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Monday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm

Very Important Pooch Massage

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United States
Portland, OR
Very Important Pooch Massage

Certified, insured, in-home dog massages for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes in Portland, OR & the surrounding suburbs

10/01/2025

Just a few seconds of Ollie enjoying some light massage work over his thoracolumbar fascia and oblique muscle. He deals with a good amount of nerve sensitivity and some pain along his back and down into his hind leg, so I love being able to find some areas for good gentle relaxation without overstimulation.

09/29/2025

Today is VIP's 4th Anniversary! I'd like to thank all my clients for their trust and support these last four years. You're literally helping to make my dreams come true.

And, I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce myself here on social media. My name is Lela and I left a successful career as a UX Designer to pursue a true passion of mine: hanging out with dogs! Specifically I love senior dogs, and I love being able to help relieve their pains and bring fresh energy back into their lives. The connections I make with my regular pooches are more fulfilling and enjoyable than any work I've done before. To get started on this path I enrolled at the NW School of Animal Massage in 2021, and I continue to do my best to improve my knowledge base and develop more skills. I'm not sure I'll ever feel like I couldn't learn more and therefore do more to help the dogs in my life.

My whole life is not about work though. When I'm not massaging dogs or running the business-end of things, I'm probably spending time with my spouse and our mini dachshund/VIP mascot Fionna at our home in East Portland. I'm also (in true Portlander fashion) a native plants-focused gardener, a knitter, and a founding member at The Mud Room SE ceramic studios.

Thanks again for the last four years, and here's to at least four more!

First photo credit: 's Mom

09/08/2025

Luc the toy poodle had his second session recently and achieved the next level of massage enjoyment! His first session, as with most dogs, was mostly about getting to know each other, introducing the idea of massage, and evaluating his body's regions: where he's sensitive, how he likes to be massaged, what his pain levels are like, etc. Today we got to really connect and relax as I gently focused on his problem areas and gained a deeper level of trust from him. I adore this breakthrough, and loved seeing his eyes go soft and relaxed as he surrendered to my touch.

09/05/2025

Sophia's left shoulder and fore leg were just one big block of tension at her last appointment. We spent nearly the whole session working out the muscles around her scapula, down her arm, and into her chest. Once I got her muscles released and the joints gently stretched out, she was like a rag doll on the rug.

09/03/2025

Milo may be a shepard/pittie mix that weighs 75 pounds, but that's never kept him from starting every massage in my lap 😂🥰

09/01/2025

Boogie wishes everyone a Happy Labor Day! I hope you can take a cue from this cutie and get some blissful rest in today.

08/29/2025

Jelly has a hard time staying present in her massages when her Mom is home but working in the other room. So for her most recent session we tried having Mom leave the house and Jelly did great! She stayed with me for the whole hour, taking only one short break to get a drink of water. You can tell by the photo that she was fighting off a nap by the end of her session, waiting for Mom's return.

08/26/2025

Fionna told me before her nap that she wanted to wish everyone a happy and relaxing International Dog Day! I am so grateful for all the dogs in my life, personally and professionally, and I hope you all get to spend a little extra time with your very important pooch(s) in celebration of their presence in your lives too 💖

08/04/2025

Meet Georgia the Malamute, Newfoundland, Labrador & Golden Retriever mix! She gets several different therapies to keep her in tip-top shape so she can perform her duties as a service dog. Her work throws her body off-balance, so chiropractic, red light sessions, and massage all come together to realign her body, release muscle tensions, and bring her back into balance. Not to mention that she is just the sweetest, happiest girl anyone could ever meet. Welcome to the Very Important Pooch Club, Georgia!

P.S. VIP offers discounts to service dogs in honor of all their hard work. If you or someone you know has a service dog and has shied away from massage because of cost, please reach out so we can discuss possible solutions.

08/01/2025

Sam often limps from an old CCL injury, especially after going on more strenuous adventures, but massage helps keep him on his feet in the waking world and in dreamland. Much of the massage work I do is in service of helping dogs retain (or regain) pain-free mobility, so when they twitch as if dreaming of running, it fills my heart.

07/28/2025

One aspect of in-home dog massage is figuring out what the dog needs to feel safe and relaxed enough to go "off-duty" and engage with me and their massage. Ollie's parents tried many things to create a calm and conducive atmosphere, like taking the other dogs for a walk, or putting them in a back room. But Ollie was always so worried about his family. So we decided to try having everyone in the same room and it worked GREAT. Once Ollie realized we were all settling in, he did too, and he ended his session with the loudest snores any VIPer has ever graced me with. Plus we got a couple variations of puppy piles 😍

07/25/2025

Sophia is probably my most active regular and she LOVES how massage melts away all her muscle tensions and leaves her as a happy pittie puddle. Her guardians keep her active as part of their strategy to manage her hip dysplasia, then I come in to relieve the aches and pains of having such an athletic lifestyle. I am honored to be part of Sophia's care team, keeping her in tip-top shape!

Address

Portland, OR

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm

Website

https://www.veryimportantpoochpdx.com/

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