The bladder meridian runs along each side of the dog’s body, about an inch from the spine. It begins just behind the eye and runs between the bump at the top of the head and the ear. From there it continues down the top of the neck on each side of the spine until it reaches the tail. The bladder meridian continues down the outside edge of the hind leg, along the side of the hock, terminating on the outside toe of each hind paw.
Goal: To bypass the dog’s survival-defense response and connect directly with the part of the dog’s nervous system that holds and releases tension.
Results: This simple yet powerful Technique establishes the basis of communication between you and your dog through your touch and your dog’s response. It puts you both on the same page, sets the tone for the interaction, and relaxes both of you.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – SEARCH – Sit in a comfortable position with your dog. Place the flats of one or two fingers together above the ear on one side. Barely touching the surface of the skin, slowly and gently run your fingers down the bladder meridian. Go at a pace that is slow enough so that you do not miss a Response from the dog, but not so slow that the dog is not paying attention.
Step 2 – RESPONSE – As you move your fingers down the bladder meridian, watch for subtle signs or responses from the dog.
Step 3 – STAY – When your fingers pass over a spot that causes the dog to respond, rest your fingers over that spot, keeping your hand soft and the pressure light. Stay on that spot, watching the dog’s responses. This may take one second or one minute. Be patient, breathe, and relax!
Step 4 – RELEASE – When the dog shows a larger response of Release, such as a licking and chewing, sneezing, yawning, fussing, fidgeting, or wanting to step away, then continue down the bladder meridian repeating these steps.
Jim Masterson Demonstrates This Technique
See more videos on our Masterson Method YouTube Channel.
Bladder Meridian Tips
Go Softly
Use what we call “Air Gap” pressure (non-pressure) with this technique. Keep your hand soft and your arm and shoulder relaxed, with the flat of your fingertips barely touching the hair or skin. Run them slowly along the bladder meridian line, watching the dog’s subtle Responses to your touch.
Go Slowly
Forget the clock when doing this exercise. If you are anticipatory or anxious, the dog will sense it. Take a deep breath and move your hand very slowly along the bladder meridian, watching for subtle Responses in the dog’s eye, movements of the ears, or fidgeting.
Pay Attention To What Your Dog Is Telling You
Watch for a Response. Some dogs may only give a tiny blink, ear or head movement. Other dogs are more trusting and sensitive and give a clear blink or multiple blinks. Some dogs may become nervous and look around at you or away from you when you find something, or even look surprised. A Response is any shift in behavior that indicates the dog feels something under your finger.
When you get a Response, stop moving your hand and rest it there (at Air Gap pressure), and wait for a larger Release Response (Chapter 1 of Beyond Dog Massage book). This is usually followed by some sign of relief or relaxation. Any larger change in behavior indicates a Release.
Staying can be the easiest (or hardest!) part of the process. It can take 10 seconds, or it may take a whole minute. Throw away the clock and any expectations you have. Just wait and give the dog a chance to feel what is going on. Stay until you get a Release – or not. Stop and hold your hand on a spot at any time if you sense that staying there might bring a Release. If it does not, move on.
Other Tips
- If you are not sure if the dog is Responding because of you or from something else, go over that spot very lightly again. If the dog responds at that same spot, “something” is there.
- It is OK to go over a spot twice, miss an area, or not get the both sides of the dog done.
- You can start in a different place, switch hands, use both hands, or stop and begin again.
- Do not worry that you are not “doing it right” or that you might hurt your dog. If you are using light pressure and are patient, you cannot do it wrong! You can only do it better.
- Sometimes, you will stop to see if the dog has more to Release and nothing happens. That is OK. It may mean there was nothing there, there was something there and the dog did not release it right then, or the dog released it and did not show you. In most cases, the dog did not want to show you the release, and will release after you have moved on.
Additional Resources
For more detailed instruction, see the Beyond Dog Massage book. Consider enrolling in a Read and Release Course!