Hands On Heart Clinical Canine Massage

08/09/2025

I signed up to the Dog Friendly awards early this morning with a description of my business as I felt at the time.

Those who know me amongst circles (and understand and too!) know I rarely have a routine spiel about what I do and that I love to speak from the heart, as my friend and mentor Taz Thornton taught me.

But I dunno... this felt different this morning as it wasn't really a "description" but felt like HOW I approach my dog & owner massages?

I'll copy it below but let me know if you think it would be good enough to "vote for" or if it should be more corporate?

"As we age, we need more TLC for our aching joints and bodies in general. That's whether we have a strenuous task ahead or we just need to move about more freely and with less aches and pains in our daily levels.
It's the same for our dogs!
That's why I have a passion to reduce the pain and discomfort in both dogs and their owners so they can enjoy life (not just walks) together.
I'm a LANTRA accredited Canine Massage Therapist based in the North West, covering , and . I bring my Massage Table / Massage Chair / Vet Bed to your home so your dog and you can be more comfortable in your own surroundings as I ease away your tension but also work gently on those hurt bits that your bodies may have been hiding.
Your dog doesn't know that pain isn't normal... so they don't complain when the chronic pain is present every day.

Which is where massage comes in to work WITH your tissues (muscles and fascia).

My human clients tell me they feel a million dollars afterwards and are able to go about their lives a lot easier and in significantly less pain. Even my clients who are in their 70's and 80's who I love to chat with, and especially my neurodiverse clients who often live with extra chronic pain every day and need a non-judgemental ear to listen to them.

My dog clients are visibly more bouncy afterwards, getting up easier and moving better after their massage. They are able to go on longer walks with easier joint movement and play with their toys and other dogs in the household more often.

Quality of life for both Dog & Owner whatever stage of life they are in.

I offer regular Muscular MOTs at the Dogs Diner - Wirral's largest raw food outlet in Moreton, Wirral to make sure your dog is running efficiently but I can also offer online consultations and put you in touch with your local Canine Massage Therapist if you are nowhere near me.
Reducing your dog's pain levels are worth more to me than becoming my client specifically x

So if you want a chat abut your dog or yourself, please get in touch... I may work with dogs but I don't bite x"

07/09/2025

It's been a weird week this week... 6 lovely massage appointments, many great conversations, hosting a meeting, organising my diary and emails, petsitting, at , taking myself for a walk on the beach and a paddle in the sea in the rain and generally chasing my own tail...

i even got to wear a dress and go last night to celebrate my cousins' wedding 💒

But I'm sitting here today nursing a sugar hangover coz I was driving last night (nosecco and mocktails for the win!)... and realised I haven't posted anything on my social media to talk to you lovely lot... not very sociable is it? 😊

So these are my favourite photos from this week...

Oh and my knees are killing from trying to dance to ... anyone know of any good massage therapists on the wirral? 😆

What's your favourite memory from this week?
And have you watched KPop Demon Hunters on yet either?

07/09/2025

If I could I would , this breed can be an amazing family member when given the chance ###

06/09/2025

Oooh you can register your dog in advance for the Wirral Mencap dog show... less hassle AND it's a bit cheaper too!

One week to go!

It's only one week until Wirral Mencap's Dog Show at Vale Park, and we couldn't be more excited 🎉

Are you planning to join us on the day?

You can enter your dog online via the following link for £2 (plus booking fee): https://buytickets.at/wirralmencap/1793246

Entry on the day costs £2.50 and opens at 10:45am.

Everyone is welcome - even if you don't have a dog. We will have plenty of stalls to look round.

See you there 😊

30/08/2025

Saturday 13th August at Vale park New Brighton, are you coming?

2 WEEKS TODAY!

Expect wagging tails, fun classes, rosettes, raffles, stalls, and plenty of pawsitive energy, all in aid of Wirral Mencap, supporting adults with learning disabilities right here in our community 💙

We’re proud to be teaming up with the amazing Friends of Birkenhead Kennels - Dogs needing homes, who do incredible work for local rescue dogs 🐶🙌

🐕 Think your pup could win “Waggiest Tail” or “Best Dressed”?
🛍️ Fancy a go at our raffle or browsing some fab local stalls?

Come along and show your support! All proceeds go toward a brilliant cause.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wirralmencap/1793246?fbclid=IwY2xjawMP26JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6SUVXcFJVZmpaa25IQmRYAR5-mT5_JeZgz5nmDnfaKU4wFWuDWzGpaiWqqj_IVoq9Dq9k9eqqkuCBjY9nag_aem_HCeZ2xQtGOlEYbxOH0l8pg

28/08/2025

Sometimes you just gotta match the energy of your clients... or just create some funny heart-felt memories 😊

I always enjoy my sessions with Chester the ... I can feel the difference as his muscles relax and his fascia becomes more flexible throughout the session.

Today his left hip and sacral region were in need of most of the work but it didn't mean I ignored the rest of him because he overcompensates on his other limbs too... right down to his feet! So i gave him a proper with a nail trim and fur between his pads as well as some lavender moisturiser on his pads as I massaged most of the pain away... even I found it therapeutic by the end too 😊💜🐾

If you want a single session for your ageing dog to see how much easier they can move around the house and on walks afterwards, just get in touch... I may work with but I don't bite 🐶😘

27/08/2025

Back at Dogs Diner - Wirral's largest raw food outlet today offering a 30minute on your dog for just £10

Message me on 07736041156 if you want to book in today or next Wednesday to make sure we keep your dog running efficiently 💜🐾

26/08/2025

Last week we had a mishap...

Even with his cone of shame in place, Sam the Springer Spaniel still wanted to hump my leg as his normal pre/post dinner excitement ritual.

I was trying to make him get off.

Somewhere in the palaver, my cup of tea decided to spill all over my laptop!

It's now defunct so I currently can't get access to my work emails or paperwork stored on it.

Totally my fault coz I shouldn't have had one near the other... and can you imagine telling that story to the insurance company? 🤣🤦‍♀️

So whilst I get it sorted, please message me on here or WhatsApp me on 07736041156 if you need my massage services 😁

25/08/2025

Some of my favourite pics of Pepé at his first Saddleworth Morris Rushcart weekend... he had a wonderful time and sends his woof and thanks to all the Morris men and Morris ladies who made him feel so welcome and gave him lots attention and treats 💜🐾

The Quirky K9 &
The Quirky K9 Grooming

25/08/2025

Dog and Owner massage on my regular clients...

Perfect way to spend a Bank Holiday Monday 😁

17/08/2025

I have a stall at this dog show on 13th September and am sponsoring the golden oldie show too... are you gonna come along and enter your dog?

Its official.......We are hosting our first ever Dog Show!

🐾 Wirral Mencap Dog Show 🐾

A Community Day of Entertainment and Cute Dogs!

📅 Saturday 13th September
🕚 11:00am – 3:00pm
📍 Vale Park, New Brighton

🎟 Entry to the dog show is free but if you would like to enter your pooch into one of our categories, its £2.50 plus booking fee.

✨ Dog Show Categories:
Best Trick
Biscuit Catcher
Best Dressed
Most Like Its Owner
Golden Oldie (Age 7+)
Waggiest Tail on the Wirral

🏆 Enter your pup and join in the fun!

🎉 Plus on the Day:
🐶 Stalls with Dog Goodies
🎟 Tombola & Raffle
🎈 Family-Friendly Activities

All proceeds support Wirral Mencap, helping adults with learning disabilities live full and supported lives across the Wirral.

🎟 Tickets to enter you dog into one of our categories are available online: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wirralmencap/1793246

Places are limited, so get your dog entered now before they sell out!

🐾 Let’s make it a paw-some day for a great cause!

15/08/2025

Like many other things, it is difficult to see a difference after the first time we do or try something new. Canine Massage can in many cases give immediate effect, but in order to get the best results in the long run, I usually recommend 3 sessions for a few reasons:

- It helps me develop TRUST with your dog and not go in too deep too soon and cause too much therapeutic discomfort.

-The first session enables me to soften the tissue, and increase the blood flow through the muscles, pushing any trapped toxins out and away to the lymph system to be excreted, therefore providing a baseline for future discoveries in the deeper muscles.

- It enables me to assess the entire dog, not just the primary area of concern but also any overcompensation.

- Once trust has been achieved over the course of these 3 sessions when your dog’s mind and their body start to “let me in” then that’s when the magic often starts to appear and we can see a lot of those pain-related behaviours disappear as you begin to get your old dog back.

If you want to know more about how 3 sessions of clinical canine massage can really benefit a dog or if you have any other questions just send me a message!

Hayley.Hilton@HandsOnHeart.dog