Meet Angus, a seven-year-old Golden Retriever with a really particular talent set who’s turning into a well-recognized sight on the streets of Alnwick.
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Angus is a registered help canine for his 14-year-old handler, Thomas, who was identified with autism spectrum dysfunction at age seven.
Thomas finds overstimulating environments overwhelming and will get confused if he’s given too many directions directly. He finds it arduous to talk to strangers and in asking for assist if wanted.
Angus’ job is to assist by performing ‘deep tissue pressure’ on Thomas, utilizing his paws to press on the big muscle teams in Thomas’s legs and stomach to launch endorphins to counteract the concern and stress.
When Thomas was younger, he would get so overwhelmed that he would run away from his dad and mom and conceal to try to discover someplace quiet.
This was a terrifying ordeal, so Angus is skilled to find Tom, information his dad and mom to him then lie with him calmly (performing deep tissue strain) till Tom feels able to re-join the world.
Thomas stated: “He’s like my furry brother. I love him so much and I can trust him to keep me safe. I’d be lost without him – probably quite literally!”
Thomas’ mum, Kay Whiteley, skilled Angus underneath her charity, Western Australian Assistance and Therapy Dogs Inc, and has been coaching information, help and remedy dogs for over 30 years. She knew Angus was destined to be her son’s autism help canine since he was a pup.
Kay stated: “I was actually training Angus to work with autistic children in an education support unit originally but Angus started reacting to Thomas’s stress levels at home and they just clicked, so I guess it was just meant to be.”
Mother and son not too long ago moved again to the UK, with Angus becoming a member of them for the 18 hour journey to assist Thomas on the aircraft.
Kay stated: “Everybody always asks about toileting and are concerned that he was uncomfortable but Angus is trained to wee into a nappy and poo into a bag on command so he was given several toilet breaks throughout the journey and a big free run as soon as we arrived.”
Even when calm and relaxed, Angus is working an vital job and may’t afford distractions. A couple of minutes of cuddles could possibly be the distinction between Thomas with the ability to use Angus to calm himself or a full meltdown.
Kay stated: “Once that occurs, it’s so upsetting and disturbing for Tom that we frequently simply must go home and cancel our plans for the remainder of the day and all as a result of somebody needed to say whats up to a cute canine.”
Since being again, Kay put her experience into a brand new business, Alnwick Fear-Free Dog Training, and has acquired five-star evaluations for her novel and personalised method.
She stated: “I have worked with people from all walks of life. If I can teach a dog to alert for low blood sugar, get help if someone has a seizure or empty a washing machine, teaching them not to jump up when a visitor comes to your house is a doddle!”
For pet, help or remedy canine coaching queries, Kay could be contacted on [email protected] or you will discover her on Facebook at Alnwick Fear Free Dog Training.
