How Teaching Preschool Helped Me Understand Pet Behavior

I know as a parent – as much as we love our two and four-legged kids, they can sometimes drive us CRAZY, and their behavior can cause some serious stress.   As a former preschool teacher and director, I have seen plenty of human children who were labeled as “acting out”.

 

On the surface, this looked like children who were running away from teachers, hitting, being aggressive, pushing boundaries, screaming, crying, withdrawing or refusing to participate in activities, or even throwing things.

 

But when I looked deeper, I saw children whose needs were not being met and who were unable to communicate that or didn’t feel heard. Children who did not know how to deal with their energy or emotions, or the energy or emotions of their loved ones. I saw children who were scared or living in stressful situations.

 

Children who were struggling.

 

I often meet people whose pets have been described as difficult, reactive, aggressive, stubborn or acting like a jerks. Dogs who are aggressive or bark constantly as well as dogs who hide or shake with anxiety; cats peeing outside the litter box or scratching furniture; horses bucking or refusing. Behavior that is causing stress for the family and limiting the ability to enjoy the bond with their pet. Sometimes even jeopardizing the pet's future with their family.

 

What I see are a Pet and Parent who are stressed and don’t know how to fix things.

 

I wonder what is happening that is causing that animal to “act out”.

 

What I end up discovering are:

• Pets who have experienced some kind of trauma, either their own or a loved one’s

• Pets who are scared

• Pets who are here to bring awareness to their person’s struggles or patterns, or who are learning the same lessons their parents are

• Pets who have not felt safe in the past

• Pets whose energy is out of balance

• Pets who are missing information or are trying to communicate a need

• Pets who are sensitive to others’ emotions or energy

• Pets who are feeling their parents’ stress or emotions

 

In other words, pets who are struggling.

 

Our pets WANT to be happy, and they want us to be happy!

There is always an underlying reason for behavior. Once we start to uncover those reasons, then we can start to help our pets (and often ourselves in the process).

 

If you are struggling with your pet's behavior, they are probably struggling too.

I can help you look at your pet's behavior from a different perspective, which may be just what you need to figure out how to help them change their behavior.

 

Let’s talk about the WHY behind your pet’s behavior and how you can help them feel and behave better.