Canine Therapeutic Massage
Maureen Connors, BA, MBA, AS, PTA, CCRP, CMFT
My career has taken a few different turns throughout the years. Animals have been my life-long passion and I always aimed to make working with them my career. After working in the corporate world, I went back to school to become a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and also did some work in the fitness field. During my work as a PTA, I discovered that there were practices that did physical rehabilitation with dogs and I jumped at the chance to do that.
I became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through the University of Tennessee and eventually started working full time in the field of canine rehabilitation.
Massage as a complement to physical rehabilitation was a natural next step, so I became certified as a Canine Myo-manipulative Functional Therapist.
The dogs I’ve had over the years have been my walking, running, and hiking partners. Although we didn’t participate in formal sports together, I’ve always done regular conditioning work with them to keep them fit and strong. I began doing regular massage on my current dog, Savannah, to keep her feeling as good as possible.
It is my goal to help all sorts of dogs, including those recovering from injury, older dogs that need a little extra attention to keep them feeling good and maintaining function in their senior years, and athletic and working dogs to help them achieve peak performance. I also love to work on our beloved pet dogs because no matter what their activity level and stage in life, they can all benefit, and besides, who doesn’t love a massage?
ABOUT MAUREEN
In-Office 30-Minute Massage - $50
A 30-minute massage is ideal for dogs that are new to massage, or for anxious, or very active dogs, that have a difficult time relaxing. After an assessment of your dog's overall condition, I will provide a full-body massage, focusing on any problem areas and helping your dog to become comfortable with massage, and learn to relax and enjoy the experience.
In-Office 60-Minute Massage $75
A 60-minute massage is wonderful for dogs that have experienced massage and are comfortable with it, or dogs that are by nature very relaxed and love to be touched. After an assessment of your dog's overall condition, I will provide a full-body massage, focusing on any problem areas, and helping your dog achieve a state of relaxation.
In-Home 30-Minute Massage - $75
A 30-minute massage is ideal for dogs that are new to massage, or for anxious, or very active dogs, that have a difficult time relaxing. Anxious dogs may further benefit from being in their own home, where they are already more confident. If transportation is difficult, or you're short on time, in-home massage is also a great alternative. After an assessment of your dog's overall condition, I will provide a full-body massage, focusing on any problem areas and helping your dog to become comfortable with massage, and learn to relax and enjoy the experience. Additional charges may be applied for locations outside a 45-mile radius.
In-Home 60-Minute Massage $100
A 60-minute massage is wonderful for dogs that have experienced massage and are comfortable with it, or dogs that are by nature very relaxed and love to be touched. Anxious dogs that are familiar with massage may further benefit from being in their own home, where they are already more confident. If transportation is difficult, or you are just short on time, in-home massage is also a great alternative. After an assessment of your dog's overall condition, I will provide a full-body massage, focusing on any problem areas and helping your dog achieve a state of relaxation. Additional charges may be applied for locations outside a 45-mile radius.
SERVICES
In-Home Group Sessions Are Available!
$205.00-$295.00, depending on the number of dogs
If you and your family or friends want to treat several of your dogs to massage, in-home group sessions are available for between 4 and 6 dogs. Each dog will receive a 30-minute massage.
COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS
For in-office massages, the table will be wiped down thoroughly before each visit. One owner will be allowed to accompany their dog, and masks will be required for the entire visit.
For in-home massages, I will wear a mask and will wash my hands before I work on your dog. I can certainly massage outdoors in a comfortable area, depending on the weather.
MULTi-PACKS
AVAILABLE!
Buy 9, get
1 FREE!
CLIENT REFERRAL FORM
All new clients are required to complete the Referral Form prior to a first visit. Please download the PDF below and bring it with you to your initial visit or email back to handsonhoundsmassage@gmail.com.
PACK FEEDBACK
“I own labradors and I am also fortunate enough to know Maureen and to be part of her journey with Hands for Hounds.
When Maureen told me she was going to open up her own animal massage practice so that she could help animals feel better from injuries or aging, I was pretty happy about that. When you own multiple dogs, you inevitably end up with multiple dogs aging at the same time. It’s nice to know that there’s someone who can help them feel better. Older dogs are less mobile, and decreased mobility may cause more issues because they’re not moving or using muscles and body parts. My oldest boy, Zenny, who is over 14 years old benefits from Maureen's therapeutic massage sessions. Maureen is intuitive enough to know whether she can continue to work on him for a short period of time or a longer period of time. She is very good at recognizing what the dog needs. She knows when she can continue and when she might need to stop because the dog is telling her he’s had enough for the day. I appreciate that knowledge and caring.
I think of massage as the invisible handhold. It’s not always obvious what’s happening or what is being done in the moment, and the results afterward may be subtle. And that’s okay. I don’t expect him to get up and run down the street. But, I am pleased that he is able to get up a little easier and relax a little longer." - Penney Baker
“Maureen is a talented and caring therapist I've known for many years. She has worked on my two senior dogs, assisting them with flexibility and mobility as they age. The dogs love her and she is incredibly intuitive at understanding their needs and limitations. I highly recommend Hands on Hounds and Maureen's services for dogs of all ages and mobility." - Dara Onofrio
"Maureen massaged my dog Moose and he loved it! He relaxed immediately and you could see he released any tension he had. Moose definitely loves massages from Maureen!" - Kayla Pelletier