Client Spotlight: BB

A very calm and relaxed BB

Ahhh, we had a very progressive week here at East Tennessee TTouch!  Here's a client spotlight on a sweet dog who suffers from anxiety and OCD with eating virtually anything.

Please note:   I'm very adamant about the confidentiality of my clients.  Images and names used with permission.

BB was referred to me by a university veterinary professor specializing in behavior.  BB is a beautiful, male, three year old Lagotto Romagnolo.   He was having issues with anxiety that presented itself in chewing and eating everything imaginable, including (but not limited to) clothing, bedding, and furniture.  The owner was justifiably concerned that this behavior would lead to an obstruction at some point which would result in surgery, or worse.  BB also paced and showed general anxiety in life.  Otherwise a very sweet natured dog and very willing to work with his person and a delightful companion.

On BB's first day at East Tennessee TTouch, he was very tense.  His tail was clamped to his body and he was glued to his owner's side.   There was a good deal of physical tension throughout his body.  BB was medicated at the time and I could see it aiding his calm, but physical tension hides from no one.  He had a moderately difficult time negotiating the confidence course in the beginning, he was tight and out of balance.   After a thorough TTouching and evaluation, his owner was taught several TTouches and a body wrap to do on BB, as well as areas to pay particular attention to when doing TTouch on him.

BB's third TTouch session was fairly recent, approximately a month after his first.  Bobby arrived calmly laying down on a dog bed in his van (rather than in his crate).   He greeted me calmly and happily, responding instantly to my TTouch by relaxing into me and smiling up at me.  This is the dog who wouldn't have done that a month earlier.

NOTE:   TTouch is wonderful in that it teaches the dog to respond much like the Pavlov's dinner bell thing.  They body recognizes the soothing and familiar TTouch and responds as it has been conditioned to do so (no matter who's doing the TTouch).  This is great for when the dog is at the vet or any stressful environment.  Imagine the affect when the vet or vet tech comes in and preforms a few familiar TTouches on the dog?  Ahhhh...things relax right away.

In going over BB's body with TTouch, I was immediately overwhelmed with how physically relaxed he was.  He was alert, responsive and wonderfully calm.  His eyes were bright and he was truly happy.  His owner reported that she is able to trim his nails.  BB hasn't chewed up or eating anything bizarre in "quite a while";  and he is learning to self calm very well.  What that means is that he'll go find a comfortable place, lay down and just chill.  No necessity to chew or mouth anything.  No pacing.   This is a new and welcomed behavior!

Darwin models the "Racing Stripe" wrap

BB handled the confidence course like a pro, his body in balance and walking beautifully on a loose lead.  He had one new obstacle (a squishy "FitBone") he was reluctant to touch, but he got there, to a small degree.

With still some residual tension in BB's hindquarters, his owner was shown a new wrap to target the area (right).

The owner also shared that she has a second dog at home that barks ~ a lot.  She was shown the Calming Cap wrap (below) to use on the dog as well as some of the specific TTouches she already knows to help with that dog.   After all, two calm dogs are better than one.

Nestle is modeling one of the stages of putting on a "calming (or thinking) cap"

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