My Story
Hi, I’m Terri Bitting, a certified Canine Touch practitioner offering support to your canine friends in Northwest Arkansas and beyond.
I chose to pursue K9 Touch because of the positive impacts it has on the whole of the dog in body, mind and spirit.
History
My journey with animals started when I was two with my first beagle. I was thrilled to have such a willing and tolerant friend. He lived a long and happy 14 years. Since then I have had many dogs, horses, cats, chickens and cattle and I continue to find my greatest pleasure in taking care of and serving the animals.
I have always loved animals and on many occasions have spent long heart wrenching hours working to save a calf, nurse a wounded horse, doctor a dog or cat and also hold them as they take their last breath. They all leave a deep imprint on your heart and soul. While going to college I had hopes to become a vet but my creative mind had a hard time grasping chemistry so I changed courses and ended up with a BS degree in Horticulture and minor Botany.
My careers in horticulture, including my own greenhouses, working with the Soil & Water office as a field technician, creating landscape design and building gardens spanned several decades. At one point I worked as a vet tech assisting a group of 4 veterinarians who served both large and small animals as well as the occasional exotic.
Encountering the Power of Body Work
I was first introduced to body work for animals in 2006 when attending a Pat Parelli conference in Pagosa Springs Colorado. I had traveled with a friend to see what Natural Horsemanship was all about and it was there that I witnessed a man by the name of Jock Ruddock working on horses with a hands-on technique called Equine Touch.
It was mesmerizing to see him work on the horses and the effect it had on them. Horses with major physical issues completely changed within a three day period. There was a focus, intent and a passion that seemed to perform miracles and it certainly left a mark on me. Jock had initially learned Bowenwork for people in Australia and later set off to direct a clinic centered around a similar bodywork. Eventually he took the work to the horses and was teaching others Equine Touch.
One of his students was a veterinarian named Ivana who was looking for a way to provide more holistic care to the animals she served . Ivana and Jock married and as they perfected their discipline it became apparent that the students who came to learn about Equine Touch also wanted to extend the work to the dogs. Ivana became passionate about sharing her knowledge about dogs and soon they developed the Canine Touch which is taught in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Several years later I met and married Michael Schreiber who is a Bowenwork practitioner here in NW Arkansas. Upon our meeting I was quick to remember the demonstration and results of the work I had witnessed on horses. This was exciting to meet someone whose work for people was as profound as what I had witnessed in the horses. I had many questions and a great curiosity to understand how the impact of such gentle bodywork could so profoundly change the body. In 2012 I helped open and manage the Bowenwork Center in NW Arkansas.
Becoming a K9 Touch Practitioner
These experiences showed me time and time again the powerful impact this bodywork has for change. If it can work on people it can work on any body whether it be human or animal.
Finally, my decision to learn Canine Touch has brought me full circle back to working for the well being of animals. I love the aspects of this holistic bodywork that addresses a myriad of issues. I am excited to bring the same opportunity for change I witnessed at the Bowenwork Center for people to our canine friends.
I studied under the Equine Touch Association which teaches both the Equine Touch and Canine Touch discipline, traveling several times to Loveland Colorado for course work as well as studying, researching and doing case studies for a year. I achieved Level One and Level Two certificates and recently received full certification in January 2024.
As a Certified Canine Touch Practitioner I am excited to bring this amazing bodywork for dogs to NW Arkansas.
