Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it a viable program, or a fly-by-night method? I have seen it mentioned on many message boards, just wondering if anyone here has used this and their results. Thanks!

Seems like its been around forever! I don't know enough to say whether or not it's any good, but I do know all my dogs love a good massage <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It`s a method that was used on horses and now the creator is trying to use it on dogs with no changes or additions. She recommends the Gentle Leader as a halter substitute and doesn`t seem to realize that there are huge differences between prey and predator animals. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> It`s completely ridiculous to think that touching the points on a horse corresponds directly to the points on a dogs body. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't agree with her on using Haltis and other head halters on dogs (they are not horses), but T-touch does seem to help dogs and other animals relax, which is a good thing. I don't know that it's better than other forms of massage but, in my opinion, it does no harm and may be a good thing to learn as another tool to use.

I think I saw this method on dog borstal (BBC3) last night!

It seemed to work very well, but this was after an alpha roll I beleive (never having seen an alpha roll but I'm sure that's what it was as the dog was being reasonably agressive and the training dude was not happy about it).

After the roll he stroked the dog on his side right down his leg very slowly then started to massage the dog when he was laying down, massaging his belly, side and legs.

Might look into this myself to see if it's any good.

John

We've talked about this before here on the forum - and while my dog enjoys a massage, the Ttouchers make a lot of claims on different websites that have no basis in science.

Popular with the "oh, I don't want to hurt my dogs feelings by training him" crowd, though..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I had the chance to work with Linda Tellington-Jones a few years ago at a Theraputic Riding Center for handicapped individuals.
We had a 2000# Percheron gelding who would DRAG handlers around if they did not know how to handle him. He also seemed to be sore in the "wither" area and down his shoulders. After two days he was walking on lead nicely and did not pull any longer, and after a few days of massage he seemed to feel better. We kept up the massage and used it on all the other therapy horses and they improved as well. Therapy horses are used quite a bit. One horse can do 5 or 6 1 hour sessions per day 4 days a week. This is mainly walking. Although able-bodied riders excersized them as much as we could, they would still get sore and grouchy from the work. (handicapped people tend to move around alot on the back of a horse due to muscle control issues, making the tack slide and rub more than with a "quiet" rider) Her techniques work on horses. I have not looked into the dog part except when it is quiet time in the house with my dogs I will use the massage as it gives me something more to do than just "pet my dog". It is teaching my Mal to be quiet and calm when I need her to, like toenail trimming time and both dogs seem to enjoy it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

dunno about their method, but studied shitasu decades ago, and can usually knock a pup out in about 30 seconds just massaging
soft spots on the skull. comes in handy when their overtired butts get ornery...I mean there's no command for "take a nap, ya brat!" and it's something they seem to enjoy no matter how old they are.
Plus as you do so, you can check for bumps,lumps,soreness in joints and spine, matts and ticks. They can say what ails them, if you ask.

shiatsu, japanese finger pressure therapy...
the edit function doesn't seem to work once you post?!

Dan, that actually sounds interesting. Is there any way you can describe what you do for your dogs? I have a GSD/Lab that just will not stop playing no matter how far her tongue is hanging out. I would love a way to calm her down.