Canine massage business caters to pets - StarNewsOnline.com

[massage]

Janet Jonas recently opened Gentle Touch Canine Massage in Sunset Beach.

By Makenzie Holland StarNews Staff
SUNSET BEACH -- Janet Jonas knocked on her client’s front door and was immediately greeted by a joyful chorus of barks.

As Jonas walked into Darlene Kennedy’s home, her client walked up to her, tail wagging, a pink pillow in his mouth that he offered as a welcome gift.

Jonas’ client was 10-year-old Ranger, a golden retriever.

Jonas specializes in canine massage and recently opened her business, Gentle Touch Canine Massage, in Sunset Beach.

“I’m kind of a caregiving kind of person, so I felt like I really needed to do something and I wanted to do something with animals," she said.

Before moving to Sunset Beach three years ago, Jonas worked as a nuclear cardiology technologist and was technical director of a nuclear cardiology lab. She was also a member of her community’s dog training club and competed in agility with two of her own golden retrievers. She also taught dog training and therapy dog classes.

Combining her love of animals and medicine, she settled on canine massage. To receive her certification, Jonas attended the Chicago School of Canine Massage, completing a 200-hour program that provided training, education on canine anatomy, physiology and behavior, as well as low-stress handling and massage techniques.

While Jonas was learning canine massage, Kennedy offered to let her practice on Ranger and the family’s 5-year-old golden retriever Joy, who was rescued from a puppy mill in South Carolina.

“It’s great for Ranger,” Kennedy said. “Being 10, being large…it’s hard on his hips and his joints.”

Massages can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. After an initial consultation fee of $50, Jonas charges $40 per visit for a dog. If there is a second dog in the same family that needs a massage, she charges $25.

Throughout Ranger’s massage session, Jonas spoke gently to him as she used different techniques to work various parts of his body.

Jonas started off with long, gentle strokes to warm up Ranger’s body, feeling for areas of heat or cold, as well as lumps that might need veterinary attention. She later moved into petrissage, which she described as “lifting and kneading” of Ranger’s skin.

Massages helps reduce stress and anxiety in dogs, increases circulation, relaxes muscles, facilitates joint movement and acts as a passive form of exercise, Jonas said. While beneficial for senior dogs, Jonas said canine massage helps other dogs as well, such as rescue dogs or even puppies.

Jonas has offered her services to Rescue Animals Community Effort (RACE), a local rescue organization, as a way to acclimate dogs that aren’t used to being handled to human touch, making it easier for them to be adopted.

Canine massage also helps puppies get used to being handled.

“Some dogs freak out when they have to get their nails trimmed, so if I could start off with a puppy and just massage the nails and do the ears, I mean all those things will just make the veterinary visits so much easier for the dog and the client and the veterinarian,” Jonas said.

After concluding Ranger’s massage, Jonas’ gave the senior dog some playful pets and kisses.

“Just knowing that I’m making him feel better, what a gift,” she said.

Reporter Makenzie Holland can be reached at 910-343-2371 or [email protected].

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