Article from October 2008 edition
of St. Louie Tails:

Feng Shui for the Furry Set

By Katie Marsico

A glimpse at how the ancient Chinese philosophy benefits pets

What’s better for Fido’s wellness—having his water bowl near the eastern or western wall of your house? How about your cat’s scratching post—will kitty be more inclined to use it if it’s in the living room or bedroom? Perhaps you used feng shui to organize your home when you first moved in, but did you ever consider that this Chinese philosophy relating spatial arrangement and orientation to energy flow can also benefit your pets? Why is it important to make your companion animals’ living quarters more feng shui–friendly, and what steps can you take to help your furry friends achieve a better balance of yin and yang?

How can feng shui benefit Fido?

“A house with good feng shui means that you have a peaceful, clean, and harmonious home,” says Kathryn Weber, publisher of the Red Lotus Letter, an online newsletter about feng shui. “When your home is in good order, everyone is more healthy and content. This transfers to your pets’ health and well-being, too,” she says.

    Dirce Johnson, a Longview, Washington-based certified practitioner of interior alignment, feng shui consultant, and animal rescuer, concurs. “Feng shui is even more important for animals than people,” she says. “If a living area is out of balance, people sense it and react negatively,” she says. “These reactions can run the gamut from mental issues, such as depression, anger, and anxiety, to physical ones, such as loss of sleep and illness. Animals are far more intuitive than we are—they survive by instinct. Consequently, an animal’s reaction to an imbalance in the environment is much worse than that of a human.”

Basic ways to achieve balance

In light of these expert observations, what can average pet guardians do to prevent such imbalance and improve the feng shui within their living space?

    “A beneficial home environment is one that is neither too dark nor too light, not too loud nor too still,” explains Weber. “If your home has a loud TV and bright sunlight or is noisy and without calm, the pet may be anxious, [which can result in] birds plucking out their feathers or dogs excessively licking. If the home is too dark or quiet and is cluttered, the pet may experience weight gain, feel lethargic, lose [his or her] zest, or have nagging health complaints, such as achy joints or poor breathing. Cleanliness is also essential for maintaining good feng shui. For example, a kitty litterbox that’s rarely changed is bad for the cat, emits negative energy in the form of odors, and is unpleasant to look at.”

    Suzanne Metzger of Feng Shui Consulting Services in Colorado Springs, Colorado, adds to these recommendations by emphasizing that eliminating clutter is a simple yet critical step that pet guardians and home owners can take to enhance feng shui. “This is especially important in your bedroom and your pet’s sleeping area,” says Metzger. “Clutter, which is stagnant energy, is a common problem in our material-based culture. Both people and pets can be affected in subtle ways, such as premature aging, eating disorders, and lack of focus. In a pet’s case, lack of focus can contribute to problems with housebreaking or other training difficulties.”

Calling all experts

But what if cleaning up clutter and providing a calm yet energized home environment seem like daunting tasks in and of themselves, let alone when the idea is to create the optimal combination of yin and yang for everyone in the family? According to Metzger, certain circumstances often necessitate a little expert advice.

    “A trained feng shui consultant will be able to balance your entire space, pinpoint problems you may not be aware of, and give appropriate solutions with more accuracy than someone without training. Yet not all consultants are tuned in to animals, so it’s important to tell them about any problems your pets are experiencing when they take your family history.”

    Weber, on the other hand, advises that outside consultation is not always essential. “You don’t [always] need to see a feng shui consultant, because good feng shui starts with the basics—a clean and tidy, clutter-free home. If you have pets, this will help them stay in good health and prevent them from being pestered with problems like fleas. Feng shui is truly an easy-to-apply technique.” On the flip side, she adds that furry and feathered residents are responsible for actually generating feng shui within a home. “Pets themselves are good feng shui! Their lively, active energy works as an energizer for the home environment, and animals are also wonderful protectors.” Consider this food for thought the next time you’re experiencing any negative energy as you go to change Fluffy’s litterbox.

Everyday Tips for Fostering Feng Shui with Your Furry Companions

Consider trying out these simple suggestions to ensure that your pet benefits from as much positive energy as possible!

• Make sure any litterboxes are situated in secluded areas, preferably in their own nooks.
• Be certain there are no exposed beams above your pet’s sleeping area.
• Do not situate your pet’s sleeping area near any electronic devices.
• Consider purchasing a pet fountain from a pet supply store or constructing your own with an inexpensive pump purchased from a craft store.
• Make sure there are no sharp corners pointing towards your pet’s food, sleeping, or toilet areas.

St. Louis Critter Sitters
Recipe Corner

Bad Breath Banishers

Dog Food Recipe Directions:

Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour and charcoal. Add all the other ingredients. Drop teaspoonfuls on oiled sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake 15-20 minutes. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

Source:  www.i-love-dogs.com

Trick or Treat!

Furry Forum from October 2008 edition of
St. Louie Tails:

Q. I’ve been lucky in the past with introducing a new dog to existing resident dogs. But this time I’m not sure how to go about it or if this is a good idea. I currently have a 14-year-old female Collie/Husky/Chow mix and an 8-year-old male Lab/Chow mix. I would like to get another dog, mostly for the male dog to have a playmate. But the 14-year-old dog isn’t interested in playing so much anymore. Neither dog has been around other canines in a social setting (i.e. an off-leash park). I’m concerned that my male dog might be aggressive to a newcomer. I also have cats. I was thinking of getting another female dog in between 5 and 11 months old. Do you have any suggestions?

—Frankie Hafner, Winnetka, CA

A. First and foremost, consider all of your current furry family members’ perspectives. [Their] needs should come first, so be honest in your assessment. While some may thrive with playful company, others will prefer their quiet routine. You will need to manage all their needs.

While a younger dog can sometimes bring out the inner pup in an older dog, she can also prove to be a constant nuisance. But if you decide that your Lab/Chow really yearns for such interaction, then start to investigate the types of dogs he gravitates toward. Playful partners or more laid-back types? Males or females? You have added complexities … an elder female who will no doubt give correction to the pup if bothered, so the puppy must accept and respect correction, and resident cats, so the dog cannot have a strong prey drive.

As a final caveat, remember that having more pets means more of your time, not less. So if you’re pressed for time with the family you have, be grateful for the love you already share and leave it at that.

—Laura Garber, CPDT, is a certified dog trainer and behavior counselor living in Hoboken, NJ.

Q. I recently adopted a year-and-a-half-old Boston Terrier who was returned to the rescue by her first adopter. She is well-mannered in all respects except that she woofs down her food—and anything else in sight, even nonedibles.

Is there a way to get rid of this habit? We can’t feed her near any other animal and have to watch her all the time to prevent her eating things and throwing them up.

—Barbara L. Renda, Readington, NJ

A. There are several tricks you can use to slow down eating: Place the food in a muffin pan or over a cookie sheet. You can also use a bowl or a toy made for that purpose. Eating foreign objects is a bigger issue; your Boston could end up needing surgery. “Repeat offenders” may benefit from wearing a muzzle, which allows panting and drinking. It may not sound appealing, but it’s better than multiple surgeries!

—Dr. Phil Zeltzman is a board-certified surgeon at Valley Central Veterinary Referral Hospital in Whitehall, PA.