Fact: Did you know that muscle accounts for around 45% of the dog’s entire bodyweight and dogs have around 350 pairs of muscles? It's really no wonder that muscle soreness can affect your dog's attitude, training, and competition level. 
  Massage also helps to keep our canine partner not only in a better physical health, but also mental health. It helps to reduce stress, stimulate the dog's self regulatory system, increase energy flow, and releasing endorphins (the body's natural pain killers). 

Annie- therapy dog for Full Circle Therapy in Smyrna, TN.

Benefits of Canine Massage:
– Improve performance issues
– Rehabilitate injury
– Address areas of specific muscular dysfunction
– Correct postural or gait irregularities
– Break down restrictive adhesions
– Improve speed, performance and accuracy
– Release restricted fascia
– Improve proprioception 
– Remodel scar tissue from the strain
– Allow tissue to return to its normal resting length
– Release trigger points
– Improve range of movement (ROM)
– Address both microtrauma and acute injuries
– Address anxiety issues due to behavior held in the body as patterns of stored tension

Who can massage benefit? 
Massage can benefit any dog, just like any horse. But massage tends to be most beneficial to the following:
-  Senior dogs
​- Agility or competitive sport dogs
- Dogs with arthritis and/or inflammation
- Post operative rehabilitation (i.e. cruciate ligament) 

Some signs that may appear to let you know your dog would benefit more from a massage:
 – Pole knocking
– Slowing down
– Measuring
– Stutter stepping
– Change in stride
– Change in take off spot
– Change in jumping style
– Uninterested in training/distraction techniques e.g. running out of the ring
– Weave entry problems
– Contact issues
– Coat changes in the dog
– Showing preferred landing spots
– Struggling to wrap around wings
– Short turning on one side
– Dogs who have only just measured into their height
– Intermittent lameness issues
– Jumping off equipment to avoid contacts
– Loss of speed and enthusiasm

Typically results are seen in 1-3 massage sessions. You may be advised to rest your dog for a specific time depending on the repair phase of the strain. Many owners are surprised at the amount of muscular issues a dog harbors and canine massage therapy should not be confused with acupuncture or chiropractic although it is worth stating that both therapies work well together.

Contact us for more information! ​Travel Fees may apply depending on location.