Bodywork for Dogs: Connecting Through Massage, Acupressure and Intuitive Touch
Video by Lynn Vaughan & Deborah Jones 2000: Animals Healing, Inc., Pound Ridge NY

Most of us intuitively realize the value of touching our dogs. The benefits of loving touch invariably flow in both directions as well: it is a true win-win situation. Bodywork for Dogs is an excellent introduction to the concepts and practice of massage and acupressure for dogs. After introducing the authors (an inspiring few minutes in itself, and which sets the tone for the remainder of the presentation) this 70-minute video outlines the health and bonding benefits of regular massage, lists contraindications, and describes basic canine anatomy. Following the introduction, the basic techniques that will be used are illustrated and several canine acupressure points are identified. These basics, all of which are demonstrated on the willing bodies of some rather blissed-out looking models, are followed by a full-length (30-minute) bodywork routine for, say, your dog’s left side. At the end, you need to rewind the tape in order to do both sides.

I must confess that I came to this as a bit of a skeptic. However my pooch is happy to report that his mom quickly became a serious convert. Massage therapists Lynn Vaughan and Deborah Jones are genuinely interested in improving the lives of all animals (including humans) and their video is well thought-out and very cleanly produced. The narration is clear and the camera work succeeds in capturing exactly the points being discussed. The pacing is good, especially during the actual demonstrations, though the text portions scroll a bit quickly for those who lack VCR freeze-frame capabilities. (Presumably after a few watchings this becomes a positive rather than a negative feature.) In every aspect, calm, centred awareness is the dominant sensibility. While a philosophy of loving-kindness and respect for all life is expressed throughout, this mercifully never descends into oversentimentality or gushiness-something at least one viewer’s dog is eternally grateful for.

Overall, I recommend this video most heartily to all dog lovers, owners, caregivers and friends. It is a wonderful entry point to a world of techniques that will help greatly enhance the human-canine bond. Now I’d just like to see the video that shows how I can get my dog to return the favour.

Bodywork for Dogs is available from www.amazon.com or directly from http://animalshealing.com.

Canine Massage: A Practical Guide
By Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt & Shari L. Seymour 1999: Howell Book House / John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken NJ

This book is a good companion to a video, as one can flip back and forth more easily and take more time or less as needed. On the other hand, the presentation is a little more dry-I don’t feel nearly the same urge to get my hands on my dog! The many diagrams better illustrate canine musculature and bone structure, but the dynamics of the massage process are not quite as evident.

Limitations of the medium aside, however, I really like this book a lot. The authors are both registered massage therapists specializing in canine and equine massage, and clearly know what they are talking about. In fact, there is almost an overload of information here for the private owner who merely wants to share a healthy, relaxing massage connection with his or her dog. Canine Massage seems more geared to professionals or people who are seriously working their dogs in high-performance activities.

But "detail people" or those concerned with kinesiology will appreciate being able to study the diagrams and then to map their dog’s bodies correspondingly. Many techniques are outlined, including some with names like petrissage and effleurage (author Hourdebaigt is originally from France) as well as more mundane-sounding ones like kneading, friction and shaking. (And I used to think "petting" was all there was.) Safety, calming techniques, and successfully reading a dog’s feedback signs and adjusting the treatment accordingly are emphasized throughout.

Available from www.wiley.com or www.massageawareness.com ■