FAQs
Why TTouch® instead of "traditional" training?
Tellington TTouch® is about giving an animal the skills they need to live successfully with us in our human world - skills to confidently cope with situations of all kinds. If an animal is not confident, their reactions are often reduced to "fight or flight." Lack of confidence can make each of us uncertain or fearful. TTouch® can reduce fear, increase confidence, and allow an animal to choose more appropriate behavior responses to situations in the world rather than simply reacting.
Many other types of training rely on repetition and reaction from the animal to a verbal or visual signal. While such repetition can be successful in known environments, new environments may cause distractions and inability to perform. TTouch® can complement traditional training to help animals stay calmer, communication, and retain behaviors in new or distracting situations.
Many other types of training rely on repetition and reaction from the animal to a verbal or visual signal. While such repetition can be successful in known environments, new environments may cause distractions and inability to perform. TTouch® can complement traditional training to help animals stay calmer, communication, and retain behaviors in new or distracting situations.
How does TTouch work?
The basic, circular TTouch® awakens brainwave cycles. With such activation comes a more physically, mentally and behaviorally-balanced state. The four cycles are:
While the circular touches form the basis of the work, other touches are incorporated to increase self-awareness and confidence, reduce fear and pain, and improve overall well-being.
- Alpha - reduces fear, promotes relaxation and feelings of well-being;
- Beta - increases alertness and concentration, promotes increased coordination and performance;
- Delta - facilitates awareness and healing;
- Theta - improves receptiveness in memory and performance.
While the circular touches form the basis of the work, other touches are incorporated to increase self-awareness and confidence, reduce fear and pain, and improve overall well-being.
What are the "touches" and when are they used?
Tellington TTouch® uses a combination of 20-25 light touches, as well as slides and lifts, for a variety of situations. Each can give the animal a different awareness or new body experience at the cellular level, helping to release tension and unhelpful but habitual body patterns. All of the touches work at the skin level. For the most part, the touches were named by founder Linda Tellington-Jones after the animal who inspired them.
The touches are the foundation of all work. Because they help calm and balance, they are used on their own or in combination with wraps and groundwork. The touches open up a space for the animal to be more receptive to learning.
The touches are the foundation of all work. Because they help calm and balance, they are used on their own or in combination with wraps and groundwork. The touches open up a space for the animal to be more receptive to learning.
How do animals learn from TTouch®? Would any kind of touch (like massage) work the same way?
Don't confuse TTouch® with massage, even though they may look similar. The simplest explanation is that while massage works with the muscles, TTouch® moves the skin only and, in so doing, affects the nervous system. When the nervous system is engaged, the body's cells release fear and tension, breathing normalizes, and it is easier to become calm. It is in this state that animals are most receptive to learning new behaviors.
TTouch® teaches the body to move into a state of balance rather than automatically moving into fight or flight.
The touches are also quite light, on a scale from one to six, with six described as the deepest pressure a person could stand on their own eyelid. Touches for companion animals are rarely that hard, with most dogs accepting touches from two to five and cats from one to three. Smaller animals generally receive the lightest touch.
TTouch® teaches the body to move into a state of balance rather than automatically moving into fight or flight.
The touches are also quite light, on a scale from one to six, with six described as the deepest pressure a person could stand on their own eyelid. Touches for companion animals are rarely that hard, with most dogs accepting touches from two to five and cats from one to three. Smaller animals generally receive the lightest touch.
What are wraps and why use them? What do they teach?
Wraps are another way of bringing awareness or influence to the animal, or to attention to specific areas and are an integral component of TTouch work. The sensation of the light wrap makes animals more aware, causing them to move in nonhabitual ways. In so doing, weight and balance are redistributed, which often relieves pain, improves digestion, or releases fear.
Wraps are generally worn for short periods of time. The effects often remain long after the wrap is removed, as new or different ways of moving or awareness are learned.
Wraps are generally worn for short periods of time. The effects often remain long after the wrap is removed, as new or different ways of moving or awareness are learned.
What is purposeful movement/groundwork?
This section is still under construction.