HA!!! 12 yr old “Zona” is BESIDE herself with excitement.. jubilation…zeal, zest, vim and vigor!🤣💪. She’s the only dog I’ve ever worked with who INSISTS on holding her toy while she continues to tell us all about her very big feelings about swimming. Pure happiness right here🙏 #chocolatelab #labrador #labradorretriever #bigfeelings #bigfun #somuchhappiness #caninewellness #hydrotherapy #liveyourbestlife
This guy is “Hendrix,” and he’s just amazing! He’s still going strong and has plenty of vim and vigor even at the age of 14! It took a while to get this veteran lake swimmer happy in a pool, but we’ve got it down. He’s a hoot! #bordercollie #aginggracefully #livinglifetothefullest #vimandvigor #caninewellness #caninehydrotherapy #lovestoswim #whatahoot
FINALLY! “Porter” has really turned a corner in his ACL recovery and is feeling great!! It’s so wonderful to see this guy happy and loving life again!💪 #australianshepard #aussie #postopacl #itsbeenalongroad #herehecomes #gettingbettereveryday #caninerehab #caninewellness #finally ##greatbarrington
16 yr old “Bug” swims like a dream. He’s able to move fully and freely with no discomfort and no concussion through his joints. He’s happy, beloved, and definitely aging gracefully 🙏 #bostonterrier #pug #sweetestguy #aginggracefully #livinghisbestlife #caninewellness
This 13 yr old sweetheart is a complete and total water lover. “Kiya” has a couple of aging things that swimming will improve immensely, including her spirit and over happiness! What a joy! #labmix #blackdogs #swimmerlife #aginggracefully #staystrong #staymobile #stayhappy #caninehydrotherapy #greatbarrington #theberkshires
6 yr old”Rocky” started swimming with me in 2019 - what a hoot! For one reason or another he hasn’t been able to swim for the past 5 weeks. He requires a little extra focus, and a little extra energy, but he ALWAYS adds a ton of joy to my day. 😍 see comments for a still shot of senor handsome.
Sweet 10 yr old “Inky” has a bit of arthritis. It slows her down, and keeps her from being as active as she could be, leading to decreased strength and stamina. With excellent veterinary guidance and consistent swimming we’re hoping to see her start feeling a bit more spry🙏 #arthritis #stayactive #keepatit #caninewellness #agingsucksbutitdoesnthaveto #greatbarrington
You should always know BOTH your capabilities and your limitations to provide the very best care for a dog. Remember little “Roo” ( now “Seven”) that I worked with a few months ago? Just a little pipsqueak of a dog who was incontinent and paralyzed in the hind end. With patience and consistency his foster brought him to being fully independent. He’s now living his best life in his adoptive family, but has had a setback recently. He came for a swim today, and will be just fine, but the expertise he needs is out of my wheelhouse, and I don’t have the most effective equipment for his recovery. His parents will be seeking rehab at one of the places I recommended, and I’m thrilled for Seven that his family is so committed🙏 #letsdoit #keepatit #caninewellness #useyourskills #knowyourlimitations #caninewellness #greatbarrington #resc
This girl is killin it! “Beverly” has ACL issues, and with the goal of avoiding surgery, her family sought out hydrotherapy. BUT SHE HATES WATER!!! Except…. Not anymore🙏. Dad has her in the pool at home, and she’s doing a stellar job here. All fingers crossed!! #bilateralacltear #ccl #conservativetreatment #caninehydrotherapy #wellness #swimming #teachadognewtricks #forminggoodhabits #greatbarrington #theberkshires
At 9 1/2 yrs old, “Beverley” is very specifically a NON-swimmer😆 She’s sweet and loving and curious and capable, but water? Ohhh HELLLLLL no! However - with an ACL tear, there’s no time like the present, and today - she was a super star. Almost always, given time, space and clarity on expectation, a dog will swim. And swim she did!💪
This guy defines resilience. 9 yr old “Bubba” was dumped in a parking lot at 6 weeks old with multiple VERY severe injuries. Since his adoption at 10 weeks old, he’s had numerous adventures, and numerous health issues. Over the past year, despite working with specialists, he has finally gone completely blind SO - he’s no longer able to run and race and jump around like a maniac. Swimming is SUCH a great, safe, way for him to exert that pent up energy and get some solid exercise. He’s a golden soul, in a damaged but comfortable body, that lives a blessed life🙏 #resilience #resilient #survivor #pitt #pittbull #rescue #rescuedog #burnoffenergy #caninewellness #theberkshires
“Boo” couldn’t love swimming any more! What a fruit loop!!!😂♥️ #partygirl #cotondetulear #caninewellness #theberkshires
Did you know that every dog that walks through these doors gets massage and bodywork? Some need more than others, but all of the dogs I work with get a full once over. 10 yr old “Clover” is a bit of a weekend warrior- going on 1-2 looong hikes, then mostly chillin and patrolling her yard during the week. Despite being heathy and strong, the bodywork I offer will help to maintain her mobility, and could alert to a potential strain or problem area before she lets it show. Amongst other things, swimming keeps her core strong, and helps to prevent injury. She’s one lucky gal🍀
10 1/2 yr old “Sadie” started swimming here 2 yrs ago as a veracious toy chaser/ trader. Over time, her intake of water became nerve wracking for her mom and I, and uncomfortable for her. With toys no longer an option we had to switch it up. Now, she swims ever so gracefully in circles and serpentines into the jets, with me luring her for small treats. This girl is so much fun♥️♥️
6 1/2 yr old “Rocky” is one of the dogs I need to stay on my toes for - he ain’t messin around when it comes to trading bumpers! He has as much strength as he does drive, and is as persistent as he is smart. There’s not a chance he’d bite me on purpose, but if I get distracted or lazy an accident could happen. He’s both fun and serious, both competitive and a gentleman. And handsome? Wooooweee! Except for 3 brief B &B rests ( burp and bodywork 😂) he swims weekly like this for 30 minutes! 💪💪
Well folks… THIS - is a vision of success. 12 yr old “Cleo” has had a lifelong fear of water, but with aging comes stiffness, discomfort and muscle weakness. Her mom brought her in February on the recommendation of her vet, just to see if she would even tolerate the water. Now, she gets in on her own, enjoys the bodywork, and is one of the VERY few dogs who chooses to swim directly into the jets without the need for any motivation from me. It must feel SOOO good. Today, she very happily swam the equivalent of 280 minutes of walking! 💪💪💪💪 #willingandable #success #bestexercise #hydrotherapy #aginggracefully #seniordogs #withagecomeswisdom #caninewellness #greatbarrington
YOWZA! This weekend marks 10 years in business for me! This experience has sparked and fed so many things in my heart and soul. Living a life filled with these extraordinary creatures is rich, exceptionally fulfilling and often heartbreaking. Thank you for your trust, and for loving your animals enough to do everything you can to keep them strong, mobile and happy - I learn from each and every one of you - dogs, rabbits, kittens, goats, horses and people alike. I will forever feel honored and grateful for the opportunity to work with animals and the people who love them. “Dog hair is my glitter.”🙏🙏
Some dogs are more active than others - what can I say? 😅 9 year old “Raisin” won’t drop the toy mid swim, so lure and race and play is the way to go!💪 #stronglikebull #blacklab #skinnydipping #caninewellness #greatbarrington #theberkshires
In any practice, it’s important to know both the scope and the limit of your abilities. When it comes to wellness and rehab, I am educated, experienced, and very skilled in a couple of key areas, but certainly not in all of them. At times, to truly do the right thing for a dog, referring elsewhere is best, and I do this often for my clients. For our own senior dog, “Boo,” I do not have what he needs to benefit him most. Dr. Ali Trotta offers acupuncture, shockwave therapy, cold laser, an underwater treadmill, land exercises and swimming in her facility in Sharon Connecticut. I’ve been bringing “Boo” here for the last couple of months and I’m grateful all that she offers. STAY STRONG FELLA!🙏
This video is NOT zoomed in. This is literally the close proximity I’m in to your dog for a large portion of his session. What a blessing! However, you can see how I’m putting myself at risk. This guy is a TOTAL peach, but if he weren’t I could be in grave danger. THIS is why it’s IMPERATIVE that you are honest with me ( and any other animal Practicioner) about your dog’s history, sensitivities and predispositions to any kind of aggression. Otherwise you’re doing both your dog and I an enormous disservice. 🙏
