Feel secure with dogs, learn Dog Handling Skills

Feel secure with dogs, learn Dog Handling Skills  In 1998, Jonathan and I adopted our first dog, Oskar. He was a 60 lb. boxer. I was clueless about caring for a dog. My entire pet experience had been with gerbils, hamsters and a cat that was mostly cared for by my daughter, Cheryl. We had…

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Become a More Empowered PetMassage Practitioner with Advanced Training

Become a More Empowered PetMassage Practitioner with Advanced Training When I was in human massage school I loved the last six months. That’s where the magic appeared.  I realized my calling, my gift, was in the realm of “energy healing”.  My massage student friends described what they felt. They talked about the heat, the vibrations,…

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Listen to the guidance of your Divine self.

The first day of the PetMassage Foundation Level Program is filled with happiness, empowerment and wonder. Jonathan and I (Anastasia) greet our new students and welcome them into our PetMassage tribe of canine massage practitioners. Our students come from all walks of life and they have these things in common: they all love dogs and understand that…

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Pet Naissage?

Pet Naissage? Anita Pitts, PetMassage Foundation Level Program of February 2017, wrote, sharing her moment when the light bulb went on. I recognize this as something significant that you can apply to your canine massage practice. Here’s her initial email, my response, and her essay. Anita writes: I’ve been doing pet massage and nail trimming.…

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PetMassage Programs and workshops

We talk a lot about PetMassage Programs and workshops. If you an experienced workshop attendee, you know what to expect. And, it’s all good! It is possible that you have never before signed up for a workshop; especially a vocational training workshop. “What are they?”  “What can I expect?” “Am I comfortable taking 5 days…

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That light in the tunnel.

That light in the tunnel. That light in the tunnel is not an oncoming train. It’s sunshine. Canine massage may very well be in your future. Register for the PetMassage Foundation Level Program and initiate the plan for your leave taking from your corporate nightmare. I had an uncomfortable conversation about life in the corporate world. Competent…

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PetMassage for Active and Athletic Dogs

PetMassage for Active and Athletic Dogs Optimizing function is the name of the game. That’s what canine massage does. The dogs appreciate what we do. Their owners, handlers, trainers, and vets do, too. PetMassage is an appropriate and beneficial therapeutic practice for Active and sport dogs. These athletes have had tremendous success when they the get…

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Lateral breathing in dogs

Lateral breathing in dogs Lateral breathing is often not included when we talk about breathing. We think of mouth breathing and nose breathing; chest breathing and diaphragmatic – belly – breathing. I use palmar breathing; and that’s demonstrated at https://youtu.be/EQPlxRXx9bw Lateral breathing includes the functioning of the structures on the sides of the dog: the ribs,…

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Choose the PetMassage Home-Study Courses

The 8 Home Study Course offerings from PetMassage: Basic Anatomy of the Dog The “Basic Anatomy of the Dog” PetMassage™ Home Study Course was specially formulated to meet the practical needs of the beginning dog massage / canine massage practitioner. While administering a canine massage, it is imperative that you know enough about canine anatomy…

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Choose the PetMassage for Dogs Workshops that best fit your needs and aspirations.

Choose the PetMassage for Dogs Workshops that best fit your needs and aspirations. PetMassage Programs are vocational training. They include on-site, one-on-one, hands-on training and home study modules.  Programs with Workshops On-site at The PetMassage Training and Research Institute, Toledo, OH                 PetMassage for Dogs Foundation Level Program/ Certified…

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Motivation From Daily Hands-on Inspiration

Motivation From Daily Hands-on Inspiration You’ve heard or read about how I started PetMassage.  I’ve described it in my books and it’s on our website. [https://petmassage.com/store/petmassage-dogs-art-essence-canine-massage-book/ ] It’s been a passion of mine for over 20 years. Every week of every year, I either teach a workshop, council students, write books and blogs, produce videos, manage…

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PetMassage Training and Research Institute YouTube videos

PetMassage Training and Research Institute YouTube videos Happy Holidays. This weekend, as you celebrate with the vivacious thrilling and all-absorbing company of your adoring family, and you are covertly searching for some meaningful entertainment on your mobile device, we invite you to visit our YouTube channel: PetMassage Training and Research Institute. Watch, share, laugh, learn…

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PetMassage Books: Perfect Gifts for the Dog Lovers in Your Life 

PetMassage Books: Perfect Gifts for the Dog Lovers in Your Life  Jonathan has written several Books for your PetMassage instruction. They are perfect gifts for dog lovers this holiday season. Art and Essence of Canine Massage, PetMassage™ “PetMassage creates an ambient environment within the dog’s body and mind by combining touch, and compassionate active presence.”…

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Massage in Canine Rehabilitation 

Massage in Canine Rehabilitation  The goals for massage in canine rehabilitation are to maintain, restore, and enhance the recovering dog after injury. It includes restoring function to the injured point plus relaxing those areas that have been compensating while the injury heals. Simply put, the goal is to enhance the dog’s quality of life. Massage helps the dog…

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PetMassage Private Sessions

PetMassage Private Sessions Canine PetMassage™ Dogs at all stages of life, just like humans, derive tremendous benefits with PetMassage™. All breeds, sizes, ages, and conditions benefit. Jonathan has worked with lap dogs, hunting dogs, show dogs, agility dogs, service dogs, security dogs, search and rescue dogs, and hundreds of family pets. For active dogs, PetMassage™ helps…

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PetMassage Kid’s Guide to Massaging Dogs [DVD] and Kids Doggie Songs CD

PetMassage Kid’s Guide to Massaging Dogs [DVD] and Kids Doggie Songs CD  PetMassage™ A Kid’s Guide to Massaging Dogs [DVD] Everybody loves massage…especially dogs. Everybody can learn to give PetMassage™ …especially kids. This DVD is a great complement to the book Dogs Kids PetMassage™! This video, for the first time, introduces children to the skills of…

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Ohio Interpretation of Laws Re: Massage 

Ohio Interpretation of Laws Re: Massage  Animal Alternative Therapies Revised May, 2010 The Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board has had multiple inquiries regarding the ability of animal massage therapists and other allied health professionals to perform therapies on animals and not violate the veterinary practice act. The Board appreciates these individual’s willingness to understand and…

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Transitions Canine Massage: Sacred Rite

Transitions Canine Massage: Sacred Rite A transition is any shift from one life -energetic – experience to another. Massage assists dogs in any transition. When dogs are experiencing a change in their lives that is stressing them, they get tremendous benefit with massage. Examples of lifestyle changes could be moving to a new city or neighborhood…

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Duplication, redundancy, sympathetic, and empathetic functions in the dog  

Duplication, redundancy, sympathetic, and empathetic functions in the dog   Our dogs bodies are wise and mysterious. In their wisdom, they have several types of backups, backing up each other in case one element malfunctions. I often stimulate synergistic referral points when I cannot access or am not sure precisely where assistance is needed. There…

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Confident Dog Handling for PetMassage Practitioners Workshop

Confident Dog Handling for PetMassage Practitioners Workshop 4 Hour on-site workshop. The concepts and dog handling skills in this course will enable you to be more confident working with many dog breeds, temperaments, and situations. From the beginning of a dog massage session, you must develop an understanding with the dog so that both of…

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TCVM Tongue Assessment and TCVM Pulse Palpation

How much do you know about TCVM, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine? Do you know how to apply aspects of TCVM in your dog massage? Acupressure points and meridians are not all there is to know in the complex practice of TCVM. Two of the Four Pillars of TCVM Diagnosis are Tongue Assessment and Pulse Palpation.…

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Body and Gait Mechanics

Body and Gait Mechanics  The dogs we walk and massage entrain with our posture, gait and breathing. Our dogs are very aware of how we are feeling. Any limp, slouch, imbalance in gait, unfocused look, and incomplete breath signals them that something is amiss. In the Body and Gait Mechanics for PetMassage™ Practitioners on-site, hands-on workshop, you…

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Medical Terminology, Canine Physiology, Kinesiology and Pathology for the Canine Massage Practitioner [PetMassage™ Home Study Course]

Medical Terminology, Canine Physiology, Kinesiology and Pathology for the Canine Massage Practitioner [PetMassage™ Home Study Course] This home study course is designed to enhance your comprehension and working knowledge of the medical terminology, its etymology and definitions, physiology, and the basic functions within the body that are applicable to canine / dog massage. Learn about kinesiology, movement (bones, ligaments,…

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Sharing Articles

Sharing Articles Vivienne Pastars, a beautiful spirit from Australia who traveled to the PetMassage School in Toledo Ohio for her Foundation Level Program Training, was asked to write an article about canine massage for the Australian magazine, Holistic Bliss. She wrote me saying she didn’t want to reinvent the wheel so she shared one of the PetMassage Helpful Hints blogs.…

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PetMassage for Kids’ Safety 

PetMassage for Kids’ Safety  Happy dogs, Safe Kids The happiest dogs are the “dogs kids massage.” The safest kids are the ones who massage their dogs. PetMassage for Kids is a sweet little program that teaches kids how to respect dogs and care for them with massage. Lessons Learned Early Inform Citizenship I don’t know…

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PetMassage Energy Work with Dogs [Home Study Course]

PetMassage Energy Work with Dogs [Home Study Course] Summary: Everything is energy. There is no separation between your dog’s energy-body and her physical-body. Energy can be influenced. Rechanneled. Excited. Calmed. In this course, you learn to enhance the energetic quality of your life, the lives of your dogs, the lives of your canine / dog…

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Independent Study [PetMassage Home Study Course]

Independent Study [PetMassage Home Study Course] The intention of this course is for you to be an SME, Subject Matter Expert on the topic assigned to you. The report must be in a research paper form that we can edit, as a Word Document. It will be published on the PetMassage.com website and made available…

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Research Papers Lead to Help for Dog Owners

Research Papers Lead to Help for Dog Owners On Nov 27, 2018, we received a desperate sounding email from someone who was reaching out to PetMassage for advice. He found us while doing a web search on an issue he and his service dog are dealing with. The issue he was researching was a Research…

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Basic Anatomy of the Dog [PetMassage Home Study Course]

Basic Anatomy of the Dog [PetMassage Home Study Course] The “Basic Anatomy of the Dog” PetMassage Home Study Course was specially formulated to meet the practical needs of the beginning dog massage / canine massage practitioner. While administering a canine massage, it is imperative that you know enough about canine anatomy that you are able…

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Keywords vs Key Actions

Keywords vs Key Actions When someone asks about the benefits of PetMassage for dogs, what words would you use to describe? You might use terms like relaxation, flexibility, flow, Ch’i, circulation, integrity, neuromuscular, lymphatics, drainage, quality of life, rehabilitation, and balance. There are lots more; you get the idea. Words themselves only hint at the…

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PetMassage Canine Aquatic Massage Programs 

PetMassage Canine Aquatic Massage Programs Imagine yourself shoulder deep in a large heated pool, holding a dog, suspended in water. You guide the dog’s body in your arms in large, sweeping movements across the surface of the water. You watch the ripples on the surface. You feel how the water drags and drifts the dog’s…

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PetMassage for Dogs, 2-DVD set

PetMassage for Dogs, 2-DVD set Are you looking for a resource to show you how to massage dogs? Here are 2 hours of enjoyable instruction in which you are shown how to do it! This is the immersive instruction that you cannot get following the illustrations in a book. These are skills you must see…

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PetMassage for Kids After-school and Camp programs

PetMassage for Kids After-school and Camp programs The content for the popular after school and camp programs is the PetMassage™ for Kids 3-Part Set and a curriculum for after school and camp programs.  Educators purchase these sets with quantity discount and resell them to their students to increase their revenue. Each child is encouraged to purchase the…

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PetMassage for Kids, 4-Part Set

PetMassage for Kids, 4-Part Set This is the perfect gift for the child who loves dogs and who wants to take care of the family dog. The PetMassage™ for Kids 4-Part Set includes Dogs Kids PetMassage, book Kids Guide to Massaging Dogs DVD  and Doggie Songs Audio CD PetMassage Patch  In the book and video, the children attend a PetMassage…

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Dogs Kids PetMassage Book

Dogs Kids PetMassage Book Dogs Kids PetMassage is for dogs, kids and their families.  PetMassage is a fun and effective way to help your dog achieve optimal physical and emotional balance. This is an enjoyable, easy-to-follow, book that follows two children as they learn canine massage, and dog handling skills in a PetMassage for Dogs…

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Move Your Feet- They’re Important in PetMassage

Move Your Feet- They’re Important in PetMassage Are your feet passive? Or do you use them actively, as integral elements in your massage form? During your canine massage, do you want to promote the dog’s movement, flexibility, and flow? If these are your intentions, it makes sense that every touch ought to be infused with your movement,…

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Creating & Marketing Your Animal Massage Business

Creating & Marketing Your Animal Massage Business A reader-friendly book to show you the way to success. The animal health care industry is one of the fastest growing segments of our economy. Pet owners, rehabilitation vets, trainers, and handlers are all demanding more holistic forms of wellness care. Creating & Marketing Your Animal Massage Business…

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TRANSITIONS: PetMassage Energy Work for the Aging and Dying Dog

TRANSITIONS: PetMassage Energy Work for the Aging and Dying Dog – a book of comfort and purpose for you and your dog. A Transition is a change, or shift, from one lifestyle, or quality of life to another. One energy form to another. It can be from one developmental age group to another, a change…

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PetMassage for the Family Dog Book

  PetMassage for the Family Dog Book You already massage your dogs. Everyone does. With this easy-to-learn instruction, you can do it better. This book is guaranteed to change the way you touch your dog! PetMassage for the Family Dog expands on the dog massage you do intuitively, with the skills and theory of professional canine massage…

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Speaking in Tongues In PetMassage; Internalized Sensations

Speaking in Tongues In PetMassage; Internalized Sensations Aromas are Conversational Dogs skin releases aromas during PetMassage. They are different when the dog is sick, healthy, tired, hungry, fearful, lonely, happy, stressed, anxious, holding back, and/or simply relaxing. This is how dogs know so much about each other … and us. Pheromones These aromas are not…

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This is My Dog, Fractal 

This is My Dog, Fractal Story There’s an important story that is being presented to us wherever we place our hands on our dog during PetMassage. Each touch is a snapshot of the dog’s life in the moment we are sharing it. Each Touch Each touch on the crease of the palm or whirl of…

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Focus on Sending the Correct Signals

Focus on Sending the Correct Signals In our PetMassage for Dogs Foundation Workshop we place great emphasis on being conscious of our body language. Every movement you make is interpreted by your dogs. To know what your dog is reacting to, you need to be conscious of what signals you are broadcasting. You need to…

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The PetMassage Assessment Stroke

The PetMassage Assessment Stroke Assessment strokes are an important part of every canine massage. They help us, the Practitioner, and the dogs, identify where to focus to get the most out of the PetMassage session. Assessments strokes follow specific patterns and help us understand the dog’s whole body. They traverse the top line, the underside,…

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PetMassage, the Profession

PetMassage, the Profession Is Canine Massage what you’d like to do as a profession? PetMassage is Canine Massage vocational training, as developed for professional practitioners. It is a form with a very specific set of massage skills and styles. PetMassage begins with Swedish massage skills adapted to be appropriate for dogs. The form is strongly influenced by…

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Time is Right for PetMassage

Time is Right for PetMassage As pet owners and caregivers, we as a culture, are evolving.  Maturing.  Becoming more aware and authentic in the way we take care of dogs. It wasn’t so long ago that veterinarians didn’t acknowledge that dogs experienced pain and so did not provide pain medication after surgeries. We’ve fortunately moved…

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Support Systems

Support Systems Most mornings I sit for several minutes on the sofa, sipping my coffee, flanked by our two dogs. We settle into the quiet and practice detachment, as thoughts appear and dissolve. Memories, narratives of memories, goals, plans, all randomly float on by. Between the thoughts I experience the present. I feel my breath.…

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Prepare your hands before giving PetMassage

Prepare your hands before giving PetMassage Before you begin any exercise, you need to warm up. Stretch your body. Before beginning any project, you need to clean and prepare your tools. In canine massage, our tools are our hands. I’d like to share some ways to prepare your hands so that you can give your…

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In PetMassage our Hands are our Primary Tools.

In PetMassage our Hands are our Primary Tools. This is a slightly modified version of this title than that which you view on the YouTube video. We communicate with dogs using our hands. Touch. Dogs are more aware of the subtleties and nuances in our touch than people, so we need to know what signals…

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Core Stability for You and Your Dog

Core Stability for You and Your Dog Stability It’s essential to feel stable during PetMassage. During the massage session, you must radiate stability. When you are off-balance, or can be easily pushed off-center by dogs you cannot be modeling the stability of leadership.  And that can happen during sessions when dogs paw at you, nudge…

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Massage Dogs that Limp

Massage Dogs that Limp This week’s Helpful Hint is the support content for this week’s YouTube video. I invite you to watch it. The video has several examples and demonstrations while this article fleshes out more specific instruction. I hope you find value in both of them.  Pain Limping is caused by pain. Pain is a…

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Massage Dog’s Lymphatics for Their Health and Happiness

Massage Dog’s Lymphatics for Their Health and Happiness. Our most recent YouTube video topic is: Massage Dog’s Lymphatics for Their Health and Happiness. It is on our PetMassage Training and Research Institute YouTube channel.  It is a little long, almost 10 minutes; and I think you’ll appreciate all the content that’s presented for you. Here…

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Canine Massage on Table vs Floor

Canine Massage on Table vs Floor This week we released a new video on our YouTube channel. In it I share my views on practicing canine massage on a table compared to working on the floor. Both have their place. Whenever and however possible though, we need to maintain mindful and ergonomic body mechanics. It is essential…

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Hi. Right This Minute, How Are You?

Hi. Right This Minute, How Are You? Really. I’m Here For You. PetMassage™ is a method of spontaneous communication, a dialogue, in which both the practitioner and the dog strive together to create enhanced balance and function. It’s a type of “Call and response.“ Can I get an Amen? During their PetMassage™ every dog expresses…

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YouTube Video Lesson: Massage for Dogs with Allergies.

Here’s our most recent video lesson on YouTube: Massage for Dogs who get Spring and Summer Allergies. A runny nose can be a big deal for a dog. Dogs have 220 million smell receptors in their noses compared to our 5 million. It is not in our Scope of Practice to treat concerns- massage can…

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PetMassage Canine Aquatic Massage

This Helpful Hint blog is based on this YouTube video. Its intention is to describe canine aquatic massage and encourage you to learn and practice it. Canine aquatic massage is a fabulous variation of the dry PetMassage. Sessions are given in a heated (usually indoor) swimming pool.  They both have the intention of creating balance, enhancing respiration…

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PetMassage Original DVDs and Books

PetMassage Original DVDs and Books It was just brought to our attention that somehow, someway, Amazon is having “technical issues” with several of our canine massage instructional books and DVDs.  How could such a thing happen? PetMassage books and DVD’s show as being unavailable or with prices that are outrageously high. We are working to…

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Moving Like a Potted Palm

Moving Like a Potted Palm Did you see it? We are posting new YouTube videos every Tuesday at 2 pm. The most recent is “Moving Like a Potted Palm” Feng Shui/Tai Qi This is one of the body mechanics exercises that we practice during our PetMassage Foundation Level workshop. It’s a variation of a Feng…

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Greatest Love of All

Greatest Love of All Woke up this morning with the lines of a Whitney Huston song* on loop-repeat in my head. This has never happened before. At least not with this song. It’s amazing what floats up to consciousness in the last moments of a dream. It’s special when dreams continue into waking state. “I…

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Massage Reversed Camille’s Bad Breath. Really.

Massage Reversed Camille’s Bad Breath. Really. Unexpected and Unsolicited Testimonial Last evening Anastasia and I are walking the dogs around our neighborhood. We paused to chat with some neighbors sitting out on their front steps. Camille jumps up on the fellow’s lap to lick his face. He looks up at us, surprised. He asks “Her…

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Video Tour of PetMassage Classroom

Video Tour of PetMassage Classroom We just posted a new video on our new YouTube channel. It’s the Tour of the PetMassage classroom. I invite you to view the video. Here is its transcript: Intro Hi. I’m Jonathan and I’m here with Camille and Ilaria. We’re going to give you a tour of the PetMassage…

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Muscle testing 

Muscle testing  Muscle testing is a technique used in PetMassage. It’s a visual way of asking your higher consciousness for advice when your regular consciousness isn’t sure. The theory is: that there is another level of communication, of understanding, of recognition that some things are right, some wrong; some things are better for us than…

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New PetMassage YouTube Video Releases

New PetMassage YouTube Video Releases ‪Please watch our first two New Happy PetMassage YouTube Videos: “How Massaging Your Dog Helps You” and “How to Quiet Your Dog With Meditation” @YouTube. A new one will be released each Tuesday at 2pm. Watch for them. They’re pretty funny. Also, Please subscribe to our new YouTube channel: PetMassage Training…

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Fun When You Run

Audio book: PetMassage Energy Work for Dogs We’ve had several requests for audio podcasts. I reached into our archives, stuck in my thumb and came out this plum. It’s the audio book we use as one of the texts for our PetMassage Advanced Level Workshop. “PetMassage Energy Work for Dogs.” The subtitle tells it all.…

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