STANDARDS Four Equal Valued Parties The client The dog handler - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Animal Assisted Interventions International

STANDARDS

Four Equal Valued Parties

The client The dog handler Healthcare/therapy

provider

The dog

Standards have 5 Parts:

• 1. For professional

provider

• 2. For the therapy

support dog

• 3. For therapy sessions
• 4. For General public

issues

• 5. For Evaluation

Standards of Practice Healthcare/

social service/therapy provider

• r dog handler

Human Interaction Preparation Communication Ethical Monitoring Qualification(dog handler) Documentation(dog handler) Goal Directed Supervision if both new to AAT

Human interaction

The provider must provide positive examples of human interaction, through appropriate social skills, including sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal messages.

Preparation

All of the employees must be informed about

program in advance

Handler must complete a facility visitation without

the dog, prior to bringing the dog for services.

Also, the specific AAT areas, as well as emergency

and evacuation plans must be created and documented

Dog handler must have at least 40 hours contact

with dog, within 3 months, to develop/maintain a working relationship with dog prior to working within sessions.

Communication

The dog handler must

provide basic guidelines to anyone without dog training/handling experience.

The dog handler must

demonstrate respect, positive communication, and ability to advocate

• n behalf of the dog.

Ethical Guidelines

Sessions will be practiced within the specific scope of

practice coAAT therapy provider must have completed college level or equivalent according to the AAII Membership requirements.

All of text of the dog handler and the therapy

provider, and under ethical guidelines of their own professions.

The information and documentation gained during

the conduction of AAT program will remain confidential.

If a dog is being placed with a health/social service

professional, the placement organization and recipient are expected to follow the standards set forth by Assistance Dogs International

Monitoring and Supervision

The dog handler will participate in canine assisted therapy under the direction and supervision of a qualified social service or healthcare provider.

Qualification of Dog Handler

Knowledge of dog learning theory, body language,

social behavior, and understanding of dogs freedom of choice for person, environment, and situation.

Insight in breed specific traits, operant conditioning

techniques vs. restraint, developmental milestones, and individual skill level and range of capabilities for each dog they handle.

Knowledge of population risk factors and bidirectional

zoonotic risk factors for the geographical area, facility and population they work with.

Ability to screen clients for participation in dog

interactions through signs of abuse/neglect issues, aggression, phobias, cultural issues, medically fragile , medical conditions, or any other indicators that would put the client or dog at risk.

Mentoring and supervision

Handlers and healthcare/social service provider who are new to AAT should identify and collaborate with an experienced AAII mentor to offer support

Goal-directed Activities

The dog handler and healthcare/social service provider must be able to collaborate activities that are goal directed and measurable specific to client goals

Supervision

Handlers and healthcare/social service provider who are new to AAT should identify and collaborate with an experienced AAII mentor to offer support.

Standards of practice with the therapy support dog

Behavior Health & Welfare Basic Needs/Rights Communication w/ Dog Therapy Sessions Termination of Services

Behavior

Before the dog is included in an AAT it must be evaluated for temperament. Should be social, calm, & quiet

Health and welfare

The dog handler must

provide documentation for health and legal requirements

The dog handler must keep

the dog clean, practice hand washing and immediately arrange for pick up and disposal of dog waste in appropriate location.

The implementation of the

AAT service should be avoided in food, medication and hygiene areas.

Satisfying Basic Needs & Rights

Therapy Support dogs

will be given the dog appropriate breaks before they reach a point of stress.

The handler will work

under the principle and respect the Five Freedoms of the dog.

Satisfying Basic Needs & Rights

1.

Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition- by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor.

2.

Freedom from discomfort- by providing a suitable environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

3.

Freedom from pain, injury and disease- by prevention and/

• r rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4.

Freedom from fear and distress- by ensuring conditions that avoid mental suffering.

5.

Freedom to express most normal behavior- by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animals own kind.

5 Freedoms of the Dog

Communication with the dog

The dog handler should be able to direct dog with normal speaking voice or with hand signals, walk a dog with minimal cues with a loose lead, and should be able to elicit interaction of dog directly with the client.

Therapy sessions

Prior to the session, dogs have the right to be

introduced to, explore and be trained and acquainted with the equipment and environment.

The dog must be able to perform previously

introduced skills specifically needed for the session

• r demonstrate appropriate waiting behavior with

80%.

The dog must be integral to the session otherwise it

could be better served on break or resting.

During the working time, dogs will be given age and

developmentally appropriate breaks to relieve themselves, to avoid inappropriate eliminations, and alleviate job related stress.

Dogs will also receive hydration as needed.

Termination of Services

AAT services will be discontinued if this intervention is no longer supporting goals, for any health concerns of humans or dogs, or for any environmental, handler, or population changes that are not conducive to the dogs skills or well-being.

Therapy Sessions in AAT Program

Documentation Clients relationship with the dog Clients Evaluation of the therapy process

Documentation

The client, or clients

legal guardian, must assign a written consent about participating in the AAT

Client will be screened

prior to interaction with dog for allergies, zoonosis, open wounds/ burns, hallucinations/ mental health status, imuno-compromised situations and violent tendencies

Clients Relationship with the Dog

The client will treat dog with

appreciation and respect.

The handler is obligated to

educate the client about handling of dog, rules for safety,

• etc. prior to interaction with the

dog.

The dog handler must provide

that issues related to illness, injury, retirement, death and dying of an dog are to be appropriately handled.

Clients Evaluation of the therapy process

Clients must be surveyed about their likes and dislikes of treatment on a regular basis.

General Public

Legislation Dog's health issues

Legislation

Therapy professionals and handlers will obtain and maintain liability insurance as required by their county, state, and local government as well as professional/facility requirements, and will not in any way jeopardize the implementation of the service due to violation of law.

Dog's health issues

Dog must be free of disease that may pose harm to the general public:

• Negative fecal exams

must be completed

• Heartworm and flea/tick

control used routinely

Evaluation

Dog handler and/or therapist who is a

handler, are evaluated with each dog that they handle with 90% accuracy.

The dogs evaluation includes reaction to:

• Strangers
• Level of obedience
• Grooming acceptance
• Walking on loose leash
• Ability to respond off-leash if

appropriate

• Behavior in a crowd
• Responding to it's name
• Interest in another dog
• Reaction to distractions
• Acclimation to healthcare equipment
• Confidentiality
• Acclimation
• Resilience
• Separation from the handler
• Aggression
• Resource guarding
• Retrieving
• dominance arousal and resilience
• handlers and dogs mutual behavior

and understanding.

Evaluation

Dog must be evaluated in the environment,

similar conditions, and with a similar population to which it will be working.

The team will be evaluated prior to a session,

and then during a mock or actual session.

Dog must be wearing a flat buckle collar or no-

pull harness. No choke chains or prong collars can be worn during evaluation or professional

• sessions. A 6-foot lead, or shorter, must be
• used. No flex-leads allowed.

If dog is expected to participate in off lead

work, it must be evaluated off lead.

Evaluation

The handler must show knowledge in specific

areas associated to the service:

Identify at least 3 environmental dangers in the

testing or treatment environment

Describe relevant bidirectional zoonosis and

vaccination protocols for the population served.

Identify at least 3 signs of illness, injury, or

aging in which dog must not attend session or must retire from AAT. It must be understood that the disability of the dog is not an automatic elimination from work.

Evaluation

Identify at least 3 client specific precautions. Demonstrate knowledge of dog care by

providing regular feeding schedule, continuous access to water, identifying appropriate work load for individual dogs, providing time for breaks away from people, providing time for bathroom breaks and demonstrating basic dog first aid.

Demonstrate competency with any

equipment used with dog.

Evaluation

Demonstrate knowledge with EACH dog they

work with in the areas of signs of stress, calming techniques, reinforcement preferences, signs of refusal to work.

Elicit and reinforce desired behaviors and

inhibit undesired behaviors using professional and humane techniques, during the selection, evaluation, training and handling.

Evaluation

Demonstrate knowledge with EACH dog they

work with in the areas of signs of stress, calming techniques, reinforcement preferences, signs of refusal to work.

Elicit and reinforce desired behaviors and

inhibit undesired behaviors using professional and humane techniques, during the selection, evaluation, training and handling.

Evaluation

Dog handlers should attend staff and client

meetings when appropriate, in-service or complete recommended basic education materials for each population of clientele

• served. They must conduct an ongoing

evaluation of environment for safety. handlers must participate and document at least 10 hours of dog specific continuing education every year.

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