Team Henry: Expectation versus Reality - So much more than just an Assistance Dog!

As well as being L's Autism Assistance Dog, Henry assists L in many other ways!

Shopping trips used to be a nightmare for L – the sensory overload from shopping centres is enormous. Now, they are a breeze with Henry by L’s side. Anytime during a shopping trip that L, and at times O, begins to feel overwhelmed, he and Henry find a spot to have lap lays and cuddles. Prior to Henry, shopping trips usually ended in a meltdown. We haven’t had one meltdown while out shopping. Even Christmas shopping was an easy outing.

Haircuts. L has naturally curly, think ringlets, hair but due to his sensory processing difficulties, he dislikes his hair being brushed so regular hair cuts are a must. As L doesn’t like people touching his hair or head, hair cuts are a sensory nightmare for him and can take up to a few hours for a simple trim. Now with Henry, a haircut takes less then 20 minutes. Henry is a bit of a hit at the barbers too and no longer munches on the hair treats on the floor!

Hospital and medical appointments. Even though we are on a first name basis with the medical staff at four emergency departments, L struggles with hospital visits and medical appointments in general. Henry has been a godsend and each time we’ve had an appointment or a visit to the emergency department, L has been able to stay calm. He still reverted to being non-verbal, but he was calm.

Lockdowns, isolation and flooding! Well, what can I say. The last few years have been a challenge for everyone. The first few lockdowns prior to Henry were a real struggle. But having Henry to help L, and O, to self regulate has been awesome. So far, because goodness knows what is going to happen in the future, we have been through one covid lockdown, three covid isolation periods and the February flooding, with no meltdowns. Henry is so super calm, that he causes both little superheroes to remain calm.

Family outings have always been tricky for both little superheroes. Prior to Henry being placed, our family outings wouldn’t last more then a few hours and they were usually to the same places so that both kids wouldn’t become too overwhelmed. If we were even thinking of going to a new place, we would have to give both kids at least a weeks notice so that we could prepare them for the outing.

Since Henry, our family outings have become much easier, more frequent and have become longer. We’ve become more adventurous and have visited places that we haven’t been to previously. We’ve done a few surprise outings, which we could not have done prior to Henry being placed.

Australia Zoo was our first successful outing. We lasted roughly five hours and the only reason we left is due to both kids complaining of sore feet. Neither entered into sensory or emotional overload. I may have become teary later that evening because of how amazing Henry was. 

We've visited two of the theme parks on the Gold Coast in one day - this is something that we couldn't have done before Henry.

Now when we are on outings, if either of the kids begin to feel overwhelmed, Henry steps in with lap lays, overs and nuzzles. And not once have we had to end an family outing early due to one of both kids becoming overwhelmed. Sealife on the Sunshine Coast, a full day school excursion for L, a full day at the Gold Coast Supernova convention to name a few, all have gone exceptionally well.

Even a simple outing such as Santa photos was near impossible prior to Henry being placed. Our 2021 Surfing Santa photos were a breeze for L and we had to constantly remind him that we had to leave!

L is responsible for looking after Henry on a daily basis, under our supervision of course. He feeds Henry, brushes him, picks up Henry’s poops, plays with him, helps to wash Henry and everything else in between. This is developing L's skills a whole range of areas.

Henry is L's furry sidekick and as long as L always needs him, Henry will be by his side.

Team Henry: My Rock

 

While my rock has been battling and kicking goals in ICU this week, this boi has been my rock.

Henry has been showing just how amazing he really is by supporting both little superheroes and myself.

And he's been showing his intelligent disobedience skills!! Henry has deliberately pushed me to our couch at home so that I'd sit down and then would lay his head on my lap giving me some much needed deep pressure therapy ❤️❤️

Henry is L's Autism Assistance Dog, but he knows when I need help too.

Oh, and he is a hit at the hospital. First making friends with all the staff in ICU and today, making friends on his Daddy's ward ❤️❤️

#teamhenry #smartpuphenry #smartpups #autismassistancedogs

Team Henry: Expectations versus Reality - Companionship.

 Our expectations

Just the pure companionship for L is another aspect that we were looking forward to with having Henry placed with our family. Having a pup that he could say was his, as a conversation starter with our family and friends and other people that we come into contact with on a regular basis.

The reality

L has always struggled with communication. When he is overwhelmed or when he meets new people, he reverts to being non-verbal and will use key word signing or sounds to communicate his needs.

Henry has been amazing in calming L to the point that he is able to communicate using speech.

When are out and about, if L is calm, Henry is a conversation starting point for him with new people. This is a huge first for L, and it is all thanks to Henry. The focus is taken off of Lachlan and onto what Henry does and the tricks that he can do!

Both little superheroes have complex needs, and as a result regular medical appointments are a must.

Before Henry, L would shut-down and hide under chairs, tables, cupboards, anything that has a space underneath.

Now, with Henry by his side, L is able to self regulate enough to communicate via sounds or key word signing with the medical professionals. And with some, like our pediatrician who has built an amazing rapport with L, he will communicate verbally with them.

Team Henry ..... School Training

This past week at L's school, we've had two Smart Pups trainers at the school training teachers on how to work with Henry.

While Henry is L's Autism Assistance Dog, Henry cannot be at the school without an additional handler, which up until yesterday was myself. It is simply unethical to have Henry at school without an additional handler.

We are incredibly fortunate in that L's school is so supportive of having Henry at school - they can see the positive impact that Henry has had, and continues to have, on L. So after a few months of organisation, the time came for the teacher handler training to occur.

Prior to the training we were told by Smart Pups, the organisation that trained and placed Henry with us, that his original trainer was not available so we would be getting two new trainers. What Smart Pups didn't tell us was that one of the trainers, Carol, was one of Henry's foster carers and had Henry with her in her school classroom as part of his initial training.

When L found out who Carol was and her connection to Henry, he was absolutely blown away that "the teacher person who taught Henry how to be a good boy at school" came to his school to train his teachers!

At the conclusion of day one of teacher training, we had one very tired puppy and very happy child. Henry was his amazing self, as usual, and the teaching support staff were buzzing from their day learning how to handle Henry at school.

The teacher handler training was a very brief version of what we were taught when Henry was placed. It is important that they use the same commands with Henry that we do. The training only allows them to be the additional handler at school, but it does mean that on the mornings when L is having a rough morning, I don't need to stay at school in future.

Simon and Carol involved L in the teacher training - he spoke with them and the teaching support staff how Henry helps him and showed them some of Henry's task specific skills. L even helped out in his classroom, showing his peers the tricks that Henry does!

 L went to bed that night a very happy camper!!

Day two of teacher handler went just as well as the first day. The teaching staff were able to experience the task specific skills that Henry does for L - the deep pressure therapy laps and overs, and the nuzzling. We use these on a regular basis so it was important that they too saw, and felt, how effective they are.

Simon made L's day by complimenting L on how well he handles Henry. The teacher handler training was the next step in L's independence, he was able to show his peers, Simon and Carol and the support staff just how Henry helps him on a daily basis.

Thank you Simon and Carol for going out to L's school, we are very grateful ❤️

Henry the Hero

 

After Henry was placed with our family in May 2021, I began to form an idea for a book.

We're often approached when we're out and about as a family about the role that Henry plays in assisting L, as well as the etiquette in approaching Assistance Dogs. The book that I began to imagine, was about Henry, his role and what people should do if they see an Assistance Dog while it is working.

Well, I'm very pleased to announce that my book is almost ready for publication. I'm stepping way out of my comfort zone, but I am looking forward to seeing my idea I print.

So stay tuned on this exciting development!!!

Team Henry: Expectations versus reality

 

Our expectations

The Smart Pup would be trained to snuggle and comfort L when he becomes upset or distressed, which would help prevent L's emotional reaction from escalating into a meltdown.

The reality

Since May 2021, we haven’t had a full blown meltdown last longer than half an hour, Henry steps in and begins going through his paces as soon as he senses L's emotions  escalating.

There’s only been one occasion that Henry hasn’t known what to do, and that was when L was throwing a tantrum over not going what he wanted. Henry literally sat on the floor, looking at L as if to say “what the hecks is you doing??” But as soon as L escalated from tantrum to meltdown, Henry stepped in.

Within a month of being placed with us, Henry began to pick up on O’s anxiety. If Henry sensed that L was okay and O wasn’t, Henry would go to O and nuzzle her leg or do a lap lay or over.

The first few times this occurred, Henry would look to us for reassurance that it was okay to help O. Now he steps in and goes through his paces.

 

You get out, what you put in.

Having an Assistance Dog placed with our family has completely changed the way that we live – Henry has been truly life changing.

But having Henry also places a bigger responsibility on us as a family. Not only is Henry an extra mouth to feed and look after, the pet insurance on the off chance something happens to Henry, the weekly grooming of Henry, but we are also responsible for his ongoing training.

Smart Pups did an amazing job in training Henry prior to him being placed with our family in May 2021, but like any training, if it is not kept up then Henry will gradually lose his skills. Once an Assistance Dog is placed with its family, they are responsible for the ongoing training and upkeep of skills.

An assistance dogs skills can be likened to our own skills. If we have a particular skill needed for work, and we suddenly stop doing that task on a daily basis we may lose the ability to complete the task. Or, and this is more often the case, when we eventually go back to doing the task, we may need to be retrained.

An assistance dog is no different. They are trained in task specific skills that require ongoing practise of those skills.

Every time we leave the house, we look at the outing as a training opportunity. From a family walk each afternoon, to a family day out, to a trip to do our weekly shopping – every outing we practice Henry’s different skills.

There are certain skills, such as providing deep pressure therapy through laps and overs, that Henry does on a daily basis. Whereas other skills, such as tracking L, Henry does on a not so regular basis.

However every single skill – from his task specific skills to his special tricks, are practised and honed every week, sometimes on a daily basis.

With an Assistance Dog, you really do get out, what you put in. The more effort you do every day, or on a weekly basis, your assistance dog will perform to its upmost highest standard.

#teamhenry #smartpups #smartpuphenry #autismassistancedogs #labradorsofinstagram

Decompression

 

This is what decompression after school looks like ....

This is a child who has no more energy that he burst into tears as soon as the car door closed.

A child who through his tears, sobbed "I need Henry cuddle. School hard 'day."

A child who, is now ordinarily verbal, reverts to using single word replies and shortened sentences.

A child who has pushed his anxiety so far down all day so that no one could tell, and can no longer keep it hidden.

A child who now feels safe, because he is surrounded by unconditional love and support, to show how he is truly feeling.

Autism masking is very real and so very damaging and draining - mentally, physically and emotionally.

Putting on a mask so that you blend in with the crowd, so that your differences aren't noticed by others. Putting on a mask so that you're not labelled as a naughty child. Putting on a mask day after day, makes you question your every being, makes you question your Autistic self.

Today was a hard day ❤️

Henry is working his magic ❤️

#teamhenry #smartpups #smartpuphenry #littlesuperheroes #autismheroes #assistancedogsaustralia #autismassistancedogs

Happy birthday H litter!

*** Please note that we do not receive commissions of any kind for this post. ***

The week that Henry was placed in 2021, holds two reasons to celebrate - Henry placement day and Henry's birthday.

Henry and his siblings were Covid19 puppies, born in 2020 when Covid19 was taking hold of the world and causing devastation and havoc. 

Henry is from the H litter - each of Smart Pups litters are named after a letter of the alphabet, or have a litter theme - there is a Paw Patrol litter!!

And yet, Henry and his siblings have made a huge positive impact on the children, and their families, that they have been placed with.

This past week, we just had to celebrate Henry's second birthday. The day started with presents for Henry, which he just loved investigating! His most favourite presents? The oversized tennis balls and the yummy treats.

Later in the day we went and collected the most awesome puppy birthday cake that a local business, In My Belly Pupcakes and Treats, made for Henry. And oh my gosh, the lovely ladies at In My Belly did an amazing job.

Henry's human boy was adamant that the cake looked so pawsome that he too was going to have a slice of cake. That is until Henry bit it open and the dehydrated fish heads and liver treats cascaded out!!

Henry is trained to ignore food that is on the ground and to not to eat food until he is given the command. It took a great deal of concentration on Henry's part, not to take a bite of his cake!!

Now usually our Henry hoovers his food, his main meals and any treats, down. But not with his cake. He definitely seemed to be savouring every single mouthful.

And check out these cuties - just a few of Henry's siblings!!

 

Happy birthday H litter! Thank you for being the most amazing assistance dogs that you are!

And if you're after some amazing pawsome tasty treats for your pups, head over to In My Belly Pupcakes and Treats. Every time we have purchased their treats, they have gone down, well, like a treat! They are a local business who use natural doggy friendly, human grade ingredients to make all of their dog treats. And all of their products are made from scratch and taste tested by their own furry companions. Henry definitely savoured his cake, but he usually inhales their other treats!!

☆ 365 ☆ Days ☆

 ☆ 365 ☆ Days ☆

18th of May 2021. A date that is significant for our family. It's been 365 days since Henry was introduced to L and our family.

☆ 365 days of Team Henry.

☆ 365 days of nuzzles, laps, overs, hide and seek aka tracking, furry companionship and much much more.

☆ 365 days where Henry has helped to reduce L's, and at times O's, daily anxiety.

☆ 365 days of making L's world feel a little more welcoming and easier to venture out into.

☆ 365 days of Henry's love.

☆ 365 days of life changing Henry magic.

To everyone at Smart Pups, from the trainers to the admin staff, and everyone behind the scenes, to your puppy foster carers, the sponsors of Smart Pups, everyone who has donated funds to Smart Pups. To those who supported us on our fund-raising journey by making donations or donating items for us to raffle, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so very much. We are so very grateful for all of your assistance in helping L's Smart Pup journey become a reality.

Henry is been truly life changing for L, and for us as a family. 

#teamhenry #smartpups #smartpuphenry #labradorsofinstagram #autismheroes #autismassistancedogs

Team Henry: Independence!

This is what independence looks like ❤❤

We have before Henry and after Henry moments, and this at school drop off this morning is a huge after Henry moment.

Before Henry, school drop offs were incredibly difficult for L, especially transitioning from the car to his classroom.

After Henry, L is so much calmer with Henry by his side. This morning, L had his first beginner school band rehearsal. Over the past few weeks he has been a little hesitant and anxious about this, something new and out of his regular routine.

But this morning, L's confidence was shining bright and there wasn't a hint of anxiety at all ❤❤

#teamhenry #smartpups #smartpuphenry #autismassistancedogs #autismheroes #labradorsofinstagram

Team Henry: Expectations versus Reality - Tracking

Our expectations

Once we knew that L’s Smart Pup was going to happen within the next twelve months, or thereabouts, we began to think forward about our expectations of having an Autism Assistance Service Dog placed with L.

One of L’s coping mechanisms when he needs to escape sensory overload from crowded or noisy or bright places, is to run. When L spots something that he wants to look at, he runs. When his emotions overcome him, he just runs. It doesn’t cross his mind that he should tell us when he wants to look at something or when he needs to escape from overload. This is a behaviour that we see in him on a regular basis. At present when L wanders, he will hide and not answer to his name. We were hoping that the Smart Pup would be trained to quickly find L.

The Reality

Henry is trained to track L when he runs away off. We practice this every few days either in the house or at our local park. Every time we practice this by playing hide and seek, Henry finds L within minutes, if not seconds.

Within the first four weeks of Henry being placed with us, Henry tracked L for real three times.

The first being inside the house when I couldn't find L. The doors were closed so I knew that he was in the house. Henry found him in our bedroom hiding within a matter of seconds of being given the command to find L.

The second was out the front door of our house. Both kids wanted to watch the lunar eclipse so I said let's go out the back. When O and I went out the back door, I didn't realise that L had decided to go out the front. When I came back inside to get L, Henry was on high alert facing the front door and the front door was open. He tracked L to out the front of our place.

The third was at a park close to the beach. We hadn’t been to the park before and all it took was for me to turn away for a few seconds and L ran off. As soon as I gave Henry the command, he took off in the direction of a pond which was between us and the beach. Henry found L on the other side of the pond playing on some exercise equipment.

Having Henry trained to track L is truly life saving. Henry has since tracked L a few more times for real and has always found him within minutes.

Henry is always on high alert whenever he spots L running, even if it is just during play, including at his therapy activities. We always have to reassure Henry in these instances that L is okay. Henry relaxes a little but he is still on alert.

Henry is even responded to O running – she was extremely excited about something that had happened at school and was running being happy, flappy. Henry looked at L walking beside me and then looked towards where O was running and then looked at me as if to ask “is O okay, do I need to find her.”

#teamhenry #smartpups #smartpuphenry #autismassistancedog

Team Henry: Expectations versus Reality - School

 

Our expectations

We were hoping that the Smart Pup would also assist in decreasing L’s anxiety during his daily routines, in particular at school. With approval from the school that L attends, the Smart Pup would accompany him to school to assist in transitions throughout the day. This in turn would mean that L would have more days at school and would also stay at school rather than running off from his classroom when he became overwhelmed.

The reality

School drop offs have become incredibly easier and L is spending more time at school and is staying at school. Henry provides lap lays in the mornings before school at home. As soon as Henry senses that L is becoming overwhelmed, he will go to L and lay on his lap. This will usually calm L enough that he can get himself ready for school.

On the mornings where L is having a rough morning, Henry assists in calming L at home, in the car and in the sensory room at school. They will lay together on the floor of the sensory room, Henry giving L lap lays or just nuzzling L. All of L’s teachers and teacher aides have commented on how quickly L calms when Henry is by his side.

Prior to Henry being placed, we had more rough school drop offs then calm drop offs. We had mornings where we couldn’t get L out of the house. Those mornings are now much fewer. Prior to Henry being placed, on L’s rough mornings, if often took a few hours at school for him to calm. Now, it takes anywhere between 20 minutes and half an hour before he is ready to verbally interact with his teacher aides and he is often back in his classroom before 10 o’clock.

The novelty has now worn off at school about there being a dog on the school grounds – initially we caused absolute chaos at school! The entire school community have embraced Henry and have welcomed him into the school. Whenever L and I take Henry into his classroom, the entire mood of the students in the room calms.

The students at the school as a whole are extremely respectful. On the mornings that L is having a good morning, they will say hi to Henry (I’m now known as Henry’s mum!) and ask the most amazing questions about what Henry actually does, what does a service dog mean, what was his training like and all manner of other questions relating to Henry and what he actually does.

On the mornings that L is having a rough morning, they give us space and let Henry do his thing. And then if they spot Henry and I on our way out of the school after L is calm, they praise Henry for being such a great helper in calming his boy.

School wise - Henry has helped L with his reading skills. Every night before bed time, L reads to Henry. The school aims for every child to record at least 300 reading experiences by the end of the school year. By November last year, L reached just over 600 reading experiences. Henry was rewarded for his reading log too!

Team Henry: Expectations versus Reality - Sleep

Our expectations

L struggles with sleep and has averaged roughly 4 and a half to 5 hours sleep a night since he was the age of 4 and a half months old. We were hoping that a Smart Pup would provide L with the level of comfort that he needs to fall asleep and stay calm. The plan was that L's pup would sleep in his bed so that when L woke in the middle of the night, he hopefully wouldn’t need us every night.

The Reality

We have always struggled to get L to 1. sleep in his own bed and 2. stay in his own bed.

From the moment that Henry was placed, he has slept in L’s bed. The first month or so, L would last a few hours in his bed and then would come into us, with Henry following him.

Now, we are having more nights of L staying, not necessarily sleeping all night, in his own bed for the entire night. This is a first since L was a few months old.

And when L wakes up early because he longer needs to sleep, Henry goes with him. Prior to Henry, we would tag team so that we would have alternating good nights of sleep, so that one of us was always awake with L. Now he has Henry and is happy to lay on his bed playing on a device until the rest of the house wakes up.

 #teamhenry #smartpups #smartpuphenry #autismassistancedogs #labsofinstagram

Team Henry: Expectations versus Reality - Nuzzling

Our expectations

We were also hoping that the Smart Pup would be trained to touch, nudge or lay on L to disrupt repetitive or disruptive behaviours, in particular when L enters into meltdown mode he punches his own face and pulls his eyelashes out. We were hoping that the pup would be trained to disrupt these behaviours.

The reality

Henry was giving lap lays to L the afternoon that he was placed with us. Within the first week, Henry had begun to pick up on the cues that L was giving prior to entering meltdown mode and was stepping in, calming L before the meltdown had even begun. The deep pressure from Henry’s head and upper body on and over L’s lap is enough to calm L. Henry picked up on body cues, perhaps chemicals that L was releasing, that we missed every single time.

Henry has been trained to nuzzle L's face when he is in meltdown mode to disrupt L’s self harming behaviours of punching his own face and pulling out his eyelashes. L has since started rubbing his eyes when he is anxious or frustrated, Henry has picked up on this and now nuzzles L's face to disrupt this new behaviour. This nuzzling is enough to distract L that he stops and begins cuddling Henry.

#teamhenry #smartpups #smartpuphenry #autismassistancedogs #labradorsofinstagram

Team Henry: The Why!

We're often asked why did we choose to apply to Smart Pups for an assistance dog for L.

We had a chance meeting with a Smart Pup who was still in training in mid 2019 – I can remember that the handlers said that the pup was to be placed with a boy who was Autistic and had epilepsy. We were at Northlakes Shopping Centre to watch a movie and prior to going to the cinemas, L had entered full blown meltdown mode. At that point nothing we said or did was helping him. Cue the entry of a Smart Pup. The handlers, who from memory were foster carers for the pup, asked if L would respond to the pup. The pup, not knowing L, was taken over to where he lay on the floor and immediately went through its training and calmed L within about ten minutes. It was truly remarkable to watch this young pup respond to a child that he didn’t know in the manner that he did.

For the remainder of the year, Scott and I talked about applying to the Smart Pup program as we saw the benefit that Ruby had on L and were hoping that a dog specifically trained for L’s needs would be extremely beneficial. We applied for the program in October 2019 and were accepted in November. The rest, as they say, is history.