Four-Legged Wisdom: Sacred Stories from an Animal Communicator

by Dobie Houson

Our companion animals are complex, sentient creatures who feel love, pain, and joy and are as invested in their life goals and life direction as we humans are invested in ours. In Four-Legged Wisdom: Sacred Stories from an Animal Communicator, the author, an animal activist and animal communicator, beautifully illustrates how we learn from our animal companions and how our lives are enhanced by their presence. Written to raise funds for animal rescues and sanctuaries, these stories show us that animals can be our wisest but often our most overlooked and misunderstood teachers. Journey into the hearts and minds of these amazing animals and learn the valuable roles they play in their human's lives. These remarkable stories are about partnership, humor, healing, life, love, and needing one another. This book will touch your heart and open your mind to the gifts and lessons our animal companions bestow upon us every day.

210 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2014

About the author

Dobie Houson is an activist for animal rights, an animal communicator, and the author of Finding Forever: The Dogs of Coastal German Shepherd Rescue and Four-Legged Wisdom: Sacred Stories from an Animal Communicator.

An ardent activist for animal rescue, Houson is founder and executive director of Finding Forever, a foundation dedicated to raising money and awareness for animal rescue causes through the arts.

Dobie Houson, a lifelong animal lover and animal communicator, has worked with dogs, cats, and horses. But it was her desire to understand and connect with animals on a deeper, more meaningful level that ultimately led her to study animal communication, including honing her telepathic skills. She has trained with some of the country’s most respected intuitive counselors and animal communicators and, today, is a sought-after teacher and trainer herself.

A professional communicator and prolific writer, Dobie Houson contributed to Why We Ride: Women Writers on the Horses in Their Lives (Seal Press, 2010), a popular anthology edited by writer and educator Verna Dreisbach. She also heads StrategiCreation, a marketing and communications consultancy for business start-ups.

When she’s not working with animals, Dobie Houson serves as director of marketing research for The Ken Blanchard Companies, a global consulting firm specializing in leadership and talent development. Her research has been published in many world-class academic journals.

Dobie Houson lives in Valley Center, California, north of San Diego, with her family, her animal companions and her lively horse, Bear.

To learn more visit http://findingforever.org/

Reviews

[HICK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe that we are all able to communicate with our animals in some level if we are open. This book helped validate my belief. I would recommend this book to anyone who has or has had an animal share their life and would like to begin to understand the purpose they were brought together. I have shared my life with five incredible dogs that have all helped me grow and taught me many things about myself. As I read each of Dobie’s stories I became more and more involved in the book until I could not put it down. This book will touch your spirit.
“I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.”

[Deborah Kilduff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful collection of heartwarming animal stories. As an animal lover and one who considers my dog as one of my closest companions, I appreciated the author’s tender and often humorous anecdotes of animals and their human families. When I started reading, I wasn’t sure of Ms. Houson’s claim of being able to speak with animals, but I do believe that we are all able to communicate with our pets if we are open to their affection. I would recommend this book to anyone who has shared his/her life with an animal.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it’s a good book when I finish reading it, set it down, and realize it won’t close because so many of the pages have been dog-eared.

There are many stories in Four-Legged Wisdom by Dobie Houson that touched me. My favorite about a dog named Hanna Banana Honey Bunny. The story titled “Hannah-Service.”

A German Shepherd rescued by a woman named Vivian. Hannah wasn’t on her radar to bring home that day. That sentence alone brought a smile to my face because of the magic animals work in our lives if we allow it to unfold as it is supposed to.

Hannah would turn out to be a wonderful therapy dog. With the gentle compassion and in-tune awareness to Hannah’s needs, Vivian would guide this special dog to many opportunities that served not only humans, but allowed Hannah to be the best therapy dog she could be.

When one situation proved to be too much for Hannah or wasn’t fulfilling her any longer, Vivian would find another new purpose in therapy work that would bring out the very best in this sweet spirit of a dog that she loved so much.

As an animal communicator, Dobie having worked with the animals in these stories, not only offers peace and comfort in helping us understand the animals in our lives, but also valuable insight into what they are trying to help us with on our own personal levels of healing.

Hannah’s message to Vivian through Dobie’s communication with her, one of those profound insights, “There is no hope where there is no light. Infuse yourself and your life with light.”

If you love animals and believe in their teachings, this is a book you will be glad you picked up and read. It offers more confirmation to our mere human minds that can’t always comprehend that we are all truly connected and can learn from another if we open our hearts.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to this book "Four-Legged Wisdom" I have a different understanding for my two Labradors. I have always thought that animals communicate with you but I never imagined that they can communicate with you in so many different ways. Every mannerism your pet has, has a reason. I loved the stories that author Dobie Houson provided in her book. Some stories brought tears to my eyes, while others put a smile on my face. Sometimes I have come across communication books and it's either too many stories and not enough written about the communication aspect or it's the other way around. Houson did a great job of evenly combining the two. The stories were relatively short which I also enjoyed, making this book a quick delightful read. After reading this book you will not look at your pets the same way. Any person that loves animals will love this book!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Bissell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book to read especially if you are an animal lover which I am. You will laugh and cry as you read this book, my favorite story in the book was on Bad Stanley. The woman that owns Stanley has a blog she writes from Stanley point of view on all the trouble he causes at home, which is so hilarious, you want to read more about Stanley on next bad thing he did or even join the blog she writes on him. If you own horses you will understand how Dobie helps with each horse that has overcome behavior problems by understanding their free spirit and will. I wish I could communicate with my two dogs to know what they are truly thinking and feeling. I think I will try the cards Dobie recommends in the beginning of her book to help me get to understand my animals better.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Legged Wisdom is a collection of experiences that Houson has had with animals during her career as an animal communicator and animal activist. She details the lives and circumstances surrounding several animals she has worked with, and shown what amazing lessons we can learn from the animals we love. I loved each story, showing the loving, goofy side of one dog, the protective side of another, the drive and ambition of a horse, etc. I think that Houson does a great job of bringing each story and animal to life, and showing how much each has brought her or others.

As an animal lover, I really enjoyed this book. I think that Houson does an amazing job of showing how big an impact animals have on our lives, and her ability to communicate with animals is truly incredible.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine Drummond · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.*

Four-Legged Wisdom: Sacred Stories from an Animal Communicator is a great read for fans of animals, particularly dogs and horses. This collection of short stories provided smiles, laughter, and tears. I enjoyed reading about the lessons four-legged companions have taught and reflected on those that I have learned through my loving companions. This was a quick read that left me wanting more. I look forward to reading Dobie Houson's other book and any future publications.