Hidden Gems: Meet AJ Davidson of Animal Whisperer ATL

Today we’d like to introduce you to AJ Davidson.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always lived with an animal in the house, and I felt more comfortable wirh animals versus humans, so from a very young age I was obsessed with learning how they communicate and how to mimic it myself. Unfortunately during my teen and young adult years, I struggled with some severe mental health issues and was depressed and dealing with suicidal thoughts for several years, eventually getting diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, ADHD, and autism. During this time, the bonds I formed with the animals I interacted with literally kept me alive. After earning my degree, I worked a couple jobs in the animal industry before landing at a county animal shelter. For the almost two years I spent there, I worked with hundreds (if not thousands) of dogs and cats that had behavioral issues caused or exacerbated by trauma. Helping them learn to trust people, build their self-confidence, and find their next chapter was the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced, and it built up my knowledge of animal behavior and communication. I eventually had to leave to protect my mental health, but that desire to help animals heal and build bonds with the people in their lives never left me. That’s when I decided to start Animal Whisperer ATL.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest obstacle has been my mental health. Early on, it made it difficult, if not impossible, for me to go out, network, learn from others, and grow in that way. Much of my education has been done in isolation, from the animals I’ve interacted with and learned with. While that has helped me create a unique approach to working with animals, in my opinion, it’s not so great for starting a business and getting clients. The last couple of years, my mental health is under control and I’m connecting with more people, but I’m still learning new things every day.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Animal Whisperer ATL?
I run a virtual animal behavior consulting business. What this means is I have video calls with pet parents who need assistance with their pets. While my specialty is trauma-induced behavioral cases, I work with anyone who asks for assistance, whether they’re training their pet or wanting to learn why their pet is acting a certain way or doing something out of character. Virtual consults are a great avenue for this because I can reach more people, get a more unbiased view of their pets’ behavior without adding a new variable (me, an unknown individual) into the situation, and have more opportunities to teach the human what they need to know without distraction.

I work with both dogs and cats, which may surprise some people. Cats have rich inner worlds and can struggle with behavioral issues that people just call “being a cat.” My goal is to increase people’s knowledge of how cats behave and interact with the world around them.

Two things I have instilled into my brand is accessibility and customization. I have a sliding scale pricing structure based on average household income, and I don’t sell packages. Every new client gets a consultation call, but any follow-ups are scheduled based on the case. Some people just need someone to talk through issues with, and others need short-term or long-term support.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that context is key. Understanding the context of a behavior, of an action — the environment it’s taking place in, what stressors are present, events that took place in recent history — can alter your perception of it. Animals have a complex, nuanced view of the world around them that some people tend to simplify. Giving that complexity the attention it deserves, considering context, is key to understanding your animals and building stronger relationships with them.

Pricing:

• I use a sliding scale pricing model for clients. Details can be found on my website.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.animalwhispereratl.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwhispereratl?igsh=ajR2cmpveTB2OXBk