Growing up, there were three family dogs over the years. I was also responsible for a guinea pig and gerbils. In college, I added hamsters, a turtle, and fish to my pet family. Once married, my husband Rob and I expanded our pet family to include not only guinea pigs, hamsters, and fish, but also cats, bunnies, and parakeets. We jokingly called our apartment “the zoo” on our answering machine message. It wasn’t until we adopted Lola, a Pug/Springer Spaniel mix, that I developed a close bond with a dog.
Lola and I participated in a variety of dog sports such as agility, Dock Dogs, and flyball. We had a great time, and met a lot of other dog lovers. Because of the great experiences and how much we enjoyed having Lola, we decided to add another dog to our family. In 2011, we adopted Lily, Chihuahua/Dachshund mix.
Within Lily’s first year, we noticed that she had a lot of anxiety. She would stop dead in her tracks if we approached a group of people out on a walk and she lost control of her bowels when people would come to visit. She was fearful of just about everything including black socks we left on the floor once. We hated to see Lily get so stressed out, and decided to consult some experts.
First we went to a veterinarian, then to several dog trainers, and finally a veterinary behaviorist. Along the way we did a lot of reading and research. The veterinary behaviorist labeled Lily as “special needs” due to the amount of anxiety she displayed. She actually stated she only sees a dog as anxious as Lily once every couple of years.
In my research, I came across Tellington TTouch®. I was particularly interested about the ways it could help fearful dogs. Almost on a whim, I registered for a six- day seminar being offered more than five hours away from home. Little did I know that this whim would turn into a journey.
It wasn’t until I discovered Tellington TTouch that I began to understand Lily and to respect her for who she is. The philosophy and practices of Tellington TTouch opened my eyes and my heart, but also helped me help our other pets in ways almost too numerous to count. Here are just a few of the examples.
First we went to a veterinarian, then to several dog trainers, and finally a veterinary behaviorist. Along the way we did a lot of reading and research. The veterinary behaviorist labeled Lily as “special needs” due to the amount of anxiety she displayed. She actually stated she only sees a dog as anxious as Lily once every couple of years.
In my research, I came across Tellington TTouch®. I was particularly interested about the ways it could help fearful dogs. Almost on a whim, I registered for a six- day seminar being offered more than five hours away from home. Little did I know that this whim would turn into a journey.
It wasn’t until I discovered Tellington TTouch that I began to understand Lily and to respect her for who she is. The philosophy and practices of Tellington TTouch opened my eyes and my heart, but also helped me help our other pets in ways almost too numerous to count. Here are just a few of the examples.
Pepper Ann was instigating cat fights almost nightly. After a few weeks of working with Pepper Ann using the Tellington TTouch approach, the occurrences of cat fights decreased to only one every couple of months.
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We have watched dogs we foster come out of their shells and be more confident. |
Although Lily continues to have significant anxieties, my relationship with her has deepened as I took the Tellington TTouch philosophy to heart. |
Rosie had begun tripping up the steps on a regular basis. After three sessions, she hasn’t tripped up the steps in over a year. |
Something I did on a whim to help one of my pets with anxiety has turned into a passion. I want to share what I have learned to help other pet owners not just reduce behavior issues, but also deepen their relationship with their pets which are a significant part of their lives.