Anxiety Melts Away: How Galen Myotherapy Helped a Touch-Averse Dog

Meet Freddy, a truly wonderful but sensitive soul. Freddy’s background is complex; he can be anxious in certain situations and is particularly reserved with people he doesn’t know. Crucially, he also has a bite history, which understandably made his guardian cautious about seeking hands-on therapy.

Before we even began, it was clear that Freddy was struggling physically. He presented with significant muscular imbalance and from a myofascial point of view, he was really quite restricted. He was also hypersensitive, particularly in his pelvic limbs (back legs). His guardian knew he would benefit from some type of help but was rightly hesitant, unsure whether any physical treatment would be possible given his history of anxiety and touch aversion.

Luckily, his guardian had the right support network. Emma from Emma’s Animals, a fantastic professional, knew better. She could observe from his movement and behaviour that perhaps something wasn’t quite right and immediately gave his guardian my details.

As a Galen Myotherapist and the owner of Pawsitive Touch, my approach is built on a specific, non-negotiable set of principles known as Positive Pact®. Positive Pact® is the foundation of our work, meaning all treatment is choice-led and consent-based.

To put it simply, this methodology allows the dog to have total autonomy over their body. This includes determining if, when, where, and how we treat. We never force a dog into a position or against their will.

While this methodology is essential for every dog we treat, for those dogs that struggle with anxiety, touch aversion, or have a bite history, it can be an absolute game-changer. It transforms a potentially stressful, imposing experience into a collaborative, safe one.

Freddy's transformation under this system has been incredible. I am sure you can see from the images just how well Freddy understands how we work. He has learned that he is in control, which allows him to truly relax into the treatment session. The anxiety melts away when the pressure is off, and he chooses to engage.

Freddy is a shining example that a bite history or intense touch aversion does not mean a dog is beyond help. It simply means the approach must be adapted to respect their emotional and physical boundaries.

So, if you have a touch averse dog, an anxious dog, or a dog with a complex history, please know that there are effective and ethical ways of working with them. Positive Pact®-based Myotherapy can help resolve the underlying physical issues that often fuel those behavioural and anxious responses.

For any more info on this or if you’d like to find out more about how Galen Myotherapy can help your sensitive dog, do get in touch. To find a Registered Galen Myotherapist near you, check our Team page.