Is your furry friend behaving unusually lately? Have they been on meds for any illness or injury? Well, it’s time to try Reiki for dogs. We know the pain of living with a sad pet as dog owners. Most of us, if not all, will do anything to see our dogs happy and excitedly running around the house again, right? Reiki has proven to be an excellent solution for different dog problems, psychological or physical.
Whereas this ancient Japanese healing practice is highly recommended for dogs dealing with physical, mental, or emotional ailments, it is also great for your dog’s general wellness.
So, What Is Reiki for Dogs?
Reiki is a healing practice that involves using life force energy for healing people, animals, and even plants. The life force energy is what brings healing to most ailments and boosts their general well-being. It’s important to mention that this life force energy is channeled through a practitioner and flows to your dog. The practitioner never generates or contributes any energy.
Usually, only a Reiki practitioner can perform Reiki therapy. However, anyone can become a Reiki practitioner after undergoing a Reiki attunement.
How Does Reiki Work?
A good Reiki session is conducted in the morning or evening when the weather is cooler and the winds calmer. We can do Reiki as a hands-on therapy session or at a distance. It all depends on your furry friend. However, note that the session’s success entirely depends on your dog.
Once the Reiki healer is in the house, your dog has to decide to join the session. And you can’t force them. We must also provide a calm, quiet environment where your dog feels safe. And sometimes, this means you are joining in the session.
Your dog will decide whether to receive a hands-on Reiki session or enjoy it at a distance. It will also determine the length of the session. Your dog will know when it has had enough, so you don’t need to time the session.
The Benefits of Reiki for Dogs
There are many advantages of using Reiki therapy on your dog. Some of them include:
Excellent anxiety, stress, and depression reliever for your dog
Like human beings, animals can get stressed. Your canine friend might be self-harming or acting aggressively due to anxiety or depression caused by a traumatic event. A Reiki healer provides a calm space where your dog can relax. The entire Reiki session is generally very calming.
Helps you bond with your dog
In a session where you are invited to join your pet, Reiki offers an opportunity to bond with your dog. It can work wonders, especially when dealing with a dog with psychological problems. Remember, not all issues will be physical. Some will be psychological, and you will need a keen eye to notice.
Can help your dog cope with illness and recover from injuries
Most animals struggle with a disease or when recovering from an injury. Such discomfort can elevate their stress levels. Reiki helps your dog cope with its illness or recover from its injury by reducing these stress levels.
Boosts your dog’s immune system.
The Reiki practice has been shown to increase the production of antibodies and white blood cells. Consequently, it can help your dog fight illness and reduce your pet’s visits to the vet.
A non-invasive therapy
Reiki does not involve drugs or needles for treatment. Your furry little friend will experience no discomfort or pain during the session. They don’t even have to be touched by the Reiki healer. They can transfer the healing energy at a distance.
Reiki can help enhance the well-being and general wellness of your dog
Reiki energy can help balance your dog’s energy. The flow of the energy in your dog can bring about deep relaxation and release tension or pain. It can also eliminate negative energy from your dog, boosting its general wellness.
Sometimes Reiki Might Not Work on Your Dog
As beneficial as Reiki is, it might not work on every dog. Here are some reasons why;
Reiki works for the greater good of all.
Reiki is believed to have a mind of its own. The energy will do what it needs to do, which is not always what you want. Reiki’s job is to do whatever is for the greater good of all. Don’t be surprised when you fail to get the results you want.
Reiki only works on willing subjects.
Your dog has to be willing to accept the energy for it to work. We cannot force the energy on subjects. As much as you would like your dog to benefit from Reiki, there is no way around them if they don’t want it. The energy won’t work when forced on a subject.
How Will I Know If Reiki Is Working on My Dog?
Any sign of relaxation is a confirmation that Reiki is working on your dog. If we start the session while the dog is standing, it will lie down voluntarily and eventually fall asleep or close its eyes. However, some dogs may not show any relaxation signs, especially those too hyper to relax.
Can I Give Reiki for Dogs at Home?
Absolutely, yes. Learning how to give Reiki to your dog can help with your bonding. It will also offer you an opportunity to enjoy the relaxing benefits of Reiki. The more you practice giving Reiki, the more skilled you become. If you find it enjoyable, you can even enroll to become a Reiki certified practitioner and get paid to work with other pets.
Moreover, as you learn how to give Reiki, you’ll be able to offer more sessions to your dog, and you can turn it into a regular morning or evening routine.
How to Give Reiki Healing to a Dog?
Reiki healing for pets is almost no different from giving Reiki healing to people.
When healing dogs, put your hands where it is more convenient for you. I usually start the session by putting my hands behind the dog’s ears, because this position helps the dog calm down. Then you can move your hands and place one hand on the dog’s chest and another – on its back. But be careful here – do not put your hands directly on the dog’s heart area!
Don’t worry if you can’t get your hands all over the dog’s body, because Reiki flows through any position and can reach any area of the body.
If the dog is injured or just had surgery, do not touch the wound during the Reiki healing session. In this case, a distance Reiki session makes more sense.
The time of the Reiki session may vary. When you will feel that the energy stops flowing, it’s time to end the session. Or, the dog will just get up and leave. This also means that you can end the session.
Conclusion
Reiki is a great healing practice for dogs. Its benefits are undisputed. From boosting your dog’s immune system to helping it deal with different psychological and physical issues, the practice is next-level. However, we cannot use Reiki as a substitute or replacement for routine veterinary care.