Many techniques that have been discovered as useful for people are just as useful for animals. A most effective method is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), developed by Gary Craig.

It uses tapping on hands, face and body, to elicit great changes in behavior. These changes can be habits, phobias, compulsions, PTSD, or pain. There is no end to the possibilities. The wonder of it is that it is just as effective for animals as it is for people.

Here are a few stories to illustrate incredible changes with EFT.

• Wheatgrass was a racehorse that had 2 serious counts against her. She was a bleeder. Many racehorses have bleeding in their airways when they race or breeze (sprinting for time trials). Often they are given Lasix and it may help. Since she bled each time she raced, she lost every race, and was going to be retired. She was also weaving - basically walking in place, swaying her front and neck from side to side repetitively. Some say that the swaying from side to side provides some visual stimulation to the horse. Others believe that it is caused by boredom. Anxiety and high levels of stress have been shown to cause weaving, as it relates to general unhappiness and a lack of companionship.

I worked with Wheatgrass by tapping on her face and repeating certain phrases. Did she understand me? Of course not! That is the magic of EFT. Horses, dogs, and cats don’t have belief systems. People try to please you by accepting your technique. It is called the placebo effect. Wheatgrass did not have a clue as to what I wanted from her. After the session, she visibly relaxed. Three days later, while on the phone with her trainer, I asked her to tap on her horse some more, while making certain statements. The following week, Wheatgrass ran and placed third. She never bled again.

I also tapped Wheatgrass for the weaving. Then I went to the sports store and bought a few metal mirrors. We arranged them so that they made one larger mirror. Now she felt she had company or a horse that she could see. Horses are herd animals. They do not like being removed from each other. Between the tapping and the mirror horse, she almost completely eliminated weaving.

• My dog, Sasha, was terrified of firecrackers. The beginning of July meant a constant bombardment of sharp noises and explosions. She could not relax enough to urinate or defecate. She stopped eating. If she was outside and a firecracker went off, she ran blindly. I tapped on Sasha 3 different times that week. I had to wait till Halloween and a new onslaught of firecrackers to find out if the EFT was successful. There was an improvement. She trembled convulsively, but did not run. We tapped some more. The following July, she stayed close to my side, did not run, did not tremble, and was able to eat and void. She was not happy, but she was in control of her self.

• Lastly, Colonel, a prize Ridgeback, was a friendly, happy dog except in the show ring. As soon as the judge touched him, he fell to the ground. His owner loved him and spent a lot of time with him. She enjoyed showing her dogs and since Colonel was exceptional, she wanted to be in the ring with him. She had tried everything, but to no avail. We (actually, she) did EFT tapping for close to an hour. Then I invited my friend to come in. She was told not to look at the dog, but to act as if the dog were a piece of furniture. She was to come to his back and touch him in different areas, pressing here and there, as if to check confirmation. Colonel was fine. One week later he was in the ring, won a ribbon, and has had no further problems.

What magic did we perform? It was simple. We just tapped and said some words. Here is EFT in a nutshell.

The SET-UP
Decide how much stress your animal is carrying. You will then need to find a suitable affirmation, which states both problem and a resolution. You do this by choosing an affirmation, starting the sentence with, “Even though …”

STEP 1

Tap the “Karate Chop” part of your hand or your animal’s hand as you say (as if you were the animal): “Even though I have this problem (fear, anxiety, pain, aggression, barking, dis-ease), end with: “I deeply and completely love & accept myself.” Or “I am OK, just the way I amaam”. Now, tap on yourself, “Even though you bark, fear, etc. I love & accept you just the way you are.” Use both sentences. Repeat 3x for each of you as you tap. Go on to step 2. If you cannot tap on the animal, tap on yourself while touching him or her, as if you were he or she. If you can’t touch the animal, pretend you are that animal, work on your self as if you are he or she, then on yourself for your attitude about the issue

STEP 2

Tap each point shown 7X. For each spot, name the issue in a short “keyword” i.e. “barking” as you tap full round.

STEP 3

Tap each point shown 7X. For each spot, alternate “keyword” i.e. “barking” with a positive (resolution) keyword, “ I love me” or “I’m OK” as you tap full round. “Barking, I love me, barking, I’m OK”

STEP 4

Tap each point shown. For each spot, use the positive “keyword only, “’I’m OK”.

Now repeat the entire procedure but from your point of view. “Even though you bark, I love you” or “You’re OK.” Then tap on face & body, neganegative (problem), all around all points, then again, neganegative (problem), positive (resolution) negative then repeat a third time from your point of view – all positive.

TAPPING SPOTS: Inner Eyebrow, Outer Eye, Under Eye, Under Nose, Under Lip, Collarbone (near breastbone), Under Armpit on ribs, Top of Head.

Yvette Eastman is the founder-director and instructor of Touchpoint Institute of Reflexology and Kinesthetics, for all levels of Reflexology, Specialized Kinesiology, EFT, Pawspoint Reflexology for Animals. She has written a variety of books on different modes of reflexology and teaches classes in all of them. Check her web site: www.touchpointreflexology.com. Her newest book is, “So You Think You Know Reflexology…?" It is a compilation of writings by famous reflexologists and complementary practitioners, presenting their concepts of reflexology.

 

USE THIS ORDER FOR TAPPING. TAP EACH SPOT 7X

Inner eyebrow Outer eyebrow Under eye Under nose

Under lip Collarbone Under arm Top of head