Reiki Treatment for Dogs?

[Patti]

Has anyone tried Reiki treatment for fear issues with their dog?

 

Wondering, I'm willing to try anything that will have a good outcome for little Willow.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I have a friend out of state that uses some of these methods under the care of a  holistic veterinarian. 

Again, have you talked with your vet about all these symptoms with your dog?  I asked one other time but I can't find in your posts if you have yet or not. 

I'm hoping you pick one method and stick with it for awhile.  Say more than a month.   Either holistic methods with a vet, or traditional medications with a vet. 

It can take a long time, along with a lot of intervention , for these to work. 

What are your thoughts?  If she is this severe, and it sounds like she is, have you considered the tried and true,  old methods?   I would NOT be dealing with this alone.  Seek out some sort of HEALTH CARE.

[Patti]

I don't know about Reiki, a friend of mine suggested it today.  Of course I would check into it more. 

As far as talking to our vet, yes. In fact one of the vets from the clinic has watched Willow during training classes a couple of times. I am working with a trainer. and Willow does reasonable well in class, she is well trained and very responsive to me in class, however out in the real world she is in a TOTAL state of panic and I am nonexistent.  

 

The vet has recommended Med's, the trainer thinks Willow will work through the issues without Med's.  Willow and I have been working on this for 5 months now.  And I still can't walk down the street with her.

[Kyoko]

OK, I just read this part  and it caught my attention. " However, out in the real world she is in a TOTAL state of panic and I am nonexistent. "  I want to ask you few questions... ( I am not an expart or anything, you know? These are things that I learned from the trainer, books, etc...) How do you feed Willow? How often do you work & play with Willow? Tranier we had, stated that if we become the most important thing in their lives, the fearful/anxious dogs can learn to trust and focus on us in fearful/anxiety inducing situations and be able to handle the stimuli. For example, if we are afraid to drive through the tunnel, we could focus and just look at the tail light of the car ahead of us and manage to drive through the tunnel, like that.... 80% of the time, I hand feed Charlie through training, and that's how she eats breakfast and dinner, while we work on some command. So, I become the source to her food. Also, I place play like fetch in the training time as well, so that training = play, and play= training. And to do something with ME become the most fun and rewarding experience. ( hopefully ) Having said that, we are work in progress forever, and I don't think Charlie will ever become a type of dog who loves everyone and wants to kiss the strange people and kids at the park and play nice with little dogs at the dog park. I think it is hard wired and this is how and who she is to the extent. She is just learning to cope with her fear and anxiety so that she can manage herself and enjoy herself in a normal everyday situation. She is getting better, though. And I am learning a lot about her body language and threash holds, so that I know how much and how close is too much for her......Joanne, I think baby step is good. Always good. I think that dog never fails. If it is not successful, we just take a step back and start again...:-)

[Patti]

She eats twice a day, out of a bowl.

She eats treats like mad from us while in training, and likes to take treats from others only while in class.

 

She loves training class, and will now get out of the car to go inside. She is very well trained for 8 months and has her certificate and is working on her "Canine Good Citizen Certificate" and I'm sure she will pass in class.  However outside of class she will forget all and go into panic/hyper reactive behavior.

She is with us always, played with all day, a little training everyday. She is never left alone for more than going out to the store or out to dinner and than she is left with her best friend/play toy, Jonah, her brother the 90lb Lab, whom she loves.

 

I'm am totally OK with her not kissing everybody, I just want her to feel comfortable walking down the street and not being in pure flight mode all the time.

 

[Kyoko]

I think you are on the very right track.... Willow seems pretty similar to Charlie. Seems that since she started to get used to the dog school, may be gradually, she can get used to the different places, too. Like may be a small coffee shop, her own driveway, etc.... I think going through these training will help them with coping skills and self confident. Charlie, too has CGC and Rally title, and do agility, too. But real life situation with unfamiliar is hard. We are still working on it. Site and group like this is really helpful to me and encourages me to continue working on my trouble maker girl.... Good luck... if you decide to use meds, please keep us updated. I will be interested to know how it goes!

[Patti]

Willow will start med's on monday. The vet is doing a full blood work up on Willow before she gives med's.  The vet is good friends with our trainer and we will all work as a team to bring Willow into a place of well being.

 

I will keep you informed.

[Kyoko]

OK! I  am very interested to know how it goes with her! Thanks!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Can you be more specific?

I've just gone to 10 websites.  All talk about Reiki but all were different treatments.  One was palm type of healing using symbols.  One was just chants you can perform alone.  Another was house calls.  Then I found Reike patches.

Sounds like a very common treatment by all the hits I recieved but it also sounds like many ways to use this method.

What did you have in mind?

I found it very interesting but I don't know your ideas as I am find Reiki almost used as a general terms for many things.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I found this one.   It is very nice in it's explanation. 

http://animalreikisource.com/animal-reiki-information/animal-reiki-...

 

Yes, if this is what you mean, I have done something similar with my dog.  I've looked at her, told her I accept her for who she is, that we are not going to live in her past, etc.   We lay around a lot and I rub her chest ( Nancy,  Ned, and Clancey taught me this trick), I give her a massage, she gives me her paws and her relaxed smile.

I do think dogs can pick up from your anxiety with them.  Meaning, if you look at this dog and she is not everything you ever wanted or expected, they know and it is passed on in their self-worth. 

Nothing wrong with trying to find peace in your relationship. I do believe it helps.

If this continues though, my hopes are that you return to your vet for more help.

Peace to you, too   :)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Many dogs take medication with very positive results!   Mine, is one of them.  If it makes her heart stop aching it is worth a try.  You have tried many things. I admire you for all you are doing.  You are racking your brain trying to help her.  It is so hard, so sad, and I empathize with you. But it has been a long time now. 

If you could ask her, would she say, YES?  Would she want to try something that would make her quality of life better?

I think most dogs want to have fun.  Most would love to see and explore new things, smells, sounds.  Our dogs just can't enjoy some simple things because fear stops them. I think they hate feeling this bad too.

Is there a reason you don't want to try what the vet suggested?

 

 

[Patti]

Thank you so much for your kind words, I am 58, I have had the pleasure of dogs all my life, two or three at a time, all well adjusted and very happy. Even though they have all had their, at times, trying personalities I have never experienced this "fear" before. Just the normal puppy stuff that they have all outgrown.   Willow is happy and go lucky at home, she lives with a 90lb yellow Lab, who loves her, and a older Jack Russel, who could take or leave her.  

 

May I ask what Med's you helped you pups with?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Oh you make me laugh.  I just turned 52, have had loopy labs and one big sweetheart Mastiff.  Never had I experienced anything like this.  I was told, it goes away. Well, mine did not, it got deeper.  Nothing you are doing wrong. Don't blame yourself.  I know the feeling. In public it can be embarrassing. 

You once said, you and your husband are pretty active and this was going to be your empty nest  dog.  Us too!   :)   For some reason, I think we have formed some bonds here with our common problem.  Let's try to get these dogs to join us in a fun and happy life!  

They need to act like the silly labs they are