fur.therapy

29/08/2026

My mum hasn’t been posting in here enough, so I’m taking over as TOP DOG!!!! 🐾

And I have NEWS…

I’M A BIG SISTER!!!! ❤️

Except Izzy is older than me, so maybe she’s my big sister?

But she is smaller than my whole head, so she’s not very big at all really.

Anyway. Her name is Isabella, but she’s Izzy to me.

Mum says she’s a foster.

I don’t know what that means because she lives at our house, cuddles with us in bed, comes to work with us and comes on all our adventures.

So she’s my sister.

I’m keeping her.

Apparently, before Izzy became MY Izzy, she’d been having a pretty rubbish time.

One day some amazing humans spotted this tiny, scruffy little thing wandering around ALL BY HERSELF on a busy road.

WHAT WAS SHE DOING OUT THERE?!

She’s tiny! She can barely see! She definitely did NOT have a responsible big sister with her.

Thankfully, those amazing humans stopped to help her and made sure she was safe.

And do you know where she ended up?

FUR PAWS SAKE!!!!

And I know those humans rather well actually…

BECAUSE THEY RESCUED ME TOO!!!! ❤️

Obviously I was an excellent rescue and caused absolutely no trouble whatsoever.

Mum says I have to stop lying on the internet.

Moving on.

Izzy was a MESS.

Like… even I know she was a mess.

She was all matted and itchy and covered in fleas — apparently her fleas had fleas 🤢 — her little body was sore, she couldn’t see very well and her mouth was REALLY sore.

Basically, somebody had forgotten that old little dogs are supposed to be spoiled absolutely rotten.

Once Izzy was safe, Mum brought her home to “foster”.

At first she was a very quiet little thing. She slept a lot and stayed close to Mum.

But then, bit by bit, Izzy started to appear.

And it turns out the tiny old lady has OPINIONS.

She’s feisty. She gets excited. She’s started getting bouncy and playful, and there is an impressive amount of attitude packed into that teeny fluffy body.

Obviously I approve.

She comes everywhere with us now. When her little legs get tired, she gets scooped up and chauffeured around like royalty.

Apparently when my legs get tired, I am “perfectly capable of walking”.

Even though I only have THREE and she has FOUR!!!

Explain that one to me.

Whatever. 🙄

I’ve also appointed myself Izzy Security.

She’s little.
She’s old.
She’s my sister.

Don’t bother her.

Then there was Izzy’s poor little mouth.

Most of her teeth had already fallen out all by themselves before she was rescued.

OUCH. 😢

And the few she had left were rotten too.

Mum says mouths are definitely NOT supposed to work like that.

So every single tooth Izzy had left had to come out.

Mum was REALLY worried about her.

I told her Izzy might be tiny and old, but she’s tougher than she looks. ❤️

And then a whole bunch of humans got together to look after my little sister.

Her lovely vet team took such good care of her, and some very, very, VERY special humans gave an incredibly generous donation to help Izzy get her horrible teeth sorted.

We know who you are!!! ❤️🥹

Mum says what you did was very special.

I say…

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AFTER MY IZZY. ❤️

And guess what?

SHE DID IT!!!!

Our tiny old lady absolutely smashed it and came home with precisely ZERO teeth and one rather fabulous toothless grin.

You might think having no teeth would slow down her eating.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

No.

Absolutely not.

The tiny old lady can EAT.

She’s meant to be fattening up, so she gets extra food.

And extra treats.

Obviously, whenever Izzy gets a treat, I also require a treat.

Mum says I don’t need fattening up.

This is irrelevant.

I generally manage to convince her that I should have one anyway.

BUT SHE MAKES MINE IZZY-SIZED.

Excuse me?!

HAVE YOU SEEN THE SIZE OF HER TREATS?!

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT?!

I eat it, obviously.

But still.

The disrespect. 🙄

And now this tiny little dog who was once wandering all by herself has a whole village of people who love her. ❤️

And then there’s Izzy’s Mellons Bay family.

Yes.

Apparently Izzy has ANOTHER FAMILY.

She goes and stays with them…

WITHOUT ME.

I’m not entirely sure why I’m not invited.

But they absolutely adore her, she adores them, and they spoil her just as much as Mum does.

So I suppose I’ll allow it.

It takes a lot of humans to keep one tiny Izzy properly spoiled. ❤️

And obviously…

SHE HAS ME.

Her younger-but-massively-bigger sister, bodyguard and treat-sharing supervisor.

So Mum can keep saying foster if she wants.

I think we all know how this is going.

She’s my Izzy.

I’M KEEPING HER. ❤️🐾

Love,
Lilibet

Top Dog.
Izzy Security.
Professional Treat Quality Controller.

Currently investigating the Izzy-sized treat situation. 🙄

17/08/2026

🐾 A little help from our Auckland dog community… 🐾

This September I’ll be teaching the Canis Bodyworks Canine Massage Mentorship here in Auckland. It’s a very small mentorship with just 1–2 students, and I’m looking for a few more dogs to join us for our hands-on teaching sessions. 💛

I’m particularly looking for:

🐾 Senior dogs with arthritis or mobility changes
🐾 Dogs with a previous orthopaedic injury or surgery
🐾 Post-operative dogs who may benefit from gentle lymphatic work
🐾 Dogs with muscular tightness or tension for our myofascial trigger point work
🐾 Healthy, active or sporting dogs

I’m especially looking for a few suitable dogs for Wednesday 16 September, when we’ll be focusing on lymphatic and myofascial trigger point techniques.

Dogs need to be comfortable with being handled by people and, if they have a medical condition or are recovering from surgery, they will need to have been cleared by their vet for massage/bodywork.

📍 Mission Bay, Auckland
📅 10–20 September
💛 No charge for participating dogs

If you think your dog might be suitable, please send me a DM with their name, age, breed, a little bit about their history and a photo. 😊

Thank you! I’m looking forward to finding a few special dogs to help with our students’ learning. 🐾💛

25/06/2026

Remember the post where I became Orson’s chair? 😂❤️

Well… this is what happened next.

After his massage, this gorgeous Bernese Mountain Dog decided that Mum’s lap was exactly where he belonged. No hesitation. No concept of personal space. Just over 50 kilos of love leaning into his favourite human.

These are the moments that remind me massage is about so much more than muscles.

When a dog’s body softens, their nervous system settles too. They often become more affectionate, more connected, and more present with the people they trust most. Watching that unfold is one of the greatest privileges of my job.

It’s also why every session includes teaching. I don’t just treat your dog and send you on your way—I show you simple, individualised techniques that are tailored to your dog’s body, personality and needs.

Because healing doesn’t stop when I walk out the door.

Those few minutes of intentional touch at home can help maintain the benefits of treatment, strengthen the bond you share, and give your dog another way to feel safe, understood and cared for.

Orson and his hoomum have such a beautiful connection, and seeing him completely melt into her after his session says everything.

Although… I don’t think either of them got the memo that “lap dog” usually means something a little smaller than 50+ kilos. 🥹❤️🐾

08/06/2026

A few months ago, Molly’s quality of life was very different.

She was struggling with significant mobility issues, was uncomfortable, and everyday activities had become increasingly difficult. Her caregivers were faced with some difficult conversations as they tried to navigate the best path forward for her.

But they never gave up.

They continued searching for answers, sought further veterinary advice, and remained committed to helping Molly live the best life possible.

Once her cruciate injury was identified, a management plan could be put in place. Surgery was not considered the best option for Molly, so her treatment has focused on a conservative, multimodal approach tailored specifically to her needs.

Today, she is a different dog.

She’s brighter, happier, more comfortable, moving with greater confidence, and recently greeted me with enough enthusiasm that she was even attempting a little jump.

Molly’s journey is a beautiful example of what can happen when everyone works together.

Her caregivers have been incredibly dedicated, her veterinary team has guided her ongoing management, and I’ve been privileged to support her through therapeutic bodywork to help maintain comfort, mobility, muscle function, and address the compensatory patterns that develop when a dog is protecting an injured limb.

No single treatment has created this change.

It’s been the combination of appropriate veterinary care, bodywork, home management, and a family who never stopped advocating for their dog.

And perhaps most importantly, Molly reminds us that age alone should never be the reason we stop looking for ways to improve a dog’s quality of life.

Growing older doesn’t mean there are no options left. It doesn’t mean we stop listening, stop investigating, or stop supporting them.

Sometimes the goal isn’t perfection.

Sometimes the goal is helping a dog feel comfortable, confident, and able to enjoy life again.

Looking at Molly today, it’s hard not to feel hopeful about what’s possible when the right support team comes together. ❤️

07/06/2026

07/06/2026

🚨 OFFICIAL COMPLAINT FROM LEO 🚨

Dear everyone,

My massage therapist had the audacity to arrive at the exact time she said she would, so naturally I had to stand at the window and scream-sing the song of my people to ensure the entire neighbourhood knew she was here.

When that wasn’t enough, I greeted her with several high-speed greyhound zoomies around the house. This is a very important part of the treatment process. Science probably.

After thoroughly expressing my excitement, I remembered I am actually a professional relaxation expert. So I marched straight onto my massage mat, melted into a puddle of greyhound, flipped into my signature roach position, and allowed the massage to commence.

The result? Maximum relaxation. Zero regrets. 10/10 would scream at the window again.

On a more serious note, my regular massage sessions help keep me comfortable, support my mobility, and make it easier to spot little changes before they become bigger problems.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have important napping responsibilities to attend to. 💤

Love,
Leo 🐾

(Pictured: me pretending I wasn’t causing absolute chaos five minutes earlier.)

06/06/2026

Alita has very specific payment requirements for her massage sessions… 🍌🥰

After today’s treatment, she happily tucked into her favourite banana reward while making the cutest little sounds. Honestly, I think she was trying to convince me she deserved a second one! 😆

Massage isn’t just about muscles—it’s about creating positive experiences and helping dogs feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed throughout the process. For Alita, that means some gentle bodywork, plenty of consent and choice, and a well-earned banana afterwards.

Judging by those happy little banana noises, I’d say today’s session was a success. 💛🐾

Does anyone else’s dog have a favourite post-adventure or post-treatment snack?

24/03/2026

Maxi 💛
This beautiful girl is a tripod, and honestly… she’s incredible.

After losing her hind limb as a puppy, Maxi has grown into a strong, active, beach-loving dog who absolutely makes the most of life. But like many tripod dogs, her body works a lot harder behind the scenes.

Over time, that extra load can show up as:
• Tightness through the back and hips
• Increased strain on the remaining hind limb
• Compensatory patterns through the shoulders and front end

This is where therapeutic massage becomes so valuable.

Since starting her sessions, we’ve been working on:
• Releasing deep compensatory tension
• Supporting her remaining hind limb
• Improving mobility through her back and hips
• Helping her body move more comfortably and efficiently

And the best part?

She is doing SO well.

She’s moving more freely, settling beautifully into sessions, and (my favourite part) completely melting into the work — often falling asleep halfway through 💤

Her parents have also been amazing, continuing her home care in between sessions, which is making a real difference to her progress.

This is what canine massage is really about:
Not just relaxation… but supporting the body through real, everyday demands — especially in dogs who are working a little harder than most.

Maxi, you’re an absolute superstar ✨

⸻

04/03/2026

I recently had the pleasure of meeting this beautiful Labrador for his first therapeutic massage session, following a referral from his veterinary team to help support his comfort and mobility.

Tippy came in to support movement through the hip flexors and lower back. When we take the time to observe a dog’s movement closely, we can often notice subtle changes in stride length, flexibility, or posture that may indicate areas of muscular tension or compensation.

During his session we focused on gently releasing tension through the lumbar muscles, hip flexors and hamstrings, while also improving soft tissue mobility through the thoracic region. These areas play an important role in how dogs generate power through their hind limbs and maintain balanced, comfortable movement.

One of the things I love about therapeutic canine massage is that it doesn’t have to wait until a dog is injured or struggling. It can also be a proactive way to support healthy movement, reduce muscular tension, and help dogs stay comfortable in their bodies as they move through life.

Tippy settled beautifully into the session and allowed me to work calmly and methodically while remaining relaxed and engaged. His family were also shown some gentle techniques they can use between visits to help maintain his comfort at home.

I’m looking forward to seeing how he progresses over the coming sessions.

Welcome to the FurTherapy family, sweet Tippy 💛

Have you ever noticed subtle changes in your dog’s movement or stride?

13/02/2026

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing dogs truly relax — not just physically, but emotionally too.

After this session, their lovely pet parent shared:

“Thanks so much for the session last night, we learned so much from you! The girls slept like babies afterwards. We’re especially glad BaoBao finally managed to wind down before bed instead of getting all hyped up.”

Therapeutic canine massage supports the muscles, joints, and nervous system — helping dogs release tension, settle more easily, and feel comfortable in their bodies.

If your dog struggles to relax, carries tension, or needs extra support as they age, this work can make a meaningful difference.

📍 Mobile sessions across Auckland
📩 Message me to book or ask questions