Dog Massage and Human Massage - a combo

Dog Massage and Human Massage – a combo offering

It was a year ago last summer as I was conceiving this whole dog massage gig that I wanted along a river walkway with people playing guitars, people walking their dogs and even a person doing human massage. I thought to myself “hmm, maybe I could just put up a sign and say “dog massage” and see what happens. My daughter was visiting and she said “that sounds like fun. Perhaps you even combine human and dog massage like $1 a minute for human, ½ price for your dog. I let the idea simmer, finished my certification in dog massage, performed several hundred massages in a variety of venues until I now feel comfortable meeting new dogs and offering a massage. And yesterday it actually happened… I met a person who does massages at a farmer’s market, got to know her and she invited me into her tent to do dog massages. She actually charges $1 a minute and I choose an alternative route for fees. After doing the massage, I simply asked the person for a donation if they wished. I got anywhere from $2 to $10 and also lots of kisses from the dogs. I’ll share just one story. A little Boston terrier came over (with his mother0 but was shy and jumpy. I told the owner that sometimes this works and sometimes not but let’s give it a bit of time. Right at that moment, a golden retriever barged in, lied down, took a deep breath and said, OK, my turn now. We all just laughed and I gave the golden a lovely massage. All this time the terrier was watching. When the golden moved on, the terrier moved in, took his place, lay down, splayed its legs and said – OK, now MY turn. Now how fun is that!

31 in 31 Making friends - a larger view

“Making friends” (Cont) – the larger picture

If you have followed my last four blogs, you know that I have connected with shelters, doggy day cares, vets and dog parks. In one way or another I have supported their goals with dog massage and they are very appreciative and wish to return the favor. From my perspective I now have friends connected to literally thousands of dog owners in my area who would be happy to send their dog owners information I give them. Three of these groups have already offered me space (for free) to teach classes to dog owners. I appreciate the offer and will give them a percentage of what I get. I have already taught five classes (4 sessions each) and I am offering three classes this fall. The information will sent out by all my new friends and I am hoping to fill the classes and possibly set up additional classes in the late fall. In addition, I am starting a new business called ForEverCare for Pets which specifically addresses the issues raised when an owner can no longer take care of their pet due to disability, sickness or impending death. We will be offering a complete service from initial consultation, to finding caretakers to writing pet trusts. I have checked with my new friends and they think it is a terrific service and will be happy to send information to their clients when we ask. So, in order words, I have set up a marketing / distribution center going directly to pet owners who may wish the services we are offering. I will give more information on ForEverCare in future blogs.

31 in 31 - making friends (cont) - dog parks

“Making friends” (Cont) – Dog parks

Many towns in my area now have or are in process of setting up dog parks. For example, in my town, Ipswich, MA, my wife and I were part of a group that helped set up a dog on the beach. It is simply an incredible opportunity for dog to run free on a beautiful beach in the winter months. To raise money for their dog parks, the leadership teams of the various towns often sponsor events, usually dog fairs of one sort or another, to raise money for the park. They have booths with vendors and usually some demonstrations. I have been volunteering at these events in several of the towns nearby doing dog massage. As you might imagine, dog massage has terrific entertainment value because it is so much fun to see a dog truly settle in (or not sometimes) with the simplicity of massage. In the process I have been making friends with the leadership teams all of whom have extensive electronic connections through facebook, email etc. with dog owners in their town. They have been publicizing my dog massage business to their membership and some people have specifically come to these events to get a massage for their dog. I have been handing out my cards and some info and “letting the word go forth”. In my next blog, I will explain how all these marketing efforts may come together in a symphony of massage

31 in 31 - Making Friends (cont) Veterinarians

“Making friends” (Cont) #8– Working with Veterinarians

Like human massage, dog massage has an accepted place in the veterinary world. It is considered an adjunct to physical therapy which can be performed by the physical therapist or a specialist in dog massage. I connected with own vet and her entire staff by giving them an hour long presentation / demonstration of massage. Although vets are highly skilled in certain arenas of medicine, massage is not one of them. I love my vet and she is a very sensitive human being but knows very little about the techniques of massage. The group presented me with one of their dogs and as luck would have it, the dog was highly receptive indeed. This led to vet sponsoring a night at the local library for dog massage. And this led to a class at the vet’s place. So far so good. And yet I have another idea to push this forward. What if we took the “idea’ of a visiting nurse but made it a “visiting massager”. This would be particularly useful after surgery with the long healing process that involves cold, heat, massage, confinement, slow walking, hills, etc. It would also be useful where there is injury or trauma not arising to the level of surgery. I envision myself being both a coach and a teacher for the many dog owners whose dog is in process of recovery. I am not aware of any service quite like this for dogs so it is a bit cutting edge. I plan to propose it in the near future and see what she says.

Making friends #7 - doggie day care centers

“Making friends” (Cont) – Doggie Day Care Centers

Doggie day care centers have come into their own in the past 15 years. What used to be considered a frivolity is now a necessity for many working individuals who love their dogs. A typical daily fee for a suburban doggie day care is $25-$30 and the cities can be twice or three times more. While the goal of a shelter is to get their dogs adopted, the goal of the doggie day care is to provide a safe and enjoyable place for the dog. I approached two doggie day care places and offered to do free massages with full write-ups as a “value-add” for their business. We allowed any of  heir owners to opt out if they did not want to participate but none did. The word started to spread which led to a free evening class to introduce dog massage. This was followed up for a “for pay” series of classes. In both of the places I worked, I formed a class and even gave the doggie day care owner some of the proceeds. I am offering a second round of classes starting in September. In addition, I am becoming part of the fabric of the day care center. Owners can sign up and pay for a massage whenever they wish and we work out the logistics with the intent of having several massages to do at the same time. I always remind myself that I am in the “ambassador and pioneer” phase of this venture and my inner mantra is “let the word go forth.”

31 in 31 - #6 Making friends - no-kill shelters

“Making friends” - How I market my dog massage business to a no-kill shelter

Dog massage has not fully arrived as a viable option for owners who simply wish to provide a wonderful experience for their dog. Nor has it really arrived as a standard veterinary option after surgery or to help reduce stress or to deal with problems of old age. At the Bancroft School where I received my training, we called ourselves “ambassadors and pioneers” for dog massage. I saw our task as getting the word out knowing it would probably take a while. This is different from human massage (even horse massage) both of which have achieved general acceptance in the culture. So my approach has been to affiliate with excellent dog related businesses whose clients would benefit from massage. My first connection was with a large no-kill shelter in my area. I did my internship there with the plan of helping their dogs get adopted more easily. I asked to work with some of their more challenging dogs, either frightened or aggressive, to see if massage would help them settle down. I was fortunate to have good results with some of these dogs which led to people in the shelter wanting to know more about massage. I taught a general session to over 20 volunteers showing them what they could do for the dogs in the shelter. This then led to teaching a four-week (for pay) course going more deeply into what owners can do with their dogs. I gave 25% of what I got back to the shelter. I became part of the shelter team and attended some of their outdoor events. Dog massage is a very good “draw” at a dog fair and brings people over to the table. For my next course which will start in September, the shelter has used their excellent resources to connect with several thousand people telling them about dog massage

HAPPY EARS31 in 31 #5 HAPPY EARS

 HAPPY EARS

Most dog owners know that the ears are a “happy place” for their dogs but what they really appreciate are the specific techniques they can use. Although many approaches are viable, I like to start from the part of the ear closest to the body. Using just one hand glide your hand SLOWLY toward the outside of the ear very gently letting go when you reach the end. Depending on the dog, the ear is usually pressed against the body when you use one hand. Repeat this move 3-5 times. The next step is to use two hands. Put the ear between the palms and make an “ear sandwich” slowing moving from the body to the end of the ear, holding a moment at the end before letting go. Repeat this 3-5 times. Then repeat the whole procedure on the other ear. Done slowly enough, this takes about 5 minutes for both ears. Typically the dog’s breathing slows and so does yours. The next area for massage is directly behind the dog’s ears. There you will a deep depression . If you apply direct pressure and hold it for 10-30 seconds, most dogs will deeply relax. To apply direct pressure (think acupressure), use your thumb at a 90 degree angle and put enough pressure so there is just the beginning of resistance. Then back off a little. Do this one ear at a time placing your other hand on the dog’s head for stability. Repeat with both ears. Next, make circles in both directions one ear at a time. Finally, as a closing move, gently glide along both ears at the same time similar to how you began. Check in with the dog to see how they liked it.