WELCOME TO PAWSSAGE I made a decision over 7 years ago when I began competing in flyball to become a dog massage therapist. However, Pawssage was not conceived until 2007 when I began all of my massage training. When I started my dogs in flyball, my academic background in Physical Education and 12 years of coaching at the college and public school system kicked in. I realized that the human companions of the canine athletes did not always have an understanding of the physiological, psychological, and emotional demands being placed on their dogs. I would watch different dog sports and see how the relationship between the techniques and demands of a particular sport, the structure of the dog, proper conditioning and nutrition, and team dynamics (dog-handler) affected the overall health of the canine athletes. In my movement observations of the dogs in each sport, I noticed similar postures and gaits that told me that the repetitive demands of the sport were creating chronic phycical problems. However, I knew from my work as a coach and sport psychologist that the team dynamics and the personality and emotional stability of each dog are critical factors in how the dog handles stress which in turn plays a role in how the dog’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments handle the physical demands of the sport.

Massage is a good way to not only help the dogs physically, but also emotionally.  To date, I have worked mostly on performance and older dogs.  I love seeing the older dogs seem as though they have aged backwards for just a bit of time. I am looking forward to getting more training to not only help those canine athletes that pulled me into this profession, but also all dogs that could benefit from canine massage.

Remember that massage is not a replacement for veterinary care. It is a beneficial modality that compliments veterinary care, proper nutrition, exercise, and mental stimulation in insuring the health and well-being of your canine companion.