Animal-Assisted Therapy with Dogs: Basics, Animal Ethics and Practice of Therapeutic Work

Preface
Acknowledgment
Contents
1 Animal-Assisted Therapy— Basics and My Personal Understanding of this Discipline
	Abstract
	1.1	Definition and Terminology
	1.2	Effective Factors and History of Animal-Assisted Therapy
		1.2.1	Effective Factors of Animal-Assisted Therapy—Why are Animals Good for Humans?
		1.2.2	Origins of Animal-Assisted Therapy
	1.3	New Paths in Animal-Assisted Therapy
		1.3.1	My Professional Career
		1.3.2	My Animal Colleagues
		1.3.3	Delineation from Conservative Ideas in Animal-Assisted Therapy and Necessary Future Questions
			1.3.3.1 Focus on Behavior Rather than Appearances
			1.3.3.2 Allowing Authenticity Instead of Curtailing Natural Expressions
			1.3.3.3 More Rules for Providers
			1.3.3.4 Inclusion of Animal Ethics
	References
2 Animal Ethics in Animal-Assisted Therapy
	Abstract
	2.1	Lack of Consideration of Animal Ethical Issues in Animal-Assisted Therapy
		Summary: Previous Handling of Animal Ethics in Animal-Assisted Therapy
	2.2	Animal Ethics
		2.2.1	Anthropocentrism
			Summary: The Red Lines of Anthropocentrism
		2.2.2	Non-Anthropocentrism
		2.2.3	Synergistic Approach
	2.3	What Specific Questions Does Animal Ethics Raise for Animal-Assisted Therapy?
		Summary: Are we allowed to use animals in human therapy from an ethical point of view?
	References
3 My Concept of Good Animal-Assisted Therapy
	Abstract
	3.1	Animal Welfare Comes First
	3.2	Selection of the Dog
		3.2.1	Mixed Breed Dog Instead of Purebred Dog
			3.2.1.1 No Substantial Behavioral Differences Between Different Dog Breeds
			3.2.1.2 Genetic Variability of Mixed Breed Dogs
			3.2.1.3 Underestimated Street Dogs
		3.2.2	Adopt Don’t Shop
		3.2.3	Pack Instead of Lone Dog
	3.3	Choosing the Right Training
	3.4	Designing the Therapy so that the Dog also Enjoys It
		3.4.1	Creating a Dog-Friendly Environment
		3.4.2	Establish Clear Behavioral Rules Towards the Dog
		3.4.3	Dog-Friendly and Therapeutically Meaningful Exercises
	3.5	Courage to Make Unpopular Decisions for the Sake of the Animals
	3.6	Breaks
	3.7	Before and After: Creating Balance
		Summary: General Aspects for Creating a Healthy Balance for Dogs in Everyday Life:
	3.8	Willingness to Self-Criticize
	3.9	Knowing When It’s Enough: Retirement
		3.9.1	When Should the Dog Retire?
		3.9.2	How Do I Design the Path to Retirement?
	References
4 Animal-Assisted Therapy with Dogs from Animal Welfare—Limits and Opportunities
	Abstract
	4.1	Necessary Characteristics of a (Future) Therapy Dog
	4.2	Assessment of Suitability as a Therapy Dog
	4.3	Special Opportunities of Working with a Therapy Dog from Animal Protection
		4.3.1	High Sensitivity to Human Moods
		4.3.2	Gratitude
		4.3.3	Possibility of Identification for Patients
		4.3.4	Feeling of Meaningfulness
	4.4	Challenges in Working with a Therapy Dog from Animal Welfare
		Summary: Possible Stumbling Blocks in Working with a Therapy Companion Dog from an Animal Shelter:
	Reference
5 The Dog-Assisted Self-Confidence Training
	Abstract
	5.1	Framework and Background of Dog-Assisted Self-Confidence Training
		5.1.1	Target Groups, Duration, and Origin
		5.1.2	Self-confidence
		5.1.3	Why Train Self-Confidence with Dogs?
			Summary: The Advantages of Using Dogs in the Context of Self-Confidence Training are:
		5.1.4	How Dogs React to Self-Confidence and Self-Insecurity
		5.1.5	Self-Confident Behavior Towards a Dog
			Summary: Development of Self-Confidence
	5.2	Content and Procedure of the Dog-Assisted Self-Confidence Training
		5.2.1	Overview: The Exercises Used in Training
		5.2.2	Course of the Training
			5.2.2.1 The Initial Consultation—Introduction to the Training
				5.2.2.1.1 Setting of the Initial Consultation
				5.2.2.1.2 Clarification of Important Questions and Framework Conditions
				5.2.2.1.3 Assessment of the Participant’s Self-Confidence
				5.2.2.1.4 Setting Therapy Goals and Focus
				5.2.2.1.5 Explaining that Self-Confidence Can Be Well Trained with Dogs
				5.2.2.1.6 Joint Development of Self-Confident Behavior Towards a Dog
					Summary: Procedure and Contents of the Initial Conversation
			5.2.2.2 Course of Training: Working on Change
				5.2.2.2.1 Obstacle Course Work
				5.2.2.2.2 Exercises Without a Leash
			5.2.2.3 Transfer of Learned Skills to Everyday Life
			5.2.2.4 Failure as the Key to Success
			5.2.2.5 Setbacks to Make Progress
			5.2.2.6 Conclusion of the Self-Confidence Training
	5.3	Potential Difficulties in Dog-Assisted Self-Confidence Training
		5.3.1	Participant Processes Feedback as Damaging to Self-Worth
		5.3.2	Participant Does Not Develop Awareness of their Impact on the Dog
		5.3.3	Participant Pursues a Different Goal
		5.3.4	Therapist Does Not Sufficiently Consider the Underlying Needs of the Participant
	5.4	Summary of the Key Aspects of Dog-Assisted Self-Confidence Training
	References
6 Preparing the Dogs for their Deployment
	Abstract
	6.1	Basic Attitude
	6.2	Specifics of Training Dogs from Animal Welfare
		6.2.1	Longer Duration and Higher Difficulty Level of Training
			6.2.1.1 Adjustment Phase
			6.2.1.2 Untraining Undesirable Behavior
				6.2.1.2.1 Giulio: Untraining a Variety of Different Unwanted Behaviors
				6.2.1.2.2 Cleo: Unlearning Eating from the Street
				6.2.1.2.3 Toni: Training to Reduce Excessive Greeting and Jumping Up
		6.2.2	Personal Attitude
	6.3	Training as a Therapy Companion Dog
		6.3.1	Basics: Dog Reliably Responds to Basic Signals
		6.3.2	Training Necessary Behaviors for Therapy
			6.3.2.1 Dog Learns to Focus on the Participant
				6.3.2.1.1 Important for All Forms of Animal-Assisted Therapy
				6.3.2.1.2 Specific Training
			6.3.2.2 Dog Learns to Authentically Respond to the Participant’s Behavior
			6.3.2.3 Dog Learns to Deal Confidently with Various People
			6.3.2.4 Lifelong Learning also for Fully Trained Therapy Dogs
	References
7 Afterword
	Abstract
Further Reading