Table Of ContentProfessional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Sneak Peek of Dogwood Doga, 3rd Edition
Professional Applications of Animal Assisted
Interventions: Sneak Peek
of Dogwood Doga, Third Edition
Edited by
Melissa Y. Winkle, OTR/L, FAOTA, CPDT-KA
and
Macy Porter, MOTR/L, RYT
Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Sneak Peek of Dogwood Doga, 3rd Edition
Disclaimer
The authors recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider prior to beginning this
activity set. There is a risk of injury with any exercise program. The content was designed for
healthcare and human service providers, and those with yoga experience. The authors of this
material are not liable for any negative outcomes caused by use or misuse of the information and
activities in this activity set. It is recommended that the dog’s interest, behavior, and skills be
professionally evaluated prior to participating. For best results, evaluations should take place
in the environment, with the activities and the population with which they will be working.
Providers should pursue continuing education to fulfill professional responsibilities, standards
of practice and competency in this practice area. You are willingly participating in activities from
this book and assume all risks.
Copyright © 2020, 2013, 2011 by Melissa Y. Winkle
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
(written, printed, copied, shared electronically, recorded, or any other means) without the prior
written authorization of the publisher, except in brief quotations within reviews and other non-
commercial uses allowed by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the author, with a
subject line “Dogwood Doga Permission Request”, with the contact information below.
Dogwood Therapy Services
Albuquerque, NM, USA
www.dogwoodtherapy.com
Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Sneak Peek of Dogwood Doga, 3rd Edition
To “Jesse,”
whose legacy is
Dogwood Therapy Services
Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Sneak Peek of Dogwood Doga, 3rd Edition
CONTENTS
People Behind the Book 1
Acknowledgements 2
Words to Know 3
What’s the Point? 5
Intervention Goals 6
Screening Clients for AAI Participation 7
Screening Clients for Doga Participation 7
Ethics 8
Is Your Dog Right for the Job? 9
Precautions 10
Creating the Right Environment for Doga 10
Population Specific Factors 11
Suggested Equipment and Props 11
The Breath 11
Breathing and Centering Activity 11
Dog Daze Pose 12
Bow Wow Pose 14
Reach-riever Pose 16
Twist and Bark Pose 18
Pups in the Cradle Pose 20
Sneaky Treat Pose 22
Pointer Pose 24
Make Like a Tree Pose 26
Further Reading 28
The full version of this book has expanded content in all reading sections and has 30 poses,
each with a traditional pose and 2 variation poses each.
Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Sneak Peek of Dogwood Doga, 3rd Edition
People Behind the Book
Melissa Y. Winkle OTR/L, FAOTA, CPDT-KA is an Occupational Therapist
& Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She is President of Dogwood
Therapy Services and Animal Assisted Intervention International. Melissa
is adjunct faculty and clinical instructor at several universities and
organizations, internationally, including curriculum development and
adjunct faculty at Oakland University (MI), Center for Human Animal
Interventions. She is a practitioner, a researcher, an author, a
consultant, and speaks internationally about disability, integrated &
community based program development, animal assisted
interventions, and service dogs. She has published a series of books
about AAT, available on Amazon
.
Macy Porter, MOTR/L, RYT is a Registered Yoga Teacher and received her Master of Occupational
Therapy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in
Memphis. Macy went on to complete a full year program and internship
at Dogwood Therapy Services for animal-assisted occupational Therapy,
and is now a full-time staff therapist at Dogwood, practicing her special
interests of animal assisted therapy, accessible yoga and humane based
dog training. She is currently participating in Dogwood’s apprenticeship
for service dog training. Macy has fulfilled authorship and editor roles for
several publications.
Phoebe Yam, OTD, OTR/L is an occupational therapist from Arcadia,
California who graduated from the University of Southern California. Upon
completion of her education, she began a year-long internship at
Dogwood Therapy Services to pursue competency in animal-assisted
occupational therapy and training dogs for animal assisted therapy. She
enjoys working with people of all abilities and ages. Phoebe presents at
local, state and national conferences about topics including the human-
animal bond, animal advocacy, animal assisted interventions, standards
of practice and competencies to strengthen skills of healthcare and
human service providers, and dog trainers.
Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Sneak Peek of Dogwood Doga, 3rd Edition
Acknowledgements
Photographers:
Hayley Williams, Nicole Herrera, Melissa Winkle, and in memory of Zak T, our original photographer.
It takes a community to build an emerging practice area in a professional healthcare field.
Dogwood would not be where it is without the inspiration, creativity, and support of these
phenomenal beings. They are the kind of people who come together to teach the masses and share
knowledge for the greater good. If you have the pleasure of meeting them someday, shake their
hand and tell them “nice job.”
Heather Park Jill Felice and Laura Collins
Marianna McFadden Assistance Dogs of the West Carol Lachenmeyer
Tim Neugebauer Dani Miller Allie Webber
Kim Warner Sherry Shellenberger Ronja S.
Charlene Mary Sue Williams Michelle McMaster
Carla Cay Williams Terry Crowe Melissa Feuerbach
Shout Out to Ron Winkle and Sam H. for their assistance with meeting the requests of the very
demanding human and canine models throughout the creation of this edition.
Dog Models, Teachers and Participants:
Jesse, Melvin, Gertrude, Widget, Woody, Clementine, Lucy, Dottie, Tater, Griz, Lola, Summer, and all
of the other dogs in training that have come into my home and life to teach me of all the possibilities
for animal assisted interventions, services dogs, and general dog training. You are my companions,
my teachers, my colleagues, and my inspiration. Thank you for all that you give. I can always count
on you (except during live demos and photo shoots, when you take the opportunity to exercise your
freedom of choice to retrieve props, steal things that do not belong to you, and take breaks at the
most inconvenient times possible).
Words to Know
The following is a glossary of terms adapted from Animal
Assisted Intervention International (2020), and International
Association for Human-Animal Interaction Organizations
White Paper (2018). While the terms include ‘animal,’ this
book only refers to dogs.
Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI): AAI is an interdisciplinary
term that describes unstructured or goal-oriented activities
that intentionally incorporate animals into human services,
healthcare, education and similar fields. AAIs may be
individual or group in nature, and are appropriate for a variety of ages and abilities. AAI is an
umbrella term that encompasses the AAII membership fields including Animal-Assisted Activities
(AAA), Animal Assisted Education (AAE), Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), Animal Assisted Special
Programs (AASP) and Animal Assisted Placement Programs (AAPP). AASP and AAPP represent
member categories that reflect the wide ranging nature of AAI, and that AAI service providers who
do not fit into AAA, AAE or AAT have indicated the need for. AAIs promote well-being and benefits
for humans and provide a positive experience for the animals without force, coercion, or
exploitation. AAIs may directly or indirectly involve the animal.
Animal Assisted Activities (AAA): AAA incorporates specially selected and trained animals into
impromptu or planned activities and interactions that may be offered by volunteer,
paraprofessional, or professional human-animal teams. AAA may be unstructured or goal-oriented
in areas such as motivational, recreational, social, and general well-being. AAA teams have
participated in a minimum of introductory preparation and training for the populations they visit and
the dog they are handling. With additional preparation and training, AAA teams can work directly
with a licensed, degreed, or equivalent healthcare, human service, or educational professional in
AAE, AAT and AASP. AAAs promote mutual well-being and benefits for the humans and animals
involved. AAIs may directly or indirectly involve the animal.
Animal Assisted Education (AAE): AAE incorporates specially selected and trained animals into goal-
directed, educationally relevant teaching plans that are designed to promote development of
general or special education skills in areas such as cognition, social functioning, personal growth,
responsible pet carers, etc. AAE is developed, directed and/or delivered by a person who is licensed,
degreed, or equivalent education professional specialized expertise in teaching/education. The
process is evaluated and documented. AAE providers who handle their own dogs have additional
intermediate to advanced training in dog advocacy, handling, communication, behavior,
husbandry, health, welfare, and well-being in both living and working situations. Alternatively,
teaching/education providers may choose to work in conjunction with an AAA team, a professional
dog handler or an AASP who have additional training for the scope of AAE. AAE may be provided
in a variety of settings, with a variety of ages, and may be individual or group in nature. AAE promotes
mutual well-being and benefits for the humans and animals involved. AAEs may directly or indirectly
involve the animal.
Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Sneak Peek of Dogwood Doga, 3rd Edition
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT): AAT incorporates specially selected and trained animals into goal-
directed therapeutic/intervention plans that are designed to promote improvement in physical,
cognitive, psychosocial, behavioral, and/or emotional functioning. AAT is developed, directed
and/or delivered by a professional who is educated, licensed, degreed, or equivalent in
healthcare/human service and has specialized expertise within the scope of practice of his/her
profession; the process is evaluated and documented. AAT providers have additional intermediate
to advanced continuing education for AAT theory and practice. AAT providers who handle their
own animals have additional intermediate to advanced training in dog advocacy, handling,
communication, behavior, husbandry, health, welfare, and well-
being in both living and working situations. Alternatively, healthcare
and human service providers may choose to work in conjunction with
an AAA team, a professional dog handler or an AASP who have
additional training for the scope of AAT. AAT may be provided in a
variety of settings, with a variety of ages, and may be individual or
group in nature. AAT promotes mutual well-being and benefits for the
humans and animals involved. AAT may directly or indirectly involve
the animal.
Animal Assisted Placement Program (AAPP): An AAPP involves a
professional program or individual who provides specially selected and/or trained animals to
professionals in AAA, AAE, AAT or AASP. AAPPs instruct animal recipients/handlers about animal
advocacy, handling, training, communication, behavior, husbandry, health, welfare, and well-being
in both living and working situations. Some examples of AAPPs are Assistance Dogs International
(ADI) dog training organizations or similar that raise, train, and place “facility dogs” or train dogs for
placement with healthcare, human service, education, crisis response, or clinics. AAPPs also include
individuals or organizations that offer owner self-training classes for healthcare, education, or human
service providers, etc. AAPP promotes positive, safe relationships between the handler and the
animal.
Animal Assisted Special Program (AASP): AASPs offer goal-oriented programs that incorporate
specially selected and trained animals to work in professional fields outside of animal assisted
education and therapy or in conjunction with these licensed professionals. AASP personnel may or
may not have a license, degree, or equivalent, but are delivering a professional level service or
program. Examples of these programs include prison dog training classes that teach inmates life/job
skills; community programs for people with disabilities, job training, etc.; formal crisis intervention
department work (e.g. victim advocates); at-risk populations; camps/vocational programs/after
school classes for people with disabilities to develop specific skills; a person who teaches veterans
with PTSD how to train animals as part other their life skills goals; dogs who work with paramedics/fire
stations and comfort victims; or ministry dogs ( dogs who work with priests). AASPs promote well-being
and benefits for humans and provide a positive experience for the animals without force, coercion
or exploitation. AASPs may directly or indirectly involve the animal.
Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Sneak Peek of Dogwood Doga, 3rd Edition
What’s the Point?
The first several pages in each of the Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions contain
the same basic content for entry-level competencies for this work. This book offers a sneak peak of the
full version of Dogwood Doga poses that have been evaluated and utilized by a variety of disciplines
around the world. This book is only one step in the process of becoming skilled in AAIs. Healthcare and
human service providers must achieve competency in their discipline, consider ethics from the
professions’ codes of conduct, and understand dog behavior and training.
There is both an art and a science to the implementation of AAIs.
Historically, the mere presence of dogs improved the willingness of people
to become open to the practitioner, frequently a mental health
professional. Today, many disciplines in healthcare and human service work
are recognizing the value of AAIs (AAA, AAE, AAT, AASP). Each discipline
has a different scope of practice and works towards specific goals.
Accordingly, the dog’s ability and interests must match that of the job
description and the practitioner handler. Today’s practitioners and handlers
are charged with having skills and knowledge in the realms of both humans
and animals, as these shape the success of the interaction and creates the
balance that makes AAIs effective.
This book is written from a function-based occupational therapy perspective. Here, occupation refers to
functional activities that are building blocks in an individual’s structure that we call life. Whether a person
has a goal to tie shoes, to improve thinking skills, or to regain balance, carefully planned AAIs can improve
motivation and participation in developing the skills that allow for independence. This book was designed
to offer novel activities, to modify them for many populations, and to remind the reader of the dog’s
perspective to ensure the process is fun for everyone. The layout of the activities in this book is meant to
cater to the needs of the experienced practitioners, handlers, and dogs. Some activities may appear
similar, but with some minor changes, the activity outcomes are much different. Other activities simply list
modifications that can make participation easier or more difficult depending upon the skills of the
participant, handler, client or dog.
The intervention activities cater to many ages and abilities. Each activity involves many performance skills.
We chose to identify the therapeutic outcomes of only a few skills that each activity caters to. We also list
precautions to consider as a means to prevent potential injury. There are additional ideas listed in
variations to make each pose accessible for participants of varying skills and abilities. If we did it right, you
will be able to create your own activities using this format. Otherwise, improvise!
The dog’s perspective is considered throughout this book. Please note that the dog perspective,
precautions to consider when working with the dog, and variations to make participation more enjoyable
are written from the dog’s point of view. This is somewhat anthropomorphic, but many experts in dog
behavior and communication agree that dogs have thoughts, reactions, communication, and emotion,
if we just to learn to listen and observe. A good handler takes preventative measures and considers the
dog’s abilities and preferences for engagement and ensures all activities are with within its skill level. There
is a lot to know about how a dog perceives the world. Be an advocate for your dog!
