Pet Talk: Get Comfortable with Communication
Communication is the cornerstone of every relationship –without it, a relationship can’t exist. There are many studies highlighting the importance of communication with your partner, children, employees, employers, and friends – along with tips on how to improve communication in relationships – but one topic that is rarely discussed is communicating with your pets. Some people don’t feel comfortable talking with their pets, but it is crucial to understand that communication is part of nurturing your pet. While pets can’t talk back, they are always listening and benefit from being spoken to by their owners. Think about this study led by researcher from University of York that found young children who are exposed to large amounts of adult speech tend to have better cognitive skills. These young children can’t communicate back to parents with words, but they are benefiting greatly from their parents talking to them. Even though it may feel weird at first to talk to your pet when they can’t talk back, communicating with your pet will only make your relationship stronger and I bet you’ll understand them better!
My first dog, SHERPA, became a part of me. And that is what you want, a strong human-animal bond. I learned early on with SHERPA the importance of communication and have been a believer (and advocate) for talking with your dogs. So much, that I was recently invited as a guest on the podcast Talking with Your Dogs where I chatted with host, Liz Murdoch, about everything from my book to how I communicate with KoKo and KARTU (my current dogs!).
If you already talk with your dog, GREAT! If you need some inspiration, here are three ways I implement communication in my relationship with my pets: Read more
Summer Plans? Take Your Dog!
In 1987, Sherpa, an adorable gray Lhasa Apso given to me by my fiancé, became my everything when my fiancé tragically died in his sleep a month before our wedding. Without a signed will, I wasn’t entitled to any of his estate and had to leave our New York home. To make matters worse, after two decades as a flight attendant, I had recently been laid off during a strike. At thirty-seven years old, my entire world had been turned upside down.
When traveling through the airport it is always best to keep a low profile when accompanying your pet at the airport. Do not let him or her out of the carrier once you enter the airport terminal. If they are traveling with you in the passenger cabin, never take him out of their carrier during the flight.
I hear it all the time: “I am too old to get a pet.” And every time I hear it, my response is always the same. Nobody is too old to experience the love and joy a pet brings to your life. My first pet, SHERPA, was a Lhasa Apso that I adopted when I was in my 30s. The first time I held her, I felt warmth in my heart and a loving connection. At that moment, I did not know how much I would rely on SHERPA for more solace than I could ever imagine. Shortly after getting SHERPA, my fiancé passed away and my life was turned upside down. My only consolation was SHERPA’s unconditional love. It was then that I fully understood how beneficial pets are to humans and I have never been without one since. Now, my two dogs, KoKo and KARTU, make life even better by not only the love they give me but also the health benefits I gain by just having them around!
