CANINE-ASSISTED WARRIOR THERAPY
Canine-Assisted Warrior TherapyTM, also referred to as Service Dog Training Canine Assisted Therapeutic Intervention, is simple; those with PTSD, TBI and/or MST help PPH trainers with service dog training. Soothing, light-hearted contact with PPH puppies and dogs, together with caring and capable trainers, eases a warrior’s symptom severity.
It helps suffering warriors learn all over again how to trust. Canine-Assisted Warrior TherapyTM gently guides warriors to learn once again how to connect with others, both dogs and humans. Over time, warriors who participate regain that sense of purpose that comes with accomplishing an important mission – training a lifelong service companion for other comrades in need. After all, the need to serve is built into a warrior, just as it a dog.
The great part about Canine-Assisted Warrior TherapyTM is that all it requires is a place to work with and care for dogs. At Paws for Purple Hearts, we are flexible on where we conduct Canine-Assisted Warrior TherapyTM. We can do it at our facilities, at a Veterans Administration (VA) facility, a Department of Defense or related site.
SERVICE DOG PLACEMENT
Like everything else we do at PPH, placing a service dog with its ideal Warrior recipient is a science. Using Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and mixes of these two breeds, all of our dogs are bred by Bergin University experts. Just like a Warrior, a PPH dog is truly born to serve.
Once a service dog is trained and ready to serve, PPH uses Bergin’s scientifically rigorous matching methodology. We test personality characteristics of both dog and Warrior, and match them based on test results. Our disciplined process ensures a successful, lasting, and effective partnership for each Warrior and service dog pair.
Our service dogs are completely trained in accordance with Begin University’s rigorous professional training processes prior to being matched with the Warrior the service dog will be placed with for the remainder of its life. Please note: Paws for Purple Hearts does not work with individuals to train their own dogs to become service dogs.
FACILITY DOG PLACEMENT
Impacting hundreds of people daily, the aim of the Paws for Purple Hearts’ Facility Dog program is to spread love and joy throughout a health/human services care facility. Together with its handler, a highly trained PPH dog roams a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center, a military hospital or a similar facility.
Our dogs provide a friendly face to engage patients, families and staff. With a loving shake of a paw, they lift moods and boost morale. With a gentle snuggle, they build a welcoming atmosphere and promote healing. A PPH facility dog provides the real comfort of home for those who unfortunately cannot be.
A PPH facility dog’s caregiver is the prime contact person and handler at a host facility. The caregiver manages daily activities and routine dog care, while PPH staff provides support as needed.
SPECIALIST THERAPY DOG PLACEMENT
We provide assistance dogs to selected health/human service specialists who utilize ours dogs in the course of clinical work to provide therapeutic benefit and improve quality of care for patients in the office or while making the rounds.
Our dogs help to improve patient responsiveness, satisfaction and well-being as valued partners working alongside their specialist professionals in clinical settings.
Examples of specialists include:
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Counselor
- Social worker
- Nurse
- Therapist
We train the specialist to care for and handle the dog and to maximize beneficial effectiveness.
The specialist professional serves as the dog’s caregiver and is the prime contact person and handler. The caregiver manages daily activities and routine dog care, while PPH staff provides support as needed.
Dog Obedience Training
LEARN FROM THE BEST.
If you’re located near a PPH facility, sign up to improve the quality of your own warrior-canine relationship. Here’s your chance to learn from Bergin-trained dog trainers.
Open to active-duty service members, veterans and their families, check our event calendar for an upcoming family dog obedience training session near you.
