Mobility Assistance Dogs
Mobility Assistance Dogs
We have developed a highly successful Mobility Assistance Dog Programme for both adults and children and it’s the only one we know of in Europe.
Stability Dogs for Children:
This programme works by pairing a child with cerebral palsy or Ataxia-type conditions who has difficulty with walking, balance and maintaining a consistent and safe walking pace. Their assistance dog is trained to aid with forward motion and balance whilst safely negotiating their everyday environment and different ground surfaces.
The timing of all this is really critical as the child should be paired with the dog before they are 12 years old.
Mobility Dogs for Adults:
This programme pairs adults with conditions like Parkinson’s Disease or MS whose symptoms may include freezing gait or compromised balance. Our dogs are specially trained to help their partners regulate walking speed and maintain a more relaxed posture and walking pattern.
Critically NO downward pressure is allowed on our dogs. They are fitted with a specially designed harness that has a “floating handle” which is the equivalent of holding a supportive hand.
We’ve seen dramatic improvements in our partner’s walking abilities with this programme and we are doing everything we can to expand the programme as much as possible, including training the first ever Parkinsons Assistance Dog.
Meet Emily who is learning to walk with her new Stability Assistance Dog Obi.
For the children we support, maintaining balance and forward momentum poses significant challenges and the risk of falls is a constant concern. This is especially worrying as falls could potentially result in a child becoming dependent on a wheelchair due to their inabiliity to use crutches.
Regular walks with their assistance dog play a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of these children as they continue to grow. Daily walks develop core balance and strength which over time builds stamina.
Meet Fiona and her new Parkinson’s Assistance Dog Norman filmed during their recent training.
We are always striving to improve our services and we are very fortunate to have linked up with the Dublin Neurological Institute and Prof Niall Lynch to research the benefits of assistance dogs on freezing gait, one of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
Falls as a result of freezing gait is one of the biggest worries for people living with Parkinson’s. Anything can cause a sudden onset and result in a gait freeze. Studies are proving that if the sufferer can maintain their focus, they can not only reduce the freezes but also help to negotiate out of a frozen state.
Click on the video link above to see how Assistance dog Norman helps Fiona to regulate her speed and maintain a more relaxed posture and walking pattern.
Meet Duncan and Leon, Ireland’s first ever Parkinsons Assistance Dog partnership. Click the above link to hear first-hand how Leon has changed Duncan’s life for the better!
