PawsfourMassage

05/06/2024

I am just giving all my clients a heads-up!
Facebook has decided to no longer provide the ability for you to select an appointment using the Book Now feature for massage on this page.
I am sorry that they have discontinued this feature, but please know that you can still message me to schedule a time and day for a visit.

20/05/2024

When is it ok to go for a spin? When we introduce flexibility and proprioception in our warm-up and cool-down routine!
Patty and Lugar were cutting a rug in class on Sunday!😆

20/05/2024

When is a practice jump not a jump at a trial? When we use it to wake up those weaving muscles! Getting our Warm-ups and cool-down exercises down pat!

15/05/2024

For some unknown reason, the new Meta for Facebook business pages has made a few changes to my business aspect of the page. I can no longer access the appointment calendar or your appointment requests with the Book Now app.
If you would like to book massage time for your dogs, can I ask that you use Messenger on my personal page: Elizabeth Danskin, or email: [email protected]
I have no idea how long it will take to get things back up and running.
I do apologize to any clients I have been unable to respond to and thank you in advance for your patience.

02/05/2024

Classes start in a little over a week...still time to enroll 😊
I do have a couple of spots left in this set of classes

Contact me: [email protected]

25/04/2024

⭐️STARTING IN 2 WEEKS! ⭐️
THERE ARE 2 SPOTS LEFT FOR THIS SET OF CLASSES
We all want to do the best for our canine athletes and ensure that we have done everything possible to have a safe, enjoyable, and fun trial run.
Your pre-run routine should encompass all the forces and complexities on muscle groups and joints that we ask of our sports partners.
It will also alert you to any subtle issues your dog may have before you get in the ring.
Cool-down routines allow our dog's heart rates to come down and diffuse the heat built up in muscle tissue after each run.
Having a good warm-up and cool-down will help reduce the chances of injury.
Classes will also cover activating the propulsive muscles for sprinting, and abductors, and adductors for weaving and tight turning.
Contact Liz for more info: [email protected]

16/04/2024

There are still a couple of spots open for this 4-week program!😊
Contact: [email protected] for more info

09/04/2024

Warm-ups and cool-downs for any sport we do with our dogs are NOT a short walk from the car to let them relieve themselves before getting to the start line.
They are also NOT a couple of practice jumps before undergoing the rigors of an agility course.
Your warm-up routine needs to encompass all the forces and complexities on muscles and joints that we ask of our sports partners like running, jumping, climbing, and weaving.
Warm-ups also alert you to any subtle issues your dog may have before you get in the ring.
Cool-down routines need to allow our dog's heart rates to come down and diffuse the heat built up in muscle tissue after each run.
Having a good warm-up and cool-down will help reduce the chances of injury significantly.
Classes will also cover when to stretch your dogs, and when to do active or passive stretching.
We will also cover activating the propulsive muscles for sprinting as well as the abductors and adductors for weaving and tight turning.
Contact for more info: [email protected]

07/04/2024

Thanks for coming out everyone! The last class was a bit more challenging, but you guys came shining through😊

07/04/2024

Just some pups getting their pistol squats in gear!
Thanks to Skeeter, Rye, Kahlua, Ruby, Arthur, and Timo for coming out and teaching their owners all about the fundamentals of conditioning.
You are all Rock Stars...keep exercising!

29/03/2024

Happy Easter weekend everyone!

20/02/2024

FYI We are starting the Fundamental classes in 2 weeks!
I still have a couple of spots open for this session.
Contact: [email protected] for more info.😊

07/02/2024

I am offering these classes again for anyone who missed out on the previous set.

The first class will concentrate on your individual dog's weaknesses and a starting point exercise to introduce them to conditioning.

Each subsequent class will hone in on problem areas with a progression of exercises over the rest of the weeks.

Participants have unlimited access to feedback and helpful suggestions throughout the week between classes.

Class size is kept small to enable everyone to get feedback on exercises before the end of class time.

My aim is to help you recognize areas of weakness in your dog and to target and strengthen those areas; thereby reducing the chances of injury in sports or everyday shenanigans with your pup!

22/01/2024

An interesting wee snippet from Laurie Edge-Hughes about using a loop for dogs with OA just thought I would share.

16/12/2023

Dec. 16 Update: Two spots opened up for this set of classes due to other commitments...There is still time to join the fun!

New set of classes for the New Year🎉
All things dog sports-wise have been winding down for the winter and it is time for a break from all high-impact trials. Now is the time to assess and reflect on your dog's performance over this last season and look for ways to improve for next year.
Winter downtime is great for keeping your dog in shape in a low-impact way and correcting or finding any weaknesses that need addressing plus you get extra bonding time with your best pup.
The fundamentals classes help you recognize weak areas and give you appropriate exercises to help correct them.
Overall strengthening comes from strengthening weak areas which can then be built upon with proper muscle engagement.
Your new New Year's resolution for your dog!
please note: priority will be given to those who reached out for the last set of classes that started in November.

06/12/2023

New set of classes for the New Year🎉

All things dog sports-wise have been winding down for the winter and it is time for a break from all high-impact trials. Now is the time to assess and reflect on your dog's performance over this last season and look for ways to improve for next year.

Winter downtime is great for keeping your dog in shape in a low-impact way and correcting or finding any weaknesses that need addressing plus you get extra bonding time with your best pup.

The fundamentals classes help you recognize weak areas and give you appropriate exercises to help correct them.
Overall strengthening comes from strengthening weak areas which can then be built upon with proper muscle engagement.

Your new New Year's resolution for your dog!

please note: priority will be given to those who reached out for the last set of classes that started in November.

15/08/2023

One last pit stop before Nationals! Jo getting a muscle tune up before the long drive to Maxville!💕 Wishing her and her Mum Tammy the best time at their first Agility National event,

25/07/2023

Just an FYI for everyone interested in getting some conditioning platforms for your pups!

Canine Conditioning Pals located in the Maritimes! We've got something awesome to share with you! 🎉

Wiggle Butts will be part of the much-anticipated Maritime Doggie EXPO 2023 on July 29th! It's going to be a paw-some event, and we can't wait to see you all there!

📍 RBC Centre in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
🕒 10AM - 4PM ADT
🏷️ Come find us at Booth Number 10

HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU:

💪 Top-Notch Exercise Conditioning Platforms: Our platforms are specifically designed for the Canine Conditioning Coach's exercise programs! Whether you're following an injury rehab or injury prevention program, we've got you covered.

🐶 Try Before You Buy: Bring your adorable pups along, and let them try our exercise conditioning platforms firsthand. Staff will be available on-site to help ensure you select the correct size for your dog -- plus we'll be extra stocked up on treats to make sure the process is a positive experience! 🦴

💰 Exclusive 10% OFF: We're offering an exclusive 10% discount on all in-person purchases at the EXPO! 🎁

🏠 For Our Long-Distance Friends: Know someone passing through the area and don't want to miss out on this deal? Have them stop by our booth during the EXPO to pick up your order on your behalf. Message us to coordinate pre-payment and save on shipping expenses!

For any questions or more information, drop us a message, and we'll be more than happy to assist you.

Looking forward to seeing you there!❤️

Danielle from Wiggle Butts

18/07/2023

Looking for platforms for your dog's conditioning? Check out Wiggle Butts! They are local ( Fall River) so no more ordering from companies out of Province or country and waiting for delivery.
These platforms have been recommended by canine PTs like Anna Lee Sanders in her canine conditioning programs.

22/05/2023

Just thought I would share this small but helpful tool for all the pups having difficulty on those hardwood floors etc. I have a couple of clients using these and they love them! One client cuts the toe bits and applies them separately which seems to work well with her golden girl.

Why do you need to buy Aqumax pet paw protectors for your dogs? - It protects your hard wooden floor from being scratched by dogs’ nail - It protects your clever dogs’ paws from injuries - It’s anti-slip, it provides traction and increases the friction and grip - It’s more convenient and com...

14/05/2023

14/05/2023

Just an FYI to all my clients trying to make appointments on the PawsfourMassage page, for reasons only known to FB and Meta I can not see any conversations, etc in my inbox on this page. Until this gets fixed can I suggest you contact me on my personal page under Elizabeth Danskin.
Thanks for your understanding

24/04/2023

19/04/2023

Sometimes home visit massages turn out to be at work. Lucky Scully's mom works in every dog's treat heaven! Finished her massage this morning at Growlies in Bedford, Scully is such a good old girl! ( she is a hard one to keep still for her photo)

13/04/2023

Some of the beautiful faces of massage today!
Just forgot to snap a couple...today..so 9 shelties, 1 lab, and 1 border collie.
A busy day but great dogs!

09/04/2023

Just a wee reminder for everyone on the role that supplements play in your dogs exercise and recovery plan

28/01/2023

A little educational blog from Anna Lee Sanders ...enjoy! 😊

What exactly is "East West"? Does your dog have it? And which conditioning exercises can help?

In dogs, East West is an umbrella term that refers to any external rotation of the thoracic limb that results in the toes facing outward. Nebulous… My favorite🙄🤦‍♀️. Given that there are several distinct postural deviations that cause the toes to face outward, I wanted to cover each, and discuss…

1. Where in the canine anatomy the East West / lateral rotation is stemming from.
2. Help you identify which one your pup might have.
3. Discuss what might be done to improve this postural deviation.

⭐️(Link to the full post, including more descriptive images, and links to exercise tutorials at the bottom go the post)⭐️

1️⃣TYPE 1: TRUE East West / External Shoulder Rotation

In dogs, this East West deviation is sometimes referred to as ‘elbows turned in’ or ‘loose elbows’. But this postural deviation is not technically related to the elbow at all. The elbow is a hinge joint. It does not rotate. Instead, this East West deviation comes from a lateral or outward rotation of the humerus at the level of the shoulder joint. As the proximal humerus rotates laterally, the distal humerus and antebrachium rotate medially. As a result, this postural deviation can be easily identified by a narrowness between the elbows and antebrachium.

2️⃣TYPE 2: Carpal Valgus

Carpal valgus is a lateral deviation of the paw, from the line of the radius / ulna at the level of the wrist (carpal abduction). Dogs with carpal valgus do not display the external shoulder rotation and resulting narrowness as described above, or the dwarf mutation / angular limb deformity covered below. Instead this East West deviation is localized to the level of the dog’s carpus or wrist joint. There are several progressive degrees of this deviation ranging from mild to severe.

3️⃣TYPE 3: Angular Limb Deformity

All chondrodystrophic or dwarf breeds are all affected by some degree of angular limb deformity. This is the result of intentionally breeding the genetic mutation that produces short limbs… which create the breeds’ unique look and function. These genetics cause a premature closure of the distal ulnar growth plate, and a length discrepancy between the radius and ulna, resulting in the East West appearance through the forelimbs of dwarf breeds. As with any genetic trait, this postural deviation can be seen with more mild or more severe characteristics.

❓So what can we do to help dogs with East West Deviation?

The first step is identifying which specific deviation your pup is displaying, and getting checked out by a rehab professional or sports medicine vet to ensure the postural deviation is not the result of a past or current injury. True East West / External Shoulder Rotation and Carpal Valgus deviations are likely to be improved by targeted strengthening exercises.

💪Exercises for East West: External Shoulder Rotation

The following exercises help to address the strength and mobility discrepancy between the muscles in the rotator cuff. In all of these exercises, we are looking for the upper and lower forelimb to demonstrate less external rotation over time. These exercises may have prerequisites, all of which are listed at the bottom of each video tutorial.

📌Fold Back Down
📌Ipsilateral Foot Target
📌Manual Leg Lift
📌Bow

🤌Exercises for East West: Carpal Valgus

The following exercises help to strengthen the musculature on the medial aspect of the carpus. These exercises may have prerequisites, all of which are listed at the bottom of each video tutorial.

📌The Dig Dig exercise activates the caudal thoracic chain which runs along the back portion of the thoracic limb. These muscles have a primary action of carpal flexion, but also support the medial aspect of the carpus and assist in carpal adduction.

In the following exercise, we will leverage the shape of the PawPod to create a carpal bias, which re-aligns the paw, allowing the medial carpal stabilizers to work and strengthen.

📌PawPod Carpal Bias
📌Manual leg lift on Paw Pods

🛑Running in sand or gravel, or feeding from an elevated feeder are often suggested activities to help ‘fix” carpal valgus. And while there may be some mild positive changes attributed to these methods, this is not the best approach. We know from human physical therapy and fitness modalities, that implementing targeted exercise that produces neuromuscular re-education is far superior, faster and more effective long term. Teaching the dog to properly engage the deep and superficial digital flexors is the actual solution to the problem, and carries much less risk than running a dog repeatedly on gravel. For more on this topic, check out my blog post on neuromuscular re-education.

‼️Exercises for East West: Angular Limb Deformity

Dogs with Angular Limb Deformity will also benefit from targeted conditioning exercises, but require a more customized approach, and will see best results by working with a credentialed fitness professional (CPCFT, CCFT, CSCC) or a credentialed rehab professional (CCRP, CCRT) to build a Custom Program.

https://canineconditioningcoach.com/what-is-east-west-in-dogs-and-does-my-dog-have-that/

09/01/2023

New classes starting in February at Ace It Canine Academy!
Ideal for those dogs that are very active in the sports world doing all the things!
Hone your ability to observe your sports partner for early signs of injury or imbalance.
Learn some basic massage techniques to help your dog with warm-ups and post-activity muscle soreness.

31/12/2022

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year with great adventures with your pup in 2023!
Thank you all for placing your faith in Paws Four Massage and being such great advocates for your dogs! I look forward to seeing all my favourite pups in the new year to come🎉

20/12/2022

Wishing all my clients and their pups a very Merry Christmas🎄
Thank you all for putting your faith in my little massage business and being great owners and advocates for your dogs!
I am looking forward to seeing all my favourite pups in 2023 ( everyone's dog is the best dog). 😊