How to understand your dogs constitution (and why it matters more than you think)

There’s something that shifts when you stop looking at your dog as a list of problems…

and start seeing them for who they actually are.

Not just “itchy skin”…

or “ear infections”…

but the way they follow you around the house,

the way they greet you at the door,

the way they settle… or don’t.

Because that’s where homeopathy really begins.

And once you start noticing it…

you realise your dog has been showing you all along.

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🌿 What you’re really looking for

You’re not trying to pick a random remedy.

You’re looking at your dog’s pattern.

Their personality, their habits,

the way their body tends to react when something’s off.

Because their constitution often gives you clues to:

👉 the kinds of symptoms they’re prone to

👉 the types of remedies that will suit them best

It’s like an umbrella…

and everything else sits underneath it.

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🌿 See if you recognise your dog in any of these…

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🐾 Sulphur dog — the cheeky, scruffy, sun-lover

• Always finds the warmest spot — sun, fire, radiator

• Lies sprawled out, belly up, completely unbothered

• Can look a bit messy, not overly clean or polished

• Curious, clever, gets into everything

• Independent — will listen… when it suits them

• Scratches a lot — hot, red, irritated skin

You’ll often see these dogs prone to things like:

👉 hotspots, itching, recurring skin flare-ups

(We’ll go deeper into this in the hotspots blog)

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🐾 Pulsatilla dog — the clingy, soft, shadow dog

• Follows you everywhere — you’re never alone

• Wants to sit on you, lean into you, be touching

• Gets upset when you leave — classic separation anxiety

• Very affectionate, gentle, often still “puppy-like”

• Big sad eyes when they’re unsure

• Symptoms that change — nothing stays fixed

These dogs often tend towards:

👉 weepy, gunky eyes

👉 ear issues

👉 symptoms that come and go

They feel better when they’re close to you.

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🐾 Calcarea carbonica dog — the cosy, food-loving one

• Loves food… always thinking about food

• Can gain weight easily or stay quite solid

• Happy lounging, not overly driven

• Enjoys routine — same walks, same places

• Can be unsure with change or new environments

• Feels the cold, seeks warmth and comfort

These dogs often lean towards:

👉 weight gain / sluggish metabolism

👉 digestive issues

👉 sometimes anal gland problems (things not quite clearing properly)

They like life steady, predictable, and comfortable.

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🐾 Nux vomica dog — the reactive, sensitive one

• Easily irritated — especially if disturbed

• Doesn’t like being woken or moved

• Can snap or bark when pushed too far

• Very alert, reactive, quick to respond

• Protective of space, people, or routine

• Sensitive digestion — reacts to food, stress, change

These dogs often struggle with:

👉 tummy issues

👉 overstimulation

👉 flare-ups after busy days or disruption

They don’t cope well when things feel too much.

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🐾 Arsenicum album dog — the anxious, restless one

• Struggles to settle — up, down, moving around

• Paces, circles, can’t quite get comfortable

• Often worse at night

• Needs things a certain way — routine, order

• Can be clingy but in a more anxious, unsettled way

• Looks like they’re searching for comfort but can’t quite find it

These dogs can be prone to:

👉 anxiety patterns

👉 restlessness

👉 sometimes skin or gut issues linked to that inner tension

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🌿 This is where it all connects

Once you start to see your dog’s constitution…

you start to understand:

• why they get certain issues

• why things keep coming back

• and which remedies are more likely to actually help

Because we’re not just treating a hotspot…

we’re treating the dog who gets hotspots.

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🌿 And this is where most people get stuck

They jump straight into treating the symptom.

But without understanding the dog underneath it…

things often come back again and again.

That’s why I’ll be sharing more on:

• hotspots and skin flare-ups

• natural flea and worming approaches

• vaccinations and how to support the body afterwards

• feeding and lifestyle

Because it all links together.

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🌿 A gentle next step

If you’re reading this and thinking…

👉 “I can see my dog in this, but I’m not quite sure what to do next”

that’s completely normal.

This is exactly the kind of thing we work through together.

In a short animal coaching session,

I can usually see quite quickly:

• which constitutional picture your dog sits in

• which group of remedies will suit them best

• and what might be sitting underneath their symptoms

🌿 Book an Animal Coaching session with me here.