Developing Professional Practice through Work with Dogs and Families by Dr HannaH Wright, University of Lincoln
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This talk was presented at the conference "Autism in the Family: Can Dogs Help" held in London on the 22nd June 2013. Dr Hannah Wright is a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Lincoln. She is a specialist in the field of human-animal interactions and has been responsible for carrying out and overseeing the research for the ‘Pet Dogs for Children with Autism’ research project. Hannah also has extensive experience in working with and training pet dogs.
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Developing Professional Practice through Work with Dogs and Families by Dr HannaH Wright, University of Lincoln
- 1. Developing professional practice through work with dogs and families
- 2. Workshop • 14:00 Setting the scene – What we have learnt through this project • Small group discussions – Collate information • Main group discussion • Break 15:15-15:30 • Feedback 15:30-16:00 in main room
- 3. Why pet dogs? • Autism Assistance Dogs – Limited funding & resources – Unable to meet demand • Majority of benefits may not be specific to the assistance dog training
- 5. •Open to families who have a child with a clinical diagnosis of autism, aged 3-16 years. •Families who are considering getting a pet dog or those who already have a pet dog •Parents attend a series of three, one day workshops, held throughout the UK. •An overview responsible pet dog ownership, and using the dog to benefit the whole family: About the PAWS project •Finding a suitable dog •Responsible dog ownership •Basic training for a calming influence •Advanced training to aid each child’s development
- 6. Discussion Demonstrations Hands-on learning Factsheets Website Online games for children Telephone and email support Resource ‘library’ - book templates, cartoon strips, visual timetables etc. Varied learning materials
- 7. Workshops in detail: 1 How could PAWS relate to you and your family? Where to start? Step-by-step- programme for each family
- 8. Workshops in detail: 1 Canine welfare & behaviour Responsible dog ownership Therapeutic dog-human relationships
- 9. Workshops in detail: 2 Canine communication Structure in place for pet dog/family success Safe, positive, dog-human interaction
- 10. Workshops in detail: 2 Practical sessions with ‘demo’ dogs Breaking down popular dog training myths
- 11. Workshops in detail: 3 Clicker training practical Putting ideas and skill together to complete individually tailored programmes Building independence and self-esteem
- 12. • Over 250 parents now registered on the project! • Continued long-term support to families involved • Telephone advice and support service • Comprehensive website, featuring a members area: o Forum, initiating family support network o Resources using range of media o Blogs for research and workshops o Secure Facebook group • Development of self evaluation skills to increase long-term independence • Networking with external organisations for one-to-one support where required. PAWS aftercare support
- 13. PAWS – a good example
- 14. Research Outcomes • Parental stress • Separation Anxiety • Conflict, social skills, adaptability – Individual effects • Family characteristics • Child/autism characteristics • Dog characteristics
- 15. PAWS Research • Not the right intervention in all cases – Ten families re-homed the dog (15%) • 8 dog-child problems (4 dogs showing aggression) • 1 parent-child problems (not related to dog) • 1 parent allergic – Implications for dog welfare • Child (& family) welfare • Public safety http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPTEDvxZ_hc
- 16. Role as professionals • Manage expectations – Dog is not a cure! • Educate & support • Predicting success • Reduce risk
- 17. Getting it right • Suitable for the family? • Knowing the individual child • Right dog (genetic & early experiences) • Setting up the environment • Correct education • On going support DOG WELFARE NEEDS MET Reduced risk for dog Reduced risk for child
- 18. Professionals You need to know what you don’t know! • Professional in other fields (Autism/Dogs) • Objective and considered approach – Reduce risk – Increase success
- 19. Animal assisted… • Activity • Therapy • Interventions • Currently no standards, code of conduct, or governing body in the UK
- 20. Small group discussions Q1. What are the main challenges professionals working in autism face in developing practice through work with dogs? – 3 main points
- 21. Small group discussions Q1. Collate ideas from group discussions and feedback before discussion on Q2.
- 22. Small group discussions Q2. How might these challenges be addressed and what needs to happen to move forward? – 3 main points
- 23. Small group discussions Q2. Collate ideas from group discussions
Editor's Notes
- Richard Mills (Chair) to introduce session, talk about how low cost socially acceptable approaches to autism etc.. and Hannah to present info about PAWS and what we have learned through the research, setting the scene for group discussions.
- What is PAWS, what do the teach, how do the teach it, aims
- Benefits extend beyond assistance dog specific training
- Overview of what is covered in the 3 workshops before breaking this down into detail.
- Explaining the use of varied learning materials for both parents and children that may fit into the different types of intervention. Use pictures, social stories, web links, handouts, info sheets, cartoons.Resources out as examples.
- We say to parents to wait until after the third workshop before making a decision so they have all the information. Already have a dog - What they are working on between ws 1 and 2- in terms of the environment and their starting points, end goals, socialisation that needs doing before hand e.g. Gradual introductions to meltdowns other basic training that's required before advanced lead work. Training needed behind the scenes? Equipment needed for the dog’s role e.g. Zoom grooms, harness and ezy dog lead.
- Using diagrams that simplify understanding behaviour that we and parents refer back to throughout the workshops. Exceeding in the 5 freedoms and how we go about it to make sure the dog will be a calming influence in the home and keeping slots open as possible for 2 min brief training sessions. Making sure that all the dog’s needs are thought of – useful for non dog owners as can impact on what breed they might choose. Safe space, recognising dog body language, regular health checks, appropriate diet, time to be a dog. Bolt hole- ways to set it up so child doesn’t follow the dog into the crate etc. Used for gradual introductions. Chewing – varied selection of bones down, using as activity for children.Regular physical checks- good way to introduce the dog to handling / looking into their eyes. Appropriate sleep- bed size, 12 -16 hours.
- Team leader role within the family, dog has a consistent person to look to so decisions are team leaders responsibility not dogs or child e.g. Sending dog to bolt hole. May impact on how they want to train their dog using that structure e.g. Harness and lead work. Teaching parents to read their dog for safe dog and child interactions- using pic quizzes so parents arrive at their own decisions and to practice identifying fiddle responses in a range of breeds.
- Keeping training sessions short, positive, clear goals and watching out for fiddle responses. Parents answering questions themselves to arrive at own decisions again as to what positive suitable methods of training. We go through with parents unsuitable equipment e.g. Spray collars, electric collars, spray, choke chains, half checks, training disks. When answering the questions parents thinking of replacement and incompatible behaviours e.g. On bed command etc.
- Putting their skills they have learnt into action from the last two workshops. Using a picture quiz recapping on dog body language, again series of pics.Parents coming up with problem areas for them specifically at home and coming up with ideas in groups of ways a dog could be helpful, referring back to the slide at beginning of workshop. Clicker training specific tasks themselves with the PAWS dogs in the afternoon.
- Provide forum where parents can talk to each other, members area where can keep updating resources.Providing autism based and dog training based ac workshops. Facebook page.Want to add videos.
- What is PAWS, what do the teach, how do the teach it, aims
- What we can now say
- Cases where it has not worked out