Massage, mobility and behaviour support for dogs in Wellington & Hutt Valley

Your dog's body and behaviour aren't separate stories. I work with both, together.

But, I don't just work with dogs. I coach the people who love them, so you walk away with clarity and confidence. Which is better than just giving you a list of instructions!

The person behind Your Whole Dog

Hi, I'm Annie.

Canine massage therapist, fitness trainer, mobility coach, dog trainer and behaviour consultant, working across Wellington and the Hutt Valley.

Want to chat? Book a free 15-minute connection call

It started with a dog who hated the vet

When I first started working with my own dog, Wolly, on cooperative handling for vet care, I thought I just needed a few new training tricks.

What I found instead was a whole new way of looking at dogs.

I learned that behaviour challenges often have hidden roots - health issues, pain, fear, or unmet needs. I learned just how much a dog’s physical health and behaviour are connected.

That sent me down a path of learning canine massage, fitness and mobility work.

More recent behaviour work has led me into the science of fear and stress. And the more dogs I work with, the more I bump into the same question: is this actually a training problem, or is something else going on? A dog who can't settle. A dog who's suddenly barky and snappy on the leash. A dog who just doesn't like being touched or wearing a harness.

Often, the answer isn't in the training at all; it is in the body. I couldn't keep pretending they were unrelated.

Now when I look at a dog, I see the whole dog in front of me, rather than a single issue to solve. Whatever's going on for them, physically or emotionally, rarely sits in a tidy box.

Looking for what lies beneath

Before dogs, I had years in health, and came to this with a background of pharmacy, nutrition, naturopathy. Whilst I don't practise in any of those fields now, they shaped the way I think. One habit in particular: ask what's going on underneath the surface, rather than just treating what's in front of you. That didn't switch off when I moved into dog training and behaviour.

So when a dog is anxious, reactive, or seemingly difficult, I'm not just looking at their behaviour. I'm wondering what else might be part of it. Is there discomfort, pain, or an unmet physical need, sitting alongside the emotional and training side of things?

It's not that every behaviour issue has a hidden medical cause. Often it's a mix of things. But I'd rather ask the question than assume I already know the answer.

Three services. One whole dog.

These days, I rarely separate massage, mobility, and behaviour work. You might expect them to be three different appointments, with three different specialists. For me, they're one conversation.

A dog who's struggling on the leash might need training. They might also need their shoulders looking at. Often it's both, and treating them separately means missing half the picture.

Dogs aren’t toasters. They’re not broken machines that need fixing.

They're complex, individual, and doing the best they can to navigate a world that doesn't always make sense to them. My job is to figure out what's going on, physically and emotionally, and help from there.

I see the dog you have, not a problem version of them.

I don't see a problem dog

I work with a wide range of dogs, and a few situations come up again and again: dogs who are fearful or anxious, dogs with handling worries at the vet or at home, senior and recovering dogs managing mobility, puppies still learning to coordinate growing bodies.

My approach is consistent: less noise, less guessing, and a better understanding of their dog as an individual, not a problem to solve.

In your home, on your dog's terms

I come to you. Sessions happen in your home, on your dog's turf, where they're more comfortable.

Everything is dog-led. If your dog needs a slow pace and plenty of breaks, that’s what we do.  

Check-ins, notes, and resources between sessions mean you're not left guessing what to do on your own.

I'm Fear Free qualified and a KPA Certified Training Partner, credentials that back up the way I work, rather than being the reason for it. If you'd like the full list of my qualifications and professional memberships, they're here.

What I want you to walk away with

Every dog I work with is different, but the outcome I'm aiming for is always the same. For you to understand your dog. For you to know what they need, and why. And for you to feel confident enough to keep going, even on days progress feels slow.

That's what I want for you and your dog: clarity, confidence, and a way forward that fits who they are.

Get in or to ask questions first by emailing annie@yourwholedog.co.nz  I'm always happy to talk it through.

Or book a consultation today.

Want more of the story?

If you’re still curious and want the longer version of the vet-visit story, or how I ended up down the canine massage and fitness rabbit holes, I've written about them.

Read the cooperative care story.

Read the canine fitness training and canine massage stories.

Let's work together to create a harmonious household where both you and your canine companion will thrive!