What a Dog's Life

 
© DWTA

The dolphin and the horse are joined by a third one: a dog. But it is not just any dog - it is a landseer - large, strong, wispy, black and white. Like the others, this animal is also supposed to help handicapped children to achieve more vitality and self confidence.

Animals have a beneficial effect on people's health - that has been proven by scientific studies at universities since the 60s. During that time it had been shown that quadrupeds also improve psychological health. Animal therapies were born.

The dolphin therapy received a lot of interest since the 70s, maybe because the connection between animals and the medium water had a special function. What was working well with dolphins could just as well work with dogs. That is what Elke Otto thought, a woman working with her dog called Bootsmann for a life saving organisation. After the dog had saved a few people from drowning, the trained nurse came up with the idea of a dog-water-therapy.

Since then handicapped children go swimming with Bootsmann. To accomplish that a whole indoor swimming pool needs to be rented which costs a lot. Elke Otto hopes that one day she can build her own pool offering a lot more children the chance to spend time in the water with that large good natured dog.

The playing around with the dog does not only strengthen the body musculature but also gives the children a lot of self confidence. Elke Otto is convinced: she will continue with her dog water therapy until it is approved as a supporting therapy.

REHACARE.de

- Further information (German) can be found at: www.dog-water-therapie.de