This four day practical and theoretical course teaches how to recognize and help with gait,muscle,skeletal and chronic pain issues in the dogs they are training. Over the course, you’ll gain a fundamental understanding of how a dog’s body should move and explanation around behavioral traits indicating chronic pain. We’ll also explore where the main skeletal structures and muscles are situated, and in turn this will provide an understanding of how a dog looks and feels when their muscles are unhealthy and painful (as opposed to healthy and not painful). It’s our aim that by the end of the four days, you’ll be in a position to share with clients that you’re working with how they can apply some massage techniques on their own dogs to help reduce chronic muscle pain and improve good muscle function (however, please bear in mind this course does not provide the skills to be a canine massage therapist). You’ll also received a basic understanding of exercise physiology and the importance of correctly performed exercises; these will demonstrate the importance of establishing good muscle stability and core strength. We’ll also discuss safe and natural exercises for the dogs do at home to enhance their mobility, flexibility and general health. Proposed Program Day one: • Introductions • Film dogs that will be around for the training – first thing • Muscles and how they work (basic and functional) • Muscle phasing/patterning • Muscle contraction and relaxation • What is muscle inhibition? • The importance of stability within the skeletal system • Looking at and discussing movement through slides/photographs • Assessing good and bad movement • Problem solving typical repetitive strain activities • Skeletal anatomy (please revise where all the main bones are situated and their names) • Bony landmarks – how important are they when working out the ‘body map’ of a dog • Basic muscle placement – cognitive training – please revise as many of the larger muscle groups as you can! • Muscle body map of the dog • Start to get to know what a dog’s body should look like! Day two • Start to put hands-on different dogs and feel what lies underneath • Start to look at visual indications • Start to consider ‘behavioural’ and physical indications • Effleurage – practice the techniques and consider it as a treatment and an assessment. • Skin rolling - practice the techniques and consider it as a treatment and an assessment. • Teach each other these techniques • Try to start working over the dog considering the areas of tension • What are you doing to the body? • What are the contraindications? Day three • Re-visit stability in the dog • What does it mean? • Can it be seen visually? If so how and when? • Exercise physiology, static and kinetic • The rules of kinetic and static exercises • Consider different exercises from slides and video, what are they doing? • Do the same exercises with dogs • Can you see the same areas of tension you found with your hands? • How can you identify tension/lack of stability/pain/discomfort? • How can exercises help to ease muscle dysfunction? • How if exercises are used correctly they can improve muscle function? • The difference between static and kinetic exercise • The use of static and kinetic exercise to aid mobility • The use of static and kinetic exercise to aid balance and flexibility • How these exercises can be formed into a fitness routine. Day four • Exercises re-visit • Case studies, what is involved • Anatomy re-visit • Confirming contraindications • Visiting dogs

Sponsor:APDT
Speaker(s):Julia Robertson, DipCM, Canine Massage ITT NCBTMB

Contact: Joann Rechtine
 Email: jrechtine@gmail.com
 Phone: 585-905-8281
 Web: http://www.caninetherapy.co.uk/course/exerciseph-physiology-for-professional-dog-trainers/