Massaging your dog is a great way to bond with your pet and spot any potential health problems, such as tumors or sore areas, before it's too late. Massaging dogs is different from massaging humans; rather than deep tissue massage to relax muscles, the goal is to use gentle movements that help your pet feel relaxed and comfortable. Consider combining a massage with a grooming session to help your dog feel healthy, happy and loved.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Massaging Properly
Step 1. Start by gently stroking
Caress your dog where he feels most comfortable with you. This will help him become calm and relaxed enough to enjoy the massage. Caress him on the head, stomach and other points with a gentle caress.
- Let your dog sit, lie down or stand in a comfortable position.
- Be calm and relaxed and talk to your dog in a gentle tone to help him relax.
Step 2. Massage your dog's neck
Use your fingertips to make circular motions just below the head. Apply gentle pressure, but not too much to make your dog uncomfortable.
- If you have a small dog, use smaller movements. For larger dogs, use a larger movement.
- Do not press your dog's body so that he jerks. Remember, you are not trying to do a deep tissue massage. You just want to rub her body to help her calm down and build a bond with her.
Step 3. Move to the shoulders
Slowly move to the neck and between the shoulders. This is usually the dog's favorite part, as it's one of the areas he can't reach on his own, so spend more time there.
Step 4. Then work on the legs and chest
Some dogs don't like having their feet touched; if your dog jerks, remove your hand and move to the next part of his body. If he likes it, see if he wants to get a foot massage too.
Step 5. Massage your dog's back
Switch to the area between the shoulders and slowly move to the back. Use small circular motions with your fingers on both sides of the spine.
Step 6. Finish on the back leg
Continue massaging until you end up at the base of the tail. Gently massage your dog's hind legs. Continue on the tread if your dog likes his feet lifted.
Part 2 of 3: Helping Your Dog Feel Comfortable
Step 1. Massage on a quiet day
Do this when you and your dog are relaxed, such as at the end of the day after dinner. This will make your dog feel relaxed more easily under your touch.
- Don't massage your dog when he's excited for some reason; better wait until he has calmed down.
- Do not massage after exercise time; give him half an hour or so to rest first.
- Don't massage your dog if he's not feeling well; a simple caress will suffice, but he may not want a massage.
Step 2. Give the massage up to five or ten minutes
Your dog may not like the massage the first time, and it may just be because he's not used to it. See if your dog likes to be massaged for about a minute, then give him a longer massage. As long as your dog likes it, there's no limit to how long you can massage him, but five or ten minutes will give you enough time to give him a full body massage.
Step 3. Stop if your dog doesn't like it
The point of massaging is to help your dog feel happy and relaxed, so don't do it if he doesn't like it. If he enjoys a massage, he will stretch out and breathe calmly. Otherwise, he may exhibit the following behavior:
- Get tense as you go from a simple caress to a massage.
- Jerking
- growl
- Biting your hand
- Run away
Step 4. Consider grooming your dog as part of your massage session
Since your dog is feeling calm and relaxed, it might be a good time to get some grooming too. Only do this if your dog really likes the grooming process. Otherwise, he will associate massage time with discomfort and restlessness.
- Brush your dog's hair from head to tail.
- Trim the nails when they get longer.
- Trim any longer hair around your dog's face, paws or tail.
Part 3 of 3: Creating a Healthy Routine
Step 1. Help relieve your dog's arthritis pain
If your dog is older and has arthritis, a massage can help. Massage around the painful area very gently, using squeezing motions to help reduce pain. Don't press too hard, and don't massage directly on the painful area.
- You can also bend and spread your dog's legs to help ease the pain.
- Some dogs like this, while others don't. If your dog jerks, don't continue massaging. Forcing it can cause your dog to feel worse rather than better.
Step 2. Feel for lumps and inflamed areas
Massaging your dog is a great way to check for sore areas of his body that may require veterinary attention. Watch for lumps or bruises that you haven't seen before. Pay special attention if your dog whines when you touch him at any point. If you find anything worrying, take your dog to the vet for a check-up.
The best way to feel a lump is to feel it all over your dog's body with your hands in long, gentle caresses. Feel the stomach, legs, chest and back. Make sure you don't miss a single point
Step 3. Let the professional do the deep tissue massage
If you think your dog might benefit from a deep tissue massage, make an appointment with a vet. Deep tissue massage can be beneficial for animals, but if you are not very familiar with dog anatomy, you could end up injuring your dog.
Tips
- Dogs love having their ears massaged too!
- Dogs love to have their stomachs scratched, take a little time to pat and love them too.
- Removing the neckband can make it easier to reach all parts of the neck.
- Massage time is also a good time to do the treatment.
- With smaller dogs, just use your fingertips, but keep applying pressure as needed.
- Don't forget that your dog needs time to relax too!
Warning
- Never forget to put the neckband back on after the massage! Especially if your dog often goes outside without human supervision.
- Don't put too much pressure on it.
