Some Tips for Dealing with Your Anxiety & Your Pet's!

With everyone sheltering in place, anxiety is running high. People are anxious and consequently, their beloved pets are anxious as well.  Our pets are wonderful observers of our moods and our behavior; with all of us home, they are watching us constantly and trying to process our anxiety and uncertainty. A couple of clients have actually told me that they are embarrassed that their pets seem to move away from them at times during the day, seeking refuge under the bed, in their crates, or simply in other rooms, rather than staying close by.  Most of our pets are used to having more "alone time" during the day than they are getting now.  While this may seem like it should be a dream come true for our pets, that's really not the case at all.  We all need time together and time alone.  And if you are trying to mitigate your own anxiety by holding your pets, stroking their fur, etc., please keep in mind that while they may enjoy that contact for the most part, if we are constantly seeking solace in contact with our pets, we may make them more anxious.  So what can you do to be more mindful while petting your beloved cats and dogs?  How about trying T-Touch!

T-Touch was created by Linda Tellington over 30 years ago.  While she began using the technique with horses, it is now recognized as being therapeutic for other animals (and humans) as well. T-Touch is gentle, mindful, and respectful. It clearly demonstrates how non-habitual movements can bring about changes in behavior patterns.  It builds trust through touch for both the practitioner and the animal. While there are three components to T-Touch, the primary one for pet owners to focus on doing for their pets themselves is "body work." The movements associated with body work help to reduce anxiety and fear while promoting healing throughout the body and mind. Think of body work as a more mindful form of petting your dog or cat.  Here are a couple of easy body work techniques to try with your pets.  Begin with very short sessions, observing your pet for signs that they are enjoying what you are doing.  If they move away, let them.  As they begin to feel the connection with you through the techniques, you will see them relax into the movements which will provide you with positive feedback and decrease your own anxiety.  Try to focus completely on what your hands are doing and breath deeply.  Your relaxation will result in better relaxation for your pets.  So, here goes!

Noah's March:  Run one open hand gently down your pet's body, beginning at the neck and stroking lightly toward their butt.  Use the back of your hand to stroke down their shoulders.

Noah's March with Zig-Zag:  Do as outlined above, but after your open hand reaches the butt, close your hand and move up the dog's body back toward the neck.  You should notice that you have your pet's undivided attention now!

Circular Touch: Gently move the skin in a circular motion using 1/4 turns.  Use just the tips of your fingers at first. Over time, you can build up to doing the circular motion with all of your fingers and then even the palm of your hand. 90% of animals prefer that you do these circular motions in a clockwise direction!

The Abalone:  This is the circular touch using all of your hand moving in a 1/4 turn clockwise fashion.

Spring Bok:  If you are trying to stimulate your pet, say an older pet that you'd like to ease into some exercise, you can try this move.  Move your hand in a pinching up movement, beginning at the shoulders and working toward the butt.

The Lift: Like the Spring Bok, this movement awakens the nervous system.  Take the palm of your hand and move your pet's skin upward until you feel slight resistance, then move your hand downward with gravity to the starting point.

With all of these techniques, you want to begin with very light pressure to see how your pet responds.  You will always use just one hand on your pet; this is your working hand.  Your other hand is your grounding hand that you will keep on yourself, or if need be, keep in place on one spot on your pet.  For example, you might rest your grounding hand on your dog's chest while your working hand does the Noah's March from their neck to their butt.

If you'd like to explore T-Touch further, here are a couple of links to my favorite T-Touch products:

https://ttouch.com/Detailed/Shop/Dogs/Books/Getting_in_TTouch_wi..._2905.html

https://ttouch.com/Detailed/Shop/Cats/Tellington_TTouch_fo..._57.html

Touch is so important for us all.  Being mindful of the ways we touch each other insures that everyone feels safe and cared for.  So important to keep in mind as we are all practicing social distancing.  As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

I've been doing T-Touch with Ozzie since he was a puppy to help with his anxiety.  He now will solicit it on his own and will often lay down and look off in the distance, or close his eyes, while I touch him.  This is a still image while I was doing Noah's March down his foreleg. What I love most about Ozzie is the feedback he gives me while I'm doing this. He will sigh or moan and his breathing becomes deeper. Doggie bliss!