practice the technique. What changes? How do you feel before, during, and after?

More importantly, how do they feel? What do they do? How do they respond? Notice everything, and notice all the differences that occur every time you use the technique. All this information will help you master this technique and be a true ally to your pet.

Helping your animal’s body calm down is only half the puzzle.

Helping their mind to heal is the next step in solving this worrisome problem that will take your pets healing to a much deeper level.

So you won’t have to worry about them with fireworks (or thunder or other noise phobias) ever again.

I have an even better solution for you below that will make a HUGE difference in healing their mind as well as their body.

If you’re ready to crank up your intuitive abilities, heal, evolve, grow personally as well as get help solving this and other pet behavior and health problems too, here are 4 action steps to take now:

1. Would you like to work with me privately? Here’s how:

Work with me 1 on 1 privately My specialty is solving problems with animals using the HEART System to improve health, behavior, and performance, and to ease transitions. I also coach animal talk students to improve their intuitive abilities.

2. Would you like to learn how to communicate with animals yourself?

Begin with the complete Beginning Core Foundations Course!

3. Want help with your pet, coaching, and answers to your questions as you grow your animal communication intuitive abilities?

Join the BEST Online Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Club

THE place to be when you have questions, feel stuck or blocked, want animals to practice communicating with to boost your confidence and accuracy, or you are struggling to solve pet problems! Choose from 3 levels of membership. Gold and Platinum members get monthly live Q&A Coaching Calls and Platinum members advance quickly with the monthly Masterclasses including Advanced Techniques on Solving Fear of Fireworks, Storms, and Noises. You’ll get ongoing training, a loving, worldwide community of animal talk students to help you with your pets, and opportunities to earn free private sessions with me too!

4. Want more?

The Heart School of Animal Communication® offers a variety of great specialty topics to help you, like Overcoming Fear of Fireworks, Storms and Noise Phobias, Animal Communication Made Easy introduction course, Coping with Pet Loss, 3 Easy Ways to Heal Pets using Animal Talk and Animal Reiki, Barometers of our Souls: Exploring the mysteries of the Human-Animal BodyMind Connection, and more! Click to see the School Catalog. 

Problem Solving with Pets

Enjoyed this article? Here are some other popular posts you might like:

Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks and Storms: Stressful For Pets and Humans

Is Your Pet Afraid of Fireworks or Storms?

11 Tips on How to Help Your Pet With Fear of Fireworks, Storms and Loud Noises

Learn More

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

Do you know how to calm down a dog in the event of fireworks or storms? How about a dog that is filled with fear and panic?

If you have a dog that is afraid of fireworks, knowing how to calm down a dog is an essential skill that not everyone knows how to do. Being an animal communicator for years, I’ve learned many different ways to calm down a dog, with varying degrees of success. I only keep and use the techniques that work really well, like this one. The one I’m going to teach you in this post is the simplest, and it’s very effective.

How to soothe your dog’s panic

I’ve spent the last few posts talking about pets’ fear of fireworks and other loud noises. This terrible panic can overwhelm your pets and even cost them their life.

Not mention the panic that you as their caretaker endure, along with the fear, worry, dread, and frustration that can cause.

One of my favorite techniques for helping to calm animals who are in shock and can’t think clearly, or are hugely overstimulated, is this.

I call it the Feel My Hand Technique.

(I teach this and many other wonderful healing techniques in the Advanced Animal Talk Mastery Course along with many other animal communication techniques).

It’s especially useful for animals who are in shock, who are so filled with fear that they have lost track of where they are; they’re lost in their head, possibly injured, and are severely hyperstimulated and disconnected.

I once saved the lives of two three-month-old bobcat cubs using this technique.

And I also used it with huge success with an abused school horse, and with so many other cases too! But those are stories for another day.

One of my clients used it with their out of control, fear-stricken dog. They were afraid she would have a heart attack, which often happens when an animal is frightened out of their mind.

The dog only felt slightly more safe in the bathtub, so they crouched there alongside her for hours as she trembled like a leaf, crying and panted like a bellows.

Before they tried the Feel My Hand Technique, the dog would normally stay in the tub for hours, sometimes even days…, as long as the noise continued, which could be all night (or even multiple nights). It was a nightmare situation for them.

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

How to calm down a dog: the Feel My Hand Technique really works!

But after they tried my healing technique?

As a result, within just a few minutes, their pet was calmer and breathing more normally. They survived another fireworks event, with much less stress and anxiety, for them and their pet.

So how does this calm down technique work?

For instance, it’s helpful to begin doing this at other times when your dog is not in a panic, so they can more easily relax into it once they know what you’re doing and how it feels. But if they are in a full-blown fear state and unable to calm down, then it will help then too.

The 7 Steps of the Feel My Hand Technique work like this:

1) If the pet is conscious, ask permission to touch them.

Speak out loud in a soft loving voice, not so loud that you’re yelling at them and not so soft that they can’t hear you over their panic state.

If they are not conscious (maybe they are in a coma just like the bobcat cubs were), then ask them out loud or in your mind: “May I touch you?”

Getting their permission is important. They need to be aware of you on some level, and willing to connect, to let you near them.

2) When you feel or sense a response from them indicating that yes, that would be okay, place your hand somewhere on their body and feel their body and energy.

Let yourself connect deeply. Let your energy merge with theirs. Notice how their body feels, their warmth (or coolness). Notice the energy flowing in their body, where it is strong, and where it is weak.

Take this moment to find your own peace within so you can share it with them.

3) Ask them to feel your hand.

Then wait until you sense that their awareness has shifted to your hand.

You may feel more warmth if the area was cold or numb before, or a normalizing of over heated areas. As you continue you’ll notice that the agitated energy begins to smooth out and settle.

You may not notice much at this point and that’s okay. Be patient and stay with it.

4) Calmly, confidently, and patiently wait for them to respond energetically.

Breath deeply, feel your own peace, and relax.  Mentally connect with your hand, or listen for them to tell you they can feel your hand.

5) Tell them, “Thank you.”

6) Lift your hand slowly and calmly, then move to a new spot on their body.

Do steps 2 – 5 again.

7) Repeat the process.

Your animal will be calmer and more settled, and their breathing will change to be more normal as they calm down.

Anyone can do this.

For more tips on how to calm down a dog, check out this post, and this post.

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

Try it right now with your pet and see what happens, for you AND for them.

Now is the perfect time to teach yourself how to calm down a dog who is scared or panicking. Seriously, even if they aren’t terrified right now—begin practicing right now so you both get the hang of it and you’ll be ready to spring into action the next time there’s a fireworks night or a thunderstorm or unsettling noise.

There is always room for more peace and calm in our lives, right?

Because once you’ve figured out how this feels, when they are calm and can connect with you when they’re thinking straight, you’ll have a much better chance of helping them when they’re freaking out.

Observe all the things that are happening for both of you as you practice the technique. What changes? How do you feel before, during, and after?

More importantly, how do they feel? What do they do? How do they respond? Notice everything, and notice all the differences that occur every time you use the technique. All this information will help you master this technique and be a true ally to your pet.

Helping your animal’s body calm down is only half the puzzle.

Helping their mind to heal is the next step in solving this worrisome problem that will take your pets healing to a much deeper level.

So you won’t have to worry about them with fireworks (or thunder or other noise phobias) ever again.

I have an even better solution for you below that will make a HUGE difference in healing their mind as well as their body.

If you’re ready to crank up your intuitive abilities, heal, evolve, grow personally as well as get help solving this and other pet behavior and health problems too, here are 4 action steps to take now:

1. Would you like to work with me privately? Here’s how:

Work with me 1 on 1 privately My specialty is solving problems with animals using the HEART System to improve health, behavior, and performance, and to ease transitions. I also coach animal talk students to improve their intuitive abilities.

2. Would you like to learn how to communicate with animals yourself?

Begin with the complete Beginning Core Foundations Course!

3. Want help with your pet, coaching, and answers to your questions as you grow your animal communication intuitive abilities?

Join the BEST Online Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Club

THE place to be when you have questions, feel stuck or blocked, want animals to practice communicating with to boost your confidence and accuracy, or you are struggling to solve pet problems! Choose from 3 levels of membership. Gold and Platinum members get monthly live Q&A Coaching Calls and Platinum members advance quickly with the monthly Masterclasses including Advanced Techniques on Solving Fear of Fireworks, Storms, and Noises. You’ll get ongoing training, a loving, worldwide community of animal talk students to help you with your pets, and opportunities to earn free private sessions with me too!

4. Want more?

The Heart School of Animal Communication® offers a variety of great specialty topics to help you, like Overcoming Fear of Fireworks, Storms and Noise Phobias, Animal Communication Made Easy introduction course, Coping with Pet Loss, 3 Easy Ways to Heal Pets using Animal Talk and Animal Reiki, Barometers of our Souls: Exploring the mysteries of the Human-Animal BodyMind Connection, and more! Click to see the School Catalog. 

Problem Solving with Pets

Enjoyed this article? Here are some other popular posts you might like:

Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks and Storms: Stressful For Pets and Humans

Is Your Pet Afraid of Fireworks or Storms?

11 Tips on How to Help Your Pet With Fear of Fireworks, Storms and Loud Noises

Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks and Storms: Stressful For Pets and Humans

Dog anxiety can be so painful if it is your dog who is suffering. Dog stress around fireworks is very common. It is also a very common time for animals to get lost, injured, or killed as they run in panic, thinking that the sky is falling down.

dog anxiety hiding scaredAnd you, as their caretaker, can feel helpless too. No matter what you do to soothe them, they don’t seem to hear you.

This is the worst time of year for shelters and rescue organizations as well—more animals get lost and go missing during fireworks celebrations than at any other time of the year.

How to heal dog anxiety

If your dog anxiety is because they are afraid of fireworks, storms, or other noises, I’m sure you’ve tried everything. You’ve tried talking to them—you told them not to worry, everything is okay, please calm down.

“They’re just fireworks (or thunder or…)! Please stop freaking out, it’s just noise and a light show in the sky!”

How’d that work out for you?

Did they listen to you and immediately calm down? Or did they completely ignore you and continue shaking, running around looking for an escape, and hiding?

If you don’t know how to communicate with dogs properly by speaking their language in a way that they can hear and understand, then I doubt you had much success.

You may also have tried the drugs route and requested something from your vet to help calm dog anxiety around fireworks, storms, and other noise phobia problems.

And you tried them, but anti-anxiety meds can put them into a sleepy, catatonic state, and may not prevent them from running away, freaking out or hurting themselves or others.

Even worse, you have to be there to give the medication to them. But what if the scary things happen when you’re not there?

Medications that numb them out or slow them down… but they’re still scared inside don’t help long term. And sometimes they don’t even help in the short term.

That’s because the drugs don’t solve the real underlying problems, they only dull down the symptoms to make it easier for everyone to deal with the poor suffering anxious dog.

And even worse, prescription drugs for dog anxiety are not safe

They take a toll on your animal’s kidneys and liver and can make them very sick over time.

So what can you do?

via GIPHY

First, realize that the real problem isn’t the noise. It’s the conversation they are having inside their heads about how they’re going to die.

How the sky is falling. We’re all in imminent danger because it’s the end of the world.

How nowhere is safe, and mom or dad aren’t listening to me, they don’t understand, they can’t protect or help me… I have to run and hide before the world blows up.

If you have a precious pet who is afraid of fireworks, check out my 50-minute Helping Pets Overcome Fear of Fireworks, Thunder, and Noise Phobias Course. Helping your pet overcome their fear of loud noises is one of the best things you can do for them.

Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks—Stressful For Pets and Humans

When the noise in their heads is louder than your voice, they can’t hear you

By not being able to communicate with your pet heart to heart, mind to mind, you can’t address their fears in a real meaningful way. When they are in a world of fear and noise, all they can hear is their own terrified voice inside their heads. All your attempts to settle their nerves and calm them go flying right out the window in the face of their huge, overwhelming fight-flight-survival fears.

It is so painful knowing that you may be living with a beloved animal who is trapped inside their own world of fear (or perhaps your friends are).

It is truly a nightmare situation and can make even the most experienced, loving dog guardian feel frustrated and helpless.

I know this feeling very well because I’ve worked with thousands of animals and their loving caretakers in similar situations, solving their animal’s fears and restoring ease, peace, and well-being.

In every one of these cases, I was able to ease their suffering and help them find their peace. Through the healing art of animal communication, they discovered how to not be afraid and to embrace living in a brand new reality.

It is really a life-changing experience — transforming nightmares, fear, and panic to acceptance, calm, and ease. The results last a lifetime without harmful side effects or the ongoing expense or time management concerns like administering drugs.

And they’ve continued to make a difference, no matter what the weather or what the crazy people are doing with their BANG BOOM POP fireworks!

Solve Problems with Your PetLearn How to Talk with Animals

Learn animal communication to ease dog anxiety so you can help heal their mind

You can learn to do this too. You can learn to listen and talk with your pets, so you can together improve and enrich your lives in so many ways.

Your ability to understand animals and improve your skills in communicating with them will help you solve this problem and many others like them. It can go a long way toward helping them find their inner peace, calm, and settle so they can be safe, happy, and healthy.

In the next post, I’ll give you a technique that can help your pet be safe, calm, cool, and collected, no matter what h*ll is breaking loose around them in the sky.

If you’re ready to start your journey in the wonderful world of Animal Communication, it’s time to start!

Download my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE.

Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course.

All The Heart School of Animal Communication® courses are fully guaranteed, so there’s no risk of taking the next step.

Enjoyed this article? Here are some other popular posts you might like:

How to Calm Down a Dog on Fireworks night

Is Your Pet Afraid of Fireworks or Storms?

Easing stress for you and your pets in challenging times.

Learn More

Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks and Storms: Stressful For Pets and Humans

Dog anxiety can be so painful if it is your dog who is suffering. Dog stress around fireworks is very common. It is also a very common time for animals to get lost, injured, or killed as they run in panic, thinking that the sky is falling down.

dog anxiety hiding scaredAnd you, as their caretaker, can feel helpless too. No matter what you do to soothe them, they don’t seem to hear you.

This is the worst time of year for shelters and rescue organizations as well—more animals get lost and go missing during fireworks celebrations than at any other time of the year.

How to heal dog anxiety

If your dog anxiety is because they are afraid of fireworks, storms, or other noises, I’m sure you’ve tried everything. You’ve tried talking to them—you told them not to worry, everything is okay, please calm down.

“They’re just fireworks (or thunder or…)! Please stop freaking out, it’s just noise and a light show in the sky!”

How’d that work out for you?

Did they listen to you and immediately calm down? Or did they completely ignore you and continue shaking, running around looking for an escape, and hiding?

If you don’t know how to communicate with dogs properly by speaking their language in a way that they can hear and understand, then I doubt you had much success.

You may also have tried the drugs route and requested something from your vet to help calm dog anxiety around fireworks, storms, and other noise phobia problems.

And you tried them, but anti-anxiety meds can put them into a sleepy, catatonic state, and may not prevent them from running away, freaking out or hurting themselves or others.

Even worse, you have to be there to give the medication to them. But what if the scary things happen when you’re not there?

Medications that numb them out or slow them down… but they’re still scared inside don’t help long term. And sometimes they don’t even help in the short term.

That’s because the drugs don’t solve the real underlying problems, they only dull down the symptoms to make it easier for everyone to deal with the poor suffering anxious dog.

And even worse, prescription drugs for dog anxiety are not safe

They take a toll on your animal’s kidneys and liver and can make them very sick over time.

So what can you do?

via GIPHY

First, realize that the real problem isn’t the noise. It’s the conversation they are having inside their heads about how they’re going to die.

How the sky is falling. We’re all in imminent danger because it’s the end of the world.

How nowhere is safe, and mom or dad aren’t listening to me, they don’t understand, they can’t protect or help me… I have to run and hide before the world blows up.

If you have a precious pet who is afraid of fireworks, check out my 50-minute Helping Pets Overcome Fear of Fireworks, Thunder, and Noise Phobias Course. Helping your pet overcome their fear of loud noises is one of the best things you can do for them.

Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks—Stressful For Pets and Humans

When the noise in their heads is louder than your voice, they can’t hear you

By not being able to communicate with your pet heart to heart, mind to mind, you can’t address their fears in a real meaningful way. When they are in a world of fear and noise, all they can hear is their own terrified voice inside their heads. All your attempts to settle their nerves and calm them go flying right out the window in the face of their huge, overwhelming fight-flight-survival fears.

It is so painful knowing that you may be living with a beloved animal who is trapped inside their own world of fear (or perhaps your friends are).

It is truly a nightmare situation and can make even the most experienced, loving dog guardian feel frustrated and helpless.

I know this feeling very well because I’ve worked with thousands of animals and their loving caretakers in similar situations, solving their animal’s fears and restoring ease, peace, and well-being.

In every one of these cases, I was able to ease their suffering and help them find their peace. Through the healing art of animal communication, they discovered how to not be afraid and to embrace living in a brand new reality.

It is really a life-changing experience — transforming nightmares, fear, and panic to acceptance, calm, and ease. The results last a lifetime without harmful side effects or the ongoing expense or time management concerns like administering drugs.

And they’ve continued to make a difference, no matter what the weather or what the crazy people are doing with their BANG BOOM POP fireworks!

Solve Problems with Your PetLearn How to Talk with Animals

Learn animal communication to ease dog anxiety so you can help heal their mind

You can learn to do this too. You can learn to listen and talk with your pets, so you can together improve and enrich your lives in so many ways.

Your ability to understand animals and improve your skills in communicating with them will help you solve this problem and many others like them. It can go a long way toward helping them find their inner peace, calm, and settle so they can be safe, happy, and healthy.

In the next post, I’ll give you a technique that can help your pet be safe, calm, cool, and collected, no matter what h*ll is breaking loose around them in the sky.

If you’re ready to start your journey in the wonderful world of Animal Communication, it’s time to start!

Download my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE.

Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course.

All The Heart School of Animal Communication® courses are fully guaranteed, so there’s no risk of taking the next step.

Enjoyed this article? Here are some other popular posts you might like:

How to Calm Down a Dog on Fireworks night

Is Your Pet Afraid of Fireworks or Storms?

Easing stress for you and your pets in challenging times.

Is Your Pet Afraid of Fireworks or Storms?

Having a pet afraid of fireworks can be so stressful, and not just for the animal. I can tell you—watching your furry companion, suffering, panicking, and running in fear of loud noises is no fun. It can be downright scary and dangerous for them and everyone around them.

A pet afraid of fireworks and storms can end in tragedy

is your pet afraid of fireworks and storms?

Independence Day, New Years Day, and other celebrations can be a fun holiday for many people around the world. But it is also the time of year that strikes dread into the hearts of many animal lovers.

Because holidays like Independence Day and New Years Day also means fireworks.

And if you have a pet afraid of fireworks, you have good reason to be concerned.

Many animals are so terrified of the loud, frightening BOOMS that they run away from home only to get lost, severely injured, or killed in their panic.

It’s so sad because they were just desperately trying to find somewhere safe to hide, to run away from the terrors in the sky.

It’s the worst time of year for shelters and rescue organizations too.

In fact, more animals get lost and go missing during fireworks celebrations than at any other time of the year.

Isn’t that heartbreaking?

Equally devastating and way more unpredictable in their timing are thunderstorms with booming peals of thunder and lightning lighting up the sky. That too can scare animals into a complete and full-blown panic, as can other noise phobias.

Many fearful, terrified pets begin freaking out before the storm even arrives. In the madness, they can become destructive, to themselves and your property.

Maybe you have a pet afraid of fireworks, or you know someone who does… and you’re thinking ahead to the Fourth of July (or the next holiday) with dread, not sure what to do?

Maybe you think you’ve tried everything. You’ve done training, taught calming cues and signals, and offered reassurance techniques, but nothing has worked and they are still afraid and react to the noises with panic.

And you’re afraid for their healthy, safety and wellbeing

Maybe you’ve even resorted to using drugs. But what if you’re not there to give it to them when they’re afraid it doesn’t help, and you can’t keep them drugged ALL the time, right?

What if the drug isn’t working, it’s too expensive or has harmful side effects? That’s not good either.

Or maybe you just don’t know if they’re working or not, because your pet friend can’t tell you how they’re feeling.

Learn how to speak your pets language so you can help heal their mind through communicating with them.  Start by downloading my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Animals – just click on the picture below!


Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course

A pet afraid of fireworks or storms can suffer health problems

It goes beyond just the panic reaction.

Fear itself takes a huge toll on a pet’s nervous system, bodymind, and their emotions. Ultimately, all the stress from fear can sabotage their immune system so they are more vulnerable to illness, pathogens, and disease.

Learning how to help your pet overcome their fear of fireworks, storms/thunder and any kind of noise phobias is the kindest, most loving, and compassionate, BEST thing you can do for them.

You could even save their life.

CBD Oil Helps Pet Afraid of FireworksOne other wonderful thing you can do to help is give them high-quality CBD oil. CBD oil helps relax their nerves, chill and take the edge off.

The problem is you have to start ahead of time to build up their system. To do that, you need to have some on hand and get them started on it ASAP, which means you need to order it right now.

Before you do…

Beware! Not all CBD oil products are created equally – you need the BEST oil for your pet!

Many have fillers, nasty bits in the ingredients (or not enough of the good stuff), and are very low-quality oils that don’t help at all.

They can even hurt your pet.

CBD for pets isn’t regulated the same way oil for humans is, so they aren’t tested properly because the companies are out to make a quick buck on the CBD bandwagon.

My FAVORITE CBD Oil company is CTFO. 

I trust CTFO’s products implicitly because I’ve seen them work really really well, and I use them personally.  I also trust them because of their third party testing and impeccable standards.

It’s like a really cool CHILL PILL for puppies. Works for kitties too. And horses. And people!!

If you tried CBD before and it didn’t work so well, you gotta check out my blog post on CBD Oil and how to use it properly.  Because not only do you need the best quality, after that HOW you use it can make all the difference in the world. 

Do you have a precious pet who is afraid of fireworks?  Check out my Helping Pets Overcome Fear of Fireworks, Thunder, and Noise Phobias Course. Because helping your pet overcome their fear of loud noises is one of the best things you can do for them.  Healing their body is important, but healing their mind is critically important. 

Did you enjoy this article? Here are some more you might enjoy:

Check out my blog post with 11 Tips to help your pet with their fear of fireworks, storms and noise phobias: Go Here Now.

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks and Storms: Stressful For Pets and Humans

Five critical animal whisperer questions to ask your pet.

Learn More

Is Your Pet Afraid of Fireworks or Storms?

Having a pet afraid of fireworks can be so stressful, and not just for the animal. I can tell you—watching your furry companion, suffering, panicking, and running in fear of loud noises is no fun. It can be downright scary and dangerous for them and everyone around them.

A pet afraid of fireworks and storms can end in tragedy

is your pet afraid of fireworks and storms?

Independence Day, New Years Day, and other celebrations can be a fun holiday for many people around the world. But it is also the time of year that strikes dread into the hearts of many animal lovers.

Because holidays like Independence Day and New Years Day also means fireworks.

And if you have a pet afraid of fireworks, you have good reason to be concerned.

Many animals are so terrified of the loud, frightening BOOMS that they run away from home only to get lost, severely injured, or killed in their panic.

It’s so sad because they were just desperately trying to find somewhere safe to hide, to run away from the terrors in the sky.

It’s the worst time of year for shelters and rescue organizations too.

In fact, more animals get lost and go missing during fireworks celebrations than at any other time of the year.

Isn’t that heartbreaking?

Equally devastating and way more unpredictable in their timing are thunderstorms with booming peals of thunder and lightning lighting up the sky. That too can scare animals into a complete and full-blown panic, as can other noise phobias.

Many fearful, terrified pets begin freaking out before the storm even arrives. In the madness, they can become destructive, to themselves and your property.

Maybe you have a pet afraid of fireworks, or you know someone who does… and you’re thinking ahead to the Fourth of July (or the next holiday) with dread, not sure what to do?

Maybe you think you’ve tried everything. You’ve done training, taught calming cues and signals, and offered reassurance techniques, but nothing has worked and they are still afraid and react to the noises with panic.

And you’re afraid for their healthy, safety and wellbeing

Maybe you’ve even resorted to using drugs. But what if you’re not there to give it to them when they’re afraid it doesn’t help, and you can’t keep them drugged ALL the time, right?

What if the drug isn’t working, it’s too expensive or has harmful side effects? That’s not good either.

Or maybe you just don’t know if they’re working or not, because your pet friend can’t tell you how they’re feeling.

Learn how to speak your pets language so you can help heal their mind through communicating with them.  Start by downloading my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Animals – just click on the picture below!


Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course

A pet afraid of fireworks or storms can suffer health problems

It goes beyond just the panic reaction.

Fear itself takes a huge toll on a pet’s nervous system, bodymind, and their emotions. Ultimately, all the stress from fear can sabotage their immune system so they are more vulnerable to illness, pathogens, and disease.

Learning how to help your pet overcome their fear of fireworks, storms/thunder and any kind of noise phobias is the kindest, most loving, and compassionate, BEST thing you can do for them.

You could even save their life.

CBD Oil Helps Pet Afraid of FireworksOne other wonderful thing you can do to help is give them high-quality CBD oil. CBD oil helps relax their nerves, chill and take the edge off.

The problem is you have to start ahead of time to build up their system. To do that, you need to have some on hand and get them started on it ASAP, which means you need to order it right now.

Before you do…

Beware! Not all CBD oil products are created equally – you need the BEST oil for your pet!

Many have fillers, nasty bits in the ingredients (or not enough of the good stuff), and are very low-quality oils that don’t help at all.

They can even hurt your pet.

CBD for pets isn’t regulated the same way oil for humans is, so they aren’t tested properly because the companies are out to make a quick buck on the CBD bandwagon.

My FAVORITE CBD Oil company is CTFO. 

I trust CTFO’s products implicitly because I’ve seen them work really really well, and I use them personally.  I also trust them because of their third party testing and impeccable standards.

It’s like a really cool CHILL PILL for puppies. Works for kitties too. And horses. And people!!

If you tried CBD before and it didn’t work so well, you gotta check out my blog post on CBD Oil and how to use it properly.  Because not only do you need the best quality, after that HOW you use it can make all the difference in the world. 

Do you have a precious pet who is afraid of fireworks?  Check out my Helping Pets Overcome Fear of Fireworks, Thunder, and Noise Phobias Course. Because helping your pet overcome their fear of loud noises is one of the best things you can do for them.  Healing their body is important, but healing their mind is critically important. 

Did you enjoy this article? Here are some more you might enjoy:

Check out my blog post with 11 Tips to help your pet with their fear of fireworks, storms and noise phobias: Go Here Now.

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks and Storms: Stressful For Pets and Humans

Five critical animal whisperer questions to ask your pet.

Watch the Magic That Happened When These Elephants Reunited

An elephant’s skin can be more than an inch thick.  

But their thick skin doesn’t make them impervious to heartbreak and loneliness. And they’re able to communicate their pain – as well as joy and contentment – if you’re willing to listen.  There are some heart-warming examples of humans paying attention to elephant language, like when these elephants reunited back in 2008.

Here’s the story about Jenny and Shirley, and the lessons they taught us about an elephant’s unique personalities…and why it’s so important to learn how to communicate with animals.

via GIPHY

Elephants, the gentle giants

Elephants – the largest mammal walking the earth – are extremely social and sentimental creatures. In the wild, they’re organized in birth families, bond groups, clans, led by a matriarch. They function as interdependent groups, coming together to socialize and share information, then separating again.

If calves are forcefully separated from a wild herd they will form a strong bond with their human caregiver. They’ll look to their captor as a surrogate parent because it’s in their nature to form a trusting, mentoring bond. 

Elephants reunited after years of separation from their herd will sometimes struggle to reestablish themselves as part of a family, group, or clan. The process can be distressing…

An elephant who wished she could forget

Advocates in the United States – and around the world – are pushing for vast improvements to the rules around destructive human practices like trophy hunting and keeping elephants in captivity. There’s still much work to do, but great strides are being made…and Shirley is an excellent example.

For just one winter she had shared a bond with Jenny – who was then a calf in the same circus as Shirley – before they were separated. Shirley was later moved to the Dallas Zoo, where she briefly had a partner…but was left completely alone when her companion was sent away for breeding. 

Shirley lived a life of solitude for 22 long years. 

After tireless efforts by animal rights advocates, Shirley was brought to a sanctuary and reunited with a new herd that included Jenny. It was clear that when these elephants reunited there was instant recognition and deep affection.


Elephant communication has many layers

If you watched the video, you saw very specific physical contact between Jenny and Shirley – one of the many ways elephants communicate with their own kind. 

Elephants communicate with each other through:

  • Airborne sounds

Elephants can produce a variety of sounds, which emanate from their trunk, mouth, forehead, and chest. 

These sounds include roars, barks, clicks, purrs, rumbles, and snorts, which carry through the air. They can detect the airborne calls and recognize who is making them from a distance of 1 mile. Elephants can distinguish among the calls of family members as well as the contact calls of non-related groups.

  • Seismic 

Elephants also produce low-frequency rumbles known as seismic or infrasound, which are inaudible to the human ear. The rumble sends infrasound signals through the elephant’s feet into the ground and can carry underground for as far as 30 miles. 

Although humans can’t hear the sounds, we can feel and see the elephant’s forehead and chest vibrating.

  • Body language 

Elephants use their body, head, eyes, mouth, ears, tusks, trunk, tail, and feet to communicate with each other and other species.

  • Touch

Elephants are highly tactile, using touch when they play, express affection, reassure, act aggressively or defensively, mate, care for others, and explore.

  • Chemical

Smell is one of the elephants’ strongest senses. They pick up smells from the air and the ground, from urine and dung and from other elephants’ genitals, temporal glands, and mouths. 

Elephants can identify groups of people who pose a threat to them from their scents and use smell to keep track of family and friends. They can smell an approaching rainstorm from 150 miles away.

Source: Elephant International

So that’s how elephants communicate with other elephants. How do they communicate with us?

elephants reunited 2

Learn how to communicate with elephants…and other creatures

There are some physical and verbal cues humans can understand when trying to communicate with elephants. When those two elephants reunited you didn’t have to be an expert to see the joy and contentment Jenny and Shirley were experiencing.

But if you really want to help animals get through to humans when their needs aren’t being met, it’s helpful to have the training necessary to truly “hear” what the dog, cat, bird, iguana, or elephant is trying to say.

That’s when the help of a professional pet communicator, or training as a pet communicator, will be so helpful. When you have the skills and training, you can make a real difference in the lives of animals…you can speak for them in a voice that not everyone understands.

You can become a translator for animals in distress, and animals who see their humans in distress and want to help. It can be extremely rewarding, and in some cases can even save a life.

If you’d like to learn more about elephant – or animal – communication, there are so many resources you can access. Start your journey as a professional animal communicator and start making a difference in the lives of those who can’t always help themselves.

If you want more posts about animal communication, check out these: 

A Connection with Animals is About More Than Play and Rest
Things I’ve Learned As An Animal Whisperer By Val Heart
The Extraordinary Soul Connection I call The Human Animal BodyMind Connection

Learn More

Watch the Magic That Happened When These Elephants Reunited

An elephant’s skin can be more than an inch thick.  

But their thick skin doesn’t make them impervious to heartbreak and loneliness. And they’re able to communicate their pain – as well as joy and contentment – if you’re willing to listen.  There are some heart-warming examples of humans paying attention to elephant language, like when these elephants reunited back in 2008.

Here’s the story about Jenny and Shirley, and the lessons they taught us about an elephant’s unique personalities…and why it’s so important to learn how to communicate with animals.

via GIPHY

Elephants, the gentle giants

Elephants – the largest mammal walking the earth – are extremely social and sentimental creatures. In the wild, they’re organized in birth families, bond groups, clans, led by a matriarch. They function as interdependent groups, coming together to socialize and share information, then separating again.

If calves are forcefully separated from a wild herd they will form a strong bond with their human caregiver. They’ll look to their captor as a surrogate parent because it’s in their nature to form a trusting, mentoring bond. 

Elephants reunited after years of separation from their herd will sometimes struggle to reestablish themselves as part of a family, group, or clan. The process can be distressing…

An elephant who wished she could forget

Advocates in the United States – and around the world – are pushing for vast improvements to the rules around destructive human practices like trophy hunting and keeping elephants in captivity. There’s still much work to do, but great strides are being made…and Shirley is an excellent example.

For just one winter she had shared a bond with Jenny – who was then a calf in the same circus as Shirley – before they were separated. Shirley was later moved to the Dallas Zoo, where she briefly had a partner…but was left completely alone when her companion was sent away for breeding. 

Shirley lived a life of solitude for 22 long years. 

After tireless efforts by animal rights advocates, Shirley was brought to a sanctuary and reunited with a new herd that included Jenny. It was clear that when these elephants reunited there was instant recognition and deep affection.


Elephant communication has many layers

If you watched the video, you saw very specific physical contact between Jenny and Shirley – one of the many ways elephants communicate with their own kind. 

Elephants communicate with each other through:

  • Airborne sounds

Elephants can produce a variety of sounds, which emanate from their trunk, mouth, forehead, and chest. 

These sounds include roars, barks, clicks, purrs, rumbles, and snorts, which carry through the air. They can detect the airborne calls and recognize who is making them from a distance of 1 mile. Elephants can distinguish among the calls of family members as well as the contact calls of non-related groups.

  • Seismic 

Elephants also produce low-frequency rumbles known as seismic or infrasound, which are inaudible to the human ear. The rumble sends infrasound signals through the elephant’s feet into the ground and can carry underground for as far as 30 miles. 

Although humans can’t hear the sounds, we can feel and see the elephant’s forehead and chest vibrating.

  • Body language 

Elephants use their body, head, eyes, mouth, ears, tusks, trunk, tail, and feet to communicate with each other and other species.

  • Touch

Elephants are highly tactile, using touch when they play, express affection, reassure, act aggressively or defensively, mate, care for others, and explore.

  • Chemical

Smell is one of the elephants’ strongest senses. They pick up smells from the air and the ground, from urine and dung and from other elephants’ genitals, temporal glands, and mouths. 

Elephants can identify groups of people who pose a threat to them from their scents and use smell to keep track of family and friends. They can smell an approaching rainstorm from 150 miles away.

Source: Elephant International

So that’s how elephants communicate with other elephants. How do they communicate with us?

elephants reunited 2

Learn how to communicate with elephants…and other creatures

There are some physical and verbal cues humans can understand when trying to communicate with elephants. When those two elephants reunited you didn’t have to be an expert to see the joy and contentment Jenny and Shirley were experiencing.

But if you really want to help animals get through to humans when their needs aren’t being met, it’s helpful to have the training necessary to truly “hear” what the dog, cat, bird, iguana, or elephant is trying to say.

That’s when the help of a professional pet communicator, or training as a pet communicator, will be so helpful. When you have the skills and training, you can make a real difference in the lives of animals…you can speak for them in a voice that not everyone understands.

You can become a translator for animals in distress, and animals who see their humans in distress and want to help. It can be extremely rewarding, and in some cases can even save a life.

If you’d like to learn more about elephant – or animal – communication, there are so many resources you can access. Start your journey as a professional animal communicator and start making a difference in the lives of those who can’t always help themselves.

If you want more posts about animal communication, check out these: 

A Connection with Animals is About More Than Play and Rest
Things I’ve Learned As An Animal Whisperer By Val Heart
The Extraordinary Soul Connection I call The Human Animal BodyMind Connection