Helpful Hounds Are Working Assistance Dogs mainly For Young People With Special Needs. Every Day They're working they're supporting their human partner with daily tasks and therapies.
Disabilities Or Conditions Like Autism, Down’s Syndrome, PTSD Or Other Serious Emotional Issues CAN Severely Limit One's Ability To Connect And Work With Other Humans.
A Trained Assistance Dog provides the ability to connect more effectively with others socially, educationally and/or in a working environment.
Training of an assistance dog takes around 2 to 2.5 years to accomplish and can Cost Up To £15,000.
However, that allows the dog to help its human partner for around 8-10 years.
Involving The Family of a human partner In Dog Training Process Can Build A Much Stronger Bond With The Dog Earlier and bring additional benefits to the relationship even before the conclusion of the training process.
Peter Rufus, Trustee and Volunteer CEO
Why Helpful Hounds Need Your Support
Training of an assistance dog takes around 2 to 2.5 years to accomplish and can Cost Up To £15,000.
However, that allows the dog to help its human partner for around 8-10 years.
Involving The Family of a human partner In Dog Training Process Can Build A Much Stronger Bond With The Dog Earlier and bring additional benefits to the relationship even before the conclusion of the training process.
What helpful hounds do?
Via Basic And Specialist Dog Training:
Autism and Down’s Syndrome
Deliver Calming techniques such as Deep Pressure therapy
Provide confidence and more independence outside of home
Give their human partner a way of socialising by engaging in conversation (about the dog)
Interrupt self-harming behaviours
Create a safe space around a person
Physical Disabilities
Become an ever present companion to rely on
Increase social opportunities
Open and close doors and drawers
Open and empty washing machines
Help taking off items of clothing (socks, gloves, unzip jackets)
Push traffic light / disabled buttons
Mental Health (PTSD & Acute anxiety)
Deliver DPT / PPT Therapies reducing the young person’s anxiety
Build confidence by entering and searching a room before allowing their human partner to enter
Keep a safe distance between their human partner and others
Identify the nearest exit if necessary
Fetch dropped items or medication in the moment of need
Special Needs Schools
Reduce overall stress levels of students
Calm people in the recovery stages of “melt down”
Encourage nervous students to come into school
Help development of reading and speaking skills by 'listening in'
Provide an essential part of the mental health strategy for staff
Deliver Calming techniques such as Deep Pressure therapy
Provide confidence and more independence outside of home
Give their human partner a way of socialising by engaging in conversation (about the dog)
Interrupt self-harming behaviours
Create a safe space around a person
Physical Disabilities
Become an ever present companion to rely on
Increase social opportunities
Open and close doors and drawers
Open and empty washing machines
Help taking off items of clothing (socks, gloves, unzip jackets)
Push traffic light / disabled buttons
Mental Health
Deliver Therapies reducing anxiety
Build confidence by entering and searching a room before allowing their human partner to enter
Keep a safe distance between their human partner and others
Identify the nearest exit if necessary
Fetch dropped items or medication in the moment of need
Special Needs Schools
Reduce overall stress levels of students
Calm people in the recovery stages of “melt down”
Encourage nervous students to come into school
Help development of reading and speaking skills by 'listening in'
Provide an essential part of the mental health strategy for staff
The BEST Investment I've Ever Made!
Seeing a child smile or laugh when engaging with a dog is probably one of the most precious memories of my life.
It's our duty to help children and young people whose world we cannot reach ourselves. Animals are a key unlocking the door for us and we need to do everything we can to make that happen.
Eleri Cosslett
Owner of McGuire Mitchell
The BEST Investment
I've Ever Made!
Seeing a child smile or laugh when engaging with a dog is probably one of the most precious memories of my life.
It's our duty to help children and young people whose world we cannot reach ourselves. Animals are a key unlocking the door for us and we need to do everything we can to make that happen.
