Category: Your Pet’s Emotions

There are so many things our animals don’t understand about our human world. Yes, we ask them to understand. In fact, many humans just expect and assume they understand.

We live in a world of instant gratification. Animals don’t work that way. They don’t show up knowing how to be a well-mannered, human world adapted being. They need to be taught with kindness, love, patience and TIME.

Animals can’t be rushed. They don’t understand “hurry”. It’s very confusing to them. They aren’t on a time schedule like we are. They live in the present and the celebrate every small thing that happens in their day. They don’t have any desire to rush through their day, like humans do.

When humans try to rush animals it can scare them or frustrate them. It can cause stress and anxiety because they feel YOUR rushed energy. That feels chaotic to them. At the LEAST it will confuse them.

Don’t rush them! Just because you’re in a hurry, don’t assume they are. I can guarantee they aren’t. In fact, maybe they are here to teach us that taking our time to notice and celebrate all the little things in our daily life is the best way to be happy.

Maybe they’re here to slow you down. To make you notice the things in life that really matter. Like the extra time you took to play with your cat. Or the walks you took with your dog. Or maybe that trail ride you took your horse on. Or just not rushing your pet out the door when it’s time to leave because youre running late for their vet appt.

Animals do not understand rushing or hurrying or “being late” and that will never change. Those are human problems not animal problems. So if you want to be the best guardian you can be for your pets, don’t rush them, don’t hurry them. Let them move at their pace. Because I can tell you their pace allows for a fuller and more beautiful life with less stress.

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. 

Your pets mental health must always come first when making decisions.

It’s easy to forget that animals can suffer from emotional abuse (often unintentional) not just physical abuse. We can all say “bad people” physically abuse animals, but often animals are emotionally stressed with loving guardians! Just out of a lack of understanding.

It’s easy to forget their our decisions affect their emotional health greatly.

It’s easy to forget how important their mental and emotional health is.

It’s easy to pay attention to physical health. Bring them to the vet when they need it. Feed them nutritious meals. Trim their nails. Bathe them.

But what about their mental and emotional health? Is your pet depressed? Sad? Does your pet feel unloved at times (unintentionally)? Does your pet feel abandoned? Left out? Again, almost always unintentionally but kind, loving guardians. Are they emotionally stressed or fragile because we have unintentionally put them into situations that are too much fo them mentally? This happens often! Again, unintentionally. Either with “training”, where we leave them when we aren’t with them, or not thinking about how our decisions for our lives, affect them.

They are part of our lives so our decisions should always consider them. And we should be willing to make decisions in ways that do not jeopardize their emotional health.

For the most balanced mentally and emotionally healthy animals we do have to teach them enough confidence and independence that they are calm and content when away from us.

Sometimes animals will be in stressful, anxious, or uncomfortable situations. When they are emotionally well and strong, they can adapt. If they face these kind of situations too often, and on their own, without support, or even just one situation that is too overwhelming, they will emotionally suffer.

Their mental health is as fragile and as important as ours, as humans. And like humans, some animals are mentally stronger, mentally less sensitive. Others are overly sensitive, and overly fragile.

All of you on this page are here because you want to be the best guardian for your animals. You want to love them, support them, and most importantly understand them.

If you become aware of their mental health, look into their eyes, watch them when they don’t know you are watching them, you’ll be able to get a glimpse into how theyre doing.

If you do feel your dog is depressed, sad, or otherwise struggling with mental health, I can help. Animal communication is also pet therapy! It is letting them talk, so we can make a plan to help them feel better.

1-207-849-0096 Text or Angie@AngieMorin.com

Yes, it’s real. Chihuahuas get a bad rep. Small dogs tend to have less patience. But, there’s a reason.

Small dogs (in general) get less “training” than big dogs. Many people assume they don’t need it because they can just pick them up and move them. They don’t pull as hard on a leash. They often can barely keep up when we walk anyway.

But, many of these small dogs feel constantly overwhelmed and that’s what their behavior often reflects.

Instead of calling them over and waiting for them to respond, it is easier to pick them up and move them to where you want them. When you call a dog, they have time to process it and make a choice, and know where they are headed (to their human in the kitchen for example). A small dog, is just surprised! All of a sudden they’ve been picked up and have no idea where they are going.

They are often assumed to be easier because they are smaller. But in reality they need the same care and enrichment and exercise! Especially the terriers!

Small dogs are prone to a lot of barking. Why? Usually, they aren’t getting enough exercise. Or, they are trying to use their voice because they rarely feel heard or respected. They are trying to feel big in a world that makes them feel small (and therefore unsafe).

The best things for small dogs, is to treat them like big dogs. Teach them all the same things. Exercise them. If they have less patience, understand there is a reason. They feel vulnerable. Small dogs gets pushed around a lot, not intentionally, just because of their size.

Their size makes them feel more like toys than dogs. Because of their size they are treated differently than larger dogs. This does not help them, it hurts them. They develop excessive behaviors to try to make up for their lack of confidence and their insecurities. They try to act “big”.

So if you have a small dog that is very reactive or that barks a lot. Start by teaching the dog all the things you would teach a 100 lb, strong dog. It will give your small dog confidence. It will give your small dog choice. It will give your small dog enrichment.

Your small dog will be so much happier and so much more balanced.