CN3000: Caninology® Canine Body Worker Certification Course
Summary

*This course has been approved for 64 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.
In this course, participants will learn massage techniques, range of motion exercises, dog handling skills, and gentle stretching techniques in addition to learning conformation assessment and gait analysis. These skills are essential if you plan to work as part of the canine healthcare team. A mixture of class lectures with plenty of hands-on practice time ensures your quality education with the proper supervision to learn the modalities properly.
Like our popular equine course, this canine version is specifically designed for those participants wishing to pursue a career in this field, but it is also targeted and formatted for veterinarians, physical therapists, human massage therapists, trainers and chiropractors who would like to enhance their skills. The course is taught in such a comprehensive logical layered format that those with little or no complementary canine science background will find themselves quickly up to speed with the other professional participants.
Externship:
There’s an additional 100 hours of guided study once the student leaves the class. Participants complete 20 massage sessions on at least 5 different dogs using all of the massage techniques and stretching exercises as well as the documenting techniques taught in the class. There is also a home study portion on muscle function, muscle identification, point location and gait assessment required to enhance the material that is taught and presented in the class. Once this is completed a video is sent by the student to EquiLearn to review, evaluate and expand the student’s work.
This is an intense course. Students attend class daily from 8:30am-5:00pm and have an additional 3 hours of evening studies. Day 5 is spent out-of-class for independent study.
Outline
Vocabulary:
- Anatomy vocabulary
- Directional terms
- Veterinary terms
Skeletal structure:
- Form and function
- Thoracic appendicular system
- Pelvic appendicular system
- Axial skeletal system
- Conformation
- Typical canine orthopedic conditions
- Injury
- Surface anatomy landmark identification
- Palpation skills
Muscle structure:
- Function and form
- Palpation & rudimentary evaluation skills
- Locating and isolating muscles
- Injury
- Deep muscles
- Superficial muscles
- Cause of muscle damage
- Causes of various problems
Massage and Bodywork:
- Safety rules
- Basic strokes
- Theory and application of the massage strokes
- Contraindications
- Body mechanics for the worker
- Follow-up exercises
- Gentle stretches
- Handling during the session
Assessment:
- History
- Documentation
- Creating documents for the owners
- Gait abnormalities
- Subjective conformation
- Typical neurological canine conditions
- Canine behavior
- Handling skills
- Gait analysis
- Range of motion analysis and exercises
Business:
- Marketing
- Work ethics
- Veterinary ethics
- Creating forms
Prerequisites
You must be registered for the CN3005 Canine Anatomy and Behavior Distance Study course prior to signing up for the CN3000. We expect students to spend at least 100 hours reviewing the content, as a knowledge of directional terms, veterinary vocabulary and anatomy is required.
While the final exam for the CN3005 does not need to be finished before attending the CN3000, it must be completed before the Caninology® Canine Body Worker certificate is released.
If you have a thorough understanding of this material (especially those professionals already in the healthcare industry such as veterinarians), please contact the office to clear this prerequisite.
Required Materials
Required Text:
Dog Anatomy Workbook: A Guide to the Canine Body
by Andrew Gardiner $45
Course Materials (included in tuition):
Course Workbook
Course Handouts
Externship (included in tuition):
Externship Grading (Case Studies and Visual Presentations)
Instructor
Dr. Mila Speciani,
Veterinarian, EEBW, CCBW, GPCert WVA & CPM
Dr. Speciani, a veterinarian and Equinology® Equine Body Worker, lives and works across Northern Italy running her freelance practice. The majority of her daily practice includes dogs and horses, and she integrates natural medicine, sports medicine, natural management, and gentle horsemanship, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation in order to provide health and wellness to animal athletes and companions.
Dr. Speciani graduated with full marks in 2006 from the University of Parma – Veterinary Medicine Department thanks to final graduation work on “Ultrasonographic evaluation of the thoracolumbar spine of the horse.” She completed externships at Santa Lucia Farm, Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center and San Marcos Equine Practice. Dr. Speciani is certified by the Holistic School on Natural Horse Management and Natural Barefoot Trimming; Equine Physiotherapy, Preventive Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Ultrasound and PMF-Magnetic Field Therapy; and Equine Sport Medicine and TECAR® Therapy.
After three years of postgraduate school, Dr. Speciani graduated CUM LAUDE as Doctor Expert in Homeopathy, Homotoxicology, and Integrated Therapies. Her final dissertation earned the recognition of the Internationale Gesellschaft für Homotoxikologie (Baden Baden, Germany).
In 2013, Dr. Speciani completed an Equine Kinesio Taping course of studies and is certified by the Kinesio Taping Association International. In 2014, she enriched her knowledge of Myofascial Release by attending seminars and being further mentored by Ruth Mitchell-Golladay, a leader in animal MFR. She’s now further specializing in Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management.
Dr. Speciani is an instructor and lecturer for world-renowned institutions, regularly teaches courses and seminars, and recently published peer-reviewed articles concerning her scientific areas of expertise.
Register
A $300 deposit is required to hold your spot in a course – the remainder of the tuition is due at least 30 days prior to the course start date. The $300 deposit is nonrefundable and nontransferable, and is credited to the total tuition for the course. Confirmation letters, course outlines, required pre-study (if applicable), directions and lodging options will be sent when the $300 deposit has been received.