Greetings!

It has been some time since I have posted;

I have spent the last year and a bit polishing

up my skills and becoming certified in sports

and reconditioning bodywork.

As much as I have memorized anatomy of the

dog I believe the most important lessons I have

learned are far different.

Thanks to RMSAAM I am learning more about

centering and connecting with my dogs through

touch. Having trained and worked with dogs for

many years, it comes naturally, but a reminder

to "LISTEN" to the animal is wonderful.

As someone who works daily amongst pet

care providers; it often makes me sad to see

so many who forget as they rush through

overbookings by taking out their stress upon the

dogs and cats they handle.

It is so much more pleasant to BREATHE DEEPLY,

and stroke a frightened dog's head until the whites of their

eyes are no longer showing; instead of yanking there forlimb

harder, into overextension just to trim a nail or "get the vein".

Nevermind the embarassment of an owner walking in on such a picture.

Take the extra minute to use positive reinforcement, and give a cookie for

each nail. If you are unable to finish,when you explain why Fluffy needs

to come back and how you did not push the dog past its limit,

mom or dad will understand. In the end it will make your job easier.

Making a difference

It is very difficult to explain to some people the benefits of massage; until you
do bodywork on their pet who may have arthritis or some joint or muscle dysfunction.
I had the pleasure of working on Sailor, a ten year old border collie cross this afternoon.
I believe there may have been a little skepticism from a family member as I took him
outside for an assessment of gait and structure. He has a hard time walking, and tries to trot
immediately, probably in effort to compensate for his painful rear end. The current
owners have had him from two years of age; after he was hit by a car. He has arthritis
in both hips.
When I first put my hands on his rear he was tense and unreceptive, afraid to be touched.
As I spoke quietly and moved away, back to the front he calmed. Eventually through the
session I was able to warm and loosen his lumbar sacral (lower in people) back and work both
his left and right hind. At the end of the session I was able to do minimal extension of the right
rear and he had improved range of motion.
The best part was we sat and discussed how "mom" could help to improve his comfort level until my next visit. A few minutes a day of simple back and proprioception exercises and walkin with the bike.
Sailor smiled when I left and so did I, because I made a difference for a lucky dog whose family wants to make a difference to him.

Thank you,

Why massage for dogs?!

Tell a person you are a canine body worker, the reaction is almost always the same...
You receive a look of surprise and humor.
Then you see the sadness in their eyes, as they watch their aging pet walk across the room.
Massage for your pet offers the same benefits it does for you. It feels good to start! It also
calms, releases cytokines, and lymphokines and increases circulation.
It increases muscle strength and range of motion and helps to disperse and alleviate pain
due to arthritis, hip dysplasia and other muscle and joint dysfunction.
Most important, IT FEELS GOOD!!!

Test

you can get more info here kjdaf;Ah