Bridgewater Trainer Helps Calm Unruly Pets

Grace Ann McKeon of Paws Caring Touchesan article from the Courier News, August 8, 2008

by Kara L. Richardson, Staff Writer

Grace Ann McKeon uses touch and training to help pets with behavior that is "not as great as it should be." [Click here to see more photos for the article.]

During her first year in business as Paws Caring Touches, McKeon said, she has worked with nearly 100 pets. McKeon said it's not that her furry clients are bad animals, they often are just "not comfortable with themselves."

McKeon works with pets that are terrified of loud noises, such as fireworks and thunderstorms, animals that are hyperactive and restless, nervous and shy, and those that are overly excitable and have a tendency to jump up on people or tug on their leashes.

"Most people treat their animal like a family member, so if they notice that their animal is not dealing with a certain situation as best as they could, they want to help their pet," said McKeon, who works at clients' homes in Morris, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

McKeon is a Guild-Certified TTouch Practitioner, meaning she trains domestic pets and works on their well-being with a series of strokes and other training techniques.

"It's not acupressure and it's not massage. This is moving the skin, activating the cellular system and the nervous system," said McKeon, who recently was featured on New Jersey News 12's Pet Stop. "It's a different way of connecting with the animal."

She volunteers her services at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, off Commons Way in Bridgewater .

McKeon, who had been a marketing vice president in the corporate world, has to fight her urge to take home the animals she helps at the shelter. She lets go, knowing that her work helps them become more adoptable, she said.

Several months ago, McKeon started working with Sierra, a black-and-white cat that did not want to be moved or held. At first, McKeon said, it was hard getting Sierra out of the cage at the shelter. McKeon spent time talking to and gently petting Sierra while the cat was in her cage. Eventually, Sierra let her hold her, using a towel.

"After several weeks of working with her, Sierra would be sleeping in my arms for 15 minutes at a time. That really touched my heart," McKeon said.

When working with a pet, McKeon first takes time to observe the animal so she can determine the best course of action. McKeon works using a calm, relaxed voice when talking to the animals.

"I'm always reminding clients to breathe," McKeon said. "Your animals feed off your energy. If you're nervous and excited, your animal thinks, " If she's nervous and excited, I should be too.' "

She has worked with dogs that pull too hard on their leashes, such as Spencer, Lisa Pessagno's golden retriever.

"He's a good dog. He's just an exuberant large puppy," Pessagno said about hiring McKeon.

Pessagno recently had rotator cuff surgery, so she needed to fix Spencer's habit of pulling too hard on the leash.

McKeon has worked with Spencer for the past six weeks. She set up an obstacle course in the yard to make the dog more aware of the leash. When McKeon leaves, there is homework.

Much of the exercises, Pessagno said, are relaxation techniques. McKeon told Pessagno to massage Spencer's gums, where — like humans — a lot of tension is stored.

"I suppose the premise is a relaxed and calm dog is an obedient and focused dog," Pessagno said.

For Spencer, it has worked, Pessagno said. Now, it seems she is walking Spencer, instead of the dog walking her.

Paws Caring Touches is at P.O. Box 6242 , Bridgewater . More information is available by calling 908-231-7297 or by visiting www.pawscaringtouches.com.

Photos from "Bridgewater Trainer Helps Calm Unruly Pets"