My Animal Matters Ltd

02/07/2025

From resistance to rhythm, one nail at a time.

When Darcy first came into my life at three months old, she gave me a message right away.

"Don't rush me."

It was her gentle way of saying she needed respect and patience from the very beginning. In all aspects of her life.

I heard her message but I didn't fully listen.

Nail clipping was becoming a battle.
For a while, I tried to clip her nails in the usual way. Quickly, or with treats, even when she was resting.

But every time, she pulled her paw back and gave me a look.
It was clear she was telling me something, but I kept pushing, trying to force it through my own fears and expectations.

Then I remembered her message. "Don't rush me." I'd look at people rushing their dogs from a sniff and think 'not nice', yet I was rushing my own dog to 'be ok' about having her nails clipped.

So one day I bought a scratch board, and immediately Darcy started filing her own nails.
It was playful, she was making the choices, we were in together and it was 100% consent based.

But then I realised I still needed to do the back nails and her dewclaws!!

So I dropped into my body as an animal communicator and asked Darcy, "how do we do this together?".
No pressure, just curiosity and a desire to support her.

"One nail at a time and wait for me to show you which one" was what she gave me.

So I brought out the clippers and showed them to her. She sniffed them and I just sat and waited. No force, no rushing, no fear. Just connection.

She pushed out her back left leg. I touched her paw and said "this one?". She kept her foot where it was and I clipped a nail.
"Shall we do another?" I waited, sat and watched and felt if she was ready for another. Yep, one more, clip, no bother!

I asked again and up she got and moved away.

OMG I was so thrilled.

That was the first time in 2 years, I'd felt we'd done it together. That I'd let her lead and show me how to clip her nails rather than watching videos on how it 'should' be done. Rather than pushing her through it or sneaking up on her when she was asleep.
We did it her way. As a partnership.

The small act of listening, truly listening, taught me everything.

Her signals weren’t a problem to fix. They were an invitation to slow down, to connect differently with HER!

The real lesson: sometimes, the simplest moments, like clipping a nail, are where connection is built or broken.

What if you paused long enough to really listen?

Where might you be rushing your dog when slowing down is what they're inviting you to do?

27/06/2025

Beyond the smile for the camera: how our dogs are always truthful about their emotions 🐶❤️

I just returned from five days in Dubrovnik. An incredible city and time away with my love 🌍, but also a journey into the depths of what it means to be truly present with ourselves and our dogs!

Our flight was early , and like most of us, I cherish my sleep 😴.
By the time we settled into our apartment, the heat was relentless ☀️🔥, and the city was bustling! Mid-summer crowds everywhere 👫🌞.

Yes it was beautiful, but honestly, I felt overwhelmed 😩.

So we found a quieter street, stepped away from the noise, and sat down to take a moment. I could feel my body talking to me. I was hungry 🍽️, tired 😴, out of sorts 😕.

Now, even though I'm a nature bunny, I sometimes love city life!! Like London’s busy rush, the crowds on the tube, the energy ⚡. Some days I thrive on it.

But that day, it was simply too much. As I sat there, at the restaurant we'd pre-booked, feeling really emotional, I realised something profound:

If I were a dog, I’d have barked at the people on the table opposite 🗣️🐶—asking them to lower their voices, because it was too loud for me.

I’d have moved underneath a table or a bench seeking space from that overwhelming synthetic perfume the lady was wearing.

And I’d have stolen food from other people's plates because I was so hungry and feeling queezy.

None of these behaviours are “bad,” “stubborn,” “reactive,” or “out of control”.
They’re honest ways of communicating what I needed in that moment. My feelings, my boundaries, my needs 💖.

When I got back to our apartment , I sat with myself.

I’ve learned that trying to plaster over those honest emotions, like slapping a bandage on a raw wound, is a little like trying to hide a storm with a tiny umbrella. It might keep the rain off for a moment, but underneath, the storm still rages 🌩️.

So, I allowed myself to cry 😭, to feel the emotions washing through my body. I didn't want anyone to fix me or cheer me up.
I just needed to be present with myself and listen.

The next morning, I woke early and pivoted. I realised I love the city, but not the heat. So we went out when it was quieter, spent some time in water (my fave!), found a place to eat under a large tree, where we could enjoy the city’s energy and buzz from a peaceful, cool place 🧘‍♀️❄️.
At my own pace.

Our dogs don’t have that luxury 🐕
They don’t get to choose when or where. For most dogs, they have to fit in with our schedule and plans and routine.
And yet, we load so many expectations on them. Be 'nice'. Be calm 🧘‍♂️. Don’t be reactive
And then we slap labels on them when they’re not “neutral” 🏷️🤔.

But they’re not trying to make life hard for us ⚠️. Their behaviour is communication.

They’re simply inviting us to connect with them ❤️, to tune in and listen. Not control, fix or punish.
Their behaviour is an invitation to listen to what they’re really telling us beneath the noise , beneath the labels.

They’re asking us to tap into our own innate wisdom. The deeper knowing we all carry.
Beyond the social media noise, the quick fixes , and rigid 'right' and 'wrongs' about how our dogs should be.

Because at the core, our dogs are inviting us how to be honest with ourselves.
To feel without shame 😌.
To listen beyond words, beyond social expectations , and to be present with what’s real in that moment with them. For them and for us.

So, when you start to notice your dog’s signals, those subtle cues, remember:

It’s not about bad behaviour or stubbornness.
It’s honest communication of their feelings and needs 💬💖
Listening and feeling WITH them can unlock a deeper, more loving connection 🌱🔑

Are you ready to step into their world with me?

08/06/2025

I'm intrigued to hear what you observe in this video where a dog is offered two different essential oils.
Many people us apply products, including essential oils, chemicals, cleaning products to dogs without really asking them and sometimes just assuming it’s okay.

Do you remember being made to wear something you didn’t like, or sitting next to someone with an aroma you found overwhelming?
It’s the same for dogs.
Giving them more agency and respecting their choices is so important for building trust and a real connection.

Listening to their needs and preferences helps them feel safe, heard, and like you're a team. Check out the video and see what you notice!

Would love to hear your thoughts!

In this educational demonstration, a student showcases how to invite dogs into the conversation and how to listen and to respond to their behaviour signals w...

03/06/2025

Listening beyond the Reactivity: Discover what your dog is really trying to tell you 🐶❤️

Do you have a dog that sometimes “shouts” at other dogs when on a leash?

I do! It's my lovely English Pointer, Darcy. Sometimes, she’s loud and clear in her communication!!!

I used to label her as “reactive,” but I’ve come to understand that there is sooooo much more happening beneath the surface.

Her reactions aren’t just about other dogs.

They’re her way of sharing her current experience.

Maybe she’s feeling tired that day 😴
Overwhelmed by the energy of a particular dog 🌪️
Or inviting me to slow down and be more present 🧘‍♀️.
Sometimes, she’s asking me to talk to the other guardian or simply notice how we are both feeling in that moment ❤️.

I now understand that she’s inviting me to get to know her more deeply.
To meet her every day as if for the first time ✨.

This then helps me tune into her real needs. Beyond the label of 'dog', 'pointer', 'gundog', 'young' etc etc.
And in turn, I become more aware of how I feel when we head out and how she feels too.
And what we BOTH need as a team going into the world together.

As an animal communicator, I help reveal these subtle messages. What your dog is truly trying to tell you beyond the labels.

Their “reactivity” might be an invitation to slow down, a signal of stress 😟, or a call for reassurance 🤗.

When we learn to listen with presence and curiosity, we start to uncover the understanding and connection waiting beneath the behaviours.

Your dog isn’t just barking or lunging for no reason.

They’re sharing their world with you in the only way they know how. A different 'world' from the one that we are perceiving through our lens.

The KEY is to see each moment as a new chance to listen and connect 💫 with them.

If you’re ready to uncover what your dog really needs, I’m here to help.
Let’s begin listening to what’s underneath the surface and build a relationship based on understanding and love 💖.

Comment “SHOUTY” below or send me a message. Your dog’s voice is waiting to be heard. 🌟

01/06/2025

🌟 Have you ever wished you could truly understand what your dog is thinking or feeling? You’re not alone. 🐶💭

It’s a weird, sometimes uncomfortable feeling when we feel misunderstood.
As humans, we can verbalise and explain what we mean, need, or feel. But our dogs rely on us to truly understand them beyond training, breed traits, or our projections.

In the 25 years I’ve been working and connecting with dogs, animal communication, is the most powerful way to uncover the depth of our dogs emotional lives.

Taking that leap to open up to your dog's messages can be scary, overwhelming, and even a little intimidating.
But I’m here to create a gentle, safe, and authentic space for both you and your dog to feel heard and understood.

Meet Marley!
His mum had her first-ever communication session with me this week.
She shared that it took her a while to take the plunge, but now she’s on a journey to deepen her connection with her boy. ❤️🐕

Here’s what Marley’s mum had to say:

“Just had my first animal communication with Rachel and what an amazing experience it was!

There were things she was coming out with about Marley that no way would she know!!
Described his character down to a tea, including how he reacts when put in certain situations.
It was so informative, and thanks to the information she was getting from Marley, I’ll be altering a few things to benefit his needs.
Thank you so much for an amazing experience, Rachel.” 🙏✨

If you feel your dog needs their voice heard or you're simply curious about what’s going on in their world, I’m here for you—no judgment, just love and understanding.

Drop me a DM, and let’s start the journey to a deeper connection. 🐾💖

28/05/2025

How easy do you find it to cut through all of the noise?
Maybe that's why our dogs SHOUT to get our attention?

Do you recognise the level of conditioning we've bought into hook line and sinker into how our canine best friends SHOULD behave,
SHOULD look,
what they SHOULD eat,
what they SHOULD enjoy,
what they SHOULD accept,
what they SHOULD learn.

OMG it's soo one sided.

Not only does it not take into account our dogs are individuals. The generalisations do not take into account that our dogs are different in EVERY given moment.

They're dynamic sensitive authentic, honest, sentient beings that are fully in their animal senses FEELING their way through the life.

And how much do they have to navigate to fit into our world? Learn our language?
Feel and navigate our emotions?
Eat the foods we give them,
the......I could go on.

Look I'm being purposefully 'shouty' as sometimes we need it to cut through all the noise.
To start to hear the whispers from our dogs.
To start to learn how to really listen to THEM!
Yes the 'experts' are brilliant and absolutely have their place in our lives.

But the scales aren't balanced.

The dogs have voices.
They have emotions.
They have perspectives.
They have a different 'umwelt'.
Different senses.
They don't always want to be 'calmed' or 'controlled'. Sometimes they really just want to be heard.

Heard with a desire to know who they are.
So we can see the richness that exists in that unique evolving hairy body at our feet.

They hold SUCH wisdom.
Such humour...love...lightness...honesty.

I also don't want you to keep beating yourselves up because you don't have an AI version of the 'perfect' dog.
WTF even is that??? Who came up with it?
Not the dogs! That's for sure.

They're just cracking on being themselves.
Working it out.
Messy, authentic, bold.

As an animal communicator, I act as the bridge. The mouthpiece for your dog's messages and wisdom.

Maybe you're ready to take the leap and cut through the noise with your dog leading the way?

You know what to do .....