Do you know what your pet is thinking?
Do you know what your pet is thinking? Each month, Dekker, a service dog extraordinaire, shares his thoughts with readers of TheReflectivePen.
A number of people have expressed appreciation for his wisdom and humor, and most of these people also have either a dog or a cat. Or a fish or a bird.
I can’t help but wonder if those of you who live with a critter-friend might also be living with your own in-house ‘writer’ too.
Our pets are founts of wisdom and joy and I can’t encourage you enough to pick up a pen and take note of what they are saying to you. You do not have to be a writer. Your fur-buddy will do the composing. You only have to take notes.
The first skill to build to know what your pet is thinking
The first and most important skill is one you would use if ‘Fido’ were a human. You would listen. It is so easy to get in the mode of issuing commands: “Come. Sit. Be good.” They may or may not obey. Not unlike people.
I use language a bit differently with someone at my door but my intent is the same. I invite them to come in, leave their boots by the door and have a seat. Note: the same command…and they may or may not obey.
And in the course of my monologue, I am not really listening. I want obedience. I want life to be easy. I want the dog – or the guest – to do what I said.
Now, because the human speaks my language and looks more like me I can ‘hear’ them say thank you.
But am I truly listening as I hustle around to fix a cup of tea and do what I think is expected of me?
Fido, on the other hand, is sitting, staring up with big eyes and only Fido’s owner (you) can hear what he is asking.
“Here I am. I am listening to you. Do you hear me? Pant pant pant. I want you to know_____________” Write it down. It is the start of your listening journey with your pet.
What Fido or Felix has to say will be in a different language. It isn’t a lot different than listening to a stranger from a foreign country.
Trust that they have something to say
But if you don’t begin by trusting that they have something important to say, you will never hear a word.
Learn to recognize exactly what you are feeling and wondering and share your thoughts and feelings with your pet.
“Felix, I am so frustrated because I am always hungry and scavenging in the kitchen. I wonder how you teach little kittens to wait to be fed?”
“Fido, sometimes you look so lonely and it makes me feel sad. What do you suggest I do with my sad feelings?”
Listen for the answer and write it down, using their words. Don’t question their ability to give you guidance. They have been waiting for the chance to tell you to “come, sit, and be good” for a long time.
You may want to ask about the purpose of life, the meaning of tragedy, or their ideas of joy. Get it all down in a journal.
Some writers listen to their “muse” asking similar questions. Others speak to angels or God and call it prayer. But when you have a beloved pet, you have an angel, a muse, and God all wrapped up in one.
Shift your perspective
When Dekker started answering questions I learned to appreciate a totally different perspective. Not only do our animals see their world from below our knees, with eyes that don’t see the details or colors the same way we do, but their perspective about life is also different.
Why is this important? I find one of the most difficult things to do when listening to another person is to keep from interrupting when they say something I disagree with.
And of course, interrupting can be easy when I listen to Dekker.
Unless of course, I bring inner quiet and an intention not to judge as I write. Somehow I am able to hear Dekker tell me I am a good person when I question my worth and am unable to hear it from anyone else.
When thinking about your pet’s perspective, remember that early kitten or puppy experiences are not unlike our childhood misadventures and traumas.
Their ability to trust, to learn, and to love has genetic as well as environmental influences.
Their love was shaped in the fire the same as mine and yours. Their deeply rooted wisdom awaits for us to reach out for it.
The importance of being present
And this brings me to my last point – the importance of being present to these furball creatures. (And feathered ones if yours is avian).
I am constantly amazed at how soundly Dekker, and the two cats, Moxie and Merton, sleep. And yet if I leave my seat one of them is sure to beat me to the door. And I don’t even have to move.
I may have been reading a poignant book that touches my heart and when I pause and look up I find one of them has drawn close and is watching me intently.
They haven’t been listening to an audio of the saga of a man who just lost his wife and children, nor have I uttered a word.
But they are ready, on alert to see if I need comfort or company. I confess I am not that present to them….especially the cats. No wonder I seldom hear what they have to say.
Being present is a skill that grows with practice. Sitting quietly, rubbing fur, feeling a purr rumble in your lap, offering a piece of kibble while watching them enjoy it, and brushing their coats to a shine are all ways of being present.
Some beginning questions
Here are some more questions you may want to ask your beloved pet next time you find yourself still enough to trust they have something important to say.
How can I listen to you better?
What keeps me from hearing your inner thoughts?
What do you want to tell me?
What is my purpose in your life? In life in general?
What is the meaning of life to a cat (dog, fish, bird)
You may use your journal to list some more questions and make it a practice to write down the answers you ‘hear’ from your pet.
And share the wisdom you receive with others. Soon the gaps between humanity and all creation will shorten as we all begin to listen to each other.
[Photo credits from Unsplash: tabby by Amber Kipp; white-cat by Hang-Niu; hamster by Ricky Kharawala; dog-with-toy by Flouffy; cat-and-fish Daniel Tuttle; cat-and-dog by Anusha Barwa.]
