October 2026 Canine Newsletter

Dogs have always been a part of my life, from family companions who enjoy long hikes and trail rides, to obedience training, non-competitive agility, and scent detection work. As a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner Equine, I have had the opportunity to explore The Masterson Method® bodywork with a wide variety of barn dogs at the ranches I visit; this naturally led to pursuing canine certification. I’m passionate about helping dog guardians connect more deeply with their dogs through gentle touch so both human and dog can experience the benefits of releasing tension and restoring the dog’s natural balance and movement. Throughout the year, you can often find me at local dog fairs and dashes across Northern California, sharing what The Masterson Method Beyond Dog Massage is all about.

I hope you enjoy my contributions to the newsletter as much as I know the dogs and I will enjoy writing them.

Kalin, Zsasz and Ecco

Halloween - to trick or to treat?

It’s October, and that means my favorite holiday is steadily creeping closer, or more precisely, is at the end of the month. The “ber” months mark a shift in seasons, and it all begins with the spookiest time of year, Halloween! This fun holiday can be a real fright for our canine companions. Bone-chilling yard decorations, costumes, and masks can frighten Fido out of his coat and down the street, making this a good time to update identification on collars.

Your pup might take a nibble from the old-fashioned jack-o’-lanterns; no worries, they’re getting some extra vitamins. This brings up the topic of candy and dogs. As fun as it is to share the sweets from your stash, your dog doesn’t need them! Have a treat bowl ready for the canine companion accompanying their little ghouls, filled with healthy, organic, canine- and human-grade snacks. Better that the human eats the dog’s candy than the other way around!

Here’s a potion for all you witches to mix in your cauldrons this October:

Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 tbsp natural peanut butter (avoid any peanut butter that contains the sweetener Xylitol)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.

• In a large bowl, mix together eggs, cinnamon, pumpkin, flour, salt, and peanut butter. This mixture will become stiff, dry, and crumbly really quickly when first mixing.

• Add a little bit of water to help moisten the ingredients, then you will be able to work and knead the dough. Only add a tablespoon or so as you go. You want the dough to end up being a dry and thick consistency.

• Flour your countertop and roll the dough out to be about a ½ inch thick. Use your cookie cutters to cut out individual treats and place on a greased baking sheet. You don’t need to separate them very much; they don’t rise a lot.

• You will have leftover dough after cutting out the first batch of treats. Quickly knead and roll out the leftover dough to make even more!

• Bake for about 35 minutes or until hard. Serve to your fur-baby!

Nutrition

Calories: 56kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 59mg, Potassium: 68mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 785IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg

The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

Woof and Answer from our Facebook Page

🐾Woof & Answer Wednesday Question: “My dog is always jumping on and off furniture and running nonstop, and I think it makes him tense in the shoulders. Is there a simple bodywork technique I can try at home?”

Answer: Active dogs who love to jump, climb, and zoom around can absolutely develop tension through the front end of the body, especially around the shoulders and forelegs. A gentle Masterson Method technique called the Scapula Trunk Points Technique can help encourage relaxation and tension release in these areas using the Search → Response → Stay → Release process.

Here’s How To Do the Technique:

• Locate the shoulder blades

Place your fingers where the topline of the back meets the neck. You’ll feel the tops of the scapulae (shoulder blades).

• Search slowly down the front edge of the scapula

Using one finger, move gradually downward and observe your dog closely. You’re looking for a small “response” such as blinking, softening, or another subtle change that tells you you’ve found an area of tension.

• Stay lightly at that point

Once you notice a response, keep your finger there with feather-light “air gap” pressure, barely touching the coat.

• Wait for a release

Your dog may yawn, lick and chew, sigh, blink repeatedly, stretch, lower the head, or even lie down as tension begins to release.

Every dog expresses release differently, and some do so very subtly. The key is patience and allowing your dog to process in their own time. Follow their pace and let them guide the session.

October Canine Celebrations

October goes to the dogs with several holidays honoring the pups.

This month is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. It is also National Pit Bull Awareness Month; help break the dogma of common stereotypes about these cuddle pups.

Speaking of which, did you know that black dogs sit in shelters far longer than their light-colored friends due to superstition about color? October 1st is Black Dog Day, and the first week of October is National Walk Your Dog Week, emphasizing the importance of daily exercise for canine health.

Does your bag of tricks have room for a black pit bull and a walk with a pocketful of pumpkin bones?

Happy Halloween, all “ber” season long!

Canine Zoom Courses for 2026 - 2027

Read and Release Courses

(First in the Series)

Read and Release is the first course to start your journey with The Masterson Method Canine Bodywork. Enjoy learning from the comfort of your home.

Students will learn to recognize and use their dog’s visual responses to find and release tension. These visual responses give you insights into your dog’s physical and emotional needs. In this course, you and your canine companion will build connection, enhance movement, and improve comfort.

Fridays at 11:00 am CT, October 16, 23, 30, 2026 with Kalin Finsand (full)

Mondays at 3:00 pm CT, November 9, 16, 23, 2026 with Leslie Kennedy

Sundays at 9:00 am CT, January 10, 17, 24, 2027 with Leslie Kennedy - new price

Introducing Movement Courses

(Second in the Series)

Introducing Movement is your next step after completing the Read and Release Course.

Adding to the foundation of using touch effectively and understanding what your dog is communicating, you are ready to start applying Masterson Method Movement Techniques. In this course, you will learn all movement techniques from the Beyond Dog Massage book and help your dog with easier and more natural movement.

Fridays at 11:00 am CT, November 6, 13, 20, 2026 with Amelia Nalli

Tuesdays at 11:00 am CT, December 1, 8, 15, 2026 with Kalin Finsand

Saturdays at 11:00 am CT, February 6, 13, 20, 2027 with Amelia Nalli

Find a Certified Canine Practitioner Near You!

Happy Halloween!

Boo! Don't be scared - it's just me!