KIDS AND DOGS: Canine Facilitated Mental Health Protocols for At-Risk Youth
Information Sheet
Kids and Dogs: Canine Facilitated Mental Health Protocols for At-Risk Kids, developed and written by Minnesota Linking Individuals, Nature & Critters, Inc. (MN LINC), is a program designed to "link" youth who are experiencing behavioral or emotional difficulties with animal shelter dogs. During the KIDS AND DOGS program, the youth and dogs meet two times a week for two hours each session. The many similarities and metaphorical comparisons between these two populations is the basis for the youth's therapeutic and behavioral learning; and, the dogs acquire socialization and training which creates a more marketable adoptive dog who can maintain placement throughout its life.
Kids and Dogs Program Objectives
Youth:
- Through experiential therapy methods, participants are able to gain insight into their own unhealthy behavior patterns by first changing and improving inappropriate behaviors in the dogs.
- The youth learn how to motivate and change behavior in a positive fashion instead of using punitive methods.
- How to communicate with others in an appropriate manner is a key skill that is focused on throughout the program.
- The youth become better able to share their feelings during therapy because of the alliance they have developed with their dog and because therapy sessions are indirect and metaphorical.
- The youth develop compassion and nurturance for other living things.
- Aside from learning basic obedience skills, the youth also learn general canine skills and knowledge such as grooming, health, and humane education.
Dogs:
- The dogs complete a basic obedience class during a ten-week timeframe.
- Ten weeks is the optimal length recommended by dog obedience trainers and clubs for the dogs to acquire basic obedience skills, i.e., sit, down, stay, come, heel, etc.
- The course is conducted with Gentle Leaders™ and with the clicker method of training, a form of positive reinforcement.
- With the exception of those with known aggression toward other dogs or children, any type of dog can be a part of the program.
- Dogs that are a part of the program are paired up with the same youth trainer; thereby increasing continuity of learning and allowing the trainer to become acquainted with his/her dog's personality and style.
- Aside from basic obedience skills, the dogs are also socialized to good grooming habits, getting along with other beings, walking nicely on a leash, positive outlets of recreation, and exposure to different environmental stimuli.
- Upon completion of the program, the dogs will obtain a life-long adoptive home.
Overall:
- This program contributes sound quantitative data to the field of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), a profession that primarily supports its efforts with anecdotal evidence.
- A longitudinal study of this AAT program is conducted in an effort to measure the effectiveness of variables such as the youth's age, sex, mental health diagnosis, history of animal abuse, etc., along with similar variables for the dogs.
A fee structure has been designed to provide different levels of program assistance. We would be pleased to work with you to custom-design services and materials that best meet your needs.
For more information on the purchase and training
of this protocol, please contact:
Tanya Welsch at 952-472-2422 or tanya@mnlinc.org.
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