As a pet sitter, you are the touch point for many companion animal’s as people go back to work. We’ve all heard the statistics on how many adoptions there were due to Covid. As people are leaving the home for longer periods, those relationships will be put to the test. That’s where animal communication comes in handy!
Animal communication, very simply put is telepathy: the transference of pictures, words and feelings. We are never not doing this! And animals’ survival in the wild is dependent on their ability to track or pick up on the pictures, words and feelings of their pack, pride, herd or flock. When all are in danger, decisions are made by the leader and the rest follow suit. They don’t question it.
Make no mistake, you can have a very positive impact on an animal struggling with separation anxiety as the pet sitter, dog walker or litter box changer. Understand that they are now focused on you as the leader/provider the minute you step in the door. Here are some more simple steps to easing their anxiety through animal communication:
- We are all animal communicators, so always be aware of how much they are picking up on what we are thinking, seeing and/or feeling. Whether you speak out loud or connect silently, always have an even voice and a positive view of what they will do. When we think things like “Oh, but when I leave, they are going to trash the curtains”, guess what? We just gave them permission to trash the curtains. Expect them to take a nap on the couch or in their crate after you leave. Set up for them some calming activity in your mind.
- Stay neutral! It’s easy as animal people to fall into their big feelings. We are empathic by nature. An anxious animal can trigger any anxiety we’ve had or remind us of how lonely we may have been during the pandemic. While it may seem a little cold and counter intuitive, having detached compassion is the kindest thing you can do.
- Be the Emotional Leader! I talk about this in both my books. Like I said above, the pack, herd, pride or flock looks to the leader when they are in danger. Right now, these animals who have had 24- hour companionship, being left along could feel like the biggest danger of all. Coming in being calm, cool and collected will set the tone for the animal to chill with you.
- State change! Sometimes creating a little fun, a celebration, a toy parade, whatever creative activity you can do will help to distract them to calm. Bringing a sense of fun and games is what animals crave and thrive with.
- Rituals are great! Whether you are going into someone’s home daily or for 3 days only, creating a little ritual between you and the animal(s) will help them to feel special and attracted to your energy as a place of refuge. This will help them to relax. It also helps the animal to create a little intimacy with you. It is helpful to create a ritual for how you leave as well.
- Stroking with the Intention of Grounding! For many animals, petting or stroking is calming. The one thing that all energy modalities have in common is: Intention. Having an intention to ground and calm the animal with each touch will go a long way.
I know I’m speaking to the choir here. These are all things that you probably naturally do. Sometimes the severity of an animal’s separation anxiety can throw the strongest person off. I have heard from people that the amount of animals struggling with it right now is staggering.
And many of us are still trying to create our own new normal after the last year! That alone can throw us off our game.
We all know that much of anxiety is compounded by the anxiety the human may be experiencing as they re-enter the work force. That can be addressed in another blog! For now, know that these little things will go a long way to help your animal clients to feel safe.
Joan Ranquet is an Animal communicator, TEDx speaker, Hay House and Sounds True author, educator, and Founder of Communication with all Life University. MSN has deemed her one of the “Top 25 People Who Do What They Love.” She lives with her 3 dogs, 4 cats and 3 horses on her farm in Santa Clarita, CA.
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