Way more than just dog training...

Really good animal therapy requires empathy, deep knowledge, endless curiosity and flexibility

it's all about the dog

At Canine Mind and Body Balance we believe the animals who come for therapy should be treated with respect. We nurture co-operation with our canine clients and work within their range of skills and abilities. If they really cant, or dont want to do something, we wont force them and will seek to find an alternative.

This means we have a very flexible approach to canine therapy and treat each dog as an individual with their own needs and abilities. Years of training and practical experience means we have a wide range of skills and techniques to choose from and this is what makes our therapies successful. 

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First we start with the most simple things and that is often where you see the most change

Looking for dog training?
If you came here for dog training you are in the right place, but you may be wondering why we offer such a range of services and perhaps you are confused about where to start.
 
When I first started my career in canine behaviour therapy in 2005 I had a limited amount of training techniques I could draw on. Sometimes they worked but often they didnt and that was frustrating.
 
Over the last couple of decades I have realised that it goes much deeper than just teaching training programmes.
 
If any training is going to be effective then first we have to know that the dog can actually think clearly enough to focus and learn. Many dogs I see are simply unable to concentrate or be still or calm long enough to listen, let alone learn because they have so much going on in the background that to us seems invisible.
 
This is then assumed to be the dog being stubborn, willful, dominant, defiant etc, when actually they are just overwhelmed to the point they cant make sense of what you want or what you want is beyond their capabilities in that moment. I bet you can all remember feeling like that in school at least some of the time or with that one teacher who just didnt understand how you think?
 
It makes people feel understandably frustrated and annoyed when they feel they are trying to help their dog and they feel they are just being stubborn and obstinate. But what I want you to know is that your dog is not just being wilfully defiant. They would love to please you but they simply cant because they dont understand or something is making it impossible for them to do the thing they have managed to do in many other situations but cant do on this occasion.

 

The world our dogs experience is way different to ours. So different we have no idea what it ‘feels’ like to be them. Their reality is so very different to ours that we need to step back and make sure we understand as well as we can what they are dealing with. If we can figure out what the difficulty is we can then remove it and make it possible for your dog. Maybe the environment is a problem, maybe they lack the training skills they need, maybe they have a headache!
 
Often what they are struggling with is hidden and they are not able to communicate to us in a way we understand. So when you come to us we figure this out for you and then show you how to co-exist with your dog AND get them to do what you need them to without every day being an ongoing battle of wills and frustrations. 
 

 

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Your dog has a whole different reality to you

This means that when they seem to be getting upset about nothing it is because it is outside of our ability to identify. Hover over the arrows below for just a few reasons why your dog's world, and therefore experience, is very different to yours.

integrative therapy
The aim of the centre is to provide a central place which offers and integrates a variety of canine complementary and alternative therapies tailored to suit the needs of your dog.
 
Complementary and alternative (C.A.M) therapies can be both appealing and confusing when trying to decide how best to help your dog. At Canine Mind and Body Balance we offer only services by fully qualified therapists, who all have the united view that the dog always comes first and at all times is treated with respect. You can feel safe in the knowledge that anyone who treats your dog at the centre will only do so if your dog is happy to be treated by them.
 
Not all of the therapies we recommend are offered here at the centre, as you may need to visit other specialised facilities to access them.
 

There is also a strong emphasis on education here at the centre and we aim to take the mystery out of CAM therapies and help people to understand how they work and how they can benefit our dogs.

Read here
integrative therapy
If you came here for dog training you are in the right place, but you may be wondering why we offer such a range of services and perhaps you are confused about where to start.
 
When I first started my career in canine behaviour therapy in 2005 I had a limited amount of training techniques I could draw on. Sometimes they worked but often they didnt and that was frustrating.
 
Over the last couple of decades I have realised that it goes much deeper than just teaching training programmes.
 
If any training is going to be effective then first we have to know that the dog can actually think clearly enough to focus and learn. Many dogs I see are simply unable to concentrate or be still or calm long enough to listen, let alone learn.
 
This is then assumed to be the dog being stubborn, willful, dominant, defiant etc, when actually they are just overwhelmed to the point they cant make sense of what you want or what you want is beyond their capabilities in that moment.
 
This makes people feel understandably frustrated and annoyed when they feel they are trying to help their dog and they are just being stubborn and obstinate.

 

The world our dogs experience is way different to ours. So different we have no idea what it ‘feels’ like to be them. Their reality is so very different to ours that we need to step back and make sure we understand as well as we can what they are dealing with.
 
Often what they are struggling with is hidden and they are not able to communicate to us in a way we understand what the difficulty is.
 

 

Read here

Julie Moss
BSc. Hons. AdvCertVPhys, Dip.APhys

Hi! I am Canine Behaviour Practitioner, Veterinary Physiotherapist, TTouch Practitioner and founder and owner of  Canine Mind and Body Balance.

I have a BSc. Hons. Degree in Animal Welfare and Behaviour, an Advanced Certificate in Veterinary Physiotherapy, a Diploma in Animal Physiotherapy and I am a P1 TTouch Practitioner. I am a member of the TTouch Guild in the British Isles.

I specialise in identifying underlying physical causes of behaviour problems in dogs. Upwards of 80% of my behaviour cases over recent years have had an underlying musculoskeletal problem causing pain or dysfunction to the dog so my passion is helping people identify these hidden causes so they can get the appropriate treatment.  My greatest business achievement is the building of the Canine Mind and Body Balance centre and the developement of integrative therapy there to help address these problems.

I have been living with dogs for 32 years and has been working with them for 17 years and during that time I have shared my life with a number of amazing animals .

All of my animals have been inspirational educators and have each helped me to expand my skills and knowledge base in my quest to discover therapies and solutions which enhance their lives.

I look forward to working with you and your amazing dogs.

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