I've been asked quite often - "Who swims at The Rex Center?" Or sometimes in the form of "Is that for xxx dogs?" Where xxx could be "old" or "injured" ... So, I thought I'd describe one of our recent days - just to give a flavor of who does come to swim at The Rex Center!
(names are changed)
"Heike" is a 9 year 'young' German Shepherd mix. She's swimming because she has bad hips but also to help her lose weight. She started a few months ago and has been coming almost every week for a 50-minute assisted swim. The first few weeks, she didn't want to swim - but enjoyed the massage and tread water a tiny bit. Now she jumps in on her own and cries for her toy to be thrown! She's lost over 15 pounds and is doing better running and walking at the park when she's not swimming.
"Chris" is a 10 year old extra-large PitBull mix. He enjoys the massage and swimming because of arthritis in his back and a knee surgery a few years ago. He doesn't swim willingly, so the swim coaches have to hold him to carry him back away from the steps - and let him swim back to mom who's waiting outside the pool at the steps. He has such a long body that its sometimes a challenge to hold him. He gets a great workout with one of us holding onto him and making him tread water. He comes every week and his movement out of the pool is improving.
"Talon" came for the first time this weekend. He's a German Shepherd with fear aggression issues around other dogs. So, he doesn't get to go out to parks much and could really use the exercise to help him lose a bit of weight. Since we offered to clear out the place, his mom was able to bring him to swim and hopes to bring him a few times per month. He relaxed and was carried around in the pool in order to swim.
"Woodrow" is an 6-year old black lab who just loves to swim. He has some undiagnosed issues that causes him to limp after running with his dad. So, his Aunt is bringing him up to swim. He is in "open swim" - where he just swims and his Aunt throws his special stick for him to get. They use the jets because he's a powerful swimmer. He comes every other week for a fun dip and good exercise.
"Letty" swam for the first time this weekend, too. She is a mixed breed dog who's slightly overweight and has (according to her vet) "weak front joints". She's only 5, so her mom is trying different things with diet and is hoping that swimming will help her legs and help her gain some strength. We did massage to help get her used to being in the water and carried her out into the water to let her swim back.
"Keith" is a young Chocolate Lab who swims every week. He is ENTHUSIASTIC swimmer - he shouts in his parents ears the whole way to The Rex Center (they even showed me a video of him barking/yoewling). He alternates between 'open' swim by himself and 'assisted' swim to help him relax a little. If we wait too long between swims, he will bark - and loud! He ignores the "No Diving" stickers that are affixed to the pool. ;)
"Nico" was our third new dog during this day. He was reportedly 'not fond' of water. But, he's on the older side and is having some hip and ankle issues. He wasn't clamoring to get out after the first few minutes, and hung out a bit for massage. After being carried out into the pool a few times, he started swimming very smoothly and would park himself back on the steps. He seemed unfazed by being in the water, so hopefully he'll have just as much fun the next time.
"Shaynah" is a young Mastiff who had an undiagnosed problem where now she's lost mobility of her back legs. She's been coming weekly for about a month. Being in the water lets her straighten out her spine, hold her hind up with her one leg that is has a little bit of mobility and swim - and be free to move on her own a bit! We've seen her movement wax and wane - some weeks she wags her tail, others she doesn't. This week, she even used one of her back legs to push off of her swim coach!
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Photo shoot
My web and print designer _really_ wanted me to do a photoshoot in the water, because all of my pictures weren't the best . . . and she really wanted a dog that was half in and half out of the water. She lined up (a) a pool! (b) a photographer with an underwater setup and (c) dogs to swim! She warned me the pool (outdoors) would be cold, so get a wetsuit. . . I ran around town - thank goodness I live in a surfing town - to find a
wetsuit in my size - no such luck but managed to get one special ordered just in time. (arrived Friday for a Saturday shoot.) I told the guys what I was doing - and they recommended a shorty - cause the regular wetsuits they sell are for 50 degree water (i.e. the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco.) [remember this number. . . a long wetsuit would have been good for 50 degrees. . . are you thinking what I'm thinking?]
So, Vaastu, Stella and I arrive at Mel's friend's house - its a lovely day, the sun in shining, we're all ready. . . . Her friend lets us in and shows us around -- and says 'hang on, let me go check the
pool temperature. I have one of those old 70's solar panel heating systems - so its _drained_ for the season. Hope Mel warned you it would be cold!' She returned and cheerfully said, "the pool is 48 degrees." EEK! I got the short wetsuit 'cause the other one would have been too warm! What?
Oh well!
It all worked out, we took short stints in the water -- the only sunny spot in the pool was in the deep end, so I ended up treading water or swimming away from Vaastu (sheltie) like an otter on my back to make him follow me but to try to get myself out of the shot! Only Einstein the Lab liked swimming in the pool. The two times I tried to get Stella to swim (she likes swimming now - even took herself down the river at my friend V's house) she splashed furiously and got out. I think it was too cold for her! I didn't freeze too badly, my arms and legs turned a very bright red - but I got out and warmed up in the sun quite often.
In the end, we got some awesome pictures!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year! What's up with The Rex Center?
Happy new year everyone!
Its been an interesting month or two since I’ve written an update. Lots of major changes and events -
What's happening with the Rex Center facility?
- The application for our city planning request was accepted and we were told that 1/5 was the next available meeting. Next week we get a 10 minute slot to present to the city planning commission and pending that they approve (that is the recommended action) then we start construction! We have to find a plumber, but think we have an electrician and contractor lined up. We have to add drains to the floors and re-arrange how the pool is setup so that we can get ADA approved ramps up to the deck of the pool.
- My dog trainer (Natalie 3RsAgility) that I've been apprenticing with at Sirius puppy training is planning on staying in the bay area so she's going to lease the facility to teach agility fundamentals and we've asked Sirius to consider The Rex Center as a location for Puppy classes too.
- Susan's got a plan for paint and lovely colors thanks to a book from my friend Alessandra! We're going to use a blue that is a couple shades darker than the logo, a light yellow, an orange, and a grassy green! Bright and cheery but still sporty.
Any other business plans?
- The text for our website is done and its off to Mel Barti, our designer, so hopefully our website will be done in a month. She's even included our logo and one of the business card designs in her portfolio (under Brand Identity).
- Veronica at dogTEC has been helping me figure out a marketing strategy and critiquing a packet of related articles that Louisa (The Swimming Dog) and I have put together.
What's happening with Cathy?
1. Took canine massage and Reiki classes at the Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage! I discovered that massage (on land) is interesting and got some great knowledge and techniques, but also found that I didn’t love it as much as being in the water and working with the dogs there. Many of the good things are similar – such as using your intention to inform the dog of what you’re doing and working on noticing reactions from one spectrum to the other. The classes also taught me two very good head-to-toe routines. I’m now working on case studies for those massage certificates. (6 dogs each for 6 weeks, documentation, documentation, etc.)
2. I really loved the Reiki class and have continued practicing on myself and my animals. I am also taking further coursework with Kathleen Prasad of the Animal Reiki Source in San Rafael. She offers an internship that I’d like to do in the future, so hopefully I will get to meet her eventually. (She co-authored a book called Animal Reiki.)
3. Swimming dogs . . . I've now swum with the aformentioned Natalie's agility Bichon Frise! He's a sporty little 9-year old who was having some health problems. After his first swim, he was crazy excited and mom was very happy. :) We've had a little hiatus because his chiropractor was concerned about his neck and swimming. But hopefully we'll get into the 'pool' (a.k.a. the 7x7' spa in my back yard) soon. Natalie's also been lining up her agility students/friends to come swim at The Rex Center -- if only we could open soon!!
4. I've become an aromatherapy fanatic. I took an aromatherapy class in Colorado (along with the Reiki & Massage) by Frances at Frogworks. I have bought a zillion oils and we had an aromatherapy party where we made sugar and salt scrubs, lipgloss, and 'signature scents'. So far, the massage dogs and our dogs have been benefiting from oils too -- Stella likes Frankinsence, Sumba Vetiver, Dewi was getting Eucalyptus, and Vaastu was attracted to Thyme. . . I've been using Spikenard for sleeping better . . .
What else??
- Dewi -- referenced in "The Swimming Pomeranian" -- went to the Rainbow Bridge in early December. She slid downhill pretty quickly with collapsing trachea to the point where she would turn purple multiple times a day.
- We have two new housemates -- two 19 year old college students. They are renting the room downstairs. So we've re-arranged our house so that most of our living space is upstairs now.
I like my new office. Its connected to the main area of the house and I have more cabinet space for mixing oils and a small sewing setup. Hopefully it doesn't explode with stuff soon. :)
- Started a new job in December! Its always a bit brain taxing to learn a whole new industry -- so apologies for the update delay and no holiday cards this year! I've been fairly exhausted with all the changes and things to do plus learning a lot!
Gotta run, Sumba needs to go outside!
Its been an interesting month or two since I’ve written an update. Lots of major changes and events -
What's happening with the Rex Center facility?
- The application for our city planning request was accepted and we were told that 1/5 was the next available meeting. Next week we get a 10 minute slot to present to the city planning commission and pending that they approve (that is the recommended action) then we start construction! We have to find a plumber, but think we have an electrician and contractor lined up. We have to add drains to the floors and re-arrange how the pool is setup so that we can get ADA approved ramps up to the deck of the pool.
- My dog trainer (Natalie 3RsAgility) that I've been apprenticing with at Sirius puppy training is planning on staying in the bay area so she's going to lease the facility to teach agility fundamentals and we've asked Sirius to consider The Rex Center as a location for Puppy classes too.
- Susan's got a plan for paint and lovely colors thanks to a book from my friend Alessandra! We're going to use a blue that is a couple shades darker than the logo, a light yellow, an orange, and a grassy green! Bright and cheery but still sporty.
Any other business plans?
- The text for our website is done and its off to Mel Barti, our designer, so hopefully our website will be done in a month. She's even included our logo and one of the business card designs in her portfolio (under Brand Identity).
- Veronica at dogTEC has been helping me figure out a marketing strategy and critiquing a packet of related articles that Louisa (The Swimming Dog) and I have put together.
What's happening with Cathy?
1. Took canine massage and Reiki classes at the Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage! I discovered that massage (on land) is interesting and got some great knowledge and techniques, but also found that I didn’t love it as much as being in the water and working with the dogs there. Many of the good things are similar – such as using your intention to inform the dog of what you’re doing and working on noticing reactions from one spectrum to the other. The classes also taught me two very good head-to-toe routines. I’m now working on case studies for those massage certificates. (6 dogs each for 6 weeks, documentation, documentation, etc.)
2. I really loved the Reiki class and have continued practicing on myself and my animals. I am also taking further coursework with Kathleen Prasad of the Animal Reiki Source in San Rafael. She offers an internship that I’d like to do in the future, so hopefully I will get to meet her eventually. (She co-authored a book called Animal Reiki.)
3. Swimming dogs . . . I've now swum with the aformentioned Natalie's agility Bichon Frise! He's a sporty little 9-year old who was having some health problems. After his first swim, he was crazy excited and mom was very happy. :) We've had a little hiatus because his chiropractor was concerned about his neck and swimming. But hopefully we'll get into the 'pool' (a.k.a. the 7x7' spa in my back yard) soon. Natalie's also been lining up her agility students/friends to come swim at The Rex Center -- if only we could open soon!!
4. I've become an aromatherapy fanatic. I took an aromatherapy class in Colorado (along with the Reiki & Massage) by Frances at Frogworks. I have bought a zillion oils and we had an aromatherapy party where we made sugar and salt scrubs, lipgloss, and 'signature scents'. So far, the massage dogs and our dogs have been benefiting from oils too -- Stella likes Frankinsence, Sumba Vetiver, Dewi was getting Eucalyptus, and Vaastu was attracted to Thyme. . . I've been using Spikenard for sleeping better . . .
What else??
- Dewi -- referenced in "The Swimming Pomeranian" -- went to the Rainbow Bridge in early December. She slid downhill pretty quickly with collapsing trachea to the point where she would turn purple multiple times a day.
- We have two new housemates -- two 19 year old college students. They are renting the room downstairs. So we've re-arranged our house so that most of our living space is upstairs now.
I like my new office. Its connected to the main area of the house and I have more cabinet space for mixing oils and a small sewing setup. Hopefully it doesn't explode with stuff soon. :)
- Started a new job in December! Its always a bit brain taxing to learn a whole new industry -- so apologies for the update delay and no holiday cards this year! I've been fairly exhausted with all the changes and things to do plus learning a lot!
Gotta run, Sumba needs to go outside!
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