Nearly Time for Session 3

Oh, my goodness..... come the weekend, I'll be in my third TTACT (Tellington Touch Animal Companion Training) session!!! This session is being taught by Linda Tellington-Jones, the founder of the TTouch method. I can't convey how delighted I am! Last June when I was considering getting my feet wet in this whole TTouch thing, I attended a one-day seminar taught by Linda with my nutty Doxie, Nestle, in tow. So, I'm thrilled to be experiencing a whole training session with her. This will also put me officially at the "half way!" point of my training.

Linda, I'm told, goes more into theory and research behind the TTouches. This thrills me no end because learning the TTouch is a big part of what it's all about, but for me, knowing what's behind it is equally important to the whole picture. When I first learned of TTouch and read up on it, I was intrigued by the statement, "[d]on't need knowledge of anatomy to be successful". I immediately asked myself, "why?" and dove into that whole realm. Knowing that Linda will go into it in more depth, is a great thing for me and an essential part of what I do.... okay, what I'm LEARNING to do. LOL

Looking forward - I'll have 4 months to spend on case studies between session 3 and 4 and I'm very much looking forward to a good long stretch of time to expand myself, my craft and to help a bunch of deserving companion animals. Meeting new critters and their people is so much fun!
Case Studies
I am so thrilled - I've been contacted by an area obedience instructor who is interested in being a case study and sending out her students to me as well! This means a plethora of case studies for me and (hopefully) an end to my constant begging. LOL Back in the old days, students submitted FIFTEEN case studies per session, now it's five. I was worried about getting my minimum of 15 total during my training. Me hopes that worry is dead in the water.

Case Study @ Home
I met a new client over the weekend who was the first to come out to my home for a session. This went amazingly well! I have issues with my home only because of petty vanity.... the garbage pile that still needs hauling off to the landfill and a house that's well.... eclectic and old. But then, I am eclectic and old... so I have learned to accept this feature. LOL

The driveway is heavily shaded and that's where we worked. It was great! I loved having my playground equipment all set up and ready to roll when doggie and human arrived. Alice (the dog) has occasional issues with strange dogs and occasional insecurity. We worked on several TTouches to help her relax and walked through the labyrinth, ladder, etc., with ease. Alice later worked very well along with Jazz and then later with Jazz and Nestle. It was so nice to have "stranger doggies" handy without them having to hang in the car till their time to work.

I honestly had concerns about working at home, but this was so great that now I know my intuition was right. This is a special place to travel to and work with our fur friends. We live on the lake, on the main channel and I know this is special as I enjoy it daily and I love to share this gift with others. Someday I'll have the gardens & yard done to where even my petty-vanity can't get in the way. LOL .... so if you ever wander to my neck o' the woods...kindly forgive the mess. I'll feel better. LOL

Herbs
After scouring my local nurseries and studying up specifically on herbs for doggies, I've made an online order for those "hard to get" plants. What really excites me is an herb coming in that was historically used for sinus congestion. It occurs to me that such an "allergy" response in dogs is pretty much ignored, unless you really like giving antibiotics for sinus trouble. I like to avoid the whole antibiotic trip if at all possible as I feel this mode of healing is over used and not kind to the body in the long run..... human and animal alike. I like to reserve antibiotics as a last resort.

So, stay tuned. Nestle has minor sinus issues with "reverse sneezing" (as it's called.... it's really just inward snorting to clear nasal passages); I'm looking forward to seeing if this herb will offer some relief. IF so, I may end up working on herbal mixes for clients. How fun is that?! I'm learning all about drying, tinctures, etc.

Plants and animals.... my two favorite things on this earth.

Nestle - master gardening assistant, in charge of sticks.

Case Studies

GUINNESS This is Guinness, a 14 y/o GSD. His tilting head is due to vestibular syndrome that he began exhibiting in February. At his age, the resulting inactivity was of concern with atrophying muscles. I came to see my fur friend at his home and spent long time doing TTouches all over and around his ears to aid in neural connections. I also used some energy medicine to gently keep his leg muscles in working order and showed his Momma what and how to do the exercises. My main concern was in maintaining his mobility during this rather immobile time for him.
A couple weeks later, Guinness was able to go back to work with his people where I met him and touched base with how he was doing and we enjoyed some TTouch time.


SIDNEY
This is Sidney, an adoptable GSD in foster care. I met her briefly at an adoption fair for GSD rescue and got to work with her. She (not surprisingly) has physical stresses which responded well to the TTouches. She was sporting a huge prong collar and was quite off balance and pulling heavily on the prong even when standing. I fashioned her lead into a TTouch balance lead and we simply stood while I gave Sidney subtle signals to put her more into balance and teach her to not lean into the prong. By the time I handed her back over to her foster person, she was standing in balance on a completely loose lead... that prong no longer digging into her neck. She also seemed much more calm and content.

Sidney is available for adoption. She has issues with other female dogs, however I have complete confidence that TTouch would help her overcome many issues. A delightful young lady deserving of a forever home.


DORRIE I have more recent pics of Lady Dorrie, but I'll be darned if I can locate 'em! Dorrie is a 5 y/o Golden with lots of stress issues. Her canine pal, is Cash.... an active Coonhound. I worked with Cash & Dorrie together at our last session. Both were remarkably calmer at our last session, which was rather noteworthy! Cash showed interest in the neighbor dog, but didn't go manic with pacing and barking. Dorrie was all over much more laid back. We did ground work with both dogs together and went over some new TTouches for both of them. Their progressive calm is really the highlight of their TTouch sessions.


HARLEY Harley is a 3 y/o West Highland Terrier. Harley is a super-duper sweetie who experiences shyness and/or reactivity with strangers or other selective issues, such as reluctance to foot handling. We've just had one session together thus far and he seems to be quite responsive to and liking of the TTouches. I'm looking forward to finding avenues to really help this little jewel soar!


And then there's my own test subjects! ThunderShirts arrived and naturally I have been test driving them with my own crew. Nestle & Jazz both really appreciate these gentle body compression garments when the stress gets too great. Somewhere along the banks of the Tennessee River, someone enjoys target shooting (I HOPE they're shooting targets!) which sends both small dogs into shivering, stressed reactivity. ThunderShirts were a raving success each time, shaking stopped and though both dogs stayed close to me... they were much calmer.

Some dogs need time. Nestle has taught me that when it comes to "come"... some dogs need time to process this and carry out the activity. He will stop, think and then come a runnin'. Sometimes this can seem like an eternity, when it's usually less than a minute. I have to remember to not nag ("come", "come", .... etc.) and practice my patience during his processing time - and it pays off. With time, Nestle's "pauses" before coming are becoming shorter in duration. I give him the time to choose and when he chooses correctly, he's rewarded for it. He simply responds a little more slowly than some dogs. He reminds me that "instantaneous response" is an unfair expectation from each and every creature.... because they are as individual as we humans are.

2nd TTouch Training Session

We did it again, Nestle, Jazz and I took the last week of March in Chapel Hill, NC to be at our 2nd Tellington TTouch companion animal practitioner training session.

Kathy Cascade was our instructor, pictured here with, "Dorito" a little mixed breed from the shelter at "Paws 4 Ever" in Chapel Hill. (She's available, kids! The dog that is.... )

I am blown away that a same subject can be taught so eloquently - yet a different facet of the same gem . It makes complete sense, of course, but the reality of it is quite impressive. It was new, yet it wasn't. The familiarity fascinating. I felt green going in, but coming away I feel much more capable and competent. It was a wonderful (COLD! It snowed, sleeted, heavy freeze and 1 sunny, warm day) week of learning, making new friends and touching base with familiar friends. My 3rd session is in June with Linda Tellington-Jones, the founder. I am very much looking forward to that one.

So, I'm back to case studies with my first batch due in June. It Should be interesting now with new parts of the growth process integrating into my being, my "style" of doing this work. I learned so much! Thank you deeply, KC! A magical week.

I have been approved to be a dealer for ThunderShirts, and boy does Nestle need one anyway... so he gets first crack at it. I was also approved to be a dealer for Hilton Herbs. I love my herbs, as we all know, and I'm deeply impressed with the ethics Hilton uses in making such fine products (human grade for our companion animals & horses, too). My dogs enjoy the herbs. I'd go nuts singing praises, but it really hasn't been long enough for my babies to reach their "maintenance level" of the herb for me to give a fair feedback. The shampoos are the best I've found thus far. Nestle has very thin, delicate and dry skin, so keeping him clean, comfortable and "not" bald or raw, is a trial. I used the "pine tar" shampoo on him, and I've never seen (or felt) him better.

So, my goodness my basket is filling up. TTouch, Herbalist, Jin Shin for animals and Raiki for animals... it's all coming together into a superb package.

Happy April!

That's me putting a rope harness on an Angora Ram (goat)
Oh, and pardon my butt

Session with Elvis

Elvis has a somewhat restless soul and though he "rests" a lot, he can be like a tensioned bow-string at times; leaping in response to the slightest touch. 127 pounds of "surprise!" response can be rather dangerous.

Finding him relaxed and receptive, it was a good time for some energy TTouch work; since he's half way to being relaxed to begin with.
He was a bit squirmy when I sat beside him and I sensed confusion and worry, so I began with a touch that calms by gently activating both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. He calmly rested his head [above].

I felt his energy field all over where I could easily reach. Around his right hip, where he had some old hot spots, his energy field was thin and weakened and the area is cold and tense. I began with some pointed electrical work [Pictured above]. Elvis felt unsure of this at first, I used my other hand to work on his crown chakra at the same time and this balanced his energies. He again relaxed and rested his head. After several minutes I felt a stronger blood and energy flow to his hip, warmth and relaxation returned to the area.
I then worked on his energy grid and chakras. Elvis had a few thin areas in his grid and his chakras were in need of balancing. His root chakra still held wounds from being weaned, sent to a strange place and neutered (all within days). His solar plexus was the most off center and he reacted a bit to working with it at first; my hands became very warm as we progressed. Once I had the solar plexus balanced, the remainder of his chakras fell into balance quite nicely and Elvis entered a state of deep relaxation [above].
After working on what have been rather sensitive and guarded areas on Elvis's body, I proceeded to his most reactive area: the toes. This image captures the warm energy and calm in touching his toes. He remained completely relaxed.

This session lasted all of 20 minutes or so. Since then, Elvis has been enjoying deep, restful sleep. He has been calm and centered, his edginess and jangled energy are gone. He seemed unsettled before, he would pester each person in turn for attention but unable to stand still to receive it. Now he is as comfortable and content as the other two dogs and slumbers peacefully on his bed.

The next day (1-15-11, 5:30 pm)
I had another opportunity to work with Elvis, this time his left side. He was in a new but inviting area, one more comfortable for me to work on him. This made it strange for him and he was slow to relax. I began with his crown chakra and then he began relaxing well. He laid down very close to me, his toes touching mine, his head on my leg. He now knows what this is about and was a tad bit reluctant at first. Opening chakras is very much the electric surge when riding the long up hill on the roller coaster. The release is amazingly wonderful, though. No sudden drops. (It is for me, anyway). On the working end, when I am the one opening anothers' chakra, I can experience feelings, changes in temperature, pains, visions. It all depends on the patient as well as the chakra. What they experience is unique, and every chakra is unique.

After Elvis relaxed completely his head rested on my leg and his front toes touched mine. He lay very close to me. Warm and calm. I worked from his crown chakra to his throat chakra where the energy was confused, congested and tangled. As I worked with his throat chakra the confused energy intensified and he became wiggly. I asked him to hang in there with me as I massaged his chakra into balance. Finally the tangled energy gave way and a warm, steady, aligned and balanced energy flowed in. Elvis cuddled up again, relaxed and released a big breath.

I gently moved down to his solar plexus where I found intense light coupled with great pain in the left side. I worked gently with this as long as we both could stand.

We'll need to finish this before bed. My left side is still aching a tad, and most of all, his chakras need balancing. We're nearly there. It's a lot for him to process.
Elvis was receptive at bedtime, so I spent a few minutes with his feet and toes. This is the most relaxed I've felt him while handling his feet.
I wasn't close enough to snuggle, though he tried. Notice the relaxed face while I'm holding his paw.

To Date

Dorrie
Dorrie taught me a lot from our second session and my own Nestle confirmed my intuition. Dorrie has quite the separation anxiety issue, our chief area of focus to help her be more confident and comfortable.

During my Ttouch time with her, her human went outside to entertain "Cash", the other dog. Dorrie was so caught up in the separation issue that it took a long time for her to begin to relax (but she did realize that relaxing was okay!). I found myself feeling rather concerned about this and have felt less than successful with the session. ..... Nestle (my own dog of diminutive size) has his own separation issues which have been somewhat satiated with Ttouch. Then, it became clear to me. It's okay for the human of focus to be part of the Ttouch for reducing stress and separation! Dorrie's human should be with her. Dorrie's human can help her reduce her stress.

Thank you, Nestle. We'll do that in our next session.

I was pleased to hear from Dorrie's person that during a thunderstorm (after the second session) she asked her person for reassurance and did experience noticeable relief. Dorrie's learning to self-calm is a very good sign.


Elvis
Elvis, my hound of substantial size tends to walk on lead with a focus all his own... which can lead to lunges and discomfort for the human walking him. Having had two sessions with the confidence course has had positive effect.

Elvis was uncomfortable late last night, so I chose to take him for a walk. I don't have a step-in harness his size, except for the one in my "kit". Not wanting to use that, I took a narrow lead and made a surcingle (a strap around his chest) to accompany his buckle collar lead. This made a sort of balance-lead for walking him and gave me two points of contact. He walked beautifully. He walked with me better than he ever had previously. Ever. Only my competition dog from years ago walked on-lead better.


Check out the video on You Tube explaining TTouch. I met dear Marsha last June up in Maryland at the one-day workshop with Linda Tellington-Jones. Nifty lady!

This weekend is the area "Smoky Mountain Cluster", a 4 day AKC show event in downtown Knoxville. I'll arrange to have a booth there next year. Excitement!

Since September

Since my training session last September, I have been administering regular doses of Ttouch on my own dogs. Even brief contact is done in a mindful way as well as snuggle time. I also do actual sessions just as I would do on a client. Even my own dogs teach me a lot and they seem to really dig it. Here's Jazz's example:
Jazz requests her Ttouch sessions on a weekly basis. This is displayed in a subtle manner of canine body language screamed at me from the bed, her favorite place to be worked on. Her sessions last on the order of 30 to 40 minutes. So, to date I have worked on her a total of 3 hours, roughly guessing. Have I noticed any changes?

Behaviorally, Jazz has ceased barking at passing boats, birds and cars. She acknowledges passing cars with nothing more than a brief glance , where she had been an avid chaser. Fishing boats coasting by our dock are still fair game, and that I find quite reasonable, but the large cruiser way out in the channel is now free to pass in the world according to Jazz. Birds flying by used to cause quite a fury of barking .... that I don't miss. Barking at clients or delivery personnel entering our little store is an increasing thing of the past. Fears are greatly reduced, confidence is much increased.

Physically Jazz shows improvement in her range of motion and balanced use of both back legs. Jazz's right hip suffers from genetic degeneration. Symptoms cropped up at 18 months of age and were severe enough to warrant surgery. Adequan injections improved mobility so dramatically that a full hip replacement was postponed indefinitely. She would still carry her leg down stairs and would play cautiously. She also slept crooked. ..... You're probably expecting me to say that all those symptoms are gone, just like the excessive barking and car chasing. That now she runs, bolts & jumps again with reckless abandon, soars down stairs with no favoring of her hip, and she now sleeps with relaxed, straighter legs.

Yes.

This is an odd angle but Jazz's left leg is clearly visible in what appears to be propped on Nestle's face. Actually her leg isn't touching his face, that's how far the lower leg would stick up in the air when she's laying on her side. She received Ttouch on her hips during the Chapel Hill training session and I have focused two session on her hips. While still quite cow-hocked, this uncomfortable looking sleeping position is much reduced.

(As soon as I have a picture of her new sleeping position, I'll post it)

Peace, love & Light,
Kat

Case Studies

What is a Case Study?
A kind human volunteers their companion animal for me to work on and learn from. Ideally, not only do I learn lots, but the animal benefits from the Ttouches. For a formal study the owner agrees to commit to three sessions. The owner also agrees to any publishing of the study and/or images by Tellington Touch as copies will be turned in during my training.

Not everyone I work on need be a case study. I'll keep records for my own self, of course, but you get the gist. The real need for me is to practice, practice, practice! Folks with Foster animals in need of emotional/behavioral help are of special interest as well.

How much? Three easy payments of $0.00 - typically 90 minutes per session. A deal!

Where?
What I love about Ttouch is that it helps the animal where they live in their every day life. It's up to the owner where they would feel most comfortable ..... within a reasonable driving distance, of course.

Why?
Case studies do several things. One, they demonstrate to the Ttouch instructors that I'm actually studying, learning, and progressing. Two, by going over case studies with an instructor it furthers the learning process by gaining valuable feedback.

How?
During my 2 year training program, I will need to submit a total of 15 case studies, one of which should be someone other than a companion animal. The first 3 case studies will be due during my 3rd training session in May/June.

My area of study is companion animals.... which is not limited to dogs. I just happen to be a dog person. I'm also a horse person... but that's whole other Ttouch training program... which I'll do after completing the companion animal training! Then there's working on humans: My final frontier!

TTACT - Session 1

Once I got the Universal message that Ttouch is the path that I'm destined to follow, I waded in rather than diving head first. I took a one-day workshop by the founder, Linda, last June. She taught the sensory aspect of Ttouch and some basic Ttouches. Nestle was my companion and his transformation was nothing short of Biblical over the course of the day. I signed up for my first week long session immediately.

Mid September I took my first TTACT (Tellington Ttouch Animal Companion Training) training session. Six magical days in a room full of like-minded, spiritual humans learning this gentle work. Six days later it was like sisters parting...only better maybe. I never had a sister. I hear stories. Jazz & Nestle were my companions for the session.

What did I learn? I learned the Ttouches, of course. I think, more than anything though, I transformed. I see animals through different eyes now, softer, kinder more knowledgeable eyes. I see possibilities instead of problems. Nestle, being familiar with the Ttouch, calms down right away in frightening, unfamiliar situations. Jazz makes better choices when something triggers her (usually that would be her big brother Elvis wanting to share attention). I learned the basic philosophy of what type of Ttouch and pressure for influencing affect in the animal.

To put my training in a nutshell, it's a two-year journey during which I will attend 6 week-long trainings. After my 4th session I'll be "in business", so to speak. After my 6th session, I'll be all official. After that, I can move on to the horse & human trainings.

I learned mechanics, psychology, behavior assessment, client relations, body language, and I transformed. I "became". I don't just "do" Ttouch, I "am" Ttouch. I completely get this, how it works, where it comes from, what it can do, what I've seen done.

Case Studies are my best teachers. They are kind volunteers offering their companion animals for me to work on. I learn, the dog and owner experience positive change (hopefully!). We all have a wonderful time along the way!

This is Rufus, a mature Border Collie mix surrendered to the shelter for "herding sheep". He was the dog I worked with (with two other gals) during the TTACT session. Rufus was having issues with jumping (and yes he could!) and pulling. We worked with him about 30 minutes the first day where he calmed down a LOT. Prior to our second session, the next day, a volunteer dog walker noted how much better Rufus was behaving and walking for her. We had 3 30 minute sessions over three days with the fella, each time he showed marked improvement. He was much calmer, didn't pull on the lead and exhibited no jumping.