How Can Canine 5 Element Personality Types Help Your Dog?
What is a Dog’s 5-Element Personality Type and Why Does It Matter?
The Constitution or Personality 5-Element Type that best fits your dog helps predict strengths & weaknesses and disease your pet may be susceptible to. The 5-Element System helps you understand your pet’s personality, choose a companion pet, or prepare your pet for Seasonal Weather changes.
The modern practice of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) recognizes 5 Elements based on the Daoist (naturalistic) roots of the practice. The 5 Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
“What about air?” you ask, especially if you have read The Four Agreements. Air = Wind is a disease-causing energy in TCVM.
“In TCVM, there are 6 pathogens. Six disease-causing entities. They are Hot, Cold, Dry, Damp, Summer Heat (think heat stroke), and Wind. These 6 can knock the body off its regulating balance and cause symptoms we recognize as disease patterns,” says Doc Truli.
What are the Dog 5-Element Types?
WOOD – The General
Strengths: decisive, assertive, bossy, strong, impulsive, intolerant, athletic stamina, “winners”
Struggles: anger easily (may bite), red eyes, liver problems, torn ligaments, ear, anal sac, foot disease
What usually reveals WOOD character: competitiveness, bossiness
Watch out: SPRING seizures, allergies, itchiness
Companion Match: will invigorate a FIRE, prod an EARTH to more action, exhaust a WATER
FIRE – The Emperor
Charms: lively, communicative, center of attention, very friendly, affectionate, sensitive
Challenges: separation anxiety, panic, heart disease, restless, insanity, craziness
What usually reveals FIRE character: kisses you past all reason, photobomber
Watch out: SUMMER skin infections, thunderstorm phobia, heat stroke
Companion Match: will nourish an EARTH, hone a METAL, frustrate a WOOD
EARTH – The Mother
Delights: laid back, friendly, sweet, easy to please, tolerant
Detriments: worries, obesity, weak limbs, digestion issues
What usually reveals EARTH character: lets anyone do anything to them, never angers or bites
Watch out: Late Summer HARVEST inflammatory bowel disease, organ prolapse, obesity, hypothyroidism
Companion Match: will support a METAL, calm a WATER, withstand excess FIRE
METAL – Prime Minister
Focus: aloof, independent, organized, quiet, confident & consistent
Faults: nasal congestion, lung disease, asthma, constipation
What usually reveals METAL character: insists precisely when it is mealtime or bedtime
Watch out: FALL bronchitis & asthma
Companion Match: will intrigue a WATER, limit a WOOD, appreciate an EARTH
WATER – Philosopher
Positives: quiet, solitary, hesitant, observant, analytical, skillful strategizer
Peaves: Fearful (may bite), shy, kidney & bladder problems, arthritis & disc disease
What usually reveals WATER character: fear biter if stressed by new, sudden situation
Companion Match: will root a WOOD, calm a FIRE, co-exist with a METAL
Doc Truli is completing a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine with a research focus on the Canine 5 Element Personality types. Keep an eye out for her publication of the results in 2019.
“Thank you to my wonderful clients who donated their time to complete the Canine 5-Element Personality Survey, ” says Dr Truli.