About Us - A Brief History of EGCBT
The European Guild of Canine Bowen Therapists (EGCBT) was set up to create a network of properly skilled and experienced Canine Bowen Technique therapists who are able to work alongside other professionals in the canine world to help dogs - vets, trainers, behaviourists, rescue centres, hydrotherapists, nutritionists. In addition EGCBT continues to develop and advance the Bowen Technique to the advantage and benefit of dogs.
Sally and Ron Askew, the founders of EGCBT are, first of all, dog lovers, and have either owned or lived around dogs all their lives. They have been running their own dog-training school for many years, using modern, less traditional methods which they developed whilst attending a two-year long, hands-on, International Dog Trainers School run by Scallywags CEC (now Sheila Harper Canine Education). Here they were taught by world-renowned dog trainers and behaviourists including Turid Rugaas from Norway, Allan Bauman from USA, and John Rogerson and Sheila Harper from UK. This extensive course made them aware of causes and symptoms of stress in dogs and how these affected a dog’s health and behaviour, and its ability to learn. It also gave them an insight into the language dogs use to communicate not only with each other but with humans as well.
In 2000 one of their dogs (Gemma) was badly attacked by a pack of other dogs whilst being walked on-lead in a local park. Although she appeared to recover from her wounds, her behaviour toward other dogs changed, even to those in her own household. She avoided contact as much as possible and, when out on walks, no longer ran along the field edges, jumping the ditches like she used to do. X-rays revealed no apparent structural damage.
However, Sally took her to a chiropractic vet and she was noticeably better after the treatment. Unfortunately the problems returned after a few weeks and, although better after further treatment, the need for further treatments started to become more and more frequent. At this time Ron himself was being treated as a case study by a student of Bowen Technique, and the second treatment session had such an effect on his lower back problem, that he and Sally decided they ought to find out more about the therapy for themselves, and whether it could be adapted for use on their own dogs.
In 2001 Sally and Ron trained in the use of the Bowen Technique on humans with Julian Baker and Joy West of the European College of Bowen Studies. During this time they started to see if the procedures they were learning could be adapted to the anatomy and physiology of dogs. The results of a few simple revised procedures on Gemma were astounding. She regained her former energy and no longer needed chiropractic treatment.
Since graduating as Bowen therapists, and with the help and support of their local vets, Sally and Ron have continued to develop the Canine Bowen Technique for use in their behavioural and rehabilitation work, with notable success. In 2003, following persistent prompting, they decided to combine their Canine Bowen knowledge with their experience as dog trainers/behaviourists, and designed a professional program of training, with an holistic approach, for people wishing to become properly skilled Canine Bowen Therapists.
The EGCBT Diploma course has now been running for a number of years in the UK, and, since 2006, is also being held in Switzerland and Germany.
Top of Page
