One of my plans with Harley, if she is suitable, is that she will assist in my psychology practice. Do we have anyone on the forum who works with their dog/cat/animal like this? This will only be once Harley is older. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blo.../what-if-your-therapist-had-dog-in-the-office
Brilliant idea. I work as a coach for adults with ADHD for the NHS two afternoons a week. I have taken Mollie once or twice and my patients were visibly more relaxed when she was there. Obviously not all will be happy to have a dog present - and care, permission etc etc need to be sorted out. My Guide Dog Puppy supervisor also needed to come and check that my consulting room was suitable for the pup and that the sessions were not too long. ...
20 years ago I began tinnitus (still have it) and was acutely distressed and seeing a counsellor, one day she brought her dogs in and although I remained distressed, they were such a help and comfort.
Wonderful idea! Make sure you hear from @charlie as Helen's Hattie is a PAT dog. She'll probably have lots of good advice.
That is awesome Boogie. I am starting my private practice from my home beginning of next year and all the years the plan was that our cats would be part of my practice but they are not necessarily comforting creatures, are very self centered and are both terrible thieves. They take things out of people's bags and then growl when you try to retrieve it. They don't scratch or bite but if you are looking for unconditional positive regard...they are not the place to start. Harley Harls is just love on four legs and somewhere inside I know she will make a wonderful addition to the practice, of course with permission from the clients.
I used to see the staff counsellor employed by the Health Board that I work for, she was great used to bring her dog, a Border Terrier to work. It was somehow always lovely to have him there.
Until recently, Harley came to work with me quite a lot. I worked with children and young people with additional needs / behavioural issues / abused. I also worked with complex families. A lot of the families / children I worked with adored Harley and it really helped having her there when they were upset as she would comfort them. With the children she was brilliant in allowing the children to talk to her about what was going on in their lives and when I needed to talk about difficult things with them. Harley is naturally cuddly and seems to be able to know when to play and when to comfort. I also used her as rewards for children / young people. If they tried to work on changing a behaviour that was an issue they got to come on a walk with us. The difference she made to a lot of children was amazing. Unfortunately (but good for me) I have had a promotion so am now more involved with funding / management / helping make sure the charity is sustainable for the future for the families / communities we work in, so not working directly with families / children. During this summer she will have the odd visit to the play schemes I manage to see some of the children we have worked with.
Has anyone who brings / brought their pups to work taken them through a class? Such as getting them certified as a therapy dog?
Harley is currently going to her first basic home obedience class today. She has completed puppy socialisation and puppy 2 classes. I really hope in the future we will get as far as the bronze canine good citizen but I am not holding my breath. I am a lack luster trainer. But I am a qualified clinical psychologist so I will see how Harley matures and what the therapeutic needs of my clients are before engaging Harley in the process. Her job is going to be just to be her - good natured, accepting of all, loving of everything, every person is the best one she has ever met, labrador. The core conditions that Carl Rogers describes as a foundation for Person Centered Therapy are just who Harley is: congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy. All in one smiling, beautiful little yellow body.
Oh, brings a tear my eye, yes , that's Labradors personified. It's a wonderful aim to have and I really hope you get there. From one lack lustre trainer to another
Harley has been to puppy class, adolescent class, scent workshops and agility, but no formal training yet. It is something we are looking at for the future.
I am constantly badgering my boss about how much better life would be with dogs (especially mine) in the office. Being a solicitors though it's quite formal and he's not taking to the idea. But I'll keep on pestering anyway
My older Lab Sky is a Pets As Therapy dog and until last year we were visiting adults with sensory impairment. Some were in wheelchairs and the places we visited made some steps especially so she would climb and sit on the top so the wheelchair user could stroke her. We are having a break now we have the puppy but may go back or go to a school as part of the Read2Dogs scheme.
Hattie is 9 years old and has been a PAT dog for over a year. We make weekly visits to a Hospice Day Centre, Hospice Ward and recovery wards. Hattie and I sit with cancer patients having chemotherapy, blood transfusions etc. She brings a lot of happiness, fun and relief to patients during very difficult times, they really look forward to seeing her. Hattie was even attended a funeral of a lovely man we made friends with, a great honour for us both. Hattie has to cope with so many things during a visit, patients with dementia who can suddenly grab her, special needs patients, wheelchairs, hoists, walking frames, walking sticks, drips, machinery, shouting, loud noises, unusual smells, cleaners, trollies, lunch trolly and BISCUITS and lots more. She does a brilliant job and nothing phases her at all I am currently waiting to hear from a Primary School to hopefully do the PAT Read2Dogs Scheme to help children that might struggle with reading, might be special needs, have emotional or health problems or might just be very shy and find it hard to read to an adult so they can read to a dog who doesn't judge. Very excited Good luck xx
Read2Dogs is such a fantastic concept, I'll be very interested to read more about that if you go down that road. @Harley Quinn maybe think about getting a Ragdoll as a therapy cat
Snowie loves going to the airport so I take him st every opportunity. I guess he picks up on the excitement and also that people are usually happily greeting each other. Yesterday I took my mom to the airport. It was so busy! Snowie was in his element. So many adults and kids wanted to say hallo to him, even a tiny toddler who was shorter than him, they met face to face and Snowie was so gentle. While we waited in the check in line, people were patting him joyfully (one of those snaking lines). And when we said goodbye to my mom, he gave her kisses (he knows exactly what "Say goodbye to Granny" means). His presence created such a lovely foil to the anxiety I think many people feel when about to embark on a flight (I read once that 50% of people on a plane are frightened of flying - I'm one of them!). It made me think Labradors should be roaming the airport as a public counter-anxiety service.
