Both Ends of the Leash

Sensory Dysregulation

Sensory Dysregulation 🙇 What is it? Sensory dysregulation refers to difficulties in managing or processing sensory input, which can include sounds, sights, smells, touch, and taste. People with sensory dysregulation may have strong reactions to certain stimuli or struggle to filter out unnecessary information. This can lead to feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, or even physical discomfort in environments that others might find typical. So how can our dogs help with this? There are many ways our dogs can provide support, and in this post, we’re going to explore the benefits of the technique known as tactile grounding. Tactile grounding is a technique that uses touch to help a person stay present and focused. This can be as simple as petting a your dog or having your dog lean against you or apply light pressure to a part of your body. It may seem counterintuitive to use tactile grounding when the senses are already overwhelmed. However, if we can catch the overwhelm early, through our dog’s alerting to the initial signs, we can then introduce a strategy like tactile grounding to help bring ease back to the nervous system before it becomes more dysregulated. #assistancedogs #humananimalbond #nervoussystemregulation

The Art of Doing Nothing 🎨

The Art of Doing Nothing 🎨 For some Bunnings is a dream, it's a weekend regular, for others it's a a sensory nightmare. At the beginning of a Teams journey, it's uncommon for handlers to sit in any environment for an extended period. Before having an AD, the handler will often need to make quick visits to any shop / centre due to the sensory overload that disrupts their nervous system. However, creating neutrality in different environments requires precisely that: sitting in one place with a regulated nervous system. Our method involves balancing this by having both the handler and dog sit in a regulated state, then gradually increasing the intensity of the environment. Meaning, if leaving the house is difficult, we practice that first before even attempting to go to the shops. This approach gauges how the nervous systems of the team can adapt to the environmental pressure and slowly move forward when the team is ready. Every handler and dog has unique needs. By understanding the nervous system and creating a sense of safety, through trust and understanding we can slowly expand the tolerances for the handler and their dog. This practice of "doing nothing" allows them to simply co-exist and observe the world around them, creating safety in various environments. This method helps to re-wire the neural pathways of the handler, resetting the nervous system to experience new environments with a sense of calm and stillness first so movement after adjusting to the new environment is more gentle. Video : Viz's first time in the Bunnings watching #assistancedogs #dogtrainingisart #humananimalbond

#TeamPickles passed their public access test at Westfield's recently. Pickles' mum has complex disability and the positive change Mr. Pickles has made in her life is awe-inspiring. Pickles is a first generation Groodle (Golden Retrieve x Poodle) and he rocks the best head tilt you've ever seen. We like to celebrate our team's accomplishments and while some feel the public access test (PAT) is the pinnacle, we all know there are many more accomplishments ahead. Congratulations Melissa. We are beyond proud of you and we love Mr. Pickles wholeheartedly. #TeamPickles #assistancedogsofinstagram #assistancedogschangelives Both Ends of the Leash #bothendsoftheleash.au