A 'PAWSITIVE' TOOLKIT FOR SERVICE DOG TRAINERS

Our toolkit for Service Dog Organizations informs service dog trainers about recovery from substance use problems and the important role of peer support and connection for the wellness of their Veteran dog handlers diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  This toolkit includes:  

• an online certificate course and  
• access to substance use recovery and peer support resources.   

This project initiated in 2016 as a research partnership between the University of Saskatchewan and a service dog organization in Canada. The project team includes over 30 individuals from universities across Canada, the veteran community, service dog organizations and trainers,  and guidance from Indigenous Elders and working alongside service dogs.    

Learn more about our project and our commitment to canine wellness.    

BACKGROUND:  St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog teams have been providing comfort and support to individuals they visit for over 15 years in Saskatchewan, and since 1992 starting in Peterborough, Ontario. There are numerous other therapy dog organizations in Canada. 

The human and dog volunteer teams visit at a range of places where individuals do not typically have access to a pet, such as hospitals, airports, and university campuses. This is called an animal assisted activity. Extensive vetting and testing is typically involved in becoming a therapy dog team, but limited education is provided to handlers to increase their awareness and skills in areas that would support their visits. 

AIM:  To help fill this gap, a free, 8-hour online course has been designed for therapy dog handlers to:

• Become aware of their own biases with regards to the diversity of others (e.g., culture, race, sexuality, socioeconomic status, etc.), and make a commitment to supporting inclusive therapy dog experiences.   (Module 1 - diversity & inclusion with Nancy Poole)
• Describe what mental health is, with particular attention to anxiety and trauma and how they impact thinking and behaving, and identify the basics of responding to a client’s mental health.  (Module 2 - client mental health with Erin Beckwell)
• Describe mental health self-care and peer support, why they are important, and how therapy dog handlers can practice them.   (Module 3 - handler self-care and peer-support with Janelle Jackiw)
• Identify the basics of dog body language and therapy dog care, during and after visiting.  (Module 4 - dog behavior and care with Anne Howie)
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This course is open to therapy dog handlers as well as anyone wishing to improve inclusive communication with others, the well-being of themselves, and/or better understand their dog’s behaviour.