Aromatherapy oils are used to lessen stress, calm anxiety, activate memory and more…in people and their pets. While we swear by our Relax Dog Aromatherapy for 4th of July (stupid fireworks), aromatherapy can help your dog feel safe, secure, grounded throughout the year.
As Dr. Abraham Maslow put forth in his work on the heirachy of needs (and I paraphrase), basic needs must be met before we can move on to learning.
Our dogs have basic physical and emotional needs, just as we do. It is our job to meet the core needs of food, water, secure housing, safety and of course, emotional well-being.
Our dogs need to feel safe, secure and grounded.
Most of the emotional support our dogs need is to balance these core basic requirements.
Our essential oil blends, Relax, Age Well and Focus, build upon this cornerstone for your dog's emotional well-being.
Relax soothes and calms our dogs, which allows them to Focus and be involved in the current activity. Age Well combines the effects as it relaxes your dog, focuses them on the present moment and brings your senior dog's wandering mind back to the present.
Our aromatherapy blends are diluted to an appropriate level for dogs using carrier emulsions, and oils; jojoba oil, almond oil and grapeseed oil. Our blends are diluted to a safe, non-offensive for our dog's sense of smell, while still being effective.
Only human-quality essential oils are used in our blends. Essential oils are steam-distilled pure plant extracts used for aromatherapy.
FYI: Fragrance oils are chemically created, scent-only additives for use in products such as room fresheners, etc. Fragrance oils are fine for household usage, but not for topical usage on people or animals.
Making the Initial Connection With Relax and Age Well
While not required for using our aromatherapy products, many people enjoy the process of introducing their dog to aromatherapy.
While we recommend doing this exercise when you first begin using Relax or Age Well Dog Aromatherapy, you can do it at any time. This exercide helps forge the shortcut of the scent and relaxing or calming down, etc.
You are creating a connection for your dog between a feeling of safety and security and the smell of the Dog Aromatherapy.
The smell of the Relax/Age Well Dog Aromatherapy then becomes a “shortcut” that calms your dog more quickly.
Find a quiet spot where your dog feels safe and secure. This is time for you and your dog to create a connection (phone off).
Roll/spray some Relax/Age Well Dog Aromatherapy on your hands and gently pet your dog (if preferred, roll/spray on a cloth and wipe onto your dog).
Then roll/spray the Relax/Age Well Dog Aromatherapy on your dog’s belly or inside ears.
Sit with them and allow the connection to deepen. Think about or visualize them feeling safe and secure. Some people prefer to write their intention, some prefer to reinforce this process mentally.
You've begun creating a shortcut between the scent of the Relax/Age Well and a safe and secure feeling for your dog. Feels good, doesn't it?
Creating a shortcut for your dog's time in class, competition or trials can be accomplished almost the same way.
Substitute a training session, class or even the actual event or competition for the quiet spot.
You are still creating a shortcut, but the Focus shortcut is to shift the frame of mind to paying attention at an event.
Many have found success with adding a short phrase to applying the Focus Dog Aromatherapy.
Some examples; Let's Get To Work, Attention Time, Show Time, Ready to Work, or any phrase that feels natural for you.
Back in the day, my phrase for conformation shows was, "Watch Mama" and I would tap my heart. Not original, but my dogs responded to it.