On July 4, 2008, I defended my ignorance and said (knowingly): "German Shepherds have acute hearing and that is why Tiger gets stressed with fireworks." Kerry listened patiently as she so often has to do with me; then sweetly said: "Why don't you give him some of your own formulas? Do you have any DRAMA-TRAUMA at the house?"
Maybe she did not hear my expertise. So I repeated the canine anatomy lecture. So she repeated: "DO YOU HAVE ANY DRAMA-TRAUMA?" With quite an exhale, she added: "Just give him some!"
Miffed, I said: "OK, but, you will see I am right." I sprayed the air, my hands, petted his chest and sides, and I sprayed the couch. It was immediately another holy shtt moment of which I have had many with Flower Essences = HE QUIT PANTING SO HARD. HE QUIT PACING. HE QUIT DROOLING. HE QUIT GETTING ON AND OFF THE COUCH. HE QUIT WHINING. HE QUIT FLATTENING HIS HUGE EARS. HE QUIT TUCKING HIS TAIL. ALL WITHIN MINUTES!!
I was elated. (No, I did not congratulate Kerry. Shhh.) I kept spraying. Sprayed his dinner, his water, the path to outside, and once more on the couch. We cuddled up together and watched fireworks on TV. Hours later, the neighbors started shooting guns in the air, banging pots and pans, setting off cherry-bombs, and seriously cranking up the July 4th music.
Tiger was not moving. Now I was worried for a different reason. Loud noises are his worst nightmare and he was not reacting.
I woke him. He looked soooo relaxed. He got up, put his front paws on the floor with his hind-end still on the couch like a big GSD can do. He paused, he farted, then got down where he stretched, farted, got a drink, and returned to the couch where he slept until morning. He slept through his worst fears.
In the ensuing weeks, I used this formula for vet visits, nail trims, car travel, and skateboards. Worked every single time! Within a few weeks - we had permanent improvement from this lifetime phobia! Turns out it was not the ears after all...
