Animal Massage For Stress Reduction

A few weeks ago, I was reading a health-related blog post on the subject of stress and its corresponding comments. One comment in particular grabbed my attention. A massage therapist (for people) wrote that quite often clients come to her saying: “Oh, I’m not here for relaxation. I have back pain.” It’s as if the client is dismissing the merits of participating in something which would relax the body. Often people feel they need a more legitimate reason to get a massage…like a specific pain or condition.

But relaxation is a legitimate goal.

For your dog as well.

That’s why animal massage is such a good preventative tool to achieve and maintain optimal health. Yes, your dog will benefit from a massage if he or she has chronic pain or a health condition. But so too can they benefit from the stress-reducing effects of massage. Stress can be one of the many root causes of illness and disease.

Your dog may be a rescue who spent some time in a shelter. Or he may be dealing with fear issues. As with people, often the cumulative effects of being exposed to stressful situations can take a toll on the body. And mind. And spirit.

In addition to using the professional services of an animal massage practitioner, learning a few basic massage and TTouch strokes yourself can be a valuable addition to your dog’s daily health regimen. Hopefully, you already provide the best food, supplements, and exercise for your dog. Now add some simple touches to reduce stress and promote circulation.

So, set aside some time each day (or at least a few times a week) to provide meaningful touch. It doesn’t have to be a full hour or half-hour (although that would be beneficial). Try muting the commercial breaks on your favourite TV show and turn to your dog curled up beside you to practice some basic touches. It can be very easy to incorporate strokes and touches throughout the day. Teach your dog the word “massage” (like “sit”, “down”, “stay”) and they will soon associate the word with something pleasant. Ask your dog, “do you want a massage?” And then oblige with some basic touches applied with your full attention…and intention.

That is one of the key differences between massage and just petting. Intention. It’s essential to be in the moment when you massage your dog. It should not be an absent-minded activity. But what a wonderful opportunity to truly bond with your dog. On a daily basis.

Here are some resources to get you started:

- The Dog Lover’s Guide to Massage: What Your Dog Wants You to Know by Megan Ayrault. This is a beginner’s guide to dog massage with easy to follow explanations and photos. More information and tutorials can also be found on Megan’s site, All About Animal Massage.

- Getting in TTouch With Your Dog: a Gentle Approach to Influencing Behavior, Health, and Performance by Linda Tellington-Jones. To learn more about TTouch workshops, visit TTouch.ca.

- When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress by Dr. Gabor Mate. This fascinating book provides insight into the connection between stress and various diseases and health conditions. As Dr. Mate writes, “When we have been prevented from saying no, our body may end up saying it for us.”

- Refresh with past tutorials on this site:
Three-part TTouch series: Effleurage, Passive Touch, and Petrissage
Three-part Canine Massage 101 series: Part 1 (Circular Touches), Part 2 (ZigZag Touch), and Part 3 (Circulation)

- Enrol in a local pet massage workshop. You can read about massage, but often visual demonstration is needed to fully appreciate the mechanics and pressure of a particular touch or stroke.

(Photo Credit: Mira Janacek)