http://www.yourdog.co.uk 55“When Uno senses
Henry is agitated, he
will go over and put
his head on his knee...”
“I COULDN’T MANAGE
WITHOUT HIM”
Labrador Uno is nearly fi ve
and was placed with Anne
and Henry Rankin, from
Clarkston, East Renfrewshire,
in May 2018.
“Henry was diagnosed in
2010 with vascular dementia,”
explained Anne. “He was only in his 50s.”
After his diagnosis, the couple became
very involved with Alzheimer Scotland
and Henry was chair of the Scottish
Dementia Working Group. It was here
that they learned about the Dementia
Dog Project.
Having applied and been accepted,
they were allocated Uno, who is now
an essential part of their lives. “I feel as
though we’ve always had him. I couldn’t
manage without him,” admitted Anne.
Uno is trained to take Henry’s
medication to him in the morning and
wake him. Anne explained that Henry’s
mood and reactions are much better
when Uno performs these tasks.
“First thing in the morning I will say to
Uno that we need to get Dad up. So he
goes and collects the medication and
puts it on the bed and wakes Henry. If
I woke Henry he would be grumpy, but
with Uno it’s better.”
Uno is also trained to assist with
removing clothing. “Henry responds
better to the dog than me,” said Anne,
“and is more willing to let Uno help him.”
Uno’s presence has improved Henry’s
mood. Anne explained: “When Uno
senses Henry is agitated, he will go
over and put his head on his knee and
Henry will stroke him and it takes
that tension away.
“Uno has stopped the isolation
because when we are out,
Henry is happy to talk about his
assistance dog and his dementia
and people will respond to him,”
Anne said. “I found people with
dementia can get really isolatedbecause of the stigma attached to it. But
people are interested.”
Anne has every confi dence in Uno’s
ability to protect her husband. “Henry
collapsed one time when I was out,” she
remembered, “but he managed to press his
emergency alarm. Uno stayed with Henry
and put his head on his hand and did not
move until help arrived.
“Uno is also very good for me,” revealed
Anne. “If we are having a bad day, I take
Uno for his free run and we have an hour
away from the situation. He’s an emotional
support. Uno has improved our quality of
life and I can’t think of anything negative to
say about the project.”Dogs for Good CEO
Peter Gorbing.Project manager at the
Dementia Dog Project
Fiona Corner.▼for us as it is not normally how the charity
works. We are usually very clear on
outcomes before we start, whereas with
this programme we purposely went into it
with an open mind in order to work with
people who have an expertise in this fi eld.”
ASSISTANCE DOGS
Fiona Corner, project manager at the
Dementia Dog Project, said: “It was the
fi rst project of its type in the world where
trained dogs were placed with dementia
suff erers in their own home.
“The aim of Dementia Dogs is to help
people with dementia live well and remain
longer in their own home. Because the
dogs live in the home, only couples where
one person has a diagnosis of early stage
dementia and the other is their full-time
carer, and who have a fenced garden, can
be considered.”
Maddy Phelps from Dogs for Good
explained more about the training. “The
dogs are socialised until they are 16 months
of age, and then they start basic training in
Scotland with a Dogs for Good instructor.
Once the dog has been carefully matched
with the dementia suff erer and their carer,
advanced specialist task work training is
given to meet the individual needs of the
couple,” she explained.
Typical tasks for a dementia assistance
dog include taking a medication pouch
or water bottle to the lap of the dementia
suff erer to remind them to take pills or to
drink to rehydrate. Assistance dogs are also
trained to help regulate sleep by waking
people in the morning or nudging them
awake during the day.
A key part of being an assistance dog is
to help prevent dementia suff erers feeling
isolated. Walking the dog improves both
physical well-being and emotional welfare
through social interaction.
Case
study
Henry, Anne,
and Uno.When Henry is agitated,
Uno will go over and put
his head on his knee.