Furry Feng Shui

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     A new puppy in the home brings renewed energy, love, and excitement with all the possibilities life has to offer. They are our 搚ang?energies, full of life, energy, and playfulness. However, for a dog, being in a new environment can bring fear and insecurities. Our puppies need stability, groundedness, and security. Adding some 搚in?in the environment will help balance their energies, especially at bedtime.

According to Feng Shui principles, the Earth element gives one a sense of belonging, permanence, and a feeling of connectedness. When looking for bedding or blankets for a new puppy, rely on the Earth element by incorporating the earth tone colors (brown, yellow, terra cotta, sand tones, gray) with a square pattern. In all your decision-making, keep in mind the way dogs see color. Humans see a full spectrum of colors, while studies show that the dog抯 world consists of yellows, blues, and grays. Like a human with red-green color blindness, they are unable to tell the difference between red and green. When a human perceives a red object, it appears yellow to the dog.

Crating your new family member is another way to give them a feeling of security or a sense of a 揷ave? Whether or not you will be crating, place his/her bedding in a corner away from doors and with as little activity and drafts as possible. There are wonderful 揹ens?on the market that replicate nature. These den environments provide a feeling of warmth, security, and privacy, while also integrating the life source of nature.

Our older friends need the same consideration when it comes to home design and planning. There are wonderful products on the market that offer orthopedic beds for aching joints. Like a new puppy, our older friends may at times have 揳ccidents?and choosing bedding with fabrics that prevents moisture, bacteria, and stains from accumulating in the fibers, allows for a more pleasing experience for both humans and pets. Crypton fabric washes like a dream, and offers freedom in design with little worry about wear and tear.


Failing eyesight can be an issue with our elderly dogs, and the principles of 搘ay finding?(used by hospitals and nursing homes) can be utilized. Our pets cannot read letters, but they understand the difference between a hard surface (wood floor) and a soft surface (carpet). By adding simple elements we can make it easier and less stressful for our pets to find their familiar way to their food, beds, or a comfortable spot on our laps or by our feet. Using runners or carpets that lead to food and elimination areas assists pets in finding their way, with less stress and more accuracy. Remember to use non-skid matting under your carpets or runners. This can reduce stress and anxiety for an animal, ensuring firm footedness (or pawness). Rearranging furniture should be considered very carefully with an older dog, as it can cause stress and confusion in an animal that knows exactly where things used to be.


You can also take advantage of your dog抯 most highly developed sense ?the sense of smell ?to make them more comfortable in your home. Dogs have about 25 times more olfactory (smell) receptors than humans do. Knowing the characteristics of each smell, and their properties, allows us to consciously use them where they are most needed. As humans, we respond to the pleasant and calming smell of lavender, and know the energetic feeling of sniffing peppermint. This is the same for dogs. To aid 搘ay finding?in your home, use a scent that will call your dog to the action you wish them to take. For instance, using one aroma where your dog抯 food and water bowl is located, like peppermint or spearmint, can guide them in the right direction when it is time to eat. You might want to use a different aroma leading them toward their elimination area or toward the door, like an earthy or woodsy scent.
Part of creating a healthy, happy, balanced home for your pet is removing as many toxins as possible from your environment. Take into consideration the Volatile Organic Chemical (VOC) in paints. When using paints in your remodeling, find those with zero VOC. Paint emits off-gas (that terrible paint smell we have experienced) and continues to expend toxins for up to 18 months after application, affecting breathing. Keep your environment healthy by being aware of these and other toxins in cleaning, hygiene and beauty products.


Another way to bring Feng Shui to dogs of any age is to utilize the properties of the Water element. Feng Shui抯 Water element, represented in blue and black, augments digestion, allowing more time to relax. This makes a perfect color combination for food bowls and dining rooms, for instance. Providing a food dish for your dog that is black or blue will allow your pet to slow down the eating process, especially helpful if your dog has a tendency to gulp down his/her food. Combine these colors with the Earth element抯 square shape to further assist in slower digestion. Avoid round food dishes (the Metal element) as this will cause your pet to eat more since circles will not allow our eyes to rest on one spot but your pet will continually search round and round for food. Keep in mind that water and food bowls should be elevated to make eating and drinking easier, especially for elderly animals. It is recommended that feeding and watering bowls be positioned about six inches below the pet抯 wither height (top of its front shoulder). For small dogs, subtract four inches. You can also find square and elevated food and water bowls for your pets that are aesthetically pleasing so they complement your existing d閏or.