The Westminster Kennel Club 136th Annual Dog Show is underway! Dogs of all shapes and sizes have gathered with their humans in Madison Square Garden to compete for the title of “Best in Show.” The event is certainly one of the most exciting among dog enthusiasts, but it can be very stressful on the canine competitors. Dogs performing in agility trials, dog shows, or other competitions are bombarded with stimuli and sometimes get overwhelmed. Flower essences are one tool to help manage anxiety and other emotions that dogs encounter in competitions.
Non-Drug Flower Essences Influence Emotional Processes
Flower essences are infusions of fresh flower blossoms to create an extract. Each flower essence contains the sun-infused, liquid energy of healthy flowers picked at the peak of bloom and captured in pure water. This 'potentized' liquid from various plants is used to create each unique blend, tailored to address a specific emotional issue, such as stress or performance anxiety.
Flower essences are not new, but were discovered more than 70 years ago by British bacteriologist, Dr. Edward Bach. Dr. Bach saw that stresses arising from emotions such as fear, anxiety, panic, anger, and impatience would put a strain on the individual, depleting general vitality and resistance to disease. They are thought to support emotional health through vibrational energies that affect the body’s electrical pathways, reducing how stress is perceived and processed.
Studies with Flower Essences Show Benefits in Performance Horses
Based on work with wild and domestic horses since 1975, researcher and behavioral ecologist Mary Ann Simonds conducted over 400 clinical case studies using flower essences in horses. Simonds studied the use of various blends of flower essences in three different situations in horses. Her studies found flower essences were beneficial in reducing injuries in wild horse adoption round-ups, reducing emotional stress in horses undergoing training regimens, and in reducing stress and increasing performance in equine competitions. Her research was published by Rutger's University at the Association of Equine Sports Medicine Conference in 2001.¹
Flower Essence Blends Useful for Canine Competitors
Because various plants are used to create blends to address specific situations, selecting the right blend will ensure optimal results for your dog. Here are three examples of precise blends formulated for different situations related to canine competitions, all Botanical Animal® Flower Essences by Arenus²:
· In Training – this blend addresses lack of tolerance, impatience, and defiance toward being asked to do something and is particularly useful when beginning a training program for your dog.
· Clear Thinking – helpful as training progresses, this blend addresses lack of focus and poor concentration, while increasing memory retention.
· Mellow Out – this blend can help with pre-event jitters, addressing agitation, anxiety and nervousness.
While flower essences may be difficult to understand, beneficial effects have been seen in performance animals. Further, they are safe, easy to give, show no contraindications, and are allowed at almost all types of competitions, including dog shows and agility trials. The most effective training programs involve not only physical conditioning, but also psychological stress management. Flower essences can be a useful tool to help your dog perform his best in competition.
1. http://www.arenus.com/Portals/Arenus/Multimedia/PDF/Reducing%20Stress%20in%20Performance%20Horses%20Using%20Essences.pdf
2. http://shop.arenus.com/c-17-flower-essences.aspx