Wonder Dog flies in to save the day

CAPTAIN Fly the Wonder Dog was at Ballarat Psychology Clinic last week as part of his work as a therapy dog.

Fly is a three-year-old border collie who brings smiles to the faces of children and adults in challenging mental health situations.

His owner, Julie Jammet, said the presence of a dog makes a huge difference in her sessions.

“I realised that it can be quite frightening and confronting facing someone you’ve never met and telling them your life story,” she said.

“I did some research, and it was pretty clear that when there is an animal in the room people feel a lot more comfortable and relaxed.”

“They’ve also shown that the animal can act as a social bridge.

“They see me interact with my dog as a nurturing, caring person so that helps with trust.”

Captain Fly can help clients feel more at ease when having difficult conversations.

“I work with a lot of adults on the autism spectrum, and it is quite hard making eye contact with someone so having him there helps with that because they can pat him,” said Ms Jammet.

“To see how rewarding it is, is just beautiful.

“I’ve had people share things with me I don’t they would have if he wasn’t in the room, it makes them feel so much safer.”

Ms Jammet and Captain Fly have gone through extensive training to acquire the relevant certifications.

“You’re not taking your dog to work, we are a trained team that has had to go through a lot of training and we have to get recertified every year,” she said.

“We had a four-day assessment where they look at you as a handler and if you can read your dog’s body language and know when they’re comfortable.

“He’s also been tested to make sure he has the temperament of a therapy dog such as being interested in people and seeking contact.”

To follow Fly’s adventures, check out his Instagram @captainfly_thewonderdog.