I think we all tend to take our canine companions for granted from time to time.
Sometimes it is only when they are sick or injured that we fully recognize or remember just how much they mean to us.
It's hard to watch them limp and yelp in pain with an injury or to see them listless due to an illness. And it is especially hard when we are feeling a sense of helplessness because although we can ask them where it hurts or what we can do to make it feel better, they can't tell us.
Or can they?
The idea of animal communication is a bit of a contentious issue. You either believe in it or you don't, there is no grey area. Often those who believe are labelled as a bit cuckoo and "way-out-there" - a "one can short of a six-pack" kind of person.
Truth be told, I was one of those who labelled the believers and their ideas as "a bunch of hooey-doey" until the passing of my dogs Harley and Alex many years ago.
Unexplainable coincidences revolving around their deaths lead me to question many things in life, one of them being the esoteric connection between animals and humans.
What I have learned in my years of experience as an analytical trainer is that our dogs are constantly communicating with us. They often start off with the same behaviours and signals that they use with other dogs, communicating through body language and perfectly timed growls and tail wags. Over time, as they develop a stronger bond with their humans, they can begin to mimic our forms of communication. They will bark to get our attention, sit in front of the fridge or pantry door to indicate they are hungry and pick up a leash when they want to go for a walk.
What I have learned in my limited yet growing experience of esoteric animal communication is that, without sounding crazy, we are able to speak to them in our language and get answers back in their language - yet the understanding is universal.
I'm not even going to begin to try to explain how this happens, as this falls within the realm of quantum physics, which in itself is unexplainable.
What I can do is use my own personal experiences to show how this is possible.
Now, I'm not talking Dr. Doolittle stuff here. The communication I am referring to is far more subtle than that.
So open your mind and stay with me here . . .
As my readers know, I have three dogs: Zumi, Piper and Raider. Over the last 10 days, each of them has injured themself. Each of them presented their injuries to me as most dogs do, by limping and showing signs of distress such as panting, restlessness, yelping upon movement and clinginess. As I worked with each dog to diagnose the injury they each displayed unique behaviours to indicate a "yes" or "no" to my question, "Is this where it hurts?"
When I ran my hands across Zumi's shoulder, she turned her head and looked at me intensely then gently licked my hand when I stopped at her shoulder. When I ran my hand along Piper's legs, he didn't move. But when I touched his thoracic spine he squinted his eyes and licked his lips. With Raider, I palpated his paw, his forearm and then the back of his elbow. When I reached his tricep he gently placed his nose on my cheek.
My experience with my horse is even more uncanny. While brushing him one day, I noticed he kept touching his lower ribs with his nose. I then brushed an area associated with an acupressure point to indicate a stomach ulcer and he swished his tail feverishly. I then asked him if he had an ulcer while touching his stomach and he lowered his head and licked his lips, which in horse language is a sign of acknowledgement.
It is true one could argue many reasons for this behaviour and dismiss it all as coincidence, but that's the whole thing about animal communication - when you believe it, you will see it. Until then, you will be someone who will only believe it when you see it.
Joan has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her at k9kinship.com
