Behavior (Issues, Challenges, & Understanding) – Angie Morin, Animal Communicator

February 26, 2025February 26, 2025

Is Your Pet Not Listening?

Do you think your pet is not listening to you? Is it possible your pet thinks youre the problem?

Animals have natural behaviors that will be there no matter how much we domesticate them. Cats are meant to scratch. When they scratch furniture or corners of your home you are scolding them for what they are suppose to do. This is how they take care of their nails.

Maybe you cat thinks…. “I found the perfect place to keep my nails short and my human took that away from me but didn’t provide another suitable option? What am I suppose to do now?

What about dogs that pull on the leash. They are meant to sniff. Maybe your dog thinks, why won’t my human stop pulling on ME? You think they’re pulling. They think you’re pulling. Who is actually pulling?

See where I am going with this? This applies to every animal species for every behavior. They are NEVER ever trying to break rules. The rules they have are human rules. If you take the behavior and look at it from their perspective you will see maybe they see you as the problem.

This doesn’t mean our animals should run wildly with no rules. We all have rules as humans and as animals. My intention is just to get you to understand their perspective and therefore maybe cut them some slack. And make some decisions. What matters and what doesn’t? Safety does. Nothing else really does.

Let them enjoy life. If you let them sniff (they can sniff without pulling- but they will always pull if not allowed to sniff), ore exercise them often enough, they aren’t going to pull during the entire walk.

If you give your cat a suitable place to scratch and a very CLEAN place to use the bathroom, they’ll use it. Cats are very clean animals.

Pets should not be blamed for doing animal things. Humans should accommodate their natural behaviors as much as possible while keeping them safe. And when we do need to correct their behaviors or improve manners understanding their “why” helps with fair corrections and improved adherence from the pet.

February 26, 2025February 26, 2025

Anxiety in Animals

Animals suffer from anxiety just like humans.

Sometimes they are born with it. In which case they need the right home to help teach them confidence.

Sometimes past experiences cause it.

Sometimes it comes on as animals age because in general they feel less safe (can’t move as fast, hear as well, etc.)

Sometimes loving guardians cause it. Wait, What?

Yes, many times anxiety is caused inadvertently by loving, caring guardians.

What are some of the causes?

* Lack of exposure to new things (sounds, sights, experiences, places, etc)

* Too much control (not allowing your animal work through fears with guidance and support but instead avoiding all fears)

* Not allowing your animal some time away from you. In this case the animal becomes so dependent on you, they do not develop self soothing, self coping skills.

* Not enough exercise (mental &/or physical)

* Pushing animals into fears too quickly (this is just as damaging as avoiding fears)

* Placing human expectations on them (expecting them to tolerate human things)

Humans like to take care of animals. It feels good. And when they are nervous and we hug them and kiss them, we feel good about comforting them. But the best help we can give them is to teach them confidence (and still hug and kiss them).

When I talk to animals with anxiety they ALL want to be braver or more confident. They don’t want to be afraid. They don’t want anxiety. They want their guardian to help them release the anxiety.

Regardless of the cause it is not fun to live in fear. When you have a pet with anxiety, you as their guardian can help them getting more confident or you can get anxious about their anxiety and cause more anxiety!

Some animals will have anxiety their entire lives (personality, past trauma, etc) and some will get better. As their guardian, help them. They need your help. Many humans just accept their pets have anxiety! But instead try to help them.

* Music, Solfeggios

* More fresh air and sunlight

* Sage the home

* Slow, safe, controlled exposure to fears with professional guidance if needed

* When they are afraid be confident yourself! Tell them how brave they are instead of “It’s ok.”. They understand words and if you say. “It’s ok. “ It makes them feel there is something to worry about.

* Treat them like they are brave (with love, kisses, hugs). And don’t focus on the fear. Focus on something else so they can too. Give them a hug and then say, “OK let’s go over here”, and change the scene, give them something else to think about.

* Ear Plugs, Thunder Vests, Rescue Remedy, there are things that can help without avoiding the fear.

Some will get better. Some won’t (based on their past or age). But either way, your confidence will make them feel safer. If they are nervous and you are too (Even if you are only nervous about how nervous they are!). That is too much for them to carry.

It takes time, patience, love, and a balance of confidence and support but you can help them get better. And trust me, they are asking for help.

February 23, 2025February 23, 2025

Do Pet’s Feel Guilt?

Animals can not feel guilt. This is a human emotion.

Instead, what you are seeing is your animals reaction to you and your emotion. They don’t feel remorse after going through the trash, scratching something up, or breaking something when you weren’t around. However, when you show up and you are frustrated, they react to YOU. But they do not know why you are frustrated.

So what you see if their attempt at avoiding conflict and avoiding trouble. It is their attempt at showing you they see you are upset and showing you they don’t want to add to your emotion. So they show what we label as signs of guilt. However in an animal’s perspective they are trying to assume a submissive position to avoid conflict, to stay out of trouble, and to show you, they just want to keep the peace.

Animals are experts at reading human emotions. If you look upset, they want to avoid making you more upset. So they try to deescalate the situation by making themselves small, avoiding eye contact, trying to hide, etc. The last thing they want to do is make you more upset than you already are. So they assume their most non threatening positions and actions.

Because of this scolding them or continuing to be frustrated and upset only damages the relationship you have with your animal. When they are doing everything they can to maintain the peace, to avoid trouble/conflict, you scolding them only makes you unjust and unsafe in their eyes.

Unless you caught them in the act, they have no idea why you are upset. Animals are highly communicative beings. When you ignore their communication (them assuming submissive behaviors and actions) in these moments, you will cause them to live in confusion and fear.

Instead, stop and take a breath. Change your energy. Encourage your animal to approach you. They want to help us. They want to be your happy place! If you are upset, they want to comfort you. Let them know it is ok for them to comfort you. Be happy to see them despite the mess you walked into. Because I can promise you they are SO happy to see you every day, in all situations and under all occasions.

The mess is separate from your pet at that moment. If you didn’t catch them in the act there is zero connection in their mind. This is why they are such great teachers for us! You have to let it go. And allow your pet to make you smile. Doing this will create the deepest, truest bond. Your pet will feel SAFE with you. Your pet will continue to communicate with you instead of shutting down.

February 6, 2025February 6, 2025

Happiness

As a pet guardian, no matter what type of animal you have, make happiness more important than obedience.

If you have a happy animal, the animal is better behaved. Most behavioral issues come from stress, anxiety, or confusion. This can happen when obedience becomes more important than happiness.

If you have a happy animal, you wont have to force them to do things. I see this in horses frequently. They are being asked (later forced) to do jobs they don’t enjoy because they have the talent. What happens after? Behavioral issues surface. Health issues surface. Just because an animal can do something, it doesn’t mean the animal is happy doing that something.

The same applies to all animals. Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, etc… Any pet you have. If your daily routine with your pet is focused on happiness being the most important thing, everything else falls into place effortlessly. The animals make good choices. They respond better to their guardians. They FEEL better. They are relaxed, happy, and internally calm. They might be so happy they aren’t externally calm! LOL

The goal is always happiness. Always.

February 2, 2025February 2, 2025

Dogs That Jump On People

Dogs get excited when we come home. It can be 5 minutes, or 5 days and they are equally as excited. It feels like FOREVER for them when their best friend is gone.

A lot of dogs jump and get way too excited. I want to try to put this in perspective for you from a dog’s point of view.

Dogs are mentally equivalent to toddlers. When Toddlers get excited they loud and active! As adults when we get excited we learn to contain it more.

Also, you are your dogs whole entire world. They don’t have anything but YOU. So yes they are going to be excited when you come home. They know You are the one that feeds them, loves them, brings them places, etc. And they live only for YOU. Dogs don’t live for themselves.

Dogs are affectionate animals. When your dog sees another familiar dog, a friend, they get excited. They run, play, jump around. So them doing this to you is a honor! You are one of the pack!

But, yes I understand we must teach dogs not to jump up because they could knock over small or elderly people. They could scare people unintentionally.

More to think about. So many trainers will tell you to ignore the dog when you get home and when the dog comes down, acknowledge it and give it attention. Though this works, guess what it does? It hurts your dog’s heart. They feel less loved. .

Imagine the person you love most, being gone, you miss them. When you finally see them you are SO excited and they walk right past you and ignore you. It would hurt your heart. A lot. You would question if that person is happy to see you. Thats how dogs feel.

Or imagine your living parter (kid, spouse), etc. going to run an errand. Coming home, you say “Hello”, and try to talk and they just keep walking away from you ignoring you. You would feel confused, sad, and shut down.

So what you can you do? Because they can’t jump and we want them to know they are loved.

There is a better way to teach them.

I 1000% say acknowledge and love your dog when you come home, every single time. I do. If they get too excited (which many do), instead of ignoring them, scratch them around their neck, under the collar, or on the back of the neck. Both places a dog can not reach well on their own.

It will RELAX them. And, it feels so good! It is a sign of affection and love because you are doing something for them. And, you are acknowledging them. And, most importantly, it will calm them. They will immediately stop jumping or bouncing around wildly.

This is a favorite spot for the major of dogs. But maybe your dog has a different favorite spot. If so, use that one. Find the spot that makes your dog turn into a noodle. I can tell you it is going to be a spot your pet can’t reach on their own. Use this every time you walk in the door. It will change wild and jumpy dogs into relaxed dogs. And if you have a dog that is quiet when greeting, scratch them anyway because it will show them you are happy to see them.

January 25, 2025January 25, 2025

Potty Training Dogs

Just a quick tip because most dogs will need to learn about potty training or need a refresher.

If your pet is unsupervised they have the ability to use any part of the house as their bathroom. Why would you assume they know they shouldn’t? They don’t. Unless someone teaches them consistently they don’t know. They don’t know right from wrong, they know what they’ve been taught (or not taught). And even IF they know to use the bathroom outside, if they are new in your house they don’t know where the door is.

Spankingor yelling at your pet for using the house as a bathroom will not work. Even if you catch them in the act. Animals learn best when undesirable behavior is never an option. It’s avoided. It’s prevented.

Potty training can be time consuming and frustrating because it can take a REALLY long time. But there is a way to speed it up?

Keep your dog tethered to you at ALL times. Puppies, adults, seniors, any dog that is moving into your home. Sound inconvenient? It is. But guess what it works SO well!

You will see when your dog is starting to show signs of needing to go to the bathroom. You will see sniffing, restlessness, etc. And you can bring your dog outside when you see these signs.

If your dog does seem to pee without you noticing ahead of time, I guarantee youll catch your dog in the act mid stream and you can pick the dog up or walk the dog outside. No harsh or loud words needed. Because you catch your dog in the act it is an effective correction.

If your dog is unsupervised around your house, you are less likely to notice the signs or if the dog uses the bathroom. And then it’s too late.

No matter what, consistency is the key. Your dog needs to be tethered to you all day every day for this to work quickly. But know what the added bonus is? The best part?

The relationship you will develop with your dog during this time will be so deep and so connected. You will literally be spending all your time together. Your dog will learn to trust you and to follow you (this helps recall!).

It is also very easy to ask for random “sits” or “downs” at various times during the day. Working your dog like this helps with enrichment, education, bonding, and stress relief. There are so many benefits.

If you have a new dog coming to live with you or just recently brought a dog into you family give it a try! But really give it a fair chance. Its not just a few days, its more like a few weeks. All day, every day, consistently. And crate when you aren’t home. Or can’t tether.

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025

Separation Anxiety

Talk to your pet like you’d talk to another human. You would not walk out of the house without saying a word if your partner or child was in the same room, or likely even in the house. You’d tell them you’re leaving and maybe even for how long and what you’re doing. Tell your pet:

* You’re leaving

* You’re coming back (very important for pets with separation anxiety)

* How long you expect to be gone

* Where you’re going

Pets are very intuitive. They understand and the know. They know more than you think they do.

January 20, 2025January 23, 2025

Proper Correction

One of the most important messages I want to send is about delayed correction.

This is one of the biggest misunderstandings I see between humans and animals.

Unless you actually catch your pet in the act of undesirable behavior, it is TOO LATE to correct them. They will not understand what they are being corrected for. All you will do is create confusion and lack of trust.

January 20, 2025January 23, 2025

Litterboxes

Your cats smell is 100 times better than the human nose.

Many guardians complain about cats not using the Litterbox and can’t understand why.

Though there are SO many reasons your cat may choose to stop using hte litter box, one of the most common is the smell.

You may not be able to smell the box, but they can, especially when they are so close to it, and especially when they are digging in it.

January 20, 2025January 23, 2025

How Do You View Mistakes?

Your thoughts can alter your relationship with your pet. You can become a trusted teammate that your pet can depend on. Or you can create a relationship with uncertainties.

My dogs are SO clean. They never have accidents in the house. However a few weeks ago I came home to pee on the floor. When we come home to a watery poop we know they probably could not hold it. But to come home to pee never ever happens (in years). It hadn’t been long since they had been out so it was odd.