Canine Reiki Healing

Have you ever noticed your dog acting anxious—pacing, barking, or needing extra reassurance—especially in stressful times? If you are a dog owner concerned about your pet's well-being, you are not alone. Frederick, King of Prussia, once said, "Dogs are man's best friend." This article explores why our dogs respond to our stress, especially during challenging times like the pandemic, revealing the importance of their loyalty and the deep bonds we share.

Even during the pandemic, when families were staying home, many dogs still felt anxious. They paced around, sniffed everything carefully, and sometimes barked for no clear reason before hiding under tables. This left many families puzzled by their pets’ behavior.

I met a friend’s dog who seemed anxious, restless, withdrawn, and didn’t want to play. The dog preferred to be alone, which was very unusual for him. It made the owner wonder what was causing this change.

As humans, we were so anxious during the pandemic that our sensitive pets picked up on our feelings. Now, they needed extra love and attention from us.

To help anxious pets, many families turned to Reiki, a gentle energy-healing practice for both humans and animals, aiming to restore balance and emotional well-being to their canines.

I offered remote healing for these pets. Owners sent me their dogs’ pictures, names, breeds, and descriptions of their behavior. Then, I began the healing sessions.

I would first assess them with my pendulum. That helped me find their weak chakras. Chakras are centers of energy in the body that help keep physical, emotional, and mental states balanced. Just like people, dogs have chakras that influence their overall well-being and behavior. If a dog's chakras become unbalanced, it can show up as anxiety, restlessness, or changes in behavior.

In most cases, I found their solar, brachial, and root chakras were off. The brachial chakra, located in the shoulder area, is the primary energy center for animals and directly connects to their bond with humans. The other chakras were spinning at low to medium intensity. Most of them had shed lots of debris due to their emotional instability. By "debris," I mean the emotional residue or blocked energy that can build up when a pet feels anxious or stressed, manifesting as unsettled energy in their chakra system.

I started each session by gently clearing energy from the crown to the tail, which helped release any blockages. Owners often noticed their pets would sit quietly and become calm. Then, I used the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen symbol—a traditional Reiki symbol for sending healing energy across distance and time. Its purpose is to help the practitioner set a clear intention and connect energetically with the recipient, no matter where they are. After setting an intention for each dog with this symbol, I balanced all their chakras. Then, depending on each case, I would work on their particular issues and ground them.

These emotionally unstable dogs responded well, as their chakras often balanced with no resistance, so each healing session lasted no more than 30 minutes. However, if the canine had other physical issues, I would extend it to 60 minutes to go deeper at the cellular level to support its healing.

I held these healing sessions once a week for a month. Many dogs became more lively after just one session. Most owners chose to continue for a month to ensure their pets had fully recovered and their chakras had regained strength.

This helped the dogs return to their normal selves and share their love again.

Scientific Basis

Reiki is a complementary and non-invasive therapy for all living beings, including animals. Some people find that it can reduce stress, manage pain, and accelerate healing. There are no known risks or side effects to this holistic healing. However, it is important to note that scientific evidence for Reiki is still emerging, and while early studies are promising, more research is needed. Reiki is meant to support, not replace, conventional veterinary care. I consider it an invisible pill. Its potency lies in each candidate, depending on their belief. Animals are the most receptive.

Kathleen Lester’s 2019 article, "Reiki as Complementary Care in Veterinary Medicine," published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Association, provides scholarly evidence for Reiki's role in animal health. The paper highlights benefits for animal emotional and physical well-being and discusses stress reduction for veterinary staff. The key aspects of this paper are to address physical, mental, and emotional issues in animals and to observe a positive shift in them.

Animal Reiki and where it is used

Pet owners use animal Reiki to support cats, dogs, horses, birds, and other animals. It can be used alongside traditional veterinary treatments. However, it should not replace them. Reiki helps with many physical and emotional challenges. People often seek a certified healer for pets with anxiety, fears, or stress, especially after trauma or big changes. Reiki can also help older pets with pain or illness and supports recovery with veterinary care. It brings comfort and peace to pets nearing the end of life.

How Animal Reiki Sessions Work

Certified animal Reiki healers work on the canines based on your pet’s history, temperament, and needs. Healing sessions usually start with a consultation, where the practitioner asks about your pet’s background, behavior, and any issues you’ve noticed.

The Reiki healer then connects with your canine’s energy and finds the areas of tension or imbalance, and works on balancing the chakras first, followed by some areas that need extra work.

Your pet can move, rest, or leave whenever they want, and healers always follow the animal’s cues during the healing session.

DIY Guidance

When the dog parent begins to see signs of anxiety, which could be excessive barking, panting, trembling, pacing, and destructive behaviors like chewing. They should first check in with their own emotions and regard this as a time to spend together with their pet.

Start by balancing all your chakras and your canine's by using chakra music. There are many tracks available on YouTube, so pick the one that feels right for you.

Here is a simple routine you can follow at home:

1. Choose a calm space in your house where you and your dog feel comfortable and won't be disturbed.

2. Sit with your dog by your side, either on the floor or on a couch. Gently place your hand on your dog's back or chest if they are comfortable with touch.

3. Play the chakra music softly in the background.

4. As the music plays, take a few deep breaths and let yourself relax. Speak softly and lovingly to your dog, reassuring them if they appear restless at first.

5. Focus on both your own calmness and your dog's breathing. Close your eyes for a moment if it feels natural.

6. Continue this for 5 to 10 minutes, or as long as your dog seems at ease. Let your dog wander off if they wish, and don’t force them to stay.

7. After the session, offer your dog a treat or play together to reinforce the positive experience.

As you play that audio, take your pet for walks in nature. Bonding is important, so playing fetch with your pet can help too.

Observe your own and your pet’s behavior, and, based on the outcome, you can choose to schedule a Reiki healing session.

I have had clients book sessions on the same day for themself and their pet. The side-by-side evaluation of them serves as proof of their assessment, and the outcome can be celebrated together.

This practice can leave you feeling grounded and deeply connected, ready to face whatever life may bring.

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Ruchira Khanna is a Usui Reiki Master and a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner with over a decade of experience working with canines and humans. 

If you have questions or would like to schedule a session, feel free to visit explorereikiworld 

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This article was published in Reiki Magazine