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August 2024 Canine Newsletter

Message from Jim:


The Beyond Dog Massage book is now one year old!  Time to party and bring out the cake. But wait, that’s not all.  We decided to invite everyone to the party by offering everyone the book at 15% off.  You can join in on the fun by purchasing the book from August 1st thru the 8th at 15% off. Like all parties, there is a beginning and an end, so make sure you come early and definitely don’t be late. Invite your friends! See below for details.


More great news!  We have been refining the Read and Release Course to make it more accessible for our students and their canine companions. The course is now three weeks long instead of four, and each class has been trimmed to approximately two hours in length.  And, of course, the best news is that we have reduced the price to $195 to reflect these changes. A classic case of Less is More, which is how The Masterson Method® works.


We hope more canines and their humans can join us on these new, revised Read and Release Courses. See the new September and November dates below.

Message from Nellie:


I guess Jim let the "cat out of the bag" about the book sale. At least it looks like this cat is staying IN the bag.


But he's right! The best-selling, super-informative, Beyond Dog Massage book is ONE YEAR OLD!


Older than this kitten, I believe.

But that's not all. Did you know that August 26th is International Dog Day and August 30th is National Holistic Pet Day? And there are more days to celebrate in August - after all, these are the "dog days" of summer.


There's more to read below: new Read & Release courses have been scheduled, the SALE details, and an interview with Instructor Stef Watts.


That's a lot to celebrate. I wonder if there will be cake? I'm sure those humans are talking about cake.



So until next time, like me and Jupiter,


Enjoy your humans (and some cake),


Nellie

Beyond Dog Massage Book Sale

Help us celebrate our book's first birthday! Learning the Masterson Method techniques will help your dog’s comfort, movement and behaviour. 


Take 15% off and enjoy:


  • Understanding the subtle changes in your dog's body language and the trust that develops between you and your dog.
  • Step-by-step instructions, color photographs, and detailed illustrations.
  • Tips and techniques, understandable anatomical explanations, and examples from Jim’s personal experiences with hundreds of dogs.
  • 20 instructional videos demonstrating the principles and techniques.
  • A “quick-reference” section that points you toward exercises specifically suited to your dog’s breed or activity.
  • Jim's sense of humor!
15% off Beyond Dog Massage Book

National Holistic Pet Day - August 30

What is Holistic Pet Day we hear you ask! Founded in 2017, it looks at the ‘whole’ health of our wonderful pets - their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. It is an approach focused more on preventative health care, often using more natural methods, rather than only treating them when they become sick. 




There are plenty of ways we can help our dogs holistically including:


- providing a nutritious diet appropriate to their individual needs.

- ensuring our dogs are getting regular exercise; physically and mentally.

- creating a stress-free, enriching environment.

- considering natural and alternative therapies like homeopathic or herbal remedies (always check with a professional first if your dog has any existing conditions or if you’re using a new treatment).

- practicing Masterson Method techniques with them to help improve our bond! 


You can celebrate Holistic Pet Day by spending some uninterrupted time with your dog; maybe a walk without any distractions or doing some bodywork with them. You could also try mental stimulation games because it’s not just their limbs that need to stay healthy! Visit a new environment with them, play ‘hide and seek’ with tasty treats, or find a puzzle toy they like.


Keep an eye on our social pages during August for more holistic tips!

Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram

Read and Release Courses!

Don't miss out on booking your spot for the upcoming Read and Release Zoom courses starting in September and November.


Click on the button below for more information, including the benefits to you and your dog, what the course entails, and to book your place. 


Saturdays at 10:00 am CT, Sep 21, 28, Oct 5 with Stef Watts


Mondays at 8:00 am CT, Nov 4, 11, 18 with Leslie Kennedy

Book Now

Meet the Instructor

This month we introduce you to Stef Watts, one of our Read and Release course instructors who lives in Great Britain.


Where’s home? 

I live with my family, consisting of my husband and dog Paddy (an opinionated Corgi/Jack Russell cross) in Newark, Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom. When you leave Newark you’re soon surrounded by countryside and are close to many good dog walking routes and horse livery yards.


Tell us about your dog:

Paddy is now 12 years old and has started to show signs of discomfort and stiffness through his back and his elbows and shoulders, including some limping with his right front leg - he has a very looong back and short front legs with poky out toes (Corgi genetics). Following discussions with the vet, we feel there may be some arthritis developing and have opted for conservative management rather than any surgery. So, he now receives regular Masterson sessions and over time his back and ribs have become less sensitive, and his limping has decreased by 80%. 


How did your journey with The Masterson Method begin

I started training to become a therapist later in life, after working in the world of chilled food manufacturing for 27 years, so was what you could call a "mature student" and have been lucky enough to continue with my passion as a human and animal therapist since 2011 under my company name your4legs. 


My journey with Masterson started in 2015 when I attended the weekend and 5-day equine courses and finally completed my case studies and certification as an MMCP for horses in 2019. I did research several equine courses where the techniques were light and where consideration for the animals' comfort was a priority. I joined the Masterson team because, out of all the courses I enquired after, they were the first to call me back and were so super informative and friendly that my decision was made. The Masterson team is always very supportive - making you feel like you are part of a large extended family - and it has been a pleasure to use the techniques during my work. I have used the Masterson techniques on canine clients for some time now, and they have worked very well, so it was a huge pleasure to join the Masterson Canine team and be a part of spreading the word through the new Read and Release courses. 


What do you most enjoy about teaching the Read and Release course?

As Masterson Canine grows and develops, I am looking forward to meeting new people on future R&R courses and also to the launch of new Masterson Canine courses.


I have a classroom close to where I live, which is in an amazing venue called Wellbet Equine. This venue was organized to run some canine and equine therapy practitioner courses and is filled with useful anatomy props, including Digby the painted plastic Doberman. The venue is in a lovely quiet location and has five awesome cuddly cockapoos to choose from for therapy demonstrations, so this is where I sit when running R&R courses. The resident cuddly cockapoos have proved invaluable for the Masterson R&R courses, as Paddy can be opinionated and very camera-shy!



Check out the Canine Course page to learn more about Stef

and our other instructors. 

Meet the Instructors

Course Testimonial

Curious to learn more? Listen to our Read and Release student Kim talking about how she and her retired agility dog Pixie benefited from taking the course with instructor Stef Watts.

Dog Days of August

The month of August is a great month for dogs!

These are the dates in Nellie's calendar:

August 1 DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs 

August 4-10 International Assistance Dog Week 

August 5 Work Like a Dog Day (that's for humans-ruff, ruff)

August 10 Spoil Your Dog Day (just waiting for that one!)

August 23 International Blind Dog Day 

August 26 International Dog Day (Dogs of the world - unite!)

August 30 National Holistic Pet Day (I guess we canines can share)

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