Learning how to give your dog a joint-supporting, soul-satisfying massage is one of the best gifts you can give your dog and yourself. Massages for dogs are quite literally the most hands-on way you can support your dog's joint health and overall wellness - and become more connected in the process.

We're excited to share the why and how of learning dog massage, broken down for you in 4 step-by-step guides, here in the Joint Support Channel on Dogly. Each is guided by certified canine massage therapist, reiki master, kinesiologist, aromatherapist and Dogly Wellness Advocate Ranna Lynn (including a demonstration video with each technique).

In these 4 step-by-step guides in the Joint Support Channel here on Dogly you'll learn:

• Why you should learn dog massage
• How to give your dog a massage using the effleurage stroke
• How to give your dog a massage using the kneading stroke
• How to give your dog a massage using the half-moon stroke

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Dog Massage Guide 1: Why you should learn dog massage

The benefits of massage for prevention and targeted therapy for specific concerns are many and rooted in the physiology of our dogs' immune and musculoskeletal systems. Learn the science behind supporting your dog with massage alongside Ranna Lynn in this guide.

What you'll learn:

The top 10 health benefits of dog massage therapy

1) Improves circulation

• How massage works in your dog's body to increase circulation and why that matters for joint and overall health

2) Stimulates removal of toxins

• How the combination of gentle pressure and deep tissue massage stimulates the flow of toxins out of your dog's body naturally and why that matters

3) Boosts immune system

• How you boost the flow of the lymphatic system when you massage your dog and why that strengthens your dog's immune system

4) Relaxes nervous system

• How the power of touch works physiologically to calm your dog's nervous system (extremely beneficial for anxiety reduction in fearful, stressed dogs... see #10)
• Plus a pro tip about massaging your dog's ears and why a proper ear rub with gentle motions on a dog's ear is a lot like foot reflexology in humans

5) Improves muscle & joint health

• Probably the best-known, go-to benefit of canine massage - to relieve pain, relax muscle tension, reduce the stiffness of arthritis and other joint issues
• Why and how gentle dog massages work for joint pain and joint wellness

6) Increases flexibility & range of motion

• Why and exactly how it works to provide pain relief and renewed mobility

7) Releases endorphins

• How massage sends these feel-good messengers and natural pain killers throughout your dog's body

8) Promotes peak performance & injury prevention

• Why massage is often used pre & post event for dog athletes

9) Accelerates recovery after injury or surgery

• Why and how it works for recuperating dogs

10) Helps fearful dogs feel calm & overcome anxiety

• How massage works physiologically and emotionally to help replace the feeling of fear and anxiety with calm and love

Dog massage can be used for a variety of reasons including improving overall health, preventative maintenance, recovery from injury or surgery, performance optimization, and helping fearful dogs overcome anxiety.

And giving your dog a massage isn't just for your pup's benefit - massaging your dog is relaxing for you too and a new kind of deep, beautiful bonding for both of you.

Now for learning the first of three canine massage techniques - the effleurage stroke...

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Dog Massage Guide 2: How to give your dog a massage using the effleurage stroke

The first stroke you'll learn in this dog massage series is effleurage, one of the most fundamental and versatile massage therapy techniques. It's a long, flowing stroke, perfect for warming up at the beginning and then cooling down as you finish massage sessions with your dog, even when you might be using other deeper pressure techniques in the middle of your massage.

What you'll learn:

What is the effleurage stroke?

Short answer: an open-handed stroke that keeps the pressure gentle, similar to what we refer to as Swedish massage in human massages. (More details in the full guide if you want to go ahead and jump in.)

A 3-step how-to on giving your dog an effleurage massage

Included with this guide is a video with certified canine massage therapist and Dogly Wellness Advocate Ranna Lynn taking you through each step with her own dog so you can visualize and learn the nuances and details of each step:

1) Getting your dog's body & mind (& yours) grounded

• Includes recommended essential oils and flower essences to enhance the wonderful health benefits of the massage

2) Massaging with effleurage strokes - petting with purpose

• How to perform massage with this stroke from your dog's shoulders to chest and front legs to tail

3) Closing and sealing in your practice

• Why and how a grounding close and thank you to your dog seals in the emotional and physical benefits of your massage therapy session together

And following effleurage, learn how to give your dog a massage using the more deep-tissue approach of the kneading stroke...

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Dog Massage Guide 3: How to massage your dog using the kneading stroke

Whether your dog is young and active or an aging senior you want to help stay active, you will want to have a deeper, but still gentle, massage stroke in your repertoire. That's where the kneading stroke comes in.

Dogly Wellness Advocate Ranna Lynn takes you through what you need to know to put the kneading stroke to work for your dog in this guide.

What you'll learn:

What it is and why the kneading stroke works for canine massage

• Kneading is a versatile stroke since kneading can be done with either light pressure or more deeply like trigger point therapy depending on what your individual dog needs
• Supports your dog's body 7 ways:

1) Stimulates your dog's circulation

2) Warms muscles

3) Relaxes tight, sore muscles

4) Breaks down and releases toxins in muscles

5) Improves elasticity through stretching and compressing of tissue

6) Provides pain relief

7) Reduces stress

A 5-step how-to on giving your dog a kneading stroke massage

You can watch Ranna Lynn take you through how to use the kneading stroke in the accompanying video in the guide as she demonstrates this therapeutic massage step by step with her dog:

1) Getting situated and grounded

• As with every massage therapy session, learn how to set the stage and ground your dog and yourself.

2) Working your thumbs in circular motions

• Included are the specifics of the technique along with the ability to see it at work in the video.

3) Working a full side top to bottom before moving to the other side

• You'll learn how and why to massage your dog on one full side from head to toes before flipping your dog gently to the other side.

Pro tip: why having paws massaged with a kneading, targeted stroke is extra soothing for your dog - and helps your pup get used to paw handling when nail-trim time comes around.

4) Tuning into your dog as you continue massaging and closing with a grounding thank you to your dog

5) Paying special attention if your dog is either arthritic or athletic - benefits are exceptionally supportive for them

Pro tip: why to be extra careful around your dog's neck (for all dogs)

Now let's dive into another open-hand massage technique - the half-moon stroke - that's great for lower-body joints/muscles, back legs, and more...

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Dog Massage Guide 4: How to massage your dog using the half-moon stroke

After learning the effleurage and the kneading stroke in the previous guides, this guide adds the half-moon stroke to your canine massage techniques to give you choices for what's right and needed at any given time for each part of your dog's body.

What you'll learn:

What the half-moon stroke is and how it helps your dog

• Why and how the half-moon stroke can look like gentle petting but is much more purposeful and grounded in science

A 4-step how-to for massaging your dog with the half-moon stroke

Ranna Lynn also takes you through these steps in an accompanying video in this guide so you can see and hear all the nuances of this useful canine massage stroke:

1) Get grounded (always!)

• Why and how to begin every massage session with grounding for both of you

2) Work your open hands in a sweeping circular motion

• You'll see and hear exactly how to perform the stroke for your pup

3) Target lower-body, large muscles

• Includes why the half-moon is perfect for the TFL muscle that helps stabilize your dog's hip and knee on each side
• Recommends which stroke (effleurage, kneading, half-moon) is great to use where in a full-body massage

4) As always, close with grounding and thanking your dog

Next up in the Joint Support Channel on Dogly

Once you have all three canine massage techniques in your repertoire (from light massage to deep tissue massage), you can choose which is best where for your pup's individual needs and preferences. Together, these techniques give you a great range of strokes for a personalized massage practice at home to keep your dog well -- and to have wonderful bonding time while you're at it.

Hop over to the Joint Support Channel if you'd like to ask a question in the Community discussion and start any of the other step-by-step guides including how to help your dog avoid joint pain using nutrition, herbs, and other wellness tips.