The Finnish Kennel Club started its care dog activities, where volunteering dog
owners visit groups of people with special needs, in the year 2001. Care dogs are
ordinary family dogs owned by laymen wishing to bring joy and warmth to the life
of those who really need it.
© Riikka Holappa
Most commonly these dogs and their owners visit elderly, children and disabled people
in e.g. different institutions, schools and day care centers. In addition, care
dogs may visit e.g. mental health patients, people in need for rehabilitation, war
invalids or autistics. The activity is based on volunteering, thus the care dog
instructors do not receive monetary compensation.
© Riikka Holappa
A care dog is a healthy adult dog with sufficient life experience of different people,
places and situations. The dog has to get along well also with other dogs, as care
dogs usually work in groups of 2-6 pairs of dog/instructor, depending on the size
of the destination of the visit. The dog should be suited for the task by its nature
and be friendly and naturally interested in people, as the dogs are not specifically
trained to be care dogs. A need for all types of care dogs in different sizes and
breeds exists as depending on the clients’ preferences every dog has a special place
in somebody’s heart.
To be eligible to attend care dog activities, a care dog instructor needs to attend
a 2-day training organised by the Finnish Kennel Club which includes evaluation
of the dog for the task in addition to theory. Due to this procedure it is possible
for the inviter to know that teams working under the Care dog-title act according
to same practices and instructions. The attire of The Finnish Kennel Club’s care
dogs consists of an orange scarf on the dog and a badge on the instructor.
© Riikka Holappa
The positive effects of animals on human well being and health have been known for
a long time, but only the scientific research results of the last decades on the
subject have made animal-assisted therapy methods scientifically approved. Several
studies have proven the positive, short-term relaxing effects that the touching
of and mere presence of an animal may have on a human. It has also been proven that
even long-term effects on human well being may be achieved through animal-assisted
therapy.
© Riikka Holappa
The Finnish Kennel Club’s care dog activities are expanding continuously. At the
moment there are almost 1000 registered care dogs and instructors which work in
65 different visitor groups all over Finland. There is plenty of interest and demand
for care dog visits and the awareness for the activities is growing. The Finnish
Kennel Club’s care dogs are bringing joy to the life of thousands of people every
week and simultaneously bring positive media coverage for Finnish dogs.
In case similar type of activity exists in your country we would be delighted to
hear more about it.
Johanna Kuru
Coordinator for care dogs
The Finnish Kennel Club