Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions

Book excerpt: The human-animal bond has therapeutic value regardless of the nature of the interaction. Recently, the work has begun to diverge into two distinct directions. First, many organizations continue to support volunteer visiting teams in a variety of community settings; however, a secondary breed of programs are emerging as more healthcare, social service, and educational practitioners carry the responsibility to ensure professional level standards of practice that blend seamlessly with each disciplines practice framework. The patient, client, and student goals are formal and practiced in a discipline specific modality. Dogwood Doga is not meant to be a “cookie cutter” book for activities, rather, it is meant to educate professionals about how to think about intervention or educational plans, activity and biomechanical analysis, modifications, and safety for human and dog. This book caters to those who use dogs in discipline specific sessions. DOGWOOD DOGA is the first book in a series that offers an occupational therapists perspective on having a canine co-therapist or co-educator work with clients, patients or students to reach functional goals including health maintenance, neuromusculoskeletal and motor skills, sensory and cognitive functions, communication and interaction skills, and more. The book includes pictured demonstrations, instructions, activity analysis, and modification ideas. Each activity in DOGWOOD DOGA also offers information about incorporating the dog and intermediate dog training requirements. It is recommended that users have experience with biomechanics/yoga, and have dogs with solid obedience and interaction skills.