Dog Haiku for Fall

Pile of Autumn leaves… my beloved rubber ball… lies deep within thee.
—S. Longo

The Number 1 Best Way To Spend Time With Your Dog.

The weather has been great lately this spring here in New York. Which brings me to my absolutely favorite thing to do with my dogs on a beautiful spring day. Nothing! Well actually, we are doing something. It’s just that to the untrained eye we appear to be doing nothing. The most wonderful thing to do with your pups is to lay down on the green grass under a big tree filled with green leaves. I love laying next to them in perfect silence listening to the wind rustling through the leaves and watching them move and sway against the sky. Sometimes the sound of a distant lawnmower breaks the silence, but you and dogs are in the zone. It is so captivating yet meditative. You just feel so connected and in tune with your dogs, and with the earth underneath you. It’s hard to remember sometimes when we are all so busy to take the time for the simple pleasures such as this, but I assure you it is well worth it. It’s one of those simple pleasures that bring you right back to your childhood. Enjoy!

Stephen

Why dogs like receiving flowers too.

Using Bach Flower Remedies to Reduce Stress and Improve Behavior in Dogs

When most people hear Bach Flower Remedies mentioned, if they are familiar with them at all, they automatically think of Rescue Remedy. Rescue Remedy, like all of the Bach Flowers, is a liquid infusion of healing flowers which acts to subtly but powerfully rebalance emotional states. Rescue Remedy is actually a special combination of 5 of the 38 flower essences discovered early in the last century by English physician and bacteriologist Dr Edward Bach. It’s a truly unsurpassed formula for alleviating severe stress and trauma. It can be used “in the heat of the moment” for stress and upset associated with accidents, fights, etc, as well as proactively for upcoming potentially stressful events – vet visits, whelping, moving, puppies or adult dogs going to new homes, and more. Unlike more conventional supplements, Rescue Remedy is also uniquely useful in its ability to help work out the fallout of past trauma and stress. Because of this, it is wonderful given long term to rescue dogs that have suffered past neglect or abuse, as well as working, competition, or pet dogs that may have previously suffered overly harsh or forceful training methods. While Rescue Remedy is well known for acting extremely quickly in those “heat of the moment” traumatic situations, it will also work more deeply and gradually with trauma and stress that has been buried by time.

One thing I love about Rescue Remedy, and the other Bach flower essences, is your dog will not act “drugged” or dopey when taking it. In general, what I see is that the dog’s typical stress reaction will be reduced, or sometimes not there at all. If it’s only reduced, I usually find that the dog is easier to calm or redirect than usual. Sometimes the stress reaction is such a habit that even though the stress itself is reduced, the dog still acts stressed because that’s what he’s used to doing in the situation! If this happens, I recommend getting your dog’s attention focused away from the source of stress: depending on the dog and situation, engaging her in some favorite activity, giving a relaxing massage, or simply asking for some obedience behaviors can help redirect your dog’s attention and calm her. You might be surprised at how well your dog is able to respond with a little extra help from Rescue Remedy!

As I mentioned, Rescue Remedy is just one combination of Bach Flower Essences – albeit a very successful one! There are 38 total English flower essences, which can be used alone, combined together, and even combined with Rescue Remedy. For instance, if your dog becomes severley stressed, fearful and anxious over certain events, Rescue Remedy can be combined with Mimulus (for specific fears) and Aspen (for general anxiety) for a even more effective formula. Depending on the dog’s temperament and early learning, some dogs can also get defensive and suspicious when stressed and afraid. These dogs can benefit from the addition of Holly (for suspicion). There are as many combinations of flower essences for dogs as there are “pictures” of canine behavior. If you like to experiment with this kind of thing, it’s easy to do. Simply combine 3 to 4 drops of each essence in a clean 1 oz dropper bottle filled with spring water. I generally add about a tablespoon of brandy so that the formula will keep for a few months. Shake the formula well, and keep tightly sealed. Three or four times  day, give your dog a few drops by mouth (taking care to not touch the dropper to any surface), or put the drops on a dry cookie and give to the dog. Just keep in mind that you should address one behavioral picture at a time (that is, don’t try to make a formula for your dog’s fear of vets, as well as the over-excitement he experiences at the do park – those would be two different formulas!), and that most experts recommend no more than 6 essences in combination per formula. A general description of what emotional state each flower essence addresses is available at feelbach.com/bachflowers.htm.

One caveat – the Bach company recently came out with Rescue Remedy lozenges for people (yes, Rescue Remedy and the other Bach flower essences work beautifully on people, too!). These might seem like a handy idea for dogs, too, but be aware that the lozenges contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Stick to the liquid form, which is completely safe and non-toxic for our four-legged companions!

I am always happy to field questions about the Bach Flowers through my website, Aldaron Animal Essences, or Aldaron’s Facebook page. Stop in and say hello!

Julie Cantrell

www.aldaronessences.com

Dogs Beg For Reiki

I first become interested in Reiki (which is a form of energy healing) after my Great Dane Caesar jammed his toe real bad . I rushed him to the vet with a bleeding toe. After a couple vet visits it seemed it was not healing as quickly as it should. We were told by our vet that there was a possibility that the toe might have to be amputated if it did not heal. This due to the fact that would be a higher  risk of cancer developing. To make a long story shorter, I felt sort of useless and wanted to help my dog in addition to just waiting for the medication and time to work.

I was aware of Reiki already and this was the perfect excuse to get myself attuned (the process by which one is initiated and opens your body to better allow the flow of healing energy). To those unfamiliar it is the laying on of hands, although you need not even lay hands on your dog or spouse or whom ever. You can also send Reiki from just above the body, working with the aura, or from a distance even. You are merely acting as a conduit, channeling the healing energy and directing it to the person or animal. The Reiki energy is not actually doing the healing but instead creating profound relaxation thus allowing the body to heal itself. Anyone can learn Reiki easily. All you need is to be attuned by a certified Reiki Master. Simple as that. You can become attuned to the first two levels in a weekend. You need not go further than that to be effective. So for the equivalent cost of a few Vet visits, I now am able to participate the well-being and healing of my dogs in a way that was not possible before.

So now even when there is nothing even wrong with my dogs, I may give them Reiki treatments just because it is deeply relaxing and healing for them while we are watching tv or whatever. Sometimes animals find the Reiki energy too much at first so you need to proceed slowly, always allowing them the choice as to whether or not they are in the mood to receive Reiki. If they are accepting the Reiki they usually fall asleep. They will always let you know when they have had enough by getting up.

Let me end this by saying that I never rely on Reiki alone to heal my dogs. I always use it as an adjunct to seeing the Vet. I find the Reiki assists and helps along the healing process. I myself am no expert on Reiki. I am a Level two practitioner who offers it to my dogs because I love them and want to be a part of their health. More info about Reiki can be found at:

http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiki

What Dog Walking Taught Me About Life.

It’s really funny how much our dogs have to teach us. I had a flash of insight this morning while walking the dogs that may be obvious to many of you already. I tend to drift off into thought alot. I am always lost in thought. Having recently recommitted myself to obedience training, something I did not even realize I had gotten soft on, something became very obvious to me about my own life that I had lost track of. The need to be present in the moment not only while walking the dogs but in my life as well. I used to do alot of thinking while walking my dogs. Sometimes I was very present and sometimes I was somewhere else on autopilot. As was always the case, those instances where the pups got into something they should not on our walk (Cooked steak bones by someone’s garbage cans, or missing the signals my dog was giving that he did not like an approaching dog) always occurred when I was not being present. So without being too philosophic, it was an aha moment which served to remind me that the more present I am while walking the dogs, the more in control and the more pleasurable the experience. Now to take what I have learned and apply it. Any thoughts?

A Haiku for Every Dog

Like a compass true
You reveal to me myself
Each strength, flaw laid bare.
— S. Longo

The Top 3 things not to say to a Great Dane owner.

1) I hear they don’t live very long. I cannot tell you the number of times people chose to open up a conversation with that statement. That would be like going up to someone who was standing next to their grandmother and asking how much longer does she have to live. I am sure they do not realize they were being offensive, but common sense people please.

2) Do you have a saddle for that thing? It was funny the first 10 times. I don’t mind if kids say it though.

3) Whose walking who? Sometimes I wonder myself, but still.

And there it is. Anything you would like to add to that list?

Haiku for my Dane Chloe.

Black and silent as night.
Her Hungry eyes implore me.
Is that milk for me?
— S. Longo