Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
Whether your dog's change in mobility was sudden or a long time in coming, you've probably experienced some of these feelings:
- You want to help your dog move but you're afraid of hurting her
- You're mentally, physically, and emotionally wrecked from caring for your mobility-challenged dog
- You feel alone in the struggle to care for your dog
- You feel guilty about taking a break to care for yourself
- You've scoured the web but you can't find answers to your questions about your dog's condition and how to care for him day-to-day
Caring for a mobility-challenged dog is hard.
Believe me when I say these feelings don't have to be your constant companions throughout your dog's mobility journey. For more than a decade, I've personally cared for many mobility-challenged dogs and guided thousands of other dogs and their pet parents so I know how overwhelming it can feel.
But I also know that it gets better with great resources, empathetic support, and a safe place to ask questions.
We're Here to Be Your Guide
Tips and life hacks that you can implement immediately to improve your dog's quality of life and make your time together more fun and loving
Guides and support teams with decades of experience caring for mobility-challenged dogs like yours and pet parents like you
Delivery of essential information in a conversational style. We won't lecture you and you won't need a veterinary degree to understand the concepts
A Loyal Companion's Canine Mobility Resource Center
THE TOOLS AND GUIDANCE YOU NEED
The Resource Center is an innovative community for pet parents of mobility challenged dogs. It's packed with practical training and resources on all aspects of canine mobility, including recognizing change in your dog, understanding pain, mastering your dog's day-to-day routine, self-care, and more.
Take a self-guided tour of all our resources!
We're ready to walk the trail beside you.
Having a knowledgable, compassionate, and understanding guide is exactly what you need on this journey. We like to say our space is a no-judgement zone. We're here to listen, encourage, and educate. We want to teach you to travel this path with confidence that you can overcome any obstacle. But, when you need help, you can count on us to be right behind you.
- Access to Experience & Expertise: We've guided thousands of mobility-challenged dogs and their pet parents on their very personal mobility journeys.
- We've Been Where You're Going: We've personally cared for our own mobility-challenged dogs for more than a decade.
- We Bring You Behind the Scenes: We're happy to show you how we work through challenges with our own dogs.
Meet Your Mobility Guides
Canine Mobility Specialist
In 2008, Kate founded A Loyal Companion to provide massage, exercise, and mobility solutions for senior dogs. In 2015, she opened the first canine fitness and mobility facility in Arizona, featuring an indoor swimming pool and complete dog gym. Since then, thousands of dogs and their pet parents have come through the doors in Tucson.
Kate is the author of two books on canine mobility, Sit. Stand. GO! How to help your dog overcome mobility challenges and Emotion to Motion: How the mind impacts your dog’s mobility, published by Dudley Court Press.
In addition, Kate lectures to groups on topics such as fitness, massage, caring for senior dogs, and canine mobility. Her work has appeared in various publications, including the website for the popular national dog culture magazine, The Bark (https://thebark.com/content/gathering-storm)
Kate lives with her wife, Kathy; Half Moon, a joyful rat terrier; Helen, an empathetic and athletic boxer; and Andy, a sleepy white terrier mix.
Canine Mobility Technician
Nikki began her career working with dogs in 2007, building her knowledge of dog obedience instruction, dog behavior and dog body language, including the impact of different play styles on the energy of the group in daycare settings.
Since joining the A Loyal Companion team in 2015, she’s applied her obedience and body language skills to dogs with mobility challenges, teaching them how to swim, conquer strength-building exercises, and master new wheelchairs. She's also our resident expert in canine enrichment, focused on accommodating mobility-challenges in games and activities.
Nikki earned professional certifications from HandicappedPets.com for measurement, fitting, adjusting, and application of the Walkin' Wheels adjustable rear wheel and quad carts. She is a Canine Fitness and Conditioning Coach (CCFC) and Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI). She lives in Tucson with her dogs Zoey, Cooper, and Roo.
Veterinary Advisor
Dr. Rademaker and her husband John moved to Tucson, Arizona, from San Jose, California, in December of 2001. They loved our California life, but life in Tucson continues to be the best thing ever! Affectionately known as Dr. Rad, she left behind an 18 year career at the small animal clinic in San Jose that she joined 2 weeks after graduating from vet school. She then embarked on a 19 year career at Sunrise Pet Clinic in Tucson. It could not have been a better match. In those 19 years at Sunrise she was surrounded by doctors and staff who were skilled not only in Traditional Medicine, but also in Alternative Medicine. She retired in May 2021 and has no regrets about the decision, but she truly misses the profession that she started as a technician/ receptionist way, way back when she was 19 years old.
The Rademaker 4 leggeds have been the best teachers imaginable: Fast and agile Joey, smart and stubborn Weezee, and goofy guard dog Duke.
Dr. Rad's current rescue dog, Mowgli, is a tripod. His right front leg was amputated when he was about 4 months old. He seems to be oblivious to the need for the “extra” leg that other dogs have.
All of the deceased Rademaker dogs, most of the cats, and even Moki the rat have lost their lives to cancer. Subsequently, she figures that every moment of fun and love and joy counts for a great deal. Environment enrichment is our mantra!
We believe...
Inspiration is what keeps us moving, every day and every night. The idea that we can guide others along this mobility journey is the fuel that drives us to take the next step -- right beside you. We believe:
- Quality of Life Is Important Now. Maintaining a high quality of life includes keeping your dog comfortable by meeting all her basic needs as well as keeping her safe from (or helping her through) situations that cause pain—either emotional or physical. More than that, it’s creating and fostering opportunities for her to experience the pleasure of the good things in life.
- Emotions Motivate Movement. The mind is the most underappreciated aspect of canine mobility. Everything your dog experiences in life is processed through emotions. Understanding motivation to move is just as important understanding the muscles and joints that create the movement.
- Self-Care Isn't a Luxury. It's a Requirement. Looking after yourself isn't selfish — it's essential. If you aren't physically and mentally healthy, you can't fully meet your dog's needs. By putting yourself first, you are more well-rested, make better decisions, and provide the specialized care your dog is depending on you to provide. You can't do that if you're not caring for yourself.
Which one works best for you?
We are acutely aware of the additional expenses (physical, emotional, and financial) that come along with parenting a mobility-challenged dog. That's why we choose to keep our membership rates low and access easy. You don't need the extra hassle or expense. Join us!
$19
- Renews Monthly
- Instant Access to All Mobility Resources
- Instant Access to the Mobility Community
- Invitations to All Mobility Mash Ups
$199
- Renews Yearly
- Instant Access to All Mobility Resources
- Instant Access to the Mobility Community
- Invitations to All Mobility Mash Ups
- 30-min virtual session with a Mobility Guide
You Don't Have to Go It Alone.
Your dog's mobility journey will be filled with twists and turns, rough roads, and plenty of joy and love. We're here to guide you through it all.
Join Us!