From People to Pets: How Your Human Listening Skills Translate to the Animal World
Have you ever wondered how to bridge the communication gap with animals? The idea might seem mystical, but at its core, it simply involves applying the same communication skills we use with humans. Easy peasy, right?! I know you can communicate with humans, or you wouldn’t be reading this post!
Just as human communication builds stronger relationships, applying these skills with animals can enhance your relationship with them. Pet guardians, animal trainers, veterinarians, and anyone interested in animal behavior can benefit from honing their communication skills. Recognizing when your dog is anxious or when your cat needs space can prevent misunderstandings, reduce stress, and foster trust. By bridging this communication gap, we can create more meaningful and harmonious relationships with our animal companions, enriching both their lives and ours.
Let’s take a moment to put it into perspective. Think about the skills you use when communicating with other humans. What do you rely on to make your conversations effective? Jot down your thoughts below.
List your communication skills here:
Now, let’s focus a bit more. In conversations, there is a speaker and a listener. What specific skills do you use as the listener? (You probably listed a few of them already, so you can copy them below.) When you're listening to someone else, what actions do you take?
List your listening skills here:
Most likely, the listening skills you identified are also valuable for communicating with animals. By recognizing and refining the same communication skills we use with humans and applying them to animal communication, we can strengthen our ability to converse with our animal companions.
A Note About Telepathy…
“But wait!” you exclaim, having read my previous post about animal communication. “How does this work with interspecies communication, given that it occurs telepathically?”
That’s an excellent question. Hold on to that thought — we’ll circle back to it.
If you haven’t read my previous post about the telepathic aspect of interspecies communication, I recommend checking it out here.
Basic Animal Listening Skills
In your list of listening skills, you may have written down things like “being respectful,” “creating space,” and “active listening.” These are all important skills for communicating with animals too! Let’s break them down and see how they pertain to animal communication.
Respect
Respectful communication means acknowledging the other party’s inherent value, autonomy, and boundaries. This applies to animal communication as much as it does to human interaction. Respect can foster trust and strengthen your connection.
Why is being respectful so important in communication? Well, think of the last time you had a conversation with someone who was disrespectful. Maybe they interrupted you constantly or dismissed your thoughts without listening. How did that make you feel? Demotivated, right? Or perhaps you were sharing a problem, and they kept giving you unsolicited advice without really considering your needs. You probably wouldn’t want to go back to them for support.
Now, think about the last time you felt fully respected in a conversation. How was that experience? You likely walked away feeling heard and valued, maybe even lighter. Respect makes a powerful difference in communication by strengthening relationships and setting the stage for a more successful exchange.
In animal communication, respect is just as vital. For example, let’s say a cat named Belle has been away from home for an extended period. Worried, Belle’s guardians ask you to communicate with her. If you immediately begin chastising Belle or demanding that she return home without even listening to her, she’ll likely shut down. But if you approach her respectfully, acknowledging her autonomy and expressing genuine curiosity about her experience, Belle might open up and share why she left home.
Respect is not only an effective communication tool but also an essential ethic for animal communicators. We’ll revisit this concept in future blog posts—stay tuned!
Creating Space
Creating space in a conversation—whether with humans or animals—means inviting someone to share their perspective and allowing them time to express themselves. By setting aside our own egos and giving the other party the room to speak freely, we create an environment that fosters healthy dialogue.
Think of it like this: In a play, when a character delivers a monologue, the other actors leave the stage, and the audience focuses on the character’s thoughts and feelings. This gives insight into the character's inner world and helps the audience connect more deeply with them.
Similarly, when communicating with animals, creating space means stepping back and giving them time to express themselves without interruption. In our earlier example with Belle, by asking open-ended questions and allowing her to share her experience, you created space for her to communicate freely.
Just as in human interactions, animals sometimes need time to feel comfortable and open up. Being present and patient is key to creating a deeper connection.
Active Listening
Active listening is essential in both human and animal communication. For animals, this involves listening for their message and summarizing what they’re trying to convey. Just as you might clarify with a human by saying, “Did I hear you correctly?”, you can apply the same approach with animals. For example, you could ask your dog, “When I see you pacing by the door, it seems like you're telling me you want to go outside. Is that correct?" upon which your dog may respond with a “yes” or a “no”.
In addition to reflecting and summarizing, you can ask for more information from the animal to clarify their message. After creating space for them to speak, you can gently probe for deeper understanding by asking questions, striking a balance between being receptive and actively engaged.
Let’s return to our kitty cat, Belle. She explains that she went hunting one day and got caught up in the chase, moving farther from home than she intended. She also mentions changes at home due to a new house guest, which altered the environment. As the listener, you piece these factors together. You summarize: 'I’m hearing that there have been a lot of changes at home because of the new house guest, right?' Belle agrees. You ask, 'Did you leave home because of the new house guest?' Belle clarifies, 'No, I just went outside for a break from the activity. The hunt is what took me further away, not the guest.' This demonstrates active listening—summarizing, clarifying, and prompting further explanation.
In this way, active listening in animal communication mirrors the same attentive, thoughtful process we use with people. Summarizing, reflecting, and soliciting more information are listening skills that are as translatable to animal communication as they are to conversing with humans.
Circling Back to Telepathy…
So how do these listening skills work, considering that animal communication occurs telepathically, as opposed to verbally?
Let’s first acknowledge that human communication isn’t entirely verbal. A large percentage of communication is non-verbal, conveyed through body language and tone of voice. In fact, experts suggest only a fraction of communication is verbal.
What doesn’t get as much attention in scientific literature is the notion that communication also happens at a telepathic level amongst humans. Have you ever had the thought, “I should call my friend, Susan” and a few minutes later, you see Susan’s caller ID pop up on your phone as she is trying to call you? Most likely she was reaching out to you telepathically, and you heard her before you even connected over the phone. You are using telepathic communication more than you even realize!
Though telepathy might seem more mysterious, the same listening skills apply. The only real difference is that when communicating telepathically with an animal, you rely on mental dialogue rather than spoken words. For example, when you clarified Belle’s reasons for leaving, you used your mind instead of your voice to ask the question.
The Importance of Consistency and Practice
Like any skill, animal communication improves with practice. Regularly communicating with animals and reflecting on the process will strengthen your abilities. Consistency also helps animals feel more comfortable engaging with you. Additionally, consistent practice helps you overcome self-doubt. The more you practice, the less time you’ll spend doubting your abilities, as your experiences will reinforce your confidence in animal communication.
One effective way to practice telepathic communication is to set aside a few moments each day to engage with an animal. Start by mentally inviting the animal into a conversation, greeting them warmly and posing a question like, “How are you feeling today?” or “Is there anything you’d like to share with me?” After asking your question, stay open and attentive to any responses the animal might offer, which could appear as images, feelings, thoughts, or ideas. Allow the animal space to communicate their perspective. Once you’ve spent some time being present with them, use your active listening skills to check your understanding. You might ask, “I heard you say [insert what you heard]. Did I get that right?” This approach not only confirms your interpretation but also encourages further dialogue.
Conclusion
Animal communication, though involving telepathy, uses the same fundamental skills as human interactions. The listening skills you apply in human conversations—such as respect, creating space, and active listening—are directly transferable to communicating with animals. These skills help foster trust, allow animals to express themselves freely, and ensure you understand their messages accurately.
Consistent practice is key to improving these skills. By regularly engaging in telepathic communication with animals, asking questions, and actively listening for their responses, you’ll strengthen your connection with your animal companions. The more you practice, the more you’ll discover that animal communication isn’t as foreign as it seems. In fact, it’s something you’ve been preparing for your whole life. Just as it does with human connections, the effort you put into building and maintaining communication will yield meaningful and fulfilling results. Keep honing your skills, stay consistent, and trust the process. You’ve got this!
Are there more skills that you had on your list that weren’t mentioned in this blog post? Please let me know in the comments below!
Key Take-Aways:
Human communication skills apply: Although animal communication involves telepathy, it relies on the same skills used in human interactions. Since these familiar skills translate well to communicating with animals, you can employ them to strengthen your relationship with your animal companions and better understand their needs and emotions.
Listening skills matter: Listening skills such as respect, creating space, and active listening facilitate our relationship with animals. Respect in our communication approach fosters trust and strengthens the bond. Creating space allows the animal to express themselves freely, while active listening involves summarizing and clarifying the animal's messages to ensure accurate understanding.
Practice makes purrrrfect: Practice and consistency assist greatly with honing these skills. Regularly greeting animals and asking questions, while remaining open to their responses, can improve telepathic communication. Confirming your understanding through active listening further enhances the connection.
Communication enhances relationships: By integrating these communication techniques and maintaining a practice routine, you can deepen your relationship with animals. The effort you invest in practicing these skills will lead to more meaningful and fulfilling interactions with your animal companions.
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