I first met Su Wickersham when I was a teenager – she went to high school with my brother Robert and his wife, Beth.  They’ve stayed in touch all these years and I’ve reconnected with her through them.

Last year when I was a vendor at a pet expo and pet blessing, Su attended and told me about this new exciting path she was taking in Animal Communication.  She was just about to attend more classes to deepen her understanding and I could see that this was her true passion and wanted to help owners experience a deeper connection with their pets.

Su talks about the many applications that can be helpful for you and your pets such as finding lost animals, introducing new animals into the household and many others.  So, let’s let Su tell her journey in her own words!

I feel like I have a hard time to write down how much I feel this is the right path for me. I love to talk to the animals and be with them. Without sounding sappy, I feel their love, it radiates to me and I want to help all of them anyway I can. I think animals are here to interact with us on that deep level, to show us love and to experience life in a much deeper way. We just have to pay more attention and stop our busy-ness to get what they are trying to tell us.

Su and her dog Angus

Tell me how you got into animal communication. (introduce yourself a little – some personal stuff)

Ever since I can remember, I have loved animals. As a child I was attracted to them and hung out with them whenever I could. I drew pictures of them and always felt I had some sort of connection with them. But to me, it was a normal connection. I understood them. But it wasn’t until I was much, much older did I realize I was actually hearing them. Because I thought I was making it up.

A few years ago, after my beloved dog, Zoey passed away, a friend invited me to an animal communication class. I was so distraught, since it was only a week later, but I thought I’d go anyway and maybe I’d learn something. Well, it was an amazing class and I realized what I had previously thought I made up… was real!

In class we partnered up and communicated with each others animal. My partner was a gal I had just met and she asked me to talk to her dog. Long story short, I received validation that I was talking to the dog. Almost everything I told her, she told me, was true. I could hardly believe it. Couldn’t I just be making it up and have some lucky guesses? “Sure, that’s it”, I thought, until I told the gal that during the conversation with her dog, my head tilted to the left. I didn’t know why, of course, but our instructor told us to note anything and everything. Turns out the dog is hard of hearing in the left ear and tilts his head to the left so he can hear out of his right ear. Wow!! That blew me away. Maybe I can talk to animals after all.

Admittedly, after class I played around with the whole communication thing a little, but not seriously. It was a couple of years later that I found a book, Learning Their Language: Intuitive Communication with Animals and Nature by Marta Williams. I love Marta’s step-by-step explanation and exercises that teach us we can talk to the animals. As I was reading the book, I checked out Marta’s website and discovered she was teaching a class in my area. I was so excited and thrilled to get the chance to learn from her. Since that first class, I have taken all of Marta’s classes and we have become friends.

How can animal communication help me and my animal?

Animal Communication can be helpful for many common problems with domestic animals of all kinds and is guaranteed to improve and deepen your relationships with animals. Here are some applications:

• Deepen your relationship with your animal
• Solve behavior problems – fear, aggression, separation anxiety, unwanted behaviors
• Enhance training
• Make your animal happier
• Address quality of life issues – find out what your animal wants and needs
• Find lost animals
• Get assistance during illness and death
• Get help introducing animals to each other
• Adopting animals – find out about a rescued animal’s past

It’s been wonderful to connect with the animals and their people. Many lives have been changed for the better. And I’ve been told that after a session, the owners notice a deeper connection with their pet. It’s truly amazing. Helping animals and their people gives me great joy.

Since animals can’t talk, how are the messages transmitted to you?

I receive messages by hearing, seeing and feeling. I hear phrases or words, which is sometimes difficult because I hear them in my own voice, so, in the beginning, I had the tendency to think I was making it up. Often the animals show me pictures, like scenes in a movie, mostly from their point of view. I have also been shown pictures from what would be my point of view if I had actually been there. I often pick up how the animal is feeling about a situation; happy, playful, scared, or anxious, are just a few feelings I sometimes get. At first I thought these were feelings I was feeling and it was about me, but I have learned that if they come up quickly and for no reason, they are most likely the animal’s. And of course, when I receive validation from the animal’s people, I know I have truly connected.

Did you have special training?

I have taken many courses, am certified through Marta Williams Professional Series and have practiced a lot. And I do think I have a special gift for listening and communicating with the animals, but I believe we all have the ability to do this. I compare it to playing a musical instrument. We all can learn, as long as we stick with it and practice, and yes, some people have a natural talent, but we can all learn.

Can you communicate with pets that have passed on?

Yes, I have spoken to a number of animals that have passed on. I have been told by their people that they have received fantastic messages from their pets who have passed. Once, when I was connecting to a dog that had passed quite recently, a friend’s dog who had passed over a year ago, appeared and started to talk about his owner. He wanted me to give her his messages right away… he was very impatient. I told him I would soon, but not that day. He insisted I call her and made me promise not to wait too long. I hesitated because I knew my friend would be upset, she missed him so much, but I felt I needed to connect with her to pass on the message. My friend was willing to listen, and yes, she cried, but her tears were out of happiness that her dog wanted to talk to her. She told me later that his messages were very meaningful and came at just the right time in her life.

Animal communication is also a great help to the animal and their people when the animal is dying. We want the best for our pets and sometimes it’s very hard to let go. Talking to the animal gives us insight as to what they really want. When my dog Zoey contracted cancer and was ready to pass, I could not let her go and wanted to provide hospice for her. I spent hours of one-on-one time with her and decided it was best to let her go, it’s what she wanted. As we drove back to the vet, she gave me a feeling of calm and peace and I knew I was doing the right thing for her. Then out of the blue, I heard a very loud “THANK YOU!!” in my right ear. I knew that was her reassuring me that everything was OK and this is what she wanted.

What can someone expect if they use your services?

I offer consultations by telephone, in person, and by email for all animals. Usually I ask for a picture of the animal, their name, age and gender. I introduce myself to the animal, letting them know their person said it was OK for me to talk with them. I ask general questions about what they like and dislike. These questions establish if I’ve connected with the animal or not. Most animals are wiling and happy to talk, although I’ve had my share of personalities that can be tough nuts to crack. But once they start talking and realize I am genuinely there to help, they open up. When I communicate with your animal, I receive information directly from the animal and also get my own intuitive impressions. I relay all of this information to you during the consultation. I will also refer you to any services or experts you may need to help you with your and your animal.

Is there anything else you would like to let us know?

Yes, I also provide other services for animals and their people, including:

• Animal communication classes where you can learn to communicate with your animal for a deeper relationship.
• Equine Touch – a noninvasive, energy and connective soft tissue discipline, inducing deep relaxation, releasing traumatized muscles and reducing pain. Although I have learned this on the horse, it can also be used on other species as well as humans.
• Reiki – a Japanese healing art form that involves channeling energy for the purposes of stress reduction and healing.

Please tell us where we can get in contact with you for your services. (website, phone number, social
media, etc.)

I can be reached via phone at 530.676.4744; by email at DogListen@gmail.com and internet at www.DogListen.wordpress.com.

On Sunday, we had a very traumatic experience at my house.  One of my boarders attacked another dog and wouldn’t let go.  In my five years of boarding dogs, I’ve never seen a dog fight that vicious and last that long.  Let me tell you, it was very freighting.   The two dogs in question were a Yellow Lab and an American Bulldog – both females.

Cocoa Bean the American Bulldog

Guess which one was the aggressor?  The Yellow Lab.  Bailey was an otherwise sweet,  obedient lab that according to her owner has never showed aggression before.  For some reason, she didn’t like Cocoa Bean.

Needless to say, this incident was very traumatic for me and my family and of course the owners of both dogs.  It’s not easy to learn that your dog attacked a dog and it’s difficult to see your dog with puncture wounds and abrasions.  Don’t worry, I took her to the vet and she is doing just fine.

This incident drives home the point that it isn’t the breed, but how the dogs relate to each other.   Who knows why Cocoa Bean brought out this behavior in Bailey.  We all love our dogs like they were part of the family, but we must always remember that they are animals with animal instincts.

Usually when there’s a scuffle between two dogs, I can break it up with vocal commands or squirting water in their face, but this time was different.  I tried everything to get the dog off, but nothing helped, so I have to admit, I was at a loss.

So, I thought I’d do some research and find out what I could have done in this situation and pass that information along to you.

How to break up a dog fight

Of course it’s always best to avoid them getting into a fight in the first place.  Their body language plays a big part in deciphering their behavior.

According to Cherie Langlois, here’s some clues to know when a fight might break out:

“A hard, unwavering, targeted stare.
Dominance posturing, such as mounting.
Stiff body movements.
Extreme body language: the tail held stiffly up or down, lips pulled tight against the teeth”.

I can say from experience that Bailey did exhibit this kind of behavior.  I’ve seen this behavior before and nothing ever came from it.  One piece of advice –  please don’t antagonize the dogs – STAY CALM and try to diffuse the situation calmly.  They’re already on a trigger hair at this point and you don’t want to make it worse.  If a fight does break out, please do not try to pull them apart by their collars.  Don’t put your hands anywhere near their mouths.  You will most likely get bit yourself!

If they are already fighting, you can try:

Bailey the Yellow Lab

Spraying water in their faces

Some has said that Citronella Spray helps.  It’s a safer alternative to Pepper Spray.

Cattle Prods and Shock Collars, however this can put them in more of a fight mode and try to attack the prod or think that the other dog is hurting them and want to fight more.  You can condition them to the collars and prods, but not in the middle of a fight.  Work with them beforehand.

The most effective and safe way to stop a fight requires  two people:  Leerburg Training explains it this way,  “Each person grabs the back feet of one of the dogs. The dogs back feet are then picked up like a wheelbarrow. With the legs up, both dogs are then pulled apart.

Once the dog fight is broken up and the dogs pulled apart , it is critical that the people do not release the dogs or the dog fight will begin again. The two people need to start turning in a circle, or slowly swinging the dogs in a circle while they back away from the other dog. This stops the dog from curling and coming back and biting the person holding their legs.

By circling the dog has to sidestep with its front feet or it will fall on its chin. As long as you slowly continue to back and circle, the dog cannot do any damage to you. To insure that the fight will not begin all over again when you release the dogs, one of the dogs needs to be dragged into an enclosure (i.e. a kennel, the garage, another room) before the dog is released. If you do not do this, the dogs will often charge back and start fighting again or if you release the dog to quickly the dog will turn and attack the person who had his feet.”

Do you have effective ways of breaking up a dog fight?  I’d love to hear your stories.

Every year before my dog Nikki went deaf, she would freak out when the fireworks started popping on the 4th of July.  She’d shake, whimper and pant.  It sounds like a 1950’s dance, but to her, it was no dance or laughing matter.  Dogs can become extremely stressed and frightened when the fireworks start and may exhibit strange behaviors.   My brother in laws dog used to go into the garage and hide under the truck and just whimper until it was over.

Taking precautions can go a long way to help  calm your pets.  Here’s a few tips to help make the 4th of July a safe, fun day for you and your pets.

If at all possible, stay at home. Make them comfy with their favorite dog bed or blanket with plenty of water preferably in the quietest room in the house.  I’m fortunate to live in an area where they still allow us to buy fireworks.  Our neighborhood goes out to our cul-de-sac to light the fireworks which is great because I can go in and check on the dogs to make sure they’re OK.

If you can’t stay home, put them in their crate with a nice bone to chew on or favorite treat.  If you don’t use a crate, keep them inside the home and close the doggie door.  Dogs, when frightened, will chew through anything to escape.  If you have to leave them outside, make sure your fences and gates are secure and there’s no possibility of escape.  In the case that they do escape, please have their  microchip information updated and they have their collar on with all identification.

Put on classical music or a CD especially made to calm dogs.  Animal Music Therapy CD’s are designed to relieve animal stress.

Try alternative holistic remedies such as our natural Spot Organics Chill Essential Oil that’s specifically made to calm dogs in all kinds of situations.  Also, the Lettuce Flower Essences from Spirit in Nature can be used as a calming effect.

Leave the radio or TV on.  If they fireworks are far away, the sound will help to drown out the noise.

Do you have any remedies that have helped to calm your pet when the fireworks start?  I’d love to hear your stories.

Wishing you all a safe, fun 4th of July celebration!

Yesterday I did my first telephone interview with Marilyn Tokach.  She’s an animal communicator and dog Trainer.  Marilyn has  been all around this country training other people how to communicate with their animals.  She comes with over 20+ years of experience and is very active with animal related issues and rescue shelters.

I’m always fascinated by alternative ways of doing things and believe that’s it’s all possible.  You need to keep an open mind and use your own intuitive powers to hone in on the messages you may be getting from your animals.

Marilyn can not only help with dogs, but with all your animals.  She also becomes another layer for Veterinarians and helps them put the pieces together for a more clear diagnosis.  She does not diagnose diseases herself and always recommends that you listen to the advice of your Veterinarian.

Helping with end of life issues is a very popular request from pet owners.  I just went through that last August and I wish I would have known about her then.  It would have made the transition so much easier.  As you will hear, Marilyn can also speak to your animals spirit after they are gone.  I think I’m going to take her up on that.  My dog was very special to me and I’d love to hear what she has to say.

So, if your having behavior problems, health problems or just want to know what your pet is thinking, please take a listen and hear how she got started communicating with animals and how she knows what they are feeling.

You can find Marilyn’s website at Pure-Spirit and from there, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening.  You can listen to my interview with Marilyn Tokach here.

I recently did a dog walk with Ty a sweet Border Collie/Queensland healer, and realized that the weather was changing.  I was sweating and could really feel the heat.  That reminded me of when I lived in Mesa, Arizona and had to walk my dog Nikki before 6:30 am or after it got dark due to the excessive heat.  It could be over 90 degrees by 7:00 am!  I’m glad I’m back in California.

Sweet Ty

It’s getting to be that time when we have to rearrange our walking schedule so we don’t over heat our dogs and cause them to have heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

What is Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia)?

Heat stroke is when a dogs body temperature is severely elevated over 104 degrees.  This usually occurs in the Spring and Summer months when the temperature is warmer and your dog isn’t used to the weather yet.  This condition can be fatal, so please take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible if they exhibit any of the follow symptoms.

What are the symptoms of Heat Stroke?

• Body Temperature is over 104 degrees

• Your pet collapses

• They are acting like they’re depressed or in a stupor

• They have bloody diarrhea or are vomiting

• Their capillary refill time is to quick.  When you press your finger on your pets gums they will turn white.  Take your finger off the gum and they should turn pink again.  This should take 1 to 2 seconds. If less than 1 second or over 3 seconds, it is deemed an emergency.

• Difficulty breathing or panting

• Increased Heart Rate – Puppies 1 year and younger should have a heat beat of 120-160 beats per minute – Small dogs, 30 pounds or less should have a heartbeat of 100-140 beats per minute and larger dogs, more than 30 pounds should have a heartbeat of 60-100 BPM.

• Increased Respiratory Rate – Normal breathing rates should be between 10 to 30 breaths per minute.  When panting heavily, it could go up to 200 breaths per minute.

• Check their gums and inner eyelids.  If they are redder than usual, or if you see blue, pale, yellow, dark red, white or brown, it’s an emergency.

• Heavy Salivation

Thanks Buddy, the water feels good!

What can you do?

• Take your dog’s temperature  – should be under 104 degrees

• Spray your dog with a garden hose for a minute or two, but make sure you run it for a while so that you’re not spraying him with hot water.  Take his temperature again.

• Soak towels in cool water and apply them to his head, neck, feet, chest and abdomen.

• Run 70% isopropyl alcohol on his paws, however do not use more than one pint as it might be toxic if they lick their paws and ingest the alcohol.

• Turn on a fan and let the breeze flow over your dog.

• Take your dog to the nearest veterinarian even if you get your dogs temperature down.  The effects can lead to sever medical conditions such as kidney failure and neurological problems to name a couple.

Other Tips for keeping your dog cool in the Summer months

• Make sure you have plenty of fresh water on hand.  Dogs can only get rid of heat by panting and through the pads of their feet as they do not have sweat glands.

• Never leave your dog in a car even with the windows cracked.  In Summer months, the car can reach temperature of over 120 degrees and can be fatal to dogs and people alike.

• Short snouted dogs such as Bulldogs, Boxers and Pugs can get heat stroke at much lower temperatures.  Always walk them in the early morning or later at night.
  

  Man, it's hot out here!

• Make sure your dog gets acclimated to warmer weather.  Running and exercise that you used to do in the Winter may not be a good idea with higher temperatures.

• Make sure your dog has ample shade and/or shelter if left outside with plenty of water.

• If appropriate, shave thick coated dogs in the Summer months.

• Dogs with a history of seizures, upper airway, heart or lung disease may be more susceptible to heat stroke.

• Consider getting dog booties if you have to walk on concrete.

• Don’t forget your sunscreen for dogs.  They can burn just like people do especially if they have short coats with exposed skin.

Dogs, fun and Summer go hand in hand, but adding a little caution into the mix is a can’t hurt.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

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