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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

11/14/2025

Milo's Guardians changed up his pain medications a couple months ago and it's made a big difference in what I feel in his body during his dog massages. One of the differences is that he's much less guarded around his joints, especially his hips and stifles, which allows me to do nerve glides and stretches to better support his range of motion. And that has increased the range he has while in hip extension, which makes climbing stairs and getting on/off furniture easier for him too 😍

11/10/2025

Ulysses' last massage session turned into one big cuddle pile while I was helping him release some neck and shoulder tension. Uly's mom said Uly never lets Boswell cuddle, so this was a rare event to fill our hearts! 😍

11/07/2025

Eddie & Marcus are standard poodle brothers who are learning about the benefits of dog massage together. Eddie is 11 years old and dealing with the muscle mass loss that all creatures experience with aging. He's starting to struggle with transitioning from standing to laying down and steep hills. His brother Marcus, while younger, has arthritis and some spinal issues, which results in him being much more sensitive and nervous about touch from unknown massage practitioners. So Eddie has been leading the way, showing Marcus that I can be trusted, and enjoying his own relief along the way. These two boys are so sweet and are well on their way to becoming pros at receiving massage and finding more pain relief.

11/05/2025

Sensitive Kaiya has her very own dog-sized couch to get her massages on! Kaiya loves laying on her couch, which is easier for her to get on/off of compared to the full sized one, and it's very ergonomic for my work as well. Thanks Kaiya's parents!

11/03/2025

Sweet and silly Boogie the golden retriever always loves his massages! He's got chronic muscle tension and some hind leg stiffness from a combination of living an active playful life, insisting on standing over the center console in the car, and a couple old injuries. But all this culminates in us getting to enjoy each other's company every other week! I love my Boogie days!

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from Taco Chug!

10/29/2025

Happy National Cat Day! While I don't offer cat massage, cats are often very interested in my work 😻 Dot, a siamese mix, has been paws down the most involved in her dog sibling's sessions, always double checking my notes, inspecting my bag, and supervising my massage techniques. As long as the kitties aren't keeping me from helping my doggy clients, I delight in their joining our company.

Sadly, Dot's dog sibling Nessa crossed the rainbow bridge last summer, but I will always hold these memories close to my heart. I miss her dearly, and I miss our cat-approved time together. 💖

10/27/2025

Sam's BFF Rafi the border collie mix was gifted his first dog massage during his week-long stay at Sam's house. Rafi deals with hip dysplasia and chronic muscle tension (a common combination). After watching Sam enjoy his regular massage, he got to enjoy his own session and really melted into it! Rafi lives in Washington, so I cannot visit him at home, but I told his mom we can meet at for future sessions.

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.

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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