Working dogs
Service dogs, drug and explosives detection
canines, police dogs and search and rescue
dogs all work closely together with their handlers.
It often involves walking on concrete for many hours a day. They are in the terminals looking for drugs or searching cars and trucks. Looking for explosives, apprehending criminals and helping keep us safe. Others search for people hurt or lost and go through rubble or difficult terrain in order to do their job.
No matter what your dog is trained to do,
there are demands made on him, both mentally
and physically every day. Quite often he is in an
environment which requires focus and offers
physical challenges. Some dogs end up with
physical issues or stress. Massage helps the dogs
de-stress, keeps them flexible and prevents future
injuries.
I am the happy owner of a retired drug detection
K9 myself. He came to me with stomach issues
and muscle stiffness. The police department finally
had to retire him because his physical problems
kept him from working. After having worked with
him for a while, his digestion is better, his gait is
smoother and his stress has lessened. Working
dogs are often quite costly to train and keeping
them healthy and flexible can often prolong their
career. Prevention is the key.
(Thank you to Officer Tyrell for sharing his pictures
of K9 "Shiner" in action.)
Please remember that massage is never a substitute for veterinary care.
