The Forward Thinking Approach to Training, Handling and Rehabilitation

Photographs by Bob Atkins for David and Charles Ltd

Tellington TTouch

• TTouch was developed over 32 years ago by Linda Tellington Jones

• TTouch recognises a link between physical, mental and emotional well being

• TTouch influences the nervous system in a passive but highly potent way

• This unique method can be applied to all animals regardless of their age

Benefits of TTouch

• Reduces stress• Improves physical, mental and emotional

balance• Improves behaviour• Develops trust and understanding• Increases an animals chances of finding

a new home• Influences the sensory aspect of the

nervous system

The senses

• Proprioception• Vestibular balance• Sight • Sound• Smell• Taste• Tactile stimulation (touch)

Tortoise

Posture and behaviour

• TTouch recognises an inextricable connection between posture and behaviour

• As tension is released from the body unwanted behaviours diminish

• Self carriage, self control and self confidence are linked

Posture is affected by:

• Frustration and/or stress• Poor management or poor breeding• Fear and/or trauma• Injury as the result of an accident/rough

play or at birth• Disease and/or a reaction to drugs• Equipment• Diet including nutritional deficiencies

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Components of TTouch

• Observations• Approach and handling• Handling assessment• Equipment• Body Work• Ground Work• Handler posture

Observations

• Behaviour and responses to stimuli• Body language • Posture• Muscle development• Habits• Movement• Quality of coat

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Posture

• Off lead/on lead• Eating• Standing• Laying down• Sitting• Gait • Co-ordination

Body language

• Watch for the subtle body language at all times

• The eyes are usually the first thing to change

• Body language varies from breed to breed

• And from dog to dog

Muscle development

• Nothing in nature is symmetrical• Uneven muscle development will be

exacerbated through inappropriate training and handling, soft tissue damage and so on

• An uneven posture affects performance and behaviour and may limit the animals ability to learn

Coat

• Colour changes• Coarse, rough, dry, scurfy, or greasy hair• Bald patches• Swirls and curls• Areas that are slow to shed• White lines

Approach and handling

• Approach from the side

• Watch animals responses and body language

• Use the back of the hand to initiate contact

• Check for sensitive areas and temperature

• Avoid leaning over the animal and invading it’s space

• Combine TTouch with clicker training if appropriate

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Bodywork• The bodywork TTouches break down into

three groups• They comprise of circles, slides and lifts

on, and with, the animal’s body• They release tension, lower stress,

improve circulation, and induce a sense of calm

• Learning just a few TTouches can make a difference to an animal’s life

Ground work

•Helps to trigger the ‘feel good factor’•Improves self control, self confidence, flexibility and co-ordination•Encourages focus, concentration and greater mind/body awareness•Provides a vital step in rehabilitation including handling issues

TTouch for Puppies

• It is never too early to TTouch a puppy • Many postural and behaviour traits are in

place at an early age• Investing even a small amount of time

can help a young animal learn, and feel safe

• This will reduce the chances of problems developing later on

Handling

• Forceful handling triggers panic• If a young animal is fearful of contact, this

fear is likely to grow as the animal matures• Sensitivity in the body caused by physical

problems can be one of the reasons that an animal becomes defensive around people and other animals

• All interactions should be positive and above all, safe

Abandoned puppies

• Puppies that are abandoned for any reason may develop behavioural problems

• Hand rearing can create issues as the puppy does not have the opportunity to learn appropriate behaviour from its mother

• The same applies to pups that are taken away too early from their mother and siblings

Health problems• Immune system may be compromised

giving rise to ear problems and so on

• Gut sensitivities

• Congenital problems such as deafness

• Growing pains

• Other physical problems due to poor breeding and poor nutrition

• Health problems can be the trigger for undesirable behaviour

Hogarth

Hogarth• Hogarth was a pup in a litter of eleven

large breed puppies that were hand reared at a rehoming centre in the UK

• He showed mild Irritable Bowl Syndrome• He growled at times when handled or

asked to move• He mouthed excessively and appeared to

have tantrums

Fear of the known/unknown

• Some puppies may have been poorly handled

• Other puppies may not have been handled at all

• Many puppies that have problems are confused, stressed, fearful, frustrated or bored

• Early warning signs that a puppy had problems may have been over looked or ignore

Labelling Puppies

• There is no such thing as a ‘bad’ puppy• Puppies are not born knowing how to

behave in the world we have created for them

• It is important not to label puppies (or any animal for that matter)

• Remember there is always a good reason for unwanted behaviour

Extrovert/Introvert

• Take time to observe the animals in your care

• Some puppies are naturally more extrovert in behaviour, and others may be more introvert

• Often you will see a mix of both extrovert and introvert behaviours depending on the situation

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As a Training Tool

• TTouch puppies are more mature on a physical, mental and emotional level

• They are easier to handle and to train

• They are more adaptive to new situations

• TTouch can increase the chances of an adopted puppy staying in his new home

Ground Work

• Teaching puppies to negotiate different obstacles on the ground improves co-ordination and self confidence

• Remember there is a link between physical, mental and emotional balance

Deaf Puppies

Colin Clip

In Short

TTouch Puppies Rock!

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And so do all of you

Thank you for getting in TTOUCH

www.ttouchtteam.co.uk