Bowen Therapy for Dogs is a light touch myofascial release technique which moves soft tissue to relieve tensions & restrictions, easing pain & stiffness. As a non-invasive body work technique, Canine Bowen Therapy is well suited to sensitive dogs & those who may have experienced previous bad experiences or trauma. It is also a safe bodywork technique for puppies & older dogs.

What happens in a Canine Bowen Therapy session?

During a Canine Bowen Therapy treatment the therapist applies gentle but firm pressure to move fascia – a type of connective soft tissue rich in nerve receptors – at specific points around the body. The session is interspersed throughout with breaks which allow the brain & nervous system to process, recalibrate & effect changes within the body.

How does Bowen Therapy for dogs work?

We do not need to use hard pressure nor make harsh adjustments in order to reach the deeper tissues in the body – when working to ease pain it is counter-productive to create pain during a treatment! So how does Bowen Therapy help the dog?

The fascia that we move is richly supplied with nerve receptors. When we apply gentle pressure to specific points we send information to the brain via the nervous system (afferent messages). The brain processes this information & sends new information (efferent messages) via the nervous system to the body, making the physiological changes necessary to restore balance.

How can Canine Bowen Therapy help anxious dogs?

During times of anxiety, stress or trauma the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) – responsible for the fight/flight/freeze responses that keep the individual safe from perceived danger- goes into survival mode. Receiving Bowen Therapy can have a positive impact on your dog’s stress response because the Bowen move is so gentle & non-invasive, helping regulate the nervous system & instil feelings of safety. When feeling safe the ANS begins to come out of survival mode, allowing the dog to reconnect with their body & the world around them more positively.

What are the benefits of Bowen Therapy for dogs?

Typical results reported by dog carers after a series of 2 to 4 successive sessions include

• notable reductions in pain & discomfort
• improved posture & reduced stiffness
• increased range of functional movement
• better recovery times following physical exertion
• improvements in the dog’s overall wellbeing

Your dog’s Bowen Therapy session

All Canine Bowen Therapy sessions are dog lead – your dog will indicate when they need breaks & for how long. Your dog will never be forced to accept the bodywork if they are clearly indicating that they have had enough or that they don’t want it. It is not uncommon for a dog to accept only a small amount of bodywork on a 1^st session, but the impact should not be underestimated – each dog needs time to feel safe & trust the practitioner. Each Bowen move made on the body has the capacity to create big changes. Trust that your dog knows their own limits! Less is always more.

Exercises

Some of my treatment packages include some simple movement exercises & stretches for you to practice with your dog . These are designed to enhance the bodywork they have received in their sessions.

Essential oils

The use of essential oils via self-selection can be a useful extra at the start of a session when working with more sensitive or nervous dogs as the aromatics can encourage nervous system regulation.