Good dogs: CDU's resident Therapy Dogs
In perhaps an unusual sight around Casuarina campus, you may have seen two yellow Labradors sitting patiently, a constant wag in their tails, around campus lately. Since late 2017, Roxy the Therapy Dog, and her little brother Quinton (Therapy Dog in-training) of Good Dog AAI, have been regular attendees at CDU’s student community events – Revive & Survive at CDU Library, O Week, CDU Clubs Carnival, and during exam weeks. During exam weeks, Roxy and Quinton patiently supported their student friends as they prepared to enter their exam, or upon exam exit. With their handler, transport driver, and mum, Hannah, Roxy and Quinton have been welcoming new students, forming friendships with students and staff, and generally cheering students on their academic journey.
Therapy Dogs, or Animal Assisted Interventions, is an umbrella term encompassing animal assisted therapies, activities and education. They range from interventions that are facilitated with the assistance of suitably trained animals; these can range from simple time-based interactions (like weekly or monthly site visits), to very detailed and specific treatment programs (like one-on-one counselling). Therapy Animals serve as non-judgemental companions and facilitators in learning, development, socialisation, and positive wellbeing. They have been shown to lower a person’s blood pressure and levels of anxiety. Dogs are particularly helpful in the wider community as they are already accepted as positive and practical aids in the fields of disability assistance, emotional regulation, and assisting in managing life-threatening episodes like detecting low blood sugar levels or seizure onset. In this light, these kinds of dogs are classified as Service Dogs, commonly seen in public spaces and in the close company of their handler/service user. Even if you were tempted to interact with a Service Dog (of course it is well intended!), a Service Dog will know, and has been specifically trained, not to react.
On the other hand, Therapy Dogs like Roxy and Quinton are trained and conditioned to appropriately react and respond to their immediate environment and multiple interactors (i.e. students) under the guidance and direction of their handler, Hannah. They want interaction. They crave interaction! Therapy Dogs Roxy and Quinton are trained to ‘seek’ out your company (ahem, attention), provide you with comfort, a sense of wellbeing, and warmth (sometimes quite literally) to anyone that will let them. In an academic environment, there can be moments where increased stress, anxiety, pressure, isolation, sleep deprivation and fatigue appear, and sometimes linger. Roxy and Quinton wish to provide you with comfort, encouragement for a well-earned study break, or even motivation to complete that final assessment before their impending visit (actual feedback from a CDU student!). Naturally disarming and non-judgemental, the beauty of Therapy Dogs is that they will love you, and care for you; no matter how long or short your interaction, or how annoyed, stressed or unsettled you may have felt beforehand. When you see Therapy Dogs Roxy and Quinton, please come down and give a pat or a cuddle. They. Will. Love you for it.
Hannah Taino-Spick is a PhD candidate at CDU's College of Education. Therapy Dog Handler = Crazy Dog Lady. Email htainospick@outlook.com if you want to know more about Therapy Dogs.
