Our speech-language therapist, Tracy Schoenhofer, has a professional therapy dog. He is a Golden Retriever named Quincy. Quincy is two years old. He passed his public access test and is a certified assistance dog. The following are ways language is facilitated by using Quincy.

Motivational
Quincy will be used as a motivation for the students to complete their tasks.  After the students complete the tasks, they will be able to pet Quincy. The student could also earn points to read to Quincy.

 Social Greetings
Quincy can be used as a model for social greetings.  The students would learn how to appropriately approach people, use appropriate volume, proximity, and gestures.  This can be used with the dog.  The student would approach the dog, ask if they can pet him, make eye contact with the greeter, use appropriate proximity, and appropriate volume.

 Listening and following directions
When discussing how we need to be better listeners, Quincy can be used as an example.  When I give commands to Quincy, he needs to listen and do what I tell him.

 Problem Solving
Questions can be developed based on the dog’s needs.  Quincy is thirsty and his bowl is empty what do we need to do? 

 Feelings/Emotions
When discussing feelings, Quincy can be used as an example.  The students would look at Quincy and see how he is feeling based on his body language.  (Quincy is lying down with his eyes closed how does he feel?)

 Speech Sounds
Students can say their speech words to Quincy.  The students can also give commands to Quincy using their speech sounds and making sure they are saying the words correctly.

 Hygiene
When discussing hygiene, Quincy can be used as an example.  I can talk about how I have to bathe Quincy and brush him to keep him clean just like we need to do. 

 Sequencing
Sequencing can be used such as the steps involved in brushing a dog, feeding a dog, watering the dog, bathing a dog, etc….. This can also help with memory.  The student would need to remember the steps involved with taking care of a dog. 

Body Language
We can discuss how Quincy reads my body language or gestures even when I am not talking to him and he does what the gestures tell him to do.  A lesson can focus on how gestures and body language play an important role in our communication.

 Impulse Control
A child who is impulsive learns to control his actions when he/she follows specific instructions to get the dog to do a task.  Getting the dog to perform successfully is highly motivating.

 Self Confidence/Self Respect
While interacting with the dogs, shy children gain better voice control and earn self-confidence when the dog does something they ask it to do. 

 Respect for others
When the students see how I handle Quincy and that he listens to me and respects me, the students learn about healthy and respectful relationships and interactions with both people and animals. 

 Relax or Diffuse a Stressful or Crisis Situation
Offering to take a distraught child for a walk with or to see the dog can help to quiet and re-focus a child’s attention so that the situation can be brought back into control and a solution can be discussed.

 Character Education
Kindness, patience, perseverance, and honesty are learned by direct interaction with the dogs as well as by watching my example.

 Reward for Behavior Plan
A Child who has difficulty with behavior may be rewarded for good behavior by earning the opportunity to take a special walk with the dog or to play with them.

 Test Taking Skills
When beginning a unit on test-taking or study skill, I can demonstrate an obedience trial exercise ( a dog’s test) and explain that of course we practice a great deal before hand and that we continue to improve so that we are not anxious when the real test happens.  I can then relate practicing test-taking and study skills ahead of the actual event can help the improve their performance and scores also. 

Click here to read more about Quincy 
This link will take you out of Mueller's website to the Golden Retriever Rescue website and will open in a new window.. If Quincy's story is not still on the front page scroll down to page 33 and click on Quincy Schoenhofer.

Information on this page provided by Sylvia Schmidt Guidance Counselor USD 259 and Tracy Schoenhofer Speech-Language Pathologist USD 259

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