Helen McCain
Director of Operations, Dogs for Good
The human-dog bond can be one of your most significant relationships. This connection can positively impact emotional and physical wellbeing for both.
At Dogs for Good, we witness daily how happy, healthy dogs bring a myriad of positive outcomes for the people we support. We also know that if you don’t get it right for dogs, you’re not going to get it right for humans.
How important is the human-dog bond?
Learning how a dog communicates and being able to understand their language is just as essential to their wellbeing as food, exercise, enrichment and rest.
We believe that the human-dog bond should create a place of safety for a dog. A dog that lives life alongside humans who understand, meet and advocate for their needs has the best chance to thrive and feel happy and healthy.
How important is it to people?
Its benefits aren’t only voiced in the stories you hear from owners but also backed by research, which shows that dogs can play a role in increasing our health and wellbeing. This means that every dog owner has a potential ‘natural health service’ living with them.
For the people we support with complex needs such as autism, dementia, physical disabilities and mental ill health, the bond with a dog can be life-transforming. For society, the possibilities are far-reaching.
A dog that lives life alongside humans who understand, meet and advocate for
their needs has the best chance to thrive and feel happy and healthy.
What if you don’t have a dog full-time?
Even if you don’t have a dog full-time, the human-dog bond can still be present. We know from working with people we support in the community, short sessions with our handler-supported dogs can bring life-changing outcomes such as confidence, resilience and social reconnection.
Most people don’t regret spending a few minutes playing with an enthusiastic labrador! The positive connections a dog brings can spread far and wide, sparking joy and bringing positive impacts to all.
How do you achieve it?
Be non-judgmental, patient, kind and open to listening to your dog. Get help if you need it — talk to your vet, as most have links to people they can recommend — and enjoy learning what your dog can teach you as you build your bond.
INFO BOX:
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