Dogs as Therapy

If you share your life with a dog, you are well aware of their therapeutic value. There is nothing as comforting as the reassuring presence of a dog in times if trauma or illness. Dogs just innately know what we need in order to feel better.

There are many wonderful people who, recognizing the ability of their dogs to empathize with people, dedicate themselves to sharing these creatures with people in need of canine comfort. These people and their dogs are among a growing number who are involved with dog therapy.

Dog therapy began in World War II with a once abandonned Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky. Smoky was found and rescued by Corporal William Wynne and became a favourite among soldiers. When Corporal Wynne was injured, the soldiers took Smoky to the hospital to visit his owner. Smoky took it upon himself to visit other war wounded in the hospital. Smoky's ability to bring joy and hope to people in dire situations was noted and appreciated by Dr. Mayo ( of Mayo Clinic fame). Later, a nurse by the name of Elaine Smith began training dogs to visit patients in hospital after noticing that patients responded favourably to a certain chaplain who always visited the hospital with his dog in tow. The dog had the ability to lift patient spirits and somehow caused rehabilitating patients to try harder. It was here that modern dog therapy took root and began to grow.

There are many wonderful people who, recognizing the ability of their dogs to empathize with people, dedicate themselves to sharing these creatures with people in need of canine comfort. These people and their dogs are among a growing number who are involved with dog therapy.

Dog therapy began in World War II with a once abandonned Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky. Smoky was found and rescued by Corporal William Wynne and became a favourite among soldiers. When Corporal Wynne was injured, the soldiers took Smoky to the hospital to visit his owner. Smoky took it upon himself to visit other war wounded in the hospital. Smoky's ability to bring joy and hope to people in dire situations was noted and appreciated by Dr. Mayo ( of Mayo Clinic fame). Later, a nurse by the name of Elaine Smith began training dogs to visit patients in hospital after noticing that patients responded favourably to a certain chaplain who always visited the hospital with his dog in tow. The dog had the ability to lift patient spirits and somehow caused rehabilitating patients to try harder. It was here that modern dog therapy took root and began to grow.

From humble beginnings, dog therapy programs have grown exponentially. Today's dog therapists visit the elderly, people in long term care, cancer patients and comfort palliative patients. There are programs for children with autism, reading programs for children who have difficulty reading and find it comforting to read aloud to a creature who won't pass judgement. Some people enjoy petting dogs, others need a hug, and some just need the quiet reassurance that only a dog can give.

Therapy dogs come in all shapes, sizes and pedigrees. A therapy dog needs to be calm, friendly and accepting of all situations. They must enjoy and accept human contact even contact that can be clumsy and awkward. The best therapy dogs are extremely sensitive to the needs of the people they encounter. Our dog, Clarence, who was a 120 lb mixed breed beauty, was just such a dog. When he met people, the world around him faded away and he dedicated himself to the needs of others. He knew, without fail, what everyone he encountered needed. When he met the woman stricken with arthritis in her feet which caused them to be cold all of the time, he silently approached and gently lay his giant furry body on her cold and aching feet. When he met the woman suffering tremendous psychological angst, he jumped up beside her and put his paw upon her shoulder. Dogs like our Clarence make a difference to the sick, dying or those in despair.

Do you think your dog is a therapy dog in waiting? If so consult your local dog therapy group and ask about having him assessed. Do you think you'd like to join dog therapy but you are missing the main ingredient, a dog? Contact HART, Newf Friends, we'll introduce you to your dog therapy partner. Dog therapy is a very rewarding experience for canines, their companions and the people they serve.

IF I COULD TALK TO THE ANIMALS

As a child I dreamed of being Dr. Doolittle. I longed for the power to talk with the animals, learn their language. Wouldn't it be fabulous, I thought, to be able to speak with Candy, my constant canine companion, and have him speak back?

When I look back now, we actually were communicating, though not on the same level that I had hoped. Candy always seemed to know what I was thinking and I, in turn, understood what he wanted or needed. We were constantly communicating.

Today, as an adult, my life has gone to the dogs, in a good way, I feel much closer to my childhood dream of being able to talk with the animals.

Dogs learn to identify an array of human vocalizations and physical signs. They learn to respond to such with appropriate behaviors which illicit our praise. More interesting to me are the ways in which they attempt to communicate with us.

My dogs have a complex series of behaviors that they use to communicate with me. Some are common to the species such as pricking their ears forward to express interest, and laying them back to express fear or apprehension. Tail wags are another method of communication. A rapid, free flowing, asymmetrical tail wag means " I'm so happy to see you" while a stiff, low set tail wag means "back away from me". Confident dogs hold their tails high, insecure dogs hold their tails low and tight. Once you begin to study the ways in which your dog is trying to communicate with you, you will notice that your dog is always trying to break through the barriers that separate the species.

Some communications are unique to each of my 5 dogs. Let's take happiness as an example. If Clover is happy, she stands in the middle of the room and vocalizes a "woo woo " sound that is unique to her. If BooBoo is happy, he snorts and pokes at you with his giant snout. Calypso smiles and wags her tail in a helicopter pattern, Sparkle squeals and dances, Buddy leaps and bounces. All are demonstrating the same emotion, all do it in different ways. I love watching them as they try desperately to get me to understand.
Sometimes communication comes from an innate understanding on the part of my dogs to my needs. Just the other day, I arrived home after a difficult day. My head was pounding, my spirits were low. I decided to lie down for a while, something that I never do. My little poodle greeted me as he always does. He was bouncing and excited and wanted to play. I was not in the mood. I scooped him into my arms and lay down. At first he was confused, our routine was off. Then, within moments, he looked at me, settled, licked my face and nestled in beside me with his head resting on my shoulder. He did not move until I was ready to get up. As we lay there I could feel him silently imparting his love, strength and support on me. If I listened really closely I could almost hear him say"it's ok, I'm here, and this too shall pass". Dr. Doolittle would be proud.

PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!

Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety? All dogs will suffer some level of anxiety when they are left alone but there is a vast difference between a dog who is sad and a little anxious and one who is experiencing separation anxiety.If you suspect your dog is experiencing something more serious than a case of the blues when you leave him behind, you should consult a veterinarian for a complete diagnosis and to rule out any medical issues. Before you go to the vet, there are symptoms that you can watch for which could indicate separation anxiety. If you see your dog exhibit any or all of these symptoms, tell your vet.Does your dog react in a destructive way when left alone? For example, does he chew things, tear things up, urinate or defecate in your home when you are away and not while you are home with him?Does he drool incessantly if left alone? Some dogs leave puddles of saliva on floors when their owners leave them alone. This is a sign of a dog suffering from separation anxiety.Some dogs become so frantic that they injure themselves. Some chew on their bodies or try to escape through windows, inflicting physical harm Some dogs will refuse to eat or drink if left alone.If diagnosed, your vet may prescribe medication to help your dog weather these anxious times. As with most medical therapies, medicine is not the cure all. Separation anxiety must be treated with behavior modification. A dog behaviourist will help identify things that trigger your dog's behaviour and give you tips on how to redirect your dog through positive reinforcement so that eventually you will be able to leave him without him spiralling out of control. For instance, you probably have a series of subconscious behaviours that you exhibit before you leave your home. Do you get your keys, put on your shoes, grab your purse, check the stove..? Your dog is sensitive enough to identify these things and understand that they mean that he is about to be left alone. A dog behaviorist will likely suggest that you repeat these behaviors throughout the day without leaving in order to condition your dog into understanding that you are not always leaving when these things happen. They will also guide you through a series of techniques of positive reinforcement to teach your dog how to be alone. There isn't a quick fix for this problem,but with patience and love, you will be able to help your dog discover that when you leave, the world does not come to an end, and you will always come back.

Dogs are the best teachers! They teach us how to be better humans.

My dogs are my best teachers. In a lifetime with dogs, I have learned some of the most important lessons on how to be a better human. Here are some of the best things I've learned from my canine teachers:
Get love wherever you find it.
Don't worry about tomorrow, right now is what matters.
When in doubt, take a nap.
When someone shows you that they are kind and could love you, turn on the charm!
Looking for love? Put on a sad face, no one will be able to resist you.
Nothing can shake off the blues like a roll in the grass
Turn off the air conditioning, open the window, let the wind blow through your hair. Instant freedom!
Tomorrow may never come so lets not worry about it, let's go for a walk
Snow? Don't complain about it, let's go frolic in it! I'll chase you then you chase me!
Sometimes the best way to support someone is just to sit in silence
One of the best things in life is a delicious meal.
Love your siblings, and don't be afraid to blame them for your transgressions
If you're happy, for heavens sake, show it!
There are few things that are more wonderful than a comfortable bed
If people are kind to you, protect them from harm
Cats can be cool
Even if you've had a rough start, put it behind you and embrace all that is good about today
If you love someone, make sure they know it
Nature is amazing, get out and enjoy it
If they tell you you're sick, concentrate on all the ways that you feel good
Kids are fun!
If you're feeling small, remember, it could be worse, you could be a Chihuahua
Aging is a state of mind
So your body is not what it once was, who cares?
Grey hair is distinguished
Never miss a chance at a hug
Life is short, live for the moment!

These and more of life's lessons come to you by way of a dog. If you don't have one, what's taking you so long? You're way behind in the lesson plan. Contact Hart, your canine teacher awaits! Click Here to see all the available dogs for adoption!

Adopter Update - Freya and Loki

Hi HART!

We were sorry to miss the Kritter Kringle this year. Somehow the HART emails started going into my Spam folder and by the time I realized, it was too late for the event. Freya had been practising her tricks all year and was sorry to miss the opportunity to show them off.

Freya and Loki are now 2 years old and are doing very well.  They are incredibly energetic and love nothing better than heading out with me on a snowshoeing expedition to the nearby lake. Both encountered porcupines for the first time this year (separate incidents). Unfortunately they are both uncontrollably curious and keen on investigating dark crannies, so I'm sure it won't be the last time they get to visit the vet for dequilling.

But why I'm really contacting you is the let you know we've discovered that one of the Haliburton Nordic Trails is dog friendly and you take off leashed dogs with you on the groomed trails. The place is called Twin Lakes and is located off Hwy 35 just north of Minden, a bit of a drive from the Bancroft area but well worth checking out (beautiful trails, too).  You might want to share this with other HART parents and supporters .. it is wonderful to be able to ski with the dogs.  For more info on the location and fees, people can visit http://www.skihaliburton.com/.

I'm also attaching a couple of photos of the pair, one from last weekend and one from last fall in Nova Scotia, just so you can see how much fun they have playing together.

Hope all is well with everyone at HART