Services

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.