Bark of Duty

Check out this new study on spay-neuter guidelines. 😲📚🔬✂️

Frontiers in Veterinary Science recently published this study on the ideal timeline for choosing to spay or neuter popular dog breeds in an effort to prevent the development of certain joint disorders or cancers. 🐾

In general, if a dog is spayed or neutered TOO EARLY, the lack of mature reproductive organs impacts hormone production, and could prevent connective tissues from developing properly. The lack of s*x hormones from EARLY altering in dogs could also increase the likelihood of cancers affecting bones, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. (This study focuses on EARLY neutering/spaying. There are still health benefits from neutering/spraying your dog, like reduction in risk of certain cancers and infections.)

🧐 That said, this study is specifically looking at certain joint disorders or cancers. 🦮 For female Golden Retrievers, do check out this statement by Dr. Christensen of , a vet specialising in reproductive services.

“This chart presents recommendations based on orthopedic and cancer risks and does not consider pyometra risk, which is estimated to be around 25% for females left intact. To eliminate the pyometra risk and preserve the benefits of being intact with regard to cancer risk, an ovary-sparing spay (OSS) can be performed. It is important to keep OSS females away from intact males to prevent mating and possible s***m-induced peritonitis (s***m breaking through scar tissue and gaining access to the abdomen).”

Check with your vet for detailed advice on the neutering and spaying of your dog!

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1322276/full

Baymax the Assistance Dog in Training at the Praise Special Community! 🐕‍🦺

Accompanying Atlas for the first time at the Praise Special Community was Baymax. It’s a weekly program for people with special needs. He amazed us with his skills of looking for tennis balls and even fitting two in his mouth! 🎾 🎾 🫢

After some fun games, everyone got a chance to come up to say hi to the boys. ❤️ Baymax demonstrated his great love and acceptance of everyone, waiting patiently for people to come and give him a belly rub.

This boy is going places! 🐾

🐶 Winnie the Golden Retriever and her family has completed their Basic Obedience Training Package! 🎈

Besides Basic Obedience, we cover Puppy Fundamentals such as toilet training, crate training, learning how to behave well at home and outdoors, learning skills to be an adaptable, confident and resilient dog, and building up good habits and social skills. Everything Winnie needs to grow up to be a happy, well-adjusted dog.

Well done everyone! 🥳

Latest on PTSD Assistance Dogs!

🐶🧑‍🦼 to our 2019 study exploring the impact of a service dog on the wellbeing of individuals with a physical disability or chronic condition. Individuals with a service dog reported higher social, emotional, and work & school functioning!

🔍 This study underscored the ways in which service dogs may benefit individuals with disabilities beyond their trained tasks. It is important that future research further investigates these impacts on wellbeing, as well as the mechanisms behind why they occur!

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1524520

After more than 2 months of intensive training since his adoption from , Baymax our assistance dog in training has grown tremendously not just physically but in soft skills such as impulse control, patience, ability to settle and be calm, body awareness, listening to cues and focus. 🧘🏻‍♀️

When we were given the opportunity to attend Covenant Presbyterian Church’s Sunday Service as part of his training program, we took it up and Baymax absolutely nailed it. 🌟 In the midst of the crowds, live music, clapping, etc., he was in a Down Stay by my side, looking to me on occasion for instructions and remaining calm, quiet and out of people’s way. So many people came up to him to say hi and find out more about assistance dog, and he was just a gem. 💎

Way to go Baymax! Way to celebrate your first birthday! 🎁 🎈 🐕‍🦺 We are proud of you.

It’s Kuro the Mini Labradoodle’s final lesson in her basic obedience training package! She’s come a long way from working on toilet training and separation anxiety, to generalising and proofing her basic obedience in a new environment.

This sweet ball of fur certainly captures the heart of everyone around her. ♥️

Interested to find out more about our training programs for puppy fundamentals and basic obedience? Contact us today! 📱

Evidence of Assistance Dogs benefiting those with PTSD

❤️🐕‍🦺 to our 2018 study exploring the relationship between service dogs and stress symptoms observed in veterans with PTSD. Veterans with service dogs showed a higher cortisol awakening response (CAR).

🔬💤 CAR is an increase in cortisol seen when someone first wakes up in the morning. Veterans with PTSD can have a lower CAR than what is typically observed, so this higher CAR is actually more similar to what is seen in healthy adults without PTSD!

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.04.026

🐶❤️ to our 2022 study looking at veteran and PTSD service dog teams. Interestingly, veterans reported feeling closer to service dogs who were less excitable.

📝 Symptoms of hyperarousal and heightened startle responses are common with PTSD which might help explain this result, but more research is needed to understand this relationship!

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269186

How Autism Assistance dogs can help!

🏀🐕‍🦺 to our 2019 study looking at the social and communication behaviors of hospitalized children with autism. Previous research has suggested that animal-assisted interventions (AAI) may promote these kinds of behaviors.

🗒✏️ The results of our study supported this prior research! It is important that future research is conducted to understand how AAI might be incorporated into psychiatric treatment for children with autism.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361319827411

Great training opportunity at the ! Atlas the assistance dog in training got to experience the smells and sounds of yummy Hinghwa food and navigate the crowds that came to enjoy this celebration of Hinghwa’s heritage. He even got to meet ‘s owner, Mr Fong Chi Chung, who welcomed him with open arms! 🐾 🤗 🍲 🎪

What an amazing event. Everybody was so welcoming and curious about Atlas, and we got to share with many people young and old about what Assistance Dogs are. Hope to be able to bring Baymax, our other assistance dog in training, next time! 🐕‍🦺🐾

🐕‍🦺 to a 2020 study about the expectations and experiences of service dog handlers! As we consider the effect service dogs have on individuals with medical or physical disabilities, it is important to consider both benefits and drawbacks.

❗📝This kind of research matters because it sheds light on the social experiences of service dog handlers. In this case, while service dog handlers nearly unanimously reported psychosocial benefits, we also identified a need for greater education surrounding service dogs - particularly surrounding the harmful impacts of service dog fraud.

🐶Want to know more? Read this study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17483107.2019.1587015

🐕‍🦺 to a 2020 study about the expectations and experiences of service dog handlers! As we consider the effect service dogs have on individuals with medical or physical disabilities, it is important to consider both benefits and drawbacks.

❗📝This kind of research matters because it sheds light on the social experiences of service dog handlers. In this case, while service dog handlers nearly unanimously reported psychosocial benefits, we also identified a need for greater education surrounding service dogs - particularly surrounding the harmful impacts of service dog fraud.

🐶Want to know more? Read our study here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17483107.2019.1587015

We join Pip in sending your way happiness and prosperity, peace and good health in the Year of the Dragon! 🐉 ☺️🧧 🕊️

📚🧐 to where it all started, when Dr. O'Haire studied whether guinea pigs in the classroom helped children with autism as part of her dissertation work!

🐹🚂 Compared to toys, the most notable effect of having guinea pigs in the classroom was a rise in social behaviors. Dr. O'Haire concluded that guinea pigs in the classroom may provide positive enrichment for some children with autism, while also emphasizing the importance of animal welfare in any animal-assisted intervention.

Facility Dogs are also known as Therapy Dogs!

🏥 to our 2022 study about handlers' experiences with facility dogs in children's hospitals! Among other things, facility dog handlers report better mood, feelings of companionship, and more positive communication between patients/families and the handlers.

💼 are highly trained for their working roles. They partner with professionals in various settings - including health, education, criminal justice, and more - to assist clients. Unlike service dogs, facility dogs do not have the right to go into public places where pet dogs are not normally allowed - except for their workplace, of course!

🐶Want to know more? Read our study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101534

🔍 to our 2018 pilot study, which found that compared to the control group, veterans with service dogs for PTSD report better quality of life and sociability, less depression, fewer PTSD symptoms, and less missed work.

😃🧪 We are so excited for our recently-launched Service Dog and Veteran Experiences Study (SERVES) to build off of these findings with a first-of-its-kind randomized clinical trial design to allow us to better understand the effects of service dog partnership on the wellbeing of veterans with PTSD.

Feeling nostalgic? Read our 2018 study here: https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000267