Getting Started - Advice from Others

12 Aug 2018

Last week’s blog post was about the different ways to help you to get started and to self-analyze what and where you may need to top up your skills or confidence.  This week’s blog is the answers to the short little survey I sent out, asking you:

What did you do to help you feel confident and comfortable before engaging in the actual practice of canine rehab?

Just a handful of responses, but here’s what people said:

1.I shadowed at several different practices, bought a membership to your site, practiced on my own dog, and found a mentor to help guide me.

2.I went on lots of practical courses. 30 years of human practice. Many years of dog ownership

3.Nothing is as scary as your first surgery as a Vet, when you might actually kill a patient (God forbid).  Rehab hasn't been so scary but just lots of research and planning before you see your patient goes a long way. If you're not sure exactly what is going on be honest and go find out or ask for help.

4.Examined co-workers dogs

5.Joined 4 leg rehab

6.Ha. After reading your blog Laurie, I probably should have done more. I just jumped. I started doing home visits and approached vets for referral and went from there. The one good thing of working with referral, is you know what you’re looking at before you go. So, I’d practice an overall scan on my dog’s and review the joint I was looking at first, then go and deal with whatever flew at me. My first dog was a lovely shepherd rescue that had a neurological injury due to some buckshot that had to be left in close to her spine. It was starting to cause problems and talk about complicated! My second was a beautiful wolfhound cross with sever spondylosis. The owner was just looking for care to keep him comfortable in his last few months, so weekly opportunity to practice palpating and massage/compressions/stretches. Every new dog was how I learned. I attended continuing ed. courses, finished my canine diploma

7.Being a vet with 13 years of experience made it easier. I already had skills and this included communication skills. Hugely important! I started my acupuncture practice a bit before rehab. the facility was being built and I was seeing patients for acupuncture. This opened the door for me to start conversations and begin to treat some patients manually before my pool was complete. I had hydro patients lined up by the time the pool was ready. I did not really plan it in stages but I think it helped me to gain confidence in a new field and to see that the client relationship was really what made the difference. The trust was established. Thereafter, if I was uncertain I would say so and explain my reasons for choosing a modality or exercise. A bit of experimentation, perhaps, but that's how I learnt.

I’m sure all of you have your unique stories of how you started and how you became to feel comfortable and confident in what you do!  Thank you to the folks who shared their answers above!

Until next week… Keep on being awesome!

Cheers,  Laurie