Laurie's Blogs.

 

21
Apr 2013

I don’t have an UWT!

Hi Laurie! 

Okay, business question for you. How do you deal with the clients who call for water therapy? I’ve only been in business 6 months or so and without a financial backer, an underwater treadmill is just a dream right now. I receive quite a few calls from clients who want underwater treadmill or pool therapy (I am set up for house calls so I can do swim therapy if the owner has a pool- which many do here where it’s warmer than Calgary!). In some cases the vet has recommended "water therapy" and in some cases its the client who seeks it. Any tips for things to say to get them to try "land therapy"??

 

Also, I love comparing dog care to human care for my clients. It makes it a lot easier to explain things sometimes. Any information you can share on how a particular injury is treated in people compared to dogs is great since I don’t have the background for humans! 

Thanks much!!!

S

-----

Hey S...

Great question.

So, rule number 1, is never say anything negative about the UWT or their option to go that route. "Oh, yes, UWT is an excellent form of exercise, great for the cardiovascular system. Unfortunately, I don’t have one of those units, as they are very costly at this time."

Rule number 2, don’t try to persuade them to chose you over the UWT (that may be your ultimate goal – by try to ‘soft-sell it first’... try to convince them that they need both and/or that what you can offer or supplement to their UWT conditioning program would make their therapy / fitness program more well rounded. (And then you may... after getting to know them better, be able to increase the services you offer & provide for their dog.)

Next, you talk to them about Muscular STRENGTH and muscle ENDURANCE... and how they are different than cardiovascular strengthening. (i.e. going to the gym and only doing the treadmill will only get you so far in your fitness goals. You need to add weight training if you want to reshape your body, strengthen your muscles, and support your joints.) What you can offer is specific targeted exercises that will address these three things.

Then, give them options, you could provide this therapy (and more - i.e. modalities, manual therapies), on a weekly basis for a rehab case, or set up a home program and check back with them in every 2 - 2.5 weeks. And if it is a sporting dog you are dealing with, then a monthly check up and exercise review, revision, progressions can occur at that interval.

As for the vets - your marketing tool is best to be the fact that you are ’house call’. There are plenty of people that will prefer this. In your marketing / promotional materials - focus on the advantages of being mobile (i.e. you can offer advice on home environment modification, you can advise on exercises that can be done within that particular dog’s home & yard. The dog will not have to endure the stress of a car ride or going to a new place. You just ’work the angle’!!) 

I hope this helps S! Thanks for the question!

Laurie



Top