
Therapeutic Examples
While this is a small picture, the possibilities are endless to integrate amazing animals into engagements resulting in magical healing and recovery
Walking the Dog

Aside from beneficial movement you work:
-
Balance & Stability
-
Walking while freestanding or from, walker or wheelchair
-
-
Endurance
-
Walking dog for increased amount of time
-
-
Problem Solving
-
Choosing direction
-
Dog Care Activities

Many opportunities to develop:
-
Fine Motor Skills
-
Grasping or reaching for treats
-
Brushing the dog's fur or his teeth
-
Working the knots, buckles, zippers
-
Opening and closing treat container
-
Dressing or undressing Dog in uniform
-
-
Memory/Cognitive
-
Telling about the dog's breed or history
-
Tug of War

A Few benefits are:
-
Trunk Control
-
Coordination
-
Balance
-
Upper Arm Strength
-
Abdominal Strength
-
Learning to compensate
-
Hand Strength
-
Reaching
Sport Games

Many activities to reach these goals:
-
Confidence
-
Coordination
-
Awareness of Safety Precautions
-
Trunk Control
-
Strength
-
Endurance
-
Compensations
-
Fun & Enjoyment
Fetch & Retrieve

Opportunities to increase:
-
Balance with Standing & Throwing
-
Weight Bearing
-
Fine Motor Control
-
Endurance
-
Trunk Control
-
Strength
-
Speech - Giving Commands
-
Range of Motion
In School Settings

Many Opportunities for aiding Individuals:
-
Speech - Giving commands
-
Care - Gentleness, Responsibility, Hygiene
-
Self Esteem - Undivided Dog Attention
-
Acceptance - Unconditional Dog Love
-
High Energy - Sports Activities w/dog
-
Lack of Focus - Giving commands and getting positive response
-
Behavioral Rewards - Return sessions