The show must go on: Service dogs trained online during pandemic

It’s tough enough as it is to train a puppy, but the PAWSitive Support Project at the University of Saskatchewan had to move its classes online last year when the pandemic hit.

The program is for veterans and first responders who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Knowing just how important support dogs are to those with PTSD, the program moved online last April so it could still be there for those who needed the support.

Master Cpl. Michael Richards is one of those veterans and more than two years ago, he was matched with Felix.

“My life has changed 150 per cent since I have had a service dog and I don’t think I could live without him, or (any other) dog,” Richards told Gormley.

Richards’ labradoodle helps him handle flashbacks and anxiety. The dog can even sense when Richards is having a nightmare.

“His job is to wake me up before my nightmares get really bad,” Richards said. “He wakes me up before that ever happens.”

Richards says pre-pandemic, program organizers would get together about four times a year for a week-long retreats to train the dogs.

Now, they do it online once a week and Richards is there for peer support.

“I can watch them train, and I can take a video, and then I can show them the video of what they’re doing right and what they’re doing wrong,” he explained.

He said he’s excited to get back to one-on-one training, but would also like to incorporate the online learning as well because he says it works.

For more information on the pups and the program, visit therapydogs.ca