Position the dog comfortably lying down and ensure that sure it is relaxed. The gracilis muscle may be very tight and the hip may need to be flexed to begin. Later in the massage the limb may be stretched into extension as tolerated but be really careful and slow with your progression. Gently stroke and softly knead the gracilis. This should never be painful for the dog. This massage can be done for as long as 10-20 minutes so make sure you are in a comfortable posture as well – something like a sofa, bed or comfortable position on the floor is good.
The left hand side is a normal muscle, whereas the right hand side is a strained gracilis. However, this shows you the position of this muscle.