Getting in TTouch with Dogs The Forward Thinking Approach to Training, Handling and Rehabilitation Photographs copyright Bob Atkins, David and Charles Ltd, Sarah Fisher, Merck Manuals Videos copyright Karen Walsh, Tiger Aspect, BBC, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Everyone is a trainer Training does not only occur when we pick up a clicker or attend a class Dogs learn and process information all the time Everyone that interacts with a dog is training that dog Even when we think we are teaching a specific skill, the dog may be learning something else
Posture and mood Amy Cuddy has carried out research in humans revealing that we can change other people s perceptions, and our own body chemistry by changing body position Our anatomy and nervous system is not that dissimilar to that of our canine friends
The nervous system The nervous system is a wonderful network of nerve fibres and cells that co-ordinates voluntary and involuntary actions, and transmits information to different parts of the body It is divided (and sub divided) into many connected parts including the central, peripheral, autonomic, somatic, sympathetic, and parasympathetic nervous system
Central nervous system The CNS is the centre of the body s communication system Brain and spinal cord Processes and integrates information received from all parts of the body Controls and co-ordinates movement, action, decision making and responses to the environment
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Peripheral nervous system The PNS is comprised of nerves leading to and from the central nervous system Relays information to and from the central nervous system through this effective network Controls movements, posture and reflexes Processes sensory information
Parts of the PNS Somatic nervous system (SoNS) associated with voluntary movement of the body such as walking, turning the head and so on, processes sensory information Autonomic nervous system (ANS) associated with involuntary movement such as beating of the heart, digestion and so on
ANS The autonomic nervous system can be subdivided into two parts Parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) Rest and digest Sympathetic nervous system Flight or fight
Endocrine system System of hormone production and secretion Hormones are naturally occurring chemicals that influence mood, behaviour, development Can be compared to the PNS as both coordinate and control internal function Can be affected by stress including physical stress
Adrenaline Adrenaline is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands It increases rates of blood circulation and influences respiration It prepares muscle for exertion Adrenaline is produced in high stress or exhilarating situations It can increase strength, block pain and heighten senses
Visual information We cannot know what is happening inside a dog or what they are thinking We have to rely on visual observations We need to keep an open mind and do our best not to be influenced by our own or someone else s belief The more we look, the more that we can see
Observations Behaviour and reactions to stimuli Body language/nervous system responses Posture and muscle development Colour of skin, membranes Habits Movement Quality of coat
Muscle development Nothing in nature is symmetrical Uneven muscle development will be exacerbated through inappropriate training/ handling/equipment, soft tissue damage An uneven posture can affect both performance and behaviour, and may limit an animal s ability to learn Posture can have a positive or detrimental effect on the nervous system
Compensation/adaptation For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction Nothing happens in isolation A unique dance is happening all the time The nervous system is responding and processing information If movement is inhibited in one part of the body, another area will work harder Habits are formed
The head and neck Head positioning is crucial for a wide range of activities including vestibular function, vision, hearing and so on There are important anatomical structures in the neck Restricted movement through any part of the neck can have an impact on balance, and movement through the entire body
The back Many dogs lack core strength A strong, evenly developed top line is crucial for well being Many dogs are sensitive to contact on the back Soft tissue injuries and skeletal problems are often present in dogs that are wary about contact on the back
Beliefs A belief is an acceptance that something exists or is true Beliefs may be based on personal experience/learning The stronger the belief, the more evidence can be found to support that belief Beliefs shape behaviour They may be formed unconsciously and may be limiting
Common beliefs A well socialised dog will not develop problem behaviour There is no such thing as a bad dog, only a bad owner If children are supervised when interacting with a dog, the child will be safe Dogs that do not like to be touched on the back and/or neck are dominant A wagging tail is the sign of a friendly dog
Labels Humans have a tendency to attach labels to people, dogs, behaviour and so on Many labels stem from belief The same label may have a different meaning to each individual Labels can be limiting and may define the dog Word use can influence how we feel, how we behave and what we think
Sensory integration Sensory integration is the ability to take in and process information from the senses This information includes sensation from the body and the environment Some animals considered to be anti-social or with reactive behaviours to visual, tactile and sound stimulus may have poor sensory integration
The senses Proprioception Vestibular balance Sight Sound Smell Taste Tactile stimulation (touch)
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Deaf puppies
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Tellington TTouch TTouch was developed over 40 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 posture Influences behaviour Develops trust and understanding Changes an animals expectation of what human contact may mean Influences the sensory aspect of the nervous system including proprioception and vestibular balance
Components of TTouch Observations Approach and handling Handling assessment Equipment Body Work Ground Work Handler posture
Balance Postural traits are formed at a very early age A high proportion of dogs load the left fore limb Leading a dog from his right side reinforces this imbalance Mobility through the right hind leg may be impaired
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 often linked
Postural changes Frustration and/or stress Poor management or poor breeding (genetics) 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
Pain and aggression Those working with behavioural problems have known for years that pain is one of the primary causes of aggression This has been proven in a recent study by the Autonomous University of Barcelona Spain Focusing on sudden increases in aggression, researchers studied 12 dogs: Giant Schnauzer, Irish Setter, Pit Bull, Dalmation, two GSDs, Neopolitan Mastiff, Shih-tzu, OES, Catalan Sheep Dog, Chow Chow and Doberman
Findings The owners were asked the details of the dogs behaviour They identified the most frequent circumstances in which the dogs were aggressive The most frequent target of attacks was the owner All dogs (eleven male/one female) were diagnosed as having aggression caused by pain Eight of the dogs had hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia A hip dysplasia control programme in Sweden found that: Normal to normal matings produced 18% dysplastic off spring Normal to dysplastic produced 59% Dysplastic to dysplastic produced 87%
Extremities Many animals are fearful of being touched on the feet, around the muzzle, and on the tail Timid dogs may have cooler extremities Bony structures are closer to the skin Outer surface of all bones are covered in a membrane called periosteum Mouth and tail often mirror each other
Feet Flatter shinier pads Scuffed, shorter or longer nails Splayed toes Raised toes Angle of the pastern Paw placement when moving and at rest
Coat and skin The coat and skin combined are the largest sensory organs Variety of TTouches and textures will influence the nervous system in different ways The outer layer of the skin forms the largest piece of connective tissue Changes to the soft tissue and skeleton will affect the texture and appearance of the coat, and the mobility and temperature of the skin
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Coat Colour changes light and dark Coarse, rough, dry or greasy hair Dandruff Bald patches Swirls and curls Areas that are slow to shed
Tension patterns Better observations can aid when interacting with dogs based on posture, coat changes, movement and muscle development There is a pattern to both posture and behaviour For example many dogs that are noise sensitive carry tension through the hindquarters
Nature or nurture? Some reactive tendencies can be genetic Health problems can be genetic too Many reactive behaviours may be created/increased by a lack of awareness and poor understanding of the dog s needs Problem canine behaviour may not always be the fault of the owner/guardian But it is the responsibility of that owner/ guardian to help the dog
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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 Non-threating contact can increase oxytocin Oxytocin over rides the flight/fight response Learning just a few TTouches can make a difference to an animal s life
Contact reinforces behaviour? Depends on the type of contact Slow gentle contact over rides flight/fight reflex Non-threatening contact can boost immune system Mindful contact can change behaviour by influencing the nervous system
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Ground work Slow twitch muscle fibres trigger the feel good factor (dopamine/serotonin) 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 Provides a foundation for agility training and other competitive work
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 Hopefully 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
Containment Many puppies do not like to be touched A puppy that is born with tension in his/her body is likely to be more vocal than a relaxed puppy He/she may be more mouthy Panic when picked up Reluctant to play a shared game
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
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TTouch as a training tool TTouch puppies are often 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 gives owners/guardians new ways of interacting with their canine companions The techniques can be easily combined with other training modalities
Less is more Think of the nervous system like pervious rock Drip feed that information in a little at a time Remember to give the dog plenty of breaks regardless of its age The nervous system is processing information all the time Utilise all the senses Make sure water is available at all times
Win, win Any teaching should be fun for all concerned Remember dogs are learning all the time Be creative and make a plan but be flexible with that plan Help each dog be the best that he can be, whether he is destined to be a winner in the show ring, or the Champion of someone s heart
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Respect Think of this word in terms of what it might mean Re is a prefix meaning again Spect is used to describe the act of seeing (spectator/spectacle etc) In short, keep looking!
Hope TTouch has saved and enhanced the lives of many animals whose behaviour was deemed to be dangerous and out of control TTouch offers choices, and choices offer hope Educate, educate, educate Learn from one another and from every dog we meet As Xenophon stated so wisely in 400 BC.
Where knowledge ends, violence begins
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