ATH conversation with Mary N’s Dino

[Moderator]

We are glad you are interested in practicing talking together with an animal!

To get started, greet the animal and ask if they have time to talk with you. Remember that animals also lead busy lives even though we may not see all that they do. If they aren’t available, check back later.

Introduce yourself and explain why you are reaching out to them: that you are a member of the Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Club and learning to better communicate with animals and would appreciate their help. You can ask them any questions you want. Typically they do provide a response. Please share your impressions of their personality, energy, how they feel and any insights they may share with you. By sharing what you get, the animal’s person can provide you with feedback and others can jump in too.

Use the Forum SEARCH field (located at the top of the right column below the picture of the Featured Animal Teacher) to find more discussions involving this animal (or other animals with the same name).

Some conversations have been lively, and we’ve learned some amazing insights, and laughed at jokes. Remember that this is a safe place to practice. This is about practice and learning, it is not about getting it perfect. The animals have much to teach us, to share with us and we with them.

Dino

Moderator

[animalbridge]

Not sure when I connect with Dino. I’ve tried “talking” to him in my head but don’t hear anything. I talk to him outloud when we come back from our daily walk and he responds physically to my comments. Other than that how do I know if he is hearing me intuitively and responding to my requests such as to stop pulling on the leash during our daily walk?

[Evelyne Lucain]

Hi,
about your question « how do I know if he is hearing me intuitively »
I would like to add that this is exactly what is happening to me as well
one of our fellow students wrote that in this situation she would ask the animal the question
« how do I know we are connected? »
personally I am doing the same now and I must say that it really helps

first impressions in the picture where he is holding a piece of wood:
expressive eyes expecting something to happen
just waiting and wanting to continue playing which he loves

first impressions in the picture where his head is lying on the grass:
expressive eyes saying « what’s next? », « what do you want? »
good boy a bit concerned about something
for example as if you were leaving your home for some time without him

his eyes say also that he loves the person who took the pictures

he loves outside, it makes him very happy
his daily walks are gorgeous for him
the fact that he is pulling on the leash is because he is lacking patience,
he can’t wait to discover all the new odours that are outside
it’s like his private internet
and he is so happy doing so that he is pulling on the leash
in order to discover even more quickly all that new and so interesting stuff
he promised he would try not to pull (too much 🙂

at home he has his own bed with toys
he is not allowed to climb on the sofa
he is living with his dad (or mom?)
no other presences in the home, just the two of you
he likes his food
he feels fine in his body
there are no fellow mates to play with
he can’t play with dogs he encounters during his walks
but doesn’t miss it too much

when I sent him my love energy from my heart to his heart
he did the same for me, very warm, very strong

Dino loves his human very much
he is a bit sad because he or she is rarely at home
I explained to him that we all have to get outside earning our living
which he understood
he is happy that you are reunited at week-ends but his weeks are long

he added that every day he is longing for your daily walk so much
that this is the best thing that happens during his day
it’s a bit boring for him when he has to stay at home
has nothing else to see, to make

Dino is a great guardian, protecting his human and his home
must be a lively and good boy

ended the chat thanking him for his time, for his gentle, kind and warm attention
huged him, left a kiss on his cheek and stroked his fur
there he came and sat by my legs, leaning against them enjoying the strokes
wanted me to come back which I promised to do

then I realised I forgot him to ask in what kind of region he lived in
he mentioned green and fresh gardens, forests, not in a town

Looking forward to your reply
Hugs to your lovely Dino

[animalbridge]

Thanks so much Evelyne. I loved reading about your conversation with Dino.
He is a rescue and I love him dearly. You are right about his daily walk. Once I mention the word walk he gets so excited. He patiently stands in front of me while I put his harness on for his walk and then goes and lays down at the front door and waits until we leave. He has never been trained to do this. I told him I was going away on a recent trip to Europeans how many sleeps I would be gone for. Interesting that he still worried about my going away. Perhaps it is related to him being a rescue and being rehomed 4 times and about to be euthanized when I adopted him at age 3 (a year ago).
Interesting too that he thinks I am rarely home. I am retired now so home lots but maybe he is used to someone being at home all the time. He does love to sit outside in the fenced backyard or look out the patio door window in the kitchen. He does this a lot. He does live to play but only for about 5 minutes and then loses interest and doesn’t want to play anymore. I have tried playing with him with different items but the same disinterest happens each time after about 5 minutes or less.
Although I often tell him and show him how much I love him he doesn’t respond like the other dogs I have had. I think it is just his demeanour or from him being a rescue. I have never had a rescue before this one. I know that he was possibly abused by a previous owner but don’t pursue this with him and focus on the present instead.
Sometimes I know that when I go out (even though I tell him when I’m coming back) I think he feels I won’t return like previous owners of him.
Glad to know that his pulling on the leash is about his impatience. I know he has a huge curiosity about exploring and loves to be out front of me exploring. He loves off leash hikes and races off at first as there is so much for him to explore. He is right that we don’t live in a town. We live in more of a subdivision close to large lake (Lake Ontario) and walk down there daily along the pathways, through the trees and on the beach.even though we usually take the same route almost daily there are always new smells for him to discover as he pulls on the leash. I let him off his leash down there once after we had worked on recall and he took off on me as soon as he picked up a scent and it took a while for me to catch him. Thanks so much for talking to Dino and sharing the information with me. Greatly appreciated.

[animalbridge]

Hi Evelyne,
I was rereading what I had replied to you and realized I had forgotten some things. He does live with me but my son lives with me too. Sometimes my son interacts with Dino and he takes care of him when I go away on a trip. I also have a cat (who was my mom’s and I promised to take care of when she passed away). The cat is often aloof to others except when he wants attention and tries to interact with Dino but Dino just ignores him and does not return the affection. I have caught the cat swatting at the dog a few times when he didn’t think I saw it but I did hear a yelp each time from Dino. It may be a trust issue with Dino. Dino does not interact with other dogs usually and often ignores them. He occasionally likes to say hello to other dogs. He tends to pick on a larger, non aggressive dog when off leash and has to be leashed to stop doing this. Maybe it is the herding instinct or needing to be the pack leader when he is with a group of dogs on a hike. He stops this behaviour when leashed. Also when people stop to pet him he accepts it but I can feel him losing interest in their attention and he wants to keep going on his walk. He certainly does not like his walk to be disrupted for too long by those who want to pet him. He’s an interesting character. Thanks again for chatting with Dino.

[Evelyne Lucain]

Hi Mary,
Thank you for your messages which I appreciated very much and which are of great help.
I would like to add that as regards rescued dogs and owing to my own experience with them, I noticed that it takes them around two years to realize they have found a forever home and to stop worrying. Then their questioning eyes change and reflect an infinite love and gratitude.
big hugs to your marvellous Dino


[animalbridge]

Sorry for the late reply Evelyne. I was away yesterday and didn’t get home until very late. Thank you for your response. Good to know that it takes 2 years for rescue pets to adapt/accept their new home. It has only been a year and I do see big positives changes in his behaviour so far but know that we have a ways to go still. I know that I just need to hold space for him and love him unconditionally which I have bern doing. Interesting that this morning he did not respond to my (what I thought was firmness) and when I raised my voice and said the same words louder he instantly stopped the behaviour. I get the sense that he is used to a male, loud, and very firm voice. Thanks for suggesting that I ask him if we are connecting. I was surprised at how quickly the unexpected information came pouring in after that about a previous female owner he had had. I could see him as if he was deep in thought or memories and had that far away look in his eyes while he lay beside me so I connected with him then. Great suggestions. Thank you so much.

[Evelyne Lucain]

Very interesting what you said about his previous owner.
I would like to share a similar experience I had with my rescued Labrador (Guimauve in spirit) for whom I even had had a professional communicator explain the situation to her. I did so because once she showed me also a picture of her previous owner. At that time I did not know animal communication and I had only words to explain it to her, (ie) that her previous owner left her behind and would not come back, and that now she was with me in safety. But during her connection with the professional communicator we learned that Guimauve was afraid to let her previous owner go, as if she felt guilty to be disloyal to her and that Guimauve did not dare to accept the love of another person. As you said in your messages they are kind of « afraid » of the future, as they have been hurt very sadly in the past. The communicator did a great work on Guimauve and she understood it and settled after that and accepted me and my love in her new life. Unfortunately illness took her away from me far too early.
hugs to Dino

[Tricia Wentrcek]

Hello Evelyne,
I was very much drawn to Dino’s photo and after my conversation with him I peeked at a few of the other reads. We have always had rescue dogs.

Dino is my first read on this platform. He told me that he likes to chase things and chew on things. He is fond of what he called a twisty chew and would like another, please. He showed me a bush where he once flushed a rabbit and he is keen to check that spot often for said rabbit. He also expressed a desire to “see out more” so maybe you can provide some more window views for him or possible install one of those bubble port holes if you have a wooden fence.

He mentioned there is a cat in the house and he said the cat was OK but didn’t want to play or do anything fun. He also seems to be fond of a newspaper but I am not sure if he likes to carry it or what exactly.

He says he likes to be the boss of the house, likes his bed and he showed me a wagon or something with wheels that he likes to travel in at times.

I thanked him for his time, sent he with much love. Dino said it was time for bed.

[Author]

Posts