Mary Allen
The Graubünden Cantonal Association for Small Animal Breeding is innovative: In Domat/Ems, it organized a training day in Tellington TTouch and is thus breaking new ground.
A hall full of people with brushes in their hands and rabbits on the table in front of them is reminiscent of art on canvas. But in this case, it was about something completely different: course instructor Lisa Leicht taught the participants how to handle animals carefully and showed how to give fearful rabbits trust, how to relax aggressive rabbits, and how to prepare rabbits for exhibitions in a targeted manner.
The Bündner Kantonalverband thus relied on a somewhat different kind of further training. But obviously, not all breeders dared to think outside the box, the participation on that September 2nd was rather sobering. The organizers were disappointed that only one young breeder was present and the poultry and guinea pig breeders were completely absent. Nevertheless, the participants agreed: Those who were not there missed an exciting and instructive course.
TTouch is not esoteric hocus-pocus, but an effective and scientifically proven method for better access to animals. For example, an ETH study shows that in calves from suckler cow husbandry, with just six TTouch treatments in the first four weeks of life, the shyness towards people can be reduced so much that nine months later this translates into less stress during slaughter and a better quality of life Meat quality affected!
Understanding Rather Than Dominance
Unlike a sports massage, which induces relaxation by first creating and then releasing tension in the muscles, TTouch works in the layers of the skin where the nerves terminate. The circling, lifting, and stroking touches cause the body to release the hormone oxytocin, also known as the “cuddle hormone”, which increases trust, well-being, and bonding.
In the morning, Lisa Leicht provided the necessary tools so that the animals could be worked on in the afternoon. A life without animals would seem empty to us, she pointed out, and from that, we could see how important furry and feathered members of the household are. Dealing with the animals that are characterized by understanding instead of dominance does justice to this value. Animals are individuals with different characteristics that need to be taken into account. But that is usually not enough in everyday life. The rabbits are fished out of the stall without much ado, put on the table and they practice how they should present themselves on the judges’ table. The cheeky ones don’t mind that much, but shy animals are overwhelmed by it.
When You’re Suddenly Grabbed
The course leader showed the participants what it feels like to be grabbed unexpectedly and so decisively – it’s like a shock. “It’s the same with rabbits,” she clarified and recommended first addressing the animals in a friendly voice and touching the body with the back of your hand to establish contact, with very shy or more aggressive animals first with a brush.
The various elements of the TTouch were presented in detail and practiced on each other. You could immediately feel how the pressure of the touch and the speed of the movements affect it – and the participants experienced first-hand how pleasant and relaxing TTouch is; you almost thought you could hear a comfortable purr.
As with the calves in the ETH study, TTouch treatments also have a stress-relieving effect in rabbits. At the same time, the brain waves are harmonized in such a way that a wide-awake state is achieved with great relaxation – the ability to learn is optimal in this state. Experiences are stored in the body’s cells and, as recent research shows, even passed on. Rabbits learn to have more trust in humans through TTouch. In this way, the animals can cope better with difficult situations, even if the person they trust is not present – as is usual with assessments. Due to the lower stress, these animals are also less likely to get sick from “exhibition souvenirs”.
So the method has very direct applications in small animal breeding. Preparing the exhibition also includes presenting it on the table. Lisa Leicht showed how rabbits adopt the desired posture when you stroke them with a brush from the forehead over the middle of the body to the flower (tail). This way one can practice the required posture in a gentle and stress-free way.
The time required is limited Abdominal lifters help with digestive problems. It is important to practice touching the abdomen on healthy days. TTouch on the ears can save lives, it helps in emergencies such as heat stroke or shock. Ear circles relax your jaw and neck. Hair sliding was also particularly popular with rabbits and participants. Since nerves end near the roots of the hair, this relaxes the whole body. In humans, hair slipping even relieves headaches.
“Where do we find the time to do all this?” asked the breeders, overwhelmed by the many possibilities. If you remember the calf study, it becomes clear that you don’t have to practice every day. “A practice session begins with the backhand salute on the side of the body, you put your hand under your stomach, stretch out your ears, and finish with the zigzag T-Touch across the top of your body. It takes a maximum of two minutes,” the course leader reassured.
The breeders joked that at the small animal exhibition in Freiburg you could see which animals would win the breed, and of course, they speculated on TTouch-treated rabbits. Cantonal President Andreas Zahner summed up what he had learned in his closing remarks: “TTouch not only gives something to the breeder but also to the animals.”