Goals of Holistic Touch Therapy
Canine Massage and Acupressure Classes |
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Both on-site and online Holistic Touch Therapy massage and acupressure classes are designed to produce graduates able to:
Evaluate
 canine locomotion for irregularities
range of motion
muscle texture
muscle and joint areas that require work
Perform massage or acupressure to
relax and reduce stress
address physical problems
enhance the comfort level of dogs with chronic disabilities
promote healing in injured or ill dogs
Start a successful business or add massage or acupressure skills to an existing business |
| Visit my web site to register |
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On-site Holistic Touch Therapy Massage and
Acupressure Classes at Wolfchase |
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| You may wish to attend Holistic Touch Therapy canine massage or acupressure classes in the warm, caring environment of Wolfchase, my facility in Illinois. The clear Power Point lectures and demonstrations of techniques combined with hands-on practice promote learning and confidence in newly acquired massage or acupressure skills. Classes run from 9am to 5pm each day. Mornings are devoted to class work illustrated with Power Point slide presentations. Topics include a brief history of massage or acupressure, the importance of touch, basic canine anatomy, physiology and homeostasis of the canine body, canine massage or acupressure business practices, a brief introduction to other canine complementary therapies, and more. The presentations encourage student questions, comments and lots of interaction. Afternoon sessions cover evaluation of dogs before and after massage or acupressure, record keeping of massage or acupressure treatments, and specific massage strokes or acupressure techniques. Afternoons include a lot of hands on work with students evaluating then performing massage or acupressure on dogs. There is more but this shoul give you a feel for what is covered. |
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Online Holistic Touch Therapy Canine
Massage and Acupressure Classes |
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In 2006, you will be able to obtain massage and acupressure skills online from wherever you have an Internet connection. Soon, an Online Demonstration will be accessible on my website, holistictouchtherapy.com. Online classes eliminate work interruptions, travel expenses and leaving your family. Scheduled live online classes allow you to interact with Sue and other students on the phone and computer. Previously recorded online sessions permit you the freedom to participate at times and places that work best for you and your busy schedule. Attend class anytime, anywhere 24/7. With on-site, live online and recorded online Holistic Touch Therapy canine massage and acupressure classes available, you can choose the plan that fits your life and lifestyle.
The comprehensive web-based programs take students to a virtual online classroom to experience power point lectures, watch movies that demonstrate each massage or acupressure move, see information as it is presented on the white board. Students receive handouts, homework, activities, quizzes and surveys online. Live sessions are interactive and even allow students to 'raise their hand' and ask a question. Recorded sessions provide the same features and allow students to submit questions by e-mail. You can practice techniques on your own dog in your own home. Unlike other programs partially delivered by mail or videotape or that require some on-site attendance, 100% of the curriculum can be completed via internet. The virtual classroom is like being in the Wolfchase classroom. Holistic Touch Therapy online classes deliver unparalleled convenience and flexibility to students in pursuit of canine massage and acupressure Holistic Touch Therapy certification. |
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2006 On-site Massage and Acupressure
Classes and Fees |
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 Canine Massage
March 20-25, 2006 $895
Canine Massage Basics
May 13-14, 2006 $285
Canine Acupressure
June 12-17, 2006 $895
Canine Locomotion
August 7-9, 2006 $435
Hope to see you in class! |
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| Bare Bone Facts |
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- Dogs have 39 pairs of chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs.
- Dogs have 42 teeth. Adult humans have 32 permanent teeth.
- A dog's brain is about 75% smaller than a human's.
- The average canine skeleton has 321 bones, and the human skeleton has 206 named bones.
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| Touching Tales ~ Nike, Cody, Harley & Toby |
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 I took Sue's course because my dog is getting to be an arthritic dog as she was run over by a 1 ton diesel truck when she was younger. Her name is Nike, and she is a 7-year-old Rottweiler. Nike came into my life at 11 months old. She is now a registered therapy dog and we visit nursing homes. She's a ham. She loves going room to room to get petted by the residents, and they love seeing her. I did, however, notice that it was taking a toll on her body. She would only be half done and start to get really slow and not upbeat about going to anymore rooms. It was like the residents were just sucking the life out of her, and she could not endure that anymore because she was also aging. So, I found a wonderful canine massage course and loaded up my dog and went to the course for a week. I know when Sue heard 'Rottweiler' she was a bit leery, but I think Nike won her over by the end of the week. It was amazing to see the improvement she made in just a week. Being the ham that Nike is, she always thinks that I should be doing her belly and only her belly. She does lay pretty still for me to do the rest, but I always do her belly last and she does not let me forget it. We still go to visit the nursing homes. Then, Nike gets a massage the next day. I wait because it's hard for her, like people, to be on concrete floors. So I massage after, that way it gives her body a chance to recover until the next time we go. She has had some bouts with bladder infections and now since massage that has gone way down (knock on wood). I do think that is because I have boosted her immune system with massage.
When I got home from Sue's class, I continued massage on Nike. Soon my other 3 dogs took notice and started lining up for their turn. The biggest pest is Harley my 3 year old min pin. He is so squirmy it is hard to do him, but we get it done. I also have a 9- year-old whippet named Cody. He just lays there and wants more. He is so quiet about it and is such a couch potato that he has no problem just laying there. He is also getting arthritic so he benefits as well. Then there is Toby. He is a 1-year-old Rottweiler. Toby was very sick when he came to me. He weighed only 12 pounds at 14 weeks old. We nursed him back to health, and he was healthy by medical standards. There was nothing the vet could find, but Toby still seemed to want or need something more. Then he found out about massage. He loves it. He will come to me and lay down and expect me to stop what I am doing and work on him. The first time I worked on him he got very sick and vomited for nearly 25 minutes. Then I knew he was still very sick from something, and I had released toxins that wanted out. But the very next week he wanted done again so I worked him again. He got sick again but this time not as long. By the third time I worked on him, he did not get sick. He runs and plays with the other dogs like a young dog should but is still in line to get his massage when the time comes.
Nike, Cody, Harley & Toby's Touching Tale was written by Stacy Craig of Clarence, Iowa. Pictured above are Stacy, Cody, Nike and Stacy's Grandmother, Colleen LaRue who also voluteers at the nursing home. If you haven't taken Sue's class you can contact Stacy Craig of Pawsitive Touch Therapy, Canine Massage (slg@iowatelecom.net) to ask questions about her experience at Holistic Touch Therapy.
Please share your Touching Tale of how massage or acupressure has influenced your dog or one you have worked with by sending it to Sue at suefurman@earthlink.net. Please put 'Touching Tale' in the subject line. |
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| Canine Quotes & Jokes |
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Quotes
You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!' - Dave Barry
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. - M. Acklam
Joke
A travel agent got a call from a woman who wanted to know if she could take her dog on a flight from New York to California. He told her the dog would be welcome, as long as she paid a $50 charge and provided her own kennel. He went on to explain that the kennel needed to be large enough for the dog to stand up, sit down, turn around and roll over. After a long pause, the woman replied, "I'll never be able to teach him all that by tomorrow," and hung up. |
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| Got a Minute? I Could Use a Favor! |
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 If you have used my book Balance Your Dog: Canine Massage, and you liked it, please take a few minutes to review it on Amazon and/or Barnes and Noble. It would be very helpful in the competitive world of book sales. Just go to Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com and enter Balance Your Dog: Canine Massage in the search box. A picture of the book cover will come up. Click on it. Scroll toward the bottom of the page that comes up and click on "Review this Book". Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Sue
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| Find out more about Sue Furman |
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| Zoe's Stars ~ Matt & Mariah |
 Matt: he is going on 9yrs... lhasa apso... he loves to snuggle and get massages... the more the better... he loves to ride in the car and is very alert to the surrounding happenings... likes those balls that you can put treats in and roll around for hours... he used to like soft toys; but now seems to only like bully sticks and/or bone like toys... likes to be outside in the mountains stationing himself close to the end of the driveway, so he can observe all passers by... (we have an invisible fence; which works really well... except i think the cats across the street know that my kids can't cross and do do a bit of teasing)... matt really dislikes cats... he dislikes when his sister mariah grabs a hold of his ears/tail and tries to play with him as if he was a toss around toy... he dislikes that we make him sit and wait until we say "eat" for his breakfast and dinner... he is very vocal with makes very distinctive sounds to let us know what he wants... like he knows how to get his needs met and isn't shy about conveying his wants to us... he is extremely affectionate and a very good boy!
 Mariah: going on 2 yrs of age (20 mos)... labradoodle... she is so full of energy from 6 in the morning until about 9 at night... she is very smart and loves to be talked to and learn new things. She is warming up more and more to massage; but she usually has to be so tired; otherwise she just wants to play... she has a big basket of toys (she doesn't destroy them, so the basket keeps getting bigger) and we let her choose which ones she wants to play with... her favorites are squeeky toys and balls... i would say balls are definitely her favorite... she wants and thinks we should play ball with her all day long... literally... she wants you to play catch all day long... she just doesn't understand that mom and dad do have other things to do besides play with her... she brings a toy to you when she awakes in the morning; forget it if you want to sleep in; it isn't going to happen; cuz she is ready to play and you better be too! Mariah likes to give us a bone to hold while she gnaws on it (seems like so she can get a good cleaning for her back teeth) She is so funny...! Mariah is a very good watch dog and has a very "loud voice" to alert you of people and/or unwanted critters outside......... She loves to be outside up in the mountains playing ball or finding sticks to toss around. She also loves the water. What she doesn't like is when we let her know that we have to do something else and that she will have to wait and be patient until we can play some more with her. Mariah sits, down, stay, wait, takes a bow, crawls, says hello/good-bye and will go to her "place" when told. Before eating she has to either do a trick or just wait and be polite before we say "eat"... she loves people and thinks that everyone wants to romp and play with her; and they don't... my biggest current challenge with her is to have her understand that it isn't polite to jump up on people... we hope to get that one resolved as it isn't a good thing. She is so much fun to be around and she is a very good girl; but she does wear us out!
 Matt and Mariah live in Redlands,CA with their owners Christine and Ralph Pacini. Christine was a delightful Holistic Touch Therapy student and is now a treasured friend of Sue and the Wolfchase Pack. Tail Waggers Canine Massage is Christine's business, and she is definitely moving in the right direction. Thanks for sharing, Christine.
A Note from Zoe
 See your pet in Zoe's Stars column soon. I am an equal opportunity animal lover. Share photos of your dogs, cats, horses, gerbils, iguanas, rabbits, hamsters, birds or any other critters you may have. All are appreciated. E-mail (suefurman@earthlink.net - use "Zoe's Stars" in subject line) or snail mail (6801 Meacham Road, Kinmundy, IL 62854) a photo of your pet to Sue and look for it in an upcoming issue of The Power of Touch. Be sure to tell us about your pet -- his/her likes and dislikes, favorite activity, trick, food, or other interesting tidbits. Don't forget to include your pet's name and your name too. ~Zoe~ |
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Below are in-class photos of Holistic Touch
Therapy Students hard at work |
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Christine Pacini (Redlands, CA) and Logan
Stacy Craig (Clarence, IA) and Nike.
Check out their story in Touching Tales.
Joy Johansen (Eau Claire, WI) and Salt
Sharon Olsen (Los Angeles, CA) and Gabbie
Lynn Haas (Trenton, IL) & Hobo
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