Always remember we are just borrowing our pets from heaven. Their souls are too beautiful and too full of love to stay here as long as we do. They come, on borrow, to bring us true love and joy and make our life better.
When they leave to go back they take a piece of our heart. When we arrive and are greeted by all our animals our hearts become whole again, every single one of them holding a piece of it. We are finally complete again.
And that is what loving an animal is. It’s sending a piece of our heart to heaven with each one, for them to take care of for us until we arrive. Because only our animals are capable of protecting our hearts fully and completely. No other being on this earth is.
Animals that bite, growl, scratch, buck, rear, kick or bolt are often labeled as dangerous or difficult.
These animals are NOT that at all. They are usually the most sensitive animals.
These animals resort to these behaviors, which are forms of communication, because their more subtle, polite ways of communicating to tell you something is wrong, have been ignored.
They have run out of ways to communicate gently so they are using the only form of communication they have left. It’s always a last resort for these animals. By the time they get to that point they have been pushed so far there is no other option.
These animals need patience, understanding, and most importantly someone that is willing to observe and listen to the whispers.
These animals are loving, sensitive sentient beings that have had their voices ignored too many times. They are not dangerous or difficult. Starting listening to them and theyll show you who they truly are.
Here is a very simple way to add to your pets day!
Make a list of pet favorite things to do that they do not already do on a daily basis.
Examples:
Interactive play with you
Go for a walk (cats can do this too!)
Hand Graze
Their favorite snack (not something they get all the time)
Visit the pet store
Get a pup cup
An hour of extra turnout
Extra long grooming/massage
A formal massage
An alternative therapy treatment (reiki, magna wave, etc.)
A hike
Getting a new gift (toy, bed, treat)
A hack ride (for show horses)
A trip to the beach or a lake
Take a nap together (our animals LOVE to sleep with us)
Eat together and share your food
Go somewhere new
The list is ENDLESS. The key is pick things your pets don’t do daily. Then commit to doing one of these things for them every single day. Don’t skip out on their daily walk though! The list is meant to be in addition to their already established routine.
This will add variety to their days. This will add enrichment. This will give them something to look forward to! This will be fun for both of you. Most importantly, it will give you and your animals more quality time together, deepening your bond.
And you can make it a celebration. You can pick the activity out of a jar if you have a lot of time. If you are short on time, pick something quick, but still commit to doing something for them each day.
If every day is too much, then commit to one day a week. One day a week to do something from the list you make.
The key is consistency. It’s easy to do it for a week or a month. But can you commit to giving your pet a lifetime of 30 minutes or an hour a day that is all about them? We have 24 hours a day to work with, giving them a small portion that is focused on them and all about them, will be relationship changing in the best way. They deserve it.
Want to know what your pets favorite things to do are?
“Things can get better but I will never be perfect. “
It is important we always remember this.
Our animals can be easy to live with, they can learn our expectations, routines, and way of communicating. They can learn appropriate behaviors. They can learn how to adapt to this human world.
But they can never be perfect. They will make mistakes. They will have accidents in the house. They will make messes.
I know most of us don’t expect them to be perfect. But do we expect them not to make mistakes at all?
They will still make messes. They might have an odd day. They might accidentally break something. They may have an accident in the house.
Sometimes we get the urge to need the bathroom quickly or unexpectedly but we can just go. It happens to them to. If no one is home, or they don’t have time to ask, or aren’t noticed when they do ask… they’ll have an accident. Even the best, cleanest animal.
And even more simple, humans make mistakes ALL the time. Animals will too.
So remember though you may not expect them to be perfect, do you expect them not to make mistakes in certain areas? I think some of us do.
But I do promise you, they don’t do it intentionally. They try their hardest NOT to make mistakes, even when they don’t fully know what we want.
Did you know that January is National Unchain A Dog Month
While most of us would never physically chain our dogs, I’m reminded restrictions don’t just come from chains.
Psychologically, yes chaining dogs is very harmful to them. It’s restricting. It usually leads to aggression, insecurity, frustration, anxiety, fear, and mental decline. Chained dogs feel restricted physically and emotionally. But not all “chains” are metal.
Though I know you all get it and don’t actually chain your dogs, lets think about how we “unchain” the non-metal chains for our loved pets.
* We can “unchain” our expectations of our dogs. Let them be who they are and not label them as “stubborn” or “reactive”. Those labels limit a dogs expression and tell the dog thats who we want them to be! They feel our energy when we use those terms.
* “The invisible chain” Sometimes even our loved house dogs feel restricted emotionally, mentally or energetically when their voices, requests, needs, and emotions aren’t heard or correctly understood.
* We can give them “freedom”. Let them choose where to walk, when to leave the house with use and when not to. We can honor their preferences to food, space, routines, and touch. Communication is the bridge that allows choice. And we need to be willing to listen.
When we communicate with our dogs and open ourselves up to what they are trying to communicate with us, we “unchain” their voices. When that happens something
Shifts for them and for us.
I am so grateful so many of you already live understand the value is keeping our dogs off physical chains. Our dogs deserve more than a life tied to a chain, physically or metaphorically.
If possible, please help an organization that unchain dogs. There are many. They provide large kennels and doghouses for the dogs. You can help through your time, a donation, or by spreading awareness. So many dogs ARE truly chained and even just doing one thing, one time, may help a chained dog become “unchained” and live a life that is more free.
Animals are very sensitive to energy. That’s why the words we use and the names we call them affect them so much. They become that energy.
They don’t understand jokes, so if we say “youre a pain in the butt”, even if we are joking, they feel we are being serious. Humans joke all the time. We may call them stubborn or a brat as a joke. Or maybe we mean it! But either way, to them, the words we say are true. So they feel like they are stubborn or a brat and they will become that way.
If we say they are aggressive, reactive, or mean, they will be that way. They think they are being what we want them to be because we label them that way!
Sometimes, again joking, we may say our pet is “not smart”, dumb, or stupid. Guess what? That hurts their feelings and they will again starting acting in a way that matches their label. Why? To try to please us. They think that’s what we want them to be because we label them that way.
I wish humans knew how much the words they use affect their pets emotionally and affect their pets behaviors, even if you’re joking!
If you tell them they are a lot of work, annoying, or frustrating they will be. Then imagine THEIR frustration when you are frustrated with them being what they think you want them to be!
Try to use labels that create the type of pet behaviors you want to encourage. Try to use labels that make your pet feel confident, safe, and happy! Try to use labels that make your pet feel loved and appreciated.
Label them as * smart. *funny * brave * agreeable * easy * and other similar terms.
Say to your pet “youre so easy to live with. “
“You make my days so easy”
“You are fun to be around!!”
“You are SO smart!”
“You do everything right.”
“You fit in seamlessly!”
There are so many ways to label our pets with positive, uplifting, beautiful labels. So many labels we can use that help them be the best they can be. So many labels that make the dynamics in the house easier instead of harder.
If you want to know how your pet feels with the words and communication in the house you can give your pet a chance to talk during a reading.
I talk a lot about the importance of enrichment. It keeps pets happier, balanced, and prevents behavioral issues from boredom.
But the other very important benefit that enough enrichment provides is prevention of premature cognitive decline.
Enrichment also reduces stress. Stress in animals creates premature aging just like it does in humans. Stress in animals causes health issues, anxiety and increases all cause mortality.
We all want our pets to live as long as possible with a good quality of life.
In addition to the obvious (proper vet care, good nutrition, and exercise), providing proper enrichment and reducing your animals stress are controllable factors that can lead to longer, healthier lives for all our pets.
What are some of the things that cause stress in animals:
* Change
* Lack of Exercise or Enrichment
* Yelling/Fighting (at the animal or in the same house/area as the animal even if not directed at the animal)
* Overcrowing
* Needs not being met despite their efforts to communicate
* Isolation/ Separation / Confinement
* Fatigue, Injury, Illness
* Inconsistent expectations
* Unfairness
* Harsh/rough handing
* Jokes
We can’t prevent all stress for them, but we can reduce it. And we can provide enrichment & exercise as an outlet for stress.
Keeping our pets happy and healthy (mentally and physically and spiritually) is our responsibility. There are many variables we can control, there are some we can’t. But we owe it to them to control the ones we can because that gives them a higher odds of living a long, healthy, happy life.
The way to do it:
* Provide consistent enrichment
* The best nutrition you can afford (its ok if you can’t do top shelf! Do the best you can!)
* Reduced stress
* Consistent expectations
* Inclusion
* Socialization
* Exercise (which is different than enrichment)
* Vet care
* Love
* Understanding, patience, and forgiveness
* No jokes
I know I want my pets to live as long as possible and I know you all do too.
