Do we have to accept that as we get older we’re going to feel old and tired? Mary Debono challenges that way of thinking, both for people and their pets, in her book.
A Little About Mary First
Mary Debono is a lifelong animal lover with over 20 years experience in helping thousands of animals overcome physical and psychological challenges. She’s a Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner who has combined that knowledge with animal bio-mechanics, behavior and training knowledge to create her own technique known as Debono Moves. She’s worked successfully with dogs, cats and horses at her practice in Encinitas, CA and has traveled around the world teaching her techniques in workshops. She shares that knowledge with us in her book and her passion for helping animals and people can be felt on every page.
What Does It Mean to Grow Young With Your Dog?
Mary explains in her book that we don’t necessarily have to accept that we’re going to feel worse or have less energy as we get older and that our thoughts and perception of aging can limit our movements. She connects and communicates with animals through gentle hand contact and movements which can lower anxiety, ease arthritis, heal injuries and even regain movement after paralysis. Debono Moves utilizes neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to form or reorganize new neural pathways in response to injury or disease when other pathways have been forgotten or turned off. Through these movements and exercises, both you and your dog can regain a more youthful state together by using the power of touch and connection.
How Debono Moves Helped My Dog, Haley
Mary’s book has specific chapters devoted to helping dogs with back problems, neck problems, hip dysplasia and of course, the all too common knee injuries. After Haley’s CCL knee surgery last year, I relied on some of Mary’s theories and techniques. Right after her surgery, Haley came down with a severe case of colitis which went undetected until a fever presented itself. She was in such pain for several days that she held her injured knee high and tight to her belly and refused to lower it at all. Once she was feeling better from the colitis, holding her knee up had become a new habit and she was behind schedule in her rehab progress.
Limping around on three legs and constantly pivoting on her good foot was putting a lot of extra stress on her good knee. In order to get her to lower her leg and begin the process of walking on it again, I used gentle touch and pressure on her upper thigh while she stood on three legs. The light but constant pressure helped her relax her leg a little at a time. After several sessions, she finally brushed her toenails on the carpet, then gradually put more and more weight on her leg. Then, I followed up with Mary’s technique (page 88) where I supported Haley while slowly and carefully shifting her weight to all four legs in a circle. The exercises taught her to relax and trust that she could put weight on her leg again. I was so relieved to get her back on track with her rehab. Whew!
The Many Benefits of Debono Moves
If you have an older dog, Chapter 7—Enhancing the Life of the Older Dog, offers practical tips and exercises to help keep your dog moving more freely. But Mary’s book is not just about helping older or injured dogs. It’s about helping all dogs feel younger and more energetic. Active or athletic dogs can benefit from these exercises too and may see a reduced risk of injury and enhanced athletic ability. If you happen to have a reactive or anxious dog, Debono Moves exercises can help reduce stress and enhance your pup’s overall well-being. Chapter 8 is devoted to exercises just for you, but there are also human exercises incorporated into many of the techniques you do with your dog.
One of the most valuable benefits of using Mary’s techniques, is the strong bond it creates between you and your dog. And, while you’re helping your dog, you’re reaping the benefits of touch and relaxation too.
To wrap it up, Grow Young with Your Dog offers practical, easy to understand techniques and exercises that you can use right away to improve the health and well-being of you and your dog. Mary highlights several cases where she’s helped dogs and provides explanations and the techniques she used to get a positive outcome for each dog. The book is well organized so you can quickly jump to the section you need. Each chapter highlights a specific area or problem being treated and includes exercises and key points to review at the end of the chapter. There are plenty of pictures to help illustrate Mary’s techniques.
One of my favorite topics covered is in Chapter 2—Getting to Know Your Dog in a New Way. Mary shows you how to use your hands to feel and learn about your dog’s anatomy. This method of listening with your hands can help you spot potential trouble areas in movement.
Although Mary’s book is ideal for anyone with a senior dog or a dog that’s dealing with a condition that affects their movement, I would recommend it to any dog owner because of the many benefits you and your dog can enjoy by practicing Debono Moves. As a bonus, the book also includes access to additional audio and video files via Mary’s website.
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About the author
Healing Techniques for Your Beloved Pet and You!!
Dogs are our soul, teaching us peace, mindfulness, and patience. So, when I was told by the vet that my three-year-old dog needed hip surgery I was devastated. I was assured by many that dogs do very well with FHO surgery. Also, she was young she would be running around in no time. Well, that was not the case with Zoey. Two months post surgery she was not using her surgical leg and it was getting stiff and atrophied . I am a physical therapist and was trying to do therapy with her to no avail. Knowing she needed something I started her with pool therapy, which was amazing and helped her hip. But, my stubborn little terrier mix still refused to use the leg. Fast forward to three months after Zoey surgery I found myself sitting in a community presentation on Feldenkrais. Mary Debono was one of the speakers and I immediately knew this is what Zoey needed to rehab her hip. I contacted Mary and she suggested her book. I also did one session with her to see how she worked with Zoe. The book is laid out very concise with detailed explainations of techniques. Also, she has links to videos so you can view how she performs the treatments. What I loved was it starts with connected breathing with your dog. It is so powerful how this technique relaxes your animal, as well as you and builds an amazing bond. If you get nothing out of the book the connected breathing is worth the cost and more. Also, I loved that she had exercises for you as the pet parent. You don't realize how the stress takes a toll on your body. I loved the feldenkrais sessions for myself and go back to when i have had a stressful day!! Shortly after doing the connected breathing exercises with Zoe she began trusting and using her leg. I progressed with some of the exercises as outlined in the book and it seemed to calm her nervous system. Once she started using the leg I was able to do more walking and other rehab techniques to return her to her full function. This week was her year anniversary of her surgery and i am happy to report she is enjoying long walks, running and chasing squirrels or any critters. I still refer to the book and do some of the techniques, especially when she has had a very active day. I have also told others about the book and the benefits. It is a wonderful resource to keeping our dogs young. It is so important for us all to keep moving!! This book not only returned Zoe to her happy terrier self, but helped me learn and grow. Thank you from Natalie and Zoe❤
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2017
- Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017
Dogs are our soul, teaching us peace, mindfulness, and patience. So, when I was told by the vet that my three-year-old dog needed hip surgery I was devastated. I was assured by many that dogs do very well with FHO surgery. Also, she was young she would be running around in no time. Well, that was not the case with Zoey. Two months post surgery she was not using her surgical leg and it was getting stiff and atrophied . I am a physical therapist and was trying to do therapy with her to no avail. Knowing she needed something I started her with pool therapy, which was amazing and helped her hip. But, my stubborn little terrier mix still refused to use the leg.
Healing Techniques for Your Beloved Pet and You!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017
Fast forward to three months after Zoey surgery I found myself sitting in a community presentation on Feldenkrais. Mary Debono was one of the speakers and I immediately knew this is what Zoey needed to rehab her hip. I contacted Mary and she suggested her book. I also did one session with her to see how she worked with Zoe.
The book is laid out very concise with detailed explainations of techniques. Also, she has links to videos so you can view how she performs the treatments. What I loved was it starts with connected breathing with your dog. It is so powerful how this technique relaxes your animal, as well as you and builds an amazing bond. If you get nothing out of the book the connected breathing is worth the cost and more. Also, I loved that she had exercises for you as the pet parent. You don't realize how the stress takes a toll on your body. I loved the feldenkrais sessions for myself and go back to when i have had a stressful day!!
Shortly after doing the connected breathing exercises with Zoe she began trusting and using her leg. I progressed with some of the exercises as outlined in the book and it seemed to calm her nervous system. Once she started using the leg I was able to do more walking and other rehab techniques to return her to her full function.
This week was her year anniversary of her surgery and i am happy to report she is enjoying long walks, running and chasing squirrels or any critters. I still refer to the book and do some of the techniques, especially when she has had a very active day. I have also told others about the book and the benefits. It is a wonderful resource to keeping our dogs young. It is so important for us all to keep moving!!
This book not only returned Zoe to her happy terrier self, but helped me learn and grow. Thank you from Natalie and Zoe❤
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2015
- Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2014
Top reviews from other countries
- Sandy LangReviewed in Canada on May 2, 2023
A fabulous book to help us be aware of how we can help our canine friends and ourselves.
- E. S.Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2014
This is a wonderful book for every dog owner
