DogWish Alzheimer's Service Dogs
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Training an Alzheimer's Service Assistance Dog:
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DOGWISH HAS BEEN HONORED SEVERAL TIMES BY SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE “MAKE-A-WISH” FOR PRODUCING THE TOP PERFORMING K9S IN THE NATION.
- DOGWISH Service Dogs are obtained and custom trained to meet its handler’s needs.
- DOGWISH Service Dogs are brainwave sensitive and can receive, understand, alert to, and respond to the individual’s unspoken communications.
- Statistics state that 6 out of 10 Alzheimer sufferers will wander away from home. DOGWISH has spent ten years learning and applying training in this area with individuals disabled by Autism, Down Syndrome, and like disabilities.
- DOGWISH trains K9s to search out and find Children with Autism. They trained and placed the Nation’s top Search and Rescue K9 for Dr. David Kelso, past Vice President of the Wyoming American Red Cross. Each Alzheimer’s Service Dog is trained to track their handlers if they do wander away from the dog.
- DOGWISH has created and implemented a training course for resolution of depression and anxiety for dog handlers and owners that is quite successful. This past year we have trained Service Dogs for 4 Psychologists, and 3 different clinics.
Please also CLICK HERE to see the article written for and published in The Golden Years magazine, for seniors throughout California.
If you have a need or concern, please contact us and we will send you information that is specific to your situation.
Click here to find out more about how you can Get Your Own DogWish Service Dog!
TEN REASONS WHY
EVERYONE AFFLICTED WITH DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER’S
SHOULD CONSIDER A DOGWISH K9!
Though there are documented studies and research material available on the internet that do coincide with what you are going to read, the following material has been written based completely on the numerous actual experiences and documented performance of the dogs we have placed with our present and past clients. There is NOTHING contained in this discussion that has not come from actual field experiences of actual clients, who can verify and testify to its’ accuracy.
In the fast paced, changing, synthetically and fundamentally artificial world we have created, with its’ stresses and fears, we are ALL looking for a primary connection. We are experiencing anxiety, depression, and personal crisis on a scale never felt before in history. This is especially true for seniors.
The following are 10 reasons that should illustrate how and why our K9s can and will be effective with people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
- OUR K9S ARE TRAINED TO RESPOND TO OUR CLIENT'S NEUROLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS WITH EXCEPTIONALLY RESPONSIVE PERFORMANCE.
Through several years of research, field experience, and adaptation, at DOGWISH the K9s we train are imprinted and empowered with a variety of mind enhancing experiences. We use these experiences to create in them a highly sensitive, responsive, intelligently communicable, understanding, and highly effective K9 companion, who perceives, understands, alerts, and responds to abnormal mental and physical signals put out by the bodies of our clients.
Many of these dogs, after being trained go into environments they are experiencing for the first time where they perceive, respond and instantly to strangers who are experiencing stress, seizure, and stroke like conditions. It happens constantly. The K9s can smell, feel, see, perceive and understand that something is happening here that is different, and personally dangerous. They then alert the individual to stop before the situation becomes worse. Of course, most people are so insensitive, disconnected, self absorbed, or whatever, that they don’t respond to the dog, and have to be told what is happening by someone who has been trained to BE sensitive, focused, and responsive, through our training. They then become “amazed” at what they just experienced, that they never “dreamed” a dog could do.
Our training is therefore of a quality not to be confused with other schools, who train K9s that operate with a much lower, less intelligent, unconnected performance, concentrating on picking up pencils, pushing buttons, and just being there. There is literally no comparison between what we do and what other schools are teaching. We produce dynamic communication and neurologically superior performance in our K9s. This intense behavior will stimulate, motivate, entertain, enhance, and focus someone going through the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
- THE INTENTION WE HAVE IN PROVIDING THIS TRAINING IS TO "CATCH" THE AFFECTED INDIVIDUAL AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, AND KEEP THEM FUNCTIONING SUCCESSFULLY IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
We have noticed that most businesses in this field are concerned with helping the family “place” the affected individual in programs designed to “watch and care” for them, or in “nursing homes”. We choose the alternative. We want to make the connection between the individual and the dog as early as possible, and use that relationship to fight the affects of the disease as long as possible, to keep the individual in their own home, where they belong.
- There are specific mental keys to success in each individual case that need to be examined and responded to. While every person will be different, in many, many cases, we have found over the past 30 years of work that the working relationship between an affected individual and a trained K9 is extremely successful and advantageous in helping, and resolving, many mental, emotional, social, environmental, and psychological issues in their life.
- Many individuals with different types of disabilities will respond to our trained K9s when they wouldn’t to someone else, or without one. They then develop a dynamic relationship with that K9 that encourages and supports them, where no other such relationship could. We have K9s with individuals who have been diagnosed with extreme seizure conditions, autistic conditions, anxiety conditions, bi-polar and other related mental conditions, etc., who have helped them tremendously.
- As that relationship grows and evolves it motivates, stimulates, encourages them to “hang on” and continue to function in their home environment longer.
- There are specific mental keys to success in each individual case that need to be examined and responded to. While every person will be different, in many, many cases, we have found over the past 30 years of work that the working relationship between an affected individual and a trained K9 is extremely successful and advantageous in helping, and resolving, many mental, emotional, social, environmental, and psychological issues in their life.
- IT'S THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR K9 THAT WILL KEEP THEM FROM "SLIPPING" INTO THE AFFECTS OF THEIR DISEASE.
Through the relationship with their trained K9, the person will find every day, every event, every minute, special. I have for years told people, “communication doesn’t start in the mouth, or the brain, but in the heart. There has to be a reason to want to communicate.” I have actually found in working with both dogs, and humans, that the more “yeses” we can find, the more reasons, the greater the probability that what we want is going to happen.
Three years ago I placed a K9 with a woman in Grand Rapids Michigan. At one time she had been the Supervisor for route deliveries for UPS for that town, for several years, and then lost her ability to function due to several mental dilemmas. It got worse and when not in her home, or her room, she would have serious panic disorders, forget who she was, where she was, not recognize the people with her, and had gone into seizure mode on several occasions. Her doctor and therapist didn’t believe anything could help her. She was on strong debilitating prescription drugs that helped to cripple her mind. I took her K9 to her and with 15 minutes we all witnessed a dramatic and wonderful transformation. During the 3 days I was there I taught her how to use her K9. Everything started coming back. She began to function without fear and anxiety, and recovered much of what she had lost.
An Alzheimer’s K9 may not do that for everyone, but as the team bond, connect, and reach out to each other, the K9 can help their handler WANT to stay functional longer, fight to stay cognitive, and work to keep the relationship, their home, family, and life. If you don’t have something “special” to hang on to, why not I realize that we’re working with a biological clock, and that no matter what we do it is going to keep ticking. It’s great to have family, friends, good associates, etc., but they will NOT take the place of the “special” relationship you can share with your dog. I’ve known many good people in my life, traveled around the world, spent quality time with the “best” humanity has to offer. What I remember and hold the most precious are the wonderful relationships I’ve had with many, many good dogs.
While I do not challenge or disrespect the medical studies or findings associated with Alzheimer’s, that show the biological progression that takes place in the brain, and produces the horrible affect that this disease has on its’ victims, I also understand that science has also found that energy is 1,000 times as effective as chemicals in motivating changes to people with diseases, and there’s NO better way to get a transfusion than with the correct K9.
- A SERVICE K9 IS TRAINED TO HANDLE A PERSON WHO IS CONFUSED OR SCARED
As the cycle of “letting go” begins, and the affected person finds themselves less capable, more fragile, less cognizant, more vulnerable, and they need help, our K9 is trained to supply that help, to be there patiently, lovingly, committed to their handler. Understand, we aren’t discussing the mental properties of a dumb dog, or a normal dog, trained to do special “tricks”, but those of a quality animal who was bred to be better, and trained by a world leader, to be dynamically superior.
- The K9s we place have been mentally conditioned, giving them an ability to use their left brain, to receive, and respond to “Alpha” brain waves. Not only that we enhance their natural senses which are several times as effective in detecting and responding to electro-magnetic, and electro-centric energies around them, as are those of a human.
- At the same time, the K9 is NOT distracted by the complex scheme of thoughts that we are. Because of their natural maturity level they keep things simple. Once properly taught a behavior they will use, repeat, and habitualize it as taught, until we change it.
- The K9 will simply recognize the pattern of behavior needed, and help the handler to recognize and respond.
- They can be trained to find things, your keys, your shoes, your purse or wallet, the dog leash, money, or whatever you need.
- Sometimes, just being there to calm your soul, lighten your load, ease your pain, can be everything.
- The K9 will remember what you did yesterday, and how you did it, even if you don’t.
- We find our dogs putting the process together in their own minds, and quite often, coming up with a logical scenario we didn’t think of.
- THE SERVICE K9 WILL IMPROVE THE HANDLER’S STATE OF MIND AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING.
The first step in training with any dog we train is to modify their natural hyperactive state of mind. Dogs’ are often quite therapeutic because they naturally use the right side of their brain, and are more childlike and slower mentally than we are, which has a calming effect on their handlers. We go beyond that, raising their natural maturity level, teaching them to communicate dynamically, and instilling in their minds the need to constantly ignore anything that would interfere with them completely focusing on their handler. Being focused on the handler is the most important job they have, and we demand 90% focus at least, at all times. This is very intense, and again, our K9s are unique in this effort. As a result our dogs watch and often respond to the handler’s desires before they are communicated. As they learn to give themselves to the handler, ignoring and forgetting anything else around them, the dogs become very sensitive, and actually become capable of understanding and providing behavior that is unsolicited, and pro-active. As a result:
- The handler tends to improve their mental and emotional stability through interaction with the K9.
- Because they learn to enjoy, trust, and treasure the results of that relationship, they will want to spend time alone with the K9, and improve their physical health by walks and other activities with the K9.
- Their share of Physical activity slows down the impact of aging, and degeneration of both mental fatigue, and physical muscle tissue and bone mass.
- This provides a positive connecting relationship outside of their own mental state of being that motivates, encourages, and uplifts them. It also provides the foundation for stability, alleviating highs and lows, emotional outbursts, and instability.
- Interacting with the K9 stimulates their brain.
- The handler tends to improve their mental and emotional stability through interaction with the K9.
- BASED ON WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED, YOU CAN EASILY SEE THE AFFECT THE K9 WILL HAVE ON THE HOME.
It is amazing to read about the stress on “care givers” produced by caring for those individuals disabled with the pre-stated conditions. The effect the K9 will have on the home is phenomenal.
- The presence of a trained Alzheimer’s’ K9 in the home will help reduce the 24 hours a day stress on the family. As your K9 watches and attends to their handler, you will be released from the normal stresses and pressures that constantly occupy your time and keep you running. Instead of always keeping an “eye” on your loved one, you now have a helper who does that for you.
- The gentle quiet presence of that K9 can greatly improve the home atmosphere, softening stress situations, improving emotional vitality, and entertaining you with its’ loving personality. Unlike what is often thought, sometimes for a good reason, instead of being like another child with needs, and messes, more problems, a truly trained K9 will be a great addition to them home. Their quiet vigilance is a noteworthy, comforting enhancement that leaves others more time to do their needed activities with the peace of mind that the K9 is “on the job.” This reduces the emotional stress on the household members, and gives you back to the pleasures of your own life.
- The presence of a trained Alzheimer’s’ K9 in the home will help reduce the 24 hours a day stress on the family. As your K9 watches and attends to their handler, you will be released from the normal stresses and pressures that constantly occupy your time and keep you running. Instead of always keeping an “eye” on your loved one, you now have a helper who does that for you.
- THE K9 WILL KEEP CONSTANT VIGILIANCE OVER ITS’ HANDLER.
While dogs do need supervision, and owning a K9 will take maintenance and proper handling by a responsible person, the whole reason for obtaining an Alzheimer’s K9 is to take care of the affected person. There are a multitude of problems confronting this aspect of the K9s performance. Lucky for me I started working on this some 35 years ago.
Thirty five years ago I began created methods to teach dogs to focus on their handlers. The methods were used to encourage the dogs to watch them intensely. As an ex-Police Officer with LAPD I have used these exercises to develop an actual psychological connection between the dogs I trained, and their owners. I have used them to develop incredible relationships with K9s since. As I got into training K9s for people with Autism, it became clear very quickly that these exercises were an invaluable asset for this kind of work. Training K9s for people disabled with Alzheimer’s’ has now made these exercises not just invaluable but indispensable.
Here’s where we separate our K9s from others. A proper Service K9 is the kind of dog who uses their mind constantly to look for, and resolve problems associated with their handler. We train the K9 to understand the problem, know what to do, and respond immediately and correctly to the potential situations it will deal with in doing its’ job. However, our training is dynamic, and the dogs use the formulas we imprint into them to continue to grow and respond. Many of our K9s do things they were never taught, because they realized they needed to. As we have experienced and many of our clients have reported to us, their K9s stay in constant connection with their handler, whether they are home with the dog or apart at work, or wherever, and recognize physical and mental dilemmas they are having, often before they do. Often, as the K9s recognizes a problem with someone who doesn’t, they will alert other people in that environment to come and help. Keeping constant vigilance over their handler is what they do, regardless.
- THE K9 CAN BE TRAINED NOT TO “LEAVE” ITS’ PERMITTED ENVIRONMENT.
Whether it’s your home, yard, block, or whatever, your K9 can be trained not to go outside of the area you request. Having done extensive work “tethering” clients to their K9s, I have found it successful in almost every case. Unlike what you would think, a tether that is attached to the handler so that they cannot remove it becomes a normal part of life. If the affected person wants to go somewhere the dog is not allowed to go, they go somewhere else instead. If they are tethered to a dog who refuses to go across the street, that handler isn’t going. They will mentally justify their dogs’ behavior, and return home with the dog, who is trained to take them home.
- IF THE HANDLER EITHER WANDERS OFF OR ESCAPES, THE K9 CAN BE TRAINED TO FIND AND RETURN WITH HIM TO THEIR CORRECT ENVIRONMENT. Having worked with developmentally disabled people for many years now, we have trained numerous K9s who can, on command, track, search out, and find their handlers quickly, and safely. As a multi-national master tracking dog champion, the first dog I trained to do this was owned by the Vice-President of the Red Cross, and became the National Champion, recognized as the top Search dog in America, and I was awarded “American Hero” status. Actually, the dog was so good he found 1 missing person in a hospital of some thousands of people, in 10 minutes, and inadvertently, just walking down the street in Roswell New Mexico, found a house with 4 children, kidnapped from different part of America. Your K9 can be trained to track and find as you desire.
- THE K9 CAN BE CAPABLE OF LEGAL, INTELLIGENT, PASSIVE AND ACTIVE PROTECTION OF THE HANDLER, WHEN AND AS IT IS NEEDED.
I have now been the California Superior Court K9 Expert, for 35 years. I helped create the dangerous dog laws for California, have, been a Consultant for the Southern California Animal Control Association, and have trained specialized Police, Customs, and International Security K9s for large corporations, and different governments, throughout the world. As such, I have designed programs for my clients K9s where they were trained to show passive protection, and in some cases active protection, according to the “letter of the law.” This work is done with the utmost care and sensitivity, and I have NEVER had a problem with any K9’s protection work, ever.
