Recently, an article appeared in the local press in the Netherlands about one of our pupils, who today officially acts as an assistance dog in a semi-open institution for people with autism.
Here is the article:
“Therapist dog – Hairy Pasja Mazzel Tov reflects trust.
Light brown, long-haired, curly with a cheerful face. Australian Labradoodle Mazzel Tov is a favorite of the Spectrum group, a semi-open facility for people with autism. Orthopedist Helmine Poleij uses a specially trained dog to positively influence the comfort of patients suffering from autism spectrum disorders. Successfully.
Author: TIMO VAN DE KASTEELE
People with autism often have trouble interacting socially and expressing their feelings. “Well-trained dogs can help improve interaction with other people,” says Helmine Poleij. “In many cases, confidence also increases when a dog listens to its master.” Helmine Poleij took Mazzel Tov home first for her six-year-old foster son. He suffers from a form of autism and various anxiety disorders. “One of these anxiety disorders is the fear of large dogs,” Helmine continues. “First of all, I wanted to overcome this fear. And I did. Besides, Mazzel had a positive effect on his self-confidence. Based on this experience, I proposed the introduction of "dog therapy" in the ward.
Confidence
The idea of introducing "dog therapy" was welcomed by the Spectrum team with open arms. Thus, the one-year-old Mazzel Tov now comes to the ward every Tuesday. Helmine uses the dog in one-on-one sessions with patients suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder. “One of my clients goes for a walk with me and her dog every week. Together, we are developing a module that will allow Mazzel Tov to be used as a therapy dog.”
The purpose of the walk is to build self-confidence in the client. “People with any form of autism have a low self-esteem and therefore low self-confidence,” explains Helmine. “Walking your dog is a very appropriate tool for building self-confidence. Along the way, we encounter countless unexpected situations. Situations that need to be responded to. As an example, Helmine gives an untethered dog that is approaching us at great speed. “In this situation, you have to let the dog know that you have power over him. And that is what is very difficult for people with autism. The dog listens only when spoken directly to him and clearly. If this is successful, self-confidence increases. And the tension drops."
Criteria
Not every dog is a therapy dog. Helmine has established criteria that a dog should meet. “First of all, it had to be an anti-allergic dog,” says Helmine. “My partner is allergic, so that was the first condition to be met. Besides, it had to be a big, smart dog with a sensitive nature.” The search for an animal that met all the criteria was not easy. Finally the Australian Labradoodle was chosen. “Mazzel has the size and character of a Labrador, and the coat and intelligence of a Poodle. Contrary to popular opinion, Poodles are very intelligent.”
Training
Unfortunately, finding the right times is not enough. Training a therapy dog takes a lot of time and energy. That's why Helmine and Mazzel Tov often visit the HOGZ dog behavior specialist - Zeeland Dog Behavior and Training Centre. “Mazzel learned socialization there and from puppyhood he was used to all stimuli. For example, various sounds were played in his playpen. Mazzel is currently being trained to respond to gestures. This requires increased effort. Already manages to calm the dog down on command." Calmness is a very important quality for a therapy dog. Patients suffering from autism spectrum disorders are very sensitive to any stimuli. “A young Australian Labradoodle can be very calm when needed, but when its owner opens the door and shows it's time to play, Mazzel doesn't know how to get outside quickly. He jumps around like a young puppy. “And that's what's beautiful about this dog. By nature he is cheerful and full of energy, but he can also be very calm when needed,” says Helmine.
Helmine had some success with Mazzel. One of her clients was afraid to leave her room alone. “The fear of crossing the threshold is a common condition of people with autism. Mazzel helps them overcome this fear. At such a moment, customers forget about all their problems.”
Author: TIMO VAN DE KASTEELE
Australian Labradoodle Mazzel Tow
Below are three pages of the original article:
Australian Labradoodle article 1
Australian Labradoodle article 2
Australian Labradoodle article 3
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