What is TTOUCH?
TTouch was developed by internationally recognized animal expert, Linda Tellington-Jones, PhD (Hon). Based on cooperation and respect, this method offers a positive approach to training. It combines bodywork and ground exercises to improve co-ordination and balance. Good physical balance positively influences emotional and mental states, helping animals to be calmer, and improving their ability to focus. It can improve performance and health and presents solutions to common behavioral and physical problems. It also helps establish a deeper rapport between humans and animals through increased understanding and more effective communication.
Through TTouch, dogs are better able to develop self-control and self-confidence - the lack of which underlies most undesirable behaviours and interferes with the ability to learn.
Who can benefit from TTouch?
dogs, horses, cats... but this Christchurch workshop is for dogs.
Benefits of TTouch
The Tellington TTouch can help in cases of:
- Excessive Barking and Chewing
- Leash Pulling
- Jumping Up
- Aggressive Behavior
- Extreme Fear and Shyness
- Resistance to Grooming
- Excitability and Nervousness
- Car Sickness
- Problems Associated With Aging
Our experience with TTouch
We, Blair and Natalie went to Dunedin to attend a 2.5 day TTouch workshop with Edie Jane Eaton, from Quebec, Canada. This was in March 2009.
For two and a half days, we were immersed in training, massage, and finding out why this works. We saw an aggressive dog on the Friday evening- a dog who had to be behind a fence in order to lower his aggression towards others dogs. At times, he needed to 'walk away' and do some calming exercises on his own. After only two days, this dog was another dog on the Sunday. He was able to lie down in a group of dogs, and be quiet.
We found this workshop so motivating, so inspirational, so educational that we have agreed to help Edie Jane bring TTouch to Christchurch in 2010.
We are not registered practioners. One needs to pass a few 5 day course, and since TTouch is only given by Edie Jane at the moment, we will need to keep our skills by practicing on our homestay dogs, teach the techniques to our dog owners, and explain to dog owners while we go for walks. Below is a testimonial from a TTouch practioner who explains their experience.
Links:
Pictures below:
This is Blair and Natalie learning a few training techniques. These pictures don't show the true extent of the practice.
Testimonials
My experience with this topic is that I am a Certified Tellington Touch Practioner. I am a behavior trainer and work with reactive and aggressive dogs. For those of you who do not know Tellington Touch or have had brief encounters with it, it is anything but "woo woo" as someone suggested. The touches work at the cellular level and is not massage. It is a three part system of touch, leading exercises and higher learning coursework. Ttouch Method of Training develops a calm, relaxed, focused dog who is ready to learn, and one whose confidence increases.
I get the ones with bite history, the hyperactive dogs, the obsessive compulsive,the ones who are so shy and fearful if you look at them wrong they back away. My own two dogs one dog dog reactive, the other was human reactive and had hind end issues is 98% cured because of ttouch and the other 100%. The one who was reactive to humans has seizures due to hypothyroidism and ttouch has not only delayed or stopped a seizure altogether, but brings him down post ictal quicker.
I've seen dogs who were so stressed and nervous completely relax with the Tellington Touch Method of Training, and I've even seen a rat fall asleep, a turtle sigh, a bunny become totally calm. The dogs I work with many are not ready for touch yet, so we work up to it with all the tools that Tellington Touch has to offer. I've seen many "miracle moments" with animals and with people as well.
Please be sure you understand exactly what a technique is and what it does. I also am a professional clicker trainer and co-moderator of Clicker Solutions. These tools are powerful together. One of the very popular Tellington instructors Kathy Cascade, www.spiritdog.com works with reactive and aggressive dogs also, and one comes to mind - one of the Vick's pitbull rescues who was so shy and fearful he literally couldn't interact with people. With Tellington Touch this dog is now a therapy dog and you wouldn't be able to tell he was a fighting dog. Kathy is a Physical Therapist and talks about how the touches work from that standpoint.
It has saved many dogs from euthanasia and rehoming in my practice.
Diane Garrod
www.caninetransformations.com