How You Can Help Your Animal

TTEAM and TTouch offer real value for money. You can learn how you can help your animal by attending a workshop or by working with a local Practitioner on a one to one basis.

One to One Sessions

You can call your local Practitioner and ask them to visit your home or take your animal to the Practitioner. All qualified Practitioners work on a one to one basis. Costs vary depending on area and skill level and there may be some travel costs as well. You will be shown TTouches and leading exercises if appropriate that you can do to help your companion animal overcome a variety of problems. Many clients see a change in their pet within the first session although this obviously depends on the longevity of the problem and possible contributory factors.

Costs for a one to one session at Tilley Farm and in the Bath/Bristol area, for companion animals and horses, by arrangement. Travelling costs may be added if the animal is unable to come to Tilley Farm and lives outside a 10 mile radius from the farm.

Workshops

You could also attend a workshop. Practitioners qualified to Level 1 and above teach one day workshops and those qualified to Practitioner Level 2 teach two day workshops. Costs vary depending on the skill level of the Practitioner and the area. Many people who attend our workshops go on to train as Practitioners.

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Looking at Dogs in the Present Tense
By Sarah Fisher

Understanding how posture relates to and directly influences behaviour in animals can give you valuable information about how and why your dog reacts the way he does in certain situations. This can be a helpful tool when selecting a dog from the shelter when details about the dog's background may be sketchy or completely unknown.

You can also use these observations to learn more about the dog already in your care or to assess a dogs' suitability for the life style that you lead. Even if you are choosing a puppy, understanding the correlation between posture and behaviour can give you some indication as to how he will mature as many traits and behavioural characteristics are in place at a very early age. By understanding how tension patterns influence the dogs mind you can prevent or overcome many common behavioural problems and tailor your management of the dog to suit his individual needs.

What are Tension Patterns

Tension Patterns are areas of tightness that exist in an animals body. They may be obvious and inhibit the natural movement of an animal to a greater or lesser degree or may be subtle and less easily detected. Either way they will have an effect on the way the animal functions on an emotional, mental and physical level. They can influence not only how the dog thinks, feels and learns but can hamper a dogs ability to be trained and adapt to new situations.

Why do Tension Patterns Occur?

There are a number of reasons why tension patterns occur. Whilst breed type and genetic makeup obviously influence posture other factors can also come into play.

Injury. As well as greatly reducing tolerance levels, pain can alter a dog's normal posture and movement. Even after the injury has healed the dog may still move in the posture it adopted to compensate for the original problem. He may have to learn how to move in a more effective manner once more since the muscles may have developed unevenly thus maintaining the posture the dog adopted to protect the injured area.

Medical Problems. Changes in hormones, thyroid imbalances, arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other medical problems give rise to many issues. Whilst veterinary care is paramount, awareness of how the underlying problem is affecting your dog gives you the opportunity to reduce stress and minimise the knock on effect the issue may have on your dog's posture and behaviour.

Trauma. Shock as a result of an accident or an emotional upheaval such as being in kennels, bereavement, or change of circumstance can cause tension throughout the body. Just as with humans, even low levels of stress can cause physiological changes and influence the dog in his day to day existence.

Management/Training. Lack of exercise, inappropriate environment, or unsuitable training methods can all cause stress in a dog and exacerbate habitual and instinctive behaviour. Poor nutrition and food allergies can also cause tension through the body.

Born that way. Some dogs present tension patterns right from birth. Puppies with higher levels of tension in their skin or in specific parts of their body will generally be more vocal and more demanding from even a few days old. Unless these tension patterns are reduced it is likely that the problems will grow as the puppy matures.

Identifying Tension Patterns

Before you can set about doing anything to relieve areas of tension you have to identify them. Spend some time watching the way your dog moves both on and off the lead. Note how he sits and how he lies down. Observe closely the way in which he holds himself and organises his limbs when walking. Watch how he stops - does he always stand square or does he stand in an uneven frame? Does he stand base narrow or base wide (with his feet closely together or wide apart). Look at his tail - does it hang down, is it high or tucked firmly between his hind legs? Does he wag it more to one side than the other? Can he walk in a straight line or does he cower and 'hug' the ground. Is he stiff? Is there a curve through his body or does the foot fall of his hind limbs follow the pattern of his front paws? Does one ear look as though it is higher or set further back than the other? All of these postural patterns will link to a dog's behaviour and with experience it is actually possible to gather enough information from the way a dog moves, stands, sits and lies down to form a picture of his likely responses in a variety of situations.

If you know the dog or if the dog is happy to be handled by unfamiliar people you can then use your hands to confirm or give you a more specific feel as to where the tension lies. Starting at the head, run the flat of your hand smoothly along the dog's neck and back and continue towards the hindquarters and tail. Progress to running your hand along the shoulder and side, and down the front and hind limbs. Once you have finished one side, check the other and note if your findings are the same on both sides of the body. If the dog is unsure at any point stop immediately. If the dog is shy or nervous, try using the back of your hand instead.

Note any peculiarities which indicate tension. These may include the following:

• Changes in temperature - hot or cold patches

• Differences in coat texture - such as scurf or raised or rough areas of hair.

• Lumps and bumps.

• The skin or underlying muscles twitching when certain places are touched

• A feeling of tightness in the skin or underlying muscle tissue

• The dog expressing his concern in any way including moving away, freezing, or growling.

What to do

If you find tension patterns in your dog there is plenty that you can do to alleviate the problem. It is possible to produce a very rapid difference in a dog's behaviour and attitude to life. It is important, however, to be realistic and bear in mind that some tension patterns may take time and patience to address. This may depend on the longevity of the problem or the underlying cause. Consulting a veterinary surgeon is vital if you suspect an underlying physical problem. Making suitable adjustments to the environment and management of the dog may be necessary.

Attending a Tellington TTouch workshop or working with a qualified Tellington TTouch Practitioner will give you valuable tools to address tension patterns and their associated behaviours.

The Tellington TTouch involves a variety of ground exercises and special body TTouches which promote body awareness, use and posture. This in turn can be instrumental in developing a more balanced personality and can help eliminate many undesirable behaviour patterns. Simply punishing a dog for unwanted behaviour will only make existing tension patterns worse and lead to the creation of others.

Case History

Ruby            Labrador Retriever                 Aged: 4

Despite being owned by very experienced handlers, Ruby had always been difficult to handle and train. Since early puppy hood she had always displayed a very reactive personality and would attempt to bite anyone who tried to initiate contact with her. In assessing her posture it gave her owners information as to how they could begin to reduce the reactivity. Ruby was glassy-eyed, very high headed and with a high tail set. She was so tense through her back that she gave the appearance of having her hackles slightly raised. This posture is typical in dogs that are highly defensive. By addressing her physical state through simple body TTouches and ground exercises her owners were able to bring about enough change in the space of one day that Ruby allowed other people to work with her. Four weeks later Ruby went to the vet for a health check and for the first time in four years did not have to be muzzled for the examination. Ruby's problem was nothing to do with the way she had been handled in her early years - she was simply born that way. The tension in her body was dictating how she had to behave. She could only operate within a very narrow window with the inflexibility in her body causing her to be inflexible in her mind thus limiting the options of self-expression available to her.

The Muzzle

The mouth is closely associated with learning and emotions. It is one of the most important parts of the dogs body as dogs use their mouths to communicate with a variety of signals including licking their lips, barking, yawning, growling and mouthing.

As with people, dogs can carry a lot of tension around the muzzle and jaw. If a dog carries tension in the mouth area his ability to communicate may be limited. He may be slow to mature and difficult to train since the mouth is linked to the ability to process thoughts and actions.

Tension around the muzzle area will generally present in two different ways. In the fine nosed dogs such as Sight Hounds, the muzzle will be narrow and may appear pinched. This pattern can be linked to sensitivity and shyness. These types of dogs may have a tendency to go off their food when upset and will often be reluctant to take food from people if unsure of the situation. They may lick their lips rapidly to express their concern and their eyes may be glassy with a vacant appearance. If cornered of pushed too far they may have a tendency to nip out of nervousness without a warning growl although they will have offered many signals first to express their concern. Consequently these dogs will be more likely to whine or howl rather than barking when trying to attract attention.

Over-exaggerated mouth movements are more typical in the broader muzzled breeds such as the Retrievers or Bull breeds. They may be inclined to excessive barking, drinking, panting and mouthiness and may show a particular interest or obsession with food, toys and other articles. Quick to arouse and hyperactive behaviour these dogs are often slow to mature mentally and emotionally. They may bite under pressure with a hard or multiple bite and may appear overly dominant and pushy in their behaviour. When offered treats this type of dog may snatch it from the hand as tension through the jaw limits their ability to be subtle in their movement. Tension in the muzzle area will often show around the nose and lines across the top of the upper jaw. Hormonal imbalance can result in tension around the mouth.

Observing the way the dog holds his muzzle and jaw can give you vital information as to how the dog is coping with a situation. A still, tense mouth and jaw can be a signal that the dog has 'shut down' and gone into freeze.

The Eyes and Face

The eyes are the window to the soul and this is true of dogs. Dogs that are easy to handle and stress free generally have eyes that are soft and appealing with a richness and depth to the colour. Tension and stress will result in a hard, glassy eye that appears bulging, glazed or unblinking. Rolling an eye or showing any white can be a sign of concern. The area around the eye will be tight in dogs that are stressed giving the appearance of a small pinched eye in certain breeds. The skin around the eye may be tight and wrinkled with stress lines under the eye.

Dogs use their eyes to communicate. Looking at any dog directly in the eye can be unsettling for the dog and can trigger unwanted responses. If nervous and more prone to Flight, the dog will look away and will avoid direct eye contact. If the dog is unable to remove itself from the situation he may nip out of fear or start shaking. In dogs that will hold your stare, direct eye contact can trigger them to jump up or lunge forward. Breaking eye contact by looking away and keeping your eyes soft when observing or interacting with dogs will reduce their stress levels and allow them to process what you are teaching them.

Hard eyes are often linked to tension across the forehead. Dogs that are anxious and nervous are often tight across the brow which can give the appearance of raised eyebrows. This can be linked to anxiety and a dislike and genuine fear of being left alone. There is a correlation between the forehead and stomach and dogs that are tight across the brow can suffer digestive disturbances or go off their food when unsettled. Likewise, food intolerance or poor gut function can give rise to anxious behaviour and dogs with tension across the forehead will often be whiney and clingy.

The Ears and Head

There are many acupressure points throughout the ear relating to the rest of the body. If there is pain or injury somewhere in the body there may be a part of the ear that the dog does not like being touched.

The set of the ear will give you information about how your dog feels and can be an early warning sign of mounting stress. Dogs that are noise sensitive and those who suffer from travel sickness often carry tension through the ears.

Cold ear tips can be an indicator of stress/anxiety levels and may be accompanied by cold feet. It can be linked to tension in the neck and a higher than average respiration and heart rate. Dogs that are in shock or dogs that have suffered some trauma will often have cold ear tips. Shock kills and TTouch ear work has saved the lives of many animals that have been injured or who are sick whilst waiting for appropriate veterinary attention.

High set ears are associated with very reactive behaviour. In certain breeds such as Collies and German Shepherds the ears may even appear to be joined together on the top of the head. Dogs with this pattern are often very excitable with little or no attention span. They can be difficult to train as they are easily distracted by movement around them.

Ears that are folded can indicate shyness and nervousness. As with the high ear set they can be linked to noise sensitivity and are often accompanied by tension around the hind quarters and tail.

Crooked ears or ears that appear to be set unevenly on the head can be an indicator of tension through the neck and/or jaw. The dog may be very reactive to contact around the head and neck and may dislike having his collar handled.

Tension in the ears will affect the tension across the top of the head and vice versa. Dogs that are very reactive and those that dislike contact on, or movement near the head are often very tight through the skin between the base of the ears. They may even have heat in this area and are often quick to arousal. In Chinese Medicine the Liver is linked to the top of the head. Anger is one of the emotions of the Liver and dogs with unwanted reactive behaviour are often extremely reactive to movement or contact over the head. This pattern may be accompanied by red gums.

The Neck and Back

Tension in the neck and back can give rise to a high head carriage. This posture is linked to the Flight/Fight response. The gait may be short and choppy and the dog may appear to be stiff through the shoulders and hindquarters. This posture is often linked to a high tail carriage. Dogs with this Tension Pattern find it hard to relax and are constantly in a state of alert often leaping to their feet at the slightest sound or movement. Tension through the neck can inhibit the movement of the front limbs resulting in tripping or knocking jumps in agility. Dogs that bite are often extremely uncomfortable in the neck and may need physiotherapy or gentle chiropractics to help them overcome their problems. This damage can be set up at an early age if a puppy is dragged by its collar or at any point if the dog is pulled or checked roughly on the leash.

When a dog is aroused, the skin on the back tightens and the hackles rise. Some dogs carry so much tension through their body that they are habitually in this physical state of arousal. The back may be so tight that the muscles spasm on contact. This tension impairs the circulation in the skin so the coat in this area may look dull, lifeless and scurfy. The hair may be curly, wavy or raised and the dog may be highly reactive to contact or having the collar handled. They can be difficult to train as they find containment difficult and react to collars, harnesses or other training equipment.

Dogs who display a great deal of flexibility through the back may still carry tension in certain areas which may only be detected when running your hand over the back. This type of dog is generally very exuberant and slow to mature. He may find it hard to concentrate for long periods of time and will be inclined to play the fool when under pressure. Tension through the mid-back and lumbar region can trigger sexual behaviour when the dog is patted or stroked in this area. This area can also be linked to digestive problems.

The Stomach

Often a neglected part of the dogs body, the stomach is related to separation anxiety, clingy behaviour, gut imbalance, worry and sensitivity. Tension in this area can be caused by problems in the mid and lower back which can trigger digestive disturbances.

The Shoulders and Hindquarters

Tension around the shoulders can indicate a dog that lacks confidence and either bullies or retreats as a coping strategy. He may appear distant and aloof and in the extreme may cower and bite if a sudden move is made towards the collar. Dogs that are tight behind the shoulder blades often have a high chase drive and can be hard to get focused as they are on the lookout for movement. They may leap and spin when on the lead and find walking to heel an impossible task. Tension in the shoulders is also common in dogs that pull. Working in a harness is generally easier for dogs with this pattern of tension.

Tension in the hindquarters can also be linked to dogs that lack confidence. They can be extremely noise sensitive and find travelling in cars or standing on a raised platform such as the grooming table difficult as the ability to balance is impaired through tension in the hip and pelvis area. Hip dysplasia, and arthritis can be linked to this pattern and can lower the dogs tolerance to every day situations

The Tail

A constantly wagging tail does not necessarily indicate a happy dog. Many people have been bitten through bending down to stroke a dog that was wagging his tail at the time. It can be caused by tension through the back and hindquarters and often accompanies vocal, nervous or excitable behaviour. If the base of the tail is tight it can impair a dogs ability to sit. The dog may prefer to stand and stay or sit on one hip keeping the tail free. Dogs with docked tails can be tight through the pelvis and 'hop' behind. Sitting may be impossible due to the length of the remaining tail.

A high tail set generally accompanies the high head carriage and tight back as mentioned above. It can be linked to dogs that are quick to arousal and over reactive in their behaviour to people and other dogs.

A tail that is tucked between the legs is an indication of a fearful dog. He may be a fear biter and have tendency to nip once and then retreat. The expression 'to tuck your tail and run' can be applied to dogs and dogs that are habitually tucked in the tail are often in the Flight reflex. They may find it hard to walk in a straight line and will often 'hug' the ground when walking on a leash, curving their body and leaning away from the handler.

I have spent a great deal of time looking at tails! There seems to be a correlation between the tension in the shoulders and back and what is happening in the tail. It seems as though the base of the tail represents the base of the neck and shoulders, the middle of the tail represents the middle of the back and the end of the tail bone is linked to the pelvis. If an animal moves on the forehand it is often tight at the base of the tail - if it is disconnected through the hindquarters the end of the tail bone may feel as though it is separate to the rest of the tail. If the pelvis drops to one side, the end of the tail bone will often tilt to the same side. If an injury is present in the spine there is often a 'holding' through the corresponding vertebrae in the tail. By working slowly and mindfully with the tail we can bring about great improvements with the back.

The Legs and Feet

Dogs with a narrow base are more inclined to be timid whiles those with legs that are wider apart tend to be more upfront and open in their natures. Even within the different breed types, the narrower framed dog will lean more towards the nervous behaviours than the dogs with bigger frames and more bone. Stiff legs and inflexible hocks and wrists are often indicators of problems in the shoulder and/or hindquarters. The Liver and Stomach meridians run down the hindlimbs. Allergies or inappropriate food can result in very sensitive hindquarters and are often present in dogs with over reactive behaviours.

Lower legs and pads which feel cold to the touch indicate nervousness. Circulation to the lower leg and feet is often impaired and can be linked to tension in the shoulder and /or hindquarters. This can lead to problems with nail clipping due not only to sensitivity in the paws but from the dogs inability to balance on three legs. It can also be linked to travelling issues and reluctance to stand on tables or work on agility equipment as the dog may feel unsafe on a surface that moves beneath his feet.

If you recognise some of these tension patterns there are positive steps you can take to improve matters using the TTouch technique. TTouch has helped thousands of dogs overcome health and behavioural issues using body work and ground exercises to change existing habitual patterns. The dogs learn to learn. They become calmer, more focused, easier to train and more adaptive to both new and every day situations.

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What Makes TTouch Different and Isn't Stroking my Dog (Horse, Cat) Going to Calm him Down Anyhow?

By Sarah Fisher

There are many overlaps in a wide variety of techniques and it is great that so many people are now recognising the benefits of bodywork for animals in whatever guise for inducing calm and releasing tension. Whether you are working with a canine, feline or equine touch can be a very valuable tool.

The Tellington TTouch started as a training technique for horses and Linda recognised a link between posture, behaviour and performance over 30 years ago. As she was working with the light skin movements (this is where it differs from the majority of massage techniques as we are not working purely with muscle) she noticed that the 'problem' horses that she was working with were not only more consistent in their performance but also became easier to handle in their day to day life. Unwanted behaviours such as bucking, biting, napping, bolting diminished without the need to 'train' each behaviour out of the horse. When these techniques were then applied to other animals including dogs, the same results were noted albeit on a clinical and not a scientific level.

The groundwork exercises improve co-ordination and self-carriage and are an excellent way of starting to work with animals that are fearful of contact on their body. The ground work helps the dogs to settle quicker and are an excellent way of improving focus and giving the dog much needed physical and mental stimulation without increasing hyperactivity and over excitement.

TTouch is not just about the bodywork or the groundwork however. It is a way of looking at the animal as a whole and we take into account the environment, the diet and so on. The reality is however that even when these other factors cannot be changed such as in a shelter the effect of this unique training approach is just extra ordinary and the dogs are being stroked by the staff and volunteers already.

One aim is to improve co-ordination, which increases levels of confidence, and to improve physical balance which influences mental and emotional balance. These correlation's are understood by many working in the human field and from my own experience can say that the same does apply to our animal companions. More importantly perhaps, it also brings awareness to the owners of their own influence upon that animal. If a person is out of balance when walking a dog on the lead for example, that person is more likely to set up bracing in the dog and it takes two to maintain the pull. The way we approach, handle and interact with any animal will have a direct influence on his behaviour and ability to learn.

The beauty of TTouch is that it enables people to understand their dogs on a whole new level. It increases awareness of what actually may be going on for that animal in terms of posture and how his posture affects his behaviour, his responses to stimulus and his fears and concerns. It removes many of the labels so readily and often incorrectly applied to dogs and uses a variety of tools including harnesses, body wraps, and different ways of leading in order to help that dog to learn in a calm and focused way. When Ear Work was done on horses that were wearing heart monitors, it clearly showed that the gentle slides on the ear actually lowered heart rate and respiration thus reducing stress and enabling the horse to move out of the Flight Fight reflex. This is why it can be so valuable for animals that are going into shock. When an animal is in the Flight/Fight reflex it cannot learn. Neither can we.

I have a wide variety of canine clients and teach workshops in shelters, service dog training centres and for working dogs. The staff enjoy learning specific skills which provides a consistency for the dogs whether they are going on to new homes, coming into the kennels and or being handled by a variety of trainers/handlers and many vets, veterinary nurses, physiotherapists, shelter workers, trainers, behaviour counsellors dog owners and lovers world-wide enjoy the benefit that TTouch brings to the animals in their care.

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Is TTouch of Value for Aggression?
By Sarah Fisher

Aggression in dogs seems to be an increasingly common problem. Whilst it is not always possible to determine the root of the problem, fear and pain in the body are the common denominators in the majority of cases that I see. This applies to aggression towards both people and dogs.

I have worked with a range of dogs with fear related issues and unfortunately they include puppies as well as older dogs. Rough handling, inappropriate games, inconsistency, noise sensitivity, and aversive training techniques are just some of the reasons that puppies can become defensive around humans.

The puppy that will always stand out in my mind is Denzil, a Rottweiler that found his way to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home at ten weeks of age. He could not be touched anywhere on his body, and was so stressed he would fly at peoples hands, arms, legs, feet and faces growling and snapping at every opportunity. He pinned other dogs he came into contact with and when contained would throw himself to the floor with his lips and gums going blue in colour. It was very distressing to see and I did wonder whether this poor little mite had any future at all.

I brought him back to Tilley Farm and TTouch body work and ground work combined perfectly with clicker training. Denzil learnt how to engage with dogs in an appropriate way, worked with our top Practitioners Marie Miller and Maria Johnston and has matured into a spectacular, gentle giant of a dog who lives with another dog, two cats and an assortment of rehabilitating wildlife that he baby sits on a regular basis. When a young duckling fell out of the box that it was living in Denzil picked it up and placed it carefully in a nearby bucket. He could not put it back in the box as the lid had shut firmly behind the escapee.

The mature dog that will always stand out in my mind has to be Nemo. A large, mature, entire guarding breed. The first four years of this dog's life are a little unclear but Nemo's owner knows that the dog was trained with aversive techniques and handled by someone who believed that they had to assert their power over the dog in order to get the dog to toe the line.

He had been in his new home for a few months when the attack occurred. His new owner asked the dog to move out of the way, and the dog went for him. Nemo dragged his owner around the garden by his arm for several minutes, then got him on the floor and went in for the leg. The owner remembers the noise of the teeth sinking into his flesh and he is scarred for life. It took another person to get the dog off his owner and had the owner not been hospitalized for a couple of days the dog would have been destroyed that afternoon.

I was asked if I was prepared to work with Nemo and I have to confess that I did not exactly leap at the chance to take him on as a client. I reluctantly agreed to look at the dog to see if there was anything I could see in the posture of the dog that might give the owner some clue as to how he could maybe, just maybe, start to rebuild a relationship with Nemo. I knew what he would look like before I ever laid eyes on this dog. Dogs with a bite history are usually tight in the back, stiff and choppy in the gait, fixed in the neck, hard eyed, and aloof. There are other patterns to look for in the coat texture, body temperature and colour of the gums, eyes and skin and all these observations have served me well in my fourteen years of working with animals and kept me safe.

Tension in the lower back triggers the flight/reflex and dogs that dislike being touched or approached by people and/or dogs are often carrying tension through the lumbar area and hindquarters. They may have hip problems or be dropped in the pelvis. If the owner is happy to handle their dog I ask them to feel for hot spots on the top of the head and the middle of the back. These are often present in dogs that will bite when alternative behaviours are unavailable to them either because they are on a lead, feel threatened and have no means of escape or their early warning signals are being ignored or misunderstood.

Nemo was a classic, classic case. He couldn't bear contact on any part of his body but the work that would transform his life began the day he first set foot on Tilley Farm. TTouch can be a life saver for dogs with these issues. The work is so gentle and respectful and the education is not limited to the dog. The owner learns how to approach their dog and to handle him in a more appropriate way, to understand his body language and to recognise early signs of stress. The ground work exercises can be an invaluable start for dogs that cannot tolerate body contact. The sessions are kept short with plenty of variety in the way we interact with these dogs so that they remain calm and as free of stress as possible. We work well below the threshold and use every tool at our disposal to help the dogs develop confidence and self control. The work starts in an environment where the animal feels safe and the owner learns skills that can be taken into day to day life and a variety of situations.

Nemo has become one of my all time favourite clients. He is a puppy in a four year old body. His eyes are soft, his tail now wags and his owner can do anything he wants with this dog, such is the level of the trust and communication between them. His coat is just glorious and his movement alive and more balanced. The understanding that the owner has for this dog is incredible. When he first came to me he told me his dog was dominant. Now he can see that his dog is desperately insecure. I can touch Nemo all over his body, his eyes are bright and his future secure. He is meeting new acquaintances and making new friends. I adore him.

The principles of TTouch are the same whether we are working with a dog that is fearful and reactive towards people or other dogs. We will vary the work to suit the individual needs of the dog and take things one simple step at a time. Sometimes a body work session is all that it takes to liberate the dog from his concerns and enable him to enjoy the company of others; sometimes the sessions may start with or include the groundwork too. It just depends on the dog.

The dog reactive dog that I think of most often when lecturing and teaching is Scrumpy. A Border Terrier with an unpleasant penchant for throats. She had already felled the village Pug, two Labradors and an assortment of others and came to visit the farm on our Practitioner Training Programme whilst holidaying in the area. She was the type of dog that worries me the most. Silent and with a focus that would rival an exocet missile. Her posture would change the moment she saw a dog. Even if that dog were three fields away. She would lower her body, extend her neck and take her body weight forward over her fore quarters.

The groundwork showed Scrumpy an alternative way of moving when in the company of our big fake dog that we use when starting the rehabilitation process. Working over poles softened her top line, and began to shift her focus; a little. I used the clicker to mark any softening in her posture, and used my hands to work on her body to give her a new experience of well being when in the company of what she assumed was another dog. Did Robyn and I end the session with Scrumpy wanting to play with the Stuffie (as opposed to a Staffie!)? Far from it. But here perhaps is where the magic of TTouch lies. I had spotted some nice changes, not many, but enough for me to suggest that Scrumpy come back to the farm the following day.

The next morning I thought I might bring her into the training barn for a few moments so that she could sit in the company of the real dogs participating in the clinic. At first she was reluctant to enter the room. Then slowly became braver and sat by the door. I had thought I would probably be there for a few moments but Scrumpy had other plans. She braced momentarily when she saw the other dogs, but Ear Slides and more bodywork kept her calm. She spent the morning lying quietly watching other dogs move around and the participants thought I had actually brought in a different dog as they could not believe the change that had happened overnight.

We went out to the arena and dogs moved in figures of eight around her as she walked through the labyrinth and over the poles. Her owner could not believe what she was seeing. And the great thing about TTouch is that its effect on the nervous system enables the dog to take that experience with them when they leave the farm. Scrumpy stayed in Bath for a week on her holiday and walks were pleasant and calm regardless of the size or shape of the canine residents that Scrumpy met when trotting through the park.

I do use the clicker as I have mentioned when working with reactive dogs but am clear to mark the changes in the body posture, any sign of relaxation, a turn of the head, a softening of the ears perhaps rather than simply using it as a lure to get the dog to focus on the handler instead of the dog/person that is causing concern. Could I work without the clicker? Perhaps. Could I work without TTouch? Absolutely not. TTouch teaches the dog to respond rather than simply react. The owner learns, as does the dog. Without a doubt TTouch is the ultimate forward thinking approach to handling, training and rehabilitation.

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What is The Tellington TTouch?

The Tellington TTouch is a teaching method for dogs and other animals that incorporates body work, and ground exercises where appropriate to improve co-ordination, balance, and athletic ability whilst deepening further communication and understanding between the animal and its owner/carer

TTouch helps increase levels of self confidence and self-control.

TTouch is widely used around the world by animal lovers and people who work with animals. It is not necessary to learn the whole TTouch approach to help the animals in your care. Learning just a few of the body TTouches by working with a trained Practitioner or attending a workshop can make a difference to an animal's life.

Observations and Assessments

Visual observations and flat hand explorations finds areas in the animal's body that indicate tension, fear of contact, memory of pain or discomfort.

Body Work

Specific movements and TTouches are used to improve circulation, release tension and promote a greater sense of well being.

Ground Exercises for Dogs

Leading exercises enable the dog to override old patterns of movement and behaviour without the use of fear or force. The ground work improves co-ordination, confidence, focus, self control, balance and co-operation.

TTouch in Rescue and Rehabilitation

Many of our Practitioners work closely with local animal shelters. Staff workshops are taught in several national re-homing shelters. If you would like to arrange for a Tellington TTouch talk/workshop at your animal home please contact the U.K. office.

The Tellington TTouch is a valuable tool that can help animals overcome a variety of problems including:

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Tellington TTouch
by Theresa Franklin

I have been involved in dogs all my life. I spent a lot of my 20's going from club to club learning everything about training and dogs of all shapes and sizes. I also became an obedience competitor with my German Shepherd dogs. From the age of 15 onwards I started to loose my hearing so my dogs became an even more important part of my life and my knowledge helped me to train them to be "my ears." Due to this and only being able to manage conversations one to one - I found it difficult to be involved in training others or starting my own business...but I desperately wanted to be with dogs in a career - so about 10 years ago I took a groomers course, in the hope to get a job doing this.

Finally my perseverance and faithfulness to my vet paid off - I was offered a parlour of my own there. What made it so wonderful was it was perfect for me as the girls on reception are so lovely and do all my phone calls and bookings. So I am now on the search for the latest technology, courses and everything I need to know about being a successful groomer!

Being a qualified training Instructor, it has made me more aware of the effects us groomers have on dogs.. and I have seen some horror cases to our best friends on my travels. (Not to mention - the ones their owners inflict on them!) It never ceases to amaze me how really forgiving and loyal dogs really are.

I am lucky enough to have a best friend who is a TTouch Practitioner level 2, I am sure she will not mind me mentioning her name Marie Miller - she is a very lovely lady. She has taught me another approach to handling and training dogs, believe me I have seen them all and TTouch gives you a result that most of us dream of - it is well worth the time and money spent on learning about it.

So why is TTouch important to us as groomers? Well if you are concerned for the whole well-being of your clients read on...

The Tellington Touch is a teaching method for dogs and other animals, working on their neural pathways. It incorporates body work and ground exercises as appropriate to improve co-ordination and balance/athletic ability, whilst deepening communication, understanding and respect between an animal and it’s owner or carer and it helps to increase levels of self confidence and self control.

Body TTouches find areas in the animal’s body that indicate tension, fear of contact or discomfort. Specific movements and TTouches are used to improve circulation, release tension and promote a greater sense of well-being. The method is widely used around the world by animal lovers and people who work with animals.

It is not necessary to learn the whole TTouch approach to help the animals. Learning just a few of the body TTouches by working with a trained Practitioner or attending a workshop can make a difference to an animal’s behaviour whilst in your care. This is what, we as groomers need to learn about - as it reduces the physical and mental stress created by human contact, handling, and environment conditions.

Bad handling and bad experiences such as cuts/bruising during grooming, can often leave a holding pattern of pain in the injured area or fear of being touched there. This pattern persists below awareness long after healing is complete. Us groomers might be unaware of the past, but it is still strong in a dogs senses - making them difficult to handle directly because of there experiences or in some cases lack of them through lack of socialization to environmental conditions such as grooming. TTouch helps to relieve this, makes a dog become relaxed and trusting to you and so helps to relieve the stress, which it feels in a grooming parlour. With a continued use of TTouch, animals develop more ability to operate in a calm, focused mode and increases their levels of self-confidence.

So now I hear - we haven't the time for this!! This can be carried out by your helper while you are working - 5 minutes before starting on the dog or indeed during the grooming. I use hand strokes, gentle hair pulls and TTouch circles to lift and separate the hair, massaging at the same time during my time drying the dogs. Most of my short-coated dogs or clip offs are dried with my fingers NOT the brush all the time, which a lot of dogs dislike anyway. I have had Cockers and Springer's - yes Springer's, close their eyes while I was drying them and the next time they come back they settled much quicker - I dare any one to tell me it doesn’t work!

I believe you can only benefit from learning this - and the knowledge you can pass on to the owners not only impresses them - but helps the dog out when he/she goes home and I personally feel what ever happens once the dog walks out your door, that it has received the best possible experience whilst in your hands. If this isn't important to you - then you shouldn't be grooming a dog, their lives are hard enough with out been groomed by a bully who's only interested in a big fat wallet!

Article © Professional Groomers, and used here with permission.

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