Why Choose A Raw Cat Food Diet?

What are you feeding your cat?

With the impressive and alarming amount of cat food recalls that have been happening over the past couple of years, it is easy to see why so many people are concerned with commercial cat food manufacturers.

Many cat owners are switching to a raw cat food diet for their beloved furry friends, and it is easy to see the many benefits of this new trendy diet in the lives of pets and pet owners.

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Here are five of the top reasons why choosing a natural cat diet is becoming such a popular choice.

1. You will get a healthy cat through proper diet.

If you have been looking for a way to cut vet bills in half, try to get a healthy cat through proper diet and exercise. A healthier diet helps boost pets’ immune systems, and can help reverse damage that has already been done. It clears out toxins that have built up through years of poor diet. With the toxins cleared, your cat’s body will feel better and be more youthful than ever.

2. Your cat will live longer.

Science has proven that a raw cat food diet, or even a natural cat diet, will extend the life of your feline friend significantly. If you want your fuzzy friend to live longer, it is best to start stocking up on quality foods.

3. Cats are obligate carnivores.

They are designed to eat raw meat and not eat food like commercial cat food. It is just not natural for cats to eat cooked food, or over-processed food. When cats eat commercial cat food, it does not digest well, nor does it have the nutrition that they need in order to live a long, healthy, and happy life.

4. Commercial cat food also has ingredients that you cannot trust.

It is very easy to see how many cat food companies have been incorporating subpar and cheap filler ingredients into their food. Much, including soy, wheat, and corn, is actually detrimental for a cat’s health. Worse still, many of the pet food brands out on the market use ingredients that are unhealthy for consumption, including euthanized carcasses of diseased animals and chemical proteins. A natural cat diet would never include any of these!

5. A raw cat food diet will help prevent gingivitis in cats.

The smaller chewable bones help scrub the cats teeth and gums. Multiple studies back up this oral health side effect of a proper cat diet. Not having to worry about your cat’s teeth means that you will be able to rest assured that your pet will have the best that life has to offer in terms of quality of life.

There is a lot of danger in feeding a cat poor cat food, and the truth is only starting to come out right now. Now is the time that you start looking into a natural diet for your favorite companion.

~~~ Article reprinted here with permission of the author: Claude West

About Claude: “I grew up with animals and over the last 30+ years of raising cats, I’ve gained a lot of experience for helping cats be healthy and happy! Follow me on my Tips About Cats facebook page: http://tipsaboutcats.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claude_West

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Recommended for you!  Cat lovers also enjoyed these popular posts:

Why You Should Not Own a Cat and Dog Together

Cat Gingivitis – Two Natural Ways to Resolve it

The Causes, Symptoms and Solutions for Cat Hairballs

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3 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Dog

Are you thinking about getting a puppy, or adopting a new dog?

It’s so important to choose the right dog for your life. They can either become your best friend or your worst nightmare.

Sadly, 3.3 million dogs enter shelters every year and only 1.6 million are adopted. The rest either live out their days in shelters, or they are euthanized…

Even sound, healthy, adoptable pets have their life cut short because they were either surrendered or abandoned by their owners.

That’s why doing your research – learning all you can about dogs – before you adopt or purchase your new companion is the kindest and smartest thing to do.

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Here are three tips to help you choose the right dog.

You will become your dog’s whole life when you bring them home. It’s a big responsibility to care for something that will be completely reliant on you for their health and well-being for their whole life. 

Before you make the commitment, follow these three steps. 

1. Read about the breeds.

It’s tempting – especially if you have children – to go to a pet store or a shelter on a Saturday afternoon and pick out the most adorable dog you see.

Beware!  Impulse-buying rarely works out, for you or the dog.

Even if you’re adopting a shelter dog, make sure you know about the breed’s personality, its needs and quirks – and how they fit with yours.

For example, if your lifestyle is:

• Very active: Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Border Collies would make a great companion.
• Have small children: Saint Bernards and Labradors are famous for being family dogs, but did you know short-haired dogs like Boxers and Beagles are also very kid-friendly?
• Have allergies: Bichons, Poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs, and Schnauzers don’t shed and have less dander than most breeds, making it easier on your sinuses and house cleaning chores. 

Be realistic about the time you’ll have to train your new furry friend… and whether or not you have the skills to do it yourself. Some breeds are more eager to please than others. 

Border Collies, for example, are extremely receptive to training. However, since they’re working dogs the training needs to be intense and engaging both mentally and physically… 

Very smart high energy working dogs can be a delight when focused properly, but when they’re bored they can be very challenging to have around.

It can be fun to read up on dog breeds – you might even discover a breed you’d never heard of or didn’t realize would be the perfect fit for you. 

 

2. Write a job description for your dog.

That’s right. It might sound like a strange thing to do… but take the time to write down why you want a dog in your life and what you expect them to do for you.

Now that you know about various breeds, their strengths, and weaknesses, make a decision about what a day in the life of you and your dog will look like… and then pick the best match.

For example:

• I want my dog to curl up on the sofa with me while I read.
• I want my dog to learn loads of tricks to show off to my friends.
• I want my dog to keep me company on my trail runs or hikes.
• I want my dog to guard my house and my family.
• I want my dog to be a furry nanny to my child. 
• I want my dog to go with me everywhere as a constant companion.
• I want my dog to be a therapy dog bringing comfort and love to me and others. 
• I want my dog to…

There are countless “jobs” your dog can do for you…but you’ll be setting them and yourself up for failure if you’re not clear about your expectations. 

And if you don’t know what you want, then you won’t know how to choose the right breed for the job! 

 

3. Interview your dog first.

That may sound just as strange as writing a job description, but it’s a step you really shouldn’t skip.

In order to choose the right dog, it’s so important to spend time with them before you take them home. 

If you’re adopting a shelter dog, that will mean going for a few visits so you two can spend time together and interact – whether that means cuddling, playing fetch, or going for a brisk walk.

If you’re buying a puppy from a breeder you’ll know much more about the pedigree and personality of your future furbaby, but at least one meeting so you can share your energy together will be helpful. 

An unplanned meeting with the breeder is also a great idea, so you can see more of the truth about the breeder and how they handle their dogs that they may not want you to know. 

If you’re able, have a conversation with your pet to make sure you two will be a good fit. They have a great deal to say if you ask the right questions and know how to listen to their answers. 

If you don’t know how to communicate with animals, then 1) learn how now because knowing how to talk with your dog makes all the difference in the world in how quickly you bond and understand each other, and will help you work through problems together too, and/or 2) hire a professional animal communicator to do it for you. 

Who knows, maybe they don’t want the job…

Or, maybe they don’t feel a purpose with you. 

If that’s the case, then they’re the wrong dog. 

Be careful to choose the right dog: it’s a lifetime commitment for both of you.

A dog can bring endless joy into their human’s life. And their humans have to understand that once they’ve made that commitment, they will become their dog’s whole world.

Most dogs will live an average of ten years. Some large breeds have a shorter life, but there are small breeds that can reasonably be expected to be a treasured member of your family for 20+ years. Mixed breed dogs tend to live longer than purebreds, but it’s difficult for owners to predict…

Do your best to avoid getting swept up in the darling appeal of a cute furry face, a sweetly lolling tongue, and a curious wet nose at your local pet store. 

Pet store animals are typically gotten through unscrupulous breeders and puppy mills out to make a buck.  The dogs are often abused, kept in tiny cages, force bred, and are in ill health.  They can be very malnourished.  

Puppy mill dogs are often genetically flawed, and are untrained as well as unsocialized. If you get one of these dogs, then you encourage them to continue hurting more and more dogs.  And you’ll be facing the daunting task of training to overcome many problems healthy, naturally raised puppies won’t have. 

If you’re thinking about adding a dog to your family – whether that family is you and a cat or a loud household full of kids – do yourself, and your future dog, a kindness.  Do your research.  You’ll be glad you did! 

If you’d like to help learning how to communicate with all the animals currently in your life – as well as the ones you’re thinking of bringing into your life – contact us. 

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Want to learn more about your fluffy companions? Read these articles below: 

Adopting a Shelter Dog: 6 Ways to Bond

Pet Foods – Ranked From Great to Disastrous…

Cooking for Your Dog with Gayle Pruitt on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show™

 

The post 3 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Dog appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/dont-bring-home-the-wrong-puppy-3-tips-to-avoid-getting-the-wrong-dog/

Why Should You Opt For A Dog Day Care And Boarding In Coquitlam?

Take your dogs to daycare or leave them at home?

Having a pet with a busy lifestyle means that you are barely able to make enough time for them. Dogs are social animals and need a lot of attention. Leaving them alone at home from over 8-12 hours can make them depressed, hence the concept of dog day care has become very popular. These facilities are specially designed to cater to your pet’s needs.

The daycare is a place where dogs can interact with other pets just like them and also get trained to ensure lots of exercises. If you are someone with a busy schedule and want your dog to be taken care of just the way you do it, dog day care can be a great choice. There are many other benefits of sending your dog to daycare and boarding. Some of them have been listed below.

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Gives Your Pet A Safe Space

Leaving the dog at home for a long time without supervision can be scary for most pet parents. Hence sending them to the dog day care means that they have a safe space with experienced caretakers who make sure that all the pet’s needs are taken care of. It also gives the owner peace of mind and does not make them worry about their dogs while they deal with their work or chores.

Keeps Them Active

Spending the days at daycare with fellow dogs helps keep your pet active and gives them proper exercise which they can not get at home. Also, the daycare has practice sessions for dogs to teach them new tricks which keeps them busy and occupied. These furry pets like routine, and once they get comfortable with their surroundings at the boarding facility, the routine will make them stay active and healthy.

Prevents Separation Anxiety and Boredom

Anxiety and boredom are two very common problems in dogs. Separation anxiety can lead the dogs to lash out and destroy things in the house. However, being in an open environment does not give them a chance to be lonely or anxious. Find out more about separation anxiety in dogs from this link: https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-ways-to-deal-with-a-dogs-separation-anxiety

Affordable and Convenient

A lot of people think that dog daycare is costly. However, this is not the case at all. Doggy daycare is relatively cheaper than hiring a one-on-one pet sitter for your animals. Also, the hours that you send your dog to the facility can be decided according to your need.

You can make your schedule and leave the dog with the trained staff whenever you want. If you do not want to bring your dog every day, many places give an option of bringing them once or twice a week and even lets you make last-minute bookings.

Gives The Dog A Chance To Socialize

Dogs are highly social creatures and being around other dogs and humans gives them a sense of satisfaction. Also, your dog will seek attention which you will not be able to provide him if you are extremely busy. However, at the daycare, they are given ample attention and love by the trained staff. Their brains are given enough stimulation to keep them busy and social with other animals.

It is, however, important to note that some dogs do not like to socialize much and can get irritated with the attention. Asking supervisors to keep an eye on your dog should be a safety precaution you should take. Click here to know whether doggy daycare is good for your pet.

 

Spending the day with fellow dogs in a happy environment can be very good for the dogs. Having a dog at home is pretty much like having a child and their happiness means the owner’s happiness. One of the things that you must keep in mind before sending your dog to the daycare or boarding house is their temperament with the other animals. Also, make sure that your dog is vaccinated and dewormed.

While choosing the daycare for your pet, make sure to read reviews online as well as try and visit them with your dog on an off day so that you can see them work with your pet in front of your eyes. With enough precaution and the right kind of daycare, you can happily leave your pet in a safe environment even if you have to work long hours.

Did you enjoy this article? Dog lovers might find these interesting, as well:

Dog Games: 10 Fun Ways to Learn & Bond for Puppy and Child

The Benefits of Leather Dog Collars

CBD Oil for Anxiety: Can it Calm your Anxious Dog?

 

The post Why Should You Opt For A Dog Day Care And Boarding In Coquitlam? appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/why-should-you-opt-for-a-dog-day-care-and-boarding-in-coquitlam/

Buying a Birdhouse? Things that You Must Consider

5 Key Things to Remember When Buying a Birdhouse

Are you thinking about buying a birdhouse?

Whether your home is on a migratory path for goldfinches or you have nesting birds like wrens all year round, it’s always interesting to watch birds pass through your yard.

Not only do they add music to the airwaves, they help to control mosquitoes, flies and other pests, like slugs, that can damage your flower beds and vegetable garden.

So, how do you attract – and keep – birds in your yard?

There are natural and manmade ways to make your yard and home more attractive to birds. 

Here are some things to consider…

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Five ways to attract birds

Many birds will nest in trees and shrubs using sticks and grass they find nearby. But some birds, like wrens and swallows, are attracted to a more confined space.

So, here are 5 thing things to keep in mind:

1. Keep it natural.

It’s tempting to put up a decorative, colorful house that adds to your decor, but birds are looking for a quiet place to lay and hatch their eggs. Opt for natural wood and make your feathered friends feel at home.

2. Know your audience.

The size of the opening you have in your birdhouse will determine the species of bird you attract. If it’s too large, squirrels will think it’s a great nesting place and you’ll miss out on songbirds who might call your birdhouse a home.

3. Cater to your diners.

If you’re on a migratory path, the birds in your yard have some very specific dietary needs. Take the time to check with your local pet store and find out what the species in your area need to continue their journey.

This might include a suet feeder, black-oil sunflower or niger seed. If you have squirrels in your neighborhood make sure you have the proper guards on your feeder to keep them away.

4. Know which way the wind blows.

Birds will choose their nesting spots based on prevailing winds. They don’t want a cool breeze blowing in on their hatchlings, and crosswinds will impact the flight school for their chicks, so when you’re buying a birdhouse and hanging it in your yard, keep the wind direction in mind.

5. Make sure there’s airflow.

This is often overlooked. Be sure that when you’re buying a birdhouse it has proper ventilation. This includes slots on the bottom, and on the top if you have the house mounted under your eaves or in a tree.

Naturally, birds have an innate sense of what they need, and it’s important for you to try and create a welcoming atmosphere. 

You can attract certain species to your yard, but it will take time. Hanging up a niger feeder will attract one or two goldfinches at first, but word will get out and you’ll suddenly find you have a whole flock.

If you’re in an apartment you can hang up a hummingbird feeder on your balcony, or a small blackoil seed feeder. Guaranteed, songbirds will start to gather.

And, if you want to make your yard more bird-friendly, consider adding some shrubs and trees that provide shelter. Trees that bear fruit, like mulberry, cedar and ash are a huge draw for birds as they’re passing through your neighborhood. 

Remember that most birds are transient residents in your neighborhood. Like any guest, it’s ideal that you make the environment as welcoming as possible while they’re visiting. Keep their dietary needs in mind and enjoy the visit while you can.

Want to learn more about our flying, four footed and other friends? Check out these articles: 

Penguin Lady – From Tragedy to Triumph with Dyan DeNapoli on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show
Taking a Stand for Animal Intelligence Intuitive Pet Parents Unite
Things I’ve Learned As An Animal Whisperer

The post Buying a Birdhouse? Things that You Must Consider appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/buying-a-birdhouse-things-that-you-must-consider/

Pet Foods – Ranked From Great to Disastrous…

By Dr. Karen Becker, DVM

Today’s Discussion Subject: Pet Foods

A subject readers here at HealthyPets and clients at my animal clinic are very interested in is the kind of food they should be feeding their dog or cat for good health. So by popular demand, today is a discussion of pet foods. Here are my recommendations for the best-to-worst diets you can feed your pet.

There are 13 categories on my list, and what you’re feeding will fall into one of them.

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Now, if the diet you’re serving your dog or cat happens to fall into one of the lower quality categories, I don’t want you to beat yourself up about it.

As a general rule, people who are feeding their pets a lesser quality diet are doing so either because they can’t afford a better food – or they simply don’t know what constitutes good nutrition for their pet.

If you discover your furry buddy is eating from the lower half of the list, set a goal to feed a better quality food now that you know the difference, or when you can afford a more nutritious brand.

Again, everyone’s pet food of choice can be found in one of these categories. I encourage you to figure out where the diet you’re serving right now falls in the list.  Then you can strive for improvement by feeding more nourishing, species-appropriate food.

Food Can Either Heal or Harm

As a proactive veterinarian interested in sustaining the natural good health of my pet patients, I always encourage pet owners to evaluate their animal’s diet, because food is the foundation upon which good or ill health is built.

It’s important to understand that food has the ability to heal or harm your pet, depending on the type and quality of nutrition you provide.

The first factor you should evaluate is the species-appropriateness of what your dog or cat is eating.

A species-appropriate diet contains lots of good quality protein as well as moisture. The protein is necessary because both dogs and cats are carnivores.

High moisture content is required in order to prevent organ dysfunction, including kidney failure. Dogs and cats are designed to eat food that is about 70 percent moisture, which is what a diet of mice and rabbits would provide if your pet hunted his own food.

If you feed your pet dry food only, he’s getting only about 12 percent moisture instead of the 70 percent his body demands. This is especially unhealthy for cats, because they don’t supplement their moisture intake by drinking large amounts of water like dogs do.

Pets on dry food diets (kibble or pelleted) live in a state of chronic, mild dehydration that over time can cause significant stress to their organs.

Species-appropriate nutrition does not contain much starch, also known as grains or carbohydrates. Corn, wheat, rice and soy are found in most commercial processed pet foods, but your dog or cat has no biological need for them.

I recommend you follow the laws of nature when it comes to your pet’s diet, which is to feed everything his body needs and eliminate ingredients that provide no nourishment.

In addition to the species-appropriateness of your pet’s diet, it also needs to be balanced. By balanced I mean food that contains all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients your dog or cat needs.

This isn’t something you can guess at – it should be guaranteed through testing.

Nutritional balance is vitally important because deficiencies will develop much faster in your dog or cat than they will in you. A poorly nourished puppy or kitten can end up with obvious signs of skeletal problems and organ degeneration before she’s six months old.

An older animal can develop life-threatening organ degeneration, among many other not-so-obvious symptoms, over a one to three year period of eating an unbalanced, nutrient-deficient diet.

 

The List of Best-to-Worst Foods

A Balanced, Raw, Homemade Diet

It is the best food you can feed your dog or cat. It will be nutritionally balanced because you’re following recipes like those found in the cookbook I co-authored, Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats.

Raw means the food is unadulterated and still contains all the enzymes and nutrients that are typically destroyed during cooking or other types of processing.

Homemade is the best option because you are in complete control of the quality of ingredients in your pet’s diet.

I recommend pets get plenty of nutritional variety, and another great thing about serving homemade is you can buy seasonal fruits and veggies on sale, as well as protein sources (meats), and use them in rotation.

Commercially Available Raw Diet

It’s the next best thing you can feed your pet. This is a raw food diet that someone else has done the heavy lifting to prepare.

It’s important that the diet is balanced. You should be aware that there are raw food pet diets entering the market that are not yet proven to be nutritionally complete. These foods often say “For supplementation or intermittent feeding” on the label.

You’ll know if the raw food you’ve selected is balanced because it will say it right on the packaging: “This food has been proven to be nutritionally complete or adequate for all life stages.”

At the present time, these diets are found only in the freezer section of small/privately owned or upscale pet boutiques.  They are not yet in the big box pet stores. You can also find a selection online.

Cooked, balanced homemade diet.

It’s the same diet found in number 1, above, except that it’s cooked. This means some of the nutrient composition has been diminished through processing.

Human-grade canned food.

If the label doesn’t say the ingredients are human grade, they’re not. Pet food made with human-grade ingredients is also a great deal more expensive. That’s another way to tell what you’re getting.

This type of diet is the most expensive you can feed your pet. What I tell my clients is, “If you have more money than time, you can purchase human-grade canned food for your dog or cat. But if you have more time than money, I recommend you make a balanced, homemade diet right in your own kitchen for a fraction of the cost.”

1. 1. Human-grade dry food. As I discussed earlier, dry food is not as species-appropriate as a moisture-dense diet. Human grade is very important because the food is approved, in theory, for human consumption. This means it doesn’t contain low quality rendered by-products.
   2. Super premium canned food which can be found at big box pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart.
   3. Super premium dry food.
   4. Veterinary-recommended canned food. Vet recommended canned foods are purchased at your vet’s office or clinic. Typical brands are Science Diet, the Purina veterinary lines, Royal Canin and Waltham.
   5. Veterinary-recommended dry food.
   6. Grocery store brand canned food.
   7. Grocery store brand dry food.
   8.  Semi-moist pouched food.
   9.  Top 20 best Puppy Foods

The reason this type of pet food is so far down the list is because in order for the food to remain “semi-moist,” an ingredient called propylene glycol is added. This is a scary preservative that is a second cousin to ethylene glycol, which is antifreeze. And while propylene glycol is approved for use in pet foods, it is unhealthy for dogs and cats. I do not recommend feeding any food that contains this additive.

Dead Last on the List: Unbalanced, Homemade Diet – Raw or Cooked

The worst thing you can feed your pet is an unbalanced, homemade diet – raw or cooked. I’m seeing an increasing number of misguided pet owners in my practice who think they’re doing the right thing by serving their pet, say, a chicken breast and some veggies and calling it a day.

Yes, the food is homemade, but it’s nutritionally unbalanced. Pets being fed this way are showing up at my clinic with endocrine abnormalities, skeletal issues and organ degeneration.  This is caused by deficiencies in calcium, trace minerals and omega fatty acids due to diet.

From Worst to Best in a Heartbeat

For those of you who now know you’re feeding your pet an unbalanced, homemade diet, there’s an extremely quick and easy way to soar to the top of the list.

All you need to do is add ingredients to balance out the nutrition in the diet you’re already serving. This is a fast, simple fix you can apply to turn an unbalanced homemade diet into a balanced one.

So there you have it – the entire list of my recommendations for best-to-worst pet diets.

If your pet’s food is on the lower half of the list, set a goal to work toward the top.

If you’re already at the top end of the list, congratulations! You’re doing the best thing possible by providing species-appropriate nutrition for the animals in your care

If you would like to learn more about making homemade meals for your pets, my recipe book is available here

Dr. Becker is the resident proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian of HealthyPets.Mercola.com. You can learn holistic ways of preventing illness in your pets by subscribing to MercolaHealthyPets.com, an online resource for animal lovers. For more pet care tips, subscribe for FREE to Mercola Healthy Pet Newsletter.

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

Cooking for Your Dog with Gayle Pruitt on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show™

First-Time Dog Owner Guide: Health and Nutrition

All about Pet Food

 

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

The post Pet Foods – Ranked From Great to Disastrous… appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/pet-foods-ranked-from-great-to-disastrous/

Penguin Lady – From Tragedy to Triumph with Dyan DeNapoli on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show

Welcome to the Real Dr. Doolittle Show!

Dyan deNapoli is a penguin expert and author of  The Great Penguin Rescue, which chronicles the remarkable rescue of 40,000 penguins from the Treasure oil spill in South Africa.

She was a member of the first team of penguin specialists to fly to Cape Town from the US to train and supervise more than 12,000 dedicated volunteers who saved the oiled penguins from certain death.

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Dyan also helped manage the penguin colony at Boston’s New England Aquarium for nine years and now, as The Penguin Lady, she lectures internationally about penguin biology and conservation. To date, she has taught approximately 250,000 people about these charismatic seabirds. Dyan has been the featured penguin expert on several television and radio shows, and on nature cruises to the Antarctic and the Galapagos Islands. She donates 20% of the proceeds from her book and from every public appearance to penguin rescue groups.

Join us as we talk about the Treasure oil spill and the rescue efforts that Dyan deNapoli worked on. Learn more about what is happening around the world in efforts to help conserve some of the endangered penguin species, especially the 13 out of 18 species that are now on the endangered list.

I asked, and Dyan answered…

• What caused the Treasure oil spill?
• What was the most challenging part of this rescue?  The most rewarding aspect?
• How did you come to be involved in this rescue effort?
• How successful was this rescue effort, and did the birds survive after being released?
• What has happened to the rescued penguins in the ten years since the Treasure oil spill?
• In what ways does oiling harm penguins?
• How does one clean and rehabilitate an oiled penguin?
• Did you go to the Gulf of Mexico to help out after the BP oil spill?
• What is the current forecast for penguins worldwide?

Dyan encourages animal lovers to donate to their penguin charity of choice. Charities supporting penguin rescue and care may be found on her website, www.thepenguinlady.com

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Do you want to Learn How to Communicate with Penguins and other animals? Get my free Ebook Hidden Secrets to Communicating with Pets!

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Enjoyed this article? Here are three more you’ll love too:

Animal healing: helping an aging dog express her needs.

My Adventures with Wildlife Rescue

Talk to Animals and Watch the Amazing Results! How Animal Communication Saved the Lives of 49 Fawns

The post Penguin Lady – From Tragedy to Triumph with Dyan DeNapoli on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/penguin-lady-from-tragedy-to-triumph-with-dyan-denapoli-on-the-real-dr-doolittle-show/

Horse Blankets: What You Need to Know

Horse Blankets: What You Need to Know

When the weather is getting colder, a warm blanket is important for your horse’s health. The sheet is usually made of firm fabric and it’s tacked with fasteners, belts, or velcro. Different blanket types are used for specific purposes.

So, let’s get all the nuts and bolts on blanketing a horse to cover your equine companion.

Horse Blanket Types

There are several types of horse blankets: turnout, stable, quarter sheets, and coolers. Depending on your horse’s needs and climate conditions you can pick the perfect option.

Turnout blankets are designed for any weather as they are water-resistant, wind-proof, and come with fleece lining. In addition, there are horse blankets with high withers and with a hood over the head. Such horse sheets also protect the horse belly from dirt.

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Stable blankets help to protect the horse from dirt and dust as well as to keep warm after work. 

While horseback riding, a quarter sheet can be used. The inveterate equestrian David Garcia recommends to tack up the quarter blanket under the horse saddle or on a limited body part like shoulders or croup. This is made to warm up your companion’s muscles when riding in cold weather.

Coolers are used primarily for sport horses. Cotton or wool paddings are used to prevent hypothermia of the horse. If your hooved friend excessively sweats after training or during a competition, use cooling blankets that have shock-absorption features. The sheet wicks moisture quickly to dry out the horse.

There are also fly sheets that are useful in summer to protect from insects. Equine manufacturers often treat the mesh with repellents. Such a horse blanket may also come with a fly mask.

How to Tell If Your Horse Is Cold?

If your horse is cold, it starts shaking. That’s a reflex action of the muscles to generate more heat. Generally, it’s not dangerous but over a few hours of shivering the horse is deprived of energy, its temperature drops, and it becomes vulnerable to infections.

When it’s cold outside, clipped horses with a light blanket may freeze badly. especially when they are unable to move properly. In a too dense blanket, a horse could get a chill from its own sweat or a wet blanket. That’s because the sheet presses down the wool and retains moisture near the body.

It’s crucial to remember that a horse blanket is not optimal protection in cold weather, as it cannot shelter a horse from rain and wind like a covered shed and wind protection.

Image by ZIPNON on Pixabay

Overheating Horses

Sweat is the most noticeable sign of overheating. First, the equine sweats under the blanket, then on the neck and behind the ears. Overheating is a common problem for horses that’s caused by turning out with a thick blanket designed for colder conditions.

The temperature swing between daytime and night can be up to 50 degrees, thus the animal gets hot under a warm horse blanket. In chill weather, a tacked horse can sweat easily while working and then freeze badly under a wet sheet.

On days when the temperature ranges greatly it’s better to wear a thinner blanket. The horse can keep warm by working sheltered from the wind or standing in the sun. But if it’s hot, your hooved friend has no way to get rid of it.

What Blanket To Wear After Work

After work, you should cover your horse when it has already taken its breath and dried out. A regular blanket will retain moisture near the skin, increasing the drying time of the coat. And the horse’s body temperature will get back to normal. To speed up the process you can dry the horse with a towel.

Another way is to tack the horse with a woolen or acrylic blanket. If you cover the horse with a windproof sheet, it makes sense to put some shavings or hay under it as an absorbent layer. Besides, it will provide the necessary air circulation.

How to Maintain a Horse Blanket

Like any piece of horse equipment, a horse blanket also requires special care. Firstly, you need to check all the fasteners and seams regularly. Secondly, the blankets should be shaken out after each use, ventilated, and dried. They also need to be washed with non-toxic cleaners. Jute horse rugs have to be thoroughly cleaned with a stiff brush.

The Bottom Line

A proper horse blanket is a helpful horse tack that is needed in various conditions. There are loads of horse sheet types available, so you can choose the perfect one for your companion. When blanketing a horse, check that your hooved friend is not getting cold or overheated.

While choosing a blanket for your friend, find out its purpose first, and pick the proper horse blanket size. Fitting a horse sheet affects its comfort and protection.

featured photo credit: image by joannafotograf on Pixabay

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

How To Help Your Horse’s Winter Colic

Horse Clicker Training with Amanda Martin on the Real Dr. Doolittle Show™

12 Things You Didn’t Know About Elise Gaston Chand and Horse Whispering

The post Horse Blankets: What You Need to Know appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/horse-blankets-what-you-need-to-know/

Support African Wildlife by Donating to Conservation Organizations

The wildlife conservation community is lamenting the loss of yet another animal.

The Union for Conversation of Nature officially declared the Western Black Rhino extinct after the last was spotted in 2006. This once thriving species used to roam sub-Saharan Africa, but it fell victim to poachers and a lack of conservation efforts. This is just one recent case that demonstrates the need for greater wildlife conservation efforts and funding. Another is that of the Alaotra Grebe, a small water bird from Madagascar. It was declared extinct in 2010 after falling prey to poaching and becoming ensnared in fishing nets. Whether they’re launching awareness campaigns, fostering endangered species or fighting to enforce anti-poaching laws, african wildlife conservation groups rely largely on donations from concerned civilians.

If you’re looking to support wildlife conservation efforts, plenty of hard-working groups are making an impact.

via GIPHY

African Wildlife Foundation

Africa is a continent full of exotic wildlife. Many endangered and extinct species, including the Western Black Rhino, once thrived in Africa.  Then poachers began to exploit this array of life. The African Wildlife Foundation aims to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa endure forever, and it does this through its myriad projects, such as the Bwindi mountain gorilla census and conservation efforts of the Great Fish River rhino and the West African giraffe. Furthermore, eighty-five percent of donations go toward programs that include animal protection, national park revitalization and investment in African communities.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

But the AWF isn’t the only organization working to protect Africa’s wild habitat. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust specializes in protecting endangered African species such as elephants and black rhinos. At the heart of the trust is the Orphans’ Project, in which staff raises young wildlife in an environment that protects them from poachers and other dangers. Sheldrick was a famous naturalist and founding warden of the Tsavo East National Park. His passion for wildlife lives on the through the care and protection of animals he loved. Donations go toward funding the Orphans’ Project and protecting animal populations.

World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund has been coming to the aid of endangered animals since 1961. The WWF has an impressive resume; for example it includes bringing back the Amur tiger and black rhinos from the edge of extinction. The WWF has the influence to effect political policy and structure to make a difference on the ground in Africa. This influential organization is currently active rehabilitating a number of species, specifically tigers, polar bears and orangutans. The WWF also allocates some of its resources toward the issue of climate change.

Wildlife Conservation Society

Founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society, the Wildlife Conservation Society has grown into an influential international organization. The WCS remains active in the protection of elephants, hippos and big cats. Their methods include the use of population surveys, camera traps and radio collars. The WCS has offices in Rwanda, Zamibia and Madagascar, where it is able to facilitate long-term conservation solutions.

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Enjoyed this article? Here are three more you’ll like too:

Australian Animals – Jennifer Monahan on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show™

Exploring animal telepathy: How to send a powerful message in 3 easy steps.

Talk to Animals and Watch the Amazing Results! How Animal Communication Saved the Lives of 49 Fawns

The post Support African Wildlife by Donating to Conservation Organizations appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/support-african-wildlife-by-donating-to-conservation-organizations/

Discover the Soul Contracts Between You and Your Pet

Discover the soul contracts between you and your pets

Every animal comes into your life for a reason.

Once you identify that reason you’ll discover a more meaningful life filled with joy, determination and a renewed sense of purpose… you’ll even forge new ‘soul contracts’ with the animals you encounter.

But how do you find that reason… and how do you proceed once you’ve found it?

Let’s talk through the elements of soul contracts. Together we’ll reveal the purpose and roles of these relationships…

What are soul contracts?

Let’s frame a soul contract using a very human scenario.

Imagine an office setting – a collection of two or more people who work for the same company. 

Every day they gather together, but no one has told them their specific job descriptions or the desired outcome of a day’s work.

Muddled and aimless, they spend their days wandering around, hanging out at the water cooler, gossiping, perhaps arguing. One or two leaders may emerge and try to herd the rest towards their desired goals…

via GIPHY

Nothing is accomplished and nobody is genuinely happy because the group lacks a contract with defined edges and expectations.

Imagine, instead, a workplace with its mission, vision, and values displayed proudly on the wall. Everyone comes to work with a clearly defined job description. They all understand their role in the overall workings of the company.

Consequently, the work is fulfilling, people are content in their roles, goals are achieved in a harmonious environment.

Your team has entered a successful soul contract. 

Your life journey is connected by a series of soul contracts

Whether you realize it or not, your life is a collection of soul contracts – all at different stages, at different depths, with different outcomes.

Seeing your life this way requires some level of acknowledging the concept of “purpose”. So, let’s take a closer look at how we all envision “purpose”.

There are several different philosophies regarding life’s purpose. As you read through them, ask yourself if they feel true or untrue to you – there is no right or wrong answer.

1. We are born, we live, things happen to us at random and then we die.

2. We are born into the world just once and have to find and fulfill our one purpose. If we don’t find it – doomed as a failure at life. We go either to Heaven or Hell. Pass or Fail.

3. We are born into the world with one purpose predetermined before birth. It’s chiseled in stone, and once we’ve done that one thing we can die content and fulfilled. If we don’t accomplish it during our first go-round, we have to try again during the next…and the next…and the next…

People subscribing to this philosophy believe they were destined to save a child from drowning or give birth to the next Nelson Mandela. They play a supporting role in their lifetimes.

4. We are born with countless purposes. They’re fluid and are guided by our choices, actions, and moral code. Living life is a purpose itself.

Those who believe in this way of life see themselves as having interactions that are presented for “a reason, a season or a lifetime”. They see themselves as fulfilling very specific purposes at different levels during all their encounters. Their soul contracts are written in pencil, not ink. They’re willing to adapt to shifting circumstances.

If you see yourself this way you’ll probably say something like, “I came here to shake things up and create positive change.” or “I came here to do good, to be a healer of people and animals.”

It doesn’t matter how you perceive your place on life’s timeline. Personally, I’m constantly seeking ways to make a difference – that is my purpose. I follow my heart and remain open to the opportunities that present themselves, always with the intention of doing good.

Breaking down the elements of purpose: Essence, Blessing, and Mission

Whether you think we all have one purpose or many, one chance to fulfill them or an eternity, there are three primary elements to purpose.

1. Your Soul Essence

This is your fundamental state of being. You will identify yourself very specifically, using terms like:

• I am a Beacon of Joy
• I am a Healer
• I am The Sword of Justice
• I am The Caretaker
• I am The ….?? 

You’ll be interested to know that animals often self-identify this way, as well.

2. Your Blessing

This stems from your Essence. Consider it the bridge between “being” and “doing”…setting your Essence into motion as you enter soul contracts.

In allowing your Blessing to flourish you’re acting as a catalyst, a facilitator for the people and animals around you, consciously and subconsciously. 

3. Your Mission

Once you’ve identified your Soul Essence and set it into motion (your Blessing) you’ve found your Mission.

What is the difference YOU intend to make your lifetime? 

Above all, what specific task do you need to perform according to your soul contract?

Not sure?

Think of the Universe (or God, or whichever deity resides in your belief system) as the CEO of your life. From the moment you begin your life’s journey, the Universe sets the wheels in motion and the vision and scope of your purpose are imagined. You’re drawn to fulfill your Mission. 

This will involve forming and dissolving relationships, making connections, and allowing for disconnections with people and animals. Joy and hardship.

During every step of the way, I encourage you to remain open to the possibility that your presence is purposeful.

Every encounter has some meaning, every soul contract will be different in duration and depth. It simply might not be obvious until you take the time to reflect upon it.

Most of us have a natural tendency to consider our encounters with other people as something more weighty than random chance. We’re open to thinking, either in the moment or in retrospect, that someone was placed in our path “on purpose”…

That’s not always the case when we add animals into the equation. And that’s a mistake on our part.

Animals are soulful beings, too, and are definitely placed in our path for a reason – and vice versa. As a pet communicator, it’s my job to bridge a pet and their human and reveal the soul contracts that exist between them.

If you remain open to the possibility of working with an animal to fulfill your purpose, or help them fulfill theirs, you’ll find an abundance of blessings and enlightenment in your life.

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Did you find this useful? Our readers loved these next articles too: 

Clairaudience and 7 Ways to Grow Your Intuition
Are You Highly Sensitive and/or Empathic?
The Extraordinary Soul Connection I call The Human Animal BodyMind Connection

The post Discover the Soul Contracts Between You and Your Pet appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/discover-the-soul-contracts-between-you-and-your-pet/

My Adventures with Wildlife Rescue

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'”  ~ Robin Williams 

Many years ago, I was on staff for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation.  Our job was to take in injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife and help them recover or relocate.

It was as fascinating and heartbreakingly difficult as it was rewarding and fulfilling.

I loved all the critters… (well, maybe not the crocodile so much… he wasn’t very friendly).  But the raccoons, foxes, possums, leopards, bears, monkeys, lemurs, snakes, owls, macaws and parrots, bobcats, birds, bats…  you name it!

Working in wildlife rescue, we just never knew what kind of animal would need our help next.  It was scary at times but never dull, that’s for sure.

For instance, Scarlet, the enormous macaw, almost took off my thumb with one swift bite through a heavy leather glove!  (We got to be good friends later…)

And I single handedly saved 17 of the enormous boa snakes and pythons from freezing to death one winter in the dead of night… although at times I wasn’t sure I was going to survive, honestly.  But that’s a story for another day…

The thing is, I made a habit of communicating with all our animals because it helped their rehabilitation and healing, eased their stress and suffering so dramatically.

via GIPHY

I developed a very special relationship with the fawns.  When they suffered an outbreak of an especially virulent disease, I was the one they told first.

I went to their enclosure one day and all 50 fawns crowded around me, excitedly clamoring for my attention.  They wanted me to know one of their companions felt bad and they were worried.

They knew that I could help, because I could hear them and they knew I loved them.

No one else had noticed anything wrong… yet.

Surrounded by a sea of leaping and dancing fawns, I asked the sick little guy to come to me so I could help.  They quickly reformed to let him come through the crowd and he stood quietly before me.

Listening carefully and with great compassion, I asked him a series of questions so I could understand what was wrong… and it was very serious indeed.

Then I thanked him, and promised to do my very best to help him feel better.

I immediately took off running to find our Wildlife Rescue Director, Tim Ajax, so I could alert him to the pending epidemic.  Fortunately, Tim believed me and took immediate action.

During that time, I acted as the fawns’ mediator.  Continuing to offer support and love for the fawns, I told them what was going on, what we were going to do to help them.  And they continued to help me identify any new fawns who weren’t feeling well so they could get help too

Because of that, we were able to catch the problem in time and were able to save most of the herd.

Speaking of communicating with wildlife, you are going to love my podcast guest, Mingo Morvin, the Bear Whisperer!  His fabulous, furry and famous polar bear pal, Attu, has the most wonderful adventures.  And Mingo is pretty awesome himself!

Animals have voices, feelings, wisdom and Spirits just like we do – and they need us to be able to hear them, to honor and respect them, and to learn from them.

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” ~ K. Chesterton

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Enjoyed this article? Here are three more you’ll love too:

Animal healing: helping an aging dog express her needs.
Exploring animal telepathy: How to send a powerful message in 3 easy steps.
Talk to Animals and Watch the Amazing Results! How Animal Communication Saved the Lives of 49 Fawns

 

The post My Adventures with Wildlife Rescue appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/my-adventures-with-wildlife-rescue/

Australian Animals – Jennifer Monahan on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show™

Jennifer Monahan grew up in Washington, D.C. and the suburbs of Maryland.

We have a lot in common, Jennifer and I!

Throughout her life she has owned a wide variety of pets and loves all animals.  She cared for rabbits, parakeets, kittens, dogs, and hamsters as a young child. As an adult, she expanded her love of critters to include Australian animals as well.

At the age of 13, when her family moved to Maryland, she and her sister were given horses.  Jennifer learned to communicate with these large animals and a mutual trust developed between her and her new friends.

She traveled to horse shows, rode on trails, and took her horse swimming in lakes and creeks. This experience helped tremendously when Jennifer took a job with the U.S. Forest Service as a surveyor near Jackson Hole, WY.  Her mode of transportation to and from the job site was on horseback.

I wanted to talk to her, especially since she is the author of “An American in Oz: Discovering the Island Continent of Australia.”

via GIPHY

Today, she told me all about her trip to Australia that she took over the turn of the millennium.

While in the land down under for two months, she discovered a unique landscape, wildlife, and way of life found only in a land called “Oz.”

Australia is a beautiful country filled with the friendliest people you will ever meet, and the craziest critters you will ever hear about. It’s a country worth traveling to as often as possible. There are many animals just like ours, and many so strange and different from what we know here in the States that you will find yourself saying, “We are definitely not in Kansas anymore!”

Listen and learn about:

• The most interesting Australian animals she discovered during her trip
• Other odd and unusual animals in Australia on land or in the sea
• Jennifer’s message: Love your animals. Listen to them, care for them, and they will love you back unconditionally.

She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very cool cats.

Email questions to: j.monahan@live.com and please put “Dr Doolittle Show” in the subject line so she’ll know I sent you. Go to: www.jennifermonahan.com to learn more about Jennifer and get free parts of her wonderful book. Then, visit www.anamericaninoz.com to sign-up to receive her free Australia newsletter filled with interesting facts and stories about Oz.

Enjoy!

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Enjoyed this article? Here are three more you’ll like too:

Animal healing: helping an aging dog express her needs.
Exploring animal telepathy: How to send a powerful message in 3 easy steps.
Talk to Animals and Watch the Amazing Results! How Animal Communication Saved the Lives of 49 Fawns

The post Australian Animals – Jennifer Monahan on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show™ appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/australian-animals-jennifer-monahan-on-the-real-dr-doolittle-show/

Believe It or Not, Animals See Ghosts…

Bet you didn’t know that I’m a Ghost Buster…  It’s true! 

Hi, I’m Val Heart, the Real Dr Doolittle. I didn’t start out to be a ghost buster, and I don’t talk about it much but I’ve done a lot of work with entities with great results. Because my unique specialty is solving problems with pets using the Heart Wisdom System, as you will soon see, doing this critically important work sometimes takes me to many interesting, unexpected and fascinating places…

Have you ever noticed your animal staring off into space like they’re watching something you can’t see? Or reacting oddly to a certain area for no known reason?  Barking at nothing?  Spooking at something you can’t detect?

That’s because, as a matter of fact, animals see ghosts.

It’s true.  They can sense, feel and see ‘dead people’.

I’m always amazed and intrigued when a consultation takes a spooky turn and I find myself communicating with a deceased loved one or a lost soul who can’t find their way home. Animals see ghosts and they are so glad when they can tell us about it, and when we can help them.

via GIPHY

For instance, one German Shepherd told me that there was a young man’s spirit floating through the walls at odd times and it was very scary for him.

The dog was trying his best to protect his person but all the spirit did was laugh at him.

His person of course thought her beloved dog had lost his mind!  He was viciously attacking and reacting to something she could not see or sense.

Once the dog told us his story, I shifted my focus to address the spirit and we found a way to help the lost ghost go home. Once he left, the dog returned to the loving, happy furrkid he truly was and all was well again.

A dressage horse told me that there was a Native American Indian stationed in the far corner of his practice arena.

He said the Indian Spirit had warned him away from that area. Nothing his rider did changed his mind about it, and that was that.

In order to solve this perplexing problem, I connected with the Indian who turned out to be a Guardian of the ancient sacred burial grounds that happened to be located on this property.  When I told my client what I’d discovered, she confirmed that in fact, that was true.

We found a way to respectfully negotiate an agreement so that the horses could go into that area for their exercise and practice, and all was well.

When you discover how to hear and understand your animals yourself, a whole new amazing world opens up.

And it’s tons of fun and not really scary at all, I promise.

If you enjoyed this, you’ll love my The Real Dr Doolittle Show interview with author and fellow animal lover Olga Horvat.  We discussed her remarkable “spooky” true story which she wrote about in her book, Paranormal Pooch.  Click the link to go there now!

 

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

Who’s your spirit animal? The truth may surprise you.

Are you Highly Sensitive and/or Empathic?

Clairaudience and 7 Ways to Grow Your Intuition

The post Believe It or Not, Animals See Ghosts… appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/animals-do-see-ghosts/

Is Your Dog a Paranormal Pooch? Interview with Olga Horvat

Is there a Real Dr. Doolittle and does the Doctor know anything about the paranormal? Welcome to The Real Dr. Doolittle Show with Val Heart!

Today I am talking to Olga Horvat, MA.  Olga is the founder of Royal Dogs Gallery, a company that provides spiritual and holistic products and services exclusively for dogs and their owners.

 

She is also a Paranormal Pet Expert and a certified Lumia Science Color Therapist.  Her extraordinary work is about clearing behavior and health problems in pets by utilizing unconventional methods such as colored light, crystals, elixirs and essential oils.

Olga Horvat wrote a wonderful true story she experienced into a book called “Paranormal Pooch: A True Story of The Dog who Healed One Family”

Listen and learn:

• What are the four ways to identify whether your pet has a soul?
• Why would people deny the existence of soul in animals?
• What is the paranormal, and can a spirit take possession of an animal?
• Can animals come back after death?
• What are the five warning signs your pet may be possessed?
• What are negative energies and the secrets to avoiding harmful energies in your home?
• How can negative energy be eliminated from people and animals, if accidentally affected?

Enjoy!

Visit Olga’s website to find out more about her book, services, and her protective pendants for you and your pets: www.RoyalDogsGallery.com.

 

ABOUT ANIMAL COMMUNICATION:

Learning animal communication is an exciting journey into the Self, the nature and reality of our world. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the many complex interconnections between us all, and the real truth about relationships. It’s also about discovering how to connect at deeper levels with other beings.  Every animal lover can learn how to talk with animals, if they’re willing to discover how easy it is. You can too!

Ready to learn how to talk to animals yourself?  Check out all of my wonderful online courses and the Animal Talk Coaching & Mastery Club at The Heart School of Animal Communication  Start Here and get your Free eBook:  Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets

SHARING IS GOOD!

My mission and passion is to improve the lives of animals the world over. I do this by helping humans learn how to speak their language, understand their viewpoints, and heal. After all, our love of animals helps us learn how to be better humans. The more balanced and healthy we are, the more balanced and healthy they can be too. Would you help me reach more animal lovers? Please share now!

 

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

Discovering the Joy of Visualization and Intuition

Five benefits of animal communication.

Being a dog whisperer comes in handy!

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Affiliate Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate information. This means that I’ll earn a small commission if you purchase at no extra cost to you. 

The post Is Your Dog a Paranormal Pooch? Interview with Olga Horvat appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/the-real-dr-doolittle-show-interview-with-olga-horvat-about-her-remarkable-story-which-she-wrote-about-in-her-book-paranormal-pooch/

Helpful Tips: 8 Ways to Focus Your Mind

8 ways to focus your wandering mind

Do you know the difference between ‘hearing’ and ‘listening’?

Hearing is simply recognizing and identifying a sound. Listening requires making an effort to understand the meaning of the sounds you’re hearing.

Just like people, pets always know when you’re really listening… or when you’ve tuned them out.  

If you don’t know how to focus your mind you’ll miss out on their messages and opportunities to connect, heal, evolve and grow.

Communicating with pets takes patience, training, and an ability to blank out everything around you. 

via GIPHY

Here are 8 tips that will help you focus your mind…

Losing focus happens to the best of us…

It’s true, my mind will wander sometimes. I’ll be having a conversation with a friend or an animal when I suddenly realize I have no idea what they just said. I had drifted off daydreaming. 

Maybe you’ve fallen asleep while meditating or struggled to pay attention while your boss explained a new procedure at work. 

It’s natural to have these lapses in concentration, in particular if you’re already feeling under the weather, or just tired in general. But there are ways to tackle your wandering tendencies. Here is how to focus your mind.

1.  Add a deliberate distraction

While there isn’t a consensus on the matter, there’s a growing body of research stating that having some noise in the background improves your powers of concentration. 

Whether it’s instrumental music or ‘white noise’, introducing a planned distraction into your atmosphere actually helps you focus.

2. Go ahead and daydream

Pause to allow thoughts and feelings to surface so you can process them. Even if it’s completely unrelated to what you were trying to do, this can invigorate your focus when you return to the task.

Don’t think of it as “wandering away” from the task at hand…treat it as time to regroup.

Pro Tip: When communicating with animals, you might need time for the messages to percolate through your subconscious mind’s filter until it’s clear and ready for your attention.

 

3. Identify and eliminate stressors

This is just a good life tip for everyone. If you want to know how to focus your mind, give it a clear space in which to do its best work. 

Try some mental imaging and put each concern or problem at a distance, but someplace accessible so you can look at it again later. Mentally put the distractions…

• in a drawer or bucket
• on a boat out on the water while you sit on the shore
• on a shelf in another room

Don’t worry, you are not throwing your problems away! Instead, you are just tucking them out of sight so you can devote your energy to the task at hand.

 

4. Grab a cuppa coffee

Not surprisingly, researchers have found a link between caffeine and improved cognition. Just be careful, because too much of this stimulant, which produces dopamine in your system, can interrupt your sleep and actually make you too jittery to be attentive.

There are other options if coffee is not your thing! Try a square of dark chocolate for a boost of serotonin and a dose of antioxidants.

Even the act of making yourself a cup of coffee or getting a piece of chocolate gets your body moving and creates a planned distraction to give your mind a break.

5. Doodle 

It might look and feel like a waste of time, but studies have proven that taking a minute or two and doodling improves focus. Doing so allows thoughts to come together. 

Keep it simple: shapes, patterns, and designs work best!

Pro Tip: When you’re communicating with animals, imagine giving them the pen and let them doodle through you. This could allow their messages to pop through the images you’re doodling on the paper while you idly doodle through your thoughts.

6. Breathe and count

Whether you follow the Buddhist practice of “Anapanasati” or another technique of mindful breathing, you’ll find clarity in taking time to breathe with intention. 

Start simply: Slowly inhale (1,2,3) then hold (1,2) and slowly exhale (3,2,1). Repeat this pattern until you feel the cleansing sensation in your mind.

Beyond the spiritual benefits of grounding yourself through breathing, science tells us your brain is getting a much-needed boost of oxygenated blood. It’s hard to know how to focus your mind when it’s running low on fuel…

7. Monitor your wandering 

Be gentle with yourself when you realize your mind is wandering. That being said, make an effort to bring it back to the task as soon as you realize you’re drifting.

Try acting as a third-party observer when your mind wanders off. Make a mental note of it like you’d notice your kitten suddenly chasing a butterfly or your dog picking up a scent to pursue.

With practice, you’ll discover that you catch yourself more quickly and get yourself back on track more quickly, too.

8. Chew gum

Believe it or not, chewing gum can increase your attention span and make you more alert. 

Are you in a stressful environment?

Chewing spearmint gum has been shown to relieve the stress that can cause your mind to wander. 

 

The Bottom Line on the Power of Focusing

Whether you’re having a meaningful conversation with another person or with your pets, they deserve your full and undivided attention.

When communicating with animals it’s especially important to maintain your focus. Some of their intuitive, telepathic messages can be subtle and fleeting impressions.

You don’t want to miss them so pay attention, breathe, go still, connect and FOCUS.

They could be important clues to the pet’s health or mental well-being or a message about your health and well-being.

Play around with these different strategies and find the ones that work best for you. 

Like any muscle in your body, flex your mental muscles to build up their strength and resilience…then you’ll be ready to explore meaningful conversations with your pets.

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Did you find this article useful? Here are some more to help focus your mind: 

Are You Highly Sensitive and/or Empathic?
Who’s Your Spirit Animal? The Truth Might Surprise You
Exploring Animal Telepathy: How to Send a Powerful Message in 3 Easy Steps

The post Helpful Tips: 8 Ways to Focus Your Mind appeared first on Val Heart.

source https://valheart.com/helpful-tips-8-ways-to-focus-your-mind/