Nicola Pilling - Free Flow Clinical Canine Massage

22/10/2025

Learn how to help your dogs between visits to me

REMINDER!!! TONIGHT @ 7pm FREE MASTERCLASS WITH NATALIE LENTON - Link at the bottom of this post. No registration needed just turn up!✨✨

🐾 Online Mini Massage Masterclass – Live with Natalie Lenton
Join canine. massage expert Natalie Lenton on
Wednesday 22nd October at 7pm (UK) for a 75-minute interactive Zoom workshop where you’ll learn how to gently connect with your dog through safe, soothing massage techniques. ALSO learn why one of these foundational techniques is taught incorrectly in the world of professional massage and animal therapy (seriously) and how to avoid charlatans when it comes to choosing a massage therapist for your dog.

In this relaxed, hands-on session, Natalie will guide you step-by-step through three foundational techniques designed to help your dog unwind while helping you understand their body, assess for areas of tension, and deepen your bond.

As she demonstrates with her own dogs you will see the various biomechanical positions the dogs present, so that you will have options to try out and how to work WITH your dog rather than ON your dog. They don't need to lie down, just be present with you and you with them.

You’ll work with your own dog in real time as she demonstrates the techniques and discusses their physiological and psychological benefits while encouraging you and your dog to join in. She shares insights from over 20 years in canine massage therapy, and shows you how mindful touch can improve awareness, trust, and relaxation.

Quite often these foundational techniques are taught incorrectly but with Natalie you can be assured to get it right first, time every time!

We look forward to seeing you and your dog there!
📅 Wednesday 22nd October | 7pm (UK)
💻 Live via Zoom | 75 minutes

NO NEED TO REGISTER! Just turn up! Room open 10 minutes before. 7pm-8.15pm - 75 minutes

ZOOM LINK
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82088455343...
Meeting ID: 820 8845 5343
Passcode: 170951

Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/82088455343/invitations...
Natalie is a master canine massage therapy trainer. She established the Canine Massage Therapy Centre in 2006 and in 2011 founded the worlds largest association of canine massage therapists the Canine Massage Guild. Her method, the Lenton Method of neuromyofascial release has been clinically trialled by Wi******er University and published in the Vet Record by the British Veterinary Association. She wrote and delivered the 2 Year Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme which has recently become a Level 5 OFQUAL regulated qualification. She trains in varied disciplines of massage including myofascial release both the direct and indirect approach, manual lymphatic drainage, faciliated stretching, neuromuscular facilitation, ventral aspect and visceral myofascial release for the canine , deep tissue, sports massage and swedish. She also trains workshop instructors to deliver the flagship 1 day self interest courses Beginners Guide to Canine Massage and Canine Massage for Agility and sport. She lives on the borders of Wales with Lyra & Pan her beloved dogs.

12/10/2025

The Hidden dangers of ball throwingThrowing, catching and retrieving balls and flying objects are the main and often daily activities of many dogs and their owners. Sadly, we are very rarely educated what consequences that kind of play has on physical and mental wellbeing of our dogs.Is ball catchin...

09/10/2025

Not to be outdone by her brother, here is Poppy also settling into her treatment 🩷

09/10/2025

This will be amazing!! The founder of the 'Canine Massage Guild'

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟 Zoom Link Below!

We’re thrilled to reveal the first of our special guest speakers for Muscular Health Awareness Month! Join Natalie Lenton, the world’s leading expert in canine massage therapy, for her free talk:

🐾 "How to Spot Muscle Injury & Myofascial Dysfunction in Your Dog – FAST!"
🗓 Monday 13th October | 7pm | 1 hour

Perfect for both dog owners and canine professionals, this eye-opening session will help you understand the difference between muscular and fascial issues, recognise the early signs of injury, and learn what you can safely do at home — plus discover natural, effective ways to support your dog’s recovery.

Known for her down-to-earth, no-nonsense style (and her wicked sense of humour), Natalie doesn’t shy away from saying what needs to be said, so expect a frank, informative, and entertaining session!

All are welcome so please share this with your friends and colleagues ! No NEED TO REGISTER Just click the link to join in at 7pm on Monday 13th October
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87895583531?pwd=rkVJnu7aBaRXFaD5FOMszYbb7YThjY.1

Meeting ID: 878 9558 3531
Passcode: 718794

07/10/2025

Fascia! Something my clients have all heard me talk about. The twitching skin you see and why I tell you off for scratching your dogs! Finger nails irritate fascia 😉 Especially whilst I am releasing it!

I love seeing the dogs stretch into a release, it’s powerful stuff and my favourite part of a treatment

🐾 Fascinating Fascia — the hidden hero of movement 💪

Fascia isn’t just filler, it’s a dynamic, fluid-filled network that wraps around muscles, organs, and nerves. When it’s healthy, your dog moves with ease. When it’s not? You’ll see stiffness, twitching, flinching… even changes in posture or behaviour.

💡 Groomers, owners, therapists, you can help:

✔️ Gentle handling
✔️ Non-slip surfaces
✔️ Light massage
✔️ Movement breaks
✔️ Spot the signs early

Fascia matters. Muscle matters. Your dog’s comfort depends on both.

01/10/2025

Relaxing into his second treatment 💙

Massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, the ‘rest and digest’ division of the autonomic nervous system. This is responsible for calming the body, it counteracts the sympathetic ‘fight or flight’ system, promoting relaxation by decreasing the heart rate, improving breathing and digestion, and helping the dog recover from over arousal.

20/09/2025

Relaxing into his massage 💙

16/09/2025

Why does muscle get ignored when it comes to injury, slowing down and chronic pain management for our senior dogs with conditions like arthritis? Without muscle the dog would be unable to move (bones don't move themself you know!) So when it comes to 'mystery' pain with your dog, maybe its not so mystery after all.....

20/08/2025

This is Amazing!!!

09/07/2025

As the Director of the Canine Massage Therapy Centre, Founder of the Canine Massage Guild and author of the 2 year Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme as well as a specialist in this field for almost 20 years, I feel compelled to speak out about a growing concern in the industry.

The rise of quick massage courses, often delivered entirely online, is not just watering down standards, it’s putting dogs at risk as well as compromising the vulnerability of owners who are trying to do the right thing for their dog.

Many of the individuals teaching these courses have no real background in massage therapy themselves. Some offer certificates after just a few hours or days of theory, with no hands-on supervision, no case studies, and no assessments of clinical competency. Yet graduates are encouraged to call themselves "canine massage therapists" and can as its an unprotected title.

This means that:
• There are people working on dogs with no real understanding of anatomy, pathology, or safe techniques
• Students are being let loose on vulnerable dogs and owners without ever having been supervised in training or technique competency
• Owners are trusting their beloved dogs to therapists whose only experience may be watching a video
I’ve even come across individuals advertising massage services after just half a day of training or doing a day or 2 days training as part of another course.

This is not just disappointing, it’s dangerous and I am personally disgusted at the fraudsters who deliver these courses and at those who go on to call themselves therapists and dupe owners into thinking they are providing a real service.

At the Canine Massage Therapy Centre, our course takes over two years to complete, with extensive practical training, tutor supervision, and real casework. We also provide online theory lectures, student support sessions and tutorials online and these in no way are a substitute for the real work that happens in the classroom We work to ensure that our graduates that go on to become Canine Massage Guild members are skilled, safe, and accountable because we believe that dogs deserve nothing less.
As a professional, I am deeply distressed at what is happening in this unregulated space, and I believe that dog owners deserve transparency, not marketing fluff from so called ‘therapists’ who can’t recognise or assess for a muscular issue let alone treat one despite their fraudulent claims.

It should be about this point that most would expect I say sorry for this. I’m not sorry. If anything I think its about time I start speaking more about this. I can only be responsible for the therapists I and my team train but at the least its time to start making owners and other canine professionals and vets aware that not all massage courses and therapists have the same training.

I always say I’m a dog owner/guardian first and a professional second, so to all the dog owners out there I urge you to check your therapists credentials, ask how long they trained for, who with and in what disciplines, ask to see their certificate of pass and importantly ask to see their insurance. Don’t just jump in with the first person who says they are a therapist because it may be they are about to take your money and put your dog at risk.
People are now jumping on the canine massage bandwagon, students and so called trainers alike because they think it’s a fast and quick buck. Its not. Its hard work that comes with it a vast amount of responsibility to the dogs, owners, vets and other paraprofessionals we work with and from the side of a trainer, to the students we teach who’s lives we influence.

Time to start calling it out.

Find a real therapist who has trained with in person supervision, taken written and practical exams, has insurance and commits to CPD training by going to visit the Canine Massage Guild professional register.

03/07/2025

I’m not sure who was more relaxed this morning, my little poodle client or the cat!!! 🐩🐈‍⬛

19/03/2025

Huge Congratulations to beautiful Borzoi Lottie, who not only won her ‘Puppy Bitch’ class, but also went on to win ‘Best Puppy in breed’ at Crufts!!