Canine massage practice open in Greenwich - Greenwich Time

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Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media


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Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for rehabilitative care and health maintenance that is said to reduce stress, stimulate blood circulation, increase flexibility and reduce swelling and muscular atrophy. less
Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for ... more
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, rests his eyes as canine massage therapist Kim Freeman gives a massage in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for rehabilitative care and health maintenance that is said to reduce stress, stimulate blood circulation, increase flexibility and reduce swelling and muscular atrophy. less
Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, rests his eyes as canine massage therapist Kim Freeman gives a massage in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy ... more
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for rehabilitative care and health maintenance that is said to reduce stress, stimulate blood circulation, increase flexibility and reduce swelling and muscular atrophy. less
Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for ... more
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for rehabilitative care and health maintenance that is said to reduce stress, stimulate blood circulation, increase flexibility and reduce swelling and muscular atrophy. less
Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for ... more
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for rehabilitative care and health maintenance that is said to reduce stress, stimulate blood circulation, increase flexibility and reduce swelling and muscular atrophy. less
Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for ... more
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for rehabilitative care and health maintenance that is said to reduce stress, stimulate blood circulation, increase flexibility and reduce swelling and muscular atrophy. less
Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for ... more
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for rehabilitative care and health maintenance that is said to reduce stress, stimulate blood circulation, increase flexibility and reduce swelling and muscular atrophy. less
Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for ... more
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for rehabilitative care and health maintenance that is said to reduce stress, stimulate blood circulation, increase flexibility and reduce swelling and muscular atrophy. less
Canine massage therapist Kim Freeman massages Gail Horton's dog Levi, a 13-year-old terrier, at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, March 3, 2016. Freeman offers concierge canine massage therapy for ... more
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Canine massage practice open in Greenwich


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Backed by classical music, Kim Freeman speaks to her client, Levi, with comforting words and a calm voice, making sure he’s completely at ease as she begins the massage.

She starts at the top of the head with soothing, gentle strokes and slowly works toward the neck, rubbing out any knots or contusions she comes across and taking special care at known pressure points. Levi’s eyes drift shut as she massages his muscles, loosening any tightness in the chest and shoulders.

Levi responds with a deep growl, not because he’s angry, but because that’s how 14-year-old Cairn terriers express themselves. Freeman understands what he’s trying to say.

“I’ve always been an animal person,” Freeman said. “When I became an interior designer, all of my clients’ dogs would run up to me and several people joked their dogs liked me better than them. I guess I just kind of speak dog.”

Freeman, a former magazine editor, has turned her sixth sense into a third career. She became a certified canine massage therapist through Equissage, one of the oldest training establishments for animal massage therapy in the U.S., about three years ago. Now she practices in Greenwich, where she’s building a client base as well as providing services as a volunteer at Guiding Eyes and Adopt-A-Dog.

It hasn’t all been easy, though. Freeman said there are a lot of misconceptions about canine massage and she’s working hard to educate the community.

“It’s therapeutic and for overall quality of life,” Freeman said. “When you say massage, a lot of people think of pampering, but that’s not what it’s for. It’s for the health of the dog. It works in conjunction with veterinary medicine and eliminates scar tissue, improves flexibility, relaxes and reduces stress, stimulates blood circulation and has many other benefits.”

Freeman said most canine clients are older dogs, overactive dogs, show dogs and those with various maladies that could benefit from massage therapy.

The Northwest School of Animal Massage estimates there are roughly 250,000 licensed animal massage therapists in the country, and they’re in high demand. Equine therapists can earn upwards of $100 per hour, while canine massage therapists earn $45 to $75 per hour depending on their service area and type of therapy. Freeman said full massages take about 45 minutes and include 75 steps.

“People will spend a lot of money to dress their dog up as a frog for Halloween, and that’s cute, but it’s really for the benefit of the owner,” Freeman said. “Instead, if you spend that on massage, it’s for the benefit of the dog.”

Despite the challenges in clearing up canine massage misconceptions and educating pet owners about its benefits, Freeman said she wouldn’t want to do anything else.

“I love it; it’s about being gentle and understanding the dog,” Freeman said. “Last summer, I had a client in Riverside and their house was on the water. ... We did the massage outside, so we had on some nice classical music and were looking out over the water and it was so beautiful. It made me so happy, and it’s so rewarding to know I’m helping these animals.”

[email protected]; 203-62-4411; Twitter: @kaitlynkrasselt

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