The most difficult thing to do: Define TTouch. Way harder than making good things happen with TTouch! I have put together this sheet from many sources.

• A well developed system of bodywork and training that employs:

  • Bodywork: circular hand movements, slides, lifts, and other non-habitual movements.

  • Training: mazes, balance beams, patterned walking exercises, etc., plus some basic obedience training and management education

  • Tools: bodywraps, head collars, leads harnesses, wands, and dozens of other items at hand.

•  TTouch is based on communication and respect, cooperation and understanding, never fear or force

• Observe without labeling.

• Giving direction, not correction.

  • It is not about fixing, curing, or doing something to the animal, but about bringing a new awareness, offering another experience and giving new information, so the animal can be more flexible and adaptive.

• TTouch meets the animal where she is, never expecting more than she is capable of at the moment.

  • If it doesn’t work, change to something else.

  • Chunk it down - one small successful step at a time is a success.

  • Sometimes less is more.

• TTouch looks at the whole picture. Exploring the underlying stress and fear that result in the unwanted behavior or physical limitation.

  • Look at the possibilities, not the limitations.

  • Promote balance - physical, mental, and emotional.

  • Encourage - self-carriage, self-control, and self-confidence

• TTouch uses non-habitual movements to create new sensations and awareness.

• Change the posture, change the behavior.

• TTouch allows an animal to think and act, rather than just react. To interrupt the habitual patterned behavior associated with certain stimuli.

• TTouch works on the level of the central nervous system. Circular movements and non-habitual movements affect unused neural pathways, replacing habitual messages of discomfort with less stressful ones.

• TTouch is an effective way for people to deepen their relationship with their companions while solving challenging or frustrating situations.

(Taking from the article, “Describing TTouch Training to Clients” by Missy Allemang. Published in the December 2003 Vol 7 Issue 1 of Stay in TTouch, A Newsletter for Practitioners & Practitioners- In-Training. Pg 10)