Animals & Neuro Integration
Animals enjoy the benefits of Neuro Integration too!
“Strange is our situation here on Earth.
Each of us comes here for a short visit, not knowing why,
yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose.
From the standpoint of daily life, however,
there is one thing we do know:
That we are here for the sake of others...
For the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy.”
Albert Einstein
Einstein made this statement after an observation of the intelligence of animals in comparative to their human counterparts, in basis: How we treat each other living creature on this Earth
Our pets have become an important part of our lives and are sensitive to and feel the effects of stress, such as abuse, neglect, illness, loss, and change in environment or routine, just as we do.
If a pet comes from a pet store or shelter, the experience can be overwhelming, stressful, even
traumatic, resulting in unpredictable habits, behaviors, and illnesses that can be difficult to overcome.
As caretakers, they look to us for guidance and direction, but we communicate in different ways, so it's not always easy to understand what they are trying to tell us. Often, they use undesirable behaviors to express unhappiness, discomfort, or illness.
Neuro Integration helps quiet the reaction, reorganize how the brain receives information, and restores a healthy balance so you and your animal companion can enjoy a happy and comfortable relationship.
* Check out the Events tab for more information & events to help our furry creatures.
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Help your Dog, Cat, Horse, Cattle, etc.:
Reduce anxiety, stress, panic & separation fears
Ease surgery recovery
Relieve physical pain / discomfort
Improve loading onto/backing out of stall/trailer process
Ease weaning process
Relax
Reduce food / digestive issues
Ease performance anxiety (agility, arena, stage, etc.)
“Strange is our situation here on Earth.
Each of us comes here for a short visit, not knowing why,
yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose.
From the standpoint of daily life, however,
there is one thing we do know:
That we are here for the sake of others...
For the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy.”
Albert Einstein
Einstein made this statement after an observation of the intelligence of animals in comparative to their human counterparts, in basis: How we treat each other living creature on this Earth
Our pets have become an important part of our lives and are sensitive to and feel the effects of stress, such as abuse, neglect, illness, loss, and change in environment or routine, just as we do.
If a pet comes from a pet store or shelter, the experience can be overwhelming, stressful, even
traumatic, resulting in unpredictable habits, behaviors, and illnesses that can be difficult to overcome.
As caretakers, they look to us for guidance and direction, but we communicate in different ways, so it's not always easy to understand what they are trying to tell us. Often, they use undesirable behaviors to express unhappiness, discomfort, or illness.
Neuro Integration helps quiet the reaction, reorganize how the brain receives information, and restores a healthy balance so you and your animal companion can enjoy a happy and comfortable relationship.
* Check out the Events tab for more information & events to help our furry creatures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Help your Dog, Cat, Horse, Cattle, etc.:
Reduce anxiety, stress, panic & separation fears
Ease surgery recovery
Relieve physical pain / discomfort
Improve loading onto/backing out of stall/trailer process
Ease weaning process
Relax
Reduce food / digestive issues
Ease performance anxiety (agility, arena, stage, etc.)
Current / Follow-up Animal Sessions
In-Home session - $10 for first animal upon arrival,
$5 per each additional animal
then $1 per minute
Session time will vary depending on animal(s), questions and location.
* all animal rates include travel to your animal's location (up to 10 miles outside I-270)
*Additional fees for additional travel
In-Home session - $10 for first animal upon arrival,
$5 per each additional animal
then $1 per minute
Session time will vary depending on animal(s), questions and location.
* all animal rates include travel to your animal's location (up to 10 miles outside I-270)
*Additional fees for additional travel
Miss Daphne
I met Daphne during a dog rescue mingle at my work. She was a frail 9 year old terrier mix and couldn't have weighed more than 9 lbs. She was in rough shape: she had hives, hot spots, a heart murmur, partial blindness, deafness, ear infections, allergies, and had almost all her teeth pulled a week or so before. The rescue volunteer said they only anticipated her to live about 6 months. Something about this dog really connected with me, so I decided she would come live with me and I would help her enjoy the last few months of her life in luxury.
Little did I know how much this amazing creature was going to teach me!
This was my first time being the owner of a small dog, especially one with special needs, so I had to keep a close eye on her at all times. She was an explorer and was happy to go wherever her nose took her, so I really had to tune in.
Less than a month after her arrival, I attended my first Neuro Integration training and was excited to hear that it was possible to work on animals! Daphne sure came to the right place at the right time.
I started NI with her as soon as I walked in from training and noticed significant changes within days!
Between Neuro Integration and a healthy diet, exercise, chiropractic treatment, and a loving home, (complete with cat who loved to tease her, and a big dog to look out for her), she became a beautiful, confident, playful lady, and truly taught me how to love more than I knew possible. She honored us with her presence for 2 years and 2 months…more than we could have expected.
~Kara
Little did I know how much this amazing creature was going to teach me!
This was my first time being the owner of a small dog, especially one with special needs, so I had to keep a close eye on her at all times. She was an explorer and was happy to go wherever her nose took her, so I really had to tune in.
Less than a month after her arrival, I attended my first Neuro Integration training and was excited to hear that it was possible to work on animals! Daphne sure came to the right place at the right time.
I started NI with her as soon as I walked in from training and noticed significant changes within days!
Between Neuro Integration and a healthy diet, exercise, chiropractic treatment, and a loving home, (complete with cat who loved to tease her, and a big dog to look out for her), she became a beautiful, confident, playful lady, and truly taught me how to love more than I knew possible. She honored us with her presence for 2 years and 2 months…more than we could have expected.
~Kara
Mimsy
Mimsy is an 8 year old Jack Russell / Fox Terrier mix. I was Bark Til Dark Dog Park on a July day in 2007 when they had a rescue mingle and saw this little creature zip by…I had to meet her.
Here was this little dog, as skinny as could be (you could see almost all her bones), with her back legs bandaged up to the thigh, dirty from dragging them on the ground. She was a rescue that arrived about 1-2 weeks prior. She had been a stray, did not have use of her hind legs, and was desperately looking for a foster or new home. Already having my hands full with one special needs dog, taking in another would be a huge undertaking, so I offered Neuro Integration for Mimsy as my way of helping.
I made arrangements to work with Mimsy in 2 weeks, meanwhile still being requested to foster or adopt her during calls to set up an appointment time. Well, it came time to see her and the rescue was concerned that she was not improving without proper supervision and attention and did not want to resort to drastic measures. I met this dog and knew she was spunky and healthy…she wasn’t ready to go and it certainly was not her time.
...well, Mimsy enjoyed the ride home…I was now a foster parent...knowing my hands were full, but ready to help her get to a better place. We stopped for food and supplies on the way home and started the healing process: hand feeding, changing bedding, bandaging legs, treating sores, changing diapers and closely monitoring every move.
Neuro Integration quickly became a regular routine for Mimsy and her changes were regular, constant, and always noticeable. She enjoyed NI so much, she started “asking” for it more regularly.
I adopted Mimsy at the end of November 2007 and she still asks for NI, sometimes wanting to include specific family or friends. She weighs about 13 ½ pounds now and can use her legs some, but still finds it easier to drag when she wants to run after another dog or move around the house. The hope is she will gain full use of her legs, but in the meantime, she is a happy, healthy, loving dog who now enjoys being a dog.
~Kara
*See more pictures of Mimsy in the picture gallery!
Update: On November 30, 2008, Mimsy took her first full "walk" to go out to play. "Walk" means that she did not drag her legs and managed to get them under herself and use them repeatedly. She is doing this on a more regular basis and getting better every time, especially when we take walks using the leash.
Update: June 2009...Mimsy continues to improve. We relocated to a large home a few months ago and she has learned how to go down stairs on her own (she is very, very quick & skilled at it) and started using a doggie wheelchair/cart so we can take walks as a pack now! She was a natural her first time in it and is very proud and eager to walk and explore. My lab mix, Amos, is her guide and teacher on the walk, so she is becoming more confident and we fully are becoming a pack!!
Update: August 2009...on yet another trip to the dog park, Mimsy now has the courage & confidence to explore the water independently! She now jumps off the ledge on her own and spends most of her time in areas where she can lie in the water and keep her feet on the bottom. Of course, every now & then her excitement to chase another dog puts her in deeper waters, but she swims back to the safety of shallow areas. She keeps going & growing and we all love her new freedom!
Update: December 2009...Mimsy is standing and walking more regularly and consistently on her hind legs these days. Her usual routine now is to actually "walk" through the yard when she is out. This has been a nice improvement since she rarely has scrapes on her feet from dragging them behind her. It's also quite common for her to "walk" into a room and look at you wagging her tail. Such an amazing and beautiful change!
Update: January 2010... Mimsy is usually known for heading down the stairs and where she stops she stays until I come by to pick her up and carry her back up with me. I happened to come up the stairs and as I came around the corner saw Mimsy completing a "solo" climb up one of the stairs to the hall landing. I believe it may have only been one step that she climbed, but since she is never known to climb any of the steps, this was quite amazing! Yay!
Update: July 2010...Mimsy participated in her first parade on July 4th! We have been going to the dog park almost every morning for weeks so she could run and get used to using her cart at the park in the grass. Little did we know she was actually training for a mini-marathon. :) She was wonderful...walked the whole parade route in her cart and was very proud to represent BTDDP. So many people were cheering and clapping for her...it was a happy & wonderful time! (See Mimsy with her cart & red, white & blue scarf in the picture gallery.)
Update November 2010...Mimsy continues to improve and is now standing and walking on her own more regularly! Her legs still cross and tangle, but that seems to have little effect on her determination to get where she wants to go. Standing is becoming a regular occurance and all four feet support her as soon as she steps on the grass and walks around the yard.
Here was this little dog, as skinny as could be (you could see almost all her bones), with her back legs bandaged up to the thigh, dirty from dragging them on the ground. She was a rescue that arrived about 1-2 weeks prior. She had been a stray, did not have use of her hind legs, and was desperately looking for a foster or new home. Already having my hands full with one special needs dog, taking in another would be a huge undertaking, so I offered Neuro Integration for Mimsy as my way of helping.
I made arrangements to work with Mimsy in 2 weeks, meanwhile still being requested to foster or adopt her during calls to set up an appointment time. Well, it came time to see her and the rescue was concerned that she was not improving without proper supervision and attention and did not want to resort to drastic measures. I met this dog and knew she was spunky and healthy…she wasn’t ready to go and it certainly was not her time.
...well, Mimsy enjoyed the ride home…I was now a foster parent...knowing my hands were full, but ready to help her get to a better place. We stopped for food and supplies on the way home and started the healing process: hand feeding, changing bedding, bandaging legs, treating sores, changing diapers and closely monitoring every move.
Neuro Integration quickly became a regular routine for Mimsy and her changes were regular, constant, and always noticeable. She enjoyed NI so much, she started “asking” for it more regularly.
I adopted Mimsy at the end of November 2007 and she still asks for NI, sometimes wanting to include specific family or friends. She weighs about 13 ½ pounds now and can use her legs some, but still finds it easier to drag when she wants to run after another dog or move around the house. The hope is she will gain full use of her legs, but in the meantime, she is a happy, healthy, loving dog who now enjoys being a dog.
~Kara
*See more pictures of Mimsy in the picture gallery!
Update: On November 30, 2008, Mimsy took her first full "walk" to go out to play. "Walk" means that she did not drag her legs and managed to get them under herself and use them repeatedly. She is doing this on a more regular basis and getting better every time, especially when we take walks using the leash.
Update: June 2009...Mimsy continues to improve. We relocated to a large home a few months ago and she has learned how to go down stairs on her own (she is very, very quick & skilled at it) and started using a doggie wheelchair/cart so we can take walks as a pack now! She was a natural her first time in it and is very proud and eager to walk and explore. My lab mix, Amos, is her guide and teacher on the walk, so she is becoming more confident and we fully are becoming a pack!!
Update: August 2009...on yet another trip to the dog park, Mimsy now has the courage & confidence to explore the water independently! She now jumps off the ledge on her own and spends most of her time in areas where she can lie in the water and keep her feet on the bottom. Of course, every now & then her excitement to chase another dog puts her in deeper waters, but she swims back to the safety of shallow areas. She keeps going & growing and we all love her new freedom!
Update: December 2009...Mimsy is standing and walking more regularly and consistently on her hind legs these days. Her usual routine now is to actually "walk" through the yard when she is out. This has been a nice improvement since she rarely has scrapes on her feet from dragging them behind her. It's also quite common for her to "walk" into a room and look at you wagging her tail. Such an amazing and beautiful change!
Update: January 2010... Mimsy is usually known for heading down the stairs and where she stops she stays until I come by to pick her up and carry her back up with me. I happened to come up the stairs and as I came around the corner saw Mimsy completing a "solo" climb up one of the stairs to the hall landing. I believe it may have only been one step that she climbed, but since she is never known to climb any of the steps, this was quite amazing! Yay!
Update: July 2010...Mimsy participated in her first parade on July 4th! We have been going to the dog park almost every morning for weeks so she could run and get used to using her cart at the park in the grass. Little did we know she was actually training for a mini-marathon. :) She was wonderful...walked the whole parade route in her cart and was very proud to represent BTDDP. So many people were cheering and clapping for her...it was a happy & wonderful time! (See Mimsy with her cart & red, white & blue scarf in the picture gallery.)
Update November 2010...Mimsy continues to improve and is now standing and walking on her own more regularly! Her legs still cross and tangle, but that seems to have little effect on her determination to get where she wants to go. Standing is becoming a regular occurance and all four feet support her as soon as she steps on the grass and walks around the yard.
Testimonials
Pockhit Calypso
“I contacted Kara after my Dad had found such relief from his headaches through her - I saw that she feels strongly toward animals and that NI can help them as well.
Pockhit has Adrenal Disease and we have decided not to remove the gland, but rather to help her live in harmony with it. My goal was to build Pockhit's stability and strength back, so that Western medicine (Lupron) would have more of an effect on the symptoms.
Through our sessions, I was so relieved to find Kara's natural ability with animals; ferrets are not the most comfortable animal for many people to deal with, but thankfully Kara is very at ease with them.
I've discovered a different side to Pockhit through Kara's work - it's what I now call Pock's 'ragdoll state'. Pockhit is normally go, go, go ... very energetic and investigative... but, for the most part, attains this very Zen-like trance during our sessions. It's pretty incredible for me to see, and truly provides almost tangible evidence that Pockhit is receiving the effects of Kara's work. What's more, Pockhit's body condition has truly changed from when she was first diagnosed. She has gone from under one pound to almost two pounds, and her fur looks so much better. Her coat is especially healthier; before it was very thin and rough, and now it's completely filled out and so soft. Between the weight gain and the health of her coat, I'm more than convinced ... with Adrenal Disease there aren't many outward signs-so I don't have much to gauge her changes on- but I do know body mass and coat condition are indicative of the positive direction Kara has helped her/us into.”
Emily
Columbus, OH
Pockhit has Adrenal Disease and we have decided not to remove the gland, but rather to help her live in harmony with it. My goal was to build Pockhit's stability and strength back, so that Western medicine (Lupron) would have more of an effect on the symptoms.
Through our sessions, I was so relieved to find Kara's natural ability with animals; ferrets are not the most comfortable animal for many people to deal with, but thankfully Kara is very at ease with them.
I've discovered a different side to Pockhit through Kara's work - it's what I now call Pock's 'ragdoll state'. Pockhit is normally go, go, go ... very energetic and investigative... but, for the most part, attains this very Zen-like trance during our sessions. It's pretty incredible for me to see, and truly provides almost tangible evidence that Pockhit is receiving the effects of Kara's work. What's more, Pockhit's body condition has truly changed from when she was first diagnosed. She has gone from under one pound to almost two pounds, and her fur looks so much better. Her coat is especially healthier; before it was very thin and rough, and now it's completely filled out and so soft. Between the weight gain and the health of her coat, I'm more than convinced ... with Adrenal Disease there aren't many outward signs-so I don't have much to gauge her changes on- but I do know body mass and coat condition are indicative of the positive direction Kara has helped her/us into.”
Emily
Columbus, OH
Oliver Grey
Oliver is a senior ferret and has some stomach issues, and I suspect a bit of blindness as well. My goals with him aren't as clear-cut as with Pockhit, but generally to help him feel his best and perhaps ease any physical issues he's experiencing.
Although he's much more “chill” than Pockhit in general, once again, I saw the trance that they slip into during Kara's work. We've been working with him and hopefully are able to rectify any pain he's been having.
It was very interesting because before Ollie's first session with Kara, he had a mast cell tumor appear. He hasn't had one problem his whole life and this tumor appears a day before. Fortunately, in ferrets, these tumors are completely isolated, so once removed (which it has been), it's like it was never there.
Of course I'm leaving out a lot of the actual work Kara does with my ferrets and the technical aspects - I don't know what everything is called that we do, or even how it works ... all I know is what I can see in Ollie and Pockhit, and the changes they've made. Obviously they aren't able to tell me their thoughts, so I believe they are true sources of proof that Kara & NI is effective - unlike humans, they just let themselves be subject to the process, and aren't caught up in over-analyzing r categorizing everything. There's much more I could say about our sessions, but I think most people should just experience it for themselves.
Emily
Columbus, OH
Although he's much more “chill” than Pockhit in general, once again, I saw the trance that they slip into during Kara's work. We've been working with him and hopefully are able to rectify any pain he's been having.
It was very interesting because before Ollie's first session with Kara, he had a mast cell tumor appear. He hasn't had one problem his whole life and this tumor appears a day before. Fortunately, in ferrets, these tumors are completely isolated, so once removed (which it has been), it's like it was never there.
Of course I'm leaving out a lot of the actual work Kara does with my ferrets and the technical aspects - I don't know what everything is called that we do, or even how it works ... all I know is what I can see in Ollie and Pockhit, and the changes they've made. Obviously they aren't able to tell me their thoughts, so I believe they are true sources of proof that Kara & NI is effective - unlike humans, they just let themselves be subject to the process, and aren't caught up in over-analyzing r categorizing everything. There's much more I could say about our sessions, but I think most people should just experience it for themselves.
Emily
Columbus, OH
Max
"Max is an 8 year old Shiba Inu. He was not acting his usual self for about 10 days. Usually the first at the door to go out or eat at meals, he was not eating, not going outside, not playing. I had to resort to putting a leash on him to encourage him to go outside.
I asked Kara to see if she could find out what was troubling him. Historically reluctant, this was the first time Max willingly allowed her to conduct a Neuro Integration session with him. During the session, Kara discovered his food was not agreeing with him and recommended a change in diet. Within 2 days, he was back to his old self and we were playing our daily fetch once again. I was very relieved!"
Celeste
Canal Winchester, OH
"Max is an 8 year old Shiba Inu. He was not acting his usual self for about 10 days. Usually the first at the door to go out or eat at meals, he was not eating, not going outside, not playing. I had to resort to putting a leash on him to encourage him to go outside.
I asked Kara to see if she could find out what was troubling him. Historically reluctant, this was the first time Max willingly allowed her to conduct a Neuro Integration session with him. During the session, Kara discovered his food was not agreeing with him and recommended a change in diet. Within 2 days, he was back to his old self and we were playing our daily fetch once again. I was very relieved!"
Celeste
Canal Winchester, OH
Maddie
I met Kara at the Light Expo last fall and was intrigued about NI for myself and for my dogs Hilde & Maddie. Hilde is a 6 year old Newfoundland and Maddie is a 6 year old Irish Wolfhound. We didn't all start out together as a family, but we ended up together and it has been quite an experience. Maddie started living with Hilde and me when she was about 7 months old and was a very sweet 70 lbs puppy. When her previous owner and her parted ways she became all mine and the hard work began.
Maddie is a 155 lb lap dog and loves all people but she really didn't like other dogs. I struggled with her getting along with dogs in public and even her own sister Hilde. As time went by, I did behavioral therapy, desensitization classes and anything I thought that would help her like Hilde and other dogs. After all the information was gathered, it was obvious that Maddie had fear aggression. She was afraid of the other dogs and was not just a mean dog.
We had come a long way, then Kara came into the picture and things just keep getting better & better. She has been working with Hilde & Maddie since November of 2009 and I can't really put into words what a great experience it has been. In the past she acted more like a human than a dog and didn't seem to enjoy things that dogs naturally do. One of the first things Kara recommended was a diet change for Maddie. This changed her appearance dramatically. Before the change she had muted colors and was pretty, but her overall appearance was dull. Now she has vibrant markings and she is truly a brindle colored Irish Wolfhound. She also is much calmer, happier and just seems to be enjoying being a dog again.
The first time I visited Bark Til Dark Dog Park Kara just happened to be there and helped me introduce my girls into the park. As they both ran around I had tears in my eyes because I just never thought the day would come when we could be in that type of social situation. Maddie has done great learning how to socialize with other dogs and just learn to be less stressed about situations. She still is learning that sniffing is how dogs say hello and she is finally getting it. Now we are members of the Bark Til Dark Dog Park and go as often as we can.
I couldn't be happier with her progress and can't wait to see what's in store for all of us as everyone seems to get more comfortable in their own skin or should I say fur :)
Brenda Bowman
Upper Arlington, OH
Maddie is a 155 lb lap dog and loves all people but she really didn't like other dogs. I struggled with her getting along with dogs in public and even her own sister Hilde. As time went by, I did behavioral therapy, desensitization classes and anything I thought that would help her like Hilde and other dogs. After all the information was gathered, it was obvious that Maddie had fear aggression. She was afraid of the other dogs and was not just a mean dog.
We had come a long way, then Kara came into the picture and things just keep getting better & better. She has been working with Hilde & Maddie since November of 2009 and I can't really put into words what a great experience it has been. In the past she acted more like a human than a dog and didn't seem to enjoy things that dogs naturally do. One of the first things Kara recommended was a diet change for Maddie. This changed her appearance dramatically. Before the change she had muted colors and was pretty, but her overall appearance was dull. Now she has vibrant markings and she is truly a brindle colored Irish Wolfhound. She also is much calmer, happier and just seems to be enjoying being a dog again.
The first time I visited Bark Til Dark Dog Park Kara just happened to be there and helped me introduce my girls into the park. As they both ran around I had tears in my eyes because I just never thought the day would come when we could be in that type of social situation. Maddie has done great learning how to socialize with other dogs and just learn to be less stressed about situations. She still is learning that sniffing is how dogs say hello and she is finally getting it. Now we are members of the Bark Til Dark Dog Park and go as often as we can.
I couldn't be happier with her progress and can't wait to see what's in store for all of us as everyone seems to get more comfortable in their own skin or should I say fur :)
Brenda Bowman
Upper Arlington, OH
Hilde
Hilde is a 6 year old Newfoundland who stole my heart from the first picture I saw of her when she was 3 days old. We started out with just the two of us and she proved to be quite a challenge. She is very headstrong and smart and has given me my fair share of headaches and worries from things she has eaten. I call her my mischievous Newfie!
Up until she was about 8 months old we lived by ourselves, then Maddie, the Irish Wolfhound above, came to live with us and it changed the dynamics of the household greatly.
Hilde in that calm Newfie way just went along with everything. She was so patient with Maddie and the issues that she had. I couldn't ask for a more understanding dog. Hilde, in her own right, has had her own issues; she has several ailments, cataracts, incontinence, allergies, and chronic ear infections, but all in all she is a trooper.
When we started working with Kara she was hesitant. Like I said, she is stubborn, but also very smart. After the 2nd or 3rd visit she figured out that she could "ask" Kara to help her feel better and also, she could get work done on her that also might benefit her mom, meaning me :) The food recommendations that Kara made have helped her allergies tremendously. I have gone from having to clean her eyes out 2 or 3 times a day to not cleaning them out at all, which is a chore that I dreaded every morning.
All in all Hilde is a wonderful dog and the work we have done with Kara has helped Maddie, Hilde and I become a "pack" that gets along all the time. It was very touch and go there for a while with interactions between Hilde and Maddie and now I feel totally comfortable that we will all be a happy family for many years to come. A lot of the credit has to go with Kara in letting me know what my dogs want and what they need to be healthy and happy :)
Brenda Bowman
Upper Arlington, OH
*See more of Hilde & Maddie in the picture gallery!
Up until she was about 8 months old we lived by ourselves, then Maddie, the Irish Wolfhound above, came to live with us and it changed the dynamics of the household greatly.
Hilde in that calm Newfie way just went along with everything. She was so patient with Maddie and the issues that she had. I couldn't ask for a more understanding dog. Hilde, in her own right, has had her own issues; she has several ailments, cataracts, incontinence, allergies, and chronic ear infections, but all in all she is a trooper.
When we started working with Kara she was hesitant. Like I said, she is stubborn, but also very smart. After the 2nd or 3rd visit she figured out that she could "ask" Kara to help her feel better and also, she could get work done on her that also might benefit her mom, meaning me :) The food recommendations that Kara made have helped her allergies tremendously. I have gone from having to clean her eyes out 2 or 3 times a day to not cleaning them out at all, which is a chore that I dreaded every morning.
All in all Hilde is a wonderful dog and the work we have done with Kara has helped Maddie, Hilde and I become a "pack" that gets along all the time. It was very touch and go there for a while with interactions between Hilde and Maddie and now I feel totally comfortable that we will all be a happy family for many years to come. A lot of the credit has to go with Kara in letting me know what my dogs want and what they need to be healthy and happy :)
Brenda Bowman
Upper Arlington, OH
*See more of Hilde & Maddie in the picture gallery!
Maggie
Maggie (a 2-3 year old Australian Sheppard) was adopted from the Humane Society of Delaware County in mid-June 2009 and it was apparent from her physical condition that she was mistreated and had been running. She was brought in by the dog warden and had apparently been running for several days. Her coat was sun bleached, dry and very thin, (10 to 15 pounds underweight).
Over the next few months, other issues started to show up. Among them, was her health. We took her to a vet a few days after she was adopted for a series of test and it was determined she had a serious worm problem. It required a number of visits and currently, has a clean bill of health. One of the other problems is she could not be loose at any time. When she was let loose, she would take off running.This presented a risk she would get to the highway. During this time, she also bonded with our 10 year Australian Sheppard and they became a team. She also has a problem when traveling in a vehicle. She drools and initially, would upchuck.
In early fall, we joined Bark-til-Dark dog park so Maggie would have a place to run and get exercise. She adapted to the environment quickly and enjoyed the outings. That is where we saw a flyer about Neuro Integration and Kara Hicks.
We attended the first event and Kara had Gary work with Maggie. Kara worked with the touch therapy which seems to have worked. We noticed a difference in Maggie in her action and reactions while at the dog park, with our other Aussie and us. Prior to the first visit, Maggie would stay very close to us while at the park. It was just the opposite of how she behaved when she was loose at home. Following the first visit, she started to interact with the other dogs. She also started to be a little protective of the older dog when other dogs came around.
At home, she was more relaxed and continued to be alert and playful. We took Maggie to a seconded session with Kara and saw even more progress in that she plays with the other dogs at the park. The drooling has decreased but is still there. We had Kara work with the older Aussie. We were concerned about having her feelings hurt or not feeling good for some time. We got the older Aussie when she was only 8 weeks old and has been a part of the family, in all respects since then. The older Aussie got a session with Sandy as part of the team. Kara had Sandy do part of the session with Kara’s assistance with good results. The older Aussie (Scarlet) is more relaxed, more playful and enjoys the time spent at the dog park with Maggie.
One of the things we humans learned during the two sessions is we need to decompress when we have had a difficult day. Tension that builds up over the day affects the temperament and behavior of the dogs. Maggie, in particular, is very sensitive and reacts to almost everything we do. Kara was able to detect this condition in us and we have made an effort to be relaxed and aware that our behavior impacts.
Sandy & Gary
Delaware, OH
Over the next few months, other issues started to show up. Among them, was her health. We took her to a vet a few days after she was adopted for a series of test and it was determined she had a serious worm problem. It required a number of visits and currently, has a clean bill of health. One of the other problems is she could not be loose at any time. When she was let loose, she would take off running.This presented a risk she would get to the highway. During this time, she also bonded with our 10 year Australian Sheppard and they became a team. She also has a problem when traveling in a vehicle. She drools and initially, would upchuck.
In early fall, we joined Bark-til-Dark dog park so Maggie would have a place to run and get exercise. She adapted to the environment quickly and enjoyed the outings. That is where we saw a flyer about Neuro Integration and Kara Hicks.
We attended the first event and Kara had Gary work with Maggie. Kara worked with the touch therapy which seems to have worked. We noticed a difference in Maggie in her action and reactions while at the dog park, with our other Aussie and us. Prior to the first visit, Maggie would stay very close to us while at the park. It was just the opposite of how she behaved when she was loose at home. Following the first visit, she started to interact with the other dogs. She also started to be a little protective of the older dog when other dogs came around.
At home, she was more relaxed and continued to be alert and playful. We took Maggie to a seconded session with Kara and saw even more progress in that she plays with the other dogs at the park. The drooling has decreased but is still there. We had Kara work with the older Aussie. We were concerned about having her feelings hurt or not feeling good for some time. We got the older Aussie when she was only 8 weeks old and has been a part of the family, in all respects since then. The older Aussie got a session with Sandy as part of the team. Kara had Sandy do part of the session with Kara’s assistance with good results. The older Aussie (Scarlet) is more relaxed, more playful and enjoys the time spent at the dog park with Maggie.
One of the things we humans learned during the two sessions is we need to decompress when we have had a difficult day. Tension that builds up over the day affects the temperament and behavior of the dogs. Maggie, in particular, is very sensitive and reacts to almost everything we do. Kara was able to detect this condition in us and we have made an effort to be relaxed and aware that our behavior impacts.
Sandy & Gary
Delaware, OH
Waiting for Kara
This is a picture of Maddie & Hilde vigilantly watching the driveway and waiting for Kara's arrival for their NI session. This picture was taken about 30 minutes before her arrival.
