Testimonials from Humans

Zabi's health and mobility wouldn't be as good as it is now if I haven't had the help and support from Kathleen. Zabi is a 14 year old Westie cross who still loves to adventure on the Port Hills. With Kathleen's regular massage and homework Zabi still has a high quality of life while living with osteoarthritis. Another bonus we have found working with Kathleen is Zabi has become more confident being handled at the vet and less reactive on walks. The regular massage sessions have impacted both of us in such a positive way!

Kathleen has been treating my greyhound Sadie for over a year now. She was suffering with chronic back pain which was really limiting her life. Along side the veterinary treatment she received, she had (and still has) regular treatments with Kathleen. I firmly believe these have really helped her and as a bonus she absolutely loves it. From her second session she was hopping up on the bed and presenting herself.

I have been using Kathleen and The Balanced Dog for a couple of years to help with my ageing bull terrier's arthritis and joint mobility issues. I wanted to explore options beyond merely relying on medication, that would also actively support Ed's flexibility and circulation. I'm delighted to say what a great experience this journey has been! Kathleen has a genuine passion for the well-being of dogs. She takes pride in her work, and it shows in every aspect of her service. She is not only deeply knowledgeable but also patient and compassionate and has taken the time to understand Ed's unique needs and personality to tailor-make a care program for him that adapts to how he's feeling and moving. The fear-free methods she uses has also fostered a strong bond between Ed and Kathleen which means he loves her visits and fully relaxes into the treatment. A major bonus is that Kathleen comes to my house, which is not only hugely time efficient for me, but also means that Ed doesn't get distracted or stressed by unfamiliar sounds and smells. I wholeheartedly recommend Kathleen to any dog owner seeking a positive and effective approach to holistic dog health.

My senior dog, Katy has had the best of care from Kathleen over the last couple of years. Kathleen's skills and knowledge have benefited both Katy (and myself), and I am sure that Katy's continuing mobility is, in no small part, due to the quality of Kathleen's experience and treatment.

We are so lucky to have found Kathleen to help with Jake our 15 year old Staffy. Her expertise and advice about how to make our home easier for him to get around in as been superb. Having Kathleen come and give Jake a massage in his own home is just wonderful and his quality of life has improved because of her expertise and care. Kathleen has also been invaluable at giving us advice about his diet and suggested supplements. I have also done one of Kathleen’s doggy massage courses and a cooking for your dog - both were really enjoyable and informative.

We have had the pleasure of Kathleen's home visits for Luke's massage since 2018 and I would highly recommend her. She has given me invaluable advise as Luke ages and started showing signs of arthritis, which is now being controlled with a combination of meds, PEMF and laser treatment. He is so excited to see Kathleen pull up the drive he does a little happy dance. 10/10 top service

Kathleen supported my 8 year old beagle, Pedro, in 2019 when he had a calcified disk in his neck that caused him extreme pain and immobility. He can be an anxious dog at times and I was drawn to Kathleen’s services because she was a mobile and Fear Free practitioner. She carried out weekly lasering of his neck, acupressure and massage for approximately two months. Kathleen never hurried Pedro , allowing him to settle at his own pace. She was so patient and gentle and very perceptive of signs of discomfort. She was a great source of information for any dog care queries I may have had. When Pedro underwent spinal decompression surgery Kathleen returned to help with his rehab. He went from strength to strength and is now back to living life to the full again. Kathleen continues to visit Pedro every 6 weeks for a massage. She brings homemade treats for the dogs and I attended her “Learn to Massage Your Dog” workshop which was well-presented and informative. Thank you for all your unwavering support Kathleen!

We met Kathleen when she and her greyhound Izzy did our Greyhounds As Pets homecheck in 2016. Shortly after we had our own greyhound, Mouse. Kathleen has been a source is well-researched knowledge ever since. She is caring and professional.

Well planned and run workshop. I learned a lot from Kathleen and would thoroughly recommend to any dog owner.

We love Kathleen!! Her services have helped my boy have the best quality of life possible for the last 5 years.I loved seeing how sprightly he was after each session, and I know how much he enjoyed it as he would cry with excitement when her car pulled into the driveway, and go running out to meet her. Thank you Kathleen for all your practical helpful advice to help me negotiate Stan's senior years.

Jess is my 13 year old Springer Spaniel. We started treatments with Kathleen three years ago as he was becoming quite sore and stiff in his back legs and generally wasn’t happy or engaged on his walks. Since starting the massage treatments and laser therapy Jess is a different dog, Kathleen’s advice on pain management and exercise has really improved his quality of life, he is more engaged, happy to go for walks, holds his head high and even wants to play, which he just wasn’t interested in before. One of the great things about this service is that it is mobile, which gives Jess security as he feels safe and comfortable in his own home. He gets very excited when he sees Kathleen pull up the drive and I have to hold him back to allow her to set up before he tries to jump on the bed and start his treatment. It is clear Kathleen only wants the very best for the dogs she treats and has gone above and beyond with all her advice and support for Jess. I can’t thank her enough and would highly recommend her services to anyone who wants the best for their dog.

Roadie has been seeing Kathleen over past 9 months, first to try and discover why he could possibly have a shake is his hind leg and now having had a tear in his ccl, efforts have been increased to strengthen his core and legs to avoid surgery. Every few weeks Roadie gets a massage, laser therapy and we have been given a strength routine to do. Roadie can be a bit of a wracking ball and somewhat OTT when visitors come round, but Kathleen is super patient and he settles allowing her to work on him. Through Kathleens visits, guidance and his exercises, Roadie has improved so much. We would highly recommend her services!

The Balanced Dog has worked on both my girls, a Labrador and a Spanador, and we have had such a positive experience. Our Spanador, Maeve, began seeing Kathleen as a puppy to support healthy growth and development, and she has loved her monthly home visits ever since. When Maeve recently started biting her tail, we were able to uncover the root cause with Kathleen’s support, which happened to be an incorrect set up of the dog door. With massage, laser therapy, and the mobility exercises we were given, we were able to bring her back to full health and even build her strength beyond where she was before. As a mobile clinic, sessions fit easily into our schedule and, more importantly, take place in Maeve’s own space. That familiarity allows her to fully relax, which only enhances the benefits of her treatment. Kathleen is not only incredibly knowledgeable about canine massage and physical care, but her understanding of dog behaviour has equipped us with practical tools to help Maeve gain confidence and reduce anxiety in everyday life. She is also very well connected within the industry and has been able to recommend other trusted businesses to support us with any behavioural challenges we’ve faced. We are so grateful for her expertise, kindness, and ongoing support