Therapy successes at the clinic thanks to the dog Emma - Labrador can even play board games
Created: 06/23/2022, 19:20
By: Katarina Amtmann
Eva Schmuck together with Käthe (center) and Emma (right).
© Georg Schalk
Labrador Emma works as a therapy dog at the Klinikum Kaufbeuren.
In addition to addicts, her patients are also people who have experienced violence or abuse.
Kaufbeuren – "The two Labradors build bridges between patients and therapists." That is what the district clinics of Swabia wrote in mid-June about a photo of Emma and Käthe together with their owner Eva Schmuck.
Therapy dog at the BKH Kaufbeuren - also station dog in Augsburg in action
According to the statement, the BKH Kaufbeuren has had very good experiences with the use of trained therapy support dogs.
There has also been a station dog in Augsburg since May.
Among other things, Luca works with traumatized patients – with success.
Eva Schmuck (41) is an occupational therapist and her Emma is a trained therapy support dog in the healthcare sector.
Both work in the district hospital (BKH) Kaufbeuren.
The 41-year-old has a lot of experience in dealing with animal-assisted therapy.
Labrador Emma as a therapy dog at the BKH Kaufbeuren - Käthe 14 weeks old, "but already in training"
Since 2007 she has been working in the clinic for forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy at the BKH, since 2009 she has been using her dogs in the complementary therapy there with the consent of those responsible.
At first it was Sina, but the animal died unexpectedly in 2014.
Then Emma – and now the next Labrador is already on the way to becoming a therapy dog: Käthe.
The animal is only 14 weeks old, small and playful, "but already in training."
Eva Schmuck explains the difference to a visiting dog in the message: A visiting dog is open, happy about contacts and also likes to jump at people.
Therapy support dogs, on the other hand, only work in a team: without their consent, they would not follow anyone or refuse to obey.
“I always have to be able to rely on my dog.
He has to remain calm even in difficult situations,” says the therapist.
That's why she always gets her dogs from breeders.
"It is important to me that they are well socialized."
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Labrador Emma works at the Kaufbeuren Clinic
Her work with the dogs is very well received at the clinic.
"The patients from the correctional facility come to her voluntarily, the waiting list is long.
The therapists responsible (doctors, psychologists) check in each individual case whether animal-assisted therapy is suitable, formulate the therapy goal and then register the respective patient with Eva Schmuck," the clinic continues in the statement.
In the case of addicted patients who are treated in Forensik Kaufbeuren, for example, it is about putting aside their own needs and getting involved with something else, assuming responsibility and strengthening their self-esteem.
You should teach the dog something.
Dog Emma works with patients - "It takes patience, perseverance, concentration"
Schmuck works out a course with them, the dog is then to be sent, for example, through a tunnel, jump over a hurdle or climb onto a chair.
“It takes patience, perseverance and concentration – not easy for the patients.
Some also have trouble setting boundaries for the dog.
You can transfer that to the interpersonal.
The goal must be to comply with and demand agreed clear rules of conduct,” explains the therapist.
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"That triggered emotions": Eva Schmuck reports on therapy dog Emma
She works with the patients - depending on the level of relaxation - a lot outdoors or in one of the green courtyards of the clinic.
Only recently, accompanied by her dog, she went into the forest with a patient and had them both balance over a lying tree trunk.
"It triggered emotions.
The patient told me that he had not been in the forest for ten years.
He can't even remember the last time he was sober when he went for a walk in the forest.” It's not always easy.
"Sometimes I work with someone for up to three months until they reach their goal," says Eva Schmuck.
"But then the patient ends the therapy with a sense of achievement, which will hopefully remain in good and lasting memory for the rest of his life."
According to the clinic, the therapy goals must be set lower for the people accommodated according to § 63.
Many of those affected are cognitively impaired.
"Here it's very much about daily structure: getting up, taking care of the dog, putting a special harness on it, taking responsibility." This includes, for example, going shopping with and for the dog, baking or cooking treats for it, feeding it or grooming.
This is intended to encourage the patient to live practically.
Labrador Emma as a therapy dog: she even plays board games
Board games are also part of the therapy plan.
Emma plays along - because she can throw the dice.
"She is able to throw or move a wooden cube with her snout and/or paw," says the therapist, describing the astonishing ability of the Labrador, who, like little Käthe, belongs to the "working line" of this breed.
In contrast, there is also a "show line" in the Labradors.
“The patients are delighted.
Some would otherwise not get involved in any other therapy, many open up to talks thanks to the dogs,” reports Schmuck.
Even a man with a dog phobia and a great fear of such animals opened up after a year of therapy.
He now lets Emma near him and even pets her sometimes.
"Emma senses it when traumatized patients seek this physical closeness"
Some people treated in forensic medicine have experienced abuse and violence.
You find it difficult to allow physical contact.
Dogs can build a bridge.
“Emma senses this when traumatized patients seek this physical closeness.
Then she gets the OK from me and the person can also cuddle with her.
This creates emotions in the patient, who is otherwise alone and never experiences the warmth of another living being.
Ideally, he will then open up to other therapies,” explains the 41-year-old.
Emma works four days a week and has a maximum of five patients a day.
In between, the dog lady gets enough rest breaks.
Käthe has recently been able to accompany Emma and Eva to work.
(came)
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