In recent years, there has been a increase in awareness about the trait of high sensitivity in humans.
I find that many people who are drawn to intuitive interspecies communication and Reiki have the trait of high sensitivity, and so I talk about this frequently in my classes and training programs, and continue to share information and resources to help people to better understand this trait in themselves and in others.
What many people don’t know, however, is that the trait of high sensitivity is found in approximately 20% of all species studied. In fact, scientists and researchers have found it in over 100 species (and probably there are many more) from fruit flies, birds, and fish to dogs, cats, horses, and primates.
The trait of high sensitivity is innate, and recognizing it in humans and also in our animal companions can help us to better understand each other and the unique ways that we experience the world.
Dr. Elaine Aron is one of the early traiblazers and researchers of the trait of high sensitivity, and she summarizes the salient features of the trait with the acronym D.O.E.S:
- D: Depth of processing
- O: Overstimulation
- E: Emotional reactivity and empathy
- S: Sensing the Subtle
Often, just as with humans, animals with the trait of high sensitivity are misunderstood. Some of the mistaken ideas and judgments about them including things like labeling them as “recalcitrant,” “stubborn,” “willful,” “disobedient,” or assuming that the animal is unsocialized, traumatized, stupid, or “spoiled.”
I have the trait of high sensitivity, and I recognize the trait in some of my animal family. It is most pronounced in my Afghan Hound Tashi, and not surprisingly, she and I are similar in many ways.
If we recognize this trait in our companion animals, it it may help us to better understand them, to support them, and to deepen our insight about our relationships with them. In this post and video, I share about some of the ways that the trait of high sensitivity can manifest in animals, and some of the ways that we can help to support them and better understand them.
Depth of Processing
- Needs down time and time alone
- Slow-does things in their own time
- Thinks about things a lot
- Transitions: slow, doesn’t respond well to being pushed, rushed, or demanded
- Investigates before proceeding
Easily Overstimulated; Sensitive Nervous System
- Exceptionally sensitive to stimuli and the environment, including sounds, smells, and visual stimulation
- Sensitive to pain
- Tendency to be prone to allergies
- Overwhelmed by too much physical sensation—touch, cuddling, etc.
- Crowds and groups difficult: “Dog parks are a special kind of hell”
- May cause the animal to either shut down or respond by going into overdrive
Emotional reactivity and empathy
- Emotional sensitivity to other animals and humans
- Able to sense and respond quickly to human emotions
- May be misunderstood to be a “drama queen or king”
- Sensitive to human conflict
Sensing the Subtle
- Observes, watches, notices
- May see, feel, sense non-physical energies and beings easily: beings in the spirit world, nature spirits, etc.
- Energetically aware + spiritually sensitive
7 Tips for Supporting Highly Sensitive Animals:
1.Give them a quiet place where they can be alone and decompress. This could be a crate, separate room, space outdoors that they can access when they choose. Often, highly sensitive animals will take themselves out of overstimulating environments, going to a quieter place in the house, putting themselves to bed or in their crate, finding a corner of a closet, etc. Pay attention to what your animal needs and provide them a safe and comfortable space.
2. Be aware of strong smells, loud sounds, and chaotic environments. If you are a highly sensitive person, it’s likely that you are aware of this already. If you don’t have the trait, you may be able to handle much more stimulation than your highly sensitive animal. Be aware of their responses and do your best to mitigate these things in your animal’s environment. Even things like essential oils can be too strong of a smell for many animals; use these, and other things like cleaning products, scented candles, etc. with caution.
3. Mitigate conflict: If you are in a conflict with another person, try not to argue, fight, or raise voices in your animal’s presence. If you have to do these things, go somewhere else.
4. Sensory support: You may find that they need softer brushes, grooming tools, and training aids than other animals. Experiment to see what is right for them and what works well for them. Some highly sensitive animals really benefit from supports like thunder shirts, ear covers for noise, Rescue Remedy for stress, and bodywork and energy healing modalities such as T-Touch and Reiki.
5. Let them go at their own speed. Recognize that your highly sensitive animal has a particular way of perceiving, sensing, feeling, and experiencing the world. As much as possible, allow them to integrate into new situations in their own way, moving more slowly, allowing them to take their time.
6. Respect and honor your highly sensitive animal’s preference and limitations, and don’t push or force them beyond their threshold.
7. Use telepathic communication to help you to understand your animal friend better, and to negotiate any challenges in a respectful and empathic way. Learn to communicate more clearly, and/or find help from a trusted professional when you need it.
Living with a highly sensitive animal is a beautiful gift, and understanding them and their deep awareness and sensitivity can enrich our lives in so many ways. I hope that this information helps you to better understand and support the beautiful highly sensitive animals in your life.
