Safe Hands - Canine Massage and Fitness

16/01/2025

This is the beautiful Roxy. It's been a year since I last saw her and this time she was limping badly after being barged by another dog.

She had back pain, knee pain and a very, very sore toe... Any one of which could have resulted in the limp...

They could all have happened as a result of being barged or one injury could have resulted in her moving oddly and this could have caused the other issues (we call this compensatory pain and it is extremely common).

Can you guess the breed?

15/01/2025

You are never too old to get food all over your face... Leo is nearly 17 and gets a regular massage to help with his age related aches and pains... In order to treat him safely he enjoys a peanut butter covered licki mat...

14/01/2025

It's been a busy day....night night ❤️

12/01/2025

My first Aylesbury clinic of the year... Today I worked with tiny
- Annie who literally squeaks when she sees me and
- Rocky, the only greyhound I have met that can sit and lie down in cue...

Thank you Mcgrumpy and Snuffles for providing the venue.

11/01/2025

How are you enjoying the sunshine today?

10/01/2025

Tally and Benji had their monthly massage today. Little Tally is a bit of a worrier and it has taken a while for her to relax in Benji's company.

Thank you Lynn from DogzAligned in Biggleswade for taking such good care of Benji, he really does love seeing you. See you both again next month.

10/01/2025

Wow, how cute is this lad. These guys really don't need much exercise or that much space... If you have a dig shaped hole in your world right now please consider Duncan. ❤️

Meet Duncan, a 5 year old retired racing Greyhound who is looking for a new home.

Duncan is an absolute sweetheart who loves to meet people and make new friends. He can't go out for a walk here without popping into our reception and offices to say hello to all the staff. He spent the Christmas holidays at home with one of our volunteers who describes him as the perfect pet and he can't wait to find his forever home so he can spend every day sprawled out on the sofa.

Despite being very friendly, Duncan can struggle with his confidence sometimes but being around other greyhounds or lurchers really helps to bring him out of his shell, so he would like the opportunity to make new dog friends once he leaves us, whether they live together or regularly meet up.

You can find out more and apply to rehome Duncan here - https://www.nawt.org.uk/rehoming/animal/10281/

08/01/2025

Aylesbury massage clinic at Mcgrumpy and Snuffles this Sunday. Message for more details and let's make your best friend more comfortable.

Perfect for older dogs, those recovering from surgery and those nutters that like to run non stop. ❤️

07/01/2025

It's been a while...

I need vet consent to treat, and again whenever anything changes in your dogs health. Poor Brendan has had more than his share of vet treatment and that means I have a set of consent forms for him now...

So today, after surgery a couple of months ago, I got my hands on this handsome lad once more.

It was good to see him again. ❤️

06/01/2025

Zorro had his 3rd session today and he was such a brave boy. He had a sore back and this is stopping him so the things he loves. But he is responding really well to massage and hopefully he will be back to his old self very soon.

05/01/2025

It's my 8th business birthday! Safe Hands has been offering drug free pain relief, speedier recovery times and greater comfort to dogs from my Hemel Hempstead clinic for 8 years.

I am so grateful for all my owners faith in me. Massage therapy is still not as well known as hydrotherapy or physiotherapy, but it can truly change a dog's life. So, here's to many, many more years helping your dogs to live happier, healthier lives.

02/01/2025

Happy New Year.
I hope you all had a wonderful break and that the Fireworks over New Year didn't cause too much distress to your furry babies.

I am back in the clinic from Monday but responding to booking requests from today. I am as excited as Benji to be back to normal... 😁

28/12/2024

Benji has been getting dosing on his front legs every day after each walk since the beginning of December.... And you honestly can tell. He is moving faster, more evenly and is more mischievous than he was in November...

He is a very lucky boy and I feel so lucky to have been able to adopt him from Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels - Eaton Bray in lockdown 4 years ago. ❤️

24/12/2024

All dogs are on the nice list and Father Christmas is on his way. I hope they all get lovely toys, treats and fun wrapping paper to rip up?

23/12/2024

So what do you do in the summer of 2020? When the government told me that I couldn't work I enrolled on a new canine massage course.

I can use Dip. Canine Myotherapy after my name having qualified with Distinction. Sounds impressive right!

The course took me three weeks and at no time did I learn any massage techniques, mechanical anatomy or even watch a video on canine myotherapy (massage). Don't be fooled by the letters someone uses? It really is best to ask questions about the quality of the training your dog's therapist has!

It was interesting to see what the course did cover and to do some basic revision and it was a lovely little personal interest course but it didn't get close to the two years intensive training I had with the Canine Massage Therapy Centre (CMTC) and which I passed 8 years ago this month.

In that two year course, I had a full year of in depth theory and over a hundred hours of practical, hands-on training. This included small group work with dedicated trainers and 10 full and varied case studies.

This was all formally assessed by experienced trainers who ran their own therapy businesses.

After completing the 2 years of training I didn't get any letters after my name. Instead, I had been given the gift of real world training, support from multiple trainers and therapists and acceptance into the incredibly well respected Canine Massage Guild.

It didn't stop there either as I continue to attend short training courses written by the (CMTC) for practising therapists.

Your dog really is in Safe Hands when you book them in with me.

Have a wonderful, safe Christmas and an excellent start to 2025... Not long now!

23/12/2024

Even Reindeer need regular massage.

I hope you have a Christmas filled with joy.

21/12/2024

What links tiny Clara, old lady Paris and handsome boy Zorro? They have all been lucky enough to have clinical massage today to help their movement and reduce their aches and pains. Lucky doggies!