It all started with a dog named Riley. You see, Riley is my best friend’s miniature Australian shepherd and when she invited me to dog-sit for six weeks in London I jumped at the chance.

Little did I know that instead of a trip filled with crumpets and tea, my stay would become a crash course in dog behavior. It turns out that Riley is a shy-aggressive dog with the personality of Eeyore, to boot. Alas, our first few weeks went something like this: Week one, Riley ignored me; week two, I ignored Riley; week three, we were ready to build a cross-species version of the Berlin Wall and call it a day.

That’s when the universe intervened. There, on my friend’s bookshelf, was a book by the Monks of New Skete called How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend. It caught my eye because I had visited the monks while writing a book about monasteries that make food. If anyone could help me, I knew the monks could.

The next three weeks witnessed a transformation in my relationship with Riley that was nothing short of miraculous. I learned to train, he learned to trust; more than all the training exercises put together, however, it was the monks’ suggestion of dog massage that helped us bond, and Riley wasn’t the only one who benefited—I enjoyed giving the massages almost as much as he enjoyed receiving them.

It turns out that Riley and I were on to something. Dog massage is gaining favor on this side of the Pond, both as a therapeutic practice conducted by trained professionals and also among DIY pet owners. The International Association of Animal Massage & Bodywork (IAAMB) says new members are joining at twice the rate this year compared with the same time last year, and that members hail from as far away as Dubai.

Here in Chicago, as elsewhere, many pet massage therapists and teachers are also seeing an increased interest in vocational training in pet massage. The Northwest School of Animal Massage (NWSAM), one of the country’s largest animal massage schools with satellite campuses in the U.S., Canada and Hong Kong, says that the majority of certified pet massage therapists practices are on the West Coast and in large cities, but the outlook is good for Illinois. Lola J. Michelin, NWSAM director of education, says Illinois, like many other states, until recently, had very restrictive laws banning animal massage from being practiced by non-veterinarians. (For more information on regulations by state visit, iaamb.org.)

Fortunately for veterinarians, pet massage therapists and dog owners, some states have begun to relax restrictions on pet massage, while organizations like IAAMB and practitioners have been working to standardize professional norms and practices. Such changes have enabled pet massage therapists such as Denise Theobald, owner of Canine Massage Chicago, to offer gait assessment workshops and massage therapy at innovative veterinary centers like Integrative Pet Care.

So what exactly is pet massage, whether it is administered as a therapeutic aid by a vet, by a teacher in a classroom or a pet owner in the comfort of a dog’s own home? And just how does one go about giving Fido a massage?

According to Mary Schreiber, founder of the Virginia-based Equissage pet massage training program and a pioneer in horse and dog massage, canine massage therapy is a therapeutic application of hands-on deep tissue massage techniques to the voluntary muscle system of a dog; she says its benefits can range from increased circulation, reduced muscle spasms, tension relief, and enhanced muscle tone to better healing and even greater range of motion. 
 
Jonathan Rudinger, founder of Ohio-based PetMassage Ltd., adds that this is not just about petting Fido.

“Everyone intuitively massages their pet, but a scratch behind the ears is like a shoulder rub for your boyfriend versus a full professional massage,” he says.

Theobald notes that many pet dogs now live in an urban world that was designed for humans.

“Ninety percent of dogs don’t get the movement they need,” she says. “Normally, exercise would get their circulation going and work their muscles—massage helps to make up for that.” She adds that taking a dog to a dog park a couple of times a week may look like fun to an owner, but for dogs it often adds stress.

“They might be moving like crazy but it’s not necessarily a fun situation.”

Similar to human massage, a pet massage might include techniques such as rubbing, stroking, kneading or tapping, all adjusted of course to a canine’s physique.  

Unlike with humans, however, a pet massage therapist can’t simply ask what’s bothering a dog. Theobald, who has been a people massage therapist for 23 years and has worked on dogs for about half that time, says it’s important for pet owners to learn to read a dog’s body language and to watch for changes in behaviors like eating and sleeping.

“We have to learn their language,” she says. “Half the treatment takes place even before you put your hands on the dog.”

Many pet massage therapists and dog owners have witnessed the benefits of pet massage firsthand. Schreiber, who has spent 22 years massaging horses and dogs, says a dog who suffers from a muscle-related problem should see some immediate improvement as a result of a professional massage, while a dog with hip or elbow dysplasia can see some improvement in as little as one or two sessions. And the pros say that pet owners who do regular massage at home can spot small changes in their dog’s health, weight and behavior that can lead to early detection of a bigger problem.

For Kelly Sirotkin, owner of Loving Hands Dog Massage, which she runs out of her home in Andersonville, the benefits of pet massage have been both personal and professional. Sirotkin is a retired realtor who adopted a rescued Chinese crested dog named Kismet. When Kismet was only two years old, she broke her right leg and then developed arthritis in her back after the leg was amputated. (Sirotkin says it’s not uncommon for dogs who suffer early injuries to develop early arthritis.)

One day, Sirotkin was visiting the animal hospital with Kismet when she came across an article on pet massage; having suffered herself from arthritis and myofibralgia and having benefited from human massage, she decided to take a class on pet massage. She ordered Jonathan Rudinger’s pet massage video course and after studying, practicing and passing hands-on and written exams, Sirotkin became certified. Her dog massage practice now includes pet dogs, service dogs and, of course, her own dog.

“[Kismet] used to be able to walk only about a half-block [on three legs], and then she needed rest,” she says. “She can do two blocks now, and she’s fine.”

For anyone considering a similar career change, Sirotkin recommends finding a teacher who is certified, be it online or in person. She also says this isn’t something you should go out and do professionally without proper training. Still, training is just the beginning.

“You have to have a love of dogs and some natural ability—this isn’t just for someone with time on their hands,” she says. “You really have to be passionate about animals.”

Even if you are a pet owner whose goal is simply to make Fido happy, Rudinger still recommends taking a class in order to make the most of massage as a part of your home dog care routine.

“Each person has a different way of touching a dog based on their own family experiences of touching [while growing up]. A class can help you identify your style and become better at what you do,” he says.

Maybe what’s important is not the exact words one uses to define massage so much as the intent behind them. What all these massage therapists (and the vets who refer dogs to them) have in common is that they aim to alleviate suffering; no matter what way the pros lean—more scientific or more holistic in their approach to caring for dogs—surely this is a noble pursuit. As for pet owners, how can having another tool that increases the bond between you and your pet be anything but good?

Take Riley, who was the recipient of a complete amateur’s attempt at massage. While I had no hands-on training and my knowledge was based on reading a book, I have no doubt that Riley’s massages helped us bond. Sure, they weren’t scientific (I had no special understanding of a dog’s skeletal structure or muscles), but he liked them. At the end of my stay, as I reached out to pet him goodbye, he simply rolled on his side before my hands even touched him, ready for a massage. I laughed, and I think I heard the monks laughing with me.