Touches, Wraps and Groundwork
If we use only repetition to teach an animal, we are
training him rather than educating him. When trained to
a specific task, an animal may repeat his performance in
a comfortable environment, but in a new situation, he is
often unable to perform in the same way. New sights,
sounds, people, and other animals can be distracting.
TTouch educates the animal by exposing him to a
variety of situations in a safe environment. This type
of work allows both the animal and the handler to learn
how to act instead of react.
TTouch educates the animal by teaching him to have
the necessary confidence to cope with a challenging
situation, from which the animal can then draw on the
educational experiences learned in the comfortable
environment of TTouch.
The TTouches
Practitioners use about 15 -20 touches and lifts for
different situations. Most of the touches are named
after the animal on whom Linda Tellington-Jones first
used the touch. All touches go no deeper than the skin
and are as gentle as touches used on the eyelid of a
human.
When do we use touches?
We always use touches to help the animal move to a
comfortable, balanced place in his body. Just like
humans, once balanced and calm, the animal is in an
optimal place to learn.
How do touches work?
The basic TTouch, the Clouded Leopard, is a circular
touch that has proven to awaken the alpha, beta, delta,
and theta brainwaves in the animal's brain. This action
in the brain is ideal for calming, relaxing, and
learning.
In addition to circular touches and lifts aimed at
calming an animal, there are other touches that
stimulate, and some that help give the animal an
enhanced awareness of his body. Some touches help with
digestion and physical issues such as arthritis and
lameness, while others soothe an animal so completely he
or she often falls sound asleep.
What does the animal learn?
Animals usually always know how to get excited – it
doesn’t take much for some many of them to get excited
by a smell or a sight. But few animals know how to get
to a place of calm and balance. TTouches encourage the
animal's body to move to a place of regular breathing,
calmness and balance. Repeatedly touching an animal can
teach the animal’s body a new ability – that of moving
to a balanced place. This can help the animal feel good
which can also improve health.
Wraps
Wraps, usually in the form of an ace bandage or light
cloth, are used to bring enhanced awareness to an
animal's body.
When do we use wraps?
We use wraps frequently. Often a practitioner will
place a wrap on an animal for a brief period of time
during a TTouch session.
How do wraps work?
Wraps bring awareness to an animal's body in a
different manner than he or she is accustomed to.
Depending on the type of awareness being sought, it can
cause the animal to move his body differently. The
resulting difference in weight and balance distribution
can alleviate pain from an injury, arthritis,
indigestion, or even fear of a difficult situation.
What does the animal learn?
The animal learns a new feeling and an alternate
sense of his body. With this new "vocabulary" the animal
can act differently than his habitual response. He may
act more confidently in a previously frightening
situation, or move more fluidly and without as much
pain. Following the use of a wrap from 10 – 20 minutes,
practitioners often see improved flexibility, better
posture, less fear, and greater confidence. And very
often these characteristics remain with the animal after
the wrap is taken off.
Groundwork
Also known as the "confidence course," the "awareness
course" or the "Playground for Higher Learning," this
work is used to help an animal (and his human) gain
focus, self-control, balance, confidence and obedience.
When do we use groundwork?
- With animals who are frightened in certain
environments
- With animals who pull on the leash
- With animals who have an injury and have lost their
natural balance
- With animals who are aggressive toward dogs or humans
as a result of needing more confidence or obedience
- With dogs who experience separation anxiety
- With a variety of other animal behavioral issues
How does groundwork help?
A practitioner might choose to do groundwork with
your animal during a regular session. A modified
labyrinth can be set up in minutes.
Depending on the goal, the practitioner may have the
handler participate in an exercise in the labyrinth
and/or ask for help from other persons and animals.
What does the animal learn?
To move slowly: when we move slowly, the nervous
system pays more attention to what it is doing, using
different parts of the brain and different muscles.
To have fun: when animals (and humans!) have fun,
they are relaxed. Relaxation translates into an ability
learn more quickly.
To increase coordination: an animal can explore
non-habitual ways of moving in order to increase
knowledge of his body. Knowledge of the body leads to
increased confidence, which provides coping skills when
faced with challenging situations.
