The Yin & Yang of Puppy Love

By Amy Snow & Nancy Zidoinis, Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Resources.

Puppies are amazing creatures. When they play, they play with every ounce of their little beings, when they sleep they are “down-for-the-count.” They can chew their way through your favorite shoes and your daughter’s best bear – but we love them anyway. We look at our beloved puppy’s antics and say to ourselves, “It’s a puppy.”

Young animals are supposed to be full of life, tearing through the house, and dashing around the back yard. Their bones, muscles, and neurological connections are growing by the minute. They also need lots of sleep and nourishing, real food. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), all the high energy and the impetus behind the exponential growth of a puppy are considered Yang. While the rest and provision of the nutrients and essence used to make the growth possible is considered Yin.

Puppies are constantly bouncing between being very Yang and very Yin. The essential concept underlying Chinese Medicine is that health is based on a dynamic balance between Yin and Yang. Given this principle of TCM, how could a puppy be healthy if he is bounding from one extreme to another; from being very Yang to very Yin? The reason is, puppies are supposed to be out of balance at different times because they are in such a high growth period of their lives. There are times they just must be Yang to the extreme. Then, they must also balance it with Yin to an extreme. Their little, growing bodies have their own form of balance and that’s the way it needs to be.

There is an acupressure-massage (aka Tui Na) session that you can perform with your puppy that will not interfere with his growth of nerve connections in his brain or bones in his legs. In fact, it can support and enhance whatever is happening in his body at the time. The Tui Na session with your puppy is called, “Soft Puppy Rolls.” During an evening when your pup has given his all and is ready to be calm, give this bodywork a try. Tui Na has a way of creating a very special bond between you and your puppy; it could be called, “Puppy Love.”

Soft Puppy Rolls: Tui Na Technique

Step 1: Pick a time when your puppy is relatively calm. Find a location where there are few distractions. Take 3 long breaths in and out, then focus for a minute or two on your adoration of this young animal and how you want to contribute to his healthy growth.

Step 2: Sit behind your puppy on the floor facing his back. Starting just behind, or below, his shoulder blades on each side of his spine. Then using your thumb and index fingers on both your right and left hand, gently lift his skin between your fingers and roll the skin forward. Then slowly move your hand down toward his tail approximately 1 inch (for very small dogs adjust this measurement to about .5 inch) and repeat the gentle lifting and rolling the skin forward. Continue to move your hands down 1 inch, or less, at a time, softly rolling his skin until you reach the base of his tail.

Step 3: Repeat starting again just below the puppy’s scapula, or shoulder blade. Continue the Soft Puppy Rolls on each side of his spine down to the base of his tail 2 more times.

Step 4: When you have completed three cycles of gentle rolling, go back up to below his scapula, with your fingers together and flat, sweep down the puppy’s back with one hand on each side of his spine. This sweeping motion like how you would tidy the wrinkles on your bed to smooth the cover. Repeat this sweeping motion 3 times and your Puppy Pinches Session is almost done.

Step 5: Now snuggle with your puppy and tell him how much you love him anyway, that is…anyway he is.

The Soft Puppy Rolls provide healthy chi (life-promoting energy) and your loving energy so that your puppy grows up to be your sweet, devoted dog.

Everything Animal Acupressure-Massage – Tallgrass offers canine, equine and feline acupressure-related books, online courses, charts, and consulting worldwide. Start your adventure in bringing optimal health to your dog using traditional medicine. Acupressure is a non-invasive, always available, and powerful healing modality right at your finger tips. Website: https://www.animalacupressure.com/