A few days ago, we visited friends who have two collies. The dogs lay sleeping at our feet as we talked. Suddenly, one of the dogs raised her head and looked at the other dog. This dog, apparently sleeping, instantly opened its eyes. A silent message was exchanged, because both dogs got up and began playing on the lawn. We humans heard nothing, as no sounds were exchanged. However, the first dog was able to tell the other one that it was time to play. This was obviously done by telepathically transmitting the thought of play.

Years ago we had a cat named Killy. As Killy got older she spent more and more time sleeping in different hiding places that she had found. We could search the house and garden, calling for her, and she would not respond. However, if we as much as thought about feeding her, she would instantly appear. Killy was reading our minds.

Killy and Bruce, our Labrador, would play together whenever Killy was in the mood. Bruce would have loved to play every day, but Killy would not allow this. When she felt like a game, she would sit beside Bruce and stare at him with a fixed gaze. Bruce would immediately wake up in a state of excitement and the two would play for half an hour or so. Once Killy had had enough, she would lie down and close her eyes. The game was always over far too soon for Bruce, but he quickly learned that it was no use trying to encourage Killy to continue. Barking and prodding her with his nose did no good. She never hissed or scratched him, but would leave the room and go to one of her hiding places. Consequently, once Killy announced that the game was over, Bruce would lie down beside her and go to sleep. Killy telepathically told Bruce that it was time for a game, and she also told him when the game was over. I am sure that Bruce sent telepathic messages to Killy pleading for another game, also.

Like all dogs, Bruce enjoyed offering love and sympathy to anyone in the family who needed it. Other humans can provide sympathy and understanding, but sometimes, when things go wrong, it takes a pet to provide the unconditional love that we crave. Observe your pet for a day or two and see how many instances of mind-to-mind communication occur between you and your pet. You will be amazed at how common they are.

Get Your Pet's Attention Before You Communicate

Naturally, you must attract your pet's attention. Your pet can read your thoughts whenever he or she wants to, but most of your thoughts are of no interest to anyone else, pets included. You might be thinking about asking your boss for a pay rise, or whether or not to buy a certain item that is on sale. These thoughts are important to you, but are of no interest to your pet. Consequently, your pets will pay attention only if something you are thinking about relates to them and they happen to pick it up.

You can communicate with your pet verbally or by thinking about what you want. Most people find it easier to talk out loud to their pets, as this is what they are used to. Ask your pet to pay attention and to listen to what you have to say. You can tell if your pet is paying attention, even if he or she is not looking at you. You might want to pet or stroke them before speaking to ensure that you have their attention.

Talk in terms of what you want your pet to do, rather than what you want them to avoid. For instance, if your dog is continually digging holes in your garden, you should not say to him, "Don't do that." Instead, you should talk about what you do want. You might say something like, "I have worked hard to make that garden look as beautiful as possible. I want it to look nice for when visitors call, and because it gives me pleasure to look at it. I know the ground in the garden is soft and nice to dig, but I'd appreciate it if you made holes somewhere else. Would you please help me by doing that." There is nothing difficult about this. All you are doing is speaking to your pet and telling him or her what you want. There is no need to speak down to your pet, or to use baby talk. Your pet will respond best if you phrase your request in normal, everyday language. Your pet is extremely intelligent. He or she will understand. If you have been brought up to think about "dumb animals," you may have to change the way you think about your pet.

A Two-Way Mental Communication Bridge

In his book Kinship with All Life, J. Allen Boone talks about establishing a two-way "mental bridge" between you and your pet. This invisible bridge allows thoughts to go from human to pet, and vice versa. However, it is important that the bridge be kept horizontal. If the human end rises, it means the person is talking down to his or her pet, and that means the end of telepathic communication.'

Of course, your pet may not want to listen to your request, especially if you are suggesting that he or she stops doing something he or she enjoys doing. This is especially the case if your pet walks away while you are talking to him or her.

If your pet is reluctant to listen to a specific request, you need to say it again while making direct eye contact. Hold your pet's head and gaze into his or her eyes. Explain the seriousness of your request, and why you are making it. Repeat your request, and then ask your pet for a response. Your pet might need several seconds to think about what has been said. The response might appear fully formed in your mind, or it might be a friendly lick on your face or hand. Rest assured that once your pet has given a positive reply, he or she will adhere to it most of the time.

Is Your Pet Ignoring Your Communications?

Unless you receive a positive answer, your pet may choose to ignore your request. Humans do exactly the same thing. We may be asked to do something that we do not agree with. Rather than arguing about it, we might simply choose to ignore the request. Your pet will do exactly the same, especially if you are curtailing something enjoyable. However, once you have received a positive response you can relax, as most of the time your pet will keep his or her word. You may want to provide a reward when your pet accedes to your requests. This does not have to be food. We usually rewarded Bruce by taking him on an extra-long walk. He always knew it was a reward and seldom tried to make me take him on the longer walk unless it had been earned. Remember to follow up with praise when your pet has done something right. It is easy to do this immediately afterwards, but we tend to forget to do it after a day or two. It is good reinforcement to continue thanking your pet for his new behavior for as long as possible.

Animals Can Read Your Mind

Working animals become extremely good at reading the minds of their human friends. I remember talking to a champion horsewoman after her horse had died. She commented that her horse had constantly read her mind. She had to simply imagine the two of them clearing a difficult jump and landing safely on the other side, and her horse would do it every time. This is an everyday occurrence for riders who have a close bond with their horse.

Blind people make similar comments, as they also have a close, intuitive connection with their guide dogs. Sheila Hocken, a formerly blind lady in England, had an operation that gave her back her sight. She wrote a wonderful autobiography that told about her dependency on her guide dog. The book, Emma and I, became a bestseller. Sheila eventually wrote a series of books about her life with Emma. Sadly, Emma developed cataracts and became blind herself. With the roles reversed, Sheila dedicated herself to Emma's needs, repaying her for all the years of love and service that her dog had given her.

Pets Understand Your Needs

In Emma and I, Sheila told how she needed to make a telephone call shortly after moving to an apartment on her own. Emma guided her across the road to a public call box. When they got there, Sheila discovered that the phone had been vandalized and the receiver had been ripped off. Sheila told Emma this, and asked, "What are we going to do?"

Neither of them was familiar with the area, and Sheila asked Emma to take her along the road in the hope that they could find someone who could tell them where there was another phone box. Instead, Emma took her back across the main road and down a side road that felt rough and unformed. Later, Sheila discovered that building work was being done in the area. She tried to get Emma to stop and return home, but Emma continued down another road, and then sat down. Sheila felt with her hand and found that Emma had taken her to another phone box.

Emma used her initiative in locating another phone box and taking Sheila to it. We cannot say that she located the second phone box by instinct. She obviously thought the matter through before taking her mistress on a walk that had a successful conclusion. Guide dogs are doing such things all around the world every day of the week.

In his book Dog Psychology, Tim Austin explains that many things can block the effective communication between owners and their dogs and vice versa. Moods, tempers, and poor timing are examples. He also insists that effective communication is a two-way process in which both dog and human are actively involved!

This article is excerpted with permission from the book:

Is Your Pet Psychic
by Richard Webster.

Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Llewellyn. ©2002. www.llewellyn.com

Info/Order this book.

About the Author

Richard Webster was born in New Zealand in 1946, and most of his earliest memories relate to animals of various sorts. Currently, Richard and his wife have just two cats, a rabbit, and three fish. They also have three children and three grandchildren, all of whom share Richard's love of animals. Richard has written many books, mainly on psychic subjects, and also writes monthly magazine columns. He would write more, but his pets tell him when it is time to stop and play. Visit his website at http://www.psychic.co.nz