Post canine massage protocol

Senior Cattle dog, Jess got her first canine massage. She loved it. She was clearly feeling better as she strolled leisurely out to the car. What a huge difference from the stiff and stumbling, limping, side-winding shuffle she presented an hour earlier before her massage! 
 
After she was settled back in the car, her owner poked her head back into the office as asked if she should walk her. I realized that this was something that a lot of people might wonder after their dog gets a massage. So, here are some thoughts on post massage exercise.
 
In a canine massage, dogs’ muscles and connective tissues are stretched and softened. Cardiovascular flow is enhanced. Respiration is deeper. Lymphatic flow is mobilized. Chi energy flow is better and faster. A massage is a doggone full body work out. 
 
A massage is just like running a (short) marathon. And, just like after a marathon, if you stop altogether either resting or propped up on a bar stool (how do I know this?), your muscles will tighten, stiffen and cramp. It is also recommended to hydrate your body (hence, the bar stool).
 
Post canine massage movement
Continued movement is encouraged so the lactic acid that has been released can be moved out of the muscles. Lactic acid, for those of you who haven’t heard of it, is the chemical produced when muscles work. In massage, we call lactic acid the “end product of muscle work,” or ‘muscle poop.” 
 
So, after her session, Jess was taken for a short walk to the yard behind our clinic where she could release whatever kind of poop she needed to discharge. Jess’s mom had asked how far she should walk her. Considering her age and compromised condition, I suggested about 100 yards. It’s Spring. That would be a 9-iron.
 
For younger and healthier dogs, a longer walk would do nicely. If you can walk for a mile, or a half a mile, that ought to be sufficient for the body to move the lactic acid out of the tissues and into the blood stream. From there it gets filtered and processed by the kidneys and becomes a component of urine. Walking after the massage helps rebalance the flows of the physiological and energetic systems mentioned above.
 
Post canine massage rehydration
Hydration is important. Hydration, from the root hydra, water, is the process of adding water to your dog’s body. While people may lose body water through sweat, dogs, not so much. They only wick away perspiration through evaporation of their saliva off their tongues, and releasing moisture from between the pads of their paws. The paw moisture is minimal. The moisture is mostly a vehicle for leaving a trail of scent infused tracks for other dogs.
 
During the dog massage, though, we work quite a bit on the top, dorsal, line. Holding, efflueraging, scratching, patting, prodding and poking the ridges of the vertebral spine and, more importantly, the little hollows between them. Well guess what you are stimulating in those little valleys? It’s the Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupressure Urinary Bladder Meridian. 
 
The Bladder M. is one of the primary regulators of fluid balance and fluid distribution in the body. Which fluids, you ask? All of them. You’re stimulating the fluid in the joints (synovial), the fluid in the tissues (interstitial), the fluid in the skull and spinal cord (Cerebral Spinal), the fluid in the gut (chyme), the fluid in the sinuses (pressure) and the eyes (vision) and the ears (balance), in the nose (acoustics), the fluid in the blood stream (what was that again?), the fluid in the lymph nodes (lymph), and oh yes, the fluid moving toward and in the bladder (urine).
 
Post canine massage protocol
So after her massage, Jess gets some water to drink. She needs to dilute her newly concentrated urine. And, she gets to go for a walk, where she can post the pass-it notes of her recent canine massage session on the trees and shrubbery along the way.
 
I’d like to hear your views. Do you agree?

Dogs Kids PetMassage

You’ve adopted the perfect dog. Your kid plays too rough and needs to learn gentleness and respect for your new pet’s space.

Now is the perfect time to learn dog massage. For you, for bonding. For your children, for safely, gentle dog handling skills and essential life lessons.

Dogs Kids PetMassage​, book

These are comments from our colleagues:
“With a gentle story-telling style, this book teaches safe, effective methods of PetMassage that can benefit all children and all dogs regardless of how familiar they may already be with each other. Jonathan’s ideas on how to approach a dog, and touch in sequence, transforms basic petting into therapeutic massage. Dog Kids PetMassage creates a win-win for everyone!”
-Maryjean Ballner, Author – “Dog Massage” & “Cat Massage”

“Educators continually advocate for parents to become active participants in their child’s education. Learning how to massage their dog together is a great way for parents to learn side-by-side with their child. I highly recommend this book to any family interested in learning and growing together”.
-Brian Davis, MA Ed.Adm.

“Dog Kids PetMassage offers children a great way of learning how to combine love with responsibility and compassion toward their best friend. Sharing this book with your children will enhance the family bond all the way around.”
– Amy Snow, Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute

“This book is on the bookshelf both in my practice and at home. You need a copy…doctor’s orders!”
-Dr. Marty Becker, Resident Veterinarian on ABC TV’s Good Morning America

Children learn the skills of

• Awareness, which will keep them safe as they see how an animal is responding to them.
• Compassion, taking them out of themselves as the center of the universe.
• The power and healing effects of intentional touch. This will be socially appropriate touch which honors the space, the body, and the emotional states of their dogs.

It will be awesome for your child, or scout troop to learn

• Canine body language skills
• Dog Massage skills
• Dog Massage benefits
• Dog and personal observation skills

Dogs Kids PetMassage is one part of The PetMassage for Kids_TM Program. Your child will gain an appreciation for massage therapy, and use knowledgeable compassionate and nurturing touch as a useful tool for interacting with the animals in your home. http://petmassage.com/?page_id=156

Dogs Kids PetMassage 128 pages, $16.95 http://petmassage.com/?product=dogs-kids-petmassage

Sensitivity

In the March 2015 issue of Massage Magazine, there was a letter to the editor in the Reader Feedback section that caught my attention. It was titled “Pit Bull presence.” Part of the letter included “I don’t believe that most people find the presence of a Pit Bull in the (human massage) office relaxing. Jude may be the nicest dog around, but the reputation of the breed raises some anxiety for most people.” She goes on to state that she has a close friend whose 2 year-old grandchild was killed by the family pit bull, and concludes her letter with “I would not feel relaxed entering Carol’s office.” So. Massage therapist Carol must have written that she had her Pit Bull in her office while she was administering a massage. I think that having a dog present can have a very calming effect. Several of my clients like to bring their dogs with them when they get massage. It is the client’s dog that is present, though; not one of my boxers.

While I support the activities of pit rescues and personally love the happy go lucky characteristics of the breed, the sad truth is Pit Bulls are in fact abused and used as fighting dogs and weapons for protection in every city in the country’s tough neighborhoods. It is unfortunately the case that they have a reputation. We know that it is the culture and the training that create the killer dogs. And because of it, Pit Bulls have been the victims of state sanctioned genocide all over the US.

A quick look at the stats on dog bites shows that all dogs bite. The dogs that are trained to bite, those in law enforcement and protection and, of course, in dog fighting, all have the largest incidences of fights and deaths.

We need to honor the people who do not hold the same beliefs as we. Stridency for your beliefs is often a good thing and sometimes, has its place. Not all battles need to be fought. We need to be sensitive to those who are still living in fear and respect their need for personal and emotional safety.

We humans are the leaders. We are the ones who decide where the dogs are to be, when they eat, what they play with, and with whom they will interact. So, ought we to have dogs in our offices? Of course. But if any dog, be it a pit bull or a Yorkie, makes someone anxious, we need to respect them, too.

So, you may ask, why am I writing about Pit Bulls? 2 reasons: one is to address the passion that Pit Bull fans have that can devalue other people’s legitimate fears. I recall being in a pet store and listening with compassion as a raw food diet extremist browbeat someone who was purchasing a bag of kibble for her dog. She was in tears by the time she was allowed to exit the store with her dry dog food. The Bones and Raw Food Diet is more than the food you feed your dog. It is great for most dogs. It is also a choice. It is a commitment. And, it is a lifestyle. Stridency for your beliefs has its place. Pit Bulls are strong, and strong willed dogs. They just happen to be the poster-dogs for those who know them as fearful.

The other reason is that sensitivity to individual cultures and fears is an issue that is core to massage and bodywork. Nurturing is a primary function of a caring massage. We lead. We teach. We do not have to lower our standards to coddling or enabling. First though, we need to establish comfort, confidence and trust. This is accomplished by listening to and honoring, our clients fears. This goes for our human as well as our canine massage clients.

Space is our only frontier

The one who owns and controls the space is the leader. This goes for leading board meetings, giving presentations, performing in theater, playing music, holding your audience’s attention while ice skating, and controlling the high ground in the military.
 
When we describe space we are usually referring to the spatial area around us. This is the area that includes the contents of the room, the yard, the field, the lake or ocean, the breadth and depth of the sky and the surrounds of our planet.
 
Understanding space and how to own space is an important part of interacting with dogs. Effective use of your space is essential when training them, understanding their behaviors, playing with them, feeding them, and especially, massaging them.
 
When we talk about space, there is outer space and there is inner space.
 
Outer space is out there. Inner space is in here.
 
Outer space in canine massage is the room where you and your dog are interacting. The space is small and, for the most part, manageable. You decide where the massage will take place. You decide what the temperature and air flow will be. You choose the sounds that will be in the background. You control the influences of distracting dogs and people. You adjust the lighting to your comfort. You clear the area of clutter. You determine if the area needs to be smudged and cleanse the spaces to your personal specs, on and around your table. You have control over this space.
 
There is of course the outer space that you cannot control: Sun spots, movements of planets in relation to each other, from the perspective of earth, earthquakes, floods, weather, and politics. Except for their influences on you, they have little impact on your canine massage. So, you are still in control of the outer space. You are the leader.
 
Inner space is in here.
 
Inner space is the universe of thoughts in your head. This is a space that can be most difficult to organize and control. This is not isolated to those of us providing the intensely intentional work of dog massage. It is the greatest challenge in other venues, as well.
 
Golfers know that golf is a game of inches. Every one of us who plays the game has either heard or recited the famous Bobby Jones quote, “Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course – the distance between your ears.” The superstar golf pro, Ben Crenshaw famously complained, “I’m about five inches from being an outstanding golfer. That’s the distance my left ear is from my right.” [Ref: http://www.quotegarden.com/golf.html]
 
In the last couple of newsletters, I talked about Feng Shui. [Ref: http://petmassage.com/?p=3483  andhttp://petmassage.com/?p=3483]There is the spatial organizing process for out there, which is easy. And, there is the spatial organizing process for the “in here,” which is more challenging.

Space is our only frontier 

The in here (inner) dialogue is very busy. During every moment of your canine massage, you are thinking about what is best for the dog. You are monitoring how the dog is responding to your touch. There are a hundred “what ifs” swirling about your actions. They determine what you are doing and the control of your hands. The influence of your thoughts are directing, restraining, distracting, tempering, encouraging and/or allowing. The “what ifs” project into the future. It is like playing chess. If I do this, then that may happen. Or maybe not. Perhaps that will happen: or that. The possibilities boggle the mind.
 
In the canine massage session, you just have to choose which ones to follow and disregard the others. You cannot quiet your inner back seat drivers. We’ll call them your inner guides. Everything we do is predicated on lessons we have learned. We can never quiet the voices entirely. If we did, we would not be capable of administering a dog massage or anything else (except putting). Total Zen immersion while you are focused and tasking, is not possible. The dialogue will always be there.
 
So how do you become leader of your theater of inner dialogue? The first step is to pay attention. Be present with your thoughts. Be aware that you are thinking. Be aware of what you are thinking. It is the thought that sneaks up on you and takes over that is the most insidious. So when you notice that you are thinking about something unrelated to the task at hand, identify it. Simply acknowledging it, takes its power away. Then, you retake control. You are the leader. It is your choice to play it out or to let it go.
 
We cannot be in two places at one time. We want to be there for our dogs; and we are constantly being pulled into our thoughts. This is our reality. That said, we must be gentle and lenient with ourselves. With training, we have intuitively learned to be present when we are most needed; and to the degree that our dogs can handle.
 
And now you have taken control. You’ve become the leader for the spaces out there and in here. Next, think about the space in there: the spaces in the dog. Your massage works directly on the spaces between the hairs of the coat. Your touch stimulates the spaces around the nerves and glands in the skin. Your massage changes dynamic pressures within these spaces, so that movement of internal fluids can be enhanced. The deeper your pressure the more it stimulates and releases restrictions of the spaces within the muscle fascia and the spaces around the organs.
 
When I was a teenager I was fortunate to have a conversation with the great jazz drummer, Gene Krupa, in his club in Manhattan. I told him that I really got into his playing, and he told me to “listen for the spaces between the drumbeats. That’s where the message is.” Pretty heady stuff to lay on a 15 year old! That comment made Krupa my first Zen master. Space.
 
Dr. Deepak Chopra describes the spaces between thoughts with great reverence. He defines the space as “the gap.” The gap is “the space between the thought that is pure consciousness, pure silence, and pure peace. When we meditate,” he teaches, “we use an object of attention, such as our breath, an image, or a mantra, which allows our mind to relax in this silent stream of awareness.” [http://www.chopra.com/ccl/7-myths-of-medication#sthash.OGNqgyz5.dpuf] Space.
 
In canine massage, the dog is our image, our breath is the modulator and source of our strength. Our space “in here” is where we discover our intuitive guidance systems. 
 
RIP Leonard Nimoy, our guide to the complementary rational and emotional frontiers of space. “Live long and prosper.”

Zippo dog massage or, Use a Lighter Tool for the Job

You wouldn’t use a wrench to pluck an eyebrow, although you could; but you might hurt yourself. You wouldn’t use a sledgehammer to nail a picture hook on a wall, although you could; but you might damage the wall. You wouldn’t use an ax to tighten the screw in your glasses, although you could; but, well, you know. An overpowered tool can make the job much more difficult and will probably damage what you are working on. 

Deep massage and Lighter massage 

When we think about massage, we usually think about deep work. We ask for our therapists to dig their elbows into our tight traps or gluts. Strong thumbs dug into the soles of feet during reflexology can really break up knots in other parts of the body. While we people may beg for the exquisite pain that portends the release of tension; our dogs, not so much. The touch that your dogs need doesn’t require a lot of strength. The pressure to use with canine massage is very light. What makes dog massage significant and gives it life changing effects, are your control of pressure and intentionality. 

Nerve communication

The tips of the hairs that you touch on your dog’s coat, as you lightly brush your hand across, transmit what they experience to the rich set of nerves within his skin. These nerves are interconnected to the matrix of fascia which communicates to your dog’s brain and throughout his entire body. The communication relates information about what is being experienced: the amount of pressure, the size, the footprint-shape, the direction, the duration or speed, the warmness or coolness, dryness or dampness, and the energy projected and felt. 

Your dog understands and processes the lightest of your touches. Your dog feels a fly landing on his ear. Your dog feels a snow flake land on his eyelashes. Your dog feels a gust of wind ruffling the long hair over his hamstrings. When your hand is resting on his body, your dog can feel when you rock back onto your heels and when you shift your weight from one foot to the other. Your dog is highly observant; your dog’s body, highly responsive. Your dog can feel the weight of your thought. 

Modalities using lighter touch

Even your lightest touch has a substantive effect on your dog. The light touch of canine massage is the depth of pressure used with many canine massage and bodywork modalities including cranial sacral work, myofascial work, energy work, healing touch for animals, and Animal Reiki. This light touch is especially effective redirecting Ch’i energy flow through canine acupressure points in TCM.

Reach for the Zippo! Crank up the heat with a lighter touch in your dog massage!

http://petmassage.com/

Taking my own advice. 

Last Wednesday, I blogged about Feng Shui. I talked about the importance of straightening and organizing our hidden treasure troves in drawers and file cabinets. I suggested that the clutter of our tucked away secrets might be getting in our way. They might be constricting our growth and prosperity. On Friday, while I was massaging a couple of golden retrievers, Anastasia documented the sessions photographically. When I looked at the images Anastasia took, I noticed the boards behind me. I was (contextually) shocked. Here, in plain sight, in a highly significant point in the classroom, in front of which I PetMassage my private clients, was this unattractive hodgepodge of discombobulating images. Hyperbole? I think, not! 

These two adjoining corkboards in our PetMassage_TM classroom/clinic have been a display of a collage of business cards, brochures, photographs, cartoons, news clippings, all representing our students businesses. It has been a point of pride for us to be able to show how well our students are prospering. It has been a point of interest for new students just beginning their businesses. They gather around it during breaks, looking for inspiration (and for graduates in their area who are already practicing). Initially, the display was simply organized with columns of business cards, brochures and a few newspaper clippings. As we continued to add to it, it eventually became layers and layers of stuff. It was supposed to be scrap-bookie style. With time though, and perhaps some disregard, it had evolved to the energetic rats’ nest you see in the photo. 

I read these newsletters, too. I want to testify: I have seen the light. I have removed the offending display from the corner. Now that it’s gone, the entire PetMassage_TM School feels cleaner and clearer. It is easier to be in it. It is easier to work in. It is easier to process orders in (hint, hint nudge, nudge). 

All of the media that was on the board has been reorganized and remounted on corkboards in another part of the classroom. There, you will see them proudly displayed with neatly organized rows of business media. They are in a well lit area by the kitchenette and restrooms. The students look at them during breaks, so they ought to be where other break activities are held (or released). 

Hey! This stuff works! Share your stories with us at info@petmassage.com

What’s a canine massage neuromuscular release?

When dogs are stimulated during a PetMassage_TM their bodies shift – making tiny edits to their internal dialogue. What is the internal dialogue? The internal dialogue is the way the body communicates with itself to coordinate its internal and gross movements. Good communication supports its internal systems. These movements are the movement toward balance and perfect health. The ultimate goal is homeostasis. Observing these movements is the way we know the PetMassage_TM canine massage is having an impact on their bodies and lives. The movements are all reactions and responses to the PetMassage_TM canine massage. They would not occur if the PetMassage_TM were not being administered and received.   

Each of the movements is a result of the dog releasing some form of tightness or restriction. The restriction could be deep in their bodies, superficially in their bodies or in their minds. Deep refers to the movement of fluids in their cardiovascular system, lymphatics and digestion. Superficial refers to coat, skin and the tissues closest to the surface, such as bruises, capillary refill, skin tags, hot spots, etc. Digestion refers to the processing and absorption of fluids and nutrients as they move through the digestive tract. The dogs, in a PetMassage_TM are tucking in their proverbial shirts, straightening out their twisted t-shirts or curling into their protective nests of etheric comfort. 

This is what a canine massage neuromuscular release looks like 

What do these movements look like? The dogs may move toward you, away from you. They may sit or lay. They may stand up. They may list to one side. They may fall over. They may turn in circles on the table. They may shift their weight from one side to the other. They may shake parts or all of their bodies. They may yawn. They may scratch. They may blink. They may drool. They may lick the area you are touching or your hand. They may scratch somewhere else. They may stretch, change positions, fart, burp, nap, or attempt to jump off the table.

 What do canine massage neuromuscular releases mean? 

When we see any of these behaviors, we know that something is happening. Some internal dialogue in the dog’s body and mind, is directing him toward a massage neuromuscular release. The release of restraints is the permission he needs to initiate his inertia to shift. The release toward the ability to move and the movements that result, create the adjustments he needs in this moment in your hands that will make his life now, and forever more, and more comfortable.

Feng Shui – canine massage 

During a recent Foundation workshop, Betsy asked about the role of Feng Shui in PetMassage_TM. The class discussed a few simple precepts we can follow to influence the energy, movement, and emotional dynamics of the space where practice our PetMassage_TM.

Feng Shui is a term composed of two Chinese words: feng (wind) and shui (water). Wind and water are the two natural elements that flow, move, and circulate everywhere on Earth. They are also the most basic elements required for human survival. Wind is the breath of life; without air, we would die in moments. Water is the liquid of life. Over 90% of the world population lives close to a body of water. Without water, we would die in days. The combined qualities of wind and water determine the climate, which determines our food supply and in turn affects our lifestyle, health, energy, and mood. These two fundamental and flowing elements have always influenced human individuals and societies.

The placement of things and objects within your living environment affect the energy flow in it. Objects and colors with symbolic significance interact with and influence the flow of your personal energy. Your personal energy flow affects how you think and act, which in turn affects how well you perform and succeed in your personal and professional life. Feng Shui affects you every moment of the day — whether you’re aware of it or not. Consider the effects on your spirit of an early morning stroll on a deserted wide open, wind-swept beach compared to sitting on the floor of a small dimly lit clothes closet amidst all your shoes.

We noticed in the PetMassage_TM classroom that there was a large mirror that, besides having the functional use of being a place for checking body posture while administering a PetMassage_TM, has the effect of visually enlarging the space. When you look across the room it appears as if there is another room off to the side. All of the things in the room are arranged for ease of access and ease of movement. The lighting is comfortable for the eyes. The temperature and air flow are controlled so that the room is comfortable to work in and does not feel stagnant. Pictures in groups of three are easy to look at. The rows of massage tables make access to them and moving among them easy. The line of crates against the back wall is a convenient place to hold the dogs while we are in lecture. The dogs are readily accessible from the crates when it is time for hands-on instruction and practice.

Feng Shui – canine massage 

We concluded that the whole point of being aware of room arrangements was for the purpose of living and working in the space so that we are more efficient, more prolific, and more contented.

In addition to the placement of objects we noted the emphasis on de-cluttering. Of course. Clutter gets in the way. We need to create clear, unobstructed pathways for our clients to move about. Our offices and clinics need to be easy to find, easy to enter, easy to navigate, easy to work in, and easy to exit. Signage is important. Signs must be clear, easy to read, and provide an immediate understanding of what we offer. The front door, or entrance, must draw attention, be attractive, and welcoming. We need to clean out and put in order the hidden boxes and the catch-all drawers. These are all part of the greater intention that we are creating. All that hidden stuff, like secrets, can come back to haunt us and potentially sabotage our businesses. Just consider the angst caused when you cannot locate a file folder that you need for a meeting with a client! Who needs that? Staying orderly and not having “secrets” establishes a healthy pattern.

When you design your space, you are using some of the principles of Feng shui. You arrange your furniture and choose your colors to create a mood, and make a personal statement. This is who I am and what I do. The space you design is your space. It is the space around you. It is the space that you inhabit. If you are not in it the design is not complete. The only truly essential element in a space that is defined as yours is you. You are the core, the center, the nucleus of your space.

Just as you have chosen which colors and objects are the best ones to use, and where the best places would be to put them, you need to be sure that the you in the center of it all, is also where and what it is supposed to be. Be fully present with your clients; especially the dogs. Use the principles of Feng Shui to make the nucleus of your space solid, confident, powerful and easy to be with.