When Jill Reynolds graduated as a Certified Canine Massage Therapist from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in 2002, she decided that every month she would donate eight hours of massage to a deserving dog group.
Having spent her life hiking and backpacking in the Colorado backcountry, Reynolds selected Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado as a natural recipient of pro bono work.
I’m a dog lover, but I shy away from petting street dogs. They could have fleas, mange, or snappy attitudes. Today was different though. A neighborhood mutt, a handsome chow mix, limped over to a group of us looking for help. He held his front paw up just high enough to get a look at it. We didn’t see anything too serious, but he definitely had a sore pad or toes.
Being a helping, healing bunch, we touched him – massaged his leg, scratched behind the ears. Actually, one of us had some arnica (I know, very Boulder), so we rubbed some of that around, too. As I sat next to him, he started to relax, and then gave me his paw. I’d massage his leg a bit, stop, and then the paw would float right back up. Then he started moving in for a hug, a snuggle. My little pampered dachshund, Quita, would have been very jealous. Was this dog trying to tell me something? I mean, I’m the only one on the trip who is not a massage therapist. But should I be? Could I be?
While working at BCMT over the last 7 years, I’ve taken a few continuing education classes, but I’ve never seriously considered studying massage. “Not this life time”, I tell people who suggest it. Hey, I’m already writing and dancing on the side. I think I’ve changed my mind. I would love, love to help dogs here – or anywhere – feel better.
You know, maybe this lifetime I should just do as much as I can. Life is precious, right? We’ve got to live it to the fullest. I wonder when the next BCMT canine certification program starts? – Carol B.
Not only do humans love, need, and benefit from massage, so do our four-legged friends. At Boulder College of Massage Therapy we have an excellent Canine Massage certification program. Canine massage helps dogs maintain muscle tone and joint flexibilty, increases blood and lymph circulation, flushes toxins from muscles and joints, relieves discomfort from arthritis, lameness, and hip dysplasia, helps to prevent injuries, helps in the recovery of injury or surgery, and most of all, it feels great!
My Dachsund friend in the photo, Quita, comes to my office regularly for short massage sessions and look at the thanks I get! Quita’s owner got her from a Dachsund Rescue program. Abused to some extent, massage and touch has definitely relieved some of the anxiety in this cute little pooche’s life.
The Canine massage certification program is offered through our continuing education department to massage therapists as well as veterinarians, vet techs, and others who have work experience in the animal world. If full certification isn’t what you are looking for, you can take an intensive 32 hr Canine Massage Preparatory Course for the Non-Professional. This course is available at the end of March, so start planning now! The full certification courses take place in June. If you want to feel some love and appreciation from man’s best friend….this just might be for you!
