Sherri Cappabianca

Sherri Cappabianca holds multiple certifications in small animal massage, as well as certifications in small animal acupressure, aromatherapy for animals, and canine hydrotherapy. She is also a 6th generation Reiki Master in the direct lineage of Usui, Hayashi, Takata, Gray and Rosenthal.

A lifelong dog lover, Sherri opened her canine health and wellness business, Rocky’s Retreat in 2006, named after her golden retriever, Rocky, and began working part time massaging dogs. After more than 20 years as a software engineer, she left corporate America in 2009 and began working full time with dogs, focusing primarily on their health and wellbeing.

In 2011, she joined forces with her new business partner to open Rocky’s Retreat Canine Health & Fitness Center, located in Orlando, FL. The emphasis was on hydrotherapy, massage, nutrition, behavior, and other healing therapies for dogs. Through the years, Sherri has helped countless dogs in the central Florida area recover from numerous health issues, lose weight, and have an overall better quality of life for a longer period of time.

Sherri also created a canine hydrotherapy certification training program through the Rocky’s Retreat training arm, The Canine Fitness Institute. Through that program, she successfully taught hydrotherapy skills to hundreds of people throughout the country and Canada who have gone on to open their own successful hydrotherapy businesses.

In 2017, after building the business and deciding it was time to slow down a bit, they sold Rocky’s Retreat and The Canine Fitness Institute and relocated to the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina.

Not wanting to retire, Sherri’s focus now is on manufacturing raw and cooked foods for dogs. She also continues to research new ideas on healthy dog care, give advice to dog owners, and write books about dogs from her home in Hendersonville, NC, where she lives with her Goldendoodle / lab / Irish wolfhound mix, Fletcher.