My Animal Matters Ltd (2025)

17/08/2025

What part of the day do you love the most with your dog?
And why?

13/08/2025

🌿✨ When I adopted Baxter in 2012, I was just beginning to work with essential oils. My focus was entirely on him, my boy, who had come out of rescue with quite a lot going on emotionally.
I had a good understanding of dog behaviour, but I genuinely wanted to help him thrive, so I started offering him different essential oils to choose (aka zoopharmacognosy)

Yet, despite my best efforts, I kept hitting a wall. Baxter would walk away, paw at me, or give me those subtle, quiet signals I couldn’t quite interpret.
I’d feel frustrated, like I was missing something vital. Despite all my experience, I realised I wasn’t truly connecting with what he was trying to tell me.

That’s when I knew I needed to develop a deeper relationship with the essential oils themselves.
I began attending workshops and retreats, learning how to journey with the aromatics (both essential oils and hydrosols), how to truly connect through them, not just use them.

And everything changed. I was no longer relying only on what I saw or thought, I opened all my senses. I started receiving messages in ways I never had before.

Bringing this into my work with my Zoopharmacognosy students transformed everything.
Before they even worked with the dogs, I guided them to connect deeply with the aromas, individually and as a group.

Over the years I've witnessed students, who once felt disconnected, or considered themselves to be very pragmatic and 'logical', begin to embody a new sense of confidence.

They started receiving and understanding the subtle messages their dogs had been trying to share all along. They felt more alive, more present, and more deeply connected.
It was like their soul was awakening to a new language of understanding and connection. With their dogs, the plants and themselves.

This is the missing piece I want to share with you.

If you’re used to relying solely on visual clues, or if you feel like you’re doing everything “right” but still not truly understanding what your dog is experiencing or feeling, know that there is another way.

It’s not just about what you see, it's about awakening your senses, your intuition, and developing a sacred relationship with the plant medicines that can open that door.

That’s why I’ve created a 6-week group mentoring programme.
A soulful journey to deepen your bond with your dog, whether they are here with you or in spirit.

Together, through aromatics, sensory awareness and animal communication, we’ll nurture your intuitive voice so you can truly feel and understand what your dog is saying on a deep level.

If you have ever felt there’s more to discover or that you’re missing the subtle messages your dog is trying to share, this is your invitation.
Let’s awaken your senses and open the door to a deeper, more embodied connection with your beloved companion.

With just 2 spaces left on this upcoming mentorship, comment below with 'me' if you'd like more information, or send me a DM

Rachel, Baxter (in spirit) and Darcy.
We're excited to guide you on this next part of your journey together 🐾

11/08/2025

"My dog is stupid" "My dog is an idiot" "My dog is a t**t"

Have you ever heard someone say that about their dog?
Or maybe you've said it? Don't worry, hands in the air, me too.

Have you ever heard the expression, 'don't judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree?'.

It's a good one to remember when we label our dogs dumb, stupid or something else that implies a lack of intelligence.

What we're actually saying when we utter those words is "I'm not listening to you" and definitely also "My mind is closed, i'm not learning from you".

Yuk. That feels less funny now doesn't it.

But really what's underneath it, is we just aren't them! We haven't got the full picture and all of the information because we're seeing their behaviour through our pretty narrow lens.

Just yesterday, a lady wrote on a FB thread that her dog toilets on nettles. Now she didn't say he was stupid, in fact she was more curious as to why he'd potentially sting his butt while emptying his bowls.

Curiosity is the essential ingredient we need to bring into the mix when considering our dogs behaviour.
Now perhaps, it's not random it's nettles.
Nettles are a POWERHOUSE of a plant which packs a punch when it comes to nutritional and medicinal properties.

Did you know for example that studies have shown that applying stinging nettle leaves can reduce pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis?

Could it be in his canine way, he's indicating he has a need for nettles or something similar, or perhaps being a guidepost for his mum to learn more about nettles?

Or he doesn't like them and that's why he poops on them? Or indeed something else.

What happens when we label our dogs stupid?
We don't evolve. We stunt our growth quite literally, so maybe we're being the dumb ones in that moment?

Harsh perhaps, but sometimes we humans need our minds prizing open a little more to see the beautiful expansive wisdom both dogs and plants have to share.

So, next time your dog does something “odd,” ask yourself: what can I learn from this?

Let’s open our minds, see the bigger picture, and grow together.
Because maybe, just maybe, we’re the ones who need a little more understanding.

Share your thoughts or stories below. Let’s keep the curiosity alive.

06/08/2025

When the sentence "My dog doesn't like.... " might not be the whole story.

That phrase, "My dog doesn’t like...", is something we’ve all said at some point.
But how true is it?
Are their responses always black and white, or is there more nuance behind their reactions?

The truth is, dogs are complex beings with feelings and preferences that can vary depending on context, mood, or how something is presented to them. Too many variables to list!

Sometimes, it’s not about dislike at all, perhaps they’re just feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or not heard in that moment.

One of the most wonderful aspects of working and living with dogs is how often they surprise us and teach us something new.

Last week, during a Zoopharmacognosy Practitioner training call, a mentee co-guided a botanicals session with a gorgeous ex-street dog. The session was quick. The dog went into a 'processing' trance early on with cornflower hydrosol, while her mum fell in love with Yarrow.

But because there is more than one dog in the home, we decided it would be lovely to hold a family session.

So that we knew what to send in the kit for the second session, we invited mum to offer the botanicals to her other dog.
She shared that her boy didn't like herbs and would avoid them.

But very quickly, once we explained this is an offering for the dogs, what she realised was that it wasn’t about dislike.
It was that the herbs had been added to his food without giving him a choice.

It actually was about choice, agency and being heard.

When she simply presented the herbs as an option and allowed her dog to choose, everything changed.

To her surprise, her dog actively participated , even wanting to drink a hydrosol. It turned out, he wasn’t anti-herb at all, he just needed her to pivot, to listen more closely, and offer what he genuinely needed in a way that was meaningful for him.

This small shift boosted her confidence and curiosity.

She started experimenting more, recognising how powerful it is to observe, listen, be present and be flexible.

Moments like these remind us how much our dogs want to communicate and guide us when we’re open to hearing them.

Have you experienced a surprise like this with your own dog, a moment where they showed you something new or unexpected?

I’d love to hear your story.

03/08/2025

I asked for a sign. ✨
And Sophie delivered. 💖

Sophie was my first love. A tri-paw’d Weimaraner from Battersea Dogs Home who passed over in 2010. 🌈

Last night, I wanted to connect with her, to feel her presence. I asked her to send me a clear message.
As I sat in a quiet space, I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. Then, I received a visual, a scrunched-up piece of paper with her name on it.

My immediate reaction? “That’s rubbish.” 🙄 I didn’t expect it to come that way. It didn’t quite resonate with how I thought her message would appear.
Still, I sat with it, open to whatever might come next.

Early this morning, I heard a crash downstairs.
I went to see what had happened and found our pointer with her paws on the windowsill.

Next to her was a brass ox ornament, on its side. I picked it up and the hind left leg fell off!
That’s the same leg Sophie had amputated when she was a puppy! 🤯

I knew in that moment that Sophie was still with me, sending her love and a reminder.
Even when we doubt the signs, they’re still speaking.

Our intuition isn’t loud, it’s quiet, gentle, and easy to dismiss.
But it’s always there. 💖

I hear this all the time from the people I mentor:
🌀 “I feel something, but then I question myself.”
🌀 “It never feels clear enough to listen to.”
🌀 “What if I’m making it up?”

But the truth is, learning to listen to your inner voice takes practice.
It’s about noticing the tiny nudges, the subtle whispers that often go unheard.

That’s why I’m creating a new group mentoring experience for dog guardians who want to deepen their connection with their dogs in spirit or in life.

Over 6 weeks of guidance, we don’t just “do communication.”

We notice the tiny shifts.
We nurture your ability to listen more deeply, one gentle step at a time.

Whether your dog is by your side or in spirit...
They’re still speaking. 🗣️
You’re already listening. 👂
Let’s help you hear it clearly.

DM me for the invitation. 💌

01/08/2025

The Quiet Presence That Never Left ✨🐾

Have you ever noticed a quiet moment where you felt their presence, even if they’re no longer physically here?

Like a soft whisper in your mind or a gentle warmth in your heart that catches you off guard? 💫💖

When our dogs are alive, we often feel like we know them better than anyone.
But that isn’t because we’re experts at reading their body language, it’s because the universal language of energy is what binds us.

It’s why we sometimes sense when they need more rest, feel that they don’t like a certain person, or get a subtle message from them which we can't shake off.

And here’s the truth: this doesn’t end when they leave their physical form.
The connection and love remain.

Yet, we’ve been conditioned to believe it’s over.
That they’re really gone. That’s why the pain can feel so profound.

Yet in some cultures around the world, the understanding that spirits shift and change form has never been forgotten.

The love that once connected you remains, in a different space, in a different way, beyond what we see.

Sometimes, it’s those subtle signals that remind us, some bonds don’t end with goodbye.

You might find yourself unexpectedly smiling at a familiar thought or feeling a calming reassurance that your beloved is still close. 🌙🧸

It’s as if a part of them is still near, watching over your journey, offering silent support.

Often, these feelings are brushed aside or dismissed, yet they’re a gentle reminder that true connection lasts forever.

If you’ve ever sensed their presence beyond the physical, know you’re not alone.

Sometimes, all it takes is a moment of stillness to reconnect with what’s always been right here, in your heart. 💓🕊️

Your love for them isn’t bound by time, it simply shifts, waiting for us to notice the signs.

Have you felt their presence when you least expected it?

(Me and my boy in spirit, Baxter, forever my co-pilot)

29/07/2025

🐾 Connection isn’t spoken. It’s felt.

Do you ever sense that your dog is trying to tell you something, but you just can’t quite put your finger on it?

We love our dogs deeply, but we often feel there is a void, something missing along with a wish to truly understand what’s going on for them.

We wonder if we’re getting it 'right', we chase the 'why', beat ourselves up for 'missing something' and question if our feelings and impressions are just wishful thinking.

Our little Boston Terrier, Cosmo, now in spirit, used to hesitate about going on walks.

Every time we reached for his collar, he’d run away and sit on a bed.

We'd spend several minutes following him around the house trying to get his collar on.

And once outside, he’d walk behind our legs, not really engaging with the environment and seemingly wanting to 'get it done'.

It broke my heart.

As his mum and guardian, I wanted him to feel safe, to feel included, and that we were doing the best for him.

I knew deep down that it wasn’t about training or changing him. It was about listening to how he was feeling.

So, I slowed down. I paused. And connected with Cosmo.

He shared that he felt like he was 'being walked' rather than sharing a walk, an experience, with us together.

There was a sense of disconnect.

So, we listened and honoured his message.

From them on, we told him where we were going and for how long and that he could choose to come or stay home.

For the first time ever, when we produced his collar, he stood by the front door ready to go out! This didn't just happen once, it happened time and time again. Some days choosing to come, other days, choosing to stay home.
Not only that, he started to really connect with the environment when out. Sometimes running ahead, sniffing, rolling, basically being more 'dog'!

That simple act of listening, feeling and honouring his feelings with NO pressure, re-connected us. Not trying to fix him, just listening and respecting what he needed.

Connection isn’t about perfect behaviours or guessing right.
It’s about creating a space where our dogs feel safe to share their feelings, supported, loved, and truly understood.

If you’ve ever felt that ache inside, wanting to deepen your bond, to better support your dog, but unsure if you’re hearing them, know you’re not alone.

And sometimes, all it takes is learning how to slow down, quiet the noise, and truly listen.

Because beneath every hesitation or silent moment, there’s a need to be seen, heard, and loved.

✨ Have you had a moment where you felt your dog was trying to tell you something but you weren’t sure what? Or maybe you’ve wondered how to really listen to what they need?

I’d love to hear your story. Share in the comments or send me a message. Let’s start a conversation about those little moments of connection and understanding. 💬🐾

26/07/2025

No-one came along with a magic wand and turned me into an animal communicator overnight.

It wasn’t a sudden ‘tada’ where all my intuitive senses suddenly popped open through ‘om’, reiki attunement or a healing retreat.

It wasn’t as sexy as all that.

For me, it came from heart break.

My best friend in spirit and I could NOT get anything from her.

Others could and that made me feel both envious and deeply sad.

She was MY girl. I wanted to be the one to receive from her.

So I began exploring. Following the breadcrumbs.
My dogs, my clients dogs and the aromatics (essential oils) become some of the most patient, gracious powerful teachers.

I’m not special.
It’s not a gift.

It’s a PASSION. Driven by love and a desire to connect with those that mean the world to me

No one can teach that passion.
It exists within you.
It’s an ancient yearning.

But they can absolutely guide you to that place within yourself that already knows the universal language of all beings.

You just need to feel you can be you, feel safe, without the pressure to perform or give proof.

A space where the dogs are waiting for you to listen and the plants are gently leading you back to that deep inner knowing.

If this speaks to you, if you feel that pull,
I am excited to share that I've been quietly creating a new mentoring program to help you deepen your connection with your dog and tune into your intuition.

As a beta student, you'll get live coaching, personalised guidance, and a relaxed, supportive environment.

Comment “ME” or DM me to learn more. Let’s explore together! 🐾🥰

23/07/2025

Can you relate?

21/07/2025

Have you ever had a moment where you felt something from your dog, but your brain instantly jumped in with, “What if I’m just making this up?”

Yep! Me too.

And here’s what I’ve come to realise:

That voice of doubt? It’s not proof you’re wrong.

It’s proof you care.

That you want to deeply connect.
�That you’ve never been taught to notice and honour the subtle nudges, the body sensations, the quiet flashes of knowing.

But those are the very places your dog is already speaking to you.

So what if you weren’t making it up?

What if this is where it really begins?

Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever felt this. I promise, you’re not alone.

My Animal Matters Ltd

17/08/2025

13/08/2025

11/08/2025

06/08/2025

03/08/2025

01/08/2025

29/07/2025

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21/07/2025

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