For too long, man’s best friend has been left out of the wellness conversation but the Ojai School of Canine Massage is hoping to change that. In director Emma D. Miller’s short “dogumentary” The School of Canine Massage, dog owners learn firsthand how valuable and beneficial it is to indulge their pets in a little doggy TLC, for both their health and relationship.

Running 11 minutes long, The School of Canine Massage is a tightly bundled piece of filmmaking. Taking place in one location, Ojai Valley Women’s Club, the film opens with a canine masseuse demonstrating various movements and massage techniques on a black pug who seems to turn into putty the longer the back rub goes on. Like their human counterparts, the masseuse points out that dogs also enjoy cupping, kneading, gentle back-slapping, and prodding. Not only does this attention stimulate muscles and relieve tension and tightness, but it also strengthens the bond between owner and pet.

Sure, this borderlines SNL skit territory, but there’s no denying that the massages are truly making a difference in these dogs’ lives. Close-ups of satisfied pups getting head scratches would be laughable if it wasn’t so cute. Pugs, poodles, corgis, and more sit contentedly in the laps of their attentive owners and quickly fall into a deep meditative state, much to the amusement and relief of their pet parents. Animal massage therapy and acupressure really work, and Emma D. Miller’s exploratory documentary makes a strong case for shamelessly pampering your pet. My only critique is that I wish the film was longer, I could watch dogs getting massages for days.