Dog Anxiety Around Fireworks and Storms: Stressful For Pets and Humans

Dog anxiety can be so painful if it is your dog who is suffering. Dog stress around fireworks is very common. It is also a very common time for animals to get lost, injured, or killed as they run in panic, thinking that the sky is falling down.

And you, as their caretaker, can feel helpless too. No matter what you do to soothe them, they don’t seem to hear you.

This is the worst time of year for shelters and rescue organizations as well—more animals get lost and go missing during fireworks celebrations than at any other time of the year.

How to heal dog anxiety

If your dog anxiety is because they are afraid of fireworks, storms, or other noises, I’m sure you’ve tried everything. You’ve tried talking to them—you told them not to worry, everything is okay, please calm down.

“They’re just fireworks (or thunder or…)! Please stop freaking out, it’s just noise and a light show in the sky!”

How’d that work out for you?

Did they listen to you and immediately calm down? Or did they completely ignore you and continue shaking, running around looking for an escape, and hiding?

If you don’t know how to communicate with dogs properly by speaking their language in a way that they can hear and understand, then I doubt you had much success.

You may also have tried the drugs route and requested something from your vet to help calm dog anxiety around fireworks, storms, and other noise phobia problems.

And you tried them, but anti-anxiety meds can put them into a sleepy, catatonic state, and may not prevent them from running away, freaking out or hurting themselves or others.

Even worse, you have to be there to give the medication to them. But what if the scary things happen when you’re not there?

Medications that numb them out or slow them down… but they’re still scared inside don’t help long term. And sometimes they don’t even help in the short term.

That’s because the drugs don’t solve the real underlying problems, they only dull down the symptoms to make it easier for everyone to deal with the poor suffering anxious dog.

And even worse, prescription drugs for dog anxiety are not safe

They take a toll on your animal’s kidneys and liver and can make them very sick over time.

So what can you do?

via GIPHY

First, realize that the real problem isn’t the noise. It’s the conversation they are having inside their heads about how they’re going to die.

How the sky is falling. We’re all in imminent danger because it’s the end of the world.

How nowhere is safe, and mom or dad aren’t listening to me, they don’t understand, they can’t protect or help me… I have to run and hide before the world blows up.

If you have a precious pet who is afraid of fireworks, check out my 50-minute Helping Pets Overcome Fear of Fireworks, Thunder, and Noise Phobias Course. Helping your pet overcome their fear of loud noises is one of the best things you can do for them.

When the noise in their heads is louder than your voice, they can’t hear you

By not being able to communicate with your pet heart to heart, mind to mind, you can’t address their fears in a real meaningful way. When they are in a world of fear and noise, all they can hear is their own terrified voice inside their heads. All your attempts to settle their nerves and calm them go flying right out the window in the face of their huge, overwhelming fight-flight-survival fears.

It is so painful knowing that you may be living with a beloved animal who is trapped inside their own world of fear (or perhaps your friends are).

It is truly a nightmare situation and can make even the most experienced, loving dog guardian feel frustrated and helpless.

I know this feeling very well because I’ve worked with thousands of animals and their loving caretakers in similar situations, solving their animal’s fears and restoring ease, peace, and well-being.

In every one of these cases, I was able to ease their suffering and help them find their peace. Through the healing art of animal communication, they discovered how to not be afraid and to embrace living in a brand new reality.

It is really a life-changing experience — transforming nightmares, fear, and panic to acceptance, calm, and ease. The results last a lifetime without harmful side effects or the ongoing expense or time management concerns like administering drugs.

And they’ve continued to make a difference, no matter what the weather or what the crazy people are doing with their BANG BOOM POP fireworks!

Learn animal communication to ease dog anxiety so you can help heal their mind

You can learn to do this too. You can learn to listen and talk with your pets, so you can together improve and enrich your lives in so many ways.

Your ability to understand animals and improve your skills in communicating with them will help you solve this problem and many others like them. It can go a long way toward helping them find their inner peace, calm, and settle so they can be safe, happy, and healthy.

In the next post, I’ll give you a technique that can help your pet be safe, calm, cool, and collected, no matter what h*ll is breaking loose around them in the sky.

If you’re ready to start your journey in the wonderful world of Animal Communication, it’s time to start!

Download my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE.

Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course.

All The Heart School of Animal Communication courses are fully guaranteed, so there’s no risk of taking the next step.

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Preparing an Emergency Lost Cat Covid Kit

2020 Lost Cat Tips & Prevention

Kim Freeman, Cat Detective at www.LostCatFinder.com

A guest post from the Lost Cat Finder Kim Freeman, who does search & rescue for missing cats.

With our increased time at home and new routines, here are some new tips for 2020 to prevent your cat from escaping when kids are careless, door accidents happen, and search access is limited.

Cats are more difficult to recover than dogs and require special techniques beyond social media, flyers, and a visit to the shelter. Would you know what to do if someone left a door open and your cat slipped out?

Take these steps to prevent your cat from making a sneaky exit and know how to be ready in case of this emergency situation.

HAVE THE PERFECT PHOTO READY

Take a special photo of your cat so you have the ideal pose for a lost cat flyer and poster. The most useful image is your cat standing in a side view (including their tail) facing the camera. This helps if someone spots your cat flash past outdoors. I find that most people have cute sleeping poses or silly cute kitty photos, but rarely a simple standing side-view. Take one now, just in case you ever need it!

PREPARE A LOST CAT KIT

With their normal routine upset and everyone home so much, cats who are used to having the entire place to themselves may be stressed and eager to slip out, especially in the spring and summer months.

Store photos, microchip number and a mock-up lost cat flyer with your cat’s Emergency GO Kit or simply where it’s easy to access. Should you ever need them, this kit will save you precious time and tons of stress. The ultimate preparation is to skim or download the ebook, the Professional Guide on How to Find a Lost Cat so you know the right steps for your situation – as well as the common mistakes to avoid (like putting out food and kitty litter).

SECURE YOUR BORDERS

Take ten minutes to check along perimeter of your fence for any spaces or holes that you could fit a closed fist into. Cats can get through tiny spaces, so add rocks or pack dirt to close them up. Cats can jump five times their height, so unless you have secured the holes AND have a catio or roll-top fence, your cat may surprise you with ninja escape abilities.

Remove any items leaning on or next to your fence. Woodpiles, garbage containers, kid toys, boxes, etc. next to a fence are a great springboard for cats to get over any fence, so make sure you are not offering an easy hop up and over – but no way to get back.

GPS TRACKERS

Everyone seems to think GPS is the ideal solution for lost cats, but it’s actually less than ideal because it depends on Global Positioning Satellites when cats hide tend to hide UNDER things.

For owners who insist on GPS (despite the research) a new device I’m field testing is the PAWTRACK collar. This is a good solution for cats as the hardware is part of the collar instead of a big box attachment. Even better is that it’s weighted so the communication unit is always up, facing the sky. This has to be recharged nightly, which involves taking it apart, switching out batteries, and plugging in overnight.

If your cat gets out, their “heavy necklace” is useless if the 48-hour battery has died.

An alternative system few people know about are the RF cat tracking devices, which are smaller and based on radio waves that can find cats under things like decks and porches –even down storm drains.

Even simpler and totally independent of glitchy apps, SIM cards, and texting plans is a simple LED lighted collar strip. The glow will show where your cat is hiding, whether as under a car, behind bushes, or up a tree. This is especially useful for cats who go out, but hide when it’s time to come back in at night.

PROOF OF OWNERSHIP

Be able to offer proof you own your cat in case someone takes him in. The best method to show proof of ownership is to have your pet microchipped. Check with your local shelter, rescue groups, or veterinarian to get this simple, inexpensive procedure.

Take a close-up photo of your cat’s nose and whisker pattern as these two features are unique to every cat, just like human fingerprinting.  If your pet has any special markings, scars, or ear nicks, photograph these areas and keep these photos in a special location with your cat’s vet records.

SAFE TRANSPORT

This sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many pet owners put their cats at risk. A cat inside a car can escape when involved in a traffic accident. They can jump out prematurely when a door is opened (see case of cat lost at a gas station at night). Cat carriers have been known to break open during traffic accidents, in vet parking lots, and on conveyor belts at airports.

No matter how crabby your cat becomes with confinement, make sure you transport them in a secure carrier. Most accidents I’ve seen were the result of a “clamshell carrier” being dropped or the bottom falling out. There seem to be fewer incidents with zipper carriers–as long as you make sure the zippers are fully closed every time.

Image by paperelements from Pixabay

ORANGE COLLAR & MICROCHIP

Even if you never let your cat out, you never know when an emergency will happen. A kid may open a window or door at night, cat carriers can (and do) break open, or worst of all, a burglar could break in, leaving a door open for your cat to escape outside. Paramedics and other first responders often leave doors open during emergency procedures. I’ve even had cases of cats thrown from cars in traffic accidents.

Most people never think any of this could happen to them. Then it does. A bight collar with ID and a microchip are both important so your cat has identification both inside and out.

Even indoor-only cats should have a collar and chip because if they ever do get out, they’re at risk of ending up in an animal shelter months after you’ve stopped searching.

For collars, orange is known as the most noticeable color. It’s also known in the cat world as the sign of an escaped cat, so people will take note. In addition to orange, a lighted collar to be seen at night that’s also wide enough to accommodate big ID lettering is ideal for cats who will not let strangers pick them up or even get close enough to check a tag. A lighted collar makes them easy to spot at night.

Get your cat chipped this week, then go home and register the chip to YOU at your CURRENT address and phone number. Otherwise, it’s just a unknown number with no way to reach you.

NOTE YOUR CAT’S HABITS

Get to know when your cat sleeps, what hours they are the most active, and whether they prefer to be up in high places or down low. All this will be useful info should your cat ever get out. If they are allowed outside, take note on which way they go when leaving, how they behave, where they seek cover, and what yards they tend to visit. Get them used to being picked up and put back down.

Above all, if your indoor cat does slip out the door, resist the urge to chase or you may never see them again. Stay calm, keep an eye on them, and try to lure them back by sitting near your doorstep or near a dark/shady area with an open can of tuna.  Learn how to do the “kitty Burrito wrap” in case you ever need to scoop up a cat you will need to carry more than ten feet.

BE NEIGHBORLY

In case your cat ever disappears make sure your neighbors know you have a cat –whether your cat is indoor only or outdoor-access. That way, they know who it belongs to and will be more likely to call when spotted. If you’re not already a member of Next-door, sign up and add your pet to their local pets file.

If your cat routinely roams and stalks birds, walks on cars, or poops on your neighbor’s property, make sure to preempt any complaints: ask neighbors to let you know if your cat is a problem for them in any way.

BIRD ALERTS

Should your cat ever escape and you have no idea which way they went, listen to the birds. They will make racous alarm calls to let each other know there is a predator in the area. Listen to bird language so you know when your cat has been spotted by these air spies.

Blue jays and mockingbirds are especially vocal when they spot a cat. Examples of various bird alarms on cats are included in the ebook, How to Find a Lost Cat by the Lost Cat Finder.

HOME RELATIONS

If your cat slips out, even for just a few hours, beware of the dynamics if you have other cats. Your recovered cat “smells different” and may not be immediately accepted back by the others, creating potential conflict.

Rather than assuming your cats are mad, vengeful or crazy, look into what’s creating the stress and how it’s displayed. Think of it as a cry for help, and get help! Friends will have their opinions, but find out from your cat’s point of view what is really going on with a consult with Val Heart.

Kim Freeman

“The Cat Detective”

www.LostCatFinder.com

Lost Cat reunion stories

https://www.facebook.com/LostCatFinder

Image by Philipp T from Pixabay

 

If you’re ready to start your journey in the wonderful world of Animal Communication, it’s time to start!

Download my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE.

Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course.

Maybe you’ve already begun your journey in Animal Communication. If so, it’s time to go to the next level.

Find out how to access the Masterclass here

All my courses are fully guaranteed, so there’s no risk to taking the next step.

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you:

Is Your Pet Afraid of Fireworks or Storms?

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COVID-19 and Mother Earth Gaia’s Perspective, I Wonder?

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Is Your Pet Afraid of Fireworks or Storms?

Having a pet afraid of fireworks can be so stressful, and not just for the animal. I can tell you—watching your furry companion, suffering, panicking, and running in fear of loud noises is no fun. It can be downright scary and dangerous for them and everyone around them.

A pet afraid of fireworks and storms can end in tragedy

Independence Day, New Years Day, and other celebrations can be a fun holiday for many people around the world. But it is also the time of year that strikes dread into the hearts of many animal lovers.

Because holidays like Independence Day and New Years Day also means fireworks.

And if you have a pet afraid of fireworks, you have good reason to be concerned.

Many animals are so terrified of the loud, frightening BOOMS that they run away 

from home only to get lost, severely injured, or killed in their panic.

It’s so sad because they were just desperately trying to find somewhere safe to hide, to run away from the terrors in the sky.

It’s the worst time of year for shelters and rescue organizations too.

In fact, more animals get lost and go missing during fireworks celebrations than at any other time of the year.

Isn’t that heartbreaking?

Equally devastating and way more unpredictable in their timing are thunderstorms with booming peals of thunder and lightning lighting up the sky. That too can scare animals into a complete and full-blown panic, as can other noise phobias.

Many fearful, terrified pets begin freaking out before the storm even arrives. In the madness, they can become destructive, to themselves and your property.

Maybe you have a pet afraid of fireworks, or you know someone who does… and you’re thinking ahead to the Fourth of July (or the next holiday) with dread, not sure what to do?

Maybe you think you’ve tried everything. You’ve done training, taught calming cues and signals, and offered reassurance techniques, but nothing has worked and they are still afraid and react to the noises with panic.

And you’re afraid for their healthy, safety and wellbeing

Maybe you’ve even resorted to using drugs. But what if you’re not there to give it to them when they’re afraid it doesn’t help, and you can’t keep them drugged ALL the time, right?

What if the drug isn’t working, it’s too expensive or has harmful side effects? That’s not good either.

Or maybe you just don’t know if they’re working or not, because your pet friend can’t tell you how they’re feeling.

Learn how to speak your pets language so you can help heal their mind through communicating with them.  Start by downloading my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE

Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course

A pet afraid of fireworks or storms can suffer health problems

It goes beyond just the panic reaction.

Fear itself takes a huge toll on a pet’s nervous system, bodymind, and their emotions. Ultimately, all the stress from fear can sabotage their immune system so they are more vulnerable to illness, pathogens, and disease.

Learning how to help your pet overcome their fear of fireworks, storms/thunder and any kind of noise phobias is the kindest, most loving, and compassionate, BEST thing you can do for them.

You could even save their life.

One other wonderful thing you can do to help is give them high-quality CBD oil. CBD oil helps relax their nerves, chill and take the edge off.

The problem is you have to start ahead of time to build up their system. To do that, you need to have some on hand and get them started on it ASAP, which means you need to order it right now.

Before you do…

Beware! Not all CBD oil products are created equally – you need the BEST oil for your pet!

Many have fillers, nasty bits in the ingredients (or not enough of the good stuff), and are very low-quality oils that don’t help at all.

They can even hurt your pet.

CBD for pets isn’t regulated the same way oil for humans is, so they aren’t tested properly because the companies are out to make a quick buck on the CBD bandwagon.

My FAVORITE CBD Oil company is CTFO. 

I trust CTFO’s products implicitly because I’ve seen them work really really well, and I use them personally.  I also trust them because of their third party testing and impeccable standards.

It’s like a really cool CHILL PILL for puppies. Works for kitties too. And horses. And people!!

If you tried CBD before and it didn’t work so well, you gotta check out my blog post on CBD Oil and how to use it properly.  Because not only do you need the best quality, after that HOW you use it can make all the difference in the world. 

Do you have a precious pet who is afraid of fireworks?  Check out my Helping Pets Overcome Fear of Fireworks, Thunder, and Noise Phobias Course. Because helping your pet overcome their fear of loud noises is one of the best things you can do for them.  Healing their body is important, but healing their mind is critically important. 

Did you enjoy this article? Here are some more you might enjoy:

Check out my blog post with 11 Tips to help your pet with their fear of fireworks, storms and noise phobias: Go Here Now.

Healing dogs through meditation.

TedX talk: animals are smarter than you think.

Doggie depression: how to help your dog out of the blues.

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How to Stop Your Dog From Begging the Gentle Way

There are a few reasons why you might want to stop your dog from begging. One reason might be that you just don’t want to hear it. That’s a perfectly acceptable reason, but remember that if your dog is begging, they’re trying to tell you something.

Another really important reason to stop your dog from begging is to help them. Feeding a dog table scraps can lead to an upset stomach or even canine obesity. And according to a 2018 study, more than half the dogs in American are classified as overweight or obese.

Stopping your dog from begging can be good for both you and your dog, but how to start?

Image by Roy Buri from Pixabay

Don’t Reward Bad Behavior

The first step to stop your dog from begging is to be sure you aren’t reinforcing the behavior. When your dog is begging, they’re trying to tell you something. If you listen, you can actually learn from your dog. They are likely telling you that they are somehow unsatisfied. They might not like their own food and are asking you for a bit of yours.

They’re pretty convincing too. When your pup flashes those eyes, it’s easy to share with them. Unfortunately, this is the last thing you want to do. If your dog is asking you for a bit of your meal, giving it to them is going to reinforce that behavior. By giving your dog what they ask for, you will teach them that begging will get them what they want. They will continue begging if they learn that it works.

Give Your Dog a Safe Place

Another way for you to tell your dog that begging is not acceptable is to give them a safe space to be. If you are sitting down at mealtime and your dog begins to beg, tell them to go to their safe place.

That place can be anywhere you designate, as long as you keep it the same. You can choose a certain rug or even their crate. Whatever you decide on, be sure that the place is actually comfortable for your dog. Each time you sit down to eat, tell your dog to go to that place. If your dog doesn’t stay in their place, take the dog out of the room. If you are having a hard time getting them out of the room, you can also try leaving the room yourself. You can use a minute or two as a kind of reset and come back together to try again.

Help Your Dog Focus

When your dog is begging for food, it’s because they want what you have. They know that your food is some of the best stuff around. They might also have little else to occupy themselves.

To stop your dog from begging, you should give them something better than what they’re begging for. If your dog begs at your mealtimes, give them something to help redirect their focus away from your meal. For instance, give them a stuffed Kong for a tasty treat that will occupy their mind.

Another way to redirect their focus is to feed them at the same time you eat. Give your dog their food while you are eating. Then, once you finish your meal, take their bowl away regardless of how much they’ve eaten. Your dog will quickly learn that they should be eating at meal time instead of begging.

Image by Benjamin Nelan from Pixabay

Give Your Dog Tasks to Stop Dog Begging

Because we love our dogs so much, it’s easy to spoil them. We might give them an extra treat just because they’re cute or call them to cuddle on the couch because we’re cold. While these are perfectly fine things to do, your dog might be craving a bit more discipline.

Some dogs need a strong leader, and you might have to take up that call.

Here are some training tasks you can work into your everyday routine:

•     Tell them to sit before you feed them.
•     Have your dog wait for your “o.k.” to go outside.
•     Ask them for a paw before giving them some pets.

These are small tasks that you can work into your everyday training. Once your dog understands that you are rewarding their good behavior, they’ll learn what behaviors you dislike.

Training a dog is a back and forth dance that never really ends. This is why it’s important to listen to your dog as much as you give them commands. 

Feature  Image by Fran_Mother_Of_Dogs from Pixabay

 

 

If you’re ready to start your journey in the wonderful world of Animal Communication, it’s time to start!

Download my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE.

Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course.

Maybe you’ve already begun your journey in Animal Communication. If so, it’s time to go to the next level.

Find out how to access the Masterclass here

All my courses are fully guaranteed, so there’s no risk to taking the next step.

 

Here are more articles you might enjoy!

Want to Choose the Best Feeding Method For Your Dog? Here is how

Pet Foods – Ranked From Great to Disastrous

Being a Dog Whisperer Comes in Handy!

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Being A Dog Whisperer Comes In Handy!

Being a dog whisperer can come in really handy! Especially when you live with a lab cross puppy whose nickname is “Butter Boy”.

You can imagine where this story is going…

My life as a dog whisperer and The Butter Boy

First a little backstory… My lifelong dream of having my own personal chef has come true!

I confess I’m not much of a cook. Like my Mom who didn’t much enjoy cooking “real food” because she loved the sweets, I’m more of a baker.  My specialties are PBJ sandwiches, homemade jello, cookies and muffins and yummy goodies like that.  And truth be told, I do a much better job cooking for the dogs than I do for people!

My life partner and husband Joern is who I affectionately refer to as my personal chef. He’s an excellent cook, even better, he loves to cook, plan meals and shop for the ingredients. Did I mention he also loves to eat?

Oh yea. And as much as he loves to cook his culinary creations, he also loves sharing them with me, his sweetheart.

How lucky am I, eh?

Being a dog whisperer comes in very handy when the unexpected happens

Last night, Joern fixed us a delicious meal. As usual, we grabbed our plates and retired to our sitting area where we love to chat, chill, read, eat, and watch whatever TV show we’re currently bingeing.

We just finished watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (OMG we love her!) and are now watching The Expanse. We love to indulge in one or all of the activities above with our doggies by our side—it’s a family thing.

I went to get us dessert (my homemade sugar and gluten-free Samoa cookies, which Joern says are the best cookies he’s ever had, high praise from my gourmand hubby)…

When I saw it.

The Evidence.

The golden Kerrygold butter wrapper was torn into little gnarly, wet slimy bits, and shreds of it were strewn all over the kitchen floor. Uh oh. Joern had used a little bit of a whole new stick of butter in our cauliflower rice and left it on the counter by the stove while we ate dinner.

But now?

No butter left. It had inexplicably disappeared while we were distracted by our show.

Timmy, our border collie, had been at our side the entire time, hoping for handouts and watching for something to spill off our plates.  He’s always ready to jump into action to clean the floor instantly in case of spillage, and loves to help us “do the dishes”. So he was not the butter thief.

Which can only leave…

SAMWISE, our newly-adopted lab mix pup, now forever known as Thief, aka The Butter Boy.

Oh dear.

Vals dogs Timmy and Samwise love to communicate

Oh no! Time for the dog whisperer to jump into action

So…is Samwise’s tummy going to rebel from eating a whole stick of butter?

Will we be up all night dealing with throw up or diarrhea or with a sick doggo needing emergency attention?

What a scary, potential nightmare, eh? Most dog parents in this situation can only sit and wait nervously, watching for signs that their dog is about to be sick or worse.

But if you’re a dog whisperer, you can tackle the problem head-on through a conversation with your best friend.

Just ask your pet how they feel.

So I asked him. “Sam, how does your tummy feel?”

“Fine. I feel good.” (Samwise has the sweetest, clearest voice.)

“You ate a lot of butter. Sometimes that can make a doggy feel really awful. We never eat that much butter all at once… I’m worried. Will you let me know if you feel sick later?”

“Sure, Mom! But I feel good right now and I’m sorry you’re worried about me. It was really tasty, I like butter.  And it was right there on the edge of the counter too! NomNomNom…” as he licked his lips in delight.

I said, “Thanks for telling me that – I got it! We like butter too. You’re off the hook for now Sam until we know you’re okay. But later we’ll discuss your stealing our food off the counter!”

Sam still felt fine when we went to bed. But around 3 a.m. he woke me asking to go outside just like we’d discussed.

He scooted quickly outside, did his thing, and I waited until he was ready to come back inside again. When he was ready, he came in and we all curled back up on the bed and slept well the rest of the night.

I woke up to find him and his toy dinosaur sitting on my pillow looking at me, in our happy place, ready to greet the day.

Vals dog Samwise is a natural dog whisperer too

Potential crisis averted.

Are you ready to start talking to your dog with more than just hand signals and voice cues? Your furry friends have so much to say. Go here and get started talking to your best friends in a whole new way.

I’m SO grateful I’m a dog whisperer. Talking to all animals is an intuitive skill that comes in very handy in so many countless ways.

For instance, when your pet doesn’t feel well?  Ask them if they’re in pain, what happened to make them hurt, and what they need to feel better.

When they act out in mysterious bad dog behavior?  Ask them why what they’re doing makes sense to them.  Are they confused?  Upset?  Afraid?  Why and what can we do about that as a partnership?

If they are getting ready to make their transition?  A heart to heart conversation will make all the difference in the world between a peaceful, easier passing versus a traumatic, grief stricken experience for both of you.

Because here’s the thing – anything can happen at any time.

You just never know when you’ll need to talk about something really important.

And that’s why you’re in my Tribe of Animal Lovers!

Make a point of talking to an animal today. Keep the conversation alive by checking with them frequently and find out what’s going on in their world.

Seriously, you don’t want to wait until something is wrong to make the effort to communicate. By then it could be too late.

If you’re ready to start your journey in the wonderful world of Animal Communication, it’s time to start!

Download my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE.

Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course.

Maybe you’ve already begun your journey in Animal Communication. If so, it’s time to go to the next level.

Find out how to access the Masterclass here

All my courses are fully guaranteed, so there’s no risk to taking the next step.

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you:

How to keep your pets safe from coyotes.

Five benefits of animal communication.

Talking with animals is amazing! My conversation with Grandfather Snake.

The post Being A Dog Whisperer Comes In Handy! appeared first on Val Heart.

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How to Keep Your Pets Safe from Coyotes

Coyotes can be attracted to your home or pets for any number of reasons, so you should always do what you can to ensure you have some preventive methods to repel wild creatures and discourage potential dangers. Some really simple and effective ways often recommended or mentioned by the Humane Wildlife Control Society to repel coyotes (and many other kinds of animals) include but are not limited to:

Fences: A pretty obvious and effective way to clear out unwanted pests is through the use of a fence around your property or pet’s environment. You should try to get something sturdy, but you don’t have to go out of your way to build a fortress either. Just something that won’t fall over if tackled by a running animal.

It’s best that you aim to have it around 5 to 7 feet tall while also ensuring it is deep enough in the ground to keep out burrowing animals who’d otherwise try to sneak in from below. Around 2 feet deep should be enough.

Keep yard clear of food: Another simple solution is to ensure your backyard or garden isn’t full of leftover food or garbage as this can attract not just coyotes but any other kind of wild animal that may be living nearby.

You’ll also want to make sure that any outdoor bowl or eating area is also clean as you don’t want any coyote to try and fight your dog as they try to steal their food. A clean yard can deter nearly any kind of animal as they’ll be unable to find either food or wanted nesting materials.

Maintain vigilance and use a leash: This applies when taking a walk outdoors with your pet. You’ll always want to keep your dogs on a leash so you can keep them from running off into the woods chasing after a small animal or large predator.

Similarly, you’ll also want to keep a good eye out on your surroundings at all times as your dog might accidentally try to search a burrow or nest which could easily provoke an attack even in your own backyard.

Be wary of keeping water outdoors: Animals can be attracted by water as much as food if it happens to be a particularly dry season that’s been making it hard for wild creatures to stay hydrated. Don’t leave water bottles out as mentioned above with the yard cleaning, but also try to keep any water bowls inside. Feeding your pets indoors can prevent many issues and will simplify any future cleaning required to keep your yard safe.

Use simple devices to scare off coyotes: A good way to repel coyotes is by using timer or motion-activated sound and light devices that will scare animals from getting too close to your pet or house. But, try to keep things as straightforward as possible as using too many devices could scare coyotes to the point of violence and wild behavior.

You want to trigger flee responses not fight ones by making it seem like going near your pet or house isn’t worth it. It’s also important to avoid rigging up anything that could hurt a coyote because that may also provoke dangers from either fighting for survival, or just from the hassles of dealing with a corpse in your yard.

Overall, these are some of the easiest ways to keep a coyote from trying anything funny with your beloved pets. Protecting your pets is not difficult, as these are all simple things you can do or should have easy access to. For more information on how to keep coyotes away, click here.

Another way to help your pet with coyotes is to learn to speak their language.  View all of my Animal Communication Courses here

 
More articles you may enjoy:

Every Animal Lover Needs to Know How to Talk to Animals by Val Heart

Important Tips on Driving Safely With Your Pet – Guest Post by Amber Kingsley

7 Great ways to Help You and Your Pet Through Coronavirus Stay at Home Isolation

The post How to Keep Your Pets Safe from Coyotes appeared first on Val Heart.

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Talking With Animals Is Amazing! My Conversation With Grandfather Snake

All my years talking with animals has provided so many rich experiences filled with new wisdom to be learned. Here is another of them.

Talking with animals is a life-changing experience

Recently I told you about my first encounter with one of my spirit animals—snake.

Today I’m going to tell you how my snake animal totem helped to save my life.

I have so many stories that are based around my time working at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation. My last post was about a special little fawn and all of his friends in the fawn enclosure, and how through communicating with the fawns I was able to save their lives. This story starts there as well.

One night after I had been feeding the fawns in their enclosure, I was returning along the path to the “big house” carrying the big buckets full of baby bottles which I used to feed the fawns their milk.

We were short on staff, so I was alone that day with only the facility’s director on the large well over 100 acres of Texas hillside country property, and of course, all the animals in our care.

Do you have what it takes to start talking with animals? Find out here.

I was on my way back to clean the bottles and prepare for my next caretaker task. It was dusk and the light was fading, the narrow dirt path wound ahead of me through the brush, trees, and undergrowth of the Texas landscape.

A hot summer day in Texas, I was enjoying the smell of the heated earth and cedar trees, just relishing that moment of being immersed in nature.

The fawns had been hysterical good fun. They had been delighted to greet me and talk to me and had eagerly chowed down their dinner, suckling milk from the over 50 big baby bottles I’d used to feed them. They were happy to tell me about their day and like children asking a myriad of questions.

Talking with animals can be extremely fun and rewarding, and this was one of those times.

I was feeling good after a job well done and was lost in my thoughts, thinking about how much I loved animals and all the other things I had yet to do that evening.

And so I trudged along the quarter-mile back to the big house, carrying the big plastic buckets with the bottles all clinking against each other.

Then, I saw what looked like a tree branch laying across the path.

I didn’t think much of it, it was just a branch after all. Except as I was about to step over it I thought…

Hold it.

That stick wasn’t there earlier.

There aren’t any big trees nearby that could have dropped such a big limb like that.

How did that get here?

I’m a bit nearsighted and the light was fading quickly. So I bent down to take a closer look at “the branch”.

I didn’t have a flashlight with me, so I had to get really close to see what I was looking at. My face was about a foot away from the object as I squinted to make out what it was.

And that is when I saw it—the distinctive rattlesnake markings.

When what I was seeing sunk in, my eyes opened wide and I stopped breathing and froze in place. The snake was huge—bigger around than my arm and almost six feet long, bigger than most rattlesnakes. It had many rattles on its pointed tail.

“This is a very old and wise snake…”, I thought.

Very slowly, I backed up and stepped away from the big old snake. Walking backward until I was about 8 feet away from it until I could decide what to do.

Talking with animals — Grandfather Snake’s Message

I gathered my courage, breathed deep. Using my animal communication skills just like I teach my students, I offered a calm and cordial greeting:

“Good evening, Grandfather. I’m sorry if I’ve disturbed you. I mean you no harm.”

Respectfully, I listened to his reply, and it came right away. Grandfather told me gently and lovingly to be calm, I wasn’t his prey.

He was not hunting me that evening, he said with a twinkle of good humor.

In fact, he told me, he recognized me and my Spirit Animal, my Snake. And because of that connection, we were spiritually and energetically in some ways kin to each other.

I thanked him from my heart and asked if I could pass on by because I needed to get back to the house.

Grandfather said, “Of course! Carry on.”

I wished him well, safely stepped over his long thick body, and continued on my way.

Since then I have had many more bizarre and wild encounters talking with animals including snakes—they have shown themselves to be my spirit animal time and time again.

Like the time I single-handedly gathered over twenty pythons and boa constrictors of all sizes from the snake house at Wildlife Rescue. The heater in their house had failed and they would freeze to death in the cold Texas night, so I had to relocate them to the big house.

Did I mention it was midnight and I was all alone? Before cell phones even existed??

Yep. But that’s a story for another day.

Next time I’ll tell you about how I met my next spirit animal. You won’t believe what happened, it was so cool.

Have you met your spirit animals yet?

Tell me all about it in the comments! And be sure to check out all my courses, workshops, and memberships if you’re ready to start talking with animals of all kinds.

Are you ready to meet your spirit animals? I taught a Masterclass on the topic for the Animal Talk Coaching Club Platinum members in The Heart School of Animal Communication.

Find out how to access the Masterclass here

If you’re ready to start your journey in the wonderful world of Animal Communication, it’s time to start!

Download my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE

Or dive into the complete Talking With Animals program with my Beginning Core Foundations Animal Communication Course.

All my courses are fully guaranteed, so there’s no risk of taking the next step.

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you:

COVID-19 and Mother Earth Gaia’s perspective, I wonder?

Five benefits of animal communication.

Where’s the proof? How to know if you are really talking with animals.

The post Talking With Animals Is Amazing! My Conversation With Grandfather Snake appeared first on Val Heart.

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