Daphne and Rigby
I was walking Rigby (on right) in a nearby park, when we spotted another Springer Spaniel for a tail wagging meet and greet. “Daphne” was introduced as a 12 year old female who had recently lost her hearing a few weeks ago, the pet parent shared. She expressed to me that she is now trying to re-train Daphne to respond to hand signals for behavioral direction when needed. As a sound behaviorist, this inspired me to share with you the importance of teaching your dog hand signal behavioral training as well as verbal training before your dog loses hearing which is inevitable starting in senior age so you can be prepared.
Listening communications by our dogs are so much part of their relationship with us along with visual cues. Our movement is an energy that our dogs look to for direction. Just getting up from a couch can mean it’s treat time, meal time or time to go for a walk and your dog is cued and ready. They do the same with us. Getting a toy, playing with it a bit and then dropping it in front of our feet is an invitation to play. No words needed!
Even though my years of research and focus in the science of sound and how a dog hears, I am keenly aware that behind it all is a field of energy that is a silent communication. Dogs are energy beings. Even when a dog is completely deaf, the energy of movement and sound is felt through your dogs paws and body. To know this makes this stage of senior life easier for you to transition your communication from verbal to intention through energetic communication. You only have to look at the language of signing by the deaf community to observe the energy of this beautiful language.
Whether you use verbal direction or hand communication, it’s all fun for your dog. If you already have hand signals with verbal directions for your dog (with or without treats in hand) you can forgo speaking these out loud and you will see the good results and be prepared for later on in your dogs life when hearing diminishes.
Here are some common hand signal gestures that you probably already do with your dog but can practice without sound.
Whenever you notice your senior is not responding to you as always, make sure to take your dog for a veterinary visit to check their ears for infection , excessive wax or senior hearing loss. At home you can test your dog’s hearing by taking our Home Pet Hearing Test which will tell you if there is partial or full hearing loss in 1 minute, at any age.
Please write to me if you have any questions about your dog’s hearing and behavior. hello@petacoustics.com There is also a lot of information in my latest book, What Dogs Hear: From Puppy to Senior.
Thousands of animal shelters across the globe share the goal of inspiring people to adopt. Approximately, 7.6 million companion animals enter shelters in the U.S. every year. Pet Acoustics, a global pet brand, produced a motivational song and video for animal rescue organizations to boost support and inspire new adopters.
Animal rescue organizations can freely download to use the Rescue, Rescue song and video as an uplift to their campaigns and noble cause of helping those who have no voice. The lyrics are catchy to the ear with driving beats with a video story created to motivate adoption. Rescue, Rescue is written and sung by William Johnson, founder of Beats By Make. Pet Acoustics founder, Janet Marlow, wrote the lyrics and created the video production as The Pet Acoustics Rescue Initiative.
Rescue, Rescue is a story of one person’s search for a beloved companion to give them a forever home.
Then I brought you home, Every day you lift my soul
You’re life is warm and safe, You make mine truly whole
You’re no longer abandoned, Your safe from head to tail
Adopted from the shelter, You rescued me as well
“The sentiment of rescuing an animal begins with a burning desire that one’s heart is called to do. I know so many stories of people who, once they decide to adopt, will search and search until they find their beloved companion, myself included. It’s a journey of goodness and love. We want everyone to share and enjoy this song.” Janet Marlow, Founder and CEO of Pet Acoustics.
The Rescue, Rescue - The Pet Acoustics Rescue Initiative song is available on all streaming platforms, including, Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Pandora, Amazon, and iHeartRadio.
Watch and Download the video form the Pet Acoustics Youtube channel. Please share this video!!
The video is a give back to the pet community from the team at Pet Acoustics, which we have served since 2009. We know that fundraising and support for each of the thousands of rescue organizations is motivated by the most dedicated people. We want to make this effort easier for them, with a media platform that gets straight to the heart of the world of rescue.
Pet Acoustics Inc. has helped thousands of pets worldwide to overcome behavioral and environmental stress. Their popular clinically proven products, Pet Tunes Canine and Pet Tunes Feline are used by pet parents, rescue shelters and veterinarians to calm pets. The Pet Acoustics Rescue Initiative offers special discounts to purchase and gift to rescue shelters. Learn more here.
William Johnson, Singer, Composer, Engineer Janet Marlow, Composer, Sound Behaviorist
The Collaboration Back Story
Before Janet’s dedication to animals and leading Pet Acoustics’s mission, she was an international performer and recording artist. In the early 90’s as soon as digital composing came into being, she was one of the first to jump on board. Excited to educate others, she offered a course at a school to interested young people. William Johnson was one of those students. A few years later, The Janet Marlow Trio was performing, where backstage a fan came up to her and said I’d like to produce your next recordings. Amazingly, that was Will’s Dad, Taylor Johnson, a master recording engineer. The following six years, Taylor Johnson and Janet Marlow produced three albums, Passion & Grace, Essence and Latin Lover available on all streaming platforms. During this time Janet and Will reconnected as he too became a recording engineer, creating beats for hip hop artists and other recordings, called Beats By Make.
A few months ago, Janet reached out to Will with the project, which has now become The Pet Acoustics Rescue Initiative.
Pet Acoustics Inc. has helped thousands of pets worldwide to overcome behavioral and environmental stress. Their popular clinically proven products, Pet Tunes Canine and Pet Tunes Feline are used by pet parents, rescue shelters and veterinarians to calm pets.
The Pet Acoustics Rescue Initiative offers a 15% discount to purchase and gift these calming music products to rescue shelters, foster homes, and for veterinary clinics with the Code: GIVETUNES at checkout. Click on SHOP. Portions of sales support animal rescue organizations for Ukraine.
I’ve been writing meditations for my dog, Rigby and I to calm into and I’d like to share them with you. Here is a five minute meditation called “The River”. I hope you and your pet enjoy it too! Janet Marlow, Sound Behaviorist, Founder of Pet Acoustics.
Here are five benefits you and your pets will enjoy through a shared meditation practice:
1. Strengthen Safety and Trust
Often humans lack the ability, or in some cases the desire, to create a truly safe environment in which pets can flourish. Without a sense of stability, especially in their early developmental phases, many animals may begin to feel and act from a place of insecurity and fear—which can be particularly true for adopted rescue friends. The experience and emotions you invoke in them from the beginning either builds confidence and lessens fear, or it erodes one of the most important aspects of relationships: trust. Just as you feel more grounded following your own meditation practice, so do your furry companions. Find a quiet spot where you and Rex can practice together daily, and watch your bond grow.
2. Reduce Stress
Among other positive influences of a regular meditation practice, your stress response takes a much-needed break (this is also why a good night’s rest is so important). When you lessen the stress response of the body, its natural healing capabilities are able to go to work. This is especially important for older, ailing, or otherwise compromised animals. In fact, a rejuvenated body and mind, along with the other benefits you experience as a result of meditation, is something that may end up being one of your pet’s favorite benefits of being with you (although they probably wouldn’t turn down a tennis ball if offered!).
3. Harmonize and Attune Energy
When meditating, you are naturally in a calmer and more passive state. Your energy center tends to open and realign when you’re in the practice. As energy isn’t bound by the physical body, and is not limited to human bodies, you and your pet can merge together on this subtle, yet powerful level. This is the same energy that draws animals to certain people more readily, or causes them to react strongly to someone new. Meditation helps to deepen the bond and understanding between you and your pet.
4. Build a Bridge of Communication
Your intention of peace and harmony is like a safety blanket to an animal who desires bonding. This is especially true for animals who aren’t yet confident in their surroundings, or perhaps feel confused by the circumstances happening around them. In the silence of meditation, the messages of your heart energy can be felt by your pet on a vibrational level. Another way to connect to your pet is to partner your breathing for a minute or so. While sitting quietly with your companion, place your hand on their chest area and bring your attention to the movement of their breathing. Then, as long as it’s comfortable for you, match your breathing pattern to theirs. Take a few moments to tune in to your physical and energetic union.
5. Thrive with Daily Routine
Instinctively, animals align themselves with the rhythms of nature. Since this is their natural inclination, a daily routine helps them to stay more balanced—and potentially healthier overall. Practicing meditation first thing in the morning is the best bet for committing to a daily routine. Even five or 10 minutes will help start the day with a calmer, clearer mind and an alert, but relaxed body. Set your clock a few minutes earlier each morning, find a comfortable place to sit with your pet, and give yourselves the gift of silence. You’ll be reaping the reward in no time at all.
There are many wonderful ways to share time with your companion animals, yet doing something like meditation together may be one of the most meaningful. Meditation can help improve your overall health and well-being, and can make a huge difference in theirs as well. And with all the unconditional love they give to you each day, they deserve the very best in return.
Excerpts from Chopra.com
2022 for Pet Acoustics means new innovative products for happier pets. Our #4 podcast shares the details of the First Ever Home Pet Hearing Test launching in February! Why guess when you can know? Especially senior dogs that usually lose their hearing before we’re aware that they have. Puppies also need to be tested. The Pet Acoustics Home Hearing Test is an easy and convenient way to discover how well your pet hears at any age. Have some treats ready and you and your pet will enjoy this informative and fun experience.
Listen to Janet Marlow, Sound Behaviorist and Alan Brennan on We’re All Ears! # 4 podcast.
2022 means helping animal shelters through Pet Acoustics Rescue Rap Project. Listen to Janet Marlow, Founder and CEO for a sneak peak into what's up ahead for this National Project to support dog and cat rescue. www.petacoustics.com
We surely have a lot to be thankful for this holiday. Our global community has been through a roller coaster of daily living in different ways. We adopted pets during the pandemic which emptied the shelters and treasured the comfort of our fur companions. So first up, thank goodness for the love of our pets that continue to keep us steady during these kinds of times. So in consideration of our pets during our upcoming Thanksgiving we’d like to offer six safety tips that can help you help your pet experience the holiday safely and with less stress.
Tip #1 Sharing foods that are good
There are a few great options for Thanksgiving treats. Raw fruits and vegetables like baby carrots, green beans, apples (no seeds or skin) chunks of sweet potato, or pumpkin puree (not the sweetened, spiced pie filling) are good food treats to share with your dog. A small amount of unseasoned white Turkey meat (no skin) is okay. They will feel part of the festivities as their noses will be working overtime!
Tip #2 Prevent Losing Your Pet
With family and friends coming and going over Thanksgiving weekend, make sure that your dog or cat doesn’t find their way out the front door. Keep your cat in a separate room with the door closed so they don’t escape outdoors or down the hall if you’re in an apartment building. For dogs that get highly enthusiastic and like to jump on your guests, have your dog greet your guests with their leash and in a sit position. During their stay, ask your guests to be aware of your pets.
Tip #3 Toxic Spices
Garlic, onion, leeks, and chives common in Thanksgiving dishes are toxic to dogs and cats – they can cause destruction of red blood cells. Avoid giving your pet a bite of anything cooked with these ingredients.
Tip # 4 Decorative Plants Can be Toxic
Some flowers and plants can be toxic to pets such as Amaryllis, Baby’s Breath, Sweet William, some ferns, hydrangeas and others.
Tip #5 Keep your pet’s daily schedule
Animals feel safest when their daily schedules are adhered to such as walks, feeding times and rest times. On Thanksgiving, this will probably not be possible and you may see that your cat is meowing more or your dog showing some anxious behaviors. If you’re doing the cooking and can’t pay attention as usual, designate a member of your gathering to take over some of these responsibilities.
Tip #6 Play Calming Music
As you know, Pet Acoustics is the most clinically proven calming music for pets in the world. We, of course, recommend playing our music designed for dogs and cats which will bring your pets into a state of calm throughout the holiday. You can place our Pet Tunes Bluetooth speaker near your pets on the floor for guaranteed effect without interfering with your human music playing during the festivities.
Out of everything, we are so very thankful for this Thanksgiving season and our Pet Acoustics connection to you and your pets are at the top of our list!
Janet Marlow, Founder and CEO and our Pet Acoustics Team
https://soundcloud.com/user-39486092/were-all-ears-3-podcats-10-5?si=bb58760bd720472695a12fff270ab010
Listen to Episode #3 of We’re All Ears hosted by Sound Behaviorist, Janet Marlow and co-Host Alan Brennan. Walking with Llamas to Pickle Ball to a dog named "Little Bear".
a podcast about things you didn't know about animals.