As canine remedial massage is all about making your dog more comfortable, treatments are designed to facilitate this as much as possible.

The booking system

Booking a new treatment for your dog can be daunting, especially if it is something you haven't heard much about. We have the answers to some FAQs on our website but if you can't see the information you require, you're very welcome to start a conversation with us by emailing, on social media, or over the phone. We hope to be able to answer some questions for you.

We take bookings over the phone or email. We don't offer an online booking service currently as we offer mobile services as well as from our base in Hampton and need to ensure adequate spacing of appointments.

Treatments- at home or not?

We offer two options for making your first booking for an initial consultation; at our Hampton location or as a mobile massage service where we come to you. We do charge a fee for mobile services.

Whichever option you prefer needs to work for both you and your dog so whilst you might prefer bringing him to us to make the appointment a little cheaper, if he really doesn't do well in new situations, it might be best for us to come to you. We can discuss the best option beforehand and change things as we go.

Before the session

Where possible, please walk your dog before his massage so that he is less anxious, a bit tired and ready for a rest. We understand that this may not be possible if he's lame, post-surgery, disabled, etc.

The first session at ours

In an initial consultation we require a little more time so we can take a history and perform an assessment. Please have any relevant history from your vet, physio, acupuncturist, etc available.

If the session is at our base in Hampton, call us from the street so we can come out to watch your dog walk up the driveway (if walking is possible). As far as possible, any movement assessment should feel like normal behaviour, rather than something special your dog must perform and shouldn't make him anxious. A video for us to see is also great if you have one.

We will have a feel of your dog's musculature and watch him moving around. Depending on the dog we may get him doing simple movements like lying down or sitting. We're getting an idea of which muscles may be tight and which are weak and what activities he can and can't do so well so that we can tailor his massage.

Our treatment room

We have a comfortable room with a padded bed for your dog to lie on. We have treats on hand if they're required but if your dog has specific dietary requirements, please bring something appropriate.

We make sure our room is a comfortable temperature, with muted lighting and can play a canine relaxation music soundtrack if appropriate. It's not a spa setting, it's not clinical either and as it's in our home, it should feel like a home away from home for your dog.

The massage

You will need to be present so that you can help hold him if required, or maybe, feed him some treats to encourage him to stay still. Once he's used to his massage sessions, he probably won't need you to hold his paw, but it's handy to have you around to begin with.

We will work through the areas required, within your dog's tolerance. Our massage fees are based on the time we spend with your dog so don't be surprised if we have to work up to a full massage over a few sessions as your dog becomes accustomed to us and our treatments.

The first session at yours

We will do the same assessment of your dog as we would at ours; watch your dog walk, trot, lie down, sit and so on as required, to understand your dog's needs and formulate a massage plan. You will need to be present, have a collar and lead available and treats.

Have a comfy place ready where your dog can lie down. His usual bed or mat is fine so long as we have reasonable access to and can get around him easily. We're also happy to see your dog on the sofa or the human bed if this is where they like to be! If your dog prefers to lie on the floor, we also bring a comfy pad (for us to kneel on!)

Canine massage treatment frequency

We will discuss the recommended massage frequency and duration for your dog. We will explain our clinical reasoning and discuss options and make changes as required. We firmly believe that canine massage treatments need to be stress free for you too, so if you're finding it difficult to schedule a time or afford to come with any frequency then we will try to offer some other solutions and give you guidance on home treatments to do between sessions with DogsBody Health.

Remembering your appointment

We offer email booking confirmations and reminders. You can add the appointment to your calendar directly from the confirmation email. You can also cancel your appointment within 24 hours of the appointment time directly from the reminder email. We prefer of course that you contact us directly to reschedule where you can. We understand that things come up and that you may not always be able to keep your appointment but if you can let us know as far in advance as you can, we can offer that appointment spot to another dog.

We look forward to seeing you and your dog soon! Book now