Janaury 2026 Canine Newsletter | |
Hi Everyone,
Happy New Year! Jim and I just returned from our Holiday.....
After planning this trip for over a year, Jim and I spent the Holidays in Spain! We met Jim's brother and sister in-law from France in Arenys, Spain where their son (our nephew) lives. It was fun to get together with relatives that we don't normally spend time with.
The Beginning - Mallorca, Spain
Our journey started in Mallorca, Spain, (an island off the coast of Barcelona) where Jim lived as a teenager. I thought it might be fun to show you the Christmas lights in their downtown pedestrian area called the Borne (pronounced born-aye)
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The Next Stop - Barcelona
We then took a quick flight over to Barcelona. Below is a photo of the Plaça de Catalunya, one of the main squares. Most of the names and signs are now in the Catalan language rather than Spainish, causing Jim to have think a little harder with his Spanish translations.
| As we walked down to our AirBnB, we passed through this amazing arrangement of lights. As a side note, we shot these photos at around 10:00pm. |
Dogs of Barcelona
After settling into our Airbnb in the Gothic Quarter, we walked to Plaça de Pi for dinner. In Spain, dinner is usually around 10:00 pm. While we ate, Jim took videos of dogs being walked outside our restaurant. Dogs are truly part of everyday life in Barcelona.
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Meeting Staff
While in Barcelona, we caught up with our Social Media Manager, Sonia Bascuñana Borras. Sonia lives close by, and joined us for dinner in Barcelona. Everything you see on Facebook and Instagram (horses and dogs) is created by Sonia.
We are thrilled to have her on our team, even if we are divided by 7 hours difference in time! It's always fun to see her, and I asked for a photo of her and her dog to post here. Her Spanish Water dog's name is Trufa which means "Truffle" because she is chocolate in color.
By the way: Sonia is one of our MM Certified Instructors that has earned the new Canine Certificate. She is now dual certified in the Masterson Method to work on both dogs and horses!
| Animal Rescue in the Catalan Area of Spain |
Our Final Stop - Arenys
Our final stop was Arenys, about an hour north of Barcelona by train, where we met up with family. Jim’s brother and sister-in-law traveled from France, and we all stayed near our nephew Jesse, who lives in this lovely seaside town.
Once we settled into our Airbnb, Jesse announced it was time to bring a cat home as a new roommate. His plan was to adopt one from a local animal rescue for Christmas, and we asked if we could tag along. It’s not often you get to visit an animal rescue in another country, so I thought you might enjoy seeing what a rescue looks like in Mataró, Spain. Below is Jesse talking with one of the staff prior to going into the part of the rescue that is home for cats:
| | Inside, it had been raining for a couple of days, so the tile floors were wet. Each cat area had bunk beds, plenty of blankets, and warm spaces for the cats to rest. Below is a video from inside the cattery: | | Jesse chose an orange male cat named Moto Moto, who had been found abandoned in the town center. While Jesse filled out the paperwork (there was a lot of it!), I spoke with the rescue administrator to learn more about their organization: | |
We are home!
The jet lag and holiday exhaustion have finally caught up with us. We’re now home, sitting in front of a warm fire, reading and taking much-needed naps.
We want to thank all of you for your enthusiasm about the Masterson Method for dogs. Sonia shared that several of her posts went viral, which tells us the word is getting out. Our goal is to help every horse—and now every dog—relieve stress and live happier, healthier lives.
When Jim and I started the Masterson Method for horses, it was a long road of educating owners on simple techniques they could use with nothing more than their own two hands. We see that same journey beginning now with dog owners. Progress may be gradual, but thanks to your support, we feel confident that this new year will bring more pet owners the tools to help their four-footed family members.
And finally, to end this year with a bang, we are excited that certification in The Masterson Method for dogs has begun. Our first group of enthusiastic Canine Practitioners have completed certification. Yay! We will be highlighting them in the next newsletter. We look forward to many more practitioners!
Note: We are starting the certification program with only those that are already certified in The Masterson Method for equine for now. They will be dual certified in canine and equine.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year from both of us,
Conley and Jim
| Great News! Celebrating our first Masterson Method® Certified Practitioner Canine Graduates! | |
Exciting News: MMCP Canine Certification
We are thrilled to share a significant milestone in the development of The Masterson Method Canine certification program. Our first canine certified practitioners have completed their education and have earned the MMCP Canine certificate!
This achievement marks an important step forward in The Masterson Method’s mission to provide impactful educational opportunities for our students wanting to make a positive difference in dogs’ lives.
Congratulations to Our MMCP Canine Graduates
The MMCP Canine group’s graduation reflects their proficiency and commitment to The Masterson Method® fundamentals and principals. We are proud of what these graduates have accomplished and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have in their communities.
Enrollment in the MMCP Canine Certification Program
Currently we are only accepting MMCP Equine in the canine certification program. Stay tuned in the Canine Newsletter to hear when we will open the program to a broader group of students.
| | A Deepening of Communication - A Testimonial | | From The Masterson Method Canine Bodywork Facebook Page, "Why Wednesday" | | |
Woof and Answer Wednesday: “When I’m doing The Masterson Method with my dog, he starts licking or gently chewing on my hand. Is that normal? Is he just feeling it?”
Answer: Exactly, he is feeling it. When we practice the Masterson Method with our dogs, we gently bring their awareness to areas where they’ve been holding tension, often without conscious awareness. As that awareness comes online, it can feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable at first. Dogs express this in different ways. Some may wiggle, some may get up and lie back down, and others may become lickers or chewers. These are not “bad behaviors”, they’re communication. Licking or gentle chewing is often a dog’s way of saying, “I’m aware of something, and I don’t quite know how to process it yet.” It’s a coping response as they navigate sensation and release. Our job is to soften our touch, stay present, and let their responses guide the session.
| | Canine Zoom Courses for 2026 | | |
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.
Saturdays at 11:00 am CT, January 17, 24, 31, 2026, with Kalin Finsand
Saturdays at 11:00 am CT, February 28, March 7, 14, 2026 with Kalin Finsand
Saturdays at 9:00 am CT, June 6, 13, 20, 2026 with Leslie Kennedy
| | If the course you are interested in is full, please email dog@mastersonmethod.com and we will add you to the wait list. | | |
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.
Saturdays at 11:00 am CT, February 7, 14, 21, 2026, with Kalin Finsand
Sundays at 11:00 am CT, April 12, 19, 26, 2026, with Stef Watts
| | If the course you are interested in is full, please email dog@mastersonmethod.com and we will add you to the wait list. |
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MM Testimonial: Change in Dog's
Ability to Climb Stairs
| | Becky Mertens is one of our MMCP's who participated in the Read and Release Course (and is now one of our Certified Practitioners in both horses and dogs). This video was taken from one of the Zoom meetings (please excuse the jerky movements). Becky explains how the work has impacted her friend's dog. | | | | |
