This blog is the second of a five-part series, counting down from five to one, covering the primary reasons pet guardians contact me for an animal communication session and how the session can help. (Reason number five was: The Distress of Absence and Change)
Reason number four: The pet exhibits unusual or unacceptable (dangerous or unhealthy) behavior, be it a sudden change or shift of a longtime habit.
Unexplained irregularities or changes in our pet's behavior patterns can cause concern, which often results in alarm and anxiety for the pet guardian.
The primary cause for our anxiousness over our pets' irregular behavior is that, unlike dealing with humans, our pets can't talk to us in sentences. Consequently, we can't merely ask why they are behaving differently; or can we?
Yes, WE can! My experiences as an animal communicator have shown me that most animals are more than willing to share the reasons and motivations behind their actions. In many cases, they also provide ideas for resolving the issue.
Reason number four's question, "Why is my pet behaving this way?" leads to a broad range of answers! From health concerns to aggression to peculiar antics, there is a seemingly endless list of reasons why our pets do what they do.
I recently partnered with TheFierceLoveProject.org to help exemplify the benefits of Animal Communication. Pet guardians submitted questions or concerns about their (in this case) dogs, and then I tuned in and listened to what each had to say. I thought it would be enlightening and beneficial to briefly share these sessions in this blog since they are topic-appropriate. Here we go!
Perhaps one of the most alarming changes in our pet's behavior is a shift in physical condition. For example, we begin to wonder if this is just a mild sprain or infection or the beginning of something more significant? Let's consider limping, as that is a widespread concern regularly presented to me by clients.
One dog shared that he had "tweaked" his leg playing and that he would recover nicely with a bit of rest. This solution proved to be accurate, much to the happiness of his person.
Another loving pet parent had a similar concern for their recently rescued dog, who had been limping for some time. His people consulted two veterinarians - the remedy of rest should resolve the issue.
However, after weeks of forced inactivity, the dog was still limping, so his guardian contacted me via The Fierce Love Project's Animal Communication Promotion. The dog told me that he had an injury in his upper back and around his shoulder, causing radiated nerve pain to his foot. Every time the dog stepped on his foot, he felt the pain. He thought that a canine chiropractor visit and massage would relieve the issue, and his people happily complied. Success! The chiropractor felt something 'out' in the exact area described. After one treatment, the dog improved and was back to walking and hiking.
While some behavior patterns are common across pets, the reason behind the issue is not always the same. We cannot assume that what worked to resolve the problem for one animal applies to all!
Apparent fear of riding in cars is a common concern for pet guardians. In some cases, it is nearly impossible to get a cat or dog in the vehicle, even for a necessary vet or boarding trip. The reason for this reluctance to get in a car vastly varies, however.
A woman who had recently adopted a rescue dog consulted me about how to help her new pet get used to traveling in a car. The woman and her family wanted to take the dog to places they enjoy, but the dog didn't want to get near the automobile. The dog told me that it wanted to join the family but had awful car ride experiences. Each trip was about change or abandonment, and the push to get into a vehicle invoked repeated fear of this concern. The dog shared steps that he would like to take to become comfortable getting into a car, starting with very short rides.
Another client was sure that her tiny dog did not like to ride in the car because even though the dog readily jumped in the car, the dog shook once the vehicle was in motion. The dog shared two specific causes – she wanted to see out the window and feel physically stationary throughout the ride. A secure but open basket-like carrier was what the dog felt was needed for her (and the client!) to feel safe.
While behavioral peculiarities are often about the animals themselves, I routinely communicate with pets who admit that they create an unpleasant behavior pattern to push their person to make a change!
I recently communicated with a dog who had suddenly peed right in front of her person seated at a table using the computer. The dog had no such prior behavior and seemed in good health. Her person was alarmed by this change and reached out to me for help.
The dog shared that she wanted her person to stop intensely focusing on a particular issue and that she peed right in front of the human to get her attention. That behavior certainly worked! She communicated that her person had increased this focus over time without realizing it. The dog also provided some steps that she wanted her person to take.
Behavior oddities in our pets are vast and frequently challenging. Is your pet exhibiting behavior that has you puzzled or concerned? I'm here and would like to help!
