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Destructive Behavior of Rescued Dogs Can Be Improved With Animal Communication

Can animal communication help rescued dogs with destructive behaviors?

Because if you’ve ever tried to help rescued dogs, you know they have their own unique set of needs, problems, issues and more.

This actually breaks down into three separate questions.

  1. Does animal communication work with rescued dogs?
  2. If so, how could it help specifically?
  3. Is there a way to talk rescued dogs out of destructive behaviors?

Let’s take question #1 first.

Does animal communication work with rescued dogs?

Yes, it makes a huge difference when you do it right.

So, let’s be clear what it actually means to communicate with dogs.

It means being able to connect heart to heart, mind to mind, psychically, intuitively, mentally, emotionally, telepathically, and energetically.

Knowing how to send and receive information back and forth in a dialogue conversation with animals.

Then, when you receive their information/messages back, knowing how to interpret them accurately and confidently.

It means understanding that dogs are sentient, intelligent, feeling beings who have memories, experiences, history, needs, wants, and desires, just like you do.

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You might be wondering – can anyone learn to communicate with animals?

Yes! Every animal lover can discover how and have a great time doing it, too, with amazing results (as you’ll soon see for yourself).

Here’s the thing: If you love animals, you are already connected.

If you use your intuition, then you can learn to focus it on the animal and hear their voice, see what they see in their minds eye, and feel what they feel, know what they know.

If you care about them – and you do – then you can easily learn the practical steps, the tried-and-true techniques, and how it works.

From there, like any other worthy skill, you practice to gain proficiency, confidence and accuracy.

You are born with the ability to send and receive information from others. In fact, you do it all the time every day, even if you’re not aware that you’re doing it.

Your intuitive abilities can be activated, developed, and grown with a bit of effort and training.

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

Knowing how to speak to dogs on their level will make ALL the difference in the world in their ability to feel understood, their questions and concerns addressed in a way they understand, and their pains, fears, and anxieties known so you can help them heal.

Knowing what they need and want makes it easier for you to stop chasing your tail on expensive guesswork to solve dog problems you don’t really understand.

Because when you know their unique viewpoint and are clear about what drives their behavior?

And then, when you partner up together to work as a team that understands each other and are speaking the same language?

Everything changes. It is so much easier to solve the problems together when you speak each other’s language.

If you are open enough to consider and explore new concepts, different opinions and experiences, to see the world from your dog’s viewpoint, then you’re on the right track.

Intuitively speaking, you need to be able to use your basic 4 intuitive abilities:

Clairvoyance (see images in your mind’s eye),

Clairaudience (hearing others voices in your head),

Clairsentience (knowing things at a visceral level), and

Claircognizance (instantly understand concepts, connections and information).

Everyone has all four abilities, but most folks only use one or two and have to develop the others to be useful.

The way I teach animal communication is very practical, down to earth – no psychic woo-woo stuff required.

A little later I’ll tell you more about ways you can use communication to solve problems with dogs.

 

Now, question #2:

How can communicating with animals help with rescued dogs?

Okay, so let’s look at several real-life situations dog rescuers, fosters, rehabilitators, and shelter folks run into so you can discover what’s possible and how communicating can make THE difference between having happy, healthy, well behaved dogs, or not.

Remember too that happy healthy well-behaved dogs are much more likely to find and enjoy their forever homes.

First, let’s consider what happens for dogs who are rescued, and how you can help them through what is likely to be an unsettled stressful time in their life.

If you don’t understand what they’ve been through, then hearing their story from their viewpoint is the first step in their healing and solving behavior problems, like destructive behavior.

rescued dogs 2

I’ve seen destructive rescued dogs’ behavior change almost instantly once they’ve been heard and feel understood.

Consider the history behind each of these questions, and how critically important it would be to know the answers to help them.

And how not knowing the answers to these questions makes things much worse, for both the humans and the dogs too.

By the way, yes you can second guess and do testing and vet checks and the like to try and figure out the answers, but the truth is…

ONLY the rescued dogs will know the real answers to these questions. When you get the answers from the dog, you begin to bond and trust each other quickly…

The dog’s healing begins when they can let go of the past and come to terms with what’s happened to them and have some say in what happens next in their life.

FYI: these are the exact kinds of questions I ask rescued animals and that I teach my students how to do.

For instance:

  • Have they been abused? If so, what kind of abuse was it?
  • How long did it go on for? When did it start? Who abused them?
  • Were they neglected, ignored, yelled at or worse?
  • Trained or untrained? If they’ve had some training, what do they know how to do? If none, what is confusing to them and how can we make things easier for them to learn what they don’t know yet? Why is this important?
  • How do they feel, and are they in pain?
  • If so, where, and how bad is it on a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is screaming agony? If is chronic pain, or intermittent?
  • What makes it better? What makes it worse?
  • What specific part of their body hurts, their teeth? Their head, as in headaches? Their paw, their tummy, their tail, their back…?
  • Why are they in pain, from an accident, injury, a kick in the head or tummy? Are they ill?
  • How is their vision and hearing, anything unusual we need to know about? (Because if they are blind or deaf, you need to know that!)
  • Do they know why they are here in the shelter, why they were rescued?
  • Are they grieving because their person died or was hurt, or because they’ve lost their home?
  • Are they upset because they don’t know what’s happened to their family (people and animals), or their companions?
  • Was their family in an accident, or did they just not come home one day?
  • How were they treated before, badly or did they feel loved?
  • Are they missing their pooh bear favorite toy, or snuggle blanket?
  • Are they angry because something happened?
  • Did they get lost, or were they tossed out in the street and abandoned?
  • What was their job before they came here, if any?
  • Do they have a purpose? A job to do here or left to do in this life? Or do they feel directionless, purposeless, worthless, or worse, ready to transition…?
  • What do they want to do with their life now?
  • Do they have any questions, concerns, problems they would like your help with?
  • How do they feel being here now, are they comfortable? Is the food agreeing with their tummy, or making them feel sick?
  • Would you like a forever home? What would that look like? Do you like other types of animals, like kitties and birds and ferrets and bunnies… what about human children? Or would you prefer to be an only dog? Do you prefer older people, or younger? How active would you like to be?
  • If you don’t have a purpose or a job to do, would you like one? What would that look and feel like?

Problem Solving with Pets

Get the idea?

When you can speak each other’s language, you’ll know the answers to all these questions and more.

For destructive dogs, you can find out what drives their behavior!

Is it coming from emotional, mental and/or physical stress? Are they destroying things because it’s personal to them – like taking out their anger on a specific kind of object?

Like doors and windows because they feel trapped and are desperate to escape confinement?

Or is it a reaction to pain? (Often a dog who is in pain feels comforted when they are with their person, but by themselves with nothing else to focus on the pain becomes unbearable and they “self-medicate” by chewing things and worse…)

Or is it a reaction to psychic attack or distress? A ghost, haunting or other unseen attack?

I once worked with a wonderful Chow dog named Simba who destroyed his kennel and broke teeth, bloodied his paws then he was left alone.

It turned out he was being haunted by a mischievous ghost and it was way worse when his people weren’t there to “protect him”. When they left, he panicked!

Once we cleared that, he slept for 24 hours straight! He hadn’t slept well in weeks, and was completely exhausted, as you might can imagine…

When he woke up, he was the fine, happy boi he’d been before this all happened. No more destruction, and he could be left alone without any problems anymore.

rescued dogs 3

But I digress…

So, let’s continue our discovery process using animal communication:

Were they punished for the behaviors in the past? If so, how, and what happened?

Do they understand the danger when they destroy (or ingest) things, or is it simply fun for them to tear things up, like a game?

What is their history about this, when did it first start?

Whew!

There’s no limit to what you can find out in a heart to heart, mind to mind conversation like this.

To be clear, knowing how to manage a conversation like this is an advanced skill and takes practice and training to be proficient.

Also, you need to know how to handle their answers.

What to do if they tell you they are in pain, or being attacked psychically, or feel purposeless, or don’t want to change their behavior.

These are all things I teach my students how to do, by the way.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if when rescuers took in a new dog they had someone on staff who is trained and proficient in communicating with the dogs to find out the answers to these questions?

That’s my dream! Someday soon we humans will be able to speak an animal’s language as a normal, commonplace thing.

Finally, question #3:

Is there a way to talk rescued dogs out of destructive behaviors?

First, you can only solve destructive behaviors when you know why they are behaving that way.

Then you’ll have a much better idea how to help them and you can work together toward that goal.

For instance, what if it’s a fear-based reaction?

By recognizing and talking with them about what they are really afraid of, you can help ease their mind so they can settle down.

By hearing their history, you’ll know what contributed to the problems in the first place.

Like bad training or lack of training, or negligence.

If that’s the problem you can engage in proper positive training to encourage them in the way you’d like them to go with their consent and appreciation, meeting them where they are and giving them exactly what they most need to stabilize.

By answering their objections, concerns, questions, and fears, they will feel heard and understood.

By giving them an important job to do, they can refocus.

By clear and easing the pain, they can take a nap.

rescued dogs 4

By knowing how to tell them when you’ll be back, and where you are going, and what you want them to do while you’re gone, they can have more certainty and stability in their life.

By finding out how long they can be left alone, and where they are most comfortable while they’re alone, you’ll know better how to manage your time.

By knowing if they only feel safe if they have companions present with them, and which companions they feel safest with, you’ll know how to manage that too.

What if it was you who had something important to say, you need to talk but the humans can’t hear you?

And now find yourself in a kennel or strange new environment, with other “damaged” dogs and clueless humans…

You are full of questions, anxieties, fears, concerns, but can’t get any answers?

What if nobody listens to you?

Doesn’t feel good.

There are lots of ways of clearing fear and healing the past, and that’s the heart of the work that I do with students and clients.

Imagine that.

The most efficient way I know of to help these dogs is by learning how to communicate with them.

Communication starts with loving animals, and that is where it all begins when you’re working to help rescued dogs recover, heal and find their forever home.

Learn How to Talk with Animals

I call it The Heart Wisdom Method for a reason.

Strong love energy will help you do exactly that.

And I know you love animals, so you’re already part way there!

Consider the fact that you were born with intuitive abilities, you already use them every day.

Why not use them to help better understand and communicate with your animals?

I believe ALL animal caretakers need to know how to communicate with animals.

Otherwise, how can you be a good animal caretaker if you can’t speak their language, hear their thoughts, know how they feel and what they need to be healthy, happy and fulfilled?

You cannot do the best job of being their best friend and caretaker, their rescuer tasked with helping them heal and find their forever home, if you don’t understand how to speak their language. Period.

It’s easy to learn too, so there’s really no excuse for not doing this if you have animals in your life.

When I first started communicating professionally in 1993, I discovered that animals always have very good reasons for their behavior.

Our job is to find out what those reasons are, what they’re thinking, how they’re feeling, and to know how to communicate clearly in a two-way, heart to heart, mind to mind conversation.
They are in your life for a reason. God’s gift on loan to you.

All animals are intelligent, sentient, feeling beings.

They know things that we don’t.

They feel pain, and get sick and injured like we do.

Starting with a love connection, then knowing the right questions to ask in the right way and timing for best results.

These are the complex issues that my clients and students work on (and this is what I help them with and teach)

The thought processes I’ve described in this post are the kind that I take my animal talk students through in The Heart School of Animal Communication® courses, in the BEST Online Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Club’s Live Monthly Group Q&A Calls (for Gold and Platinum members), and the Heart Wisdom Masterclasses.

I recommend starting at the beginning with the complete Beginning Core Foundations Course to get your basics down.

From there, you’ll learn to be crystal clear on what exactly to SAY, HOW to say it, the right questions to ask in the right way and timing, how to convey that as a message they can understand, and how to listen to your animal in return. (that’s the Advanced Animal Talk Mastery Course)

And then? Time to practice so you gain proficiency and confidence in your ability to have these conversations with animals anywhere, anytime, about anything. (That’s what we do in the Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Club!)

Hands down, animal communication is the secret sauce behind successful rescues and rehabilitation, that turns destructive rescued dogs into well behaved, happy, healthy pups.

Here’s a link that explains more about the different programs I have, how they differ from each other, and the best sequence in which to go through them.
https://learnhowtotalktoanimals.com/all-online-courses/

Your animal needs you to be able to speak their language because they have important things to tell you every day…

And to do that, you must be open and clear enough to hear them and respond appropriately.

You could even save their life one day… or they could save yours.

Together we help make the world a better, happier, healthier place for all of us including all the wonderful rescued dogs!

Enjoyed this article? Here are 3 of my most popular articles to help you better understand and communicate with your pet:

Communicate with Animals Using These 3 Techniques
Speaking to Animals Changed My Life: The Day a Horse Spoke to Me
TuffyTiger Taught Me to Purr – It Was Magical

Your Lost Dog Can Be Found Through Communication

Your Lost Dog Can Be Found Through the Art of Animal Communication

How do you react when your pet goes missing?

I can tell you how I reacted.

At first, I was heartbroken and worried. He was a member of my family – our furbaby. His presence added joy, love and richness to our lives. The thought of never seeing him again overwhelmed me with sadness. What if he was hurt or injured, lying in a ditch somewhere? Shudder…

But when I refocused, and tapped into my abilities as a pet communicator, aka animal whisperer. I opened up an energetic telepathic connection between me and my lost dog, and I found him, and he made it home safely.

Here’s how it all happened.

“Val, Timmy is missing.”

My husband had taken our Border Collie Timmy 20 miles out of town to a friend’s ranch. They were enjoying an afternoon on 40+ acres of pasture and forest…

Timmy was playing with the ranch dog, Rascal. They were bounding and wrestling, tails wagging. They ignored the chickens and tumbled around the property like happy kids at play.

All was well until a herd of deer ran by – not an unusual occurrence, but an irresistible novelty for our dog Tim.

Naturally, Tim the Tracker – hard-wired to herd – gave chase.

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He transformed from a playful puppy to a black-and-white streak, ears perked up, tail arched…

In a flash, he was gone.

My husband called out to him. He waited and called again, waited and called again… for over an hour he waited hoping Tim would come back.

But Timmy was busy answering his instincts. The deer had to be herded, and he was on the job. Anyone who owns or knows Border Collies can relate to how focused they can be…it can be delightful most of the time, and infuriating at other times!

Finally, my husband decided to drive back into town and the rancher promised to keep an eye out for him. They could only hope that Timmy would make his way back to the ranch and his buddy Rascal.

Otherwise, it was out of their control.

That’s when I got the call from my husband, “Val, Timmy is missing.”

Emotional roller coaster of worry

I hope you’ve never been in this situation, but if you have, you can relate to the emotional rollercoaster ride.

Your imagination runs wild with all the bad scenarios that could happen to them…

They may be lost forever.

It’s a nightmare of a situation to find yourself in…

…it’s not something any animal lover wants to experience, ever.

  • Do they need help?
  • What if they got run over?
  • What if a wild animal ate them for lunch?
  • Are they hurt?
  • What if a bad person shot or killed or poisoned or trapped them or…?
  • What if they get sick, or thirsty and hungry?
  • How can you find them and bring them home safely?

I pushed aside the fears we all experience when we’ve lost a pet…for minutes, hours or days…

Because, fortunately, I know how to communicate with animals!

I talked to my lost dog and found out where he was lost dog 2

So instead of freaking out and worrying myself sick, I quickly tuned in and chatted with Timmy.

I focused my inner antennae and mental monitor, stilled my mind and dropped into my heart space.

Then I reached out to him using my pet communication abilities heart to heart, mind to mind.

Once I connected with Timmy, exactly like I teach my students in The Heart School of Animal Communication® , we talked on and off all day long.

He told me where he was, and what he was doing. He assured me he was fine, and not hurt or injured.

Whew! That was a relief to hear. I made suggestions and offered guidance as to how to get home.

But there was a big problem

But here’s the thing…

He was a very very long way from home.

It scared me to think he might try to walk back over 60 miles on his own through the crazy San Antonio traffic.

The ranch was about an hour’s drive away, so I cautioned him not to try to walk home. Instead, it would be best if he just went back to the ranch with Rascal and waited for us. We would come to get him.

He said he would.

I told my husband what was going on and he was finally able to relax a bit.

And, for the rest of the day, Timmy had a grand adventure! He hunted and scouted and chased things. He swam in the river and pretended he was a wild dog of the plains!

But then…?

The fun got a little old and he got hungry…and tired…and hot.

His feet were sore.

He longed to be home enjoying his supper and a nice nap with his favorite people, me and my husband. And now it was 10:00 pm…

I told him to just go back to the ranch.

But what he told me next was worrisome…

He confessed that he’d gone so far and in so many different directions…with dismay and some embarrassment, he admitted that he was lost.

He didn’t know where the ranch was anymore. Timmy felt worried and it was getting late. He was getting more tired and hungry.

Time to switch to Plan B.

lost dog 3I told him to find the nearest house with good people in it and go up to them. Using my communication technique, I asked him to be polite and mind his manners, to do what they told him to do.

I assured him they would take care of a lost dog until the morning when they would call us after reading his collar tag.

But then it hit me…uh oh!

Urgently I asked, “Timmy, are you still wearing your collar? Please tell me you didn’t lose it!”

“Yes, Mom, I have my collar.”

Whew!

The kindness of strangers helped our lost dog

Sure enough, Timmy found a lovely couple, who called us in the morning to say they had our furrkid.

They assured us he was unharmed, well-fed, and was a champion house guest. They even asked if they could keep him!

As welcome as his new friends had made him, he told me he was anxious to be home again. We were anxious to see him again, as well.

I’m so grateful that I had the ability to talk with him during this challenging time…I was able to guide him and help him find a safe place to rest.

How would you have handled this situation?

Would you have been able to reach your lost dog and bring them home safely?

We can give you the skills you need to communicate with your furbabies when they go missing.

Start with our Beginning Core Foundations Course. It will teach you how to tune in and connect.

We offer advanced and special topic courses, and also host the best online The Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Elite Platinum Club designed to help you develop your skills and improve your confidence and accuracy too.

It’s a new and different Heart Wisdom way for students eager to deepen their intuitive skills, maybe even make a great career doing this important work… without spending a fortune on training or a ton of time on extensive coursework.

Everything you need to know is here.

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


.Learn How to Talk with Animals

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Separation Anxiety in Pets is Manageable
3 Tips for Changing Animal Behavior Through Communication
Dealing with Your Dog’s Negative Behaviors

Holidays with Dogs: 14 Reasons Why Dogs Brighten Our Holiday Season

The holidays have arrived, and, like every day, it’s good to reflect on what we’re thankful for.

Holidays with dogs are absolutely at the top of our list, because they’re our friends, teachers, and family rolled into one furry bundle of love. They possess the ability to better our lives in ways that no one else can.

The last twelve months may have had more than its share of difficulties and triumphs, but our dogs were there through it all.

As we anticipate a new year full of opportunities and change, we also want to remind ourselves of why our canine friends are awesome!

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We lucky dog parents have much to be thankful for…

Here’s some of what they have done to brighten up our lives, through thick and thin.

1. A great affordable shrink for every day of their life.

For the days that you go home and need to vent about your frustrating job and the love life that won’t happen, your dog will patiently sit right by you and willingly take an earful of your woes while licking those tears away.

2. They’ll keep you healthy – both physically and emotionally.

They’ll motivate you to go the distance and run that extra mile, no matter how exhausted you are. They’ll also make you laugh and enjoy everything so much more, which will totally boost your self-esteem and general outlook on life.

3. They bring you out of your shell.

When you’re out with your pup, you’re bound to run into strangers who will coo over your fluffy companion. You can be the most introverted, anti-social person in the world, but your adorable dog – and their admiration – can help pull you out of your shell and give you the chance to practice your conversational skills.  And if there aren’t any worthy people around?  They’ll help you to connect with the world around you.

4. They remind us to enjoy the simple things.

holidays with dogs 2

With full-blown exuberance, they’ll jump into piles of leaves with glee and chase their own tails ceaselessly. To do all of this with a silly grin is what makes dogs so unique. We need to let loose sometimes and bring out our inner puppy too!

5. They show us the true meaning of unconditional love.

Whether you forgot to pick her up from doggy day care, or lost your temper, they’ll gaze up at you with those big brown eyes and immediately forgive you. It’s a gift that dogs are able to forgive and forget with a wag of a tail.

6. They’re the best bodyguards.

From beginning to end, you have a bodyguard for life. Your safety and happiness is your pup’s highest priority, so it’s an awesome feeling to know that someone always has your back.

7. They’re always up for an adventure.

Even if you took off at this very moment, your pup wouldn’t hesitate to join you. There’s no need to complain or be distracted by the “what if’s.” After all, the destination and purpose really is a distant thought as long as you’re there!

8. They don’t mind it when you sing off key.

Your friends always tell you to be quiet, and the thought of karaoke makes your palms sweaty. But have no fear, because your dog will never critique you as if you’re on American Idol. Better yet, they’ll howl along and perform a duet with you.

9. They’re the most effective alarm clocks.

Forget the pesky alarms you’ve set on your phone and rely on your cute pooch to slobber on your face at the crack of dawn. Nothing like morning kisses to get you on your feet!

holidays with dogs 3

10. You can never really stay mad at them.

Seriously, what kind of magical power do dogs have that they can snuff out any negativity with a sincere glance from those eyes? It’s almost pointless to be upset over anything they do.

11. You don’t need to impress them.

It doesn’t matter what job you have, what car you drive, or how much you make in a year. Bad hair days don’t exist for them.  They could care less about makeup or your outfit.  They don’t mind a little extra padding on your body, or the skinny bony places either.  All your pooch wants is your time, love, and presence!

12. They’re a good sport.

Wearing ridiculous holiday outfits? Check. Tasting the never-attempted-before homemade dog biscuits? Check. Letting you post dorky pictures of them on Instagram? Check.

13. You’re the best thing that’s happened to them.

And they’ll show it too. Through all the snuggles, kisses, and enthusiasm, you’ll always be assured that there’s nothing better out there for your pooch than you.

14. They love you. Just the way you are.

No explanation needed, no questions asked; you’re enough for that dog and don’t you forget it!

Ready to learn how to talk with animals yourself?

Check out all of my courses at Learnhowtotalktoanimals.com,  Start Here!  Take a look and choose what most appeals to you.  If you are a newbie, then I highly recommend starting with the Beginning Core Foundations Course.  The Advanced Animal Talk Mastery Course is awesome and includes many of my favorite, most powerful healing techniques along with many specific topics that every animal talk student needs to know how to deal with successfully.

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


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Are You Listening To The Dog Signals You’re Being Sent?

Is your pup trying to send you a message?

dog can you hear me now signals

Are they sick, worried, bored, angry, frustrated, grieving, sad, confused…?

We don’t always pay attention to dog signals… and it can be very frustrating for your pet.

“Hey you! I’m talking here…!” 

Worse yet, it can wind up costing your dog their life if you don’t make an effort to understand their form of communication.

We have a tendency to assume our pets are “acting badly out revenge” or simply getting “old and grumpy” when they misbehave.

In fact, your dog will never do anything to deliberately upset or disappoint you.

So, when their behavior changes, you seriously need to have a conversation with them and find out what’s going on in their mind or their body.  What are they aware of that you don’t know yet?

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Here are 3 dog signals that tell you it’s time to listen to your pet

There are three common signals your dog will send when they need your extra care and attention.

1. Don’t touch me!

Does your dog duck their head when you try to pat them? There could be a number of things going wrong here, including social issues like dominance or submission, or medical problems like a toothache, headache, earache…

If their vision is impaired, anything moving towards their head will make them extremely uncomfortable.

Pay attention to body cues like this. If they suddenly avoid you grooming their back or legs, or shift away when you try to pat them, there’s definitely a reason.

Your dog doesn’t have an aloof or spiteful bone in its body, so if they’re avoiding your touch it’s a signal of something going wrong in their body or mind, or environment that worries them.
And they need your help to sort it out.

dog signals 2

2. I can’t eat that!

Has your dog suddenly become a picky eater?

It’s sweet to cater to your dog’s tastebuds… but, honestly, if they’re feeling good physically and mentally, a dog will eat pretty much anything you put in front of them.

They trust you for their nutrition, except when they snatch that tasty bit of cat poop on the walk…, so if they’re turning up their nose at the food dish?

First confirm that the food isn’t rancid, but if it’s okay?  Then that’s one of the clearest dog signals that something isn’t right.

It doesn’t just have to be about a tummy ache, though. Maybe it’s a pain in their jaw or anxiety about something going on in their human’s life. It could be liver or kidney problems, or ulcers. They could feel toxic or temporarily nauseous from something else they ate, or they could be getting sick.

Dogs are incredibly intuitive creatures. Are you stressing about getting ready to move, changing jobs, maybe ending a relationship?

Your dog senses all of these things…

Of course, you should consult a veterinarian if your pup suddenly goes off their food, but taking the time to have a conversation with them can throw a light on any stress or pain they’re feeling on your behalf, or in their own body.

How could you know without talking to them what their actual experience is and how they feel?

And once you do know about it, you can deal with it properly… together.

3. I’m so scared!

You’re going to have to fight your first instinct on this one.

Your dog appears fearful… so your instincts tell you to cuddle and coddle them. You try to comfort them.

Now your furbaby has been rewarded for their anxious behavior – and you still don’t know what caused it.

If you encounter any dog exhibiting fear or stress signals, your priority should be finding the source of the perceived threat, not babying them in order to soothe them.

Rewarding them with attention and affection when they are in an unstable fearful mindset makes them think they are doing the right thing.

Good intentions, yes, but this only reinforces their fear…

Keep in mind, there are 6000 documented cases of dog abuse every year, and that it’s hard to say how many are actually abused because most of it isn’t reported.

The range in severity of the abuse can go from a neighbor who yells at your dog to puppy mills and dogfighting rings.

Once you’ve established that there isn’t an immediate threat to their physical well-being – or you’ve handled it so the threat is gone – you can work to redirect them from their fear and build their confidence.

Whatever the situation, your job during it is to communicate clearly with your dog, explain to them that they’re safe with you, and that you as Leader of the Pack are going to find the source of the threat and take care of it.

Dog signals can be blatantly obvious – like suddenly barking and snarling – or very subtle – like shifting away from your hand when you try to pet them on the head.

If there is tension in their body or they are unable to completely relax, those are dog signals for “something is wrong”.

Solve Problems with Your Pet

Keep in mind that your dog is reading you – your emotions and your physical well-being – as keenly as a dear friend might and you’ll learn from them.

If you’re feeling anxious about a life transition, battling an illness, worrying about your finances, your dog is worrying right alongside you.

So, if your dog starts to exhibit some unacceptable or odd behaviors, see them for what they are…a sign that something isn’t right in their world…or perhaps, in yours.

Would you like to learn more about the soul connection between you and your pet? Or, would you like to explore the possibility of having a meaningful conversation with your dog?

Contact us and we’ll begin the journey towards good health and well-being…for you and your pet.

If you’ve learned how to communicate with animals, all of your interactions should be informative and enlightening.

If you can’t yet communicate with your pets yourself heart to heart, mind to mind as I teach in The Heart School of Animal Communication® , not to worry. You can either learn how to start with our free ebook Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets, or consult a professional pet communicator.

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Want to learn more about your fluffy doggy companions and animal talk? Read these articles below:

11 of the 27 Brilliant Reasons to Learn Animal Communication

Adopting a Shelter Dog: 6 Ways to Bond

3 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Dog

Dog Games: 10 Fun Ways to Learn & Bond for Puppy & Child

10 Great Dog Games Kids Can Play With Dogs

There are few things more joyful than the relationship between a child and their pet.  dog games girlMost of us animal lovers have memories of bonding with the family dog, spending hours talking with our horse, or curled up for nap time and cuddles with our cat.

But the relationship between pets and kids can open up the door for much more than celebration: they provide emotional, physical, and social benefits to your developing puppy… and your child.  And playing dog games is one of the best ways to do that! 

You don’t have to overthink it. Play is the best way to explore the wonderful synergy between your two young loved ones, both for the dog and child.

Introduce these simple dog games into your family’s routine, ones that your child can easily master. But first, let’s explore the benefits of puppy-child play.

Dog games aren’t just child’s play.

If you’ve ever observed a preschool or primary school class, you’ll know that there’s a great deal of play going on. It’s easy to assume children are just killing time. But in fact, parents and educators know that play is a crucial aspect of cognitive development. 

Kids are learning about spatial relationships, manual dexterity, cause and effect, social norms like sharing and turn-taking, as well as physical and mental boundaries and how to overcome or adapt to them.

The same goes for your dog. They are wired for learning – some breeds are keener for a challenge than others, like German Shepherds and Border Collies for example.  Good trainers know that dog games go hand-in-hand with obedience and even advanced levels of training. Even police dogs have playtime during their training and their workday.  

In fact, training should always be fun for you AND your dog.  Because if either of you isn’t having fun, then you won’t want to play. And why should you?  

So above all else, keep it simple and remember to make it fun! 

Playtime with a dog can: 

  • Relieve anxiety and stress – for your child and the dog.
  • Create puppy training opportunities wrapped in “fun”.
  • Provide exercise for both the child and the dog.
  • Give your child an opportunity to be the teacher instead of a perpetual student.
  • Reduce boredom – bored kids and bored dogs get up to no good, as a rule.
  • Provide your child a way to become a leader of the pack, and to practice asking for what they want in a clear way. 
  • Strengthen the bond and understanding between child and dog.

10 simple and fun dog games your child can master.

You don’t want to leave your child in charge of obedience training, but you can engage them in the process by teaching them these ten simple games to play with their furry companion.

Remember to teach them the simple commands you have for your dog: sit, wait, come, etc. so they can be reinforcing them while they play. Puppies, like kids, need and crave rules and boundaries.  

They need to know what’s appropriate to do or not do, and how to behave properly in different situations, which improves their confidence.  And that is a life skill they’ll put to good use for the rest of their life.  

So here are the games:

1. Follow me

As the name suggests, your puppy is going to follow your child… but you’re going to add a layer of fun with obstacles. In the early going you’re going to keep the puppy on a leash until he or she is comfortable with the course. As they become more proficient you can add obstacles – things for the puppy to climb or jump over, wiggle through. Let your imagination go wild!

The world famous dog Skidboot was known as the World’s Smartest Dog!  And it all started with games just like this one.  Watch and you’ll see why in this wonderful interview with Skidboot and his dad on the show Pet Star:  


2. Clean up

A parents dream come true, what better skill for both puppy and your child to develop than putting away their toys! You can make it a “timed tidy” with a countdown, a counting game, or just a clean-up of the living room. Dogs, like kids, can be taught to return their belongings to a central place, like this darling dog toy box, so their toys are not underfoot just waiting to trip you up as you walk by.

If you have elderly people, or anyone who’s unstable on their feet in your home, this is an especially wonderful trick to encourage in both your dog and your child.  Again, you’re teaching a lifetime skill of valuing and maintaining a clean, neat space.

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3. Hide & Seek

This is great fun for puppy and child alike.  You’ll find out that your child gets more and more creative with their hiding spots as the dog becomes better at sniffing them out! This is an excellent dog game if you’re looking for some quiet time and want to keep your little troublemakers busy.

There’s a hidden benefit to this game that’s serious and very important.  If you don’t play any other games, then play this one.  Why? 

Because if your child ever goes missing, you can ask your dog to find them.  They’ll know how to do that if they’ve been taught!  Fido could be your child’s HERO in a big way by saving the day!

If you’re a first-time puppy owner be sure there aren’t any hazards for inquisitive hands, paws or mouths tucked away in closets or in little nooks you thought were “out of range” because that could hurt. Nothing ends a fun game faster than OUCH and an unplanned race to the doctor’s office. 

 

4. Frisbees

Dogs innately love to chase things… but catching a frisbee – like this one for stronger chewers, or this softer version for sensitive puppy mouths – out of mid-air takes some skill and training. Playing frisbee is a wonderful game for eye/hand/paw coordination and agility and will tucker out both of your little bundles of energy.  

dog games frisbee

5. Fetch

Another great game for letting off some steam. Choose balls, special dog bones, and toys that are safe for your child to handle and don’t have any choking hazards attached that your pup might swallow.

Your child’s plushies might be appealing, but they won’t necessarily be safe, so choose toys designed for your dog. Like this one, Lambchop, it’s one of my dogs favorites. Or this great set of crinkly dog toy flyers, easy for little hands to catch and throw, and super fun for pups to toss around too.  For stronger jawed canines, get something like this. 

 

6. Racing

If you’ve got space to spare and your little ones have the energy to burn, some foot races are just the ticket. You’ll need to supervise carefully in the early going, especially if you have a younger child or an enthusiastic puppy who still thinks nipping is appropriate contact. But it’s a great teaching opportunity for your puppy to learn manners while still having fun.

 

7. Tug-of-War

Make sure you learn the right rules of tug-of-war before introducing this game to your duo. Your child must know how to begin and end the game, because in the early going your puppy will have no clue and bad habits can come from an out-of-control game. Again, this is an opportunity to teach your dog some manners. It will make socializing easier… and your child and puppy will build up their strength and balance! It’s recommended for kids older than 10 years of age so that they can be careful and safe.

dog games tug of war

8. Pet tricks

Teaching their four-legged friends to dance, speak, shake, rollover, howl or kiss is a great way for kids to spend quality time with the pets. Dogs love to be challenged, and love to please…they’re ready to tackle new skills and will be open to all sorts of creative ideas that might inspire your child. Keep in mind that accolades, rewards, and inspiration are the best methods that lead your pooch to learn and remember tricks.

 

9. Catch the bubbles

This is another simple outdoor game that dogs and kids too just love. It’s easy and fun, and feeds off the fact that dogs have a sense that makes them chase anything. Kids aged 3-8 love this game the most. They even offer flavored bubbles these days that don’t give your dog an upset stomach.  Be sure to find a safe version for dogs, like this one! 

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10. Hide the dog treats

Here’s a wonderful dog game you’ll have so much fun with! 

Your child probably loves an Easter egg or treasure hunt… your dog will too! This is a wonderfully versatile game you can play inside or out in the yard. You’ll be enriching your dog’s sense of smell, their problem-solving abilities, their sense of adventure, and their analytical skills. All that just with buying a bag of treats!  Our favorites are Wag More Bark Less, or Dog Mama’s Biscuits, or Full Moon’s Training Treats.   

For more great games for kids and dogs check out Kyra Sundance’s 10 Minute Dog Training Games!  

Playing dog games enriches the relationship between your child and your pet and will create hours of memories you can smile about for years. Capture the joy and innocence of play and watch your child and your puppy thrive.

 

BONUS GAME! 

Another great way to encourage your dog and child to bond, communicate and understand each other is to help them learn how to talk to each other! 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 

Thanks to Lauren, a fellow dog lover, for all these great ideas!

Learn How to Talk with Animals

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you:

Why You Should Not Own a Cat and Dog Together

How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

Animal Healing: Helping An Aging Dog Express Her Needs

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 

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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 

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