To get the best out of the massage awareness method we recommend you to focus your first 2 to 3 months of academic studying on the chapter 1 to 7  and your hands-on practicum on your posture, your pressure, contact and rhythm.  Start practising the relaxation massage routine from chapter 7 as it is the prelude to any massage work; then practice the SEW / WES technique from chapter 6 as it is the foundation of your work.  You need to know how to properly warm-up an area to be massaged, and you need to how to properly drain that area after your deeper massage. As you progress start practising the various other techniques (chapter 6) and routines (chapter 7).  Within three month you should feel petty comfortable in your hands-on as well as in your knowledge of your dog anatomy. Move on to learn about the various stress sites of the active dog as presented in chapter 8, 13 and add the use of heat and cold in your massage application (chapter 10). Also, start keeping record as shown in chapter 14.

You can take this course chapter per chapter, as it is presented in the book, or you might consider studying the animal section per section.  For example spend your first couple weeks studying thoroughly the head and neck part of the dog, its skeleton, its joints and ligaments, its deep and superficial muscle layer, its related stress points, etc.....  Then, when you feel good and solid about this part, move on to the shoulder and foreleg structures in the same fashion for the next couple weeks.  Then the back section and finally the hip and hindquarters.  Within a couple month you should have absorb most of your anatomical knowledge and that is good as it is the foundation of your work.

Be aware not to burn yourself out in the first month.  This canine massage knowledge is with you for life.  Enjoy the learning process.  Relax, take lots of deep breathes and smile. With this course you start a new life.  Be patient in your learning process as everything takes time to mature.  You will absorb knowledge that as been developed by some of the wisest in the profession.  This distance course will take you in the sunlight of canine massage practice and, combined with your instinct as a dog person, you will soon be very confident in your application of canine massage. So lets get to it and good luck to you with your education in the canine massage awareness method.

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CHAPTER 1 - THE DOG AND MASSAGE THERAPY – An Overview

Time Devoted: 5 hours

Find out more about. the in and out of Canine Massage, how your dog respond to your work, positioning your dog for massage, how long should your massage session last for. Find out when it is best to massage your dog. Understand how to best approach your dog. Understand and memorize the contra-indications that prevail in massage, as well as the dos & don'ts of this practice.  Make sure to often revise these from time to time, as they are very important to your practice, for your and your dog’s safety.

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CHAPTER 2 - GENERAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE DOG

Time Devoted: 50 hours

To be efficient in massage, it is imperative you know the canine structures you will be working on! 

5-10 hours - Consider investing that much time in the theoretical study of the skeleton, the joints, ligaments and muscles of the dog as presented in this chapter before starting your hands-on practice.  Spend that much time studying the dog skeletal anatomy to know and memorize all the names and locations of these bones, joints and ligaments.  Practice writing names and drawing the bones, joints and ligaments. For you to know these structures well right from the start will be an invaluable advantage throughout the entire course. 

20 hours - Spend that much time studying and memorizing the names and locations of the muscles of the deep and superficial layers as presented in the book.  Practice writing the names on the blank charts provided for this purpose, and consider even drawing muscles on separate sheet of paper.

20 hours - As you learn the names and locations of the equine musculo-skeletal system, spend that much time over several sessions throughout this course to palpate and feel these areas on your dog so you become well familiar with all his musculo-skeletal structures.  Remember to revise these anatomical features regularly throughout your course.

Within a month, you should be able to easily locate most muscles, joints, ligaments, bones and landmarks on your dog as well as comfortably spell them, so you will be better prepared when conversing with your veterinarian or another therapist, or simply when taking notes.  Remember, this equine massage knowledge will be with you for life, no need to rush. It is important for you to establish a solid foundation in the knowledge of your dog musculo-skeletal structures so you can easily absorb and easily add more massage material as you progress.

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CHAPTER 3 - KINESIOLOGY OF THE DOG

Time Devoted: 50 hours

This is a very important chapter for you to study, as it will help you identify the groups responsible for the various movements.  A solid knowledge of this section will greatly contribute to your practice.  It will allow you to detect and identify the affected muscle groups much faster as you observe the lameness in any dog.

10 hours - Spend a minimum of five/ten hours towards a thorough academic study of the kinesiology outline of the dog. Memorize the muscles involved in each of the movements of the dog. It will greatly contribute to your expertise during massage evaluation in relation to muscle lameness, muscular compensation and activities of any given dog.

40 hours - Take the time to evaluate each of dog muscle groups in relation to its discipline and familiarize yourself with the various compensation factors found with each one. To develop a great eye and hand for muscle evaluation is an important part of your trade.  Enjoy it.

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CHAPTER 4 - PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS OF MASSAGE

Time Devoted: 35 hours

To be relaxed and in control during your massage application, you need to master your posture, pressure, contact and rhythm.  This is the foundation of your work.   A smooth application of your massage is the gift you give to your animal friend, he will be watching and feeling every one of your movements.  The smoother and relax you are, the better he will feel and trust your work.

10 hours - Work on your  posture by watching video and practising your stance and movement using your entire body so you will be able to give a good massage without tiring yourself prematurely.

As well it is very important for you to develop a feel for the different pressures used in massage, using a bathroom scale. You may wish to refer back to the bathroom scale from time to time as you practise your movements. This will reinforced your confidence in knowing intuitively the level of the pressure you are using at any given time during massage.

Over the next few weeks, as you will increase your hands-on practice, keep up with the following recommendations:                       

25 hours - In your early massage practice and when you study and/or review the names and locations of the Canine musculo-skeletal system, as you palpate develop the sensitivity of your hands by practising the Four Ts. If possible, it would be beneficial for you to workdifferent breeds of dogs, to develop a feel for lots of different and interesting feedback information. Also pay close attention to your Pressure, Contact, and Rhythm combination as it is the key to a successful massage. By developing a smooth approach right from the start you will soon relax and develop a strong confidence in your practice.

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CHAPTER 5 - MASSAGE MOVEMENTS
Time Devoted: 35 hours

This is a crucial section of your course.  Start with the stroking, effleurage, wringing and kneading movements as they are the foundation of your massage practice. Then build up to the other movements as you develop your confidence.  Knowing all movements in details will give your massage applications the finesse that will make your massage that much more efficient and enjoyable for your pet friend.

5 hours - As you read the section on massage moves, read the description of each movement individually then watch the corresponding movement on the video and practise each movement on yourself or a friend who can give you verbal feedback.  As you practice, maintain full hand contact, consistent rhythm (one stroke / sec.) and be aware on the pressure you use as you learn your movements.

30 hours - Once you become confident with your movements, practise them on your dog. Be gentle and develop the trust.  Practice each movement one at a time.  Develop a feel for each one.  Perform each movement all over your dog to familiarize yourself with the nature of your handwork in any given location on your dog.  Remember to watch you posture from the beginning.  Be smooth and take lots of deep breathes.   Remember that you are increasing blood circulation so use effleurage every 20 seconds or so as you practise your movements.

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CHAPTER 6 - MASSAGE TECHNIQUES

Time Devoted: 70 hours

As massage techniques refers to specific massage moves arranged in a pattern and done in an orderly fashion to achieve a desired effect, it is important for your practice to carefully study and memorize each technique presented here.

5 hours - After reading the section concerning the SEW / WES technique and viewing the video, practice this technique on your dog.  Consider practising over the entire neck, the withers, the shoulder, the back, the hip, and the legs.

5 hours - After reading the section concerning the thumb technique and viewing the video, practice this technique on your dog.  Consider practising over the larger muscle group of your dog’s body.

10 hours - After reading the section concerning the swelling technique and viewing the video, practice this technique on your dog.  Consider practising over the neck, the withers, the shoulder, the hip, and the legs.

15 hours - After reading the section concerning the trigger-point technique and viewing the video, practice this technique on your dog.  Work all large muscles as  trigger-points form mostly in the belly of the muscle.

15 hours - After reading the section concerning the stress-point technique and viewing the video, practice this technique on your dog.  Apply the technique to all big muscle attachments on the body of the dog.

20 hours - After reading the section concerning the origin-insertion technique and viewing the video, practice this technique on your dog.  Every large muscle group should be worked on, every one !

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CHAPTER 7 - MASSAGE ROUTINES

Time Devoted: 395 hours

Massage routines are a series of massage moves or techniques arranged in a specific order to achieve the best result in the shortest time.  It is important for your practice to carefully study and memorize each routine presented here. Once you will be knowledgeable about each routine you will be able to Acompose@ your one ones to best fit the need at hand.

10 hours - Read the instructions for the relaxation massage routine in your book, then watch the video until you understand this routine.  Please re-read the instructions from time to time as you develop your manual practice, to insure you don’t forget anything.

50 hours - During the next few days, spend up to 30 min. at a time practising the short and long version of the relaxation massage routine on your dog, until you are comfortable with both versions.

We also recommend you apply this routine on different dogs so you can appreciate how different dogs react. It will be good to practice this routine over a hundred time in the next couple months.

5 hours - Read the maintenance massage routine on your book, then view it on the video.  Insure to thoroughly read the instructions from time to time during your practice so you don’t forget any steps or detail.

10 hours - In the early stages of  practising this routine, concentrate on the SEW & WES approach only. After you apply the relaxation routine to prepare your dog (~10 min.), it should take you about 20 to 25 minutes to apply SEW & WES on your dogs= entire body for a total >hands-on= practise time of 30-35 minutes.

30 hours - Practise over several sessions of 30 -35 min. instead of going for longer sessions.

As you build up your strength and confidence, add more movements between the warm-up of the SEW and WES-ing out of an area , as suggested in the outline of the maintenance routine in your manual, and demonstrated in the video. Your total working time on the dog including a relaxation and maintenance routine should be about 50-60 minutes per session. Practice on different dogs if possible.

100 hours - When comfortable in working with all aspect of the routine, practice the full maintenance massage routine on lots of different dogs so you can develop as feel for the various breeds & disciplines. When working regularly on several dogs, make note of the changes in the attitude and feel of the dog.

30 hours - Practice the recuperation massage routine as described in chapter 6 and shown on video.  Insure to understand the principles behind this routine so you can assist your dog during this particular phase.

30 hours - Practice the warm-up massage routine as described in chapter 6 and shown on video.  Insure to understand the principles behind this routine so you can add massage movements if you desire.

30 hours - Practice the cool-down massage routine as described in chapter 6 and shown on video.  Insure to understand the principles behind this routine so you can add massage movements if you desire.

100 hours - Once familiar with each massage routine, you will be feeling more creative in the making of your own massage routine according to the situation at hand.

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CHAPTER 8 - COMMON STRESS AREAS

Time Devoted: 70 hours

This section is the interesting stuff that your practice is made of, and that you really need to know. This knowledge of all muscular stress locations will make your massage practice that much more accurate and will save you lots of time when evaluating muscular problems in any dog.

20 hours - After thoroughly reading the section on stress points and viewing the video, spend a minimum of ten hours over a few weeks assessing the various stress sites locations on you dog. Practice on as many dog as you can, it will develop your expertise. Please insure to memorise the muscles involved in each stress sites.

50 hours - Practice over the next month, doing the full work: start with a relaxation routine, then assess all stress sites on each side on the dog, and deliver a full body massage, including stretching. Apply the various massage technique as needed, and consider using hydrotherapy if needed.

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CHAPTER 9 - STRETCHING

Time Devoted: 70 hours

Stretching exercises will enhance the flexibility of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joint capsules and contribute to the overall relaxation of your pet.  It is a great benefit to your massage practice and you should make it a part of your daily massage routine.

20 hours - After reading the section on stretching and viewing the video, spend a minimum of five/ten hours (over the course of a couple weeks) to practice safe stretching on your dog and other friend’s dogs.  Remember to always stretch your dog when warm.  Practice stretching on several different dogs, to better your experience.

50 hours - As you build up your confidence, add the stretching practice to each of your maintenance massage routine, either during or right at the end of the massage routine, or during the warm-up and cool-down massage routine.

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CHAPTER 10 - HYDROTHERAPY

Time Devoted: 55 hours

Hydrotherapy with the heat and cold applications will greatly enhance the benefits of your massage practice.  Make it a part of your daily massage routines

5 hours - Spend several hours over the course of several days to thoroughly study the Hydrotherapy outline. Memorize the distinct effect of cold and heat applications, as well as the various stages of application. View the video section on hydrotherapy and practice on your dog.