26 Sep
I am skeptical.
About a lot of things. And essential oils were no different. Especially essential oils for dogs! You know the whole “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Or here comes some work from home sales pitch wanting me to buy something.
Well, I’ve had a change of heart. At least about essential oils for dogs, and myself!
When I began fostering dogs in 2001, I started using lavender on the bedding and collar of anxious dogs. I mean, we all have heard lavender is soothing and relaxing, even to babies.
I progressed to adding chamomile tea to a dogs water to further help calm them when they were stressed. Later I was turned on to Rescue Remedy® and later Storm Stress®. I have used them all liberally over the years and never thought much of it.
About 3 years ago, I was at a dog trainer’s conference and met a vendor selling holistic essences and potions targeted at helping dogs with anxiety, trauma, pain, etc. I was skeptical about them.
I went home and was working with a dog that I just couldn’t reach a breakthrough with. A dog that would literally panic when she saw another dog out in public. A dog that screamed in terror — didn’t bark, didn’t growl, didn’t cry, but screamed. Even though her obedience was really strong — we had plateaued.
So I called the vendor I met at the dog trainer’s conference and asked for help. We chatted for almost an hour as she diagnosed what I’d need. She impressed me (or I was gullible) so I brought up another dog who was very fearful and had been dealt a rough start to her life and also seemed to be stuck moving forward. If there was hope for her to live a fuller life, I wanted it. It would be unfair of me to not try.
She sent me some drops, spritzes and balms. They all smelled wonderful. And I started using them daily. A unique recipe for each dog.
I swear to you in about 2 weeks, there was a change in the dogs! A great positive change in their behavior and a break through the the dog who panicked. Awesome.
I mentioned it at a trainer’s conference to so peers who scoffed and said it was placebo effect. Hmmm. Maybe so.
And then, I didn’t really do much more with the potions. I went back to my lavender & chamomile when needed. I recommended it to many people in rescue with stressed out dogs.
About a lot of things. And essential oils were no different. Especially essential oils for dogs! You know the whole “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Or here comes some work from home sales pitch wanting me to buy something.
Well, I’ve had a change of heart. At least about essential oils for dogs, and myself!
When I began fostering dogs in 2001, I started using lavender on the bedding and collar of anxious dogs. I mean, we all have heard lavender is soothing and relaxing, even to babies.
I progressed to adding chamomile tea to a dogs water to further help calm them when they were stressed. Later I was turned on to Rescue Remedy® and later Storm Stress®. I have used them all liberally over the years and never thought much of it.
About 3 years ago, I was at a dog trainer’s conference and met a vendor selling holistic essences and potions targeted at helping dogs with anxiety, trauma, pain, etc. I was skeptical about them.
I went home and was working with a dog that I just couldn’t reach a breakthrough with. A dog that would literally panic when she saw another dog out in public. A dog that screamed in terror — didn’t bark, didn’t growl, didn’t cry, but screamed. Even though her obedience was really strong — we had plateaued.
So I called the vendor I met at the dog trainer’s conference and asked for help. We chatted for almost an hour as she diagnosed what I’d need. She impressed me (or I was gullible) so I brought up another dog who was very fearful and had been dealt a rough start to her life and also seemed to be stuck moving forward. If there was hope for her to live a fuller life, I wanted it. It would be unfair of me to not try.
She sent me some drops, spritzes and balms. They all smelled wonderful. And I started using them daily. A unique recipe for each dog.
I swear to you in about 2 weeks, there was a change in the dogs! A great positive change in their behavior and a break through the the dog who panicked. Awesome.
I mentioned it at a trainer’s conference to so peers who scoffed and said it was placebo effect. Hmmm. Maybe so.
And then, I didn’t really do much more with the potions. I went back to my lavender & chamomile when needed. I recommended it to many people in rescue with stressed out dogs.
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