With Aldaron Essences' convenient Design Your Own service, you pick the Bach flowers and we'll mix them for you! This is the perfect option if you like to experiment with flower essences to improve your dog's behavior. It's also a nice option if you prefer to test out whether particular essences will work for your dog before investing in expensive flower essence stock bottles. 

Which flower essences does my dog need?

• Please keep in mind this is not a consult - you are responsible for choosing which essences you would like to include in your dog's formula. If you would like a custom flower essence formula based on a professional analysis of your dog's behavior, please consider ordering a Flower Essence Consult. 

• To help you select the best Bach flower remedies for your dog, please feel free to consult our online guides to choosing flower remedies according to specific dog behavior issues. Current guides include how to choose Bach flowers for:
• adolescent dog issues
  
• anxiety, fear and stress in dogs
  
• car travel anxiety in dogs
  
• fighting/sibling rivalry
• grief (dogs and people)
  
• high energy, hyper dogs
  
• life changes and transitions
  
• noise sensitivity
• OCD behavior in dogs
• reactivity and frustration behaviors in dogs
  
• separation anxiety in dogs
  
• senior dog issues
  
• socialization issues in dogs
  

Tips on choosing flower remedies for dogs:

• It is generally recommended that a formula contains 6 or fewer flower essences. While this is not written in stone, it's a good general guideline. A more narrowly-focused formula that concentrates on primary issues tends to be more effective than one that tries to address every possible problem.

• It's not always easy to choose the correct remedy for a dog's emotional state, and there will be some inevitable trial and error involved. My best advice is to not overthink it too much. When unsure of your dog's motivation, choose the flower essences that best fit the most troubling surface behaviors. Yes, there may be deeper underlying emotions at work, but balancing the surface emotions first may make those deeper emotions easier to identify and resolve later.

• Don't worry if you misjudge and choose an essence that is not appropriate for your dog. If the emotional state is not out of balance, the essence for that state will simply have no effect --- no harm done! Bach flowers are, therefore, very safe to "experiment" with.

• For the purposes of Design Your Own Formulas, Rescue Remedy is counted as a single essence.

For each Bach flower essence below, you'll see listed its:

Positive attribute(s): what the emotional state appears like when it is in healthy balance. This is what that essence will help restore.

Negative attributes(s): what the emotional state looks like when it has tipped into imbalance. This is the negative behavior you are hoping to improve with that essence.

Behavioral indicators: some common behaviors that indicate whether this essence may be helpful to your dog.

List of Bach Flower Remedies for Dogs (in alphabetical order):

Agrimony

Positive attributes: even-tempered, optimistic, happy-go-lucky attitude.

Negative attributess: cheerful facade hides inner pain; "everything’s fine", even when it's not; always puts on a happy face, even when things are bad emotionally, physically.

Behavioral indicators: the dog that invites play and closeness to distract or redirect from conflict; hates conflict in the household - arguing really upsets this dog. Tend to be happy, silly, jokester types; the "life of the party".

Aspen

Positive attributes: fearlessness, self security.

Negative attributes: apprehension; vague, persistent anxiety.

Behavioral indicators: spooky, edgy, nervous, and/or jumpy dogs that appear to be reacting to "the energy in the room" versus any particular scary thing; dogs that worry and work themselves up, anticipating that something bad will happen.

Beech

Positive attributes: tolerance, sympathy, humility.

Negative attributes: critical, intolerant, nit-picky, snippy, grumpy, bitchy.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that are easily annoyed, always grumpy and reacting to small aggravations; also potentially useful for dogs that lack tolerance of change of routine, as well as those that react poorly to new and different things in their environment.

Centaury

Positive attributes: appropriately assertive, knows own mind.

Negative attributes: the emotional doormat; can't say no.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that carry "willingness to please" to an extreme; working dogs that will work till they drop; dogs lacking "backbone".

Cerato

Positive attributes: strong sense of self, confident in own ability, self-assured.

Negative attributes: lacks confidence in own decisions, fears being wrong; imitative behavior due to being overly influenced by those around; easily manipulated.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that automatically copy the reactions and attitudes of the dogs and people they are with; dogs that completely lose confidence when separated from people/animals they have become dependent on; "the perpetual puppy".

Cherry Plum

Positive attributes: strong emotional reserves, self control.

Negative attributes: loss of emotional balance; uncontrolled emotional outbursts.

Behavioral indicators: dogs prone to losing physical or emotional control; dogs that lash out or "freak out" against their owners, other dogs, exams, confinement; also helps dogs that struggle to retain control, barely holding it in.

Chestnut Bud

Positive attributes: improved awareness and learning retention; opens pathways to learning new things.

Negative attributes: slow to learn; chronic repetition of mistakes; failure to learn from experience.

Behavioral indicators: dogs prone to making the same mistakes over and over; retarded learning progress; poor retention of lessons; consider also for repetitive behaviors.

Chicory

Positive attributes: devoted, caring, selfless love and attention.

Negative attributes: possessive, manipulative, controlling, interfering behavior.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that control - often very cleverly. This dog is not necessarily aggressive; he may sulk, act out, get very creative about manipulating loved ones.

Clematis 

Positive attributes: focused, clear-headed, interested, involved.

Negative attributes: spacey, unfocused, day-dreamy, distant.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that are spacey, chronically lack focus and/or interest; poor memory or retention of learning.

Crab Apple

Positive attributes: restores self-worth, dignity; may have physical cleansing and detox properties.

Negative attributes: shame, guilt, feeling of being unclean.

Behavioral indicators: appropriate for physical/emotional detox; can be helpful in animals who have lost their sense of keeping themselves clean (i.e. chronic housetraining issues) through unclean, confined conditions; may help counter the emotional drain on dogs that have become incontinent.

Elm

Positive attributes: mental stamina.

Negative attributes: inadequacy, overwhelm.

Behavioral indicators: for dogs suffering from "burn out" due to overwork; any dog overwhelmed by chronic illness or stress.

Gentian

Positive attributes: perseverance, consistent motivation

Negative attributes: easily discouraged; minor difficulties turn into major setbacks; gives up easily or won't try at all.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that will not try, or that quit easily when confronted with uncertainty, negatives, or physical or emotional discomfort. Dogs that seem resigned, that have given up.

Gorse 

Positive attributes: vitality, hopefulness, forward-looking.

Negative attributes: listless, hopeless, lost "spark".

Behavioral indicators: dogs with downcast eyes, sagging body language, and general lack of vitality. Often called for after a long ordeal, or repeated setbacks.

Heather

Positive attributes: engaged, empathetic, grounded.

Negative attributes: attention-seeking, focus on self constantly, making everything about them.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that distract from the task at hand through noisy attention-seeking.

Holly

Positive attributes: self-acceptance, inner harmony.

Negative attributes: very negative emotions such as vexation, jealousy, hatred, suspicion.

Behavioral indicators: any dogs with deeply felt negative emotions; dogs that appear truly angry and malicious.

Honeysuckle 

Positive attributes: restores healthy remembrance while allowing one to move on and face the present hopefully.

Negative attributes: wistful regret; mired in memories of the past, longing for past places, activities, relationships, loved ones that are gone, etc.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that become homesick when away from their home, owners, and/or animal companions; dogs that pine and won't eat or play when boarded or on road trips with their owners.

Hornbeam 

Positive attributes: enthusiasm, eager anticipation.

Negative attributes: mental weariness; that "Monday morning feeling"; dragging, sluggishness in the face of starting a task.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that find it difficult to start an activity after a period of rest; may be helpful during convalescence after long or challenging illness.

Impatiens 

Positive attributes: increased cooperation, gentleness, patience.

Negative attributes: impatience, frustration, irritability.

Behavioral indicators: excitable, hyper dogs that show frustration behaviors - barking, jumping, demanding - always wanting everything done yesterday; dogs that show physical tension as a reflection of emotional tension and edginess.

Larch 

Positive attributes: improved confidence; willingness to try; resistance to taking failure to heart. 

Negative attributes: lack of confidence, expecting to fail, inferiority. 

Behavioral indicators: for dogs that have been punished for making the wrong choices, resulting in lack of trying; for dogs that have had a "bad experience" with other dogs, people, or situations so that they now avoid or hesitate, in case it happens again.

Mimulus

Positive attributes: courage, confidence, compassion.

Negative attributes: shyness; fears of real, tangible, identifiable things; timidity.

Behavioral indicators: dogs with fears of everyday things: noise sensitivity, such as thunder, fireworks, and gunshot fear or phobia, startling at sudden, loud,  unexpected, or unusual noises; fear of everyday objects like flags flying, baby carriages, bicycles, ring gates, ceiling fans, etc; Fear of people, either generally or certain types, such as tall men with beards, or unsteady toddlers, or people carrying bags, canes, sticks, etc; fear of other animals, such as horses, large dogs, dogs of certain breeds, etc; timid dogs who hide behind their owners.

Mustard

Positive attributes: joy, light, serenity.

Negative attributes: depression, gloom, "the black cloud" that appears for no apparent reason.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that become down, depressed, gloomy for no apparent reason. Can be useful for "post-season blues" in intact females. Please be aware that depression in dogs does not typically come without cause. A full medical checkup should always be done with dogs whose attitude changes significantly for the worse.

Oak

Positive attributes: stamina, endurance, and strength in the long haul.

Negative attributes: resigned, dogged, prone to over-work, overly dutiful.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that keep going despite over-work or illness; plodding demeanor, stoicism, "let's just get through the day" attitude are indicators for Oak.

Olive 

Positive attributes: revitalization, renewed energy.

Negative attributes: physical or emotional exhaustion, depletion, fatigue.

Behavioral indicators: useful after any kind of extended difficulty - illness, rescue dogs that have been through much, long-standing or repeated emotional turmoil in the household, long show/trial weekends.

Pine

Positive attributes: self-respect, strong positive self image.

Negative attributes: self-reproach, guilt feelings, never good enough, doesn't deserve praise.

Behavioral indicators: while dogs may adopt a "guilty look" in certain situations, and some may occasionally actually express self-reproach, I am not sure this essence is particularly applicable to dogs. If you try and do get positive results from this essence, please share!

Red Chestnut

Positive attributes: improved optimism, positive-thinking, confidence in the self sufficiency of loved ones.

Negative attributes: worry and fear for another; over-caring and concern for loved ones, stemming from attachment.

Behavioral indicators: sensitive dogs that honestly worry for the well-being and safety of loved ones. The focus of their concern is often individuals that are young, small, or that are weakened, ill, infirm, or emotionally or physically delicate or fragile.

Rescue Remedy, AKA Five-Flower Formula

Rescue Remedy is Bach's original "emergency" formula, combining the individual essences Impatiens, Clematis, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, and Star of Bethlehem. Rescue Remedy has been found over and over to not only work brilliantly alone, but to work to support and enhance other essences in flower essence formulas.

Positive attributes: restores calmness and presence of mind; gives comfort; reduces panic and stress reactions.

Negative attributes: panic, severe stress, reactivity, shock and trauma.

Behavioral indicators: Rescue Remedy is almost always a sound first choice with dogs that are stressed, fearful, panicky, traumatized, and/or needing comfort. May be used to heal the long-term effects of past trauma with excellent results.

Rock Rose

Positive attributes: courageous, steadfast, heroic.

Negative attributes: panic, panic attacks, terror.

Behavioral indicators: dogs prone to flight or freeze mode in frightening situations; extreme fear; escape behavior is a clear indicator, but also freezing, panting, eyes darting (i.e. dogs that are prevented from escaping, or able to contain their impulse to flee the situation, but would if they were able).

Rock Water

Positive attributes: emotional and physical flexibility, open-mindedness, gentleness.

Negative attributes: physical or emotional rigidity; stubborn adherence to rules for rules sake; perfectionism.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that want everyone around them to follow their rules (or else); dominant behavior, including stiff posturing, hard stares and glares; territorial behavior; dogs that must keep a particular schedule for training, feeding, walks, etc.

Scleranthus

Positive attributes: even-keeled, stable, steady, able to make decisions and stick with them

Negative attributes: inability to decide between one thing and the next; mood swings; any up and down, unpredictable behavior.

Behavioral indicators: dogs subject to erratic, back-and-forth behavior or temperaments; can be useful for balance issues (e.g. motion sickness), as well as hormonally influenced behavior swings.

Star of Bethlehem

Positive attributes: gives comfort, restores calmness

Negative attributes: shock, pain, numbness, and/or disorientation from trauma or fright (present or residual).

Behavioral indicators: can be used for current or past issues, such as accidents, grief, abuse. A good choice if you're unsure whether the dog's behavior is a reflection of past traumatic events.

Sweet Chestnut

Positive attributes: endurance, perseverance, even in extreme circumstances.

Negative attributes: mental despair; the wit's end; extreme emotional distress, to the point of breaking.

Behavioral indicators: for dogs experiencing (or that have experienced) severe emotional trauma from, for example, abuse or severely challenging life conditions. Note that physically and/or emotionally depleted dogs may get to their "wit's end" much more easily than dogs that have good emotional grounding and regular, emotionally supportive habits and lifestyles.

Vervain

Positive attributes: tolerance, acceptance, restraint; appropriate enthusiasm, drive, and focus.

Negative attributes: overly serious, intolerant, impulsive, fanatical.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that are overly-intense, always on the job; dogs that take life too seriously, for whom even play is work; these dogs know they are always right and determined be sure you know when you've made a mistake (e.g. back-talking, etc), according to their rules. Pushy, "get out of my way" dogs. We all know a dog or two like this, I think!

Vine

Positive attributes: restores positive leadership qualities.

Negative attributes: bossy, dictatorial, "dominant" behavior.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that use forceful, bullying behaviors to get their way; strong, impatient, high status dogs that have learned they can get what they want by using physical strength, threats, and/or intimidation; also helpful with dogs who have resorted to such behavior as a reaction to forceful methods being used on them.

Walnut

Positive attributes: restores ability to adapt to change while remaining true to oneself; adds stability in the face of outside influences and life transitions.

Negative attributes: overly responsive to outside influences - noise, scents, sights, the moods, ideas, and energy of others - especially during vulnerable transition periods.

Behavioral indicators: dogs going through various stages of physical, emotional, and sexual maturity; people or animals moving into or out of the home; dogs being rehomed; excellent for providing a protective shell or buffer zone; very helpful in transitions, including end of life.

Water Violet

Positive attributes: gentle, charming, self-reliant.

Negative attributes: aloof, introverted, socially indifferent.

Behavioral indicators: dogs showing true shyness (i.e. social reserve) either as a life stage or breed characteristic; "snooty" dogs that have no time for casual companionship; dogs prone to withdrawing in times of stress, illness, uncertainty.

White Chestnut

Positive attributes: clarity of thought; a "quiet mind".

Negative attributes: runaway, undisciplined thoughts; obsessive mental chatter; mental preoccupation.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that show repetitive, compulsive behaviors; restlessness; dogs that get over-focused on a task, to the point of not being able to "hear" instructions.

Wild Oat

Positive attributes: renewed interest and direction.

Negative attributes: boredom, lacking direction, unfulfilled as to life ambition.

Behavioral indicators: dogs having trouble adjusting from one type of livelihood to another, such as retiring working, service, or performance dogs that struggle to find a purpose to fulfill in their new lives. 

Wild Rose

Positive attributes: restores vital interest, spontaneity, youthful joy.

Negative attributes: apathy; resignation; lack of previous lightness, joy, and enjoyment of everyday things.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that have lost interest in activities, relationships, or routines they previously enjoyed, whether through illness, hormonal swings, life changes, reduced time, attention, or work by the owner.

Willow

Positive attributes: equable temper

Negative attributes: resentment, sulkiness, spitefulness.

Behavioral indicators: dogs that resent the attention other pets or people in the household get; dogs that gain attention through acting out; bad-tempered, sulky dogs. 

Disclaimer and Common Sense Caution

Aldaron Essences formulas, and flower essences in general, are not medications and are not a substitute for veterinary care. Behavior problems can be a sign of something physically wrong – please consult with your animal health care professional regularly, and if your dog experiences any sudden or dramatic change in behavior.

In cases of aggression or any threatening or potentially dangerous behavior, Aldaron Essences should always be used in conjunction with, and within the overall framework of a sound, behavior-based training program.