They Mean The Whole World

Transforming Lives

At Veterans With Dogs, our canine companions go beyond being partners for Veterans—they become their entire world. These incredible dogs not only lay the foundation for promoting healthy routines and living but also provide a multitude of benefits for their Veterans:

  1. Re-integration and Socialisation: Our dogs help Veterans navigate the path of re-integration into civilian society, fostering social connections and a sense of belonging.

  2. Early Symptom Recognition: With their acute sensitivity, our dogs assist Veterans in recognising early signs of anxiety or emotional distress, allowing for timely intervention and support.

  3. Nightmare Interruption: Our dogs are trained to skilfully interrupt nightmares, providing a sense of safety and tranquillity during sleep.

  4. Increased Confidence and Belonging: By their side, our dogs empower Veterans, boosting their confidence and instilling a sense of belonging within civilian society.

  5. Re-engagement with Responsibilities: Our loyal companions inspire Veterans to re-engage with life's responsibilities, supporting them in embracing purpose and reclaiming their lives.

  6. Enhanced Self-esteem and Self-worth: Through the unwavering love and support of their canine partners, Veterans experience a profound increase in self-esteem and self-worth.

While trauma is a part of many individuals' lives, repeated exposure or a particularly traumatic incident can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Flight/Fight/Freeze response, our instinctive survival mechanism, becomes hypersensitive due to intense or repeated trauma, causing any environment or trigger associated with the traumatic incident to provoke this response.

PTSD manifests through various distressing symptoms, including re-experiencing trauma, avoidance of reminders, low mood, severe anxiety, irritability, disturbed sleep, and more. Veterans, who often face traumatic incidents during their military service, are disproportionately affected, with up to 25% meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD after transitioning to civilian life.

So, how can an Assistance Dog help?

The Human-Animal Bond:

The deep connection between a person and their dog fosters a sense of safety and security, providing immeasurable benefits for those living with PTSD.

The calming influence of an Assistance Dog significantly reduces physical and psychological reactivity, offering immense relief to individuals who have experienced trauma.

Through grounding techniques, our Assistance Dogs tap into their unique ability to alleviate the perceived threat response, enabling increased community engagement and calmer interpersonal interactions.

Advanced Skills Training:

At Veterans With Dogs, our dogs undergo extensive preparation and training for up to a year before being placed with a Veteran. Together, they engage in another 12-18 months of advanced skills training.

Our dogs are trained to identify external signs of stress response exhibited by individuals with PTSD, such as agitation or other physical cues. They respond with relevant skills to provide the necessary support and interruption when it is most needed.

Our training approach is highly personalised, tailoring the dog's skills to meet the specific needs of each individual Veteran.

We also encourage and support ongoing skills development for both the Veteran and their dog once they have qualified as an Assistance Dog partnership.

At Veterans With Dogs, we are committed to transforming lives through the extraordinary bond between Veterans and their assistance dogs. Join us on this journey of resilience, healing, and renewed hope.