New Tricks for Old Dogs

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to attend my second class with Lori Stevens, a senior Tellington Touch Practioner, CPDT-KA certified trainer, and a bunch of other certifications that there is no way I'll remember. What I do remember though is she is fabulous and if you ever get a chance, take a class from her.

This seminar was specific to senior dogs and both about the power of touch and body wraps to bring back awareness to tired achy limbs, but also the importance of conditioning for our aging furry family members.

Since our house dog Tilly is about 11 years old, we've started to work on the conditioning exercises and once she's stronger with these initial exercises we'll start work on building up her stabilizing muscles, since she is starting to have some issues with balance. Tilly thinks these exercises are AWESOME!!! That's because they involve both getting one on one time with me AND lots of treats.

Beyond the learning though, it was a great time to socialize and network with other rescuers, shelter workers, and dog trainers from the region. Two other New Rattitude foster parents attended the seminar with me and we had a happy surprise when a former New Rattitude foster dog showed up with his mom for the class. I also met a great trainer in the Gig Harbor area, a supervisor for a local shelter, and met and chatted with the owner of the training center that sponsored the class, Grisha Stewart, who also created the BAT Protocol method of working with fearful dogs, one of the tools in my training tool chest when working with fear reactive dogs.

Anyhow, a great time was had by all. Here are some photos of the New Rattitude dogs at the event:

Lori working on demo-dog D'Light, a New Rattitude Alumnus

D'Light with his mom, showing us how much he loves touch. D was a dog who was highly fearful and afraid of touch. T Touch was a big part of moving D through that fear.

D aka Fang-Monkey, blissing out during a T Touch session with his mom

Boushey, a New Rattitude alumnus, and his mom Aim

Skip, one of our New Rattitude foster parent's dogs