Perry's Mum Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 PET THERAPY FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA Wednesday 31 August, 2011 9.30am-1200pm Presented by: Elizabeth Lo Re, (Alzheimer’s Australia ACT) Karen Cmiel, ‘Eden Alternative’ Annie Kenning, (Delta Society Therapy Dogs ACT Branch) And GEORGE (West Highland Terrier) Venue: Riley Hall, Pilgrim House, 69 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra 2601 No charge - Bookings Essential – Call Roberto Corrielli on 6205-4794 or email [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burkes Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Thanks Perry's Mum. I have booked in to go, should be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Thanks for the heads-up. This should be a great talk. There certainly is good science coming thro', which shows benefits to people with dementia-type conditions. UQ has a research program & they reported on it, in their newsletter. After it'd been going for some time, residents who'd first refused to take part in therapy program with the dogs, started to ask could they now join in. Also the photo of the dogs in the program was very interesting. Not small cuddly dogs, but hearty medium to big dogs. I'll see if I can find that photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpette Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 They prefer the bigger dogs for therapy work as they are more able to cope with the rougher treatment from unsteady older hands patting them. Also older people can reach the dogs whilst in their chairs/wheel chairs thus preventing them from having to bend down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 They prefer the bigger dogs for therapy work as they are more able to cope with the rougher treatment from unsteady older hands patting them. Also older people can reach the dogs whilst in their chairs/wheel chairs thus preventing them from having to bend down. That makes a lot of sense. Dogs Vic also used to have a photo on their website of their pet therapy team. And bigger dogs stood out. There were a couple of gorgeous Rotties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I remember training pet therapy dogs (prior to their placements) in a locked ward for people with pretty advanced dementia ... most of them loved the dogs, and used to really perk up during our visits For some, it was a 'portal' and they would slip back to when this dog in front of them was their childhood dog ..and they would again share stories with their dog for the time they had contact ... Sometimes dogs placed permanently in nursing homes would really work magic for some residents ..it was lovely to see them come out of their shell, and ,with the cues of soft fur , or a wet nose,( presented to them by us taking their hands and exposing them to the dog ) suddenly 'wake up' and recognise a DOG ... then the smile , and increasing confidence as old hands remembered how to stroke, and voices not used much remembered to say 'Sit', and "good dog"... I did enjoy my job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry's Mum Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 Several of the nursing homes in the ACT have resident dogs and most of the others have dogs visiting every week. Perry often goes and does things with Alzheimers and she loves it because of the attention she gets and they like her because she is so soft and fluffy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpette Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 They prefer the bigger dogs for therapy work as they are more able to cope with the rougher treatment from unsteady older hands patting them. Also older people can reach the dogs whilst in their chairs/wheel chairs thus preventing them from having to bend down. That makes a lot of sense. Dogs Vic also used to have a photo on their website of their pet therapy team. And bigger dogs stood out. There were a couple of gorgeous Rotties. And with any luck tonight two more will be added. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpette Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 We passed The start of a new adventure :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 We passed The start of a new adventure :D That is great news! You mean your dogs are now in the Dogs Vic therapy team? I heard a breeder represented them talking on radio national some time back, about the dog therapy work. When she said her dog was a rottie, the interviewer was very surprised. It was obvious he had the wrong idea that rottie = person killer. She then summarised all that went into the breeding, raising & management of her rotties, which meant they were beautifully socialised dogs. She was brilliant! I wish a lot more of the public could hear someone like her. This breeder also made the point that the dogs were still showdogs. She said the residents they visited looked forward to their coming in, after a show, with the prize ribbons. They loved to see 'their' dogs doing so well in the showring, as well as in the pet stakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpette Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 We passed The start of a new adventure :D That is great news! You mean your dogs are now in the Dogs Vic therapy team? I heard a breeder represented them talking on radio national some time back, about the dog therapy work. When she said her dog was a rottie, the interviewer was very surprised. It was obvious he had the wrong idea that rottie = person killer. She then summarised all that went into the breeding, raising & management of her rotties, which meant they were beautifully socialised dogs. She was brilliant! I wish a lot more of the public could hear someone like her. This breeder also made the point that the dogs were still showdogs. She said the residents they visited looked forward to their coming in, after a show, with the prize ribbons. They loved to see 'their' dogs doing so well in the showring, as well as in the pet stakes. Yes, Tank and Zephyr are now members of the Dogs Vic team along side a few other very well bred, trained and socialized Rotties. Both Zeph and Tank do herding and obedience, as well as conformation showing. But most importantly they are well-adjusted family members. My old girl Baylee and I used to encounter the same sort of negative reactions and prejudices when we did the Responsible Pet Ownership program. However, by the end of the school visits not only had the adults and children been educated about how to behave around dogs and to always ask the owner, but also that not all Rotties are bad. These things really do prove that it is the other end of the leash that is the problem with dog attacks, not the breeds of dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Well done, Tank & Zephyr. I totally agree with you, that these wonderfully raised dogs are the best antidote to the more usual publicity that big dogs like Rotties are born to cause problems. That's why I knew about the Vic Dogs Therapy Team photo. I was forever using it to show people what's the outcome when the people at the end of their leash, know what they're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burkes Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 That is awesome!! Congratulations to Tank, Zephyr and Grumpette I reckon my Rotty would be awesome at this kind of thing, shes a bit too old and arthritic now. I'd have to push her around in her own wheelchair Its definately something I'd love to get into when I retire. With rescue work and shift work I couldn't fit it in yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpette Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 What was brilliant to see was that there was a bull terrier there last night as well :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burkes Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Just got an email from ACT Health. Due to low numbers the talk was cancelled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry's Mum Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 Yes - what a shame - only 5 people booked - I thought they would be swamped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpette Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Oh bugger. I was hoping to get some information from you guys after the talk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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