Month: February 2024

Our world is sadly filled with millions of unwanted and unloved animals. It is heartbreaking. However, I choose to see the brighter side. If I don’t the sadness is overwhelming. The brighter side is there are also hundreds of thousands of humans willing to open their homes to one of these pets.

Transitioning a new pet into your home is challenging, to say the least. This transition will test even the kindest, most loving animal guardian on some days. Especially in the beginning. Please know if it is challenging for you, it is doubly challenging for your new animal.

I want to help animals feel heard, I want to help humans understand their animals. That’s why I do this. My soft spot is rescue pets. I get a lot of sessions from new guardians trying to understand their newly adopted animal. I know how difficult the transition is for both sides. I want to help ease the transition.

Though much of easing the transition is specific to each pet there are a few things anyone can take into consideration when transitioning a new animal into the home, or dealing with an animal that is showing “nuisance” behaviors.

Regardless of how patient you are, animals, especially new ones with “pasts” will test your patience at times.

Things to remember:

* Every single animal just wants love. They don’t want to anger us, frustrate us, or upset us. They don’t want to be abandoned, neglected, or treated poorly. They didn’t ask for their past circumstances. They didn’t deserve those circumstances.

* Every pet tries their HARDEST to please their guardian. I have never met a pet that does something “wrong” intentionally.

* Pets that have not been only in your home have lived with many different expectations and routines. They have no way of knowing what your expectations are or what your routine is. They are guessing when they first arrive. They need THREE months to learn this new way of life.

* Pets are nervous, uncomfortable, and scared in new environments. Could you move to an entirely different home, not knowing anyone, and just be relaxed and settled in immediately? Animals feel all the same emotions as us.

Picture yourself leaving your home (even if that home has been a shelter or the streets), and moving into a new home with strangers you’ve never met. Being expected to know the rules. Being expected to be relaxed, happy, settled, and not make any mistakes? It would be scary, hard, and unreasonable. So please do not place their expectations on your new pet.

* Pets are at the mercy of us, humans. Everything that an animal knows before entering your home is from another human. The pet can not be expected to immediately change to your way of life.

* They try to communicate, trust me they do. But most of the time humans do not notice their subtle communication. So what happens next? The animal communicates more loudly. Biting, hissing, growling, barking, scratching, etc. This is NOT a behavior issue, this is a communication issue. The animal is telling you they are uncomfortable or confused.

These behaviors will vanish once the animal understands this new life and the human understands the animal is confused and/or scared.

* They come into our house and trust me they try. They try SO HARD. These are the things I hear from rescue pets all the time:

* I don’t want to be a problem.
* I don’t want to make a mistake.
* I’m afraid I’ll have to leave if I mess up.
* I don’t know what they expect.
* I am not settled yet, I need more time.
* I am trying.
* It’s so different than what I know.
* I hope they give me a chance.
* I’m not sure if I am staying yet.

These are the REAL words I most frequently hear from rescue pets. Heartbreaking.

My goal is to help humans understand so they can adopt, rescue, and comfortably transition their new pets in.

I want to hear pet’s say:

* I’ve made some mistakes but my family is understanding and tolerant
* My family is giving me the time I need to settle in
* My family knows I am scared and confused and they aren’t pushing me out of my comfort zone.
* My family is letting me settle in at my own pace.
* My family is giving me space and time when I need it.

Imagine what YOU would need if you transitioned into a new home with strangers and do ALL of that for your pet.

* Space when they need it.
* Patience no matter how simple the task seems.
* Understand even the happiest pet is going to be scared and confused and do uncharacteristic things.
* Tell your pet it’s okay to make a mistake. It’s ok to need time. Tell the pet it is loved no matter what and tell the pet it is STAYING. Reassure the pet you will work through miscommunications together.
* Have no expectations. Let things unfold in the pet’s timing.
* Give the pet 3 SOLID MONTHS. It is worth it. It gets easier each week. And after 3 months things will be seamless.

It is hard. I know this. I foster and it is like transitioning a new pet every single time. But, if you do it from the perspective of the animal it is so much easier. The transition is easier. The pet is happier. The human is happier because there is less stress and resistance.

And lastly, consider an animal communication session. I can tell you about your animal’s past, before you. Knowing what the animal has been through or the life the animal has lived will help you understand this pet and its behaviors better.

I had a tough one. I thought I would never get things to be seamless in the house. But my tough one, who had accidents and made daily mistakes in the house for 3 solid months at least (maybe 4 or 5) is now the easiest, cleanest, most loyal dog I have ever owned. He needed more time than average to settle in and leave his past behind. But he is so worth it. I now have the most loyal dog I have ever met, by my side, every moment of every day.

Adopt. Give them a chance. See the transition through their eyes. Know they are trying to communicate with you. Try to be aware. Be understanding and patient. And if you are still struggling, contact me and I’ll help.

You have a good animal (dog, cat, horse, etc). I promise. They are all inherently good. Everyone makes mistakes, even you. So please allow your animal to make mistakes too without holding a grudge, getting frustrated, or giving up. When your new animal makes a mistake or has an accident. Look into their eyes, you will see all they want is to be loved and accepted. They want your approval. They want to make you happy. So let the mistake or accident go, move on, and try to find ways to help your animal settle in more comfortably.