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    Alternatives to Traditional Animal Assisted Interventions: Expanding Our Toolkit
    Alternatives to Traditional Animal Assisted Interventions: Expanding Our Toolkit
    Alternatives to Traditional Animal Assisted Interventions: Expanding Our Toolkit
    Ebook289 pages1 hour

    Alternatives to Traditional Animal Assisted Interventions: Expanding Our Toolkit

    By Human-Animal Interaction Section and Animal Assisted Intervention International

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    About this ebook

    This e-book is designed to be used by individuals or groups incorporating animal assisted interventions. Advanced AAI professionals contributed activities and interactions that they used during the national pandemic as a means to continue their volunteering or professional practice when face-to-face contact was not an option. This resource began as a way to share ideas about how to navigate through the pandemic, though as information was being collected, the idea that having virtual, touch free activities have much greater implications. For example, mental health providers can include animals in therapy sessions remotely to individuals in rural areas or for clients who do not have necessary transportation. Or a volunteer handler may be working with a healthcare provider to assist with an immunocompromised patient and the physical interaction is not possible, these activities could be modified for alternative visits. These activities can also be modified to fit basic, intermediate, or advanced level competencies for this work. As with any new modality, continuing education and training is necessary; this book provides an additional resource to assist in developing a competent and ethical practice. Healthcare and human service providers of AAIs must achieve competency, consider ethics from our codes of conduct, and truly understand animal behavior at a species, breed, and individual level as well as humane training methods. These entries indirectly involve animals, but can still provide opportunities to incorporate many recreational, therapeutic, training, or educational goals or visitation options to remain connected to your AAI community. This e-book is the result of working with more than 50 advanced handlers and professionals in the field who shared their knowledge and experiences. We are excited to share their passion and excellent works with new and veteran handlers and providers who want alternative and novel ways to provide AAIs. Each entry has possible outcomes, materials needed, time required, and animal preparation recommendations to identify which entries are most suitable for you. These entries, however, are able to be modified to fit alternative needs. The most important factor is considering the animal’s perspective in every interaction. Every activity identifies required preparation of the animal using humane training methods. A good handler takes preventative measures to keep the animal comfortable and engaged within his/her own skill and preparation level. Again, having knowledge of your animal’s behavior at a species, breed, and individual level is crucial to maintaining his/her safety and welfare. The experience should be positive for the animal to avoid exploitation of the animal and sending a negative message to the human participant.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHuman-Animal Interaction Section and Animal Assisted Intervention International
    Release dateOct 31, 2020
    ISBN9781005224943
    Alternatives to Traditional Animal Assisted Interventions: Expanding Our Toolkit

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      Book preview

      Alternatives to Traditional Animal Assisted Interventions - Human-Animal Interaction Section and Animal Assisted Intervention International

      Contributed by Melissa Winkle OTR/L, FAOTA, CPDT-KA, Dogwood Therapy Services, Animal Assisted Intervention International President, APA HAI Member, Center for Human-Animal Interventions, Oakland University (Michigan)

      Desired Outcomes:

      Enhance preparation and training of dogs for participation in virtual AAA, AAE or AAT using non-contact methods in training.

      Allow developing teams the opportunity to connect with a mentor who has experience in preparing and training dogs for virtual service

      Materials:

      Canine for training

      Electronic equipment (iPad, computer, or suitable electronic device with camera)

      Video conferencing platform (Zoom, Doxy.me, etc.) 

      Canine’s preferred reward(s) (i.e. food treats, toys, etc.)

      Population: AAA, AAE or AAT teams in training

      Time Required: Training sessions should not last more than 3-6 minutes, followed by a solid play or rest session of a minimum of 20 minutes.

      Service Delivery: Video session and/or in-person distance session

      Methodology:

      1. The purpose of this activity is to assist a dog to pay attention to the camera to improve human-animal interactions. It is not reasonable to expect a dog to do this for long periods of time. Each dog will be different. Do not attempt this with patients until the dog has reliability demonstrated the skill with a friend, relative and or colleague.

      2. Sit across from the dog with the computer or table between you, facing the dog. No need to have anyone on the screen yet.

      3. Point to the camera and when the dog even looks in that direction say YES! and give a treat (or toy, etc.). You are ‘shaping’ your dog to look anywhere at the screen.

      4. With each trial, you are looking for your dog to gain more precision looking towards the actual camera lens. This is called successive approximations. You may put a yard sale colored dot sticker or arrow where the lens is to create a better visual target, or simply use a finger to point to the place the dog should look. Each time you want him to focus a bit more on the lens; when he does, say YES and treat (or give toy). You can also place a treat by the lens, this is called a lure but don’t use it more than 2-3 times or the dog will only look for the treat.

      5. Once the dog knows where to look, start increasing the duration in which he looks at the screen by 3 seconds each time before you say YES and treat. When the dog is able to independently look at the screen (not treats) for 10-15 seconds, you can Zoom a friend (or colleague in the group) who has things like squeaky toys, uses a happy voice, etc.

      6. With the friend or colleague on a live Zoom, start at step one all over again. The condition has now changed as there is someone on the screen. The friend can use a squeaky toy (just 1 or 2 squeaks) and the second that the dog looks in the direction of the screen, either the handler or the friend on screen (but not both) can say Yes and the handler gives a treat or toy. Proceed through the steps above with friends on Zoom. Try it with a few different people. Incorporate laughter, calling the dog’s name, etc. Adding various sounds is important, but only one person at a time should be talking to the

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