Animal Background
Hi! Breeze is a four-year-old old female Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) dog. She possesses a curious, friendly temperament, and genuinely enjoys engaging with people! Breeze continues to develop and demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to symptoms of distress and anxiety in humans.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) defines Yorkshire Terriers as “sprightly, tomboyish, and affectionate.” As well, the AKC says about this breed: “Yorkies are easily adaptable to all surroundings, travel well and make suitable pets for many homes. Due to their small size, they require limited exercise, but need daily interaction with their people.” For these reasons, and others, Rebecca has decided that this breed is suitable for inclusion in this therapeutic setting.
About Animal Assisted Therapy
Animal assisted therapy is an intervention used with some clients by the therapist. The purpose of using animals in therapy is to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning. In this way, the counselor utilizes the human-animal bond as a therapeutic agent that is incorporated into a participant’s overall treatment. Multiple researchers on the topic have found that this may have a significantly positive impact on the therapeutic process.
Therapy Animal Evaluation
Several nationally recognized organizations formally evaluate the training, temperament and overall suitability of a potential therapy animal. The handler and therapy dog have been formally evaluated and endorsed by the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen organization. This means that the handler/animal team has completed training appropriate to work in a public setting, and has been assessed and evaluated by a qualified canine evaluator to possess adequate skills and temperament for such work. The Canine Good Citizen organization requires a standard of grooming and veterinary care to minimize the risks of illness or injury from human-animal interaction, which means the therapy dog will be healthy and maintain rigorous standards of hygiene.
Breeze earned the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title on February 26, 2016.
Expectations
Numerous authors have described the unique positive impact of animal-assisted activities and interventions in therapy. Rebecca has experienced successfully witnessing the benefits associated with therapeutic human-animal interactions.
Interaction
Examples of appropriate interaction with the animal include: petting, brushing, obedience work, feeding treats, or playing with toys. If you wish to give treats, play with toys, or brush the animal during sessions, you may use the treats, brushes, and toys provided by the therapist. Participants are encouraged to initiate touch with Breeze in the following areas: chin, chest, neck, back, and shoulders.
If you are interested in animal assisted therapy, please know that Breeze is available per pre-scheduled appointments only. She is not present in all sessions. We look forward to meeting you soon! Please call today to schedule your appointment with Rebecca and Breeze. 248-845-4144
Resources: www.ack.org/dog-breeds/yorkshire-terrier
