Category: General Pet Guardianship

The more you start looking at animals as equals and seeing their emotions, behaviors and quirks from their point of view, the happier they will be. They will engage more. They will open up more. Their personalities will shine more. They will behavior “better”. They will understand more.

I was always a gentle, patient, and kind guardian. 20 years ago I had happy pets. But I was seeing them from a human perspective. I was humanizing them. Placing my emotions and thoughts on them instead of trying to see their own thoughts and emotions and perspectives. I was placing my human ideas of why they behaved a certain way.

Now, holy cow! My pets are a level of happy that I never knew existed! All because I started seeing things from THEIR perspective, THEIR understanding, THEIR thoughts and emotions and most importantly their WHY behind their behaviors. Not the why I placed on their behavior, from a human perspective. I thought I was seeing things from their perspective often, but I wasn’t. I let human thoughts and emotions get in the way.

When you see your animals as equals instead of something you “own” your entire relationship will change for the better.

I have always loved animals. I have always been an animal person. I always did the best I knew how to do and followed what I thought was the right way to do things. I was always kind, never forceful. My animals have always been happy and loved. They were always happy.

But, I didn’t always see their behaviors from their perspective. I saw it through mine in my 20s and early 30s. Once I started really communicating with animals, lots of them, I started seeing their behavior from their perspective and it changed everything!

When I talk with the animals they often share preferred phrases with me. When they do, I make a commitment to use these terms.

Recently, pets have used the word “transition” instead of “euthanasia”, “dying”, and even “passed”.

I often ask them why. With this the general consensus is because they are not moving on in any way, they are transitioning into a different form, still as actively involved in their guardians’ lives.

If your pet brings you something – anything, thank them.

It could be a toy, a kill, a stick, a bone, even your shoe! Whatever it is, it is their way of gifting you something to show their love.

So many pets get “in trouble” for bringing a sock or a shoe or an item belonging to a human. Trust me there is not a more flattering gift. It has your scent. Your animal is showing you how special you are. And bringing you something that is YOURS! To be helpful and to show love.