How can Reiki help our dogs?

Reiki, meaning ‘Universal Life Energy’ is a complementary, gentle, healing therapy that rebalances energy which flows through the body. Being a Holistic therapy it works on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. Every living organism is surrounded by a life force or energy field and using Reiki helps to re-align the body’s natural energy, restoring balance and harmony and enabling the body to heal itself.
Dogs, like people, suffer from stress, fears, anxiety and depression and Reiki can help reduce tension and instil calm. It can be particularly useful whilst recovering from surgery or injury, helping to reduce pain and speeding up the body’s natural healing process. Whether it’s a behavioural disorder, injury or arthritis Reiki may offer healing help as animals are naturally receptive to Reiki energy and respond well to Reiki healing. Most animals are highly intuitive and can sense that something good and positive is happening to them, indeed when receiving Reiki they commonly enter a state of deep relaxation and peace, leading to an overall sense of wellness.
MY JOURNEY WITH REIKI

When starting my grooming business in 2016 I knew I wanted to follow a Holistic approach and was looking at ways to both improve my handling skills and deal with difficult or nervous dogs. Whilst I was aware of Reiki and the benefits of using it on humans I hadn’t appreciated how suitable it also was for animals but knew that I wanted to explore it further. I enrolled on a First Degree Reiki course and experienced the benefit it had on me personally and also on my own dogs who I was keen to practice it on. Having a dog prone to anxiety and also with some physical issues I was able to work with her and try various techniques to see if it had any positive impact. Reiki can’t harm and is reliant on the recipient accepting the positive energy being directed by the healer and I soon noticed I was able to help calm my girl down when she was stressed, when visiting the vet for instance, which would make her extremely anxious and unsettled. I have since completed Second Degree Reiki which enables me to provide Reiki therapy to both humans and animals either as a hands on treatment or by Distance Reiki sessions and I use it daily whilst handling the dogs in my care.
THE CHAKRAS
Chakras are key to Reiki as they are the energy centres in our body, doorways allowing in the energy from our surroundings. There are seven major Chakras in humans and eight in animals and each one possesses a unique function, although they all work together to keep the body’s energy aligned and flowing smoothly. The Reiki practitioner will focus on each of these Chakras depending on the outcome desired, for example the Sacral Chakra, between the tail and middle of back, can help with emotional issues. The Chakras are the same in humans and animals although animals have an eighth, the Brachial Chakra, located around the shoulders and which is the major energy centre linking directly to all the other Chakras. It is a great place to start with animals as it is the centre where animal-human bond is formed and carried and I will always start any Reiki healing with dogs at the Brachial Chakra before moving on. During Reiki sessions focus is given to the clearing and alignment of the body’s energy system through the seven main Chakras, which sometimes get blocked from physical or emotional experiences, causing an imbalance and disease within the body.
THE BENEFITS OF REIKI

For something more subtle you can simply colour their nails, you and your dog can even have matching colours and patterns.
Reiki can support your dog through all stages of their life, aiding relaxation and relieving stress bringing peace and harmony. Whilst it is commonly used to help sick or injured animals it is also excellent in maintaining the general well-being of your pet and as a preventative to any potential illness.
- Pain Relief. Complimenting prescribed medication it provides comfort and helps reduce pain, speeding up the body’s natural healing process.
- Stress Relief. Helps instil calm, reducing tension and anxiety and feelings of stress. Can help with separation anxiety, vet visits etc.
- Emotional issues. Enhances overall well-being, sadness and depression. Can help increase trust and bonding between you and your pet.
- Fears. Helps with distressing situations such as noise, fireworks etc.
Reiki isn’t just a useful therapy for humans and animals though, it can also be used to help improve the energy flow of everything around us. Reiki can be infused into food and drinks benefiting the person that ingests them and can benefit plants, vegetables and flowers. It can even be used to help improve negative energy in the home or gain a positive outcome for a given situation such as a house sale or job search.
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“It is excellent in maintaining the health and well-being of your pet and as a preventative to any potential illness.”
-CLIPPITY SNIP
For further advice and information or to make an appointment please email mark@clippitysnip.co.uk or call 07590 053758.

Creative Grooming has been popular in the U.S. for a number of years and, although at times controversial due to the extreme styles at the big competitions, is now gaining popularity here and may dog owners enjoy giving their loving pets a temporary colour make over.
THEMES
SAFETY
HEATH & WELFARE
We all know the benefits of eating raw fruits and vegetables for their vitamins, minerals, live enzymes and nutritive value, and the same applies for our dogs. A raw or BARF diet is about matching as closely as possible to what a dog would eat in the wild.
HEALTHY TEETH AND BREATH
LEANER BODY MASS
I am often requested to clip down the coats of double coated breeds such as Japanese Spitz, Pomeranians, Shetland Sheep Dogs, Huskies, Malamutes and Golden Retrievers and my reluctance to do this is met with some negativity. So why my reluctance and concern?
FOR EASY MAINTENANCE
Remember that shaving a double coat can have long term effects. In some cases it can alter the coat texture and thickness forever and some of the coat may never grow back the same, or at all, resulting in what is known as ‘coat funk’. Some of the coated areas may go completely bald and the texture may have a ‘velcro’ effect which can make it even more difficult to look after in the future.
Fleas and Ticks are a constant worry for pet owners, especially during the summer months when they are very active. Ticks are particularly active between May and October whilst fleas are prevalent between April and November, although they are now an all year round problem due to the widespread use of central heating. So how can we deal with this problem without resorting to chemicals?
CITRUS REPELLENT
Garlic may not be your favourite smell and it’s not the flea’s favourite either. When your dog or cat eats garlic, the smell is excreted through the skin making them less likely to be the fleas’ next meal, but don’t worry their breath won’t smell garlicky at all. Brewer’s yeast tablets will also help to make your pet less attractive to fleas because once again the smell is excreted through the skin. Adding a dessert spoon of apple cider vinegar to the water bowl will make the skin more acidic and unpleasant to fleas and ticks but if your pets don’t fancy apple cider vinegar in the water bowl, dilute it 50/50 with water and use in a spray bottle instead of the citrus repellent.
A healthy dog coat is the sign of a healthy body and to maintain a healthy coat and skin you need to take care of the outside and inside of the body. A good diet, parasite control and regular grooming will all help to keep the coat shiny and smooth and the skin supple and clear.
REGULAR BRUSHING
HERBAL REMEDIES
The first time a puppy enters a grooming salon is a very important moment. They don’t understand why they are there and what is going to happen to them and the initial experiences they have can set the stage for how they respond to being groomed for the rest of their life. It is therefore essential to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
So what can we do to help? We recommend an initial three visits spaced 2-4 weeks apart so we can slowly get them used to being handled, washed and to all the different equipment we use. The first visit should be a familiarisation visit, slowly introducing myself to them, petting, cuddling and playing with them then letting them explore the unfamiliar surroundings. They will be introduced to some of the tools like clippers and driers, to get them accustomed to the noises. The goal is to make it a fun experience.
You can help too by getting the puppy used to some of the noises and activities at home. Try brushing with a gentle brush and comb, playing with and massaging the feet and face, and using a hand-held blow dryer (no warmer than medium heat! and keep the dryer moving, not pointed at one spot until it is dry) to blow the puppy dry after a bath, or just gently tap their nails. Don’t forget their back paws! Doing this at least once a day will help your new puppy get used to being handled. Of course, have lots of yummy small treats handy too.
1. THE NEED FOR A SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT
As a Holistic Dog Groomer I am very careful about the products I use. It is vital that I have a range of products that can be selected according to the needs of each dog that I groom and I understand that you may want to know what is being used on your dog. Please read on for information on the carefully selected products and suppliers I have chosen to use at Clippity Snip.
WildWash Shampoo for Deep Cleaning and Deoderising – Natural pH balanced pet shampoo with super conditioning and anti-irritating Soybean Phospholipids and Neem; a natural flea deterrent, with its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties. Nutrient rich Sea Kelp nourishes and promotes hair growth whilst Aloe Vera helps soothe and calm. The added Peppermint, Rosemary and Lemongrass, are highly fragrant aromas, helping to deodorise, neutralise toxins and remove bacteria to improve scent and leave your pet thoroughly cleaned and smelling extremely fresh.
TROPICLEAN
Madra Mor Soothing Mud – Soothing Mud uses mineral rich clay with high concentrations of colloidal oatmeal and nourishing, healing ingredients such as organic aloe vera powder, Allantion, borage oil, rice bran oil, Vitamin E and Zinc. These time tested skin care ingredients promote healthy cell regeneration, ease irritation related to itchy and scratchy skin, and hydrate dry skin.