April/May 2019
Jen Germann
TTouch Student, 6th Seminar
Tellington TTouch Training for dogs is a gentle, respectful method of training honoring the body, mind, and spirit of animals and their people.
Getting in TTouch with Your Dog (rev. 2012), p. 3
(but be prepared to abandon that plan):
Circular TTouches like Racoon or Clouded Leopard on and around the ear, and a slide from base to tip. Remember to replace ear, don't drop it.
If ears are pinned back: Determine if touch is appropriate at this moment. If so, circular touches like Baby Chimp or Raccoon or Clouded Leopard around the base and neck could be useful here.
If Tail is tightly tucked, try some Clouded Leopard TTouches around the base of the tail and on the tail, or LLama TTouch on the tail, or Noah's March sketched down the tail.
Press the tail gently against the side of a leg.
As the tail loosens on its own you can gently touch on the underside of the tail to lift it.
Check your touches - position, speed, and pressure matter
You probably need to slow down and use either more or less pressure.
Pro Tip: If you cannot touch with your hand, try using a toy to sketch touches instead. If cannot touch on her body with toy, draw circle and a quarter on ground with toy. Repeat in random places. Show her what you're doing. Try to touch again. Repeat as needed.
Introduce to her to its smell, maybe use food if she is taking food. If intro goes okay, try draping it over her shoulders. Maybe cross in front of chest. Maybe wrap it around her - quarter or half wrap. Then do some touches on the wrap!
Pro Tip: Even if you cannot put the wrap on fully, try to drape it on her and do some touches on the wrap.
If you plan to take the dog out, a harness is highly recommended. Again, make sure you know how to put it on a dog!! Size it before putting it on. If she is taking food, offer food by sticking hand through the harness. As she takes the food, slip the harness over her head.
Pro Tip: Face the same direction as the dog as you harness her. Pause frequently to reconnect and assess.
Leash her using two points of contact. Keep the leash loose. Give the dog as much autonomy as possible and let her choose when she's ready to go!
Pro Tip: Clip the leash onto 2 different pieces of equipment, e.g., the harness and the collar. This way, if she pulls out of one, you will still have her by the other.
Fearful dogs need to feel like they have some say in what's happening to them.
Kathy Cascade
By skillfully using TTouch, wraps, and other equipment to create little moments and give her autonomy whenever possible, you can build a great relationship with a shy shelter dog.