Like humans, our four-legged companions have emotions. That's why it's so important to understand them. You'll be able to forge strong bonds with them and live in perfect communion!

We give our pets a lot of love, but a lack of understanding of some of their behaviors leads to a mutual incomprehension. This can lead to behavioral problems.

First of all, we have to be careful how we interpret them. In fact, humans and animals share only certain emotions, those of survival or adaptation.

These include joy, fear, sadness, anger and, of course, love. Let's take an example: your dog greets you warmly after a hard day's work. Then you move over to the sofa and stroke your cat, who purrs thanks to your wonderful caresses. They're expressing joy, even love - it's their way of showing you.

They can also be angry, if their sustenance needs are affected. If you prevent your cat from sleeping or bother your dog when it's feeding.

On the other hand, we can't give our animals human traits. Quite simply, because they're not human. We often attribute a feeling of guilt to a dog when we scold it after doing something stupid. Or that a cat is jealous when you don't take enough care of it.

Your four-legged companion spontaneously adopts a behavior that demonstrates a feeling of anxiety. This may be linked to a disturbance in his environment, such as a change in his habits. To respond to this situation, he'll adopt a specific behavior, such as barking or meowing, to soothe himself while showing his frustration.

It's important to identify the source of the problem to avoid putting your pet in situations that may disturb him.

That's why it's so important to get to know your pet, so you can understand him better, and love him as he is.

You'll both be happier!

How do you communicate with your pet?

Unfortunately, our pets can't talk. You may have seen videos of dogs saying "I love you", but we assure you it's not enough to convince us.

They do, however, have a way of communicating, mostly through their body language.

Body language

Animals use many parts of their bodies to express different feelings. By observing your pet and how it uses its body, you'll come to understand it.

If he's playful, sick or angry.

Eyes, ears and face express submission, aggression or respect for you. If his ears are upright and erect, your dog is ready for action. It could be to play, if he's waiting for you to throw him the ball. Be careful, though, as this attitude can also mean aggression: something is attracting his attention and he's ready to act if necessary. Slightly lowered ears mean he's happy. On the other hand, if they're completely flattened, your pet is either afraid or submissive. You can perceive your pet's overall emotional state through its eyes. Dilated eyes, seemingly larger than usual, indicate that he feels threatened and may be aggressive.

Your companion also uses his paws and tail (if he has one) to give clues as to how he's feeling: anger, boredom or a friendly approach.

A high tail means your dog is confident or excited, while a low tail means nervousness or fear.

Over time, you'll quickly identify your pet's emotional state by the physical signals it gives off.

Finally, posture is particularly significant. For example, if your dog stops suddenly and his body tenses up, he's in an alert position, preparing for an attack. At this point, be particularly vigilant, and once you've identified the source of the problem, if possible, move away with your pet.

Learning to decipher your pet's physical reactions will give you valuable information about its emotional state.

Vocalizations

A simple meow is a very common sound in cats, but in adulthood it's only used to communicate with humans. If your cat starts growling or hissing, it's rarely a good sign. To hear him purr, on the other hand, is often synonymous with relaxation and satisfaction, but it can also mean that he's comforting himself, which isn't a good sign either!

In dogs, growling isn't usually a very positive thing either. It's a threat. He's warning that something's bothering him, so he doesn't go straight to the attack. At this point, it's best to pick up your dog and move him away from the problem.

For our animal friends, yawning is a way of expressing different emotional states. Its most logical expression is the tired yawn. It's a natural phenomenon, present in all mammals. It's a way of stimulating alertness and reconnecting with the environment.

After a long day, or when you wake up in the morning, your pet simply yawns because he's tired. A dog that yawns regularly may be uncomfortable or anxious. If you're picking up your children from school and your dog yawns, he doesn't feel comfortable in this environment, so it's best to leave quickly. He may also yawn after being scolded to soothe the situation. He uses it to communicate with other dogs and humans in general. If he yawns when meeting a companion, he's trying to calm the situation and avoid potential conflict, as if to say, I just want to be your buddy, I don't want any trouble.

Animals don't speak, but they can send us messages through their vocalizations or facial expressions. What they mean depends on the situation. Listen carefully!

Animal intuition

You've probably already noticed it: you're thinking of taking your dog for a walk, and before you make the slightest move, he's already coming towards you, wagging his tail!

In fact, a number of studies have shown that animal intuition is much more highly developed than you might think. By perceiving our feelings, animals are naturally telepathic. They have mastered this universal language, through which they try to express their intelligence and sensitivity to you, so pay close attention and listen carefully.

Of course, each animal is unique and has its own way of behaving. So he has his own way of communicating.

With his advice, you can better understand his emotions and how he communicates with you.

It's up to you!