Necessary Functions of an Autistic K9
(Specifically as they involve Jacob Saecker and his K9 Thor)
There are numerous functions that the K9 Thor provides for Jacob Seacker, which have greatly benefited him and improved his life. However, there are specific physical functions Thor is trained to do for Jacob that have made his presence with Jacob indispensable.
- Thor is trained to detect when Jacobs is projecting stress, and physically alert Jacob by getting his attention through physical contact, whining, or barking at Jacob.
- Thor has been extensively trained to be "brainwave" sensitive, and "body functioning" sensitive. He is trained, as are all our K9s for people affected with Autism to feel the electro magnetic energy that Jacobs' body and brain project through his thoughts and emotions, and actively respond to it, (somewhat like a Police K9 can discern the differences between normal and criminal behaviors). He also has been trained to smell the specific smells Jacob's brain and body produce when he is going to have an emotional "melt down", or is reacting to a stressful situation and physically distract him with calming movements, like putting his hand on Jacob, or rubbing his head on Jacob. As he does, because of the bond they share, Jacob will calm inside.
- These behaviors are important for all K9s being trained to work with people that have Autism, because they, like Jacob, have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings, and acting on them. Therefore the K9 must be trained to be sensitive to their projected brain waves, and electromagnetic energies, and learn to respond to them.
- As Thor makes physical contact with Jacob he provides Emotional Security: a healing and calming presence through his emotional and electro-magnetic bond which Jacob and Thor have learned to share over the past year of training. (This aspect of their relationship was noticed and documented by the complete Staff present at the School, including the Counselor and the Principal, which Jacob attended last year.)
- Thor is trained to detect when Jacob is becoming involved in a stressful situation where Thor can feel potential danger, and protect Jacob appropriately, providing a non-threatening physical security.
- Thor has been trained to sense the emotional state of others around Jacob as they project their intentions towards Jacob, and to either:
a. Get between Jacob and the potentially dangerous person(s), or
b. Take Jacob away from the situation.
- This behavior is important for all K9s being trained to work with people that have Autism because, like Jacob, they have a disabled ability to understand and alert to dangerous situations, and need help. In fact, disabled people are attacked by criminals 3 times as often as "normal" people.
- Thor is trained to do this in a non-offensive, neutral way, so that he will not disturb any child or cause trauma to any person, which, as a Service Assistance K9, would be detrimental. Since Jacob has already been involved in situations at your public schools where he has been assaulted by unrelated individuals and groups of students, he has been severely traumatized and is very apprehensive of subjecting himself to further injury. Thor can feel Jacob's insecurities and provide him confidence and positive self image support by his physical presence, which Jacob now needs to function in his day-to-day world.
- Thor is trained to be alert to the physical and social world around Jacob, and to help Jacob be more aware of things around him that could cause him physical and emotional harm.
- Jacob, like other children affected with Autism, is a danger to himself because he is too involved in his own world of thoughts, and doesn't relate with the outside world. Jacob is so involved with his own thoughts he will forget where he is, or what he is doing, and places himself in serious jeopardy all the time.
- Thor has been trained, just like a Guide dog has:
a. To stop at curbs, watch for traffic, and to perceive when it is safe to continue. USK9 trains Sight Assistance K9s, and Hearing Assistance K9s, and include those exercises for Autistic K9s that will benefit their handlers as well.
b. To walk around groups of people involved in social interaction instead of walking through them, interrupting them, or bothering them.
c. To keep proper social distance allowing others to be more comfortable around Jacob.
- Thor is trained to detect, recognize, and find Jacob's scent. He can search out Jacob, and bring Jacob home.
- Thor has been trained as a fully functional Search and Rescue K9 and has qualified under the Standards and Regulations as set forth by Doc David Kelso, FEMA Director for Disaster K9s, Vice President of the American Red Cross for Wyoming, Vice President of The DOGWISH Foundation, and Search and Rescue Training Advisor for the United States Canine Academy.
a. If Jacob were to wander off, become lost, become confused and forget where he was, etc., Thor has the ability to find through tracking, and return him home.
- Thor is trained to detect extreme toxic environments, and avoid them.
- It has been found that a high percentage of developmentally disabled people have also been exposed to highly toxic environments without knowing it, and as a result have suffered brain damage.
- It has also been found that children with Autism are more sensitive to toxins than other children and can suffer mental and emotional traumas and breakdowns.
For more information, please feel free to contact Mr. Bob Taylor, President of USK9, President and Chairman of the Board of The DOGWISH Foundation, Inc.
Sincerely,
Bob Taylor, President
 Related article: DOGWISH IS WINNING THE FIGHT AT SCHOOL!
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