Ask the Animal Communicator: My Bearded Dragon Won't Snuggle With Me

Shannon Cutts
by Shannon Cutts
Published:  December 14th, 2022

Bearded dragons regularly top the lists of “most popular reptile pet.” What’s not to love? They look like tiny, well, dragons. They are notoriously clingy and cuddly. They aren’t picky about their food. Did we mention cuddly? But then what do you do when your beardie doesn’t want to cuddle and snuggle with you? You ask the animal communicator, of course!

Shinedawn/Shutterstock

Dear Shannon,

 

My kids saw a bearded dragon at a local pet store and thought it looked just like the dragons on Game of Thrones. So of course, they wanted one. And while at first, I wasn’t thrilled about adding a reptile to our family, my kids finally won me over after showing me videos of other beardies cuddling with their owners. 

 

Our bearded dragon, Drogon, was super-cuddly when he first came home with us. But now, at two years old, he has become less and less willing to snuggle with us. He likes to sit near us on the couch when we watch television or be in his enclosure watching us from a little way away. But when anyone goes to get him out, he will immediately move away or, if he does come out, he will find a place nearby to sit instead of sitting on us like he used to do.

 

My kids are quickly losing interest because Drogon just isn’t that sociable anymore so they can’t show him off to all their friends. Luckily for him, I’m thoroughly smitten. But I’m sad he doesn’t want to snuggle or even sit on me. What are we doing wrong? I’m just worried that something happened to him, or he got hurt and now he doesn’t trust us anymore.

 

Sincerely,

 

Alyssa, Drogon’s (human) mom

 


Shannon’s reply:


Hi Alyssa,


Thank you for reaching out to me about the changes you are noticing in Drogon’s behavior. You sound like a very caring and committed pet parent and Drogon is a lucky boy.


As an animal communicator, the value I add comes from my ability to share Drogon’s perspective with you, which we will talk about next. But since you mention significant behavior changes and your fear that Drogon may have gotten hurt, I just want to mention up front that animal communication isn’t meant to be a substitute or replacement for veterinary care. So I would also recommend that you have Drogon’s exotic veterinarian do an exam if you haven’t already done this.


Since you mention Drogon is about two years old, it also feels worth mentioning that male bearded dragons like Drogon typically reach sexual maturity between one and two years of age. And male beardies can go through a kind of “puberty” period where they become more anxious, pseudo-aggressive or just skittish. Mention this to your exotic veterinarian as well and have it checked out during Drogon’s exam.


Now, on to my conversation with Drogon. The first thing your boy shared with me was an image of him dressed in a cap and gown and holding a diploma. The associated emotion that came with this image was one of pride. The message he wants me to convey to you is this: Drogon sees himself not as a cuddly baby anymore but as a fully grown young man now.


As an animal communicator, one of the ways I get messages from animals is when my own emotional state changes suddenly in response to a question I ask. For example, when I asked Drogon how he feels about you and your kids, I suddenly began to feel escalating anxiety.


When I asked Drogon to explain more about this, he showed me him surrounded by humans who were all reaching for him all at once. My anxiety got stronger. So I asked him to show me how to ease his anxiety. Drogon then showed me an image of one human lifting him out of his enclosure and handling him and everyone else staying farther back. At this, I began to feel less anxious. Perhaps your kids and their friends coming at him all at once are just too much for this little dragon?


When I asked Drogon where his favorite place to be in the house is, he showed me an image of himself sitting on the back of the couch next to you at about shoulder height. He then moved onto your shoulder and then back off again. The emotion was one of closeness and affection – it does appear that out of all the family members, Drogon feels closest to and most bonded with you.


Finally, when I asked him to tell me about his habitat, he sent me a mini-movie of you carrying him back to an enclosure that appeared to fill up a whole room in your home. You don’t mention the size of Drogon’s current enclosure, but from this image it does feel like Drogon may be ready for a “big boy” enclosure if you haven’t upgraded him already. 😊


Alyssa, I hope this information is helpful and supportive to you, to your kids and most of all to your relationship with Drogon and his with you. Please keep in touch and let me know how Drogon is feeling and doing.


From my heart,

Shannon

WOW
Shannon Cutts
Shannon Cutts

Shannon Cutts is an intuitive animal communicator and Reiki master practitioner with Animal Love Languages. Shannon works through the universal love language of all species to connect with her pet clients – deep listening. Deep listening activates empathy, allowing Shannon to literally feel what an animal is feeling, listen in to their thoughts, experience what they are experiencing and then relay all of that information to the pet parent. Visit Shannon at www.animallovelanguages.com

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There is nothing that feels cozier than autumn. As the evenings become chillier and the leaves turn into vibrant shades of orange, we all get into that fall mood and reach for our favorite treats – such as a yummy pumpkin spice latte! And now, thanks to the limited-edition dental chews from GREENIES, your pet can enjoy the same cinnamony, pumpkin flavor you look forward to each year. Specially crafted for the autumn season, these one-of-a-kind chews are designed to give your pet a taste of fall while promoting healthy teeth and fresh breath all the while. 

Dog Weddings Are The Latest Trend in China – And It’s Adorable

A lavish tiered cake, a dreamy outdoor venue, white lace, and flowing gowns – it is a sure recipe for a dream wedding. But don’t be surprised to hear that it was arranged for a pair of Golden Retrievers, Bree and Bond. In front of all their friends and family – both human and canine – they “tied the knot” and became newlyweds.This happened in China, where pet weddings are on the rise – a stark contrast to the fast-declining marriage and birth rates of the populace in China. The latest trend of splurging on pet weddings is steadily rising in China as Reuters reports, especially in its urban centers. In fact, spending on dogs has increased by 3.2% in 2023, to a grand total of 279.3 billion yuan ($38.31 billion), a steep rise from just one year before. "People have weddings. Why can't dogs have weddings?" said Rye Ling for Reuters, owner of newlywed retriever Bree. He was emotional after escorting his female pet down the aisle, where she “exchanged vows promising to always share treats and play with her husband Bond”.Bree and Bond’s owners, Rye Ling and Gigi Chen, said to the news outlets that they are in no rush to get married themselves and that they have instead meticulously planned the wedding ceremony of their pets months ahead. They arranged for professional photography, wedding booklets, and a custom-made, 800-yuan (cca $110) wedding cake that even had Bree and Bond toppers!The owner of a Shanghai-based pet bakery, Yang Tao, said that she was initially surprised that someone ordered a lavish wedding cake for their pets."I think there will be more and more dog weddings," she said, adding that it was not the first time she catered for such ceremonies since opening in 2022. "We have already received an order for a few months from now ... and that's for a dog wedding."Rye Ling added that his hope was for the wedding ceremony to give Bree and Bond a “sense of ritual”. He added that he wanted only one child and that he also hopes to welcome puppies soon.

Can Dogs Get Melanoma?

Melanocytes are special pigment cells that are responsible for a dog’s coat color. Without these cells, canines simply wouldn’t be as diverse and beautiful as we know them. But even though melanocytes can be viewed as a source of a dog’s uniqueness and lovely appearance, they can potentially be harmful as well. Just like humans, dogs can also be affected by melanoma, a type of cancer that originates in the melanocytes. In dogs, however, melanoma can develop in various locations, including the skin, mouth, eyes, and nail beds. While it can be benign in many cases, melanoma can also be malignant and can metastasize to other parts of the body. While all breeds of dogs can get melanoma, it is important to know that certain breeds are more predisposed to melanoma, including Scottish Terriers, Poodles, Golden Retrievers, and Dachshunds. What is more, the sex of the dog is not a factor, as both males and females are equally susceptible to this illness. However, age is a very important factor that owners need to keep in mind. Research shows that most dogs who develop melanoma are 9 years or older, which means that seniors are those predominantly affected by this type of cancer. Still, it’s important to note that dogs of any age can have melanoma, even if it’s less frequent in younger canines.Types of Dog MelanomaIt is also important to know that there are several types of melanoma, and each one affects a different part of the dog’s body and is presented with different symptoms. Skin (Cutaneous) Melanoma: This type of melanoma is found on the skin, often appearing as a dark, raised growth. Look for lumps or masses that might be pigmented or non-pigmented. Oral Melanoma: This type occurs in the mouth and can be particularly aggressive and fast-spreading. Initial symptoms include bad breath, excessive drooling, bleeding, and difficulty eating.Ocular Melanoma: As the name suggests, ocular melanoma affects the eyes and may impair your pet’s vision. Changes in eye color, visible masses, or vision problems are possible symptoms.Subungual Melanoma: A rarer type of cancer, subungual melanoma develops in the nail bed and can be very painful for the dog and prohibit walking. As it progresses, it may cause swollen, deformed, or discolored nails.Can You Prevent Melanoma in Dogs?While there are no guarantees, there are certain steps you can take to minimize your pet’s chances of being affected by melanoma in their lifetime. In addition to regular vet visits and thorough checkups for any changes in skin or fur, the most important thing you can do is minimize sun exposure. This is especially true for dogs with light-colored or thin coats, as they are more susceptible to UV radiation. 

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