Why Is My Dog Suddenly Reactive? An Animal Communicator’s Perspective
Echo had started lunging and snapping at men’s calves—seemingly out of the blue. This behavior was completely unlike him; he normally liked men! But recently, he was lashing out at men’s calves. The more muscular and wide the calves, the more intense his reaction was.
So Echo’s person booked an animal communication session.
Meet Echo: A sweet dog with a sudden aggression toward men
Echo, a black and white dog with curly fur and soulful eyes, lounges on a golden velvet chair. A soft blue-and-white blanket is draped beside him, and a colorful tapestry rests on the back of the chair.
What Echo shared in his session
During our conversation, I gently asked Echo about the lunging and snapping. He immediately began talking about snakes in shoes—creatures he had seen slithering toward him, uninvited and terrifying.
Snakes? In shoes?
I asked him to tell us more.
Echo shared that these “snakes” carried familiar smells—sweat, male pheromones, and cologne he recognized from men he had met before and liked. But in Echo’s mind, the snakes weren’t men. He couldn’t see the men. He could only see… the snakes. Wearing shoes.
As I passed this on to Echo’s person, something clicked for her. She had been taking him to a local café. While she spent time studying, Echo would hang out under the table and watch people walk by.
Echo then showed us what these “snakes” looked like from his perspective:
Hairy, paired creatures moving in unison in sneakers, boots, or sandals—marching right toward him. But from his low vantage point under the table, he couldn’t see the humans attached to those legs.
All he saw were snakes. Snake in shoes.
And they were coming right at him and his human.
Echo also shared that he sat in front of his person under the table. In his mind, that meant it was up to him to protect her from the slithering threats. This little guy was on high alert, trying to keep his beloved human safe from what he believed were constant, approaching dangers.
Understanding what Echo was experiencing helped us figure out the kind of support he needed—sitting under the table meant he could only see from the knees down, and sitting in front of her made him feel overprotective and understandably reactive.
Together, his human and I came up with solutions to address his perception, like having him sit behind her with a wider view, so he could see people instead of snakes!
**This animal communication story is shared with permission from Echo’s wonderful person**
Understanding our pet’s perspective changes everything
Echo’s story is a powerful reminder that our animals are always trying to communicate with us—even when their behavior feels confusing or alarming. What looks like aggression on the surface may be rooted in fear, misunderstanding, or an attempt to protect someone they love.
When we take the time to truly listen, we can begin to understand what our pets are experiencing and give them the support they need.
Because without truly understanding what your dog is feeling and reacting to, attempts at correction may miss the mark, leaving your dog more confused and afraid.
If your dog has suddenly become reactive or if you’ve been navigating long-term behavior challenges, an animal communication session can help uncover what’s going on beneath the surface for them. Sometimes, just being heard can make a world of difference. Other times the insights your pet shares will go a long way to help you, your dog trainer, or your veterinarian understand what your dog is feeling and wanting help with.
That said, dogs with a history of trauma or chronic reactivity may need more than one conversation to feel fully seen and supported. These patterns often unfold gently, over time, and I’m here to walk alongside you through that process.
Whenever you’re ready, I’d be honored to help you and your animal begin the conversation.
“I was blown away by Joanna's ability.
Joanna very gently and lovingly guided me through the communication and helped me understand the relationship between my cat and me, why we've struggled in the past, what her deepest wish was.
I've always loved and cherished animals but my work with Joanna transformed my view of their wisdom, level of awareness and spiritual maturity. Joanna's intuition and caring nature make her a wonderful guide on this journey to your heart and connection with your beloved animal.”
-Monika H. -Via Google Review
