Volkswagen has done it again with another superb commercial that this time has pet lovers howling!

Watch the commercial here!

We just had a fabulous time working on location in Tucson, AZ, solving problems with my newest VIP Client and her wonderful Andalusian horses.

One of her horses was getting himself cast fairly often and she didn’t know how to help him stop doing that. The term ‘cast’ refers to when a horse lays down too close to the fence or side of the stall and rolls over getting tangled in the fence.

They get trapped, can’t get up, and if they panic, they can seriously injure themselves quickly. It’s very dangerous. So far, they’d seen him when it had happened and were able to help him get unstuck. Once they’d had to dismantle the fence completely! Very scary…

The first Step in the H.E.A.R.T. System for Solving Problems with Animals is to be able to Hear them.

So I asked him why he was doing that.  I told him that we knew he was smart enough to know how to avoid getting stuck/cast, he had plenty of room to roll around, so why did he do it repeatedly?  Didn’t he know how dangerous it was?  How much it worried his person?

His reply was quite interesting and illuminating.  He said,

“I feel unappreciated and overlooked.  I’m jealous of the attention the new horse gets.  When I cast myself, I know I’ll at least get some attention… finally someone will notice me.”

His person admitted that most of her focus was on the new horse, and apologized.  She truly loves this guy but often gets caught up in the time and energy her newest horse needs and has little left to give him.

He just wanted to be appreciated.  He wanted the chance to perform too, to play with his favorite person, to contribute the unique beauty, gifts and talent he possessed, and to learn new things.  He wanted to feel special too.

What a wonderful message for us all.  Isn’t that what we want too?

From there it was a simple matter for me to sort things out between them.  Problem solved.

Take a moment to reflect on your own animals.  What are you missing?  Are they acting out in some way, trying to tell you important messages about how they feel, what they need to feel appreciated, loved and special?

Find out more about the H.E.A.R.T. System for solving problems with animals in my Free Class this week.  Seats are going fast so be sure to sign up quickly.

Much love to you and your furrkids,

Val

“Now, here is my secret, a very simple secret.  It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” From The Little Prince, by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

In last week’s ezine, I was SO excited to invite you to my brand new Free Class where for the first time, I’ll reveal the H.E.A.R.T. System.  It’s the formula I use to solve problems with animals to get the remarkable results I’m known for, and I want to teach it to you so you can solve problems with your animals too.

People flocked to the website to find out more and to sign up for the class…

…Imagine my horror when I discovered that after the huge amount of time, energy and effort setting this all up and preparing, that folks couldn’t sign up because the optin links weren’t working right!

I’m so sorry, I somehow made an error with the html code.  Oops!!

It took a bit of work to sort out (note to Self: delegate these tasks to someone who’s good at them!), but the problem is fixed now.

Please forgive the goof, and be SURE to Sign Up for the class (see below).

On a different note, Einstein lost his name tag last week while he was having fun excavating and exploring under our deck. And it made me think:

Wouldn’t it be cool if everyone could talk with animals?  When we found a lost animal, we could simply ask them where they live or who their people are…  We could teach them their address and phone numbers like we do our children!

Then when/if they got lost, they could just ask someone to phone home for them. (Maybe that’ll be Einstein’s next trick to learn… how to use a phone!)

For now, I went to Petsmart like other normal doggie parents do, and got him a new name tag. While I was waiting in line, there was a father with his 4 young children and 2 young beagles.

The boy dog, Toby, was barking, lunging, dragging the kids across the floor, and generally being obnoxious to other people and dogs in the store.  He got so excited that when his sister got in his way, he snapped and attacked her!

The children kept petting and stroking and talking to him to try to ‘calm him down’.  Unfortunately, their actions only told Toby that he was doing the right thing and to keep it up.  And his behavior escalated to the point of more serious aggression.

I was witnessing a tragedy in the making.  Toby is learning that his people want him to be aggressive, to bark at strangers and snap.  Later on, he’ll likely become a red zone, dangerous dog… all because of a misunderstanding between him and his humans.  And their mistake may wind up costing Toby his life.

The problem isn’t in their intention… it’s in the system they are using to train him.

Animals want to do a good job… but if the system of training, communication and management isn’t right for them, then things don’t work right.

In Toby’s case, his people are systematically and consistently rewarding the very behavior they don’t want.

All successful animal people have systems.  I want to show you mine, the unique approach I use to get the extraordinary results I get with my clients.

This week on The Real Dr Doolittle Show, we switched it up a bit.  Cathy Rivers of www.bighorsedreams.com interviewed… ME!  We recently met at a Kendall Summerhawk event, and she wanted to know more about my system for solving problems with horses and other animals.  So we recorded our conversation.  Be sure to listen, we had a blast.

Remember, animals are sentient messengers here to help you learn, grow and heal.  You can learn to hear their voices, and when you do, it will change your life.

Much love to you and your furrkids,

Val

“A single conversation across the table with a wise (wo)man is worth more than a month’s supply of books.”-  Chinese Proverb

Val Heart, The Real Dr Doolittle™ is interviewed by Cathy Rivers, www.bighorsedreams.com.

Val is an expert animal communicator, animal whisperer, and a master healer for people and their animals.  Cathy asked Val about her unique 5 Step H.E.A.R.T. System to solving problems with animals.

For animal lovers who are struggling with their animals because after 10 trips to the vet they still don’t know why their animal is sick, their horse refuses a jump, bucks them off or runs away with them.  Val solves problems in minutes not years because she bridges the gap between you and your animals.

Listen and learn:

•  How Val got started working as a professional animal communicator
• Why animal communication is the key to healing animals
• How Val helped a Grand Prix dressage horse win the Pre-Olympic Trial competition
• How Val saved a promising Quarter Horse stud colt from being gelded
• Why it’s important to communicate with your animal to solve  problems
• How Val’s unique 5 Step HEART System works to solve problems with any animal, every time

Click here to download…

By Melissa Pharr

Well I’m no sleep doctor, but Dr. Maas, author of Sleep For Success, sure knows his stuff on the topic. I’d like to share him with you today. Below I’ve added a few facts of his and a few of my own. In addition, I’ve attached an interview with Dr. Maas at the bottom of this email that was sent to me by one of my extraordinary clients.

I think one of the key things Dr. Maas tells us is that sleep is, “not a luxury, it’s a necessity.” Think you’re someone who doesn’t need much? Think again. You may believe you’re getting adequate sleep, but it turns out most of us are getting about 1 hour less than we think and the majority of Americans are sleep-deprived.

Here are a couple of things you should know about sleep:

• Adequate sleep allows you to burn excess body fat
• Not enough sleep will make you gain weight
• After 7 hours of sleep (into the 8th hour) your brain makes all kinds of connections that allow your body and mind to function at a higher level during the day
• During your last hours of adequate sleep (again, you must get past the 7th hour) your body begins a natural fat burning session
• According to Dr. Maas, sleep is the best predictor of how long you’re going to live
• Inadequate sleep significantly increases your risk of Cancer, Type II Diabetes, Obesity, and many other degenerative diseases

For all of you noble, early morning exercisers. I’ve said it before, but with this topic, once is never enough. If you’re getting up early to work out, especially if you’re performing high intensity exercise, you’re much better off going back to bed. In addition to the benefits that I’ve already listed above, there are other reasons to play smart when it comes to scheduling your work out at certain times during the day.

During Tip #1, I wrote about exercise as either an added stress OR stress relief. Obviously, we favor the latter. Dr. Maas says in his interview that 12pm or 5pm-7pm is the best time to work out for several reasons. I’d like to highlight an additional incentive that is extremely important… Cortisol and Adrenaline levels are naturally higher in the morning, causing exercise to more easily be an added stress than stress relief. These adrenal levels are lower in the middle of the day and early evening, plus you’re not sacrificing your sleep!

Are you making the same excuse we’ve all hear 100 million times?
“I have too much to do, and I don’t have enough time.” I used to rack my brain miserably for hours just trying to finish a project so I could cross it off my list and feel productive. It was always a short lived feeling of accomplishment, and by that time I usually felt like shit, pardon my language, and had something new on my to do list. The end result of my work was so-so. I’ve found that if I allow myself down time and get adequate sleep, everything I do is higher quality and takes about a quarter of the time. That’s a lot of freed up time. Oh, and the people I’m around like me better, too, so there’s that.  

“I can sleep when I’m dead.” I hope you read the facts above. Sleep is the best predictor of how long you’ll live. It’s up to you. You can live longer and feel alive OR you can live a shorter life and feel like a zombie. 

“I can’t, I sleep poorly and can’t make it through 8 hours.” I feel your pain. Lots of us have had circumstances that keep us from getting good shut eye so I’ve provided you with a few helpful hints below. ANYONE can significantly improve their sleep, except maybe those with an infant, in which case you might try napping when possible. 

What can you do to better your sleep situation?

• Give up TV a half hour to an hour before bed
• Leave your phone alone before bed. Seriously.
• Acknowledge the fact that electronics before bed decrease your chances of falling asleep easily and getting high quality sleep throughout the night
• Stop staying up late. It decreases your natural melatonin levels
• Create a quiet, dark, and cool sleeping environment
• Take a bath before bed
• Don’t eat a ton before bed
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine

So let’s check in! How is your weekly workout schedule going? Are you 2:1-ing it?Remember, I’m happy to coach your through these tips via email so take advantage! We’re already on Tip #2 so let’s get down to business. There’s always enough time for the things that really matter and YOU’RE one of those things. When you take care of yourself your light shines brightest, benefiting not only you, but the rest of the world.

—————————

Melissa Pharr is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Performance Enhancement Specialist, and Corrective Exercise Specialist. She climbed to the top of the ladder as a Professional Trainer and shortly after to an upper level management position before leaving Corporate America. At the age of 25 she begin her own home-based business and decided to test her skills as an entrepreneur. Melissa is the founder and owner of The Ultimate You. Her passion is helping Entrepreneurs and Leaders who lead busy lives and are frustrated with their bodies to find a smarter, not harder way to balance their health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Benedict

NOTE FROM VAL: Read my article “Do You Know Your Animals True Name” before deciding on your dog’s new name!

By Ray Tricca, SBS Equine Products

Soaking the hoof can be an effective way of treating against chronic infections, but there can be serious consequences if done carelessly. Experts have recommended some simple rules that can help you avoid a hoof soaking disaster.

Reasons Why Soaking Can Be Dangerous
Soaking the hoof in any liquid for an extended period of time can wash away the natural protective coating provided through transpiration. In time soaking can weaken the entire hoof structure and damage healthy hoof tissue. Since many commercial preparations and harsh household products may work well on hard surfaces by burning pathogens to death, they can also seriously harm to new hoof tissue. Keep in mind that a healthy hoof will grow out an astonishing rate of 3/8” a month. Damaged cells will no grow out like healthy tissue. Damage can be long term or chronic.

A Conservative Approach to Soaking
Most infections in the hoof are difficult to treat because they are hard to reach. There are many nooks and crannies for pathogens to hide, and you cannot easily detect their presence behind the hoof wall.  Another issue is that the infection may be a particularly aggressive form of fungus or anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, or any combination of them. How do you kill the broad spectrum of pathogens by soaking them without harming sensitive hoof tissue? How often and how long a time period is it safe to soak? How much soak is required to be effective? How do you prevent waste or spilling of the soak? To find out answers to these questions we asked the researchers who have worked on these issues.

In the last decade there was a world wide epidemic called white-line disease. Two companies collaborated to develop a new delivery system for treating the disease and other hoof infections.  They recognized that soaking the hoof could be a simple and effective way of treating the hoof against infections, if done correctly. They recognized too, that there may be serious consequences if the soaking was done incorrectly. Several months later both companies developed products that would work in harmony with the other’s .  Even after ten years, both products are still being used together as a successful treatment option.

Another breakthrough component was the development by SBS and Davis of a fiber matrix pad which is included inside the boot. The pad is washable and reusable. It’s purpose is to hold the Soak in place. The pad reduces evaporation and helps to prevent the liquid from sloshing around and spilling out. The fibers also wick the key ingredients to the affected areas of the feet. This reduces the danger of over soaking because only the pad needs to be saturated with the Soak, not the entire hoof.

A few years ago SBS came up with a non-liquid soaking material called Sav-A-Hoof Med-i-sole. It is a gel. When the pad is saturated with the gel, it makes the chances of over soaking almost impossible. (The product is not to be confused with Sav-A-Hoof Gel, which is a concentrated gel product made for voids and cracks.)

Simple Rules that Prevent Problems
Hoof Soaking is a simple concept for treating deeply rooted infections, yet a risky one. This method is recommended only when other less invasive methods have been tried first. We must never forget that soaking has the potential to cause irreversible cell damage to the hoof if done incorrectly.

Hoof soaking is not an exact science because every situation is different. We asked the experts to share their best recommendations on hoof soaking with us. The rules selected are designed primarily to keep us from getting into trouble and give us the best chance of success.

It is amazing the hear so may horror stories about horse owners who have inadvertently damaged the feet by over soaking, not realizing that safer options may exist. It appears that controlled soaking may the answer. There are several companies that make soaking products. We are just focusing our attention on the two with over ten years of experience with soaking.

Researchers at SBS Equine Products have developed a unique product called Sav-A-Hoof Soak. The product contains a powerful fungicide as well as broad spectrum bactericide that is very effective and long lasting. This longer contact time allows for a more conservative method of treatment. Another company, Davis Manufacturing, were successful at molding the Davis Horse Boot. The product is a one piece, high top, medical boot that was engineered specifically for soaking the hoof, not as a riding boot.

Rule 1. Clear Debris From Voids

Use a hoof pick and brush before washing the hoof to clear trapped debris from voids. This helps to open up blocked passageways for the Soak to work better.

Rule 2. Wash Hoof Before Soaking

Thoroughly wash off hard surface dirt with soapy water before each soaking session. This will help prevent contamination of the soaking material.

Rule 3. Use Boots Made for Soaking
Soaking boots are injection molded in one piece construction, and produced in many sizes. They are made of a flexible plastic to make it easier to slip on or off the hoof. The resin used to make the boots should be compatible with the chemicals used to treat the hoof. Form fitting soaking boots require much less volume of Soak than would a bucket. This is a good thing. Look for boots with a closure top that is well above the hairline. This helps prevent the liquid contents from spilling out.

Rule 4. Use Commercial Soaking Preparation
Use only commercially products that are specifically recommended for hoof soaking. Read the labels to make sure the ingredients are not harmful to hoof tissue. They should also be effective against both fungus and bacteria. Never use household products for soaking. They can cause irreversible damage the hoof. Products that bind to hoof protein work best.

Rule 5. Limit Soaking Time
Limit soaking contact time to 30 minutes, and no more than twice a day. Stop soaking if the hoof becomes soft and punchy. A longer contact time may be permitted when doing a controlled soak; that is, if the boot has a soaking pad inside with just a few ounces of Soak in it.

For more information concerning this article contact:
Ray Tricca, SBS Equine Products, info@sbsequine.com, sbsequine.com

By Scott and Shannon Peck

Most of us are in a routine of beating ourselves down, so the idea of loving yourself twice as much comes as a real shift. Why, you might ask, do you deserve that much love?

First of all, you wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t a loving person. Since you’re attracted to love, we know that you carry a lot of love in your heart. The love you outpour to others deserves to also come home to yourself. You deserve to be richly loved!

Here’s a short video by Shannon:

Since the goal to love yourself twice as much is a choice, let’s consider for a moment, how you could give yourself this quantum self-nurturing in some easy ways. Pick a few from the list below and offer yourself a generous amount of love each day:

• Receive love from others as generously as they give it to you. In other words, don’t reject or shy away from their gifts. Don’t try to stop their love. Let it in.
• Learn to set boundaries. Can you say, “No,” and make it stick?
• Give yourself permission to lovingly speak up in areas you may need to – where you normally stay mute.
• Give yourself a break from chores and take time just for you! No kidding. Just sit by yourself somewhere private and just contemplate. Listen to love.
• Take a look at your inner thoughts, the things you say to yourself about everything that happens to you. What percent of your thoughts are negative? Lift yourself higher by remembering what a wonderful person you are and how hard you try to be good. Give yourself the gift of inner love talk.
• Be more visible with those who don’t judge you.
• See yourself as a masterpiece unfolding. Do you dare? Why not! Michelangelo carved his masterpieces by removing hard marble to reveal his vision. You can too.
• Forgive yourself for every mistake you ever made, no matter how bad it was.

Her’s a short video by Scott:

We hope you’ll begin a new habit of loving yourself twice as much. This is the love you deserve!

“Would you like to learn more simple ways to find and nourish your soulmate? Check out http://scottandshannonpeck.com, for free articles, resources! The Love and Relationship Experts, Scott & Shannon Peck.

Scott & Shannon Peck are love & relationship experts who are passionate about helping you find your soulmate & lasting love.

The Pecks are Love Master teachers, speakers, & co-authors of many books on love and healing, including their best-seller, “The Love You Deserve” as well as “Love Skills for Personal & Global Transformation” & “Liberating Your Magnificence.” Shannon is also the author of “Love Heals: How to Heal Everything with Love” & the “Love Heals Study Guide.”

The Pecks are co-founders of The Love Center, a non-profit educational organization where they have developed & taught many ground-breaking programs to create a world with more love.

The Pecks live in San Diego, California.

As record heat fries the eastern half of the USA (including where we live) over the past few days, experts warn of the dangers of over-exposure to our bodies. It’s just plain hot.

Even if you aren’t struggling with this heat wave where you live, chances are you’ve taken some kind of vacation with your family or maybe gotten together with family or friends for an extended time together.

If you have ever spent some extended time with more intense interaction than you normally do, there’s also a pretty good chance that with all of this social interaction and “togetherness,” you might feel a bit “over-exposed” to the ones you love.

You might have felt like there was a little too much togetherness and your love (and patience) may have been tested

After a brief vacation together, one family we know found themselves picking arguments with each other that was out of the ordinary for them.

The dad made the comment to us that “We’ve been together a little bit too too long right now.”

What we know is that “over-exposure to the ones we love” feeling, along with the stresses that vacations can bring– heat, dealing with crowds of people, trying to get around in unfamiliar places, erratic eating schedules or rich and unfamiliar food –can certainly play havoc in the best relationships, even if you think you’re doing pretty well.
If you can relate…

Here are some specific ways you might react when you’ve been together a little too long or have “vacation-itis” and some suggestions to “cool” down your and others’ emotions
and reactions…

1. Communication misfires that come up now and then seem to be exaggerated and over-blown.
Carla and her husband Jay rented a kayak when they were vacationing together in the Great Lakes region. Being relatively new to kayaking, they found that they became very irritated with one another as they tried to paddle (sometimes in opposite directions) to their destination.

They couldn’t establish a rhythm that worked for both of them–Carla wanted to paddle slower than Jay and he became anxious when they were out of sync.

On top of that, they each seemed to have their own “plans” for getting where they were going but “forgot” to share them with each other.

Normally, they get along pretty well but it became clear that their usual way of communicating (or not communicating) didn’t work as well when they were in one boat, trying to go in one direction.
And it was a metaphor for what happens in their life together.
Afterwards their kayak experience, Carla discovered that she pushes Jay to be the leader but then does
her own thing when she feels afraid or triggered.

Jay discovered that when he gets irritated with Carla, he becomes superior and sarcastic which only makes the situation and communication worse.
We talk a lot about “magic words” that can make a big difference in your communication and if Carla
or Jay had asked one of our “Magic Words” questions like this…

“How can we make this situation work better?”
…with a completely open heart, their kayak trip might have been more enjoyable.

They could even have some fun with it and imagineall kinds of ways to make their situation better–like sawing the kayak in half or skipping the paddling part and going for a swim from the boat–along with clearly talking about a plan that might help them work together.

As you can clearly see, “Magic Words” and questions like these can truly make a big difference
in the quality of your communication and your love when you use them….

You can tap into our whole list of magic words, phrases and sentence-starters by going here…

http://www.MagicRelationshipWords.com

Another way that too much time together can create a feeling of “overexposure”…
2. Trust and jealousy issues come to the forefront.
If there are any jealousy and trust issues in a relationship, they get triggered big time in the summer when other men and women wear practically nothing.

Pam felt very uncomfortable thinking about going on a vacation with her husband Paul to the Bahamas becauseof all the women in bikinis they would see on the beaches. Normally, they didn’t go many places where she would have to endure having him look at these other women wearing practically nothing–so it wasn’t too much of a problem–except now and then.

But when Pam’s jealousy did erupt, it put a damper on everything–and she certainly didn’t want that to happen on her vacation.

In this situation, we’d recommend that Pam practice noticing her self-talk and the stories she makes up when she gets jealous.

When she identifies her “stories”–like the story that Paul wants to be with the woman in the bikini more than her, she can question whether she knows that’s true or not.

If she’s honest with herself, she’ll admit that she doesn’t know that’s true–and then she can learn to switch her thinking to examples of when he’s shown her that he loves her.

As she changes her focus, she learns to calm her suspicious thoughts and jealousy.
For more practical ways to deal with jealousy, visit http://www.NoMoreJealousy.com/Program

3. If you’re feeling like there’s too much togetherness, you might even begin to wonder why you’re with your partner because the two of you just can’t seem to get along.

Okay, so this is extreme but it might cross your mind in the throes of conflict and when you’ve really had enough of each other. If this happens, take a breath, take a walk by yourself or do something that will break the stale-mate that you can’t seem to get out of.

When you both are in a calmer, more centered place, talk about what you both want and need. And listen to each other.

If your disagreements are deeply-rooted and you need some help getting some resolution, don’t give up on the relationship until you’ve gotten the help of a therapist or coach.

If you want help sorting out your situation in complete privacy, we have a program “Should you stay or should you go?” at http://www.stayorgo.com that can help you.

Over-exposure to each other can be a good thing. It can lead you to discovering some valuable things about each other that will open the door to deepening your love and connection if you’re open to working through the challenges of the moment when you get irritated or overexposed.
So have fun this summer and remember your sun screen.

Passionate Heart Quote of the Week
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would
not be so welcome.”
Anne Bradstreet
1612-1672, Poet
Information from http://www.collinspartners.com

 By Smoochie the Cat (and assistant, Dr Signe A Dayhoff)

Before talking about spraying, I want to take just a moment to be “political.” Okay, I know cats aren’t political but when I heard on TV how many hundreds of millions of dollars candidates of both parties running for the Presidency are spending on election ads, I really got my fur in a twist. When I think of how much good could be done with those millions of millions for starving cats, dogs, and humans who all need shelter and food, it made me want to dump on the TV screen. I don’t understand how humans can waste such a humongous resource when so many need help now. At moments like this, I’m especially glad I’m a cat and not a human.

URINE SPRAYING is used to mark territory. The reason cats spray rather than leave a puddle of urine behind is that spraying gets the urine’s pheromone scent at nose level where cat are most likely to detect it. However, the pheromones produced by facial glands also mark territory but have a calming effect. That’s why Feliway, a product designed to calm cats And dissuade them from spraying, is made of a synthetic facial gland pheromone. The idea behind it is that cats won’t spray where they detect the facial pheromone. It can take a month of twice-daily spraying of Feliway to convince a cat not to spray in a particular location. But if the cat has been spraying that spot already, you need to thoroughly clean it before applying Feliway.

Cats have very sensitive noses. Pam Johnson-Bennett has a list of the reasons cats may spray even after you’ve gone the Feliway route: sexual maturity, temperament of the cat, appearance of a strange cat in the yard, addition of new member to the family (human, dog, or cat), unfamiliar cat scent on human’s clothing, tension or aggression between companion animals, too many cats in the home, renovation or remodeling of home, new carpet or furniture, moving to a new home, unfamiliar visitors, and changes in their human’s schedule. Eliminating spraying is difficult. You have to understand your cat’s psychology behind its behavior. You have to understand the environment and how your cat responds to it. Always remember: You cat is not being an evil little demon taunting and harrassing you with spraying … unless, of course, you have been insensitive (or worse) to it and its needs. Then it’s letting you know in one way it knows it can get your attention that something is wrong. Most often your cat is simply responding to how it sees its world and responding to it as best as Nature allows. You are the one who has to figure out the problem and find the best, non-punishing way to deal with it. Your cat will be happier as a result.

Copyright (c) 2012 Signe A. Dayhoff, Ph.D. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Dr. Dayhoff is a Social Psychologist, human cognitive-behaviorist, and applied feline behaviorist, specializing in increasing cat-human communication and respectful and loving relationships. http://www.LoveYourCatsInnerTiger.com/