Learn how you can use massage with your dog

You can help improve your dog’s comfort levels, loosen their stiff, sore, tight muscles, and help them to feel relaxed.

Learn how to increase your value to your dog and how to pick up the early signs of issues.

Invest time now to help keep your dog moving freely in the future.

Choose whether to attend a day workshop in in person, mini workshop or learn in the comfort of your own home over a series of sessions. 

I run Beginners Guide to Canine Massage and Pre and Post Event Massage workshops. 

Both workshops will give you the skills to use massage with your own dog, the benefits of massage, things you can do to help protect your dog’s musculoskeletal system and more understanding of their anatomy.

Beginners Guide to Canine Massage

Beginners Guide to Canine Massage workshop will introduce you to how to use massage and why. You will also learn more about what’s going on underneath your dog’s skin and how to spot the more subtle signs of pain.

At the end of this workshop you will be able to give your dog a 40 minute full body Swedish massage which will help to loosen tight and stiff muscles, and improve comfort and their feeling of wellbeing. Massage has the same benefit for dogs as for you.

The workshops are fun, informative and a lovely way to spend time with your dog as well as learning a useful skill.

Who is the workshop for?

The workshop is suitable for most dogs:

  • Pet dogs
  • Agility, sporting and working dogs
  • Active younger dogs
  • Senior or ageing dogs
  • Dogs with orthopedic conditions such as Arthritis or Hip Dysplasia
  • Dogs who are slowing down or have stopped doing things they once did e.g. get on/off sofa, in/out of car

And suitable for most owners:

  • Owners who are passionate about the health and longevity of their dogs and who are looking to enable a better quality of life
  • People interested in natural or complimentary healthcare
  • Owners looking to help support their dog’s physiotherapy needs
  • Professionals for Continuing Professional Development (please note that the workshop does not allow you to practice with the publics dogs. This is a self interest workshop only. If you are interested in training as a therapist the full Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme can be found here)
  • People considering applying for the Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme.

What’s covered on the workshop?

Section 1 – Canine Anatomy Fundamentals

  • How to locate bony landmarks, and why it’s important
  • How to locate your dog’s main muscle groups
  • How to spot subtle signs of muscular injury in your dog

Section 2 – Swedish Massage Practice

  • Learn a massive 9 techniques from the discipline of Swedish Massage for your dog
  • Learn and practice Passive Range Of Movement safely and in alignment – a strong yet gentle technique to improve mobility in your dogs joints and muscles

Section 3 – Guided routine and time for self guided practice.

I will guide you through the routine and you will undertake self guided practice with support to apply the knowledge from the day and give your dog a full body Swedish massage routine. This ensures that you are competent and confident in your techniques and practise to use the skills you have learnt at home.

 

Choose how and when you want to attend your workshop

In Person 1 day workshop

  • Saturday 25 January 2025

The day runs from 9.30am to approximately 4.30pm at Lighthorne Village Hall, Warwickshire, CV35 0AY

You need to provide your own dog to work with.

During the course you will learn the science behind how and why massage works as well as the positive physiological (body) and psychological (mind) effects it has on a dog.

The workshop also includes a muscular health check for your dog where I will assess them for any discomfort and injury and discuss my findings with you as well as any specific actions which can aid your dog. 

Course cost is £120

Online over 4 sessions

Evenings 7-8.30pm. 2025 dates tbc

You will require a camera so I can see you and your dog, a screen you can see me on and somewhere quiet where you won’t be disturbed. I will give you full details of what you need and some tips on set up before the workshop.

This is a great option if you prefer to learn from home or in smaller sessions, your dog isn’t good around others, you live to far away or for any other reason that you feel you would prefer to learn at home. The content covered is the same as the one day workshop, just split into 4 sessions.

Course cost is £120

Mini workshops

Sighthounds only (run with Insight Hounds). 2025 dates tbc

Workshop – Get started and understand more about what’s going on underneath your dog’s skin

Workshop 2 – Focus on the front end and 2 more techniques to use in your massage

Workshop 3 – Focus on the hind end, 2 more techniques and put it all together into a routine

You don’t need to commit to doing all 3. Start at workshop 1 and move on to the others if and when you want to. You will be able to start massaging your dog right from workshop 1.

11.15am at Shustoke Village Hall, B46 2 AX

Each session costs £35 (10% discount for Insight Hounds members). Contact Clare@insighthounds.co.uk to book

Places on each workshop are strictly limited to ensure an excellent experience for all attendees.

If you are not sure if the workshop will be suitable for your dog due to their behaviour or health conditions I’ll happily have a chat with you to discuss any adaptations your dog my need and their suitability for massage.