Reiki uses energy to help heal patients of any ailments from which they are currently suffering. Troubles can be mental, emotional or even physical. Reiki practitioners either touch patients or move their hands just above a patient’s body to channel energy to trigger the body into using natural healing processes to solve them of their troubles.
Reiki can therefore be used for several other species too, not least dogs. Given their sensitive natures and inherent emotional intuition, they are excellent beneficiaries of all that Reiki has to offer. Plus, due to our close connection with our dogs, it’s a natural reaction for us to give our canine best friends any help we can for them to lead a happier life.
The Benefits
The benefits of Reiki can be nothing short of life changing.
For humans, it is a great way of releasing tension and any aches and pains that manifest in our bodies as a result. In dogs, the same can be said, as well as being a great way of helping to mitigate and ease any mental tension that your pet is going through.
We’ve all seen the rescue dogs that have been abused so badly that they won’t come close to a human. Reiki is the perfect solution as it can be performed from afar and helps relieve any fears and psychological cocnerns that may manifest itself in dog behavioral issues.
Reiki has also been known to help relieve arthritis and other painful injuries. Above all, many use it as a way to calm their dogs.
Take a look at our review of Calming Supplements For Dogs.
The Energy Points
Reiki works on channeling energy through certain points in one’s body that are called chakras. In dogs, the spots are not all that different from where the chakras in a human are.
There are some great YouTube videos on this. Simply search for Reiki training in dogs to bring up some great tutorials. A good rule of thumb, however, is always to have both hands on the dog and match where they are on each side. It’s also a good idea to start near the top your pet and then slowly move down towards their hind legs and tail.
The Dog Needs To Be Willing
Reiki only ever works if people are honestly willing to try it. It is this way that their energy is able to be channeled by Reiki masters and practitioners. The same should be said of dogs. If they are not willing to accept the help you are offering, or rather if they are not in the right frame of mind to have their energy channeled through you or others, it is best to leave it for another time.
It’s important to remember therefore that not all dogs will be willing recipients of Reiki, however much we know that it can help them.
Not All Dogs Like Reiki
Though it is one of the least invasive forms of treatment out there, not all dogs like Reiki. However, it is a good idea to try out the two different types of Reiki on your pet to see if either suits them. Some will respond better to touch than immediately thought, whereas others will prefer the practice when it is carried out by a master moving their hands just above their bodies.
More often than not, if it is you practising Reiki on your dog, they will probably prefer you to touch them lightly.
Get Help When Needed
There are a countless amounts of Reiki practitioners around the world, you just need to know where to look. The internet may be a great start in your learning of the ancient practice, but it should not be used as the only source of information on it.
The best way to learn about Reiki is from a Reiki master, so it will pay dividends to at least contact one who at the very least will be able to point you in the right direction as to how to help your dog at home.
Some will come to your house and carry out a healing session, whereas others run online training courses. It’s a vast subject – much bigger than many originally think – and that can be quite overwhelming. Its benefits can be priceless however.
Remember The Vets
Reiki can work wonders and help dogs with behavioral problems as well as health issues. That is not to say, however, that routine checkups with your vet should be replaced with carrying out Reiki on your own at home.
Teeth cleaning for instance is something that should be carried out by animal healthcare professionals. Plus, immediate help should be sought for anything life threatening, like if a dog eats something it shouldn’t.
Reiki is a non invasive treatment that won’t be able to replace the medical care that vets can offer. It should definitely be seen as a supplement or support treatment alongside what your pet’s vet offers.
Beware The Comments
Lastly, one negative side effect to giving Reiki to your dog is the amount of opinionated comments you will attract from well meaning friends, or otherwise.
Given the amount of naysayers that surround the Japanese practice, the fact that you have made the decision to use it on your pet, will mean many incredulous observations and hard judgments. Just stay confident in the knowledge that you know your dog better than anyone, and if Reiki helps them in any way, that surely is reason enough to keep going with it.
A relationship with a dog is one of the best relationships a human can have, so if performing Reiki on them enhances and improves that, that can only ever be a good thing.
The Bottom Line
Reiki is therefore a legitimate practice to use on your pet for any reason you feel they may need a little extra help with. It’s an ancient tradition that has withstood the test of time – even with the development and success of modern medicine, so it must be doing something right.
Plus, it’s a great way to bond with your dog, which may be of the utmost importance if you dog is a nervous creature who needs to learn to trust you and any other owners.
At the end of the day, there is no harm in trying Reiki in an effort to reap some of the most positive effects possible.
Sources:
- Jennifer Hayes, Reiki for Animals, Best Friends Animal Society
- Reiki in Dogs, Wag
