Better in Motion - Canine Bodywork & Conditioning

11/14/2026

🌟Registration is NOW OPEN!🌟

🐾 I’m really happy to be heading back to the Island this January for classes at All Things Dog Room in Courtenay!
I try to change the day that classes are offered to fit more people’s schedules, and this session they will be on Sunday afternoons. I hope you can join us! 😀

I will be running both a Level 1 Introduction to Canine Fitness & Conditioning (Conditioning FUNdamentals) class as well as a Level 2 - Dynamic Progressions class for those who have taken the Level 1 class earlier.
If you have previous conditioning experience and aren’t sure which class would suit you best, just pop me a message.

Both classes are taught with a focus on correct form, appropriate progressions, and ensuring the handlers understand why each exercise is selected.

‼️Limited spaces.‼️

I cap the classes at five teams to make sure everyone gets plenty of time to work through the exercises and feel comfortable.
Each class also has handouts covering the exercises from that day as well as that class’s topic dive so you can refer back to them as needed. Plus, students are always welcome to reach out between classes if they have questions. 😄 Basically, students should feel fully supported.

Fair warning, though - there is homework! 😉

Also, conditioning can be addictive (ahem, 🙋🏽‍♀️), so consider yourselves warned 😆

These classes are a lot of fun and winter is a great time to learn new ways to safely keep your pups moving and enriched.

📍6 week classes at All Things Dog Room in Courtenay.
⏰ January 10th to February 21st, 2027 (skipping February 14th for Janice Gunn’s seminar)

🔹 Canine Conditioning FUNdamentals - Level 1 - 3:15pm to 4:15pm
🔹 Dynamic Progressions - Level 2 - 4:45pm to 5:45pm

Classes are open to healthy dogs of all breeds over 8 months of age.
If your dog has big feelings about other dogs or people, reach out to me to enquire about private sessions to support their conditioning. 🤗

$250 for 6 weeks.

Contact Rachel at [email protected] for more details and to sign up.

11/10/2026

TL:DR - Conditioning matters. Do the work. 😉

💜My beautiful senior Golden Retriever, Holly.💜

Cheeky as the day is long, and oh-so-challenging - she has taught me SO much, and continues to daily. This summer, she helped to teach me a big lesson.

My reason for starting this conditioning and bodywork journey was to keep her as fit and well as possible. And, I credit both, along with consistently excellent care from our vet team, good nutrition and environment, good genes, and frankly - a large dose of good fortune, with keeping her in as good as shape as she is.

But, competing this summer we hit a challenge. For the first time, the heat really sapped her, and I despaired of getting the final few high Master passes left for her Rally Champion and the final double qualifying leg for her Rally Master Excellent title.

Now, not that titles matter in the big picture, but Rally Obedience is a sport that we enjoy training for, and competitions are fun - but not cheap, so we try to not waste the entry fees. Because of where we live, we are able to attend only a very few trials each year, so titles take a while... it is what it is.
But this makes the lesson all the more pointed.

I realized that I had let Holly down this summer - and, embarrassingly, I know better.🫣

While Holly was fit, she was not fit enough to meet the challenge of full Rally trials in the summer heat. She wasn't herself, and so I pulled her from the trials as it became clear I had let her down.

Oof.

But, after getting over being ticked at myself, I got to work mapping out our plan.

We had just over two months to get from her decent fitness level to where she needed to be for the last Rally trials of the year.

I rewrote her conditioning plan to increase strength and cardio, while maintaining our continuous focus on mobility (because strength without mobility is asking for trouble). I increased her bodywork to weekly sessions and included frequent red light sessions to help with recovery and muscle health... and I pulled out her conditioning journal to help keep me accountable.

Two months. Working consistently on our plan (which included lots of fun play and relaxing, too):

✅️ Conditioning.
✅️ Bodywork.
✅️ Cardio
✅️ Skill Training & Brain Work
✅️ Recovery

⏩️ Noticeable changes 😃

More strength, greater endurance, more explosiveness in her movements (read, cleaner transitions and footwork), and, most importantly, way more joy in the ring and out.💛

Holly went from managing two runs in a morning trial and being tired for the afternoon to doing 8 runs this past weekend... and still wanting to explore on her walks in the evening, and annoying her daughter (always a good indication of her energy level 🤭).

Oh, and we checked off one more high Master pass towards her Champion three weeks ago, AND she earned her Rally Master Excellent title. 🌟

Conditioning MATTERS.

It works. Competing or not, having your dog in good shape - strong, flexible, fit, and enriched with activity and brain work - is worth so much more than the small amount of time it takes.

It's the consistency that counts. Having a balanced plan that works towards your goals, and then steadily carrying it out.

Oh, and it's fun, too - did I mention that? Lots of fun - for both ends of the leash.

🥰🥰🥰

So, I didn't begin writing this post with an intention to plug my upcoming classes, but I'm going to, because - if you made it this far in my post, I'm impressed. 😃

I have conditioning classes starting in the New Year at All Things Dog Room in Courtenay, and can also work privately with you - in-person, or remotely (I have clients as far away as Manitoba). For bodywork, I come to the Island regularly. 🙂

Feel free to reach out and connect to see about how conditioning and bodywork can help your dog.

11/09/2026

11/05/2026

Wow. Ever have one of those moments that just really give you ALL the feels. 🩷🐾🩷

Playing along with one of those "hit the centre word" fun generators on a post from Things Dog Handlers Say, and this is what came up. ⏬️

"My dog is a privilege to be able to have and to help teach me"

🥹🥹🥹

Excuse me while I tear up over here, but it kinda says it all, doesn't it.

We are privileged to share our lives with our dogs, and even more so if they are generous enough to let us learn alongside them.

🩷 It's truly all about the journey and those we get to share it with - canine, human, equine... 🩷

Things Dog Handlers Say

10/21/2026

Continuing on my personal campaign to encourage healthy body composition in our pups, this study from 2002 is still well worth the time to read.

𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀!!!

"This study followed 48 Labrador Retrievers throughout their lives, and its findings helped establish a lasting connection between nutritional management, healthy body weight, and longevity in dogs."

TL:DR - The research found:

𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻

𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲

"𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: The study linked greater fat mass and declining lean body mass with mortality, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy body composition."

𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

Note, it's NOT under-feeding that is being talked about here - it's feeding appropriately for ALL of the considerations (age, activity level, health status, etc.)

As always - your dog's vet is your important lead for guiding weight management and changes. I can help support you with implementing their advice in many ways both for the short and longer term.

Keeping our pups as healthy and happy for as long as possible is my goal, and I love to natter about this stuff (hahaha, sorry to my long-suffering family), so feel free to reach out if you have questions or want help getting started, staying on track, or leveling up.

💛🐾💛

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆

This study followed 48 Labrador Retrievers throughout their lives, and its findings helped establish a lasting connection between nutritional management, healthy body weight, and longevity in dogs.

Here’s what the research found:

𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻: Dogs fed 25% less food than their pair-matched controls had a median lifespan of 13.0 years, compared with 11.2 years in control-fed dogs—a difference of 1.8 years.

𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: Food-restricted dogs developed age-related chronic diseases later in life, with osteoarthritis among the particularly notable conditions.

𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: The study linked greater fat mass and declining lean body mass with mortality, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy body composition.

𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: The dogs followed their respective feeding regimens from puppyhood, emphasizing the potential importance of nutritional management throughout life.

Although initially published in 2002, this is still as important today.

Because healthy weight management is more than an aesthetic goal. It is an important component of preventive veterinary care, with potential implications for both lifespan and healthy ageing.

For veterinary teams, this research reinforces the value of regularly assessing body condition, individualizing feeding recommendations, and discussing nutrition with pet owners before excess weight becomes a problem.

Subscribe to VetEd to help us access more veterinary journals.

Kealy RD, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. JAVMA. 2002;220(9):1315–1320.

Lawler DF, et al. Diet restriction and ageing in the dog: major observations over two decades. British Journal of Nutrition. 2008;99:793–805.

10/18/2026

🐕 When you see videos of dogs on slat mills, they are almost always flying at top speed, muscles pumping and hair (and saliva!) flying. 💨

🐾 Because they are completely dog-powered, it’s easy to look at them as just an outlet for explosive sprinting.

But if you are only using a slat mill for full-speed runs, you are missing out on its true potential.

When incorporated thoughtfully, a non-motorized slat mill is a highly versatile tool for a balanced canine conditioning program—and some of its greatest benefits happen at a much slower pace.

🐾 Beyond the Sprint: The Power of Controlled Movement

Sprinting is fantastic for anaerobic power and fast-twitch muscle development, but structured, slower work on a slat mill targets entirely different fitness components:

✔️ Trotting for Endurance:
Lowering the intensity and encouraging a steady, rhythmic trot shifts the workout from an anaerobic sprint to an aerobic endurance session. This builds a strong cardiovascular base for optimizing health.

✔️ Active Resistance Walking: Because a slat mill requires the dog to physically push and pull the weight of the belt to make it move, even a slow walk acts like weight resistance training. This builds core stability, muscle strength, and can help increase bone density.

✔️ Gait Awareness and Proprioception:
Moving slowly forces the dog to focus on placement, balance, and how they utilize their limbs. It ensures they are reaching a full, balanced stride rather than relying on pure momentum.

🧠 The Mental Side: Confidence & Focus:

Because a slat mill is entirely free-spinning, the dog holds all the control. If they slow down, the belt slows down; if they stop, it stops.
Teaching a dog to navigate this equipment at a slow, deliberate pace builds mental engagement and confidence.

It takes self-control for a high-drive dog to listen to their handler, hold a specific gait, and stay focused in a single plane of movement without just defaulting to a frantic sprint.
In contrast, a less-driven dog has to engage with the handler to maintain forward movement... both build relationship and take thought.

🦴 Lower Impact on Joints

Choosing a slat mill with suspension and cushioning (like a FirePaw, for example), means far less jarring and impact on your dog’s body than a similar activity conducted outside on the dirt, grass, or asphalt.

🌟All of these make slat mills a stellar indoor alternative for reactive dogs, senior dogs needing low-impact conditioning, or canine athletes cross-training during the off-season.

⚠️ Remember: Balance is Key

While the slat mill is incredible for sagittal plane movement (straight forward and backward motion), it shouldn't be a dog's only workout. Real-world canine fitness requires three-dimensional stability.

To help optimize wellness, pair your controlled slat mill sessions with outdoor movement on natural, variable terrain to keep their lateral stabilization muscles sharp and proprioceptive skills on point.

Including appropriate focused conditioning exercises to develop and strengthen muscle chains, as well as other training or enrichment activities to keep their brains sharp and needs fulfilled can help to keep our pups as happy and healthy as possible.
It's all about the balance.

The slow and steady slat mill sessions don't make for flashy reels, but they do make for solid conditioning gains. 😄

10/14/2026

Reposting for this year’s Pet Obesity Awareness Day because your dog’s weight is SO vital to be on top of. 🐾🌟

Reducing excess weight helps with lessening forces on their joints, reduces fat stores which are known inflammatory agents, can lessen the impact of arthritis, and lower the risk of your dog developing devastating problems like cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, anaesthetic complications to name just a few. (Source: VCA Animal Hospitals “Obesity in Dogs”)
💛Keeping them lean is just SO important.💛

If you have concerns about your pet, your first call should always be to their veterinarian. If a weight management plan is called for, I can work with your veterinarian and you to develop an accompanying strength and conditioning plan based on your pet’s individual needs.
And, as my clients know - I’m happy to help with accountability 😉😄 - in the most supportive way possible.💛

🧡🐶 A little extra love doesn't have to mean extra pounds. Keeping your pet active and at a healthy weight means more belly rubs and adventures together. 🐶🧡

✅️ October 9th was and it highlights an important way that we can help our pets enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

✅️ According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, "Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your pet’s risk of disease and injury and gives them the best chance of a long, healthy, quality life."

Keeping your pet at a healthy weight lowers their risk of:

❌️ Osteoarthritis
❌️ Diabetes
❌️ High blood pressure
❌️ Breathing problems
❌️ Joint injuries and back problems
❌️ Kidney disease
❌️ Some cancers
❌️ Reduced life expectancy

(https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/your-pets-healthy-weight)

💦🐾 Fortunately, for most pets, one of the easiest components of healthy weight management is appropriate exercise! 🐾💦

As always, if you have concerns regarding your pet’s weight, please talk with your veterinarian; if a weight management plan is called for, we can work with your veterinarian and you to develop an accompanying fitness plan based on your pet’s individual needs.

Let's keep those paws moving - after all, we all are Better in Motion! 🐕🌟

09/20/2026

✔️Practice what you preach.
❤️Holly enjoying a little Red + NIR light on the road before bed.

09/20/2026

💜 Holly got to come with me to the Island today and hang out during client bodywork sessions.💜

She really is just the best travel buddy and has such fun exploring new spots with me. This trail is one of my favourite places to pop down to after ATDR sessions - Millard Creek. It's gorgeous in every season and today - bonus - there were chickens to practice ignoring 😜🐔🐓

09/20/2026

If you haven't seen this music video, you're in for a treat!

🎵OK Go's "White Knuckles" - 16 years old and still so fun.

🔆Fun fact - It took the dog trainers 3 months to train the dogs for the routines (no word on how long it took to wrangle the goat 😆🐐) and each of the 14 dogs had their own trainer on set.