What Is Your Dog Really Thinking? Animal Communicator, Gail Thackray, Can Tell You

Gail Thackray

What is your dog really thinking? If he’s a rescue, what experiences has he had that contributes toward his current behavior? How can we better understand our pets? These are all questions many of us have asked ourselves at one time or another. And, there’s a woman who can help us learn just that. We can gain a deeper understanding about our pets and just how important a role they play in our lives, in ways we never imagined.

Gail Thackray is a British-born medium and animal communicator, living on a ranch in Los Angeles with six rescue dogs, two cats, a turtle, and horses. Hang on. Before you pooh-pooh it all, take a moment to read what Gail has been able to do for pets and pet owners around the world. And, according to Gail, we can do it, too.

Giveaway Alert!!! Read on to find out how two lucky Bark and Swagger followers can win a copy of Gail’s book and why it is so special. 

Do you have to have special powers to become a medium?

Thackray wasn’t a “gifted” child, in fact she’s the first to tell you she was a “normal” girl, until she hit 40. Hitting 40 will do that for many of us, but for Gail, it meant something different! 🙂 Her aunt, who’d become a Reiki master and teacher, gave her an attunement, a transfer of energy in a special ceremony. Gail expected to feel something big. She didn’t. But, she did practice what her aunt taught her and started doing energy healings on her friends. They thought her energy work made a big difference in how they felt.

A workshop led by a renowned English psychic opened the door to being able to read people. On the spot to read someone, she honed in on a man in the audience and the images started flowing. She told him about a deceased family member, what he did for a living, details of a special photo and a pressing message about a family business – all information that made this audience member’s chin hit the floor. But, Gail wasn’t yet convinced, she was intrigued. A short time later, while browsing a bookstore where a woman was giving a talk on animal communication, she learned her abilities extended to the animal kingdom. She hadn’t even known there was such a thing as this. After the woman’s talk, Gail decided to see what, if anything, she might pick up from looking at one of the guest’s photos of her pet. The young dog’s picture she started with immediately transported her into feeling what this puppy felt. She told the owner the puppy was saying he would be really good with the cats, and that he hid his yellow bone behind the garden shed, all details the owner confirmed. Then, there’s the pink, fluffy slippers story. “I picked up this photo of a lady’s cat and, all of a sudden, I saw these big slippers in front of me, at eye level,” Gail explained. “Big, pink slippers, with a large fluffy ball hanging over the big toe, and I’m watching them go ’round and ’round. I asked her if she had a pair and she said, in fact, she did. I asked her if she goes on an exercise bike every morning where her cat sits nearby, which she confirmed. I asked if the cat liked to watch her, and I could’ve told her he emphatically loved to watch; that it was a great source of entertainment for him.” That day was the beginning of Thackray’s exploration into the world of animal communication.

How can we learn to do this, too?

In Gail Thackray’s book, How To Talk To Your Pets: Animal Communication for Dogs, Cats, & Other Critters, she teaches us how we, too, can learn to communicate with our and others’ pets. She says we’ve always had this ability, we’ve just blocked it after years of not using it, and being focused on our lives, work, etc. But what really struck me and gave me goosebumps, was this. Gail is very clear  that animals are in our lives for a much greater purpose than we know. They are really our partners in life, she says. And, when she communicates with them, and the reason she can do it from a photograph or with an animal not focusing attention on her,  she is communicating with their higher intelligence, not their instinctual selves. You know how sometimes we think something, and the person we’re with says just what we were thinking? We joke and say it must be telepathy, yet that is exactly what it is! You may think I’m into the woo woo, but I am a believer in universal intelligence. All it means, is we are all connected, because we’re all made up of energy. And, if we train ourselves to relax and open up to it, we can communicate on a higher plane, like our animals, like when those telepathic “accidents” happen with another person. It’s happened to me at times when I meditate. I feel a distinct connection to everything, and interesting or important thoughts come to me in meditation, that don’t when I’m immersed in my “day”.

So, I was open to hearing more about this. Thackray holds workshops around the world, where she teaches people how to relax and get into the space to do a reading. There are exercises we can do to help us unblock our innate ability; her 10 Steps to Connect. She is very respectful of the animals she is reading, and emphasizes how important it is to ask them if they want to share something and to thank them at the end of your session. In her workshops, she sees how everyone comes into their ability to read people or pets; some come to it faster than others; some have to work a bit harder at it,  but we all can do it. While at first, it may seem like you’re just making things up, Gail also offers tips on how to discern that and reassures us we will come to trust our communication. And the cool thing is, she teaches all of this in her book, at your own pace, in your own home.

What I learned about my babies…

When I talked to Gail, I wanted to know some things pertaining to my “kids,” Sophie, our new rescue Jasper, and my kitties Isabel and Lola. What I learned from her was fascinating! I learned that Sophie was a superstar (well, I already knew that), but that she came into my life with the distinct purpose of transforming it, of getting me in touch with my new soul purpose. And, it’s true. Sophie was the impetus for me starting my dog apparel brand, Couture by Sophie, which led to Bark and Swagger. Sophie has been the catalyst for me meeting certain people and doing certain things. And, I don’t’ think that will stop. Sophie is my muse, my little partner.

I learned a bit about Jasper’s history and, possibly, the people who surrendered him. Gail saw that he was in a family, where the man wasn’t very nice and might have kicked him around a bit, shoved him out of the way (his paperwork said “only likes owners’ wife,” hmmm…); where the young kids pulled at him (paperwork said he doesn’t get along with kids); where he was locked up for long hours each day, not knowing when anyone would be home (he is terrified of the crate and being behind a baby gate). So far, this could easily make sense.

Isabel, my orange tabby, has always been the wise, sweet one. I learned she doesn’t really view herself as a pet, but one serving a higher purpose.  She thinks of herself as above the others, which I smiled at, because Izzy is, hands down, the smartest one in the bunch and does remove herself from the pack. Gail also said Isabel is an ancient soul and helps me with intuition. Lola, my tortoise shell kitty is the playful, good time girl, who like to cuddle. That’s all true. I always thought Lola was more confident than Izzy, but I learned how brave Isabel really is when Jasper came into our house. Lola is still afraid of him; Izzy could care less about him and swats him if he gets too close.

It was interesting that Gail said, if we have more than one animal in the house, we have to be clear about what role each one has. She said it’s important to tell each pet what they do for you and to thank them for being so good at whatever that is. This, apparently, maintains the peace. Sophie is already letting Jasper know when he gets too close to a coveted toy or rough houses too much with her…that’s not your place, little guy. I’m the princess around here!

Jasper & Sophie

Isabel

Lola

How health problems in your pet can be a reflection of you

I thought it was really interesting how Thackray has noticed, when a mom or dad complains of a pet’s health problem, she often doesn’t have to look very far to see its origin. “I had someone tell me their dog had a left hip problem,” Gail said. “They’re running funny. The first thing I do in those cases is look at the owner. If it’s on the dog’s back leg, it’ll be the owner’s leg that also has a problem. If it’s the dog’s front leg, it will be his arm. Nine times out of ten, the owner will say, yes I have that problem. Or, it can be an energy problem the owner has; not being able to move forward in life.” Our animals help us heal. We already know they make us feel better, emotionally. But, they can also take in our negative energy when we’re stroking them. If you have specific health problems, your pet may have come in to be a healer. By the same token, if our dog has allergies, is scratching a lot, sometimes it’s the owner who has something going on; maybe a lot of stress at work or at home, and the pet is absorbing that stress.

Getting in touch with pets who have passed

Gail also teaches in her book and her workshops how to get in touch with pets who have passed on. She tells a story in the book about her own dog, Bob, and how he clearly came back to let her know he was ok. It’s a bit of a long story for this piece, but I encourage you to read it; it’s amazing.

In my research on Gail for the piece, I saw this interview Gail did for the national morning show, Fox & Friends. She blew the mind of one of the anchors, who was a total skeptic, until this happened. Check it out and enjoy.

There’s fascinating information about communicating with our pets in Gail’s book, How to Talk to Your Pets, and exercises and instruction teaching us how to do it! I’m excited that Gail has generously offered to give a book away to two lucky Bark and Swagger followers. I’ve read it, and am working on the exercises, myself. I want to understand more about my babies and why they do what they do; how I can make their lives even better. I highly recommend this read; I love being introduced to new things that push me to keep learning and growing.

If you just can’t wait to learn how to do this, you can purchase Gail’s book here.

Have you ever had a telepathic experience, with or without your pets? Tell me about it in the Comments!

The Giveaway!

Here’s how to enter the giveaway, which runs from Monday, June 30 – Monday, July 7, 2014:

*  must be 18 years or older

* must live in the United States

* can’t be a relative of mine

* must join our email list (there’s also bonus points for doing this!)

There are additional bonus points for doing other actions, too. Good luck!