Is your puppy trying to message you?

Are they sick, worried, bored, angry, frustrated, distressed, sad, confused …?

We don’t always pay attention to dog cues … and it can be very frustrating for your pet.

“Hey you! I’m talking here …!”

Worse, it can end up costing your dog his life if you don’t make an effort to understand his way of communication.

We have a tendency to assume that our pets are “acting bad in revenge” or are just getting “old and grumpy” when they misbehave.

In fact, your dog will never deliberately annoy or disappoint you.

So when your behavior changes, you seriously need to have a conversation with them and find out what’s going on in your mind or body. What are they aware of that you still don’t know?

Here are 3 dog signs that tell you it’s time to listen to your pet

There are three common signals your dog will send out when he needs your extra care and attention.

1. Don’t touch me!

Does your dog hang his head when you try to pet him? There can be a number of things that go wrong here, including social issues like dominance or submission, or medical issues like toothache, headache, earache …

If their vision is affected, anything that moves towards their head will make them extremely uncomfortable.

Pay attention to body signals like this. If she suddenly prevents you from fixing her back or legs, or walks away when she tries to pat them, there is definitely a reason.

Your dog does not have a distant or spiteful bone in his body, so if he is avoiding your touch, it is a sign that something is wrong with his body or mind, or in the environment that worries him.

And they need your help to fix it.

2. I can’t eat that!

Has your dog suddenly become a picky eater?

It’s sweet to satisfy your dog’s taste buds … but honestly, if he’s feeling good physically and mentally, a dog will eat pretty much anything you put in front of him.

They rely on you for their nutrition, except when they have that tasty bit of cat poop on the walk … so what if they’re turning their noses at the food bowl?

First confirm that the food is not stale, but is it okay? So that’s one of the clearest signs that something is not right.

However, it doesn’t have to be just because of a stomachache. Maybe it’s a pain in the jaw or anxiety about something that is happening in your human being’s life. They can be liver or kidney problems, or ulcers. They could feel toxic or temporarily nauseous from something else they ate, or they could be getting sick.

Dogs are incredibly intuitive creatures. Are you stressed about preparing to move, change jobs, maybe end a relationship?

Your dog feels all these things …

Of course, you should see a vet if your puppy suddenly stops eating, but taking the time to chat with him can shed light on any stress or pain you are feeling on his behalf or in your own body.

How could you know without talking to them what their real experience is and how they feel?

And once you know, you can treat it properly … together.

3. I am so scared!

You’re going to have to fight your first instinct in this case.

Your dog seems fearful … so your instinct tells you to cuddle and pamper him. You try to comfort them.

Now your furbaby has been rewarded for his anxious behavior, and you still don’t know what caused it.

If you find any dogs that show signs of fear or stress, your priority should be to find the source of the perceived threat, not to pamper them to calm them down.

Rewarding them with attention and affection when they have an unstable and fearful mindset makes them think they are doing the right thing.

Good intentions, yes, but this only reinforces his fear …

Keep in mind that there are 6,000 documented cases of dog abuse each year, and it is difficult to say how many are actually abused because most are not reported.

The range in severity of abuse can range from a neighbor yelling at their dog to puppy mills and dog fights.

Once you’ve established that there is no immediate threat to their physical well-being, or managed to make the threat go away, you can work to redirect them from their fear and build their confidence.

Whatever the situation, your job during it is to communicate clearly with your dog, explain that he is safe with you and that you, as the leader of the pack, will find the source of the threat and take care of it.

Dog cues can be blatantly obvious, like sudden barking and growling, or very subtle, like pulling away from your hand when you try to pet them on the head.

If there is tension in their body or they cannot fully relax, those are dog signs of “something is wrong.”

Keep in mind that your dog is reading you, his emotions and his physical well-being, as intensely as a dear friend would and you will learn from them.

If you are anxious about a life transition, battling illness, worrying about your finances, your dog worries along with you.

So if your dog starts exhibiting unacceptable or bizarre behaviors, look at them for what they are … a sign that something is not right in their world … or maybe yours.

Would you like to learn more about the soul connection between you and your pet? Or would you like to explore the possibility of having a meaningful conversation with your dog?

Contact us and we’ll start the path to good health and wellness … for you and your pet.

If you have learned to communicate with animals, all your interactions should be informative and enlightening.

If you still can’t communicate with your pets heart-to-heart, mind-to-mind as I teach at the Animal Heart Communication School, don’t worry. You can learn how to get started with our free e-book Hidden Secrets for Communicating with Pets or consult a professional pet communicator.