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Ivana Ruddock-Lange Canine Touch
Gentle bodywork to restore balance, connection and wellbeing for dogs of all ages.
Ivana Ruddock-Lange
Canine Touch
I developed Canine Touch after many years working as a veterinarian and studying bodywork for animals. With a background in small animal and equine medicine, and inspired by my late husband Jock Ruddock’s pioneering work with Equine Touch, I began experimenting with adapting these principles to dogs.
Over more than a decade of research, testing and refinement, I created a unique modality designed specifically for canine anatomy and wellbeing. Canine Touch is gentle, effective and practical, making it accessible for both dog owners and professional practitioners.
Today I continue to teach Canine Touch and Equine Touch around the world. My goal is to share these techniques with as many people as possible so that owners, practitioners and their dogs can experience the benefits of better balance, deeper relaxation and improved communication.
What is Canine Touch?
Canine Touch is a gentle, hands-on bodywork technique designed specifically for dogs. Using small, precise moves applied with the fingers and hands, Canine Touch works with the dog’s soft tissue such as fascia, muscles and tendons to release tension and support the body’s natural ability to heal.
Unlike massage or chiropractic adjustments, Canine Touch is non-invasive and always prioritises the dog’s comfort. Each move stimulates the body’s proprioceptors and nervous system, creating relaxation and encouraging the body to re-balance itself.
Canine Touch can help dogs by:
- Improving posture, coordination and spatial awareness
- Supporting recovery from injury or overuse
- Relieving stress and tension in muscles and fascia
- Enhancing circulation and lymphatic flow
- Encouraging deep relaxation and faster healing
At its core, Canine Touch is also a form of communication. Sensitive hands can “listen” to what the dog’s body is telling us, allowing owners and practitioners to better understand areas of concern and respond with care.
Why It Matters
Dogs cannot always tell us where they hurt, but their bodies can. Canine Touch provides a way to identify and address hidden tension or discomfort before it becomes a bigger issue. Regular sessions can help:
- Active dogs recover from play, sports or work
- Senior dogs stay comfortable and mobile
- Dogs with past injuries avoid compensation problems
- Nervous or anxious dogs relax and settle more easily
Canine Touch is also about connection. By learning and practicing this gentle bodywork, owners often find their bond with their dogs grows stronger, built on trust and positive touch
Learn Canine Touch
There are two main learning pathways, depending on your goals.
For Dog Owners
If you want to help your own dog, Canine Touch is easy to learn and apply at home. After completing Level 1 Practical you will already be able to:
- Offer your dog a Dynamic Body Balance session
- Help prevent little issues from becoming bigger problems
- Relax spinal muscles and support nerve pathways
- Integrate Canine Touch as part of your dog’s regular wellbeing routine
Further levels expand your skills with additional “Areas of Concern” procedures, useful for dogs prone to recurring soreness, stiffness or old injuries.
For Practitioners
If you would like to work with dogs professionally, the Canine Touch Practitioner Route offers a complete training program combining practical classes, theory modules and assessments.
You will learn:
- Canine Touch procedures and advanced techniques
- Anatomy, physiology and canine health
- Safety, ethics and best practice standards
- How to assess and record case studies
Successful graduates receive a Canine Touch Practitioner Diploma, recognised internationally.
How Classes Work
Canine Touch is taught in small, supportive groups where every student receives personal guidance from an instructor. Classes combine demonstration, hands-on practice and observation so you feel confident applying what you have learned.
Students receive:
- A practical manual at each level
- MVDr Ivana Ruddock’s book Canine Touch – A Better Way to Understand Your Dog at Level 1
- Optional DVDs and resources for home study
Classes can be attended at scheduled locations, or you can host a clinic in your area, bringing an instructor to teach a group of local dog owners and enthusiasts.
What students say…
“After the first day I was hooked. I tried the technique on my horse and saw instant change. Later I trained in Canine Touch and watched my 14-year-old Jack Russell regain mobility and energy. She even started jumping in and out of the wheelbarrow again. This bodywork has become part of our daily lives, and the results have been life-changing.”
Ready to Begin?
Whether you are a dedicated dog owner or aspiring practitioner, Canine Touch gives you the tools to support your dog’s health and strengthen your bond.
Instructors
Raian Kaiser (USA and Canada)
Raian, based near Loveland CO, has been teaching and training companion animals and their guardians for nearly three decades. She uses bodywork to improve the dog’s balance, self-awareness, and self-control, as well as to increase the connection between dog and owner. Apart from being an Equine and Canine Touch and VHT International Instructor, she is a TTACT and TTEAM Practitioner III, a certified veterinary assistant, and member of professional associations including the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers).
Raian is mentor and guide for students pursuing a Practitionership in the Canine Touch in USA and Canada.
Lyn Palmer (UK and Europe)
Lyn is based in Glastonbury and is a leading light in the UK (and beyond). Lyn is one of our most dedicated Instructors and Practitioners.
United Kingdom qualified Practitioners (updated December 2024)
All named have completed the ETF (Equine Touch Foundation) syllabus and are currently fully licensed to practice Canine Touch (CT)
A qualified Practitioner is a graduate who has completed the Practitioners’ education track with a certified Diploma, has passed all written examinations and practical assessments, has completed the number of hours required to assure the continued quality of CT delivered, is a member of the International Equine Touch Association (IETA) and as such must carry insurance to work and charge for such work.
If you are interested in booking a Practitioner please locate the one closest to you and give them a call/email to discuss your requirements in more detail.
Only Practitioners may charge a fee for offering professional CT sessions. They are listed on our website. Neither ETF nor IETA UK & Ireland can be held responsible if members of the public do not check credentials
| Lyn Palmer (Nat/International Instructor) & (Practitioner) | Glastonbury, Somerset | 01458 860287 email |
| Stephanie Allen (Practitioner) | Cosby, Leicestershire | 07749 117429 email |
| Helen Choma (Practitioner) | Grantham, Lincolnshire | 07745 587548 email |
| Judith Halstead (Practitioner) | Whitworth, Lancashire | 07960 040426 email |
| Sue Falber (Practitioner) | Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire | 07717357565 email |