The foundation of my practice is in massage and the hands-on assessment of muscles, ligaments and tendons. After observing your dog’s gait (walk and trot) and taking a health history, I choose the right combination of acupressure, trigger point, low-level laser therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, and tuning fork therapy to release range of motion and muscle tension and to release endorphins (good for pain and mood). Once soft tissues are warmed and loosened, I will show you stretches and exercises to assist with rehabilitation and strengthening.
The Balanced Dog
What We Do
Home > What We Do
A range of services for every dog
Every dog can benefit from massage, PEMF and laser therapy. I have a particular passion for working with dogs and their families to ensure injury prevention and quality of life. I also specialise in working with anxious or emotionally damaged dogs.
Fitness Training
Fitness is much more than taking your dog for a walk. Conditioning plans for dogs should include exercises for flexibility, stability, strength, cardiovascular health, range of motion, and mental health/enrichment. Best of all, fitness is about injury prevention – a foundation to avoid the need to rehab in the first place!
Once I’ve met you and your dog and understand what’s achievable, I’ll select easy-to-do exercises for your dog which address the different aspects of fitness. My goal is always to select exercises that are reasonable for you and your lifestyle while achieving good fitness for your dog.
Workshops
Natural care begins at home.
For this reason, we offer workshops for dog owners to learn the basic skills they need to enhance their dog’s quality of life. Learning together in a hands-on massage workshop is a great way of enhancing the bond with your dog, too. Choose from:
- Learn to Massage Your Dog
- Reflexology and Nail Care
- Greyhound Massage and Stretching Workshop
- Cooking for Dogs
- Dog and Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning Products
Your Dog's Birthday
Your dog is family and so let’s celebrate their birthday. Sign up to our Birthday Club and we’ll get in touch to help you plan your celebrations. We offer freshly made dog birthday cakes, party packs of treats and toys for the big day. Why not book a party for your dog and their friends? We’ll deliver the cake and treat each dog to a relaxation massage.
Mobility Carts and Equipment
For dogs recovering from injuries or surgery, they may need equipment to help with their rehab. Our clients can hire equipment for use in their home, saving them the costs of buying the equipment. Items in our hire collection include help ’em up harnesses, mobility carts, interactive toys, prams and other items.
We only hire equipment to local (Christchurch/Canterbury) customers of the practice.
Mobility carts are a special item that must be properly sized and fitted to your dog – if your mobility cart is not made to measure, you run the risk of additional injury to your dog. Kathleen will advise you on the appropriate design of a cart and help you measure your dog for ordering. When the cart arrives, she’ll help you fit the cart and give guidance on its use. We don’t believe in selling equipment at a mark-up, and so we ask that clients order their cart directly from the manufacturer.
Common questions
Who is The Balanced Dog for?
The Balanced Dog is for dogs of all ages and life stages — senior dogs managing arthritis and reduced mobility, dogs recovering from surgery or injury, anxious or reactive dogs who cope best at home, working and sporting dogs needing conditioning, and everyday family dogs whose owners want to support their comfort and wellbeing. Every session is delivered in the calm, familiar surroundings of your own home.
What are the benefits?
In-home massage, rehabilitation and fitness can ease pain and stiffness, improve mobility and range of motion, support recovery after surgery or injury, reduce anxiety and help your dog stay active and comfortable for longer. Because everything happens at home, your dog stays relaxed — with no stressful travel.
What’s included in each in-home session?
Every session is tailored to your dog. An initial consultation (up to 90 minutes) includes:
- Review of your dog’s lifetime veterinary records
- A nose-to-tail physical assessment and gait analysis
- A hands-on massage session using acupressure, trigger points, PEMF and laser as appropriate — at no extra charge
- A “Game Plan” with home-care suggestions
- A handmade, fresh treat for your dog from my own range
Follow-up sessions (up to 60 minutes) review your dog’s progress, adjust the home exercise programme and continue treatment.