Dobermans as Therapy Dogs

Contributed by Paulette Bethel

Gravin 'Onyx' vom Neerland Stamm CDX, SchHIII, Delta PP, VC, TT, GHC, CGC, TIII, BH, a Doberman Pinscher owned and trained by Paulette Bethel, was one of three dogs in Salt Lake City to pioneer the therapeutic use of animals in a hospital and rehabilitative setting. Onyx specialized in physical and speech therapies where her incredible ability to inspire patients resulted in astounding results.

Gravin Onyx vom Neerland Stamm, CDX, SchHIII, Delta PP, VC, TT, GHC, CGC, TIII, BH

One day a television crew was filming a documentary at HealthSouth Rehab Center in Sandy, Utah. The focus of the piece was the cutting edge use of dogs in therapy. Onyx was working with a patient who had been severely injured in a motorcycle accident and had sustained brain damage that inhibited his ability to speak. Her job was to respond only when he would hold a dog biscuit in his mouth and wiggle it by tightening his lips. She would then very gently reach over and take the biscuit from his mouth. He invariably laughed every time her whiskers tickled his lips. She was on the platform lying next to him and he was prompting her by wiggling the biscuit. He accidentally dropped it and when he did he spoke her name. It was the first word he had been able to speak since his accident. The television camera captured that moment.

Onyx was wonderful with children and worked at the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. One little girl was locked in a terrifying world and couldn't stand to be touched. Slowly, over a period of several months, she came to trust Onyx enough to allow herself to be touched without screaming. When this happened her world of tactile stimulation opened up exponentially until she was able to embrace Onyx and enjoy being held and touched by others.

Onyx and Paulette Working with Small Child

Some of the children enjoyed being pulled in a wagon by Onyx and other dogs who visited the School for the Deaf and Blind on a regular basis. She also pulled wheelchairs and would walk calmly and slowly so that children who were unable or unwilling to walk could hold onto her harness and take steps alone and unaided by another person. The thrill of independence and joy was wonderful to see. Many of the children went on to use Guide dogs when they were old enough to qualify for the program.

Onyx and Paulette at Work

Onyx, as a Schutzhund III HIT Doberman, was a wonderful ambassador for the breed. She was a beautiful, stable dog who whelped two litters. Several of her get went on to become Champions in the conformation ring and in the sport of Schutzhund. Probably her most famous descendent is Ch Marienburgs Repo Man. She also was dam to several dogs who were canines in protection and security work.

Paulette Bethel and Onyx were the subject of a book written about their therapy work in Salt Lake. The name of the book is 'The Good Shepherd' by Jo Coudert. It documents many of our trials and errors and techniques that turned out to be so rewarding in the work we pursued in Utah.

Mi Miss Testarosa vom Gravin was beautiful. She was the daughter of Gravin Onyx vom Neerland Stamm SchHIII, CDX, PP, TIII, VC, CGC, TT, BH and Prince Porsche vom Franckenhorst SchHII, WAC, BH, CGC. Testa was a deep umber with very dark eyes and a perfect Doberman conformation. She did extremely well in the show ring winning every class she entered. Unfortunately, her preliminary hip x-rays indicated displaysia and she was spayed and never shown again.

Testa needed a job, and when she was three I had her tested as my Delta Pet Partner. When she passed I was very surprised because she didn't like to be hugged and preferred to be the only dog in a room. She went on to do amazing work with adults in rehab settings. One of her first clients was a man who had lost both legs, his right hand and all but his thumb from his left hand. He had barley survived his encounter with flesh eating bacteria which had also affected his brain. He was so severely depressed his therapist felt he would not even try to learn to use his prosthesis, a hook.

The therapist called and asked if I would bring Testa to the rehab hospital and see if this man would respond at all. She warned me that it might mean only 30 seconds of interaction for Testa and me. Our first session lasted nearly an hour!

Here is a picture of Testa pulling him in his wheelchair out in the hospital courtyard. She loved to pull him and he would hold the line yelling "Go faster, go faster" at the top of his lungs.

Testa Pulling the Wheelchair

By the time he left the hospital he could groom her, feed her cookies after picking them out of a small ziplock bag, throw her favorite toy - a tennis ball - and roll through the hospital corridors with Testa at his side.

Another woman who was a Testa client had fallen from a horse and sustained brain damage that not only put her in a wheelchair but made it nearly impossible for her to speak. Testa learned to respond to her signing and this stimulated the client's desire to learn to communicate this way.

Another woman had been diagnosed with a debilitating disease that left her vulnerable and afraid. In the gym at the rehab hospital one day while working with her Testa suddenly moved out of position and stood quietly in front of the client. She uttered a low growl that went on and on. The only thing I could figure out was that Testa did not like a man who had quietly come into the area. As it turned out this woman was terrified of being helpless around men she didn't know.

Testa has had her story published in a booklet, 'The Healing Power of Pets!' She was one of the dogs featured in the Delta Society Pet Partners 1996 Calendar as October. She was my dearest friend.

Testa and Paulette

My third therapy Doberman, Touchdown Tiana vom Adlercrest CDX, BH, ATTS, Delta PP worked in the same therapies as did Onyx and Testa. She started when she was literally 12 weeks old by walking on a young mans chest to help stimulate him out of a comatose state. HealthSouth took many chances with things that had never been attempted by a therapeutic protocol and, inevitably, they were successful.