What exactly is Canine Sports Massage Therapy?
Canine Sports Massage Therapy is the therapeutic application of hands-on deep tissue techniques to the voluntary muscle system - for the purpose of increasing circulation, reducing muscle spasms, relieving tension, enhancing muscle tone, promoting healing and increasing range of motion in all breeds of dogs.
Who/what is Equissage?
Equissage is the leading trainer of equine sports massage therapists in the world. Since the inauguration of its original program in 1991, Equissage has trained more than 20,000 professional therapists. These participants work for the top of owners and trainers in the horse world, and some have been selected as official massage therapists for national equestrian teams around the world. Mary Schreiber, the founder of Equissage, is acknowledged to be one of the true pioneers of horse and other animal massage in the country. Her best-selling videos on horse and dog massage have had worldwide distribution, with translations into a number of foreign languages. Her manual, The (How To) Manual Of Sports Massage For the Equine Athlete is recognized as the "Bible" of equine massage instruction, and her work has been featured on ABC Television's Health Show, Sports Illustrated magazine, NBC TV and in leading equestrian journals around the world. The Program in Canine Massage Therapy (CMT) takes the same procedures and techniques developed for equine massage and applies them to the dog - based on the recognition that "a muscle is a muscle regardless of how it's packaged."
Is massage therapy recognized as beneficial to an animal's well being?
Yes, increasingly so. Just as the popularity of less invasive approaches to health care in humans has gained in recent years, so too have these procedures and methods gained acceptance in the care and treatment of animals. And just as we have witnessed the recent advent of professionals like equine chiropractors, equine physical therapists and equine nutritionists in the horse world, we are beginning to see these same professions develop in the dog "community".
What qualifications or background are considered important for success as a Canine Massage Therapist (CMT)?
The most important qualification for success as an CMT is a love of animals, empathy for suffering animals, and a sincere desire to help alleviate that suffering. Equissage's Program starts with the basics of massage therapy and thoroughly schools the student in every aspect of the discipline. As a participant, you will be confident that you know everything you need to know to provide canine massage therapy in an effective, therapeutic, and professional manner.
What kind of demand is there for canine massage therapy, and is the therapy "transferable" to other companion animals?
Every dog owner and trainer - whether they own or work with dogs involved in competition (Greyhounds, Huskies, et al), in law enforcement, in aiding the handicapped, or whether they have dogs just as family pets - wants, and in many instances, needs their canines to be free of muscle problems that can cause pain and inhibit their dogs' movement and performance.
Because of the health-promoting qualities of massage, as well as its restorative properties, knowledgeable owners and trainers are incorporating this therapy as an integral part of their dogs' total and continuous health care program.
The therapy is certainly transferable - by virtue of its generally universal effectiveness and similarity of technique - to other companion animals, such as cats. It would be necessary that those wishing to market feline massage services to study and learn the muscle system of the cat.
How does the Program work?
The program has been divided into six intensive but easy-to-understand sessions, which are designed so that the student works at his or her own pace. Each lesson concludes with a written examination, which is formatted to serve as both a review of the important material in each lesson as well as a precursor of the information required to pass the final examination. These individual lesson exams will be graded by the student and are not sent to Equissage for grading. At the conclusion of Lesson VI, the student will notify Equissage that he/she is ready for the final written exam. The test will be sent. The student will complete the written exam at his/her own pace and then return the complete exam to Equissage with a video recording depicting the student's full massage of a dog. The recording can be sent on a thumb drive, or by using Dropbox. More information is given at the time of submission. Upon successfully passing the written and video exams, the student is then awarded the certificate in Canine Massage Therapy.
What information is covered in the Program?
The major emphasis in the CMT Program is on the application and sequence of massage techniques and massage strokes. As a necessary preface to this, it is vital that students be familiar with the basic physiology of muscles, the location of each major muscle and muscle group in the canine, the activity controlled by each muscle and the specific conditions which may affect the dog if those muscles are not adequately nourished through good blood and lymphatic circulation.
Another significant portion of the curriculum is devoted to the proper handling of all breeds of dogs. This knowledge is key to a suitable environment for the effective administration of the massage sequence. To illustrate, such an environment for a Golden Retriever can be a lot different than establishing one for a German Shepard.
What does the Program consist of?
LESSON I.
Relevant definitions, history of the use of massage, its benefits, and how and why it works.
LESSON II.
The strokes used in Sports Massage...how each is performed.
The objective and function of each stroke.
When and where certain strokes are NOT used. (The caveats).
Adjunctive techniques...i.e. sweating and de-swelling.
LESSON III.
Dog handling.
"Managing" the massage session.
Handling problem canines: the Neurotic, Shy, Dog; the Aggressive Dog; the Vicious Dog.
Setting the mood...when and where to massage
LESSON IV.
Canine anatomy.
Definitions, location of each muscle worked in the massage sequence, and the performance function controlled by each.LESSON V.
The massage sequence.
Step by sequential step of each stroke application as portrayed in more than 70 photographs and illustrations.
LESSON V.
The massage sequence.
Step by sequential step of each stroke application as portrayed in more than 70 photographs and illustrations.
The program components are as follows: Canine Massage Therapy Program Manual, which includes the 6 lessons, quizzes, and answer keys along with detailed instructions of massage sequence and pictures, our Therapeutic Massage For Dogs Instructional DVD, Sequence and Massage Strokes Review DVD, Sequence Review Audio CD, Canine Massage Therapy Program Tote Bag, and a First Aid Book for Dogs. All audio and video components are now on USB drives as well and will be sent in addition to the CD's and DVD's.
Can I really expect to learn the therapy and earn my certification through home study?
Yes. The home study certificate program in Canine Massage was in development for more than five years. It has the experience, support, and backing of Equissage, Inc. Since 1991, Equissage has trained more professional animal massage therapists than anyone in the world. With respect to its Equine Massage program, Equissage graduates work for some of the very top trainers and owners in the horse world and have been selected by various national equestrian teams to work the world championship and Olympic games.
Do I receive a certificate when I graduate?
Yes, upon successful completion of the course, and final exams (written and video) you will receive a certificate. On your certificate, it will state that you are certified through Equissage. It will not mention if you studied the course on site or through the homestudy course.
At each step of the program, the student is secure in the knowledge that he or she has unlimited access to the Equissage staff for questions, comments, etc., via the toll-free number. It is the Equissage pledge that no question will go unanswered or unresolved for longer than 24 hours.
We have a 95% success rate and offer our participants the opportunity to re-take any part of the final exam in order for them to become certified. There is no time limit set by Equissage for a student to complete the Program.
What is the cost of the program?
The cost of the Equissage Home Study Program in Canine Massage Therapy is $995. This includes all materials, tests, audio and DVDs, and other items. This tuition is payable in full at the time of enrollment. If for any reason a prospective student's application is rejected, the total fee is refunded. Once a student is accepted into the program, tuition is non-refundable and is non-transferrable. Visa and MasterCard are accepted for payment, along with personal check, cash or money order. All graduates of the CMT program are invited to join the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists (IAAMT) for a small membership fee.
Is the Equissage CMT program available online?
No, not at this time. All program materials are sent to the student's home. There is a great deal of information, illustrations, etc. that would make it difficult to properly have the entire curriculum online.
As a graduate of Equissage's CMT program, may I use the Equissage name in marketing my practice?
No. Equissage is a copyrighted name and cannot be used in the name which you select for your business.
Selecting An Animal Massage Therapy Program
When selecting an Animal Massage Therapy Program, be sure to check the credentials of anyone offering the program. Some questions you might want to ask are:
When you get the answers to these questions, we are sure you will choose Equissage, the nation's oldest and most respected animal massage program.
To view our Success Stories, please click here: Canine Massage Success Stories
Click Here to Apply
Canine Sports Massage Therapy is the therapeutic application of hands-on deep tissue techniques to the voluntary muscle system - for the purpose of increasing circulation, reducing muscle spasms, relieving tension, enhancing muscle tone, promoting healing and increasing range of motion in all breeds of dogs.
Who/what is Equissage?
Equissage is the leading trainer of equine sports massage therapists in the world. Since the inauguration of its original program in 1991, Equissage has trained more than 20,000 professional therapists. These participants work for the top of owners and trainers in the horse world, and some have been selected as official massage therapists for national equestrian teams around the world. Mary Schreiber, the founder of Equissage, is acknowledged to be one of the true pioneers of horse and other animal massage in the country. Her best-selling videos on horse and dog massage have had worldwide distribution, with translations into a number of foreign languages. Her manual, The (How To) Manual Of Sports Massage For the Equine Athlete is recognized as the "Bible" of equine massage instruction, and her work has been featured on ABC Television's Health Show, Sports Illustrated magazine, NBC TV and in leading equestrian journals around the world. The Program in Canine Massage Therapy (CMT) takes the same procedures and techniques developed for equine massage and applies them to the dog - based on the recognition that "a muscle is a muscle regardless of how it's packaged."
Is massage therapy recognized as beneficial to an animal's well being?
Yes, increasingly so. Just as the popularity of less invasive approaches to health care in humans has gained in recent years, so too have these procedures and methods gained acceptance in the care and treatment of animals. And just as we have witnessed the recent advent of professionals like equine chiropractors, equine physical therapists and equine nutritionists in the horse world, we are beginning to see these same professions develop in the dog "community".
What qualifications or background are considered important for success as a Canine Massage Therapist (CMT)?
The most important qualification for success as an CMT is a love of animals, empathy for suffering animals, and a sincere desire to help alleviate that suffering. Equissage's Program starts with the basics of massage therapy and thoroughly schools the student in every aspect of the discipline. As a participant, you will be confident that you know everything you need to know to provide canine massage therapy in an effective, therapeutic, and professional manner.
What kind of demand is there for canine massage therapy, and is the therapy "transferable" to other companion animals?
Every dog owner and trainer - whether they own or work with dogs involved in competition (Greyhounds, Huskies, et al), in law enforcement, in aiding the handicapped, or whether they have dogs just as family pets - wants, and in many instances, needs their canines to be free of muscle problems that can cause pain and inhibit their dogs' movement and performance.
Because of the health-promoting qualities of massage, as well as its restorative properties, knowledgeable owners and trainers are incorporating this therapy as an integral part of their dogs' total and continuous health care program.
The therapy is certainly transferable - by virtue of its generally universal effectiveness and similarity of technique - to other companion animals, such as cats. It would be necessary that those wishing to market feline massage services to study and learn the muscle system of the cat.
How does the Program work?
The program has been divided into six intensive but easy-to-understand sessions, which are designed so that the student works at his or her own pace. Each lesson concludes with a written examination, which is formatted to serve as both a review of the important material in each lesson as well as a precursor of the information required to pass the final examination. These individual lesson exams will be graded by the student and are not sent to Equissage for grading. At the conclusion of Lesson VI, the student will notify Equissage that he/she is ready for the final written exam. The test will be sent. The student will complete the written exam at his/her own pace and then return the complete exam to Equissage with a video recording depicting the student's full massage of a dog. The recording can be sent on a thumb drive, or by using Dropbox. More information is given at the time of submission. Upon successfully passing the written and video exams, the student is then awarded the certificate in Canine Massage Therapy.
What information is covered in the Program?
The major emphasis in the CMT Program is on the application and sequence of massage techniques and massage strokes. As a necessary preface to this, it is vital that students be familiar with the basic physiology of muscles, the location of each major muscle and muscle group in the canine, the activity controlled by each muscle and the specific conditions which may affect the dog if those muscles are not adequately nourished through good blood and lymphatic circulation.
Another significant portion of the curriculum is devoted to the proper handling of all breeds of dogs. This knowledge is key to a suitable environment for the effective administration of the massage sequence. To illustrate, such an environment for a Golden Retriever can be a lot different than establishing one for a German Shepard.
What does the Program consist of?
LESSON I.
Relevant definitions, history of the use of massage, its benefits, and how and why it works.
LESSON II.
The strokes used in Sports Massage...how each is performed.
The objective and function of each stroke.
When and where certain strokes are NOT used. (The caveats).
Adjunctive techniques...i.e. sweating and de-swelling.
LESSON III.
Dog handling.
"Managing" the massage session.
Handling problem canines: the Neurotic, Shy, Dog; the Aggressive Dog; the Vicious Dog.
Setting the mood...when and where to massage
LESSON IV.
Canine anatomy.
Definitions, location of each muscle worked in the massage sequence, and the performance function controlled by each.LESSON V.
The massage sequence.
Step by sequential step of each stroke application as portrayed in more than 70 photographs and illustrations.
LESSON V.
The massage sequence.
Step by sequential step of each stroke application as portrayed in more than 70 photographs and illustrations.
The program components are as follows: Canine Massage Therapy Program Manual, which includes the 6 lessons, quizzes, and answer keys along with detailed instructions of massage sequence and pictures, our Therapeutic Massage For Dogs Instructional DVD, Sequence and Massage Strokes Review DVD, Sequence Review Audio CD, Canine Massage Therapy Program Tote Bag, and a First Aid Book for Dogs. All audio and video components are now on USB drives as well and will be sent in addition to the CD's and DVD's.
Can I really expect to learn the therapy and earn my certification through home study?
Yes. The home study certificate program in Canine Massage was in development for more than five years. It has the experience, support, and backing of Equissage, Inc. Since 1991, Equissage has trained more professional animal massage therapists than anyone in the world. With respect to its Equine Massage program, Equissage graduates work for some of the very top trainers and owners in the horse world and have been selected by various national equestrian teams to work the world championship and Olympic games.
Do I receive a certificate when I graduate?
Yes, upon successful completion of the course, and final exams (written and video) you will receive a certificate. On your certificate, it will state that you are certified through Equissage. It will not mention if you studied the course on site or through the homestudy course.
At each step of the program, the student is secure in the knowledge that he or she has unlimited access to the Equissage staff for questions, comments, etc., via the toll-free number. It is the Equissage pledge that no question will go unanswered or unresolved for longer than 24 hours.
We have a 95% success rate and offer our participants the opportunity to re-take any part of the final exam in order for them to become certified. There is no time limit set by Equissage for a student to complete the Program.
What is the cost of the program?
The cost of the Equissage Home Study Program in Canine Massage Therapy is $995. This includes all materials, tests, audio and DVDs, and other items. This tuition is payable in full at the time of enrollment. If for any reason a prospective student's application is rejected, the total fee is refunded. Once a student is accepted into the program, tuition is non-refundable and is non-transferrable. Visa and MasterCard are accepted for payment, along with personal check, cash or money order. All graduates of the CMT program are invited to join the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists (IAAMT) for a small membership fee.
Is the Equissage CMT program available online?
No, not at this time. All program materials are sent to the student's home. There is a great deal of information, illustrations, etc. that would make it difficult to properly have the entire curriculum online.
As a graduate of Equissage's CMT program, may I use the Equissage name in marketing my practice?
No. Equissage is a copyrighted name and cannot be used in the name which you select for your business.
Selecting An Animal Massage Therapy Program
When selecting an Animal Massage Therapy Program, be sure to check the credentials of anyone offering the program. Some questions you might want to ask are:
- How many articles have appeared in national publications about either the course you are considering or the course's chief instructor?
- How many books and videos on animal massage have been authored by the chief instructor?
- How many veterinarians have chosen to enroll in that program or school?
When you get the answers to these questions, we are sure you will choose Equissage, the nation's oldest and most respected animal massage program.
To view our Success Stories, please click here: Canine Massage Success Stories
Click Here to Apply
