Together with Artemis, I offer dog-assisted socio-educational support for children and adolescents with special needs, and who like dogs.
The presence of my dog makes things easier for most clients in a playful and innovative way:
- Calming down – the mere touch and direct eye contact with the dog calms the breathing rhythm and happiness hormones are released.
- Learning the rules and structures of everyday life (e.g. learning traffic rules by being allowed to lead Artemis on a leash and being responsible for her; this also promotes self-empowerment and self-efficacy).
- Learning impulse control (e.g. because the dog gets frightened when shouting, suddenly running around, etc.)
- School content is packaged in "dog topics". This usually makes them more accessible, as the children are intrinsically interested in them.
- Concentrating and staying on something for 15 minutes.
- Last but not least, breaks for exercise, play and fun are key – for the clients and for Artemis – not everything has to be calm and serious.
For more information and specific examples, see podcast in German: Judith and Artemis visiting NZZ Megahertz on 21 december 2023, about animal-assisted interventions, from the 22nd minute:
