Connect through touch;Dog massage
In the previous entry titled "Bonding with your dogs while grooming;brushing teeth,clipping nail,brushing", I wrote that grooming is not chore time but great time to have bonding time with your dog.
With grooming routine in particular, depending on each individual dog,at first, the goal to achieve may look further away from the situation you are in, but by doing baby step by baby step, it can be achieved. You do not need to rushed to the goal all at once.
Other than grooming routines, there are many activities you can make your bond stronger with your dogs through interactive plays such as Canine sports "Agility" (You can read more on Agility in the previous entry titled "Have fun with your dogs;Agility"), Fetch ball/Frisbee (How to teach your dogs to play fetch ball? Find out in the previous entry titled "Playing game of Fetch ball/Frisbee"), Doga (What is Doga? You can read about Doga in the previous entry titled "Dog+Yoga=Doga") and daily training with your dogs (Our dog "Palette" is clicker trained. What is clicker training? Read on about the clicker training in the previous entry titled "Clicker training;clicker is your friend") etc..
There are many ways to connect with your dogs and make your bond stronger with them. What activities do you and your furry friends do often? How do you connect with your dogs?
Interactive plays, daily training,going for walk etc.. are fun and, exciting. It helps make your bond with your dogs stronger.
However, you and furry friends,both need "relaxed time"; just to be relax and calm and enjoy quiet moment together.
I think "Doga" can be one way to enjoy the quiet moment together, but true relaxed,calm,quiet time maybe through the touch.
Connect through the touch..
Many dogs enjoy being pet/rubbed. Palette is one of them.
Palette loves to get attention, loves to be pet and she cannot get enough of petting no matter however long we were petting her.
Once she realized we stopped petting, she groans and adjust herself and come closer, and offer her tummy for good tummy rubs. When we pet her slow strokes, within 3 seconds,here comes her big yawn and narrows her eyes and falls asleep. When we pet her faster strokes, she pants with her tongue hanging out, leaves wet spot on her doggy bed.
Mom,Tummy rubs please!
*Pant,pant,pant..*
I love neck scratch!
Palette loves all the massages she get from us,and I enjoy watching her response to our massages and I find myself being calm and relaxed. I think giving massages actually works both ways;making you and your furry friends both relaxed and calm and great opportunity to make your bond stronger through the touch.
Then, at the same time, petting your dogs is great way to check your dogs' health; bumps,lumps,skin tags, cut, tender/sore areas, ticks,fleas etc..
Once in the past, our lady vet has told us that we are pretty good at finding things,which often times things we found are nothing serious and, she reassures us there is nothing to worry about.
Also, massage is a great way to get them used to be handled.
When dogs are nervous about being touched..
Some dogs are very nervous about being touched.
Dogs have sensitive areas just like us, but they cannot get away with being untouched. Certain spots such as muzzle area (for teeth cleaning) , paws (for nail trimming) etc need to be handled by you, by groomer, by vet etc for various reasons.
It is a important to get them used to be touched/handled sensitive areas such as paws from early age.
Baby step by baby step, you can get them be relaxed while sensitive areas are handled.
How to get them be realxed while sensitive areas are handled? You can read about handling sensitive areas in the previous entry titled "Bonding with your dogs while grooming;brushing teeth,clipping nail,brushing".
Timing to connect through the touch..
Especially after physical exercise, dogs tend to be relaxed and lay down on the floor. When dogs are relaxed and laying down on the floor, that is the good time for you to be calm around them and give them a massage.
When I give massage to Palette, I will be quiet or talk very soft.If I talk, I won't do happy voice I do for her training sessions.
I find that happy voice excite Palette,and soft quiet talk seems to relax her. I can see why tone of the voice can play some roles in training dogs.
Just like everything else such as grooming routines, you do not have to rush to give them a whole body massage. Try a few spots and see if they like the touch on the area.
If they walked away from you, then, let them be. Don't follow them and insist that you give them a massage. Do give massage on their term,not yours.
I usually give quick scalp massage to Palette when I am reading newspaper, when she comes around and sit right next to me.
I think she has trained me very well for that. Newspaper seems to be her cue to come close to me and sit next to me to get a scalp massage. Every time I read newspaper, here comes Palette sitting pretty right next to me and asks for the scalp massage
I give longer massage when I sit down with her on the floor. Palette comes trot to me and lay in front of me,putting her head resting on my leg. I then give her massage or T-Touch.
What is T-Touch? You can read more about T-Touch in the previous entry titled "Why dogs like tummy rubs?".
TV time is also a good time,too. Palette knows she can get nice long massages from us.
Even just 5 minutes a day, dogs would enjoy the massage and attentions they get from you. Use the 5 minutes to connect with your dogs and relax ,calm and enjoy the quiet time together.
Stop that touch..
If your dogs were not getting used to be handled around certain areas, most likely, they would snap at you or growl at you.
When they gave you the warning, stop the touch and work on to get them used to be handled through a short training session.
Also, check to see if they gave you the warning because of medical issue such as tender spots on the body.
Basic technique for dog massages..
When you give your dogs massages, how do you give them? Which part of hands do you use and which motion,what speed do you give your dogs massages?
For some years, I was just giving my made-up motion, slow or fast with palm or fingers but then, I thought it will be a little too limited to give Palette a real good massage.
So, I got myself a book on dog massage and learned many variety of things you can use to give your dogs a good massages.
I learned that I could use various parts,positions,movements of my hands for the massage.
Various parts of hands for the massage
knuckles (bending your fingers and use the knuckle to give your dogs massages) ,thumbs,thumb pad, finger pads, open palm,finger side, closed palm,finger tips etc..
Various positions of hands for the massage
Palm down cupped hand,vertical/horizontal, curving 4 fingers together and separate from your thumb and make the letter "C", "U" depending on direction of the hand etc..
Various motions of hands for the massage
Long slide strokes to the tail end along the coat, side to side rocking motion, side to side motion with finger tips just like you play the guitar, circling (circling is common motion in Tellington touch), Kneading (rub the area with heel of your hands and gently grasp loose furry area,pull up, and release),rubbing, give some gentle pressure with finger tips/thumb pad and give circling etc..
Various speed of hands for the massage
I find that slow motion movement makes Palette really relaxed,yawn etc and fast movement of hands make her pant,pant,pant with her tongue hanging out.
Here are some of the list of things Palette enjoys..
** Long,slow sliding motion with back of my palm from back of her neck to tail ends.
** Kneading around back of her neck and, I gently rub against her fur with heel of my hands,pull the area up,and release and repeat.
** Massage around cheek;gently slide along the coat on cheek area with heel of my hands from edge of mouth and when hand slide to about ear area,go back to edge of her mouth and slide along to the base of ear area.
After a few slide around her cheek,I hold the ear gently and move on to ear slide (I put my thumb on base of ear and place rest of fingers behind the ear and gently slowly slide through) from T-Touch technique.
** Massaging along her back by moving fingers sides to side, also enjoy long slide from neck line to the tail ends
** Shoulder massage;She likes side of her shoulder to be massaged but also enjoy circling with thumb pad around shoulder
** Upper leg massage;Palette enjoy leg massage too. I hold her one front leg with both hands and circle motion with my thumb pad.
** Chest rubbing with my hand cup formed.
** Under chin;With back of my palm,I slowly slide my palm toward her chest.
** Paw massage; placing one palm under dog's paw, with other hand, circling gently with my thumb on paw pad, also she likes paw slide (Just like ear slide, hold paw with one hand and slide the other hand gently)
** Back of thigh massage; Scratch around back of her thigh area and she likes it a lot. Sometimes,she comes to me and sit against me with one side thigh moved to side. I scratch back of her thigh and inner thigh line,massage around waist line area, and she adjust how she sits depending on how/where she would like to be scratched.
** Tummy rubs
Repeat the massage motions, and you can give pressure if dogs enjoy it.
There are lot more areas/movement etc for massage for Palette, but these are just some examples for you to try out with your dogs.
I think massage does not have to be cookie cutter technique and, you can tailor your technique toward each individual dog and give them good massages they enjoy.
What massage techniques your dogs enjoy?
With grooming routine in particular, depending on each individual dog,at first, the goal to achieve may look further away from the situation you are in, but by doing baby step by baby step, it can be achieved. You do not need to rushed to the goal all at once.
Other than grooming routines, there are many activities you can make your bond stronger with your dogs through interactive plays such as Canine sports "Agility" (You can read more on Agility in the previous entry titled "Have fun with your dogs;Agility"), Fetch ball/Frisbee (How to teach your dogs to play fetch ball? Find out in the previous entry titled "Playing game of Fetch ball/Frisbee"), Doga (What is Doga? You can read about Doga in the previous entry titled "Dog+Yoga=Doga") and daily training with your dogs (Our dog "Palette" is clicker trained. What is clicker training? Read on about the clicker training in the previous entry titled "Clicker training;clicker is your friend") etc..
There are many ways to connect with your dogs and make your bond stronger with them. What activities do you and your furry friends do often? How do you connect with your dogs?
Interactive plays, daily training,going for walk etc.. are fun and, exciting. It helps make your bond with your dogs stronger.
However, you and furry friends,both need "relaxed time"; just to be relax and calm and enjoy quiet moment together.
I think "Doga" can be one way to enjoy the quiet moment together, but true relaxed,calm,quiet time maybe through the touch.
Connect through the touch..
Many dogs enjoy being pet/rubbed. Palette is one of them.
Palette loves to get attention, loves to be pet and she cannot get enough of petting no matter however long we were petting her.
Once she realized we stopped petting, she groans and adjust herself and come closer, and offer her tummy for good tummy rubs. When we pet her slow strokes, within 3 seconds,here comes her big yawn and narrows her eyes and falls asleep. When we pet her faster strokes, she pants with her tongue hanging out, leaves wet spot on her doggy bed.
Mom,Tummy rubs please!
*Pant,pant,pant..*
I love neck scratch!
Palette loves all the massages she get from us,and I enjoy watching her response to our massages and I find myself being calm and relaxed. I think giving massages actually works both ways;making you and your furry friends both relaxed and calm and great opportunity to make your bond stronger through the touch.
Then, at the same time, petting your dogs is great way to check your dogs' health; bumps,lumps,skin tags, cut, tender/sore areas, ticks,fleas etc..
Once in the past, our lady vet has told us that we are pretty good at finding things,which often times things we found are nothing serious and, she reassures us there is nothing to worry about.
Also, massage is a great way to get them used to be handled.
When dogs are nervous about being touched..
Some dogs are very nervous about being touched.
Dogs have sensitive areas just like us, but they cannot get away with being untouched. Certain spots such as muzzle area (for teeth cleaning) , paws (for nail trimming) etc need to be handled by you, by groomer, by vet etc for various reasons.
It is a important to get them used to be touched/handled sensitive areas such as paws from early age.
Baby step by baby step, you can get them be relaxed while sensitive areas are handled.
How to get them be realxed while sensitive areas are handled? You can read about handling sensitive areas in the previous entry titled "Bonding with your dogs while grooming;brushing teeth,clipping nail,brushing".
Timing to connect through the touch..
Especially after physical exercise, dogs tend to be relaxed and lay down on the floor. When dogs are relaxed and laying down on the floor, that is the good time for you to be calm around them and give them a massage.
When I give massage to Palette, I will be quiet or talk very soft.If I talk, I won't do happy voice I do for her training sessions.
I find that happy voice excite Palette,and soft quiet talk seems to relax her. I can see why tone of the voice can play some roles in training dogs.
Just like everything else such as grooming routines, you do not have to rush to give them a whole body massage. Try a few spots and see if they like the touch on the area.
If they walked away from you, then, let them be. Don't follow them and insist that you give them a massage. Do give massage on their term,not yours.
I usually give quick scalp massage to Palette when I am reading newspaper, when she comes around and sit right next to me.
I think she has trained me very well for that. Newspaper seems to be her cue to come close to me and sit next to me to get a scalp massage. Every time I read newspaper, here comes Palette sitting pretty right next to me and asks for the scalp massage
I give longer massage when I sit down with her on the floor. Palette comes trot to me and lay in front of me,putting her head resting on my leg. I then give her massage or T-Touch.
What is T-Touch? You can read more about T-Touch in the previous entry titled "Why dogs like tummy rubs?".
TV time is also a good time,too. Palette knows she can get nice long massages from us.
Even just 5 minutes a day, dogs would enjoy the massage and attentions they get from you. Use the 5 minutes to connect with your dogs and relax ,calm and enjoy the quiet time together.
Stop that touch..
If your dogs were not getting used to be handled around certain areas, most likely, they would snap at you or growl at you.
When they gave you the warning, stop the touch and work on to get them used to be handled through a short training session.
Also, check to see if they gave you the warning because of medical issue such as tender spots on the body.
Basic technique for dog massages..
When you give your dogs massages, how do you give them? Which part of hands do you use and which motion,what speed do you give your dogs massages?
For some years, I was just giving my made-up motion, slow or fast with palm or fingers but then, I thought it will be a little too limited to give Palette a real good massage.
So, I got myself a book on dog massage and learned many variety of things you can use to give your dogs a good massages.
I learned that I could use various parts,positions,movements of my hands for the massage.
Various parts of hands for the massage
knuckles (bending your fingers and use the knuckle to give your dogs massages) ,thumbs,thumb pad, finger pads, open palm,finger side, closed palm,finger tips etc..
Various positions of hands for the massage
Palm down cupped hand,vertical/horizontal, curving 4 fingers together and separate from your thumb and make the letter "C", "U" depending on direction of the hand etc..
Various motions of hands for the massage
Long slide strokes to the tail end along the coat, side to side rocking motion, side to side motion with finger tips just like you play the guitar, circling (circling is common motion in Tellington touch), Kneading (rub the area with heel of your hands and gently grasp loose furry area,pull up, and release),rubbing, give some gentle pressure with finger tips/thumb pad and give circling etc..
Various speed of hands for the massage
I find that slow motion movement makes Palette really relaxed,yawn etc and fast movement of hands make her pant,pant,pant with her tongue hanging out.
Here are some of the list of things Palette enjoys..
** Long,slow sliding motion with back of my palm from back of her neck to tail ends.
** Kneading around back of her neck and, I gently rub against her fur with heel of my hands,pull the area up,and release and repeat.
** Massage around cheek;gently slide along the coat on cheek area with heel of my hands from edge of mouth and when hand slide to about ear area,go back to edge of her mouth and slide along to the base of ear area.
After a few slide around her cheek,I hold the ear gently and move on to ear slide (I put my thumb on base of ear and place rest of fingers behind the ear and gently slowly slide through) from T-Touch technique.
** Massaging along her back by moving fingers sides to side, also enjoy long slide from neck line to the tail ends
** Shoulder massage;She likes side of her shoulder to be massaged but also enjoy circling with thumb pad around shoulder
** Upper leg massage;Palette enjoy leg massage too. I hold her one front leg with both hands and circle motion with my thumb pad.
** Chest rubbing with my hand cup formed.
** Under chin;With back of my palm,I slowly slide my palm toward her chest.
** Paw massage; placing one palm under dog's paw, with other hand, circling gently with my thumb on paw pad, also she likes paw slide (Just like ear slide, hold paw with one hand and slide the other hand gently)
** Back of thigh massage; Scratch around back of her thigh area and she likes it a lot. Sometimes,she comes to me and sit against me with one side thigh moved to side. I scratch back of her thigh and inner thigh line,massage around waist line area, and she adjust how she sits depending on how/where she would like to be scratched.
** Tummy rubs
Repeat the massage motions, and you can give pressure if dogs enjoy it.
There are lot more areas/movement etc for massage for Palette, but these are just some examples for you to try out with your dogs.
I think massage does not have to be cookie cutter technique and, you can tailor your technique toward each individual dog and give them good massages they enjoy.
What massage techniques your dogs enjoy?
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