Mary Allen
Do you love your dog? Then treat him to a soothing massage. We reveal what you should pay attention to.
Dog massage – a guide
The dog is your best friend? Then why not treat him to a massage? Because what is good for humans cannot be bad for dogs. He definitely deserves to be really spoiled with a massage. Here are instructions on how to massage your four-legged friend.
Massaging the dog properly: the preparation
To perform a dog massage, all you need is a woolen blanket. Then you can start. The massage should be a ritual so that your four-legged friend knows in the future that something very nice and pleasant is about to happen.
First, lay the blanket on the floor and place your darling on it. Now sit down with your beloved four-legged friend so that you are the same height as the dog. When the human stands and bends over the dog’s head, it is often seen as a threat.
Now you can touch several parts of the body, and stroke his neck down to his front paws. The back must not be left out either. You will quickly find out which part of the body your furry friend would particularly like to be massaged. If you massage this area in the beginning, your pooch will relax quickly and you can massage the other parts of the body more easily.
Massaging the dog properly: The head
For a head massage, sit in front of your four-legged friend and gently hold your dog’s snout. Place the index and middle fingers of the other hand on the dog’s forehead, above the eyes. Now draw gentle circles, which can sometimes be larger and sometimes smaller. The same happens with pressure. You should also include the ears, here man’s friend is particularly receptive. To do this, grab one ear with one hand and knead it gently, but with a little pressure. Now stroke with firm pressure from the nose over the bridge of the nose to the eyes, up to the neck. Then repeat this process three times.
Massaging the dog properly: The paws
To massage the front paws, stroke from top to bottom while applying moderate pressure. When you get to the bottom, start again from the top. Stroke very carefully, almost meditatively.
Now take one paw in your hand and spread the underside of the pads. This is done with your thumb by pressing on the large pad, the other fingers remain on the paw. Squeeze your paw very lightly and then release.
If the puppy pulls its paw back, gently try again. For many animals, this touch is initially just unfamiliar. Your four-legged friend will quickly notice that it is good for him and will then allow the massage.
Massaging the dog properly: The back
To massage the neck, gently pull the fur up a little. Then press the fur back against the dog’s body. Repeat this process until the dog relaxes.
Do the same for the back, starting about 4 inches below the nape of the neck and working your way down the entire coat. Use the same process as on the nape, but touch each spot only once. Your spine shows you the way. Take special care not to put any pressure on the spine itself!
But make sure that your companion is really healthy and that he feels good. If you have any doubts, the veterinarian can tell you whether a massage is suitable for your darling.