Dogs: What are they saying?

Today’s post is the first of two posts by guest blogger, Mary Sue Palazzari, an animal communicator located in Minnesota. I hope you will enjoy her insight and knowledge as much as I have! !

Do you often wonder if you can communicate with your pet? Chances are that you are and just don’t know it!

Merriam-Webster’s definition of communication is:

1 : an act or instance of transmitting
2 a : information communicated b : a verbal or written message
3 a : a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior; also : exchange of information b : personal rapport

Notice that I have highlighted some of the words in the definitions in bold. These words can be used to describe the process of interspecies communication. What most people don’t realize is that they are communicating with their pets all of the time. It’s just on a subconscious level. Do you ever notice how often you use your hands when speaking with another person? Probably not, because it is so automatic that it is done on a subconscious level. It is the same with our pets. We are communicating with them all of the time, but subconsciously.

So, how DO animals communicate? In pictures or images. Animals “see” in their mind what they want, or what you are telling them. When you teach your puppy to “sit,” and the puppy learns it quickly, you may assume that you have a very smart dog. What is more accurate, I believe, is that you are communicating in the way the dog understands – with an image. And, of course, using the spoken word at the same time teaches the dog your language as well. So, when you are teaching your dog a new “trick,” do it in pictures. “Show” your dog with an image in your mind what you want him to do while you are speaking the command. You may also be using a hand signal. Mostly, though, focus on the image of what you want him to do.

Before too long, you may very well be able to send the image to your canine friend without a word, and he will do what you want!

Cats can learn things, too, but they have a very different approach. While dogs mostly want to please their humans, cats mostly want to please themselves. I haven’t tried to actually train a cat, but I have a feeling my cats have done a great job of training me!

Mary Sue Palazzari

Mary Sue Palazzari is an animal communicator and former pet sitter. Her family consists of her husband, 16-year-old son, 2 horses, 2 dogs, and 4 cats and they reside on 16 acres in the Elko New Market area. Although she has been offering animal communication professionally since June of 2007, she has always had a connection with animals.