It’s Not Working!

Why ACE and TTouch May Not Be Creating the Change You Hoped For

You’ve been trying ACE Free Work.

You’ve watched videos about TTouch.

You’ve bought the equipment, slowed things down, practised the exercises… yet your dog is still barking, lunging, anxious, overexcited, shut down, or struggling to cope.

And now you’re wondering…

“Why isn’t this working?”

The truth is, ACE and TTouch are not “quick fixes.”

They are not techniques designed to suppress behaviour or force obedience. They are ways of helping us understand and support the emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing of the dog in front of us.

Sometimes the reason things are not improving is not because the methods do not work — it is because there are important pieces missing from the bigger picture.

Are You Being Consistent?

Dogs learn through patterns, predictability, and safety.

If one day we allow pulling on the lead, but the next day we become frustrated with it… if

one family member follows the dog’s needs while another overwhelms them… the dog is left trying to navigate an unpredictable world.

Consistency does not mean perfection. It means trying to communicate clearly and fairly, creating routines that help your dog feel safe enough to learn.

Small changes repeated consistently over time are far more powerful than occasional

“perfect” training sessions.

Are You Preparing Your Dog Before They Become Overwhelmed?

Many guardians wait until the dog is already barking, lunging, spinning, shutting down, or

overexcited before trying to help.

But once a dog is overwhelmed, learning becomes extremely difficult.

ACE and TTouch teach us to observe earlier signals:

• changes in breathing

• tension through the body

• scanning the environment

• slowing down or speeding up

• lip licking

• inability to disengage

• tight facial muscles

• changes in movement patterns

These are all valuable pieces of communication.

Preparation matters.

This might mean:

• using ACE Free Work before a walk

• choosing quieter environments

• allowing more sniffing

• reducing social pressure

• supporting movement and balance through TTouch

• ending an activity before the dog becomes overwhelmed

Success often comes from preventing overwhelm, not managing the explosion afterwards.

Are You Asking Your Dog to Be Something They Cannot

Be?

This can be a difficult question to ask ourselves.

Sometimes we unknowingly place unrealistic expectations on our dogs because of what we hoped life with them would look like.

Not every dog:

• enjoys busy cafés

• wants to greet other dogs

• can cope in crowded spaces

• enjoys busy group classes

• feels safe around strangers

• thrives in stimulating environments

That does not mean your dog is “bad.”

It means your dog is an individual.

ACE encourages us to work with the dog in front of us, rather than against them.

When we stop trying to force a dog to fit into situations they cannot cope with, we often

begin to see genuine progress.

Are You Putting Your Dog Into Situations They Are Not Ready For?

Exposure alone does not build confidence.

Repeated overwhelm can actually make behaviour worse.

A dog who is constantly pushed beyond their ability to cope may begin living in a state of

chronic stress and anticipation.

If your dog struggles around dogs, busy roads, visitors, handling, or unfamiliar environments, they need preparation and support before being expected to cope successfully.

This is where ACE and TTouch can be incredibly powerful:

• building emotional regulation

• improving body awareness

• lowering stress levels

• increasing confidence

• helping the dog feel safer in their body and environment

But this takes time. Rushing the process often delays progress.

Could Your Dog Be Experiencing Pain or Discomfort?

This is one of the most important considerations of all.

Pain cannot be trained out of a dog.

Many behavioural struggles are deeply connected to physical discomfort:

• barking

• reactivity

• sensitivity to touch

• inability to settle

• reluctance to walk

• overarousal

• shutdown behaviour

• lead pulling

• avoidance

• aggression

Dogs are incredibly skilled at masking pain.

Through ACE observation and TTouch, guardians often begin noticing subtle changes they had not seen before:

• stiffness

• weight shifting

• reluctance to turn one direction

• changes in posture

• uneven movement

• difficulty sitting

• sensitivity to equipment

• changes in behaviour after exercise

These observations can provide vital information that may need veterinary investigation.

Behaviour is communication.

Sometimes the dog is telling us something physically does not feel right.

Is Your Dog Tired… or Bored?

Dogs need appropriate rest, enrichment, movement, and emotional balance.

An overtired dog may appear hyperactive, reactive, unable to listen, or constantly “naughty.”

A bored dog may seek stimulation in ways humans find frustrating.

Balance matters.

Not every dog needs more exercise.

Some dogs need:

• more sleep

• slower walks

• opportunities to sniff

• gentle problem solving

• safe exploration

• nervous system regulation

• decompression

ACE Free Work can help meet these needs in a calm and thoughtful way.

Do You Truly Understand What You Are Doing — and Why?

Social media can be helpful for inspiration, but it can also be misleading.

Watching a short video and copying an exercise does not always mean it is appropriate for your individual dog.

Not every TTouch is suitable for every dog.

Not every Free Work setup supports every emotional state.

Without understanding:

• why you are doing the exercise

• what the dog is communicating

• when to stop

• how to adapt

• what the goal actually is

…it becomes very easy to unintentionally create confusion, frustration, or overwhelm.

Learning from a qualified professional matters.

ACE and TTouch are not simply activities — they are ways of observing, understanding, and supporting the whole dog.

Real Change Takes Time

There is no shortcut to emotional safety.

There is no quick fix for fear, stress, pain, frustration, or overwhelm.

Meaningful behaviour change takes:

• patience

• consistency

• observation

• empathy

• adaptability

• education

• realistic expectations

And perhaps the hardest part of all…

It requires us to change too.

Often, when we slow down and begin listening to what the dog has been communicating all along, everything starts to shift.

Your Dog’s Behaviour Is Communication

Your dog is not trying to make life difficult.

Their behaviour is an expression of their:

• emotional state

• mental wellbeing

• physical comfort

• past experiences

• current environment

• ability to cope in that moment

ACE and TTouch are not about controlling behaviour.

They are about understanding the dog beneath the behaviour.

And sometimes the biggest breakthrough comes not when we ask,

“How do I stop this behaviour?”

…but when we begin asking, “What is my dog trying to tell me?”

Thanks, Pauline

Alba Dogs

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