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Spas

Canine Calm

Karen Solomon,

Pampered pets can now experience the same healthy relaxationtheir owners do, in the hands of doggie massage therapists.

In Washington, Michele Lang combines canine massage withhydrotherapy at the SplashDog Spa in Edmonds (from $45; www.splashdogspa.com or206/546-5309). And if you want to learn how to do it yourself, theNorthwest School of Animal Massage in Redmond, Washington (www.nwsam.com or 425/836-3703) andthe Lang Institute for Canine Massage in Loveland, Colorado (www.dogmassage.com or877/669-3929), offer classes.

But tails wag most for LA Dogworks (from $35; www.ladogworks.com or323/461-5151), a new upscale doggie spa in Hollywood that offersThai and Reiki massage. Owner Andrew Rosenthal, who regularlypractices on his own three greyhounds, says, “At first people saidit’s a silly L.A. thing. But dogs come in limping and walk outstraight. People are beginning to realize that this is a valid wayto treat a dog.”