Start at home or wherever you and your dog are most comfortable, she suggests, and when you feel ready, move to other areas and activities, including outdoor walks and training classes. Even those who aren’t familiar with TTouch can massage the dog’s ears to help make the wrap more effective.” Be sure to use a reassuring tone of voice and be generous with praise or treats to help the dog relax and adjust. “The neurological system receives information and stores it like a computer, so even small doses are effective. Like all of the TTouch patterns and exercises, body wraps have a cumulative effect. As the dogs gained confidence, became more relaxed, or showed increased coordination or flexibility, the wraps were used for maintenance once a week or whenever it seemed appropriate.” “Even 10 minutes at a time made a difference, and for dogs who were afraid of thunder or had separation anxiety, the wraps could be worn for longer periods. The most dramatic improvements occurred when the dogs’ owners made the wraps part of their regular routine in combination with TTouch circles, lifts, and slides. In addition, Doyle worked with dogs that were timid, afraid of being left alone, afraid of loud noises, sore from injuries or arthritis, or uncoordinated. Gentle TTouch and body wraps interrupted this energy flow and reconnected the front and hind ends, which helped bring their minds and bodies into balance.” They were on automatic pilot, reacting on instinct alone. “Not enough blood in the brain and too much in their ready-to-launch hind ends prevented these dogs from thinking or learning. “They all had tight muscles in the legs and rear,” Doyle says. Karen Doyle, a TTouch practitioner for companion animals in Chester, New York, appreciates the behavior changes that wraps produce because her first TTouch clients were aggressive dogs. Most TTouch work is performed with the hands by making large and small circles all over the body, but to provide consistent pressure for longer periods, she wrapped the animals in elastic bandages. While developing her famous Tellington TTouch (pronounced “tee-touch”) therapy, Linda Tellington-Jones explored the calming effects of gentle pressure on animals, especially dogs and horses. Now known as the Hug Box or Squeeze Machine, Grandin’s invention has calmed autistic children and adults around the world. Realizing that similar deep pressure might help her own over-stimulated nerves, she designed a padded box into which she could climb and press a lever to bring its side boards together. Grandin visited a relative’s ranch and noticed how the pressure of a squeeze chute into which cattle were herded for branding quickly calmed them. The pressure felt even better if her sister sat on the cushions. As an autistic child, she felt overwhelmed by most of the hugs she received from people, but crawling under sofa cushions soothed her. Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is an expert on the therapeutic benefits of hugs. – Find a TTouch practitioner near you for guidance and hands-on instruction.ĭoes anything feel better than a perfect hug? Use treats, whatever sort of touch your dog enjoys, and a reassuring tone of voice to reassure your dog. – Give it a try! We know it looks kooky – but we’ve seen it work again and again.
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