REVIEW: Denise Mange — Translating Your Pet’s Behavior (BOOK)
Denise Mange’s book, if its title is any indication, is all about the pets. “Through exploring the relationship with our pets as we teach them new behaviors, we embark on a deeper understanding of ourselves,” she writes altruistically, in a key passage from her new book Translating Your Pet’s Behavior: Learn What Their Behavior Says About You To Train Smarter, Not Harder. “…as we become more empowered, learn to set healthy boundaries, and find our authentic leadership style, our pets’ behavior reflects it and our bond with them grows. As pet parents leveraging traditional training with energetic considerations of pet guardianship, we can train smarter, not harder.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: https://www.instagram.com/petprana/
What I found so intriguing about Mange’s book is how much she advocates for pet parenting much like childrearing. After all, what is a pet if not a child-like presence in your life that never grows up? Pets like children look up to us. We are their everything. And we have a key responsibility, like children, in shaping who they become. Obviously dogs won’t achieve the same kind of self-determination as a human being. But a full-circle wellness between pet, owner, and community is the goal, and as Mange brilliantly demonstrates there are some surprising ways to get there.
“This interplay between humans and pets is a testament to our connection and the power animal companions hold to transform our lives,” she writes. “When our animal companions are displaying behaviors like barking for attention, having accidents, or separation anxiety, it is
important to understand that these behaviors serve as reflections of our innermost emotions and mindsets. They are likely drawing attention to broader habits, perceptions, or attitudes affecting our lives that need to be addressed… Our pets also have a remarkable ability to tune into our energy, which can greatly influence their behavior. For example, a dog may be relaxed or playful if we are calm and content.
When we are stressed out or anxious, he or she may mirror the same energy through restlessness, paw licking, or other signs of anxiety. But how can you translate exactly what is being reflected when your dog is barking, your cat is having accidents, or your bird is pulling out their feathers? Our pets’ behavior is a catalyst to illicit feelings, sensations, thoughts, and memories. When observed mindfully, these provide insight into what our pets are communicating to us, including what beliefs, behaviors, mindsets, or habits in our lives need to be revisited, reaffirmed, or changed.”
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Translating-Your-Pets-Behavior-Approach-ebook/dp/B0CXYM32CZ
The particular ideological hook striking me is the fact that not only is the dog a barometer of an owner’s capabilities, but of the owner’s own life situation. That is an example of the low-key brilliance of Mange’s theories. It’s an argument I certainly haven’t heard before, and is one of those things communicated so well it makes the more alienating parts of the read — like chakras — actually work, even for those who don’t believe in a more spiritualistic outlook.
I thoroughly commend Mange on her efforts here. And I recommend the book to every new and expecting pet parent out there.
Colin Jordan
