Student Success Stories
Connie Baechler
Connie Baechler founded East Oakland Pet Support (eastoaklandpetsupport.org) to help pet owners in financial need keep their pets happy and healthy. Operating according to the motto, "More Dignity, Less Judgment", EOPS resources people and pets to raise their happiness quotient and reduce the number of pets surrendered to shelters.
In 2018, EOPS added a small foster program in response to requests for help for special needs pets in jeopardy. Connie enrolled in the Holistic Touch Therapy Canine Massage Theory and Techniques Zoom program to add to her knowledge base and help her older dogs have more relief from arthritis. Connie also found that a technique a veterinarian recommended for Fiona, a special needs dog she rescued and cared for, is taught in Dr. Sue's class.
This is a story Connie shared with the Zoom class.
East Oakland Pet Support saved Fiona from an underfunded shelter four hours before she would have been euthanized. The wiggly sweetie had a softball sized growth behind her neck when surrendered, and she contracted pneumonia while at the shelter.
First stop, a hamburger patty! Next stop, the vet, who got Fiona kisses, biopsied the growth, prescribed medication and taught me coupage, a rhythmic percussive technique to help expel excess mucus as Fiona recovered from pneumonia.
When I enrolled in Dr. Sue's Canine Massage class, she covered a technique called cupping that reminded me of the coupage I had given Fiona! She sat quietly as I "clapped" my cupped hands on either side of her chest several times after her morning steam bath, a result of relaxing on the bath mat while I showered.
Dr. Sue was delighted to know that Fiona recovered fully from pneumonia, and she cheered on hearing that Fiona's lump was benign and removed without incident. Fiona is cherished by her new family and even has a doggie brother who loves her soooo much!
Cupping also helps loosen phlegm and, like the other massage techniques covered in the course, it is straightforward to learn. My dogs love Dr. Sue's practice sessions via Zoom, which offer a perfect blend of masterful teaching with lots of encouragement and laughter.
Paula Bond
Paula Bond has been a human massage therapist for 25 years and recently took the Holistic Touch Therapy Canine Massage Theory and Techniques Program, an online course, to become a Certified Canine Massage Practitioner (CMP) so she could officially add canine massage to her business, Therapeutic Massage by Paula. Becoming a CMP was a long-time goal to allow her to strengthen and help dogs. Her love for dogs started long ago. This is her story.
At 13, I trained Sassy, my Staffordshire Terrier. She learned quickly and we were great friends. My love of training and caring for dogs continued into adulthood. I had six years of schooling in canine sport injuries and trained and cared for many amazing Greyhounds. My work with these wonderful dogs was recognized in an article about my work in Women in Sports magazine, television interviews and a commercial for Greyhound Valley Park.
I now work with dogs that participate in sports including agility and many pups who are much-loved pets. Some special experiences are with rescues who are grateful for their families and for the comfort offered by my massage.
One of my biggest challenges was Penny, a six-month old Burmadoodle that had not been socialized at all when I adopted her. She did come with lots of trust issues. I spent some time working with Penny, but progress was slow. Taking the Holistic Touch Therapy class really made a difference. It is definitely a serious canine massage course, but as Dr. Sue says, it is Petting with a Purpose.
Shortly after I started taking Doc's classes, Penny became a new dog! A soft kind touch was what she really needed. She thought it was petting. I knew it was more. She now comes to me obviously ready for a massage. She makes it clear that she especially likes her hind legs massaged. Her hard-working flexors and extensors crave the attention.
I completed the Canine Massage course some time ago, but Dr. Sue and I still talk regularly by phone. Sometimes I have a question about massaging a dog, and sometimes we just chat. She is very accessible, and her love for dogs and her care for her students shows.
Thanks, Dr. Sue.
Darcie Myers
Darcie Myers recently completed the Holistic Touch Therapy Canine Massage Theory and Techniques course and became a Certified Canine Massage Practitioner. Her new business, Paws-assage, is really taking off. Here is how she began.
This is Spicy, a 6-year-old Border Collie. She had a very good day getting a massage by me, one of Dr. Sue's students. I thought long and hard as to how I was going to handle my first massage with confidence.
Everything went according to plan as explained to me in my online learning class. Dr. Sue said to first greet the dog and make sure she is comfortable with you. Then take your time and let her make the calls.
Spicy started out standing and ended the massage laying down. I followed her lead and where she showed me how good it felt I lingered. If she was apprehensive, I moved on. I noticed her right thigh muscle was a little tighter than the others and spent extra time there. We finished up nicely and did her stretches.
She was very flexible left and right for the active lateral stretch, could not understand nose and toes and did a great job looking up. Dr Sue, thank you for an online class, the progression of which was a building block of skills. I can't wait until tomorrow for another new client to practice my skills on. It was fun and relaxing for me.
This 6-year-old Portuguese Water Dog named Guinness was my 2nd dog to massage besides my own. He rarely sits still but enjoyed his massage so much that by the end his owner could sit down without holding him.
I just completed Dr Sue's online massage therapy certification class and felt prepared to take on a client. Everything went well.
The course is designed in a great building block format so each module prepares you to proceed to the next. I love that you can do it at your own pace, which fit perfectly into my busy lifestyle.
Thank you, Dr. Sue.
