The dog represents all that is good in humans
- E. Charlet
The Equine and the Canine are arguably 2 species of animals that have the most profound relationship with humans. Few other species have been domesticated to the point of true partnership as these beasts. The Canine is the species most varied by selective breeding; making extremely different types of dogs with different types of needs. I am privileged to be able to serve them.
When you read about Equine Touch™ on this website, keep in mind that VHT™, Canine Touch™, and Equine Touch™ are the same technique, modified to the anatomy and special needs of the recipient. Ivana taught me to modify the signature move to accommodate for a dog’s tremendous skin slack. Also, as with horses, a dog will have a reflex to nip at my hands when I get what we call an "explosive release" in soft tissue. The "explosion" lasts a pico-second, and is followed immediately by a release. The dog might trot off, shake, or yawn. Dogs don’t seem to need meditative processing time, and sessions with most dogs often resemble more of a play session than quiet time. Dogs do better when I can get down to their level, tousle with them a bit, gain their respect. Because they are a predator vs. a prey animal, body language and the way a session is handled is totally different than one with a horse. In some cases, when a dog has been known to bite, I may muzzle the dog for my own safety, but I do try to manage a session without them since I think they distract the dog and cause, in some cases, panic and confusion. I’ve learned that dogs usually can’t handle as much bodywork at one time as a horse can. If I "push it", I lose the dog’s trust. Note: if I do need to provide a sterile muzzle, a small fee may apply.
I haven’t mentioned my love of dogs much elsewhere on this site….I was lucky enough to have had 2 quality mutts set a stellar example of what a Canine partner can be in my childhood. Skipper was the Shepard mix family dog that watched over me as a toddler. He patrolled the pigpens, broke up sow fights, and could always lead my mother to my whereabouts.
When he was in his elder years, I convinced my father to let me have a puppy from a classmate’s litter. Reluctantly (because to a Dutchman "2 dogs are as good as none") he let me bring home the runt of the litter because he was black and my dad said "Dogs with black gums are smart".
Whether or not this is superstition I guess I’ll never know, because Thys (pronounced "tise") was smart as a whip and soon I had him trained to sit, stay, down, heel, wait, leave it, fetch it, and do other tricks. He met me at the end of the driveway just about every day when I came off the bus.
When my dad told me stories about how the Dutch milkmen used dogs to deliver milk in the small alleyways of the villages, I decided to train Thys to pull. I rigged a harness from bailing twine and started with a plastic sled. I taught him "Gee and Haw", "Whoa and Giddy up"- at liberty. I bought a used radio flyer at a garage sale, and repainted it. As a surprise, my dad finished the harness and the pulling rig as an Xmas gift one year. I’ll never forget Thys coming into the living room pulling the cart- looking sideways at my mom, certain he was about to get "busted" for being in the house (I sneaked him and my Shetland pony in all the time when mom wasn’t home). Thys died peacefully of old age and I will remember him with the fondness of a first love.
Until recently in my adult life, a string of rescue dogs came in and out of my life: a Border Collie mix, a Staddfordshire Terrier mix, a Great Pyrenees, an Italian Greyhound. All of them wonderful dogs. Currently it is my boyfriend’s (British) Bulldog that rules the house. He is a dog I myself would never have sought out, but is teaching me a lot about the breed, why they are loved, and the importance of careful shopping when buying any purebred dog. He is a wonderfully healthy specimen. For kicks, I’ve taught him to do Spanish walk and other horse tricks and he also loves to skateboard like so many Bulldogs do.
In July of 2009 I was gifted with an Australian Shep/ Pyrenese puppy we've named Koos. He protects the yard and barn, and is the perfect partner in crime for my son.
Take a moment now to "Reserve Cori", and I will be in contact with you soon.
p.s. Yes, I am aware that not all dogs are considered "hounds"- but I needed an alliteration!
