A revolutionary and gentle way of influencing
behavior and well-being in companion animals.
Deirdre Chitwood - Certified Tellington TTouch Practioner
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Our Changing Attitudes about Animals
We are in a time of radically changing views where pet care is concerned. We are moving into a time of progressive thinking where the old approach to animal training of fear and dominance is being overtaken by attitudes of respect and understanding which are not only more effective in influencing animal behavior but are also more morally correct.
Thankfully, we are beginning to appreciate animals in their own right for what they are and that their reason for being here on this planet may be more profound than being in service to the human race. Of course, this calls for a great deal of humility on our part and the ability to be able to surrender our old ideas of control and suppression. Slowly we are beginning to move forward in a new way realizing that working with and in harmony with our animals will effect real and lasting changes in their behavior. In the place of pain and punishment we are learning that building a bond of trust borne out of patience and compassion is the only ethical way to proceed.
We are coming to realize that many of the same ingredients that are necessary to forge a meaningful and lasting relationship person to person are also true when it comes to our pets. This starts with learning to observe and listen to them and not assuming that they are the ones that need to change their behavior and that we are the ones that are in the right. It is an animal’s very nature to want to please us and if they refuse or are hesitant we are either not communicating with them well enough or they have a very good reason that we have not yet perceived.
If we take the trouble to look a little more closely we will find that mostly their behavior is based in either some deep seated fear, insecurity, lack of confidence or ill health.
As the being with a capacity for superior intelligence we have a moral responsibility to try to understand animals and to offer all the protection and kindness that we can muster. There is so much for us to learn if we can only drop our own psychologies of fear and needing to have all the answers long enough to look at what is really going on in our relationship with our pets.
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