The PDF is large (4.7 MB) so please be patient while
it downloads and do not close the browser window that
opens, the article will load in that window. The
article is posted and made available here by the generous permission of the
Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
All rights are reserved.
Canine-assisted play
therapy enhances emotional growth
The article is posted and made available
here by the generous permission of the Association of
Pet Dog Trainers. All rights are reserved.
What's
this dog doing in my playroom?
Use the link below or
click on the photo to read a recent article about canines
in play therapy, written by Dr. VanFleet. The article
is posted and made available here by the generous permission
of the Association for Play Therapy, who published it
in the March 2008 issue of the Play Therapy magazine.
All rights are reserved.
The PDF is large
(6.8MB), so please be patient while it downloads
and do not close the browser window that opens, the
article will load in that window.
The Winning Combination of Kids, Canines,
and Play
Use the link below or click on the photo to read another
VanFleet article about canines in play therapy that appeared
in The Chronicle of the Dog. The article is posted and
made available here by the generous permission of the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers, who published it in the July/August
2008 issue of the The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. All rights
are reserved.
The PDF is large (4.3 MB) so please be patient while it
downloads and do not close the browser window that opens,
the article will load in that window.
The article is posted and made available here by the
generous permission of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
All rights are reserved.
Engaging Owners
Fully in Dog Training: Attitudes and Skills That
Work
Use the links below to read a two part article that appeared in The Chronicle
of
the
Dog. The article is posted and made available here by the generous permission
of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. All rights are reserved. Part 1 was published
in the November/December 2008 issue of The APDT Chronicle of the Dog, pp. 14-16.
Part 2 was published in the January/February 2009 issue, pp. 32-34.
Winner of the 2009 Maxwell Award from
the Dog Writers Association of America for best magazine
series!
A Common
Bond: Maltreated Children & Animals in the Home
(Guidelines for Practice & Policy),
published by American Humane, is an important booklet
showing the research-based links between child abuse,
domestic violence, and animal abuse. It also describes
actions that people and professionals can take to
deal with these problems and to prevent them in the
future. It has been made available here with the
full permission and generosity of American Humane.
Dr. VanFleet has conducted a qualitative/survey
study of play therapists who use animals in their work. Full
results from 83 participants in this 2006-2008 study are now
available. Simply click the link below: Pets in Play Therapy
Preliminary Study Results
More information
on this topic is available in the Play Therapy with
Kids and Canines book that
can be purchased in our on-line store. It is important that all dogs receive good training
and socialization
experiences,
but this is especially true
of therapy dogs. Socialization should start very early in
the puppy’s life and continue throughout its life.
I strongly urge
therapists/handlers to train their dogs using non-aversive,
primarily positive dog training methods. Not only is this the
most humane way to
train a dog, but it also helps establish a strong, positive
relationship between canine and owner. Nonaversive methods
are based on behavioral science, with which most therapists
are
quite familiar, and they have the strongest research evidence
for their effectiveness.
Furthermore, positive
dog training methods provide the best model for children
who are learning to relate to dogs. Therapists are always
providing a model in how to relate to dogs during sessions,
and the best way to ensure a positive model is to learn positive
training methods. Children also might view the therapist/handler’s
approach to the dog as an example of what they can expect
in their own therapeutic relationship, so once again, a
strong case is made for using aversive-free, behaviorally-oriented
approaches.
A wonderful resource on this subject
is the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers. This international organization
provides information on how to choose a trainer as well
as a dog trainer search. I would suggest trying to find
someone who is a “CPDT” (Certified Pet Dog
Trainer), if possible.
In the U.S., the American Kennel Club’s
Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program is an excellent first
step toward therapy dog credentialing. Visit the AKC
website: www.akc.org,
then search “CGC.” This program is open to
all owners and dogs, including mixed breeds.
One of the challenges of play therapy
work with canines is to ensure that children use the
cues, both verbal and nonverbal, with
which the dog has been trained. Kathy Sdao, an associate
Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (and wonderful speaker
and trainer on dog training
issues), recently suggested during a presentation at the
Association of Pet Dog Trainers Conference that owners
and trainers actually create a
log of all the cues they use with their animals. She also
offered ways to test those cues to see what the animal
is actually “reading” – the
words, tone of voice, body language, and so on.
The following link leads to Kirrie’s
Doggie Dictionary, a small booklet used with children in
the Playful Pooch Program. It is very specific to this
play therapy dog and is copyrighted as well, but it
might provide a useful sample
of a fun way to help reinforce the cues that children
learn while working with a therapy dog. Children learn
best by doing, and they
learn cues from therapist modeling and then interacting
with the dog, but the booklet provides a reminder and
a “souvenir” of
their work with the dog.
Dominance and Dog Training Click here to download the position paper of the
Association of Pet Dog Trainers on dominance approaches
to dog training. This is a very important issue,
and the Playful Pooch Program wholeheartedly
endorses this position paper. It is provided here
with the permission of APDT, www.apdt.com.
Help for Fearful Dogs
If your dog is fearful, anxious, or has fear-based
aggressive behaviors, there is hope and help! Risë's article
entitled Zoom-Zoom-Zoom:
Lessons Learned from a Semi-Feral Dog highlights
the journey of a terrified dog and the approach used to help her
gradually
become a much better adjusted family pet.
There's also an excellent website with a great deal
of information on ways to help dogs with varying
degrees of fear and anxiety, including seriously
damaged dogs. Find useful articles, tips, links,
and book suggestions at www.fearfuldogs.com.
Play Therapy for Kids & Canines:
Benefits for Children's Developmental and Psychosocial
Health
WINNER of the Planet Dog
Foundation's Sit. Speak. Act. Canine Service Award
as judged in the Dog Writers
Association of America 2008 competition for all media
about therapy and service dog programs!
Dr.
VanFleet's latest book has just been released by
Professional Resource Press. This new volume describes
the integration of animal assisted therapy
and play therapy, and details the involvement of canines in play therapy to
address a wide range of child and family difficulties.
Click
here to buy now using our on-line store.
Reviews of this book:
"...Play Therapy with Kids & Canines serves
as an informative and motivational launching point
for professionals to begin their training in the integration
of play and the use of canine cotherapists. ... With
the emphasis that training must continually be a two-sided
activity, this author introduces practical guidelines
and considerations... A resounding strength of this
book is found in the sections that describe specific
AAPT interventions to target a number of presenting
clinical problems. ...Play Therapy with Kids & Canines
is a highly readable book that sheds light on the work
of both human and canine pioneers in an approach to
therapy that shows great promise in the treatment of
children."
-American Psychological Association, PsycCRITIQUES (1554-0138, 2/4/09, Vol. 54,
Release 5, Article 5)
"...as I read VanFleet's book,
I found myself wishing that this book had been available
years ago. Risë VanFleet's (book) is a well-researched,
comprehensive, yet concise text for all of us who are
interested in both animal-assisted therapy and play therapy.
This monograph covers both the theoretical and practical
elements of animal-assisted play therapy (AAPT) in a
clear, coherent, and organized manner. ...VanFleet's
clear dedication to ethical practice, respect for dogs,
and respect for children is a true strength of this book.
She diligently and clearly challenges the reader to consider
how using a dog in play therapy will best serve the needs
of the child. Most importantly, she stresses that good
therapy dogs are not born instantly but rather these
dogs need proper socialization, training, human interaction,
and structure. Above all, VanFleet communicates the deep
sense of commitment to animals and children that one
must assume in order to do this work. ...This book is
a valuable resource for both students and experienced
play therapists. VanFleet's writing is highly accessible,
interesting, and thought provoking." -American Journal of Play, 2009, Vol. 2 (2), pp. 220-221.
"Play Therapy With Kids & Canines:
Benefits for Children's Developmental and Psychosocial
Health is a fantastic look at the effect that dogs can
have in children's
therapy. Risë VanFleet provides constant examples on the way that dogs
are integrated specifically into play therapy. Dr. VanFleet goes through the
entire
process of obtaining a dog for therapeutic uses, and all the ways in which
that dog can be beneficial to the child. Her section on canine cotherapists
in nondirective
and directive play therapy is especially helpful for other play therapists
seeking to incorporate dogs in their sessions. The numerous case studies and
quotations
throughout the book lend an exciting aspect that makes the book interesting
to read and constantly makes you want to go further to read the next excerpt.
This
book is a necessity for play
therapists." -Heidi G. Kaduson, PhD, RPT-S, Director, The Play Therapy Training Institute,
Inc.
"Kids and dogs share
a special bond. Risë VanFleet teaches therapists
precisely how they can use this magical relationship
to help children deal with stress and recover from
trauma. Furry friends can soothe the soul."
-Colleen
Pelar, CPDT, CDBC, author of Living with Kids and
Dogs. . .
Without Losing Your Mind
"Risë VanFleet offers a valuable
addition to the literature on both animal assisted therapy
and play therapy. VanFleet's approach to integrating
these two therapeutic modalities is a monumental step
forward in the clinical treatment of children. This work
provides comprehensive coverage of foundations and applications
of animal assisted play therapy that is interlaced with
extraordinary case examples which invoke awe and wonderment
in the reader."
-Cynthia K. Chandler, EdD, author
of Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling
Table of Contents:
Dedication · Acknowledgments · Series Preface · Preface · The
Story of a Play Therapy Dog · Animal Emotions and the Human-Animal Bond · Animal-Assisted
Therapy · Play and Play Therapy · Integration of Animal-Assisted
Therapy and Play Therapy · "The Original Play Therapists":
A Case for Canines · Considerations for Quality, Ethical Canine Play
Therapy Programs · Selecting and Training a Play Therapy Dog · Practical
Management · The First Meeting: Preparations and Introductions · Canine
Cotherapists in Nondirective and Directive Play Therapy · Anxiety Reduction · Grief
and Loss · Building Competence and Confidence · Weight Reduction
and Fitness · Attachment and Relationship Building: Canine Applications
for Maltreated and Traumatized Children · Attentional and Behavioral
Difficulties · Communication and Social Anxieties · Families
and the Future · Final Suggestions · Appendices · References
The Faces of Play: A Photographic Exploration
of the Importance andJoys
of Playfulness
This full-color book displays 100 of Dr. VanFleet’s
photographic images that explore the world of play. Text
descriptions and quotations about the nature and importance
of play are illustrated by images of animals (wild and
domestic) and humans (children and adults) in a wide
range of play activities. This spiral-bound volume printed
on matte photographic paper is a useful and enjoyable
tool for educating professionals, parents, and the public
about the value of play. Great for the waiting room!
Children love it, too! Book sections include: Introduction;
Solitary, Sensory, & Object Play; Social Play;
Dress-up and Imaginary Play; and Cross-Species Play.
Click here to buy now using our on-line store.
Book Sections:
Introduction • Solitary, Sensory, and Object Play • Social
Play •
Dress-up and Imaginary Play • Cross-Species Play
Related
Book/DVD Reviews and Suggestions Most of the titles below are available from www.dogwise.com.
If you have trouble obtaining any of these books, please
email Dr. VanFleet.
Suzanne Clothier, 2005. Bones
Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships
with Dogs. Warner Books.
This is one of my favorite books about dogs. It shows that
relationships are of utmost importance and discusses ways
in which to develop and strengthen them with our canine
companions. Perhaps what I like about it the most is that
the author emphasizes the importance of empathy and reciprocity,
characteristics and skills that are vital for any relationship
we might have. Clothier offers a unique formula for interacting
with dogs that truly works. This is not a training book
per se, but I consider it one of the most important books
that can only enhance the training one does with a dog.
If you want to learn how to be more attuned to your dog's
perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, this book is for you.
If you involve dogs in your therapy work, I consider this
book an absolute "must" as our relationships
are particularly critical in that work. This book is an
easy ready with lots of humor and lessons drawn from many
different fields. Of greatest value is Clothier's emphasis
that only through a good relationship are the best things
possible.
Meg Daley Olmert, 2009. Made
for Each Other. Da Capo Press, 312pages
Description:
What is your dog saying to you and to other dogs? How can
you tell when play turns to aggression? How do dogs show
friendliness, fear, or stress? This educational DVD set
features a lively presentation and extensive footage of
a variety of breeds showing hundreds of examples of canine
behavior and body language.
Behaviorist Sarah Kalnajs teaches how to read these signals
so that you can develop a better understanding of what's
really going on in the canine world. This DVD set is perfect
for dog owners and therapists who involve their dogs in
therapy work.
Recommendation from Dr. Risë VanFleet: All people who live with dogs, and especially therapists
who involve dogs in their work, need to understand canine
body language. This strengthens our ability to understand
our dogs, react more sensitively and appropriately to their
needs, and build our relationships with them in a healthy
direction. Understanding their communication signals also
increases safety--for the dogs and the children and adults
who interact with them. This DVD is very important for
therapists, parents, and others who live and work with
dogs. I consider it a "must" for play therapists
involved in Canine-Assisted Play Therapy!
Animal Assisted Therapy in
Counseling
If you are unfamiliar with Animal Assisted Therapy,
you will find this information about Dr. Chandler's book
useful. This is an excellent volume on the field! Download
a flyer about the book.
From Service Dog to SURFice Dog. This video
about a service dog-in-training and her work with disabled
children is very moving and well worth seeing! Please watch
it on YouTube using the link below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4
Dogs Filmed at 1000 frames per second
Most
of us never see our dogs in slow motion. This link is for a
dog
food
ad,
but
the
video
is really
quite
remarkable.
