As a young child, I was taught how to massage dogs and animals from my grandfather and other members of the family. My father had used these gentle touch movements to teach me how to behave
around animals and to treat them kindly. In Ostpreußen, my family had been farmers with various farm animals and had used massage techniques on their dogs, horses, cows and even pigs to maintain
their well-being and to work on training them. My maternal grandfather had worked in the Cavalry, and having tended to the horses during two wars, was no stranger to such methods. He had also
trained many dogs in advanced obedience in Germany and was the first person to show me how to train our Cocker Spaniel the "Heel" and "Auto-Sit", among other commands, at the young age of
five.
I was a teenager when Reggie, a German Shepherd-Husky-Dobermann mix breed dog, had graced my life from the early 1980s until her death in 1992. She had taught me a lot about bonding and training
dogs, and had benefited from my various massage techniques as well. One such technique is what is now known as TTouch.
Later, when I had worked with Jacques Morin, a well-known Service Dog trainer, to learn how to train Guaya, a Guide Dog for a special Blind Handler in Montreal, the head of the organization
approached me with a "new" massage technique she had "discovered". She was so excited to show me this innovative approach to training and had wanted me to use it in the training of the dogs. As
it turned out, it had been TTouch Massage. She was quite surprised when she found out I had been applying such techniques before I had ever decided to take my Master Dog Trainer course in 1999.
During the early years of my career, I also had the opportunity to meet a wonderful Certified TTouch Practitioner who honed my abilities in this wonderful massage style.
I used TTouch during my early training with Guaya to ensure that she was very aware of her entire body, especially the hindquarters. A Guide Dog must be aware of their entire body to eliminate
the possibility of being startled should something suddenly hit them from behind or should someone step on their tails while they sit in a bus with their handler. This method is one which aids in
building their awareness and confidence.
The Ear TTouch, where you stroke the ear as gently as it were a rose petal, helped me bond with my first official student, Shelby, a wonderful Dobermann-German Shepherd mix breed dog who had,
until she had met me at the age of nine years, never been obedience trained nor allowed anyone touch her ears. When I went to visit her and her owner, he expressed his awe at how I could stand
there with his dog and gently stroke her ears while speaking to him, and she just looked up at me with pure respect and loyalty.
Below find out more about this great Canine Massage Therapy which can easily be incorporated into training your dog and establishing that magical bond. This technique is widely used in the Horse
World, and I show it to all my students to help them familiarize themselves with their dog's body, and help the dog become more aware and confident.
Thanks to my wonderful TTouch friend who gave me the following information to share:
- Origins of TTouch
- TTouch Today
- What is TTouch?
- Who uses TTouch?
- Why use TTouch?
- TTouch Philosophy
TTouch involves the use of gentle-teaching methods, which will enhance your relationship with your companion animal, improve your animal’s performance and well being, and encourage an improved
response to training.
Origins of TTouch
Internationally known animal trainer Linda Tellington-Jones developed TTouch techniques. Linda graduated from a 4 year professional Feldenkrais training taught by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais. Using her
training, Linda adapted the Feldenkrais method for the human nervous system to work on her horses in 1975. Based on co-operation and trust, Linda developed TTouch in 1983.
TTouch Today
TTouch techniques are used by tens of thousands of individuals in more than 32 countries with more than 300 Practitioners in 12 countries. TTouch is also taught as a part of the curriculum at the
University of Vienna School of Veterinary Medicine in Austria and the University of Hanover in Germany.
What is TTouch?
The foundation of TTouch is a series of gentle circular movements on the surface of the skin. TTouch works on the cellular level to release fear and tension, and reactivate the cellular
intelligence of the animal’s body. Working on animals in this way stimulates the use of new neural pathways. Thus promoting optimal behaviour, taking animals beyond instinct to learn in a new
way. Beyond the TTouches, in our "playground of higher learning" dogs are encouraged to learn without fear or force. These ground exercises enhance the dog’s physical, emotional and mental
balance, increase body awareness and enhance the animal’s self-image
Who uses TTouch?
- Anyone with a companion animal (dog, cat, bird, rabbit, snake, hamster, etc.)
- Dog trainers
- Groomers and Breeders
- Veterinarians and Veterinary assistants
- Animal shelter, Rescue workers and Wildlife rehabilitators.
Why use TTouch?
TTouch focuses on the being and without fear, force or domination provides practical solutions based on co-operation and trust for challenges common among companion animals and their
humans.
Performance:
Reduce stress, Promote relaxation, Warm-up to prevent injuries, Gait irregularities, Overcome fear of judges
Handling issues:
Pulling on leash, Freezing, Touch sensitivity, Grooming, Bathing, Nail trimming, Fear of Vet
Behaviour concerns:
Separation anxiety, Shyness, Increase confidence, Over exuberance, Socialization, Dog aggression, Fear of Thunder, Lack of Focus
Education:
Puppy Kindergarten, Service, Therapy and Guide dogs, To help shelter animals become more adoptable
Health:
Prevent shock, First aid on way to the Vet, Ease arthritis
TTouch Philosophy
- To honour the role of animals as our teachers.
- To bring awareness to the importance of animals in our lives.
- To encourage harmony, cooperation and trust between humans and animals and amongst humans.
- To recognize the individual learning process of every human and animal.
- To respect each animal as an individual.
- To teach interspecies communication through TTouch.
- To work with animals using understanding instead of dominance.