Lucy and Fern's Story
Real Stories From the Field: How Canissage Is Supporting Working Dogs
When it comes to the wellbeing of working dogs, no one understands the challenges better than their handlers. That’s why we’re proud to share the experiences of customers who’ve seen the real-world benefits of Canissage massage therapy beds. In the story below, one dedicated owner explains how our therapy bed has become an essential part of her dogs’ routine, helping with recovery, performance, and long-term comfort. If you’re wondering whether Canissage is right for your dogs, Lucy's words are well worth a read.
Lucy Smith
Working Gundogs
“I’ve got three dogs, two of which are working gundogs. They both beat and pick up, so they have to be really versatile and spend a lot of time in wet ditches and bramble cover. They often come out with wounds, and then the hard exercise can leave them with muscle strains and aches.
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Fern, my Springerdor has been diagnosed with left-sided hip pain by a specialist orthopaedic vet. I know this will reduce the length of her working career; however, I want her to be as comfortable and pain-free for as long as possible and, hopefully, keep her doing the job she loves. So she was the trigger for me to look into mobility solutions, which is when our physiotherapist recommended Canissage.
On a non-working day at home, all the dogs will spend some time relaxing on the bed.
On a working day, when they’re out beating or picking up, they spend 20 minutes on the bed before we go out, and then again when we get home. It’s really easy to fit into our routine.
During the shoot, they’d be sitting in the car anyway, so we’re not doing anything special but I know they’re benefiting during the wait.
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Fern has taken to it like a duck to water. We’ve noticed that using it before a shoot means she’s loose and warmed up when she starts work which is helping her. She’s able to use her muscles effectively, but the biggest difference is after work. She used to be extremely stiff the next day, trundling around with no enthusiasm. Using the Canissage bed has made a huge difference to her after the shoot. She isn’t sore; she’s settled and comfortable.
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It’s completely different to anything we’ve tried before, it would benefit any dog, even without musculoskeletal conditions, for maintenance and recovery.
If you’re a trainer considering it, absolutely go for it; it’s definitely a worthwhile investment.”
Inspired by their story?
If you’d like to learn more, you can order a brochure for detailed information or visit our shop to explore the Canissage bed range
0800 689 9820