How to massage your dog at home?
Tips from a certified canine massage therapist Grete.
Have you ever wondered, if your dog could benefit from a good relaxing massage, just like we do? Might sound surprising, but they do! There are many benefits to dog massage, and you can read more about it from our blog post with Grete here.
You don’t necessarily need to be or go to a professional to give your pup a well deserved relaxing massage. But how do you do it without harming your dog? Well, let’s dive into it.
Create a calm environment 🧘♀️
Just like humans, dogs need a safe and comfortable space for relaxation.
So the first thing that canine massage therapist Grete is recommending, is before you start massaging your pup is to choose a quiet spot, lay down a blanket, and ensure your dog feels safe.
A calm environment allows your dog’s nervous system to settle, which makes the massage more effective and enjoyable.
2. Start with gentle strokes 🫳
Now the second thing, before jumping into specific techniques: ease your dog into this with softer and slow strokes along their body. To your dog this should feel like very calm petting.
Use your open palms to softly stroke your dog’s body, signaling it’s time to relax.
This helps to show your dog that it’s time to loosen up, but it also builds trust, showing that you are not trying to do anything harmful or uncomfortable.
The good sign to look for, is if your dog’s breathing slows and their body isn’t that tense anymore.
3. Try the rolling technique 🖐
Next thing you can try is the rolling technique. Gently lift and roll the skin between your fingers, moving from the tail toward the head.
This can help to minimise compensatory issues and improve circulation and dog’s mobility.
Keep the pressure light and also keep an eye on your dog’s reaction to ensure that your dog is relaxed and not uncomfortable.
4. Circular motions for tense areas ⤾
Now let’s move onto the next step which is, using circular motions for tense areas.
For this, Grete explains that you should apply light pressure to your dog’s back and neck muscles (avoiding the spine), using circular motions with your palms or thumbs.
With gentle, small circles on either side of the spine or around the neck and shoulders you help to release muscle tension, which is especially helpful for active or older dogs, who often times carry stiffness in those areas.
5. Don’t forget the legs and toes 🐾
You might not have thought of that, but legs can hold a lot of tension, especially in active dogs.
Using soft, circular motions work along the limbs, avoiding the joints. Touching the toes can help with desensitization, making nail trims easier.
But do take this slow if needed, because dogs are more sensitive when touching their toes.
So if you notice that your dog is uncomfortable, don’t force it, because you want this to be a good and enjoyable experience, not a bad or uncomfortable one.
6. Take breaks and read your dog’s signals 🐶
Throughout massage, do not forget to observe your dog’s body language.
If you notice that your dog reacts suddenly to a specific area you’re massaging, makes a squeaking sound or is seemingly uncomfortable and restless, then pause.
Dogs are actually smarter than you might think.
They will let you know, when they feel uncomfortable or when they are done. It is always important to respect your dog’s boundaries and give them positive experiences.
So you can either try going back to gentle, soothing strokes or take a break.
Another thing Grete recommends you to keep in mind is to end every session with gentle strokes to reinforce relaxation.
Bonus tip by Pocket Puppy School
Book a session with a professional. I know, I know, it was supposed to be a guide on how to massage your dog at home. BUT this experience was just something else.
Our dog loved it and us, as dog owners got so much valuable info that we didn’t know or think about before.
With a good professional you can ask questions and get tips how to massage specifically your dog on a daily basis/at home.
Give it a try!
Adding a massage to your dog’s routine is a simple, yet very effective way to give a boost to their physical and emotional well-being. It helps to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, supports joint health, helps anxious and senior dogs feel calmer.
Giving your dog a relaxing massage at home doesn’t mean a full 1-2 hour massage. As canine massage therapist, Grete has said - short, consistent sessions are more effective than lengthy ones.
So even massaging your dog for about 10 minutes until you watch TV in the evening, will be beneficial and relaxing. So why not take a few moments this week and test out these tips by a professional canine massage therapist?
And if you do feel like you are not sure about your technique and would like to know a bit more about it, then we definitely recommend booking at least one session with a professional.
Haven’t heard about Pocket Puppy School before?
Pocket Puppy School is a completely free dog training app. Our mission is to make information about raising dogs accessible to everyone in the world.
But in addition to our app, we have a blog (that you are currently reading 🤓) where we talk all things about dogs.
We post some informational and fun content to our Instagram and Youtube page and believe it or not, we even have a merch store. 🥹 In the store you can get a t-shirt or a hoodie with your own dogs’ picture that we will make into an awesome design.
Feel free to check out all of our channels, and if you have any questions, leave a comment down below.
Thank you!
