Dogs are often called our “best friends,” as they give us unconditional love and are our protectors, playmates and help us live more meaningful and happy lives all together. Even though we tend to humanize them, they are decedents from the wolf and have specific dog needs in order to maintain balance and live a long and healthy life.
Around 15,000 years ago, as the human population started to grow, wolves started to live in closer proximity and interact regularly with us. Genetic studies have found that original dogs came from eastern Asia and over time were brought to every continent. Since dogs are easy to adapt to their environment humans started to breed the dog to enhance many different selective traits and today dogs are the most varied in body and head shape than any other species on earth (Snow & Zidonis, 2011, pg 1-5).
Humans were attracted to dogs due to their high instinctual and sensory capabilities as well as their willingness to be our companions and help us. Dog breeds were developed to protect us, to assist us by transporting and guiding us through our environment and surroundings, such as snow, plains and forests. They have also helped to provide food for us and safeguard our lively hood by their herding skills such as done by the border collie. Overall, dogs have helped us to sustain our lives within our communities and have become our companions.
Just as we want to live optimal health, so do animals. Luckily in our modern world today, we have opportunities to use both conventional medicine in conjunction with ancient eastern approaches when caring from our animals and ourselves. As more people are able to learn hands on ancient healing techniques from qualified masters and healers, they are able to apply these skills with their dogs and other animals whenever needed. Through the use of these healing techniques, we are able to support and strengthen the health of our dogs. Acupressure is a technique that has been proven to support and enhance health, emotional well-being and longevity.
Stemming from Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupressure has been used all over the globe for the past 3000+ years. Acupuncture and Acupressure stem off the same theoretical concepts and both are used widely. Since dogs are very connected to the language of touch, acupressure is a way to communicate back to them in a healing way. Through clinical observation, Acupressure has been proven to help keep the immune system strong, strengthen muscles, tendons, joints and bones, balance and optimize energy flow within the body to enhance the natural tendency for healing to take place, release natural cortisone, reduce swelling and inflammation, release endorphins to increase energy levels and decrease pain, resolve injuries by increasing blood flow and circulation to aid in toxin removal, enhance mental clarity and emotional calm for peaceful living, and relieving muscle spasms just to name a few.
As humans and dogs continue to co-exist together, it is natural that we want them to live the healthiest and longest lives possible. Integrating alternative healing methods will allow us that opportunity to share many memorable moments together.