The Language of Touch That Calms and Heals

I have found when I'm having a bad day or just need a "pick me up" just placing my hand on top of my dog's head relaxes me.  Pets are a natural healing source.  Because of this I love my job.  I'm very blessed to be around pets every day! - Gretchen Meienburg, Partner Pampered Pets Bed & Biscuit

Tellington TTouch

The Language of Touch That Calms and Heals

 

TTouch has been described as an interspecies language without words. It’s a gentle touch with your fingertips that could change your pet’s life. TTouch is a form of massage, but the intent and effects are different. With massage, the idea is to relax and melt away. With TTouch, the intent is to relax and awaken the mind, to create focus, and enhance an animal’s willingness and ability to learn.
Linda Tellington-Jones, who developed the TTouch method, did EEG studies on horses 25 years ago. What she found was, both the person performing the TTouch and the animal receiving TTouch experienced an activation in all four types of brain waves, in both hemispheres of the brain. Beta brain waves, which are active in humans for logical thinking, were surprisingly present whenever the circular TTouches were applied. Alpha brain waves, which have to be present for people to learn, were present in the animal. Tellington believes that the activation of Beta and Alpha brain waves in animals helps them focus and learn. The activation did not occur with petting, stroking or massage.
So what is this magic touch? The TTouch Method is comprised of gentle circular movements, lifts and slides of the skin with your fingers. For the basic circular TTouch, you do not rub over the skin, but rather gently move the skin in a circle, once and a quarter around, then slide to another spot on your pet’s body and repeat the motion. Visualize the face of a clock on your pet’s body, and perform these circles in the 6, 9, 12, 3, then 6 positions; ending at 9 on your imaginary clock.

Using TTouch on Your Pets

As a pet owner, you can use TTouch for relaxation, or to help curb behavior problems. If your pet is healthy, well-behaved and has no issues, it can simply be used for relaxation and enjoyment and to create a closer bond. But, if your dog has behavior problems such as excessive barking problems, is aggressive, tugs on the leash, is fearful, too excitable, nervous or other problems, TTouch could help. Or, if your cat is too nervous or aggressive to be handled or too frightened to have a life, especially when people come over, or gets carsick on the way to the veterinarian, TTouch could help resolve these issues.
TTouch keeps pets calm and focused
TTouch releases fear at the cellular level, awakens the mind, and helps your pet feel more comfortable in his own body, and over time, improve health or promote healing. A few minutes of TTouch each day, and especially just before something stressful happens, such as an agility competition or a trip to the veterinarian, will put your pet in a relaxed, focused and trusting frame of mind. TTouch often achieves the desired result in just a few sessions, but has an accumulative effect over time, so the more you do it, the better the end results. One of the surprising results is, as the person performing TTouch, you become more relaxed, focused and connected with your pet!
Tellington has discovered that TTouch works on all species of animals, including humans, and her method is now used by animal behaviorists, animal trainers, shelter workers, veterinarians and zoo staff. For dogs and cats in shelters, who are too skittish or too aggressive to be adoptable, TTouch transforms them into calm and trusting pets, which gives them a chance at a life in a loving home.
TTouch is easy to learn. There are trainings and workshops happening all over the country (and abroad!) as well as books and DVDs on TTouch for cats and dogs.

National Dog Day

An Animal Welfare Holiday to Adopt and Honor Pets

Some go into law enforcement. Some go into medicine. But they all appreciate a good belly rub. Whether they're saving lives or simply enriching them, rescue dogs, police dogs, therapy dogs and family dogs are selflessly devoted to making the world and their homes a better place. But with four million adoptable animals put down every year, many dogs never get the chance to put their big hearts to use.

August 26 is National Dog Day, a holiday to celebrate dogs and all that they do for us, and to welcome those in need into our lives through animal rescue.

National Dog Day founder Colleen Paige was inspired to create the holiday after looking a coffee table book that depicted the horrors and triumphs of 9/11 without a single mention of the hundreds of rescue dogs who put their lives on the line at Ground Zero to help the emergency crews.

"The lack of attention for what these dogs endured and accomplished made me weep," said Paige. "It also made me realize all that they do, unconditionally, and how so many are abused and abandoned. I felt that they needed a day of recognition, a day for us to say "thank you" for saving our lives, lowering our blood pressure, guiding our blind, protecting our streets, our homes and our families, and to show our appreciation by helping to celebrate them and save lives in return."

With the support of the Animal Miracle Network, National Dog Day has grown annually with events expanding as far as Puerto Rico, England and Italy. Affiliates are welcomed to host their own National Dog Day events ranging from dog shows, walkathons and photo contests to picnics, adoption drives and fairs.

If you're already a proud pet owner, take some time on National Dog Day to show your dog how much you appreciate him. Recommended holiday activities include having a picnic at a dog park, inviting the neighborhood dogs over for a pool party, coordinating a costume parade on your street, taking your dog shopping to pick out a new toy and planning a pet-friendly getaway.  Enjoy a special day with your dog!