REPORT: PTSD SERVICE DOG PROGRAMME

Approximately 10% of all Israelis suffer from post–traumatic stress disorder. The symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, flashbacks, attacks of anxiety, depression, fits of anger, and difficulty with functioning daily. People suffering from PTSD include soldiers, victims of terrorist attacks, adults and children who live in areas under rocket attack, and victims of sexual abuse or traffic accidents.

Professor of Clinical Psychology at Tel Aviv University, Professor Yair Bar Haim asserts that 5-8% of IDF soldiers are living with post-trauma because of their experiences on the battlefield.

Dogs have been proven to successfully decrease anxiety and increase confidence among people suffering from PTSD.

According to Dr. Tracy Stocker from the Medical University of South Carolina, dogs are especially helpful to people with PTSD because they are alert, protective, respond well to authority, offer unconditional love, and help restore feelings of trust and love.

For these reasons, PTSD service dogs bring significant improvements to the lives of persons with PTSD and enable them to live normal lives.

In 2018, the Israel Guide Dog Centre launched a unique pilot programme for training PTSD service dogs for IDF veterans.

Yariv Melamed, a senior trainer and instructor with experience in training guide dogs, instructing blind clients, and working with special needs dogs, was appointed to direct the programme for PTSD service dogs. Yariv travelled to the United States and Holland to learn the unique methods for training PTSD service dogs.

In 2022, an additional instructor from the Guide Dogs Training Department joined the PTSD Service Dog Training Unit.

10% APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF ISRAELIS WITH PTSD

The programme has several important aspects:

A. The programme was initiated and began working in cooperation with NATAL, the Centre for National Trauma Victims. In 2022, the Israel Ministry of Defence partnered with the Israel Guide Dog Centre.

B. The 3-month training programme emphasises communication between the dog and handler and reinforces the dog’s responses to signs of posttrauma such as rapid pulse, excessive perspiration, nightmares, and overalertness. Instruction includes a home course during which the handler and dog become accustomed to their natural surroundings, practice working together, and teach the dog to respond and offer help when its handler experiences nightmares or signs of stress.

C. Clicker training and positive reinforcement is used to teach the dogs to respond immediately to signs of stress.

D. The professional staff at the Israel Guide Dog Centre display sensitivity and consideration when working with persons with blindness and special needs. These qualities are extremely important when working with people with PTSD who have difficulty adjusting to social contacts.

E. Each PTSD service dog partnership receives continuous guidance from the Centre’s professional staff from the initial screening and instruction process and throughout the duration of the partnership until the dog retires at the age of 10.

At the end of 2022, a total of 26 IDF veterans with post-trauma, resulting from their military service in the IDF, have received PTSD service dogs since the inauguration of the programme.

Of the partnerships that were created in 2022, nine were in partnership with the Israel Ministry of Defence. The veterans ranged in age from 23-40, both single and married with families.

According to the recipients, the impact of these partnerships has been immediate and significant. The Ministry of Defence was extremely pleased with the results and our pilot programme is continuing into 2023.

Yariv Melamed Head of PTSD Service Dog Training