First appointment planning
Preparing for your appointment
Please read carefully
FEEDING/WATER- Do not feed your dog the morning of your appointment. They will be o.k. As well, remove access to water for 2 hours prior to your appointment. In extreme heat, defer to your best judgement about water. Let them empty their bladder before heading out for your massage.
YOUR ARRIVAL- TOILETING- Please arrive about 5 minutes early to allow your canine to relieve itself prior to the massage. There is no waiting room for canines so arriving ONLY 5 minutes early will allow just enough time for toileting your pup prior to the massage. The area outside the complex block wall, parallel to Paseo del Norte, is the only area designated for you to toilet your dog.
Please allow your dog time to empty its bladder and bowels. Come prepared to collect any waste; there are no disposal bags on site, there is a dumpster for disposal.
ENTRANCE- Do Not Use the main lobby entrance. That one is for our 2 legged clients, not the four legged ones. The CANINE ENTRANCE is through the brown metal door with the K9 Performance Massage ”Doggie Door” sign on the East side of the building.
When you and your dog are ready, please give a “gentle knock” on the door. I will be expecting you, but want to make sure the room is clear of previous canine clients.
Getting the Massage Started. Initially your dog will need to sniff, and investigate the massage suite. Please monitor your dog closely to avoid any accidental urinating. It is best to let them freely check out everything. While they are investigating, we will be discussing your dog’s situation, your concerns and planning for their treatment.
Once we get started it’s best for the owner to take a back seat to the activities. Best scenario is for you to wait in the lobby.
First visits take time for your dog to become acclimated to the room and to the process. My expectation for a first massage, and consider it a success, is if we get the dog to quiet and let massage occur. The massage concludes when I’ve completed my process, or when the dog decides.
There is no changing a dog’s mind and they give clear signals when they’re done with massage.
I offer packages in groups of 3 so the therapeutic effect balances out over time. The first visit may be shorter, while subsequent visits may take a full 45 minutes or more.
Canine massage includes using a variety of modalities implemented as indicated.
I also confer with you regarding other issues that may be concerning you regarding your dog and set you on a path to find those answers.
