By Sari Reis
I recently went to meet a new client who had told me on the phone that his dog was a rescue and was quite timid around new people. When I met her, Lola appeared somewhat shy. I spoke to her softly and with his permission, offered her some treats. She took them out of my hand, ate them, and came back for more. Her dad was astonished.
A few moments later, a beautiful black cat came over and started rubbing against my leg. I said hello and let him sniff my hand. He continued to sniff my leg and hang around. Again the dad was super surprised. “Merlot is terrified of strangers,” he said. “I can’t believe this.”
This happens to me a lot. Clients wonder why their shy, furry kids take to me so quickly. There are a few explanations but I believe dogs and cats are intuitive. They can innately sense, on a cellular level, that I am not a threat and they can feel safe around me. Clients have told me I probably won’t see their cats at all during their absence due to their timid nature. Nine times out of 10, the kitty is my new best friend by the second visit. I think cats and dogs just “get” that I am OK. This happens to a lot of people who share my passion for animals.
Have you ever had someone tell you your dog ran to the door or window to greet you several minutes before your car even entered your street? Or how about the cats and dogs that go missing for various lengths of time and still find their way back home. They must have some sort of internal compass that leads them back home.
Besides responding positively to people whose energy they feel comfortable and safe around, dogs and cats can turn into Cujo if the person they encounter is, in their perception, undesirable.
I have on several occasions walked dogs who are super friendly to just about everyone they encounter, and then for some reason, start growling at a complete stranger approaching or passing by. I can see no apparent reason for this reaction, and believe it is their intuitive nature telling them this person is not to be trusted.
Through my years of pet sitting and being a pet parent, I have learned there are certain human behaviors that make animals uncomfortable. One is staring them in the eye. To dogs and cats, this is considered an aggressive act. Perhaps the approaching strangers are doing that. I can’t say for sure, but I know people, myself included, who often will say “If my dog/cat doesn’t like someone, there is probably a good reason and I don’t like them either.”
—Sari Reis is a Certified Humane Education Specialist and the owner of Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services. Reach her at 760-644-0289 or missionvalleypetsitting.com.
