Whether your dog is a senior dog showing signs of stiffness or a younger dog with a ridiculously active lifestyle, all of us as dog parents worry about how to keep our dogs' joints healthy and free of pain.

At Dogly, we hear so many knee injury and joint health concerns and questions from parents of larger dogs, small breed dogs who are long-backed and short-legged (dachshunds/doxie mixes...), dogs with a genetic predisposition...pretty much the parents of all dogs. Thankfully, there is so much you can do to keep your dog happily active and pain/injury-free.

That's why these step-by-step guides were created - to equip you with answers and natural preventive and treatment options to support your dog's healthiest joints. (And to help you and your dog avoid issues that might require surgery and all that comes with surgical intervention down the road.)

We've brought together Dogly Wellness and Nutrition Advocates, who are certified canine nutritionists, canine massage therapists, kinesiologists, and herbalists, to give you answers and explain what you can do from massage techniques to nutrition to support your dog's joints in the guides outlined below.

In the 5 guides here in the Dogly Joint Support Channel, you'll learn:

• Why you should learn dog massage
• How to give your dog a massage using the effleurage stroke
• How to give your dog a massage using the kneading stroke
• How to give your dog a massage using the half-moon stroke
• How to prevent joint pain in your dog

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Jump into each guide directly above or you can see all of the guides in the Joint Support Channel here on Dogly as well as activities to prevent and treat your dog's joint health, or you can ask questions in the Community discussion.

Here's a quick look at each guide below...

Joint Support Guide 1: Why You Should Learn Dog Massage

Learn from certified canine massage therapist/ kinesiologist/aromatherapist and Dogly Wellness Advocate Ranna Lynn the many ways massage benefits your dog physically and emotionally - and how it works to support the strength and flexibility of your dog's joints.

Best of all, in this series, you'll learn how to perform dog massage so you can share the benefits and a wonderful bonding time with your dog.

What you'll learn:

Top 10 health benefits of massage for your dog

1) Improves circulation - how and why that matters

2) Stimulates removal of toxins

3) Boosts your dog's immune system

4) Relaxes your dog's nervous system

5) Improves muscle and joint health - relieves pain, relaxes muscle tension, reduces the stiffness of arthritis and other joint issues

6) Increases flexibility and range of motion

7) Releases endorphins - the body's natural pain-killers

8) Promotes injury prevention and peak performance

9) Accelerates recovery after injury or surgery

10) Helps fearful dogs relax, de-stress, and overcome anxiety

Check out this guide here to understand all the ways massage benefits your dog's health overall and supports a strong musculoskeletal system (and watch Ranna Lynn take your through it in the accompanying video). Or continue on to the overview of the next guide on learning how and why to use the effleurage stroke in massaging your dog.

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Joint Support Guide 2: How to Give Your Dog a Massage Using the Effleurage Stroke

One of the most versatile strokes is the effleurage technique - great for warming up in the beginning of a massage session and cooling off and sealing in the benefits at the end, even if you're using other strokes in between.

Included with this guide is a video with certified canine massage therapist and Dogly Wellness Advocate Ranna Lynn taking you through each step with her own dog.

What you'll learn in this guide:

• What is the effleurage stroke and why & how is it useful?
• 3 steps on how to perform the effleurage stroke

1. Getting your dog's body & mind (& yours) grounded (including essential oils & flower essences to enhance the experience)
2. Executing effleurage head to tail
3. Closing and sealing in the benefits of your practice together

Jump into this guide here to learn the effleurage stroke. Or continue on to the next guide overview on the why and how of the kneading stroke.

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Joint Support Guide 3: How to Give Your Dog a Massage Using the Kneading Stroke

Kneading is particularly useful stroke since it can be light or targeted and deeper. Certified canine massage therapist and Dogly Advocate Ranna Lynn takes you through the how and why - and you can watch her perform the kneading stroke in the accompanying video with her dog.

What you'll learn:

• What it is and why the kneading stroke works
• Used lightly or with a deeper tissue approach, kneading supports your dog in 7 ways:

1. Stimulates circulation
2. Warms muscles - helping prevent joint issues like a knee injury or torn CCL (the dog version of humans' ACLs - anterior cruciate ligament - that helps stabilize the knee cap)
3. Relaxes tight, sore muscles
4. Breaks down toxins in muscles
5. Improves elasticity with stretching & compressing of tissue
6. Provides pain relief (from hip to knee pain to general sore muscles and joints)
7. Reduces stress

The 5 steps to using the kneading stroke with your dog:

1. Getting situated and grounded
2. How to work your thumbs in a circular motion (you'll see exactly how in the video accompanying the guide)
3. How & why to work a full side top to bottom before switching to the other side
4. Tuning into your dog as you continue massaging, then closing with grounding and a thank you to your dog (& why that matters)
5. Paying special attention if your dog is either arthritic or athletic - how kneading is supportive of a dogs' knees, rear legs, hips, etc. to help avoid hip, leg, and knee problems

+ Pro tip 1: why kneading your dog's paws is extra soothing (and helps your pup get used to paw handling for nail trims)

+Pro tip 2: why to be extra careful around your dog's neck

Check out this guide here to add the kneading stroke to your repertoire. Or continue on to the next guide overview on the why and how of the half-moon stroke.

Joint Support Guide 4: How to Give Your Dog a Massage Using the Half-Moon Stroke

Learn the how and why of another open-handed stroke - the half-moon stroke - as Ranna Lynn takes you through what you need to know in this guide and the accompanying video where she demonstrates the half-moon on her own dog.

What you'll learn:

• What exactly is the half-moon stroke and how does it help your dog
• A 4-step how-to for massaging your dog with the half-moon stroke

1. Get grounded (always!) - why and how.
2. Work your open hands in a sweeping circular motion.
3. Target lower-body, large muscles and bones (your dog's knee/ knee joint, thigh bone...).
4. As always, close with grounding, cool-down strokes, and thanking your dog to seal in the benefits of your practice.

Included are recommendations for which stroke (effleurage, kneading, half-moon) is best used where and when in a full-body massage with your dog.

Dive into this guide here to learn how to perform the half-moon stroke. Or keep going to the next guide overview on how to prevent and treat joint pain in your dog with nutrition, herbs, and other wellness tips.

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Joint Support Guide 5: How to Prevent Joint Pain in Your Dog

Now for a completely different, equally important, way to prevent joint pain and promote joint wellness in your dog - using nutrition, herbal remedies, and more lifestyle and wellness tips.

Certified canine nutritionist/herbalist and Dogly Nutrition Advocate Brittany Evans shares the many things in your control you can do to make a profound difference in your dog's joint, muscle, and overall health at every stage of your dog's life.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• Why healthy weight & regular exercise matter - why they're both essential for healthy joints, mobility, and prevention of not just hip and knee injuries but diseases like cancer and diabetes as well
• How whole food nutrition supports joint and muscle strength and mobility
• 7 options to enhance your dog's meals for joint health - what, why, and specific recommendations
• Recipe for Golden Paste - to give your dog absorbable, powerful turmeric
• An essential vitamin for any dog's joints - especially an arthritic or pre-arthritic dog (find out why, what it does, & how much depending on your dog)
• Herbs that help treat arthritis & support joint health
• 5-herb recipe for prevention for all dogs & treating arthritic dogs

That's the Joint Support Channel here on Dogly

If you've gone through each guide in the Joint Support Channel, you should have a good understanding of how you can support your dog's health overall as well as your pup's joints in a range of ways from nutrition to massage. Congrats!

If you're just getting started, that's ok too! Start with understanding why learning dog massage has wonderful health benefits for both of you and finish with ways to prevent joint pain in your dog using nutrition, herbs, and exercise - and enjoy learning all the tips and information on joint health in between.

Joint Support is just one of many channels here on Dogly. Be sure to check out the other channels like Herbs in Wellness or Manners in Training or Basic Nutrition in Nutrition to learn everything you need to know about your dog's nutrition, training, and overall wellness.

And, as always, you can speak with or work with any of the Advocates on Dogly if you ever need more personalized help. Don't go through stuff alone with your dog, we're here for you!