Christina is a gift. I had heard about her from friends and reached out when my dog Della was going through chemo, plus experiencing hip and spinal pain with muscle wasting as she aged. Christina's bodywork and cold laser therapy made a huge difference in Della's mobility and comfort. Her technical skills are extensive but her ability to sense the energy of her patients and connect with their needs is nothing short of remarkable. I was also able to rely on Christina's knowledge and experience to be one of my key thought partners as I navigated through Della's treatment, hospice and end of life. She is a special person and a natural caregiver to all. If your pet is aging, or has an injury, or an illness, you should have Christina on the top of your list to help with rehabilitation, pain management and to improve their overall quality of life. Thank you Christina, for all you did for us. read more

We just received a very sweet email from Christine - the owner of Skillful Paws thanking us for stopping by her booth at the Spring Fling to get our doggies a massage. I would have given her a 5 star review anyway - but way to go on customer service Christine! Christine does Sports, Working Dog, Therapeutic and Puppy Massage as well as Equine and small animal Acupressure. She is also a certified dog trainer which surely helps her understand underlying issues causing muscle problems. At the Spring Fling she did an awesome job of turning Boogs and Scrubbie into marshmallows (see pic) my Mia on the other hand was a challenge. Mia has horrible separation anxiety when left with a stranger (not when left alone at home that is a different type of anxiety) and having a stranger massage on her was not relaxing or pleasant at all for her - Christine explained that that was why she was shedding and putting out so much dander while being massaged. I am very interested in working with Christine to help my Mia feel more comfortable when left with strangers and am also excited that she loves working with rescue organizations! I am sure all my Rescue Foster Pups that usually come to me with their own issues could benefit from her massage and behavior understanding! read more

See all

Christina was a saving grace for my foster dog and me. Dobby was a stubborn and sassy firecracker, she liked to talk to people and Christina was no exception: ) She also had a habit of walking away when Christina was working on her. Christina was always patient and had an amazing bedside manner. It was very apparent how much she loved Dobby and dogs in general. She used cold laser therapy, acupressure and massage to help Dobby's very arthritic joints and muscles. With cold laser, I saw a lot of improvement with Dobby's knee. It seemed like every time I would get busy and not schedule appointments as regularly, she would stop using the leg. Christina was always on time and never forgot appointments, she would even call if something opened up and she could get us worked in sooner. Christina is the best! read more

Our sweet old yellow dog Bailey lived in a great deal of pain because of arthritis in her joints and spine, and we called Christina at Skillful Paws to come and give her some relief. By the end of the first massage, we could tell that Bailey was feeling better, and when we were able to have Christina come for several sessions in a row, it made a real difference in her ability to get around. Christina's technique is gentle and calming, and it gave Bailey relief from pain and stiffness. We are so grateful for Christina's wonderful energy and understanding of our old girl's needs. Christina also has developed a proprietary blend of essential oils, Peaceful Paws, and using it before/during thunderstorms makes a real difference for our anxious dogs. Bailey was always terrified of storms, and this provided some respite, and our young Lab Zoey goes from stressed to calm when we use it. I know it's available through several local retailers, and it's worth seeking out! read more

Christina is an amazing caregiver. The love and care that she gives to our old girl is really making a difference in her mobility. Sasha has been on a cold laser and massage therapy schedule for about the past 3 months. She is typically an anxious dog, but she always quickly settles into massage and cold laser, and has even fallen asleep during her treatment! Sasha is a German Shepherd/Husky mix and almost 15. She has advanced arthritis in her back and shoulders and had lower back surgery a few years ago, under Christina's care she has really perked up and even executed a couple of clumsy zoomies! Knowing that Christina is always a phone call away is so reassuring as we are trying to make sure that Sasha has the best golden years possible. She is always so fast to respond which gives me great comfort knowing that if Sasha takes a spill or is hurting from the weather changes that she will be there as soon as possible to help out! Don't hesitate to book, it really makes a difference and Sasha's dad pointed out that dogs don't get a placebo effect so it must be working! read more

Look, I'll cut the long story. Everything everyone here says is true, and if there was a way to give more than 5 stars, I'd do it. Here's my unique story about how wonderful Christina is: My girl, in addition to her hip, knee, and spine issues, is going through chemo for lymphoma and having on and off stomach issues (Christina has been incorporating acupressure to address that over the last few weeks). Yesterday (Friday), she had more issues than normal, and I asked Christina if she could see our girl before our usual Wednesday weekly appointment. She's sitting here right now with Madison . . . on less than a day's notice, on a Saturday, on her day off, with no other appointments, she drove from her home in pretty north Austin to my home which is as far south in Austin as you can get (literally on the border of Buda). read more

Working with Christina was a wonderful experience. I had terrible anxiety issues with my adopted greyhound and she helped so much. I was a bit skeptical of acupressure for a dog, but I was totally wrong....IT REALLY WORKS!!! My dog was very tense and 2 sessions helped tremendously. Christine really listens to your questions and concerns and clearly knows what is best for dogs. The sessions helped my dog so much. So completely worth it. And her essential oil products are a true miracle. THANKS A MILLION. Cannot recommend enough! A+ read more

Love Skillful Paws and Peaceful Paws! I attended Christina's group seminar on giving a relaxing massage to your dog. It was awesome and my dog enjoyed every moment of it. She was so knowledgeable, prepared and animals naturally love her. Both my dogs and I use her calming Peaceful Paws blend. read more

Christina turned my dog Jake around within a very short period of time. He was in extreme pain with his back (Intervertebral narrowing) I tried all the traditional methods with medication, but it only got him so far. Her expertise with massage, Reiki and laser made a huge difference and he is now close to 100% with minimal meds and monthly massage and I thought I was going to have to take him in for back surgery before her treatment. I am so grateful to Christina at Skillful Paws for her help with Jake and her kindness and guidance to me during the entire ordeal. If your dog is experiencing pain of any kind, call Christiana! You won't regret it and your dog will thank you!! read more

WOW. AMAZING. and PURE LOVE. Christina Hardinger was a treasure to find. my 14.5 year old tripod, Paco just recently passed on to rainbow bridge.......but finding Christina when Paco was 13 years old and working with her, extended his life another year and a half. Even more than that, it provided my sweet boy with that time in a lot less pain. Her touch is magical. She would often write in her follow up emails or in- person encounters, that he would be snoring within the first 5 minutes of her massage. He was literally putty in her fingers. She knew exactly what an old dog who had been on 3 legs most of his life would need to soothe his weary muscles and bones. His arthritic body craved her magic touch. And I can write all this in total confirmation as I actually sat in the room the first massage session. (Our drive to Christina was somewhat lengthy so i just watched the first time). She is more than someone providing a "service", she is indeed a HEALER......and you can tell by watching her, and seeing the results in your pet, that this is her passion. She does this with love. I feel so blessed to have met her. Her wisdom was priceless. Not only did her hands on work give Paco relief, she also informed me it was time to put him on pain management meds. And that was invaluable to his quality of life as well. Thank You, Christina, for all you do, and all you are!!!!!!! read more

Christina treated my 18 year old cairn terrier when he was at his most need. I swear he would sigh in relief when she walked in the door and would rest comfortably after the treatments. He was more mobile and didn't wince in pain when jumped from the sofa. (We just couldn't stop him from jumping on and off.) Traditional pain pills didn't work and he became cranky about taking them, so Christina was an angel. She was with us when our old boy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. She is comforting to both humans and our dogs. read more

Our first experience with Christina was when we needed some help for our working sport dogs. Working dogs under strenous training often develop aches and pains that impede their performance. About four weeks prior to a national championship competition, Christina worked her magic on Italo twice a week. Needless to say, Italo placed 2nd at the American Working Dog Federation championship in May 2012. That secured him a spot for the FCI World Championship in Hungary in September. She will be getting alot of business from us leading up to the FCI event. We are referring all of our clients to her, both pet and sport dogs. Thank you Christina for all you do for our dogs!! read more

Christina Hardinger of Skillful Paws LLC has helped our dog Charlie get through some tough times as an elderly dog. She is thoughtful, professional, caring, and expert at what she does. Anytime we have questions or need advice Christina is always available and responds right away. We consider her part of our family and Charlie loves her. We highly recommend Christina. - Joe and Amy read more

I've needed to do this for a while. I've relied on Christina with Skillful Paws to help my 14+ year old Samoyed. He's arthritic, has some spinal stenosis, and has two bad knees. The massage and cold laser has improved his quality of life and he wouldn't be as mobile as he is without her care and gentle touch. He sleeps more soundly and restfully after his time with her. She's made a tremendous difference in our lives. read more

Christina Hardinger dba Skillful Paws works wonders with her "paws" and even at your own home! After having to cease using prescription meds to ease his arthritis, our older Lab needed serious help in acclimating to his new way of life. At first we were a bit hesitant when someone recommended acupressure because we were concerned how such treatment might hurt him because we didn't know much about it obviously; however, our fears were immediately eased upon meeting Christina, then seeing her in action: our dog relaxed to her gentle touch using acupressure + massage, which was exactly what he needed for his aching muscles & shaky bones. Her calm, confident manner employing her acupressure & massage techniques produced an incredibly positive effect on our dog's ability to walk again without pain, so needless to say we highly recommend her services and genuine care for your dog as well. Christina is also certified in aqua therapy and works with horses: http://www.skillfulpaws.net read more

Skillful Paws & Christina are AWESOME!! My dog was sick for a month, and because of bed rest, her back legs were not as strong as they used to be. She was sore, slow, and just not herself. Christina helped us, and even showed me what I could do at home to help her get back on the right foot. Once you meet her, you will totally see why. She has such a great connection with your dog and you! LOVE!! read more

Christina is amazing! My dachshund recently hurt his back and she came over to my house on Labor Day weekend to help him. She administered cold laser therapy and acupressure. She's also been a great resource for questions and has went out of her way to recommend me to a vet who was able to help me fix my dachshunds back injury. She really loves her animals! read more

Christina with Skillful Paws is wonderful. My dog Jack aka Rudy aka Mr. Brown is currently dealing with coonhound paralysis. It was Christina who not only recommended that I get a second opinion but she has also been a fantastic cheerleader in the whole process. Jack trusts her, as do I, which allows him to be confident in the water therapy that we have been doing. She has gone above and beyond multiple times to help me find the right pool, has met up with me at my work, and has kept my head towards the light many times. She is Jack's angel. We are about three months in to the paralysis, and without her help I dont know what position we would be in. She is professional, kind, and honest. She will tell you what you need to know and how to get there and encourage you along the way. Definitely recommend her to anyone looking for an excellent dog massage therapist, and/or water therapist. Thank You so Much Christina!!! read more