TTouch, PSTD, a Rescue Dog & Me

Katharine Brunsch Author

Jul 08, 2025 |

Discover the heartwarming journey of Katharine & Chloe, a traumatised rescue dog, as they heal together through the gentle power of Tellington TTouch®

Table of Contents:

1. I Didn't Plan on Keeping Chloe!

Chloe came to me as a foster, just a temporary stop on her journey to a permanent home. But, as with so many love stories, it didn't take long before she claimed a space in my heart that I didn't even know was waiting for her.
Chloe was a mixed-breed Spanish rescue, and when she arrived, she looked like a shadow of a dog. The scars on her body told a story of cruelty; she'd been found with part of a beer bottle embedded in her head, air pellets lodged in her ears. But it was her posture that struck me most: tail tucked, body low, eyes wide with fear. She didn't bark, growl, or whimper; she simply braced herself for more hurt. She was, in every sense, traumatised.

I recognised the signs all too well.

You see, I'm no stranger to trauma myself. After an injury on duty forced me to retire from the police, I was left navigating my own PTSD, struggling to feel safe in my body, my home, my mind. When Chloe looked at me, I saw that familiar question in her eyes: "Am I safe?"

And so, two beings with trauma - one human, one canine - began the slow, quiet work of healing.

2. The First Touch

I didn't rush things. With a dog like Chloe, every movement had to be an invitation, never a demand. So I sat on the step outside, Chloe a few feet away. I tossed some tasty treats toward her, letting her make the choice to come closer or stay away.

The first time I reached out, it was with the back of my hand, a single TTouch circle and a quarter on her shoulder. (The TTouch that builds trust). Then I paused, taking my hand away. She didn't flinch. She didn't bolt. She just stood still. So I did it again - gently, respectfully, slowly. 

But as I paused, Chloe took a tiny step towards me! You see, there is power in the TTouch pause! Inside, I jumped for joy, because 'the body can learn in one experience if there is no pain or fear of pain' (Moshe Feldenkrais and Linda Tellington-Jones).

Each day, we repeated this ritual. One circle. Pause. Let her choose.
Over time, Chloe inched closer; this was the start of a fabulous Tellington TTouch journey.

3. The Power of Choice

Tellington TTouch isn't just about touch - it's about consent, awareness, and building trust through connection. For Chloe, having a choice in our interactions was crucial. Trauma strips choice away. TTouch gave it back.

We also incorporated Free Work and Ground Work, placing different objects on the floor and letting Chloe explore at her own pace. One day, there was a simple wooden board on the ground. I placed a few treats right on the edge of it, and she tentatively placed a paw on the surface to reach them.

That evening, something remarkable happened.

For months, Chloe had refused to eat from a bowl - something we had managed only through hand-feeding. But after the board experience, I tried again. I set down a bowl with food... and she ate. On her own. No coaxing. No hand feeding. Something had shifted. Here is a video of the following morning when she again ate on her own:

It wasn't just the bowl. It was her sense of self, her confidence, and her trust in the world around her that were beginning to rebuild.

4. Mirrors of Each Other

Working with Chloe was like holding up a mirror. Her trembling, her hesitancy, her slow rebuilding of courage - these were echoes of my own journey. There were days when I'd feel myself slipping into fear or despair, and I'd pause, breathe, and go back to the TTouch principles: be present, offer choice, respond with kindness to myself.

In healing Chloe, I was unknowingly healing parts of myself.

TTouch helped both of us regulate our nervous systems. Its light, non-invasive touches spoke directly to the cellular memory of fear and gently unwound it. For Chloe, this meant rediscovering joy in everyday moments. For me, it meant feeling safe in my own skin again.

5. The Night Chloe Became My Support

I remember a pivotal moment in our connection. It was around eight months after Chloe had come to live with us. She'd slowly made her way from sleeping in the living room to resting on the bedroom floor alongside my other dog, Keto. At the time, I was still experiencing frequent nightmares brought on by PTSD.

One night, I woke suddenly from a dream, heart racing. As I opened my eyes, I was startled to see two big black eyes and a shiny black nose staring down at me - it was Chloe! I jumped with fright, and Chloe, thinking she'd done something wrong, leapt off the bed in fear. But in that moment, I realised something profound: our bond had deepened to the point where it felt like Chloe was saying, "You've helped me heal. Let me help you now."

From that night onwards, I invited her to sleep beside me. (Don't worry—Keto was always welcome to join too!) Ever since, Chloe has had an uncanny ability to sense when I'm struggling. On difficult nights, she'll snuggle in just that little bit closer, offering silent support with her presence.

This experience brought home to me just how powerful the relationship between humans and dogs can be, especially when built on empathy, patience, and mutual choice. It's one of the reasons I take a trauma-informed approach in my work. Healing doesn't only flow one way; when we support our dogs with kindness and understanding, they often give us that same support in return. Chloe wasn't trained as a PTSD assistance dog, but her empathy and connection provided me with comfort and stability during some of my darkest moments, and all because of Tellington TTouch.

6. From Surviving to Thriving

Today, Chloe is a different dog. She still carries her past, don't we all? But it no longer defines her. She walks with a lighter step. She greets trusted friends with tail wags and soft eyes. And she continues to inspire me every day. We've worked through her fear of loud noises, thunder and fireworks and built her trust with human touch. Now, at 12 years old (and 8 years later), I get to support her into her golden years, using TTouch to help with arthritis, and I've already taught her to climb the stairs to get onto my bed.

Chloe no longer digs holes in the garden, but loves to dig a hole at the beach. Given the opportunity, she loves to roll in a cow pat and do the zoomies - she's living her best life! 

I do not know of any other 'dog training' technique that could have built her trust in humans like TTouch did, and our bond is something extraordinarily special.

People often ask me what makes Tellington TTouch different. I tell them this: it's not about fixing dogs. It's about listening deeply to their bodies, their breath, their silences, their whispers. It's about creating a space where they feel seen, heard, and safe.

For rescue dogs like Chloe and for trauma survivors like me, that's everything.

7. Why I Share This

I share Chloe's story not because it's extraordinary, but because it's possible. So many dog guardians out there are struggling, feeling helpless, frustrated, or overwhelmed by a dog who is "too sensitive," "too reactive," or "too fearful." I want you to know: change is possible. Healing is possible.

It doesn't happen overnight. There are no quick fixes. But with patience, empathy, and the right tools, you can build a relationship deeply rooted in trust and love.

If you're walking this path with your own dog, you're not alone. And if TTouch feels like a strange new world, I invite you to explore it. Because sometimes, the softest touch can create the biggest transformation.

If Chloe's story resonates with you, and you're curious about how TTouch could support your own dog's journey, I'd love to welcome you to one of my gentle, supportive learning spaces. You can find details of both online courses and in-person workshops on my All Courses page, each one designed to help you and your dog grow in trust, confidence, and connection.

Clients who have completed my Tellington TTouch Course often say, "I learned as much about myself as I did about the dogs and TTouch" (Sandy). "I've learned a great deal about how I interact with my dog, and we have already developed a more trusting and enjoyable connection" (Julia).

If you're curious to learn more about Tellington TTouch, please click HERE, or email Katharine at info@caninesupport.co.uk

Categories: : Tellington TTouch