Cascade helps animals overcome fears

By Chris Day Stillwater NewsPress

STILLWATER, Okla. — Alf’s life didn’t start well.

The tan-and-white pit bull was one of 66 dogs seized from Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick’s property in Virginia in April 2007.

Alf was sent to Richmond Animal League in Richmond, Va., and eventually found his way into the foster home of Oklahoma City resident Molly Gibb. Alf was so traumatized he was unable to do everyday tasks like get in and out of a car.

Gibb brought Alf to Stillwater dog trainer Kathy Cascade, who used Tellington TTouch training to help bring balance to Alf’s life and help the pit bull to overcome his fears.

Alf wouldn’t get out of the car at Cascade’s mini-farm in north Stillwater. Alf wouldn’t walk and bolted at loud sounds.

Cascade, a Tellington TTouch instructor who also provides one-on-one dog obediance training, used a specific form of light touch known as TTouch, which induces relaxation and increase body awareness, and an elastic bandage as a body wrap to increase self-awareness to start Alf on the walk to recovery.

It wasn’t long before Alf was walking along boards to boost his self-confidence, Cascade said.

After three months working one or two days a week, Alf was comfortable enough to appear in public, she said.

Cascade’s dog, Indie, and her horses played important roles in Alf’s rehabilitation.

“I used her to get Alf out of the car on the first day,” Cascade said. “He followed her around for a while.”

Horses also captured Alf’s attention.

“He was enthralled with horses,” she said. “It was the start of a big shift for him.”

Cascade received degrees in health and physical education from Oregon State University, and was a physical therapist.

In 1991, Cascade got an Alaskan malamute puppy that she named Spirit. The name fit the puppy which had a slightly wild side. The pair eventually ended  up in the obediance ring, participating in flyball and agility. Spirit and Cascade also became a therapy dog and handler visiting people in nursing homes and hospitals.

In 1994, Cascade and Spirit attended a Tellington TTouch workshop with Linda Tellington-Jones.

Cascade said the TTouch technique resonated with her because of her physical therapy training.

In 1996, Cascade completed a two-year TTouch practitioner training certification program, and has since  become a program instructor. She travels the United States teaching the TTouch program.

“It’s a wonderful program. It works with dogs, cats, birds and horses,” she said. “It applies to any species.”

Pets need boundaries and consistent application of discipline, she said, adding many pet owners lack consistency which confuses their dogs.

Owners also miss their pets subtle signals that they are uncomfortable in a certain situation. If the situation gets worse, the animal may resort to a bite get more personal space.

An animal under stress may yawn, scratch, sniff, or look away in a stressful situation.

These are all typical animal behaviors, but pet owners should watch for them when their animal is placed in an unusual situation, she said.