What Are the Friendliest Dog Breeds? There’s More to it Than You Think!

If you’re thinking about bringing a new canine companion into your family, you might be wondering what the friendliest dog breeds are to choose from.

 

Dog breed matters!

When you introduce a new dog to your family, children, other dogs or even a place they’ll be around lots of people, you want a dog who is friendly enough by nature to adapt to these types of situations.

In fact, if you think about it, there aren’t many situations where a dog’s friendliness isn’t the top of your list of qualities of a potential dog.

There are a few different elements to finding the perfect dog, and knowing the friendliest dog breeds to choose from is an important part.

While breed and size are obviously important factors, you have to consider the dog’s training and their previous environment when figuring out where they will land on the friendliness scale.

Here are four important factors to consider when finding the friendliest dog breeds for you and your family.

1. Their Environment

You can find the friendliest dog breeds in the world, but there are some things that you just can’t control, namely other dogs.

Having a community of friendly dogs at your local park or walking routes can really help encourage a dog to be as friendly as possible, but this can go the other way if there are aggressive dogs in the area. 

Dogs learn from each other—think of it as your kids at school “getting into the wrong crowd”. That’s easier to avoid with dogs, though, because you can always choose other locations to exercise and socialize your dog. 

Another issue that can be a problem with certain dog communities is fleas.

Again, this is easily comparable to school children and the problems that can arise when there is just one parent who doesn’t do anything about nits or lice. If there is a dog that always has fleas it can be a big problem for your own dog.  

Fleas are hard to get rid of once you get them, and will drive you and your pet crazy!  You’ll need to have a flea remedy at hand, whether it is a natural flea and tick deterrent or something like frontline.  Beware of topical as well as oral medications though, because they can cause health problems in some dogs.  

Learn how to speak your dog’s language!  Download my FREE Ebook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets HERE

 

2. Breed

As pedigrees are bred for specific purposes, there are obviously some that are bred away from friendliness if their function is to be a guard dog, fighter, or worker. That said, any opinions on what are the friendliest dog breeds are just that, opinions. Here is a list of friendliest dog breeds from dogsbreedlist:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Alsatian German Shepherd
3. Beagle
4. Golden Retriever
5. Yorkshire Terrier
6. Boxer

Now for some speculation on why these specific breeds are in the top 6 of the list. 

All these wonderful breeds have been family favorites for many years. The only setback if you want a great friendly dog for your family is that the larger dogs require a lot of exercise because they are a high energy kind of dog.  

The Alsatian (German Shepherd) seems like an odd one to be on the list, given their reputation for being staunch guard dogs. But despite their serious demeanors, they can be very loyal and friendly dogs, although they also need a lot of exercise and like all dogs, proper training. 

The only ones on the list that doesn’t need a lot of exercise is the beagle and terrier and don’t grow to be the size of a small human. 

3. Size

Are the friendliest dog breeds determined by their size? 

Not necessarily, since different owners have different expectations. Behavior can be altered to make friendly dogs better or worse. 

The main issue with size and friendliness is that people ignore bad behavior in small dogs as it’s not as obvious or threatening. If a 150 pound St. Bernard constantly jumps up at people, it’s very dangerous and the owners must quickly work on rectifying the situation. 

However, if a Chihuahua does the same thing, it will go unchecked and may even be encouraged by picking the dog up and coddling it to be quiet or control it. Sometimes people even find the doggo antics cute!

Also, except for the Beagle and Terrier, they can become quite large growing up to 80 to 100 pounds or more.  As you can imagine, they eat a lot too!  The bigger dogs are not lap dogs although they may love to be in your lap!  For these reasons, some of the friendliest dog breeds might not be suitable for someone without much spare time or room.

It’s small issues like this and improper training that generally mean bigger dogs can be better behaved by the time they get to adulthood.  On the other hand, all dogs do need proper socialization to be friendly. 

 

via GIPHY

4. Training

The bottom line is, Training is the most important aspect when you want your dog to be as friendly as possible. All breeds can be friendly or aggressive depending on their upbringing and handling. Be sure you’re ready to be a proper caregiver, guardian and good dog parent before getting any dog, and all will be well.  Click here for a list of things to do and to avoid when training your dog.

Author Brett Janes is a MA writing student at LJMU, UK, founder of literary organization King Yeti and a member of The Wild Writers, a collective who run events and exhibitions throughout the Northwest. Also writes guest posts for Vet Medic, who is one of UK’s leading pharmacists and vets who are genuinely passionate about pet health and medicines.

 

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

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The post What Are the Friendliest Dog Breeds? There’s More to it Than You Think! appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/friendliest-dog-breeds/

Why You Should Not Own a Cat and Dog Together

Do you own a cat and dog together? 

Do you sometimes wish that you didn’t?

Cats are wonderful on their own—intuitive, filled with unique personality, (usually) loving and playful. They even take care of you, bringing you your own freshly-killed meals! 

Dogs, too, are extremely rewarding companions in so many ways. But put the two of them together, and you could suddenly have two neurotic, aggressive animals bringing tension into your household.

The cat and dog together TV cliché: too close to truth!

For instance, consider Odie and Garfield. Tom and Spike. Snowball and Santa’s Little Helper. The cats and dogs in the entire Cats & Dogs movie franchise. 

These are just some examples of the “cat vs dog” dichotomy that is so popular in TV and movies. In fact, this rivalry is one of the oldest and most popular animal tropes in media.  

Comparing cats to dogs is like comparing apples to oranges; all it does is point out how vastly different they are. Yet cats and dogs are constantly pitted against one another in the media. 

Think about it: dogs are usually associated with kind-hearted heroes while cats are seated on the laps of villains. Right? Another popular use of the cat/dog dichotomy is to portray dogs as dumb creatures while cats are seen as cunning and hostile.

As with most tropes in popular culture, there is some truth to the cliche, and if you have a cat and dog together in your home, you know this better than anyone. 

Putting a cat and dog together can be like trying to mix oil and water!

While cats and dogs make great pets on their own, having both animals living together is another matter. Cats and dogs are so different, personality-wise, that it’s easy to understand why they get along like, well “cats and dogs”. If you are someone who is planning to have a cat-and-dog household, you may want to think again.

If you have not already done so, now would be a good time to reflect on the kind of pet companion you are and ask yourself this simple question: “Am I really ready to own a cat and a dog?”

Getting a pet is a lot of work in and of itself, but getting another literally doubles the responsibility, not to mention the cost. Think about it realistically: cats and dogs have very different needs. Will you be able to meet all of them, separately and fairly? Do you have precautions in place, like insurance? In the event of a sudden illness or accident, would you be able to afford their treatments? Now might be a good time to research how much vet care costs over a pet’s entire lifetime. Can you truly give them the proper love and care that they deserve?

Here are other important points to consider before owning a cat and a dog together:

Cats and dogs suit different lifestyles.

There’s a reason that the question “are you a cat person or a dog person?” is so popular—it says a lot about you! 

Cats and dogs tend to be representative of their owners. Are you the outdoorsy type? If yes, then a dog would be a perfect fit for you; cats less so as they like to stick close to home and don’t generally travel well. Ever tried to get a cat to “heel” on a walk? Enough said. 

Do you want your relationship with your pet to be that of equals, with your pet free to roam around the house and seek your affection on their own terms? If so then you will love cats; a properly trained dog understands that you are the “alpha” and ideally will do what you ask, whereas cats will never agree that you are alpha over them.  It’s not going to happen.

Cats are generally more laidback and self-sufficient—they prefer to socialize only when they feel like it.

They need a safe place (or several) in the house where they can retreat to and rest. And they often don’t mind being left alone for days at a time, as long as you leave them with enough provisions and someone to check in on them regularly. Cats are resourceful creatures and will find a way to thrive, no matter the conditions. After all, these are animals that basically domesticated themselves when they learned it would make their (nine) lives easier if they gave a show of affection occasionally and meowed, sometimes a lot!

Dogs, on the other hand, are more high-maintenance.

Dogs require exercise regularly and are entirely dependent on their human for food, water and bathroom breaks. They need daily supervision and attention. On the upside, they are generous with their affection and intensely loyal.

Dogs, when properly socialized, are open and friendly, but don’t let that fool you. Dogs are intuitive judges of character and aren’t afraid to show when they don’t trust someone. They can go from wagging their tails to a crouching attack stance at the first hint of danger.

Beyond these generalizations, traits vary from breed to breed as well, so there is a significant difference in the care each pet requires of its human—double that if you have a cat and dog together. 

You’re on your way! It’s time to learn how to talk to animals. Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication with your free ebook – Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets 

via GIPHY

Cats and dogs are natural enemies.

Cats and dogs have a long, drawn out history of being natural enemies. When cats and dogs encounter one another, their natural instinct is to revert to fight-or-flight mode. It’s biological and not something you can totally eliminate. When putting a cat and dog together for the first time, you must facilitate it carefully. Make sure your cat knows where its escape route is, and you may want to keep your dog on a leash.

Cats and dogs have different styles of play.

This is a huge factor to consider. Different styles of play can result in frequent altercations when you have a cat and dog together. Cats and dogs have distinct preferences for games that are very different: cats prefer to stalk and pounce while dogs like to chase and run after things. Why does this matter so much, you ask? 

Well, for one, this means there are bound to be misunderstandings between the two. A dog chasing after a cat may think he and his new friend are just playing, but the cat might be absolutely terrified. 

On the other hand, a dog might be confused and hurt as to why the cat keeps swiping him whenever he approaches. What he doesn’t realize is he’s getting too close into the cat’s personal space. These misinterpretations could go on forever and the only way to fix them would be to set some ground rules in the household and train both pets.

These are just a few reasons why you should not have a cat and dog together. 

But the main reason is there’s a lot of risk involved, not just for both animals, but for the peace and harmony in your household. Should you decide to go ahead and get a dog and a cat anyway, just be aware that you will have your work cut out for you! 

 

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The post Why You Should Not Own a Cat and Dog Together appeared first on Val Heart.

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First-Time Dog Owner Guide: Health and Nutrition

You got a dog for the first time? Congratulations!  You’ve found a reliable and wonderful new friend… unless you make any of these dog parent mistakes…

Dogs are man’s best friend, and they stick close to you forever, but you are going to need a First-Time Dog Owner Guide to help avoid making serious and costly mistakes with your pup.

In this new phase of life with your canine companion, it’s natural to be a little worried. The good news is, we have got you covered!

Here is an informative piece on how to take care of your dog and what to expect in his various stages of life.

Adjusting to a New Home

Your dog, especially in his infant stage, would need some time to settle into his new space. This period can take weeks, but you have a huge role to play if you want your pet to settle in faster. First, you have to be patient.

Depending on your dog’s breed, he may be quiet in his first few days in his new space. If your dog is from a shelter, he would need more time to adjust and settle into his new space. For most new pets, it takes a few weeks to fully bring out their personality. Thus, you have to be patient and train your pet to love his new space. You should have everything handy and develop the right routine to train your pet.

Caring for a Puppy

Puppies need constant care and attention. They have unique food formulas; need specialized training, vaccinations and care. It is important to set firm boundaries at this stage. What is cute in a puppy is not in a dog. Those love bites while teething will turn into aggressive play when they grow up. And potty training takes longer than one may think. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming, and it feels like having a baby around. But it is very rewarding as you get to bond with your pet at that early age.

To care for a puppy, you will have to carry out proper research on your pet’s breed type. It would help point you towards the right direction on how best to take care of your pet. Some idiosyncrasies may pop up (such as having a louder breed) that you have to take into account.

Other common problems for a new dog owner are the separation anxiety that occurs and behavioral problems if not addressed early. More on this in Behavioral Problems.

Socialization

When your puppy is first taken home, it is important to cocoon them in the house. This period lets them know where home is and gives them some stability in a time of transition. After a few weeks, introduce them to other dogs and your friends. Socialization early in life is important to prevent your dog “guarding” you in the future. Good ways to socialize often are trips to the dog park, hikes and puppy play dates. Although pricey, dropping your dog off at doggy daycare a few times a week when you go to work is a good option as well.

If you are introducing a new pooch to the pack, give them their own space in the house. The introduction should take place in neutral territory, like a park, however it is important for your first dog to know that the newcomer has their territory as well (i.e. their own toys, bed, food bowl). The early stages of introduction are the most important, so do it slowly and be careful letting them play off-leash too early. Monitor the dogs closely for the first few weeks to catch bad habits.

Dog’s Nutritional Needs

Dogs have basic nutritional needs throughout the different stages of their lifetime. Your pet will need the right nutrition, shelter, physical and social activity to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Once you meet all these requirements, you will have a happy dog. The basics needs change with the age of your pet. Puppies and growing dogs need more playtimes to help them stay active and reduce anxiety.

As your dog gets older they may need supplements to get all their nutrients and keep the energy up. Thus, they need high-calorie dog food to provide all the liveliness for their daily playtime. Old dogs have a harder time retaining weight, so be on the lookout for times when you should supplement their meals with more protein or carb heavy meals. They also need special attention so as to reduce their anxiety in old age. Tools like a bigger dog crate or an orthopedic dog bed will help them manage bone health and other aging health issues.

The Importance of a Vet

It is important to get a veterinarian for your dog’s lifetime. Having the same vet will ensure that your dog’s patterns are known, and a history of their medical visits are documented in one place. After getting all the shots and spaying/neutering your pet, take them to the vet once a year for a regular checkup. Be sure to visit if your four-legged friend is having trouble with bowel movements, is not moving very much through the day, or any other irregularity. Best to be safe than sorry!

Managing Bad Behavioral Problems

Face it. Your dog is going to pick up bad habits as they grow older. Your pet may develop minor issues like bad chewing habits and excessive barking. There are more severe concerns like anxiety and aggressiveness. This is especially important to work out in the beginning of your relationship because it will form trust. This is especially apparent in rescue dogs. Again, it takes a while for their personality to show and even longer to earn their full trust. Just remember that a handy training book, tasty rewards and a whole lot of patience will help.

Some helpful training tips for your furry friend are:

• To prevent separation anxiety
• • Crate train your puppy
  • Keep your routine the same
  • Spend time away from your puppy
• To prevent biting
  • When puppies bite, playtime is over
  • Hold a treat and walk around with your puppy at your feet
  • Give your puppy chew toys
• To prevent fence guarding
  • Call your dog once, if they do not respond play with their toys by yourself until they come
  • Do not use their name as a punishment
  • Bring your neighbors over
  • Socialize your puppy from a very young age
  • Let your guests feed your dog
• To prevent anxiety
  • Exercise your dog often
  • Introduce them to new people by allowing them to feed your dog (this will be a slow process)
  • Crate train your puppy
  • Have a solid routine for your dog

Grooming Your Dog

Grooming is an essential part of caring for a dog. Your dog’s coat and skin health are as important as his nutrition. Remember, your dog’s nutrition will play a big role in their skin health. Thus, you have to use the right shampoo and dog brush to ensure that their coat stays clean and shiny all the time. Depending on the breed type, your dog’s grooming patterns will be different. Dogs with long coats or undercoats should be professionally groomed once every other month to prevent knotting and overheating. Be sure to get the right brush as it makes grooming fun for both you and your pet.

Learn to Speak Your Dog’s Language

Just as important as knowing how to take great care of your canine friend, it’s also important to learn to communicate with dogs.  To help you with that, 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 our great courses are fully guaranteed, so there’s no risk to taking the next step.

Congratulations on finding your new best friend! Just keep this First-Time Dog Owner Guide handy and you’ve got this! 

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Cat Gingivitis – Two Natural Ways to Resolve it

Cat gingivitis is more and more common all the time. But what’s interesting is, cats in the wild don’t suffer from gingivitis—if they did, they would quickly die because they wouldn’t be able to feed themselves without the veterinary care that domesticated cats enjoy.

So, in order to determine the best cures and treatments for cat gingivitis, this is the direction we need to be looking in.

What is cat gingivitis?

To put it simply, cat gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. It can occur at any age in any breed. Not only is cat gingivitis a painful problem, but it is also a big blinking sign letting you know that the overall health of your cat is not what it should be.

It’s also an indicator that the teeth are going to be a problem as well, sooner or later. They could loosen and then fall out.

Cat gingivitis sounds pretty grim. And the truth is, it is unnecessary pain and suffering that your cat doesn’t need to go through. With the following two measures, you can prevent cat gingivitis or else restore balance if it is already progressing.

Are you interested in learning how to really communicate with your pets, so you improve life quality for them and for you? Click here to check out all of my online courses, and get started now!

Two natural ways to prevent cat gingivitis

The first thing any natural health professional will try to do is restore a healthy immune system in your pet. Once balance is established in the whole system, everything else will slip back into a natural order, including your cat’s dental health.

• Diet

 

One of the main causes of cat gingivitis is diet. 

Diet is critical to everyone’s health, not just humans. Human diets can be shoddy at best, but at least there are some basic laws in place that govern the manufacturing and marketing of human food. 

Unfortunately, these regulations do not exist in pet food; the pet food market is a free-for-all, and anything can, and does, occur. For example:

• preservatives that are highly toxic, despite any claims on the packet
• high-fat products that are unusable in human food
• low-grade meat by-products (rejects from human consumption, with questionable protein content)
• cheap filler such as melamine, sugar or crushed nutshells

Please don’t think the processed food recommended by your veterinarian is any better.  It’s not.  Veterinarians have little formal training in cat nutrition, and are often swayed by cat food manufacturers to promote their food as a way to boost their practice’s revenue. 

Go raw!

On the other hand quality, raw meat and bones provide a cat with complete and balanced nutrition. Crunching up small raw bones keeps their teeth clean, their gums healthy and their minds happy. Dry food doesn’t come close to achieving this, despite any claims otherwise.

The truth is, cats on this diet rarely suffer from gingivitis.

• Mercurius

 

While you are transitioning to a quality raw diet, your pet might need some immediate help with their cat gingivitis. The homeopathic medicine Mercurius can be used successfully in restoring healthy gums when the cat’s symptoms include:

• red and swollen gums
• the mouth appears dirty
• excess salivation
• ulceration may or may not be present
• symptoms are worse at night

Be Aware of the Connection Between Cat Gingivitis and Vaccinosis

Vaccinations and over vaccinating can be an underlying systemic and chronic cause of gingivitis and cat gum diseases.  Until your cat has a healthy mouth, it’s a good idea to pause on their vaccinations.  In fact, one of the reasons using the homeopathic Mercurius works so well is that it helps neutralize vaccinosis problems.  

 It can be awful watching your beloved friend suffer from cat gingivitis. If you try these two natural solutions, you can help to prevent cat gingivitis from happening, and save yourself lots of time and money at the veterinarian’s office!

Author: Madeleine is a natural health consultant, specializing in homeopathy. She treats both people and animals. She is as passionate about natural, wholesome food as she is about a natural approach to health. Madeleine writes weekly ezines about how to achieve natural good health with simple, home prescribing and diet. Madeleine has been writing on natural health and homeopathy since 1997. Her hobbies include being with animals, being in nature, self-development, empowering others. She likes to be able to laugh at herself.

https://learnhowtotalktoanimals.com/all-online-courses/

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This article has been updated from a previously published version.

The post Cat Gingivitis – Two Natural Ways to Resolve it appeared first on Val Heart.

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8 Fascinating Dog Facts You Need To Know

Having pets can make your life more interesting. Just think of all the fun dog facts you can learn about your new best friend! Being a pet owner can help you stay fit, provide companionship, and lower your stress levels. Having pets will also make it easy for you to make new friends, improve your immune system and teach your kids responsibility.

Pets can easily steal anyone’s heart. This doesn’t only depend on their irresistible faces and unpredictable antics. Pets can do a lot of things and not every pet owner understands what these are.

You can appreciate your pets better by learning the following fascinating dog facts:

1. Your Dog’s Nose Is Wet Because It Helps Them Absorb Scent Chemicals

Contrary to popular belief, seeing that your dog’s nose is wet is not a cause for concern. In fact, dog’s noses are supposed to be wet because this allow them to absorb scent chemicals from their surroundings so that they can easily use their sense of smell.

Dog’s noses naturally secrete a special mucus that makes it amazingly easy for them to absorb scent chemicals. When a dog licks the mucus, it can understand what the smell is and where it’s coming from.

2. Newfoundlands Are The Best Life Guards

Dogs are a man’s best friend but do you know that certain breeds play this role better? Newfoundlands, for example, are considered to be the best lifeguards anyone can have because they have webbed feet and water-resistant coats. These characteristics allow the dog to easily jump into the water and rescue drowning people. Besides, innovative strategies such as BodyTalk for Animals can help you easily recover from injuries.

3.  It’s Common For Dogs To Eat Feces

A lot of pet owners usually freak out the moment they see their dogs eat feces. This is especially true for first-time pet owners. If you see your pet doing the same, don’t worry as, although this isn’t the most pleasant of dog facts, this is perfectly normal behavior.

Ever since their pre-domestication days, dogs have been eating their feces and other fecal matter. This behavior is common among puppies, and older dogs grow out of it as they age.

4. Dogs Have A Sense Of Time

This might come as a surprise but dogs have a sense of time. If you take your dogs for a walk every day around four in the afternoon, expect that they’ll be waiting for their leashes at the same time every single day. Dogs can predict future events, especially if you’ve trained them to do specific activities at the same time every day.

5. Dogs Can Get Jealous

It’s common for pet owners to get more than one pet. If you’ve enjoyed taking care of a puppy until it grows up, you’ll likely add a couple of more pets to the family. This may improve the lives of pets but this can make your first pet jealous. Dogs are known to get genuinely jealous if they see their owners spending time or displaying affection for other pets.

6. Dog’s Ears Are Pretty Impressive Too

It’s common knowledge that a dog’s sense of smell is better than that of humans. This is one of the reasons why dogs are trained to sniff drugs and follow trail scents of specific individuals. But aside from these, are you aware that your dog’s sense of hearing is also as amazing as their noses?

By properly positioning their ears in the right direction, dogs can pick up a host of sounds that humans can’t hear. It’s believed that dogs tilt their heads to one side because this is their way of locating the source of a sound.

7. Dog Noses Are Not The Same

Although they may look similar, no two dogs have the same noses. You can think of your dog’s noses as their fingerprints – each dog having unique patterns of creases and ridges on its nose.

8. Tail Wagging Has Its Own Language

Pet owners immediately think that their dogs are happy when they see their tails wag. However, this isn’t always the case as dogs wag their tails for different reasons. Some dogs wag their tails when they are happy, while other do it when they feel scared. Wagging low can mean that your dog feels insecure, and rapid tail wagging accompanied by dilated pupils and tensed muscles can signal aggression.

Appreciate More

Being a pet owner can be tough as you have to spend time and effort in taking care of your furry friends. You also have to spend money on buying the right products for them and visiting vets regularly. Accomplishing all of these can be challenging at some point. However, once you learn some dog facts and understand how interesting these creatures are, you’ll surely appreciate them even more!

 

Are you ready to deepen your connection with dogs and learn to speak their language? 

Get your FREE eBook here! Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets at The Heart School of Animal Communication.  

 

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The post 8 Fascinating Dog Facts You Need To Know appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/8-fascinating-dog-facts-you-need-to-know/

Things I’ve Learned As An Animal Whisperer By Val Heart

What is an animal whisperer?

I define the term as someone who can hear, feel and see animal’s thoughts.

Can anyone who loves animals become an animal whisperer?

Yes!

How do I know?  I know because animals have been whispering their innermost secrets, thoughts and feelings to me all my life.  And because I teach animal lovers all over the world how to whisper!

What I Learned in the Process of Listening to Animals

When I was four years old, an only child living in a wooded, hilly, rural area overlooking Lake Travis outside Austin, Texas, my orange cat Josie taught me how to respect and understand the world using feline sensibilities.  She was a feral cat who adopted me one bright sunny day.  She fascinated me.  I loved how she walked, how she smelled, and how soft her fur was.  We became best friends even though she was never as comfortable with other people as she was with me.  Together, every day we would snuggle up for a nap and share our thoughts about life’s experiences and insights with each other.

My parakeet Sparky taught me about life from a birds amazing perspective.  Being a bird is a unique experience and very different from being a cat or dog or human.  Sparky showed me what the world looks like from a bird’s eye point of view.  His fascination with mirrors and shiny objects made me laugh, and guess what?  His lasting legacy to me is that to this day, I too have a fascination with mirrors and shiny objects. I wasn’t very successful in teaching him to speak English words even though I played language speaking records for him over and over on my little red record player.  He however was very successful in teaching me the language of the heart in the form of animal whispers.

A family of white mice taught me about the intricacies of living in a tightly knit family group.  As a lonely only child growing up in the country with no human playmates close by, their whispered stories about family intrigued me very much.  The mice were compassionate, caring, playful and highly sensitive.  When they shared their viewpoint of the world with me, I felt the coziness and peacefulness of the nest.  I learned survival tips and how important it was to always have cover and an escape path.  They were adventurous as individuals, and they loved their family so much.  They each had roles to play for their family, and the matriarch was very special and wise.  They grieved their losses, and celebrated new babies.  They also whispered to me lessons about the dangers of overpopulation!

When I was seven years old, my family rescued a gorgeous German Shepherd dog named Fritz.  A wonderful animal whisperer, he taught me how to experience life from a dog’s viewpoint.   Strong of character, loyal by nature and possessing a big loving heart, I admired him so much!  I decided I wanted to be a dog like him when I grew up.  I would get down on all fours and we would race around the yard chasing each other playing tag.  Together we would laugh and bark at each other, until we collapsed in a heap in the yard.  He whispered to me about his abusive first owners, why he kept running away from home and how he spent his time when he was wandering the countryside.  He whispered about the other creatures he met, what he learned and the neighborhood news.  He taught me how to smell and scent the air, how to listen to vibration, frequencies and what the sounds meant.  He helped teach me how to life a good life.  One day on his travels, visiting his many friends, he discovered a young pregnant hippie girl living in a tent in Hippy Hollow.  She was all alone and afraid.  She needed him more than we did, so he made the choice to become her dog.  I grieved his loss from my life, but I honored and respected his decision.

My Welsh pony mare Maisie coached me through my difficult teenage years when I suffered from manic depression and suicidal tendencies.  After a rough day, I would sneak out of the house at night after my parents went to sleep and go to the stable. Wrapping my arms around Maisie’s neck I would hold on to her, burying my face in her beautiful black mane and cry my heart out.  She would turn her beautiful head and look at me intently with her big brown eyes that saw through to my soul.  Accessing her quiet strength, profound wisdom and love, we would discuss the situations I was struggling with.  Carefully she would listen, and then she would whisper exactly what I most needed to know.  Her truths, insights and viewpoints were brilliant, her sense of humor quirky and fun.  I left always feeling that I could cope better with life’s challenges.  Soon I would feel more peaceful and clear, ready to go to sleep and face another day.

The extraordinary animal whispers from nature and the wildlife surrounding me taught me how to be a better human being.  Accessing a lifetime of listening to animal whisperers, I now use my vast experience to save lives, heal and grow.  The super power of true animal communication, aka animal whispering, from heart to heart, mind to mind is a life changing experience.

Would you like to have super awesome animal whispering super powers like me?  All you need to do is learn how to talk to animals, how to open your heart and connect, and they will whisper their secrets to you too!  Start here at The Heart School of Animal Communication

https://learnhowtotalktoanimals.com/all-courses/

 

Bio:  Val Heart, The Real Dr Doolittle, Animal Communicator to the Stars, empathic behaviorist, speaker, author, master healer. Val specializes in healing chronic pain, illness, trauma, training, behavior, performance, euthanasia. Get your Free Report: 10 Things You Must Know Before Hiring An Animal Communicator at www.Valheart.com

 

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How Dogs See Our World

As a dog owner, whether you are one now or you’re planning to become one, it is highly recommended to understand how dogs see and perceive our world. One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is to humanize their pets and treat them as human beings. While there’s nothing wrong to want the best for your most loyal companion, dogs are dogs and they live their lives according to a different set of rules.

Believe it or not, many of the behavior-related issues dog owners encounter are in close connection with the fact that they do not know or do not respect the true nature of their dogs. Our intentions are always the best, as we want to treat our dogs as a real family member. But, at the same time, we do not realize that this kind of approach is not always the best. Dogs are pack animals and they need to live within a hierarchy, in order to be well-behaved and obedient. In other words, if you don’t want to take in the role of pack leader, your dog will. And this often translates into a hard-to-handle pooch.

Thus, it is best to know as much as possible about the perception of dogs over our world, so you can give your dog adequate attention and living conditions. Maybe you already know some things, while other aspects could surprise you. 

• Dogs enjoy getting our attention and affection

 

It is well-known that dogs love to get attention and affection from us. We just need to think about the way our dog greets us when we return home, to realize just how important we are to our pets. But do you know just how much this affects your dog? Are you aware of how your attention and affection impacts your dog’s brain?

You just need to look at your dog and its blood flow will immediately start suffering changes. Your attention only will make blood flow faster in the dog’s ears, eyes, and paws. This means that the dog enters a state of excitement, enjoying the fact that it finally gets some attention from your side.

Besides attention, affection is extremely important for dogs. Petting a dog even for just 15 minutes will significantly reduce its stress and anxiety levels. This is why it is recommended to visit dog shelters, for example, in order to pet the dogs there and give their much-needed attention. Although these may seem like small gestures to you, they can drastically improve the mental state and life quality of a dog.

• Dogs explore the world by tasting and chewing on things

 

If you had a small child, you probably know that young children discover the world with the help of their senses. Eyesight, smell, touch, and taste are the most basic methods that help us acquire information about our surrounding environment when we are very young. So, it is common for babies and toddlers to put items in their mouth and chew on them. It is how their instincts are telling them to see what an item is about.

The same happens in the case of dogs. They will lick and chew things in order to check it out, besides smelling it and seeing it. Of course, chewing in the case of dogs occurs due to other reasons as well. The growth of new teeth, boredom, or high levels of stress, will also make a dog want to chew on things. The process calms the dog down and gives it the change to consuming its energy. 

So, don’t be surprised when your dog will want to pick something in its mouth after sniffing it. Because it cannot touch it as humans do, the dog will use its mouth to test the item and check it out with its sense of taste. Unfortunately, some dogs will choose to eat things that are smelly or unpleasant, scientists not being able to fully understand why dogs do this, like eating cat poop. 

• Just how many colors can a dog see?

 

It is well-known the fact that dogs see fewer colors than humans do. They have a much better sense of smell than us, but when it comes to seeing colors, their eyesight is not that well-developed. Do you know just how many colors can your dog see? After finding these details out, you will think twice when choosing a colorful toy for your dog.

The cones of the eyes, which are one of the two types of receptors used to see the images found around us, are responsible for the perception of color. Humans have three types of cones, which are similar to the primary color palette. Thus, with their help, we are capable of distinguishing a wide range of colors. Dogs have, on the other hand, only two types of cones. Their eyesight is close to that of color-blind people, who are not able to see green and red. So, dogs cannot distinguish too many colors.

In other words, the world of the dogs is pretty much a black and white movie, with very little colors around. They can distinguish shades of blue, yellow, and green, but in a rather faded manner. So, the belief that dogs like grassed areas due to their color is wrong. Dogs are attracted by grass because of the smell and not of the color.

If you think that your dog will love more a red ball than a yellow ball, now you know that it won’t be able to see the ball as being red. You will have more success if you choose a yellow ball, as this is one of the colors a dog can actually spot. Another thing you should remember about the eyesight of a dog is that dogs have trouble detecting different brightness levels and they are near-sighted as well. Having all this in mind, we can say that dogs don’t see our world very well at all. Luckily, they have their amazing noses to guide them through better.

• Dogs are incredible creatures no matter what

 

It doesn’t matter that much the fact that dogs can’t see too many colors. They are incredible because they have other senses more developed than their eyesight. They are sensitive to our state of mind and can know ourselves better than we do in many cases. Not to mention that they will always be by our side, offering unconditional love and loyalty, regardless of who we are and what we own.

If you don’t have a dog just yet, but you’re seriously considering to get one, you should visit https://charlottedogclub.com/. The website works only with responsible dog breeders and provides healthy puppies that were grown in ideal conditions. Also, the team at Charlotte Dog Club is more than ready to help you find the ideal pup and give you all the guidance you need to make it part of your family in no time. 

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The Extraordinary Soul Connection I call The Human Animal BodyMind Connection

“That’s just spooky!”

That’s what a client told me when I pointed out that both she and her dog had a problem in the exact same vertebrae in their backs. I assured her that this happens all the time, and that it has to do with The Human Animal BodyMind Connection.

What is the Human Animal BodyMind Connection?

Did you know that animals mirror you in mind, body and spirit? They do, they reflect us.  They sometimes carry our illnesses, and act out our pain, stress and suffering.

Animals are spiritual teachers, and are at times play the role as what I call “barometers of our souls”. When there is a problem, even if it is subconscious or non-verbal, they are talking to us.

They are trying to help us heal, evolve and grow into our best self.

The question is: Are you listening?  Are you paying attention to the extraordinary soul connection between you? 

Animals are in your life for a reason.

To explore this phenomenon further, consider that the Human Animal BodyMind Connection is a deeper assessment of the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual connections between humans and animals.  Animals and others often serve us by reflecting back to us the lessons we are here to learn.

It’s been said that more than 90% of our problems are based in emotional, psychological or psychosomatic issues! When we are in denial, are disconnected or disassociated, our emotional wounds are deep beneath the surface of our subconscious mind. The world around us, our animals and our children, will mirror these issues back to us by acting out or reacting to our distress.

Our animals know us better than almost any other being on the planet. They see what’s in our minds eye, they feel what were feeling, and they are often closer to our hearts than anyone else.

What is your pet trying to tell you?

Are you and your animal friend having “issues”? It’s time for you to start listening to your animals!

For instance, when we’re in pain or ill, they may also suffer from the same pain or illness.

One of my favorite authors, Susan Chernak McElroy, talks about this in her extraordinary book called Animals as Teachers and Healers. In it she tells her story about how her dog had the same rare cancer she came down with. In the book, she credits her dog with teaching her how to survive cancer! That’s what gave her the idea to write the book so she went on to collect other peoples stories about how their animals mirrored them in some way. It’s wonderful if you haven’t read it yet…

Understanding the Human Animal BodyMind Connection is about looking under the surface to discover what the real issues are and where they are coming from.

When you do, the you begin to understand why they are showing up the way they are, whose problem is whose (and it could be both of you!), and what to do to rebalance your relationship.

I got a great email from one of my students in The Heart School of Animal Communication.  She said:

“I was gazing at my sweet old dog who is recovering from just having a tumor removed from her forehead, slightly off center and above her right eye. My glance shifted to her brother whose brown spots above his eyes are now misaligned because of surgery to repair a wound received above his right eye in a fight with another dog.

And I myself had a patch of precancerous skin removed from above my right eye; I was allergic to the antibiotic, and now have a bump of scar tissue there. Last night, as we all three looked at each other, it hit me; we, and our healing wounds, were in fact all mirroring each other!

How wild is that?! There’s really something to this, Val!”

Our animal partners are in many ways our best friends, the beings who know and love us better than anyone else.

They are in our soul group and chose to spend their lives with us, helping us heal, loving us when we’re sad or sick.

They remind us what the power of unconditional love means.

And many times they demonstrate (act out) what it takes to live life fully in every way by reminding us of what’s important, and what’s not!

They also mirror-react-reflect our issues, trauma and wounding, reflecting our pain and anger, sponging our grief, sadness and dis-ease.

When they get sick or act out with behavior that is inappropriate and even life threatening, they are asking for help, telling us that the load they are carrying for us is more than they can bear!

Why are they doing that?

They are trying to help us heal, evolve and grow.

They think that if we can finally see it for ourselves, then we can choose something different.

Want another great story?

My 12 year old tuxedo cat, Peach, was in great pain and couldn’t get off the ground anymore. It was breaking my heart to see her suffering.

She could hardly eat, barely walk, was weak and very crabby.

I finally thought to ask her what was really going on and she said she was helping my husband and me by attempting to drain off all the negative emotions we were struggling with.

She was taking it like a sponge into her own body to try to help clear the space.

She had taken so much of our grief, anger, frustrations into herself that she was actually dying.

WOW! No amount of vet visits, surgical interventions, tests, drugs or change of diet would have ever helped her in this situation.

I told her how upset I was, and how appreciative that she was trying to help us.

But, she did NOT have our permission to do such a thing!

She replied that it was the only way she knew to help us! That she thought it was her job, her purpose.

I told her, “No-no-no!  We don’t need you to carry our pain or grief or anger. You are not helping us. We want you to help us by helping to bring us back to our center, our peace, our power. To remind us of love, and from that place we will learn our lessons and heal our relationship.”

It wasn’t her job to “steal” our pain and carry it in her own body. In fact it added to our stress and upset!

Once she understood and accepted her new role, she returned to good health within just a few days, and went on to live almost 10 more years!

She was an amazing Teacher, Healer, Guide and Angel. She taught me so much about the intricate nature of the Human Animal BodyMind Connection, I’ve never forgotten.

And in retrospect, after we got the message and took responsibility for our relationship and problems?

She was right.  We did in fact heal, grow and evolve.  So she did her job as she saw it, and I’m glad to say it worked.

So one of the first questions we should always ask when there is any kind of pet problem is:

“How am I connected to this? What could my pet be acting out for me?”

For instance, with fearful or aggressive problems often the human is afraid subconsciously, so the animal either acts out their fear, or, becomes more protective which, of course, looks like aggression.

Or the animal is in reaction to the fear, which is a huge instinct trigger for them, by the way.

When we look a little deeper, examining the subconscious issues, we usually discover something that we haven’t been able to make peace with.

Then, through counseling and other healing modalities, our health and behavior improves and theirs does too!

I promise you, what your animal do makes perfect sense to them from their viewpoint! Our job is to listen to them so we can learn about their experiences, share their wisdom, and learn about any discomforts so we can take appropriate action.

Many Angels, Masters and Teachers are disguised as animals do you know who you are living with?

By the way I taught a wonderful course exploring the mysteries of the Human Animal BodyMind Connection, called Barometers of Our Souls.

If learning about talking with animals and understanding them at the deepest levels interest you, or if mastering animal communication is part of your soul’s work? You need to get the course.

Start today! Check out my other Heart School of Animal Communication wonderful courses out here.

 

 

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy:

TEDx Talk: How Humans and Animals Communicate

Easing Stress for Yourself and Your Pet in Challenging Times

How Animal Communication Can Heal Our Wounds and Trauma

 

 

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How To Calm Down A Dog On Fireworks Night

Do you know how to calm down a dog in the event of fireworks or storms? How about a dog that is filled with fear and panic?

If you have a dog that is afraid of fireworks, knowing how to calm down a dog is an essential skill that not everyone knows how to do. Being an animal communicator for years, I’ve learned many different ways to calm down a dog, with varying degrees of success. I only keep and use the techniques that work really well, like this one. The one I’m going to teach you in this post is the simplest, and it’s very effective.

How to soothe your dog’s panic

I’ve spent the last few posts talking about pets’ fear of fireworks and other loud noises. This terrible panic can overwhelm your pets and even cost them their life.

Not mention the panic that you as their caretaker endure, along with the fear, worry, dread, and frustration that can cause.

One of my favorite techniques for helping to calm animals who are in shock and can’t think clearly, or are hugely overstimulated, is this.

I call it the Feel My Hand Technique.

(I teach this and many other wonderful healing techniques in the Advanced Animal Talk Mastery Course along with many other animal communication techniques).

It’s especially useful for animals who are in shock, who are so filled with fear that they have lost track of where they are; they’re lost in their head, possibly injured, and are severely hyperstimulated and disconnected.

I once saved the lives of two three-month-old bobcat cubs using this technique.

And I also used it with huge success with an abused school horse, and with so many other cases too! But those are stories for another day.

One of my clients used it with their out of control, fear-stricken dog. They were afraid she would have a heart attack, which often happens when an animal is frightened out of their mind.

The dog only felt slightly more safe in the bathtub, so they crouched there alongside her for hours as she trembled like a leaf, crying and panted like a bellows.

Before they tried the Feel My Hand Technique, the dog would normally stay in the tub for hours, sometimes even days…, as long as the noise continued, which could be all night (or even multiple nights). It was a nightmare situation for them.

How to calm down a dog: the Feel My Hand Technique really works!

But after they tried my healing technique?

As a result, within just a few minutes, their pet was calmer and breathing more normally. They survived another fireworks event, with much less stress and anxiety, for them and their pet.

So how does this calm down technique work?

For instance, it’s helpful to begin doing this at other times when your dog is not in a panic, so they can more easily relax into it once they know what you’re doing and how it feels. But if they are in a full-blown fear state and unable to calm down, then it will help then too.

The 7 Steps of the Feel My Hand Technique work like this:

1) If the pet is conscious, ask permission to touch them.

Speak out loud in a soft loving voice, not so loud that you’re yelling at them and not so soft that they can’t hear you over their panic state.

If they are not conscious (maybe they are in a coma just like the bobcat cubs were), then ask them out loud or in your mind: “May I touch you?”

Getting their permission is important. They need to be aware of you on some level, and willing to connect, to let you near them.

2) When you feel or sense a response from them indicating that yes, that would be okay, place your hand somewhere on their body and feel their body and energy.

Let yourself connect deeply. Let your energy merge with theirs. Notice how their body feels, their warmth (or coolness). Notice the energy flowing in their body, where it is strong, and where it is weak.

Take this moment to find your own peace within so you can share it with them.

3) Ask them to feel your hand.

Then wait until you sense that their awareness has shifted to your hand.

You may feel more warmth if the area was cold or numb before, or a normalizing of over heated areas. As you continue you’ll notice that the agitated energy begins to smooth out and settle.

You may not notice much at this point and that’s okay. Be patient and stay with it.

4) Calmly, confidently, and patiently wait for them to respond energetically.

Breath deeply, feel your own peace, and relax.  Mentally connect with your hand, or listen for them to tell you they can feel your hand.

5) Tell them, “Thank you.”

6) Lift your hand slowly and calmly, then move to a new spot on their body.

Do steps 2 – 5 again.

7) Repeat the process.

Your animal will be calmer and more settled, and their breathing will change to be more normal as they calm down.

Anyone can do this.

For more tips on how to calm down a dog, check out this post, and this post.

Try it right now with your pet and see what happens, for you AND for them.

Now is the perfect time to teach yourself how to calm down a dog who is scared or panicking. Seriously, even if they aren’t terrified right now—begin practicing right now so you both get the hang of it and you’ll be ready to spring into action the next time there’s a fireworks night or a thunderstorm or unsettling noise.

There is always room for more peace and calm in our lives, right?

Because once you’ve figured out how this feels, when they are calm and can connect with you when they’re thinking straight, you’ll have a much better chance of helping them when they’re freaking out.

Observe all the things that are happening for both of you as you practice the technique. What changes? How do you feel before, during, and after?

More importantly, how do they feel? What do they do? How do they respond? Notice everything, and notice all the differences that occur every time you use the technique. All this information will help you master this technique and be a true ally to your pet.

Helping your animal’s body calm down is only half the puzzle.

Helping their mind to heal is the next step in solving this worrisome problem that will take your pets healing to a much deeper level.

So you won’t have to worry about them with fireworks (or thunder or other noise phobias) ever again.

I have an even better solution for you below that will make a HUGE difference in healing their mind as well as their body.

If you’re ready to crank up your intuitive abilities, heal, evolve, grow personally as well as get help solving this and other pet behavior and health problems too, here are 4 action steps to take now:

1. Would you like to work with me privately? Here’s how:

Work with me 1 on 1 privately My specialty is solving problems with animals using the HEART System to improve health, behavior, and performance, and to ease transitions. I also coach animal talk students to improve their intuitive abilities.

2. Would you like to learn how to communicate with animals yourself?

Begin with the complete Beginning Core Foundations Course!

3. Want help with your pet, coaching, and answers to your questions as you grow your animal communication intuitive abilities?

Join the BEST Online Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Club

THE place to be when you have questions, feel stuck or blocked, want animals to practice communicating with to boost your confidence and accuracy, or you are struggling to solve pet problems! Choose from 3 levels of membership. Gold and Platinum members get monthly live Q&A Coaching Calls and Platinum members advance quickly with the monthly Masterclasses including Advanced Techniques on Solving Fear of Fireworks, Storms, and Noises. You’ll get ongoing training, a loving, worldwide community of animal talk students to help you with your pets, and opportunities to earn free private sessions with me too!

4. Want more?

The Heart School of Animal Communication offers a variety of great specialty topics to help you, like Overcoming Fear of Fireworks, Storms and Noise Phobias, Animal Communication Made Easy introduction course, Coping with Pet Loss, 3 Easy Ways to Heal Pets using Animal Talk and Animal Reiki, Barometers of our Souls: Exploring the mysteries of the Human-Animal BodyMind Connection, and more! Click to see the School Catalog. 

Enjoyed this article? Here are some other popular posts you might like:

Dog anxiety around fireworks and storms: stressful for people and pets

Is your pet afraid of fireworks, thunderstorms or other noises?  Try this!

How to select the right CBD Oil for your pet

What is Bodytalk for animals? A great way to heal the mind and the body

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