Karen has always had an affinity with animals but has a particular love for dogs and horses

She grew up surrounded by family dogs, including Joe, the Cocker Spaniel, owned by her grandparents, and then later her parents introduced Barney, the Border Collie, to the family.

Karen now has Murphy, a 5 year old Springer Spaniel, who is a bundle of energy and loves nothing more than exploring the countryside, and her horse, PK, a British Warmblood.

It was, however, Ben, a Labrador Cross, which started her journey towards clinical canine massage therapy.  Ben was 7 years old when Karen brought him home from an RSPCA Rescue Centre, severely overweight and with a large lipoma on the inside of his hind leg that needed removing.  Ben then started showing intermittent lameness that was diagnosed as arthritis in his elbow, and at 10 years old he ruptured his cranial cruciate ligament requiring TPLO surgery.  It was at this stage that Karen started exploring alternative complementary therapies to help Ben have the best quality of life in his later years.

So, after 22 years as a secondary school teacher, Karen decided to follow her heart, change careers and learn how to help other dogs, like Ben, feel the benefits that canine massage therapy can bring.

She studied for 2 years with the Canine Massage Therapy Centre – an intense training course that included over 900 hours of studying canine anatomy and physiology in depth, as well as practical training in the skills of Swedish, Sports and Deep Tissue massage, Myofascial Release and the Lenton Method® (a unique set of protocols in direct myofascial release).

Karen is a proud member of the Canine Massage Guild dedicating time each year to attend CPD courses that keep her skills up to date.  In addition, she has completed courses in the following:

• 2017:  Diploma Dog Training & Behaviour (ADTB)

• 2020:  Diploma Canine Anatomy (Open College UK)

• 2021:  Diploma Canine Communication (COE)

• 2021:  Diploma Canine Nutrition (COE)

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Karen is based in East Sussex and covers this area as well as the surrounding areas of Kent and Surrey, treating dogs in their own home.  She adheres strictly to the Veterinary Act 1966 & Veterinary Exemption Order 2015 and will not treat a dog without written consent being given by a vet.  Simply download and print off a consent form and take it to your vet to sign.