Doggie Massages?

[MissCriss]

Anyone know how to give some?

I saw Victoria advising this girl Becky to try a relaxing massage on her Husky, Diesel, by using calming, slow, firm, gentle strokes...I THINK she said to do it in a circular motion. So, I wanted to see if anyone on here has experience with giving their dogs massages before I went out and bought a book or video. The dog on the show really seemed to like it, so I want to try it on my dogs. I'm sure there are a lot of benefits to massaging your dog as well (blood circulation? improved coat? bonding? muscle relaxation?).

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Originally Posted by MissCriss

Anyone know how to give some?

I saw Victoria advising this girl Becky to try a relaxing massage on her Husky, Diesel, by using calming, slow, firm, gentle strokes...I THINK she said to do it in a circular motion. So, I wanted to see if anyone on here has experience with giving their dogs massages before I went out and bought a book or video. The dog on the show really seemed to like it, so I want to try it on my dogs. I'm sure there are a lot of benefits to massaging your dog as well (blood circulation? improved coat? bonding? muscle relaxation?).

My vet gives all kinds of massages to dogs. I now Reiki is one kind.
Many are to relieve pain, some are to stimulate the immune system by pressing on very specific pressure points. I don 't know how to do it, but I do massage Bogey every night all around his joints. I know she went to an additional 2 years of schooling to learn the different methods, but a good book could probably get you started in the right direction.

I had a dog that could have benefited greatly from it, but did not have the right temperament for it.

[Diamond]

We don't do a particular style of massage, but the first thing beginner dogs do is the bonding excercise.

It's deep, slow, methodical and yes circular rubbing on the dog's shoulders, chest and butt/leg muscles to calm them before we start poking and prodding them

I will say that it calms even the most excited puppies and definitely has the "bonding" factor, hence the name of the excercise.

Anything else, I have no answer, other than we do it as an excercise, dog's like it and it calms them.

[Dauxside]

Mine routinely have head to toe massages - originally it was just one of those things I did unconsciously while they were on the lap, probably because my daughters were put to sleep with massages - isn't as creepy as it may sound, both were colic babies...now it's something the furkin wait for. Even the cats like a good massage.

After a groom they have massage as a treat - relaxes them after being plucked (owie,) clipped, snipped and otherwise "tortured."

[BabyElephant]

There is a good method called the T-Touch (Dax introduced me to this and I think she saw a demo on it) so I have just bought the book. I haven't read it yet though but when I do I'll be sure to let you know what I think!

[alimel]

I don't practice a certain type of message, however, in the evening while watching television, I sit on the floor with Mel and message his hips and legs.

[bdrcol22]

I was taught how to massage from a canine massage therapist while I was at a camp for the past three years. My dogs love it, but I found that you do have to be careful, as if you do it incorrectly, it can cause them discomfort as well. Liz tends to get a really tight neck and ACL, so I am careful to keep her loose as often as I can.

[SalemWitchChild]

I have no professional training in massage. But I vision the muscles and massage them. Working them till they relax and move on to a different area. It's great for bonding and for their health.

[bdrcol22]

I was also taught to massage towards the heart. That way when the toxins are broken down and released, the are encouraged to go to the blood steam and get wasted out appropriatly... Don't know if it works, but my dogs are doing GREAT!

[MissCriss]

Thanks, everyone!

bdrcol22, do you have any other tips of techniques you could educate me with?