Image above shows a young woman walking across a wooden bridge into a forest, connected to her large black dog with a brown leash. The pair pause to look over their shoulders at the photographer.
What is Holistic Dog Expert (HDE)?
Holistic Dog Expert provides educational, behavior modification, and consultation services through an occupational therapy lens, supporting health by optimizing the human-animal bond. The human-animal bond is a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship between humans and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both (Fine, 2010). Through supporting this bond there is potential to enhance the health and wellbeing of dogs, people, and the community.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) is a holistic health profession that supports people in doing the things they want, need, or are expected to do. The word ‘occupation’ in occupational therapy refers to active engagement in goal-oriented behavior, and OT can focus on supporting participation in any meaningful activity that "is organized around roles or in terms of activities of daily living, work and productive activities, or play/leisure" (AOTA, 1997, p.865). Occupational engagement holds cultural and individual meaning; supports organization of time and resources; enables adaptation and control; and facilitates self-sufficiency, social participation, and personal growth (McLaughlin, 1997).
How is OT relevant to dog training and behavior modification?
Skills and knowledge from the OT lens that support optimization of the human-animal bond:
AOTA. (1997). Statement - Fundamental concepts of occupational therapy: Occupation, purposeful activity, and function. American Occupational Therapy Association, 51(10): 864-866.
Fine, A. (Ed.). (2010). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice. New York, NY: Elsevier, Inc.
McLaughlin, G. (1997). Application of the phenomenological method to the concept of occupation. Journal of Occupational Science, 4(1): 5-17.
Holistic Dog Expert provides educational, behavior modification, and consultation services through an occupational therapy lens, supporting health by optimizing the human-animal bond. The human-animal bond is a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship between humans and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both (Fine, 2010). Through supporting this bond there is potential to enhance the health and wellbeing of dogs, people, and the community.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) is a holistic health profession that supports people in doing the things they want, need, or are expected to do. The word ‘occupation’ in occupational therapy refers to active engagement in goal-oriented behavior, and OT can focus on supporting participation in any meaningful activity that "is organized around roles or in terms of activities of daily living, work and productive activities, or play/leisure" (AOTA, 1997, p.865). Occupational engagement holds cultural and individual meaning; supports organization of time and resources; enables adaptation and control; and facilitates self-sufficiency, social participation, and personal growth (McLaughlin, 1997).
How is OT relevant to dog training and behavior modification?
- Care of dogs holds cultural and individual meaning
- Caring for dogs encompasses productive activities that structure our use of time and resources
- Training dogs enables adaptation and control for both pet and guardian
- Training dogs facilitates self-sufficiency, social participation, and personal growth
Skills and knowledge from the OT lens that support optimization of the human-animal bond:
- Executive Functioning: Caring for a pet requires organization, planning, problem solving, remembering, multitasking, and sometimes inhibiting frustration and these are called the "executive functions" of the brain. Our executive functions may be disrupted when we are anxious, depressed, change environments, or when unexpected life changes occur and this may impact how we interact with and care for our pets. The OT lens supports evaluation of potential executive functioning challenges and development of strategies to overcome these so that you can care for and interact with your pet in the healthiest way possible.
- Sensory Processing: This refers to the way the brain takes in information through our senses and uses this information to support functioning in everyday life. Sensory processing occurs in both dogs and people and each individual's brain processes this information in a unique way. Some dogs may be sensitive to sound, which can cause excessive barking. And some people are sensitive to sound, which can cause frustration and anger when a dog is barking excessively. The OT lens can support you in learning about you and your dog's unique sensory processing patterns, understanding how these contribute to behavior and emotions, and developing strategies to manage hypersensitivity and associated overwhelming emotions.
- Environmental Evaluation: The environment impacts your behavior and your dog's, and thus an understanding of your environment is crucial to developing a comprehensive understanding of the behaviors you want to address.
- Activity Analysis: This means breaking down an activity into basic parts; identifying underlying process, motor, or self-regulation skills; noting necessary tools/objects; and considering any other integral factors (ie. timing, duration, space required, involvement of others, prerequisite skills, cost, and meaning). Activity analysis supports awareness of activity breakdown and reasons for difficulty, and supports planning for skill development and solving behavior problems.
AOTA. (1997). Statement - Fundamental concepts of occupational therapy: Occupation, purposeful activity, and function. American Occupational Therapy Association, 51(10): 864-866.
Fine, A. (Ed.). (2010). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice. New York, NY: Elsevier, Inc.
McLaughlin, G. (1997). Application of the phenomenological method to the concept of occupation. Journal of Occupational Science, 4(1): 5-17.