TTouch @ Calgary Humane Society

I just returned from my fourth TTouch training with the usual heap of notes, new acquaintances, and a list of skills I need to work on. As always, working in a workshop environment both reassures me that I have learned a lot, and reminds me that I don’t know as much as I thought I did!

What was new and different?

This 6-day workshop was held at the Calgary Humane Society, and taught by Robyn Hood and Kathy Cascade. I’m so glad I had an opportunity to see this fabulous place, and it was interesting to do the workshop in a different venue. For many reasons, it was quite a different experience from the workshops at the Icelandic Horse Farm near Vernon– not better or worse; just different.

• Fewer participants brought their own dogs. In my past workshops (2016,  2015, 2014) I’ve either been taking care of my own dogs, asking for assistance with my dogs, or helping others who need help with their dogs. There can be some great conversations as we share concerns and joys. I kind of missed that aspect of the workshop.
• We didn’t have sessions with outside clients and their dogs. On the other hand, this freed up time for more demos, hands-on practice, and Q&A.
• We had a variety of animals to work with and use as demos! Cats, bunnies, turtles, snakes…
  

• Lunches out on the town instead of home-cooked group meals… except where is the town? Glad I rented a car!
• It was indoors, and winter. The cool temperatures suit me better than Okanagan heat, but I did miss spending time outside.
• Space was limited for working with multiple dogs, but in true TTouch fashion, it worked out just fine.

Moments that stood out

• Walking without a limp after a 30-minute session on the Bemer. This isn’t related to the workshop at all! It just happened that Robyn brought a Bemer.
• On several occasions I felt stuck about what to do. Somehow, each time it happened, someone would notice and sweep in to help. Thanks!
• The pure joy on Lia’s face when she talked about the changes in her dog, Bella, over the days of the workshop.
• Tears. These workshops always bring out the emotions.
• I have some habits that have become so internalized that I can’t even remember what they were. Huh? For example, at the workshop, after watching the balance leash demo, I absolutely could not put one on a dog! When I got home I put a balance leash on Maggie (as I’ve done many times) only to remember the wrong way to do it. Later I was doing some mouth work with Maxwell and caught myself doing this with his head facing me — another habit I should avoid because it may transfer to work with other dogs. And also my own dogs will probably appreciate a better way of handling!
• I began to notice the words people use to encourage movement. In my mini research observations I noticed that “Let’s go” was way more effective than other commonly used words: “come on” or “[name of dog]”, etc.
• A few of us gathered around a mat to work with a young, excited, squirmy dog. I wanted to leave the mat to walk the dog around before trying to do touches. Because of the way the space was set up this wasn’t possible. I never dreamed that this dog would respond to touches at that moment, and couldn’t even imagine what an “entry level” touch would be. Robyn swept in and placed one hand in front of the dogs chest to lightly restrain, did some touches along his body, lots of pauses, et voila, a squirmy dog ready to relax.
• There were many more moments of witnessing the power of TTouch (touches, ground work, wraps, and people simply using good communication skills). Too many to list!

Words that stuck

• TTouch is not a training technique; it’s a technique to make dogs more trainable.
• When you distract the animal you are taking away the experience.
• The more you start to listen to dogs the more they’ll feel heard.
• TTouch is not a recipe. You don’t go into every situation knowing what to do. Apply principles. Don’t be attached to an outcome.
• Drop pebbles with your eyes where you want to the dog to go.
• Think of learning as a spool of thread. You sometimes have to unwind it a bit to uncover a memory slot.
• Practice on your own dog the way you would practice with any dog. They’ll thank you for it.
• Influence is way more powerful than control.
• You can always make something better; if you always think that way you won’t get stuck in your ways.
• If one technique isn’t working, repeating it probably isn’t going to help.
• Posture and behaviour go hand in hand. Change the posture to change the behaviour.
• If a dog moves away from you you’ve missed a lot of small signs.
• Allowing the dog to be in the moment is very different from training the dog to do a behaviour in that moment.
• If you hold a picture of what you want it can change the outcome.

Good reminders

• It’s not about how YOU work with someone else’s dog, it’s about teaching the owner to work with their own dog. Talk them through steps. Have them clip the leash, etc.
• You’re more likely to influence change by being neutral.
• Don’t keep pushing to find out what the animal can’t do.
• Don’t do too much; set yourself up the for next session.
• Chunk it down. Chunk it down. Chunk it down.
• Dogs that keep moving are likely trying to control how you touch them.
• Asking for detailed bios can be less useful than you think.
• Replace what the human is doing with something else. For example, if they are popping the leash, teach them to stroke the leash instead.
• Take breaks and offer water frequently!
• The basic question when working with any animal is: Am I threatening to the animal? Forget all the “sound bites” to explain models (like prey / predator).
• If you don’t do the pause you don’t allow the feedback.

New-to-me tips

• When bathing a dog, use the water stream to make circular motions.
• Think of homing pigeon as an umbrella term for all the the harness/rope work (Bee Line, Butterfly, Half Butterfly, Dragonfly, etc)
• Cat capes! Allows all 4 paws to remain on the table.
• You can show casual confidence and also be neutral.
• When a dog stops to sniff, take that opportunity to step forward to get into position.
• A double triangle for ground work is better than a traditional labyrinth for dogs that have physical issues because you avoid tight turns.
• If going faster with touches, take longer pauses.
• Hit the dollar store!

What I really need to work on NOW

• More practice teaching humans how to do touches, and to put on wraps and harnesses.
• Get caught up on my case studies. I have 12 cases in various stages of completion, some already completed and reviewed. Mostly I just need to assemble photos and organize my notes into a concise and readable format. Only one case is ‘in progress’ and I’m excited to get back to work with that client. After receiving feedback on 10 case studies I will have a ‘practitioner in training’ status.
• I’ve heard the advice to look where you want the dog to go, but I seem to need it to be repeated. When in motion I catch myself looking at the dog All. The. Time. Any TAGteachers out there to help me with this?
• Homing pigeon. Time to round up some friends!