BEHAVIOR
Includes, but is not limited to addressing the following behaviors:
- Leash Reactivity/Leash Hyper-Reactivity
- Fear Responses to Environmental Stimuli (ie. dogs, cats, squirrels, people, trucks, doorbells, sirens, statues, falling leaves, thunderstorms, fireworks, etc.)
- Stress and Anxiety
- Confidence Building
- New Skill Acquisition
- Calming, Relaxing, Learning to be “Off”
TRAINING
Training is teaching and learning together in a safe and fun environment. For anyone to learn, she/he must feel safe and be in a calm enough state to think through a novel experience without going into panic: fight, flight, fidget, or freeze.
We might be a good fit if…
- You are curious and want to learn how your dog communicates with her/his body
- You are interested in understanding and supporting rather than shaming and blaming
- You know your dog is a complex and magnificent being (albeit maybe more than a wee bit confounding!)
- You’re looking for an experience of learning and growth, not magic wands and fairy dust
- You don’t approach changing your dog’s behavior the same way you would updating your indoor plumbing
- You’re interested in a collaborative, dynamic, relationship building process
- You prefer facilitation to military edicts
- You recognize dogs are emotional, social beings
- You thinking laughing and crying are both appropriate ways to emote
BODYWORK
Bodywork, aka canine therapeutic massage, is a relaxing holistic therapy offered as an adjunctive, or additional, service to other therapies or treatments. Massage never replaces veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment, but may be a good supplement to those services.
What to expect
Bodywork is most effective when enjoyed regularly vs an individual “special occasion” session. Ideally, we start with weekly sessions for up to 6 weeks then decrease to less frequent bi-weekly, or monthly, sessions. The length of each individual session is really dependent on each dog. Some dogs may take a few weeks to relax into their new routine. Others may settle in almost immediately, enjoying a full hour session and the benefits thereof! You may expect your dog’s initial massage to include (on average) 10-20 minutes of hands-on time, the remainder of time will be spent getting to know you and your dog.
Massage may Increase:
- Energy and Endurance
- Flexibility and Range of Motion
- Circulation and Lymphatic Drainage
- Muscle Tone and Proprioception
- Trust, Bonding, and Relaxation
- Cellular Oxygenation
Massage may Decrease:
- Pain and Tension
- Stress, Anxiety, and Fear
- Soreness and Stiffness
- Blood Pressure
- Surgical Recovery Time
- Inflammation
Please note: I do not recommend canine massage as an end of life therapy. In my experience, those at the end of their earthly lives appreciate a calm, non-anxious presence. Even the simple touch of being proximate to one another may be comforting, but rarely do those in transition desire active movement on their retiring bodies.