Students destressed with service dogs-in-training who, for some, reminded students of their own canine companions back home.
Vandal Health Education organized the Therapy Dog event with Palouse Paws, which brought two puppies training to be service dogs, and Pet Partners, which brought two adult companion dogs, to the University of Idaho Commons Thursday.
Radar and Rosetta are service dogs-in-training. Katrin Spilde, dog trainer and vice president of Palouse Paws, said if the two complete their training, they will be able to serve people with any disability, except the blind, who require dogs with specific training. She said both dogs could serve someone in a wheelchair, someone with autism or work in the therapy wing of a hospital.
Leslie Kiebert | Argonaut
A dog from Palouse Paws gains student’s attention in the Whitewater Room in the Commons on Thursday.
“This is practice socialization,” said Spilde, who has been working with dogs over the last 15 years.
Spilde said animals can lower a person’s blood pressure, respiration and perspiration.
“We try to provide comfort to our community and encourage others with dogs to see if their dog can contribute through comfort work,” Spilde said.
Lucy and Houdini are pets trained to provide comfort in hospitals, where most dogs would be distracted by the sounds, smells and people beside their patient, Spilde said.
During the event, students told the handlers about their dogs back home, or their childhood animals, some of whom they’ve been away from for the first time. The handlers were used to students missing their pets.
Shanti Friedman, Peer Health Educator at Vandal Health Ed, handed out coloring pages and information on other ways to destress.
“It’s very important for people to have different outlets for stress,” Friedman said. “One, of course, is pets like dogs, but a lot of things can help, like exercise and art.”
Friedman, a fourth-year art major, said she hopes to become an art therapist. Friedman said coloring is an easy form of destressing through art because it does not require worry about the finished product. Vandal Health Ed provides coloring sheets with information on health resources.
“We like to host these events to help people here but also to encourage students to do these things on their own,” Friedman said. “People don’t always realize these activities really help.”
Friedman said the Vandal Health Education’s Well Space in the Student Recreation Center also provides resources for mental health, as well as physical and sexual health.
Vandal Health Campus Dietician Marissa Rudley organized this year’s therapy dog event. The event is usually organized by a mental health coordinator, which is currently a vacant position.
“It’s always a big hit with the students,” Rudley said.
Dogs will be on campus a total of four times this semester, with the next event on October 3 in the Clearwater Room of the Idaho Commons.
Nishant Mohan may be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NishantRMohan