Welcome to Talk with Tails

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Melbourne

Evidence-informed therapy dog programs supporting emotional regulation, social skills & wellbeing in schools and special needs schools across Melbourne.

School Programs

Animal-Assisted

Our school-based animal-assisted therapy programs support emotional regulation, social connection, and engagement in schools. Sessions are delivered on-site and tailored to the developmental needs of each group.

Autism-friendly and special needs therapy dog programs designed to support neurodivergent children. Therapy dogs provide a calm, supportive presence that helps children feel safe, regulated, and ready to learn—particularly those who find traditional wellbeing approaches challenging.

Wellbeing Support Programs

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Our group wellbeing programs use structured animal-assisted therapy activities to support emotional literacy, regulation, and connection. Group sessions are ideal for classrooms, small groups, or targeted wellbeing initiatives.

These programs encourage peer interaction while providing the calming presence of therapy dogs to support engagement and learning.

Individual Counselling

Canine-Assisted

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Individual counselling sessions combine professional therapeutic support with the gentle presence of certified therapy dogs. This approach can help clients feel calmer, safer, and more open during therapy.

Animal-assisted counselling may support individuals experiencing anxiety, grief, trauma, emotional overwhelm, low confidence, ADHD, and autism.

Wellbeing Resources

Shop Our Products

Browse Shop

The Talk With Tails shop offers carefully selected wellbeing resources and therapy dog–inspired tools designed to support emotional regulation, connection, and learning. Our products are suitable for special needs schools, families, and professionals seeking gentle, neuro-affirming supports for children.

Client Testimonies

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“The sessions helped a lot with my anxiety and depression, calmed me down a lot and made me feel more happy”

— Anon

Not every breakthrough looks like a breakthrough. 🐾

Sometimes it’s a student who finally feels comfortable enough to sit beside Ranger.

Sometimes it’s a quiet moment of connection with Ziva.

Sometimes it’s a smile, a gentle pat, a few words spoken, or simply feeling safe enough to stay.

In canine-assisted counselling, we celebrate the small moments because we know they can be the beginning of something much bigger.

The dogs don’t need to fix anything. They simply help create a space where connection, trust and conversation can happen.

And sometimes, that’s more than enough. ❤️🐾

#TalkWithTails #CanineAssistedCounselling #TherapyDogs #SmallMomentsMatter #EmotionalWellbeing

🐾 Two dogs. Two very different personalities. One very important job. 🐾

Meet Ranger & Ziva — proof that there is no one-size-fits-all therapy dog! ❤️

Ranger is a Kelpie — clever, focused, energetic and always ready to work. He has his own way of connecting with people and knows when it’s time to step up and get the job done.

Ziva is a Labrador x Golden Retriever — cheeky, affectionate, intuitive and, of course, always keeping an eye out for a treat! 😂 She has an incredible ability to read people and seems to know when someone needs a little extra comfort.

They may be different breeds, different personalities and completely different characters, but they share something incredibly important:

✨ They both have a heart for helping people. ✨

And that’s one of the beautiful things about canine-assisted counselling — the right dog doesn’t have to be perfect for everyone. They just have to be themselves.

Because sometimes it’s the differences that make the biggest difference. 🐾❤️

#TalkWithTails #CanineAssistedCounselling #TherapyDogs #RangerAndZiva #DogsMakingADifference

Even therapy dogs need a day off! 🐾💤

With Ranger and Ziva working so hard lately, I decided today was the perfect day for a well-deserved rest day. Because let’s face it… we all need a little downtime sometimes!

Today’s agenda was pretty simple:
🌿 A good sniff around the front yard
🌿 Another sniff around the backyard
🍦 And then… frozen yoghurt treats!

And let me tell you, they were VERY excited about that last part! 😂

Ziva went straight into intense licking mode — absolutely no time to waste! Meanwhile, Ranger showed us his signature style… slow, gentle and very dainty little licks.

Two very different personalities, but both equally happy to be having a quiet day at home.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is slow down, rest, sniff the grass and enjoy the little things. ❤️

#TherapyDogs #RestDay #CanineAssistedCounselling #DogLife #TalkWithTails

🐾 When we put our heads together, amazing things can happen!

Talk with Tails Counselling and Calm Kids have joined forces to deliver a programme at a local Melbourne specialist school — and it has been such a successful and rewarding experience!

Running a programme in a specialist school means we need to think carefully about how we pitch each activity, making sure it is meaningful, accessible and engaging for every student. Every child brings their own strengths, abilities and way of learning, so we adapt, rethink and sometimes get creative to make sure everyone can be included. 💛

This week, our focus was SHARING — sharing friends, sharing work and sharing ideas.

We had lots of fun through interactive games, activities and a story, creating opportunities for students to explore what sharing can look and feel like in everyday life.

And, of course, having our amazing therapy dogs involved makes learning just that little bit more special! 🐾

It has been wonderful to see the students engaging, participating and building skills in a way that feels fun, safe and achievable.

Collaboration + creativity + canines = a pretty special combination!

#TalkWithTails #CalmKids #CanineAssistedCounselling #SpecialistSchools #LearningThroughConnection

🐾 Happy Gotcha Day, Our Beautiful Ziva 🐾

Two years ago today, we met a beautiful girl named Geeta at Seeing Eye Dogs Australia. From the very first moment we saw her, we fell completely in love… and so did Ranger. ❤️

We knew she was meant to come home with us. After joining our family, we made the decision to change her name to Ziva — a name that has become so perfectly hers.

Over the past two years, Ziva has blossomed into the most amazing therapy dog. I could never have imagined just how naturally she would connect with people. She has this incredible ability to read emotions and knows exactly when someone needs a little extra comfort — whether it’s gentle pats, cuddles, or her special deep body pressure support.

Ziva is one of the sweetest souls you will ever meet. She has the most beautiful personality, a gentle heart, and a way of making people feel safe and cared for. She is also incredibly intelligent and learns new tricks so quickly… although she has discovered that being a little cheeky can sometimes work in her favour! 😂

She will do almost anything for a treat, and that beautiful face of hers has definitely convinced Mum to hand out a few extra treats along the way. We do have to be careful though, because too many treats can lead to a very unhappy belly for our little princess. 🐾

To all the children and young people Ziva has worked with — thank you for being so kind, gentle, and respectful with her. You have helped her shine, and we are so grateful for every beautiful connection she has made.

We feel incredibly blessed to have Ziva in our lives. She has brought so much love, laughter, and joy into our home, and we look forward to continuing this amazing therapy dog journey with her by our side.

Happy Gotcha Day, our beautiful girl. We love you more than words can say. 💛🐾

#ZivaTheTherapyDog #GotchaDay #CanineAssistedCounselling #TherapyDogLife #TalkWithTails

💛 Sometimes the smallest words make the biggest impact.

Another wonderful session today with an amazing group of students at a specialist school, where our focus was sharing—sharing ideas, sharing friends, and sharing our work.

Learning happens best when it's fun, so we played lots of interactive games. One favourite involved rolling a giant dice, with each number linked to a different activity with the dogs. Two of the challenges were to share a compliment with Ranger and share a compliment with Ziva.

The kind words these young people shared about my dogs were genuinely heartwarming. 🐾 Their thoughtful compliments reminded me just how deeply children notice kindness, patience, and connection.

These little moments may seem simple, but they're helping build empathy, confidence, communication, and positive relationships—one compliment at a time.

❤️ Listening to young people speak so kindly about my best friends never gets old.

Thank you to Sharon Cameron for another great lesson and we all missed Arte again today! Get well soon Arte!

#TherapyDogs #CanineAssistedTherapy #SpecialistEducation #SocialEmotionalLearning #TalkWithTails

When a therapy dog decides the session needs a little extra fun… 🐾

Today we spent time with some youth, supporting connection, confidence, and those little moments that remind us how powerful the human-animal bond can be.

During the session, a young person was practising tricks with Ziva. She showed off her “sit pretty” trick beautifully… and then decided she wanted to add her own personal touch by leaning in for some extra connection.

But Ziva had a very important question… “Where is my treat?” 😂

When the treats weren’t coming quickly enough, Ziva decided to take matters into her own paws and attempted to climb up the young person’s leg to get a better view!

Are therapy dogs perfect? No.
Are they real, funny, sometimes cheeky animals? Absolutely.

And sometimes it’s those unexpected moments — the silly moments, the imperfect moments — that create the biggest smiles, laughter, and opportunities for connection.

Because therapy isn’t always about getting everything right. Sometimes it’s about creating safe spaces where people can laugh, feel accepted, and experience a genuine moment of joy.

And Ziva… well, she definitely made sure today was memorable. 🐶💛

#CanineAssistedTherapy #TherapyDogs #YouthWellbeing #AnimalAssistedCounselling #TalkWithTails

Sometimes The Most Important Lesson Isn’t The One We Planned 🐾

Today, Ranger reminded me of something incredibly important.

During one of our group programmes, a child had a moment where their emotions and behaviours became too big for the environment.

Instead of focusing only on stopping the behaviour, we created a moment to pause, reset and reconnect.

The child was given an opportunity to step away briefly, regulate their body, and have a conversation about safety, gentle hands, kindness and understanding how our actions impact others.

After a short time, the child was welcomed back into the group.

Then Ranger quietly walked over, placed his head on their lap, and offered what therapy dogs do best…

Connection.

No judgement.
No holding onto what happened before.
Just acceptance and the opportunity to start again.

Together, we explored gentle touch, reading Ranger’s body language and noticing what helped him feel calm.

The child’s body slowly began to regulate as they focused on Ranger’s breathing, his responses and his trust.

By the end, they were lying beside Ranger, watching his face closely and learning how to communicate without words.

Sometimes children don’t need to be told they are “too much”.

Sometimes they need support to understand what is happening inside their body and guidance to find their way back to calm.

We never know the full story a child carries with them. We don’t always know what happened before they walked into the room, or what their nervous system has been experiencing.

But our therapy dogs often notice what we cannot see.

They respond to emotions, energy and changes in our bodies in ways that help create safety, connection and trust.

Today’s lesson may not have looked exactly like the one we planned…

But it was a lesson in empathy.

A lesson in regulation.

A lesson in kindness.

And Ranger was the perfect teacher. 🐾

#CanineAssistedCounselling #TherapyDog #EmotionalRegulation #TraumaInformedPractice #TalkWithTails

✨ Forgiveness Doesn't Change the Past... It Changes the Future ✨

"When you forgive, you don't change the past. You change the future."

Forgiveness isn't about forgetting or pretending the hurt never happened. It's about freeing yourself from carrying the pain forward. Research shows that practising forgiveness can reduce stress, improve emotional wellbeing, and help us build healthier, more meaningful relationships.

This image is especially close to my heart because it is based on my beautiful Gemma. ❤️ Dogs have an incredible way of reminding us to be present, to love without keeping score, and to offer grace. Maybe that's one of their greatest lessons—that healing begins when we choose to let go of what no longer serves us.

#Forgiveness #MentalHealth #TherapyDogs #HealingJourney #TalkWithTails

🧠 What Is Your Body Saying Before You Even Speak?

Communication isn't just about the words we use—our bodies tell a story too.

Today I was working with a young person on understanding different communication styles. Although they're often described as passive or shy, around therapy dog Ziva they were overcompensating, with a tone that came across as quite aggressive.

It was the perfect opportunity to explore the differences between passive, assertive and aggressive communication. I downloaded a simple resource to introduce the concepts, then reached for my Body Signals Cards.

Together, we selected four Body Signals Cards for each communication style, matching how our bodies might feel when we're being passive, assertive or aggressive. It opened up a really meaningful conversation about the connection between our emotions, physical sensations and the way we communicate.

For this young person, words can sometimes feel overwhelming, but the images helped solidify the learning in a way that talking alone couldn't.

That's exactly why I created the Body Signals Cards—to make emotions and communication more accessible, meaningful and easier to understand. Sometimes seeing what our body is telling us is the first step towards finding a different way to respond.

🐾 Body Signals Cards are now available through the Talk With Tails shop.
A practical resource for helping children and young people explore emotions, body sensations and communication.

Available for $49.95 — check out my website shop to order yours.

#TalkWithTails #BodySignalsCards #CommunicationSkills #EmotionalRegulation #CanineAssistedTherapy

✨ "How do you train a therapy dog?" 🐾

It's one of the questions I'm asked most often.

My answer usually surprises people... you don't train a dog to want to love people. They either do, or they don't.

A therapy dog needs to genuinely enjoy connecting with people. They should light up when they meet someone, seek out interaction, and feel energised by helping others. You can't force that. If you do, the dog will eventually become stressed, lose interest, and the partnership simply won't work.

Ranger is a perfect example.

In this little moment, you can see his face light up as he notices the person walking beside him. He wasn't following a command. He was choosing connection.

What you don't see is that we had just been having a really tough conversation. Ranger quietly stepped in as if to say, "Hey... it's okay. I'm here, and I still love you."

Those are the moments that make therapy dogs so incredible.

As a certified therapy dog team through Lead the Way Australia, one of the most important skills we learn is reading our dogs. We notice the tiny signals—the glance, the lean, the gentle nudge, the extra weight of a head resting on someone's lap. Sometimes it's almost as if they're saying, "This person needs me right now."

And more often than not... they're right.

💙 That's the magic of a true therapy dog.

#TherapyDog #CanineAssistedCounselling #AnimalAssistedTherapy #LeadTheWayAustralia #TalkWithTails

Ranger, Ziva and I wish you a happy Sunny Sunday!
#loveyourdog #talkwithtails #therapydog #animalassistedtherapy #therapydogshavingfun

🐾 Sometimes Confidence Comes From Having Someone Beside You 🐾

What a wonderful way to start August. ❤️🐾

Today was extra special as I got to meet Astra, Sharon's beautiful 1-year-old Labrador and Arte's little sister. It was such a joy to watch her begin settling into her new home and taking in all the new experiences around her.

I even managed to sneak inside for a quick tummy rub with sweet Arte. As Arte has recently had surgery, she is taking some time to rest and recover, so we made sure she had a calm and peaceful visit with lots of love. 💕

Outside, Ziva had an important role to play — showing Astra that the city isn't such a scary place after all. Together, they took their time walking, pausing, sniffing, and exploring all the new sights, sounds and smells around them.

Watching Ziva gently guide Astra was such a beautiful reminder that confidence doesn't always come from doing things alone. Sometimes we find our courage because someone we trust is beside us, showing us that we are safe, that we can take our time, and that the world isn't as overwhelming as it first seems.

It’s the same for people. Having someone who believes in us, walks alongside us, and gives us the space to grow can make all the difference. We don’t always need someone to take away the scary things — sometimes we just need someone who helps us feel brave enough to face them.

Welcome to your new adventure, Astra. I can’t wait to watch you grow alongside your big sister Arte and your new friend Ziva. 💕🐾

#TherapyDogs #LabradorLove #DogsTeachingDogs #ConfidenceBuilding #AnimalAssistedTherapy

Can you believe it's August already? 🍂

It feels like the year has flown by in the blink of an eye.

A new month is a gentle reminder that it's never too late to reset, take a deep breath, and start again. Celebrate how far you've come, be kind to yourself for the challenges you've faced, and look ahead with hope for what's still to come.

Here's to fresh starts, small moments of joy, wagging tails, and making the most of the month ahead. ❤️🐾

What are you looking forward to this August?

Love,
Jodee, Ranger & Ziva 🐾❤️

#HelloAugust #NewMonth #FreshStarts #BeKindToYourself #MentalHealthMatters CanineAssistedTherapy TherapyDogs TalkWithTails MindfulMoments OneStepAtATime

🐾 Another wonderful day of learning, connection and sharing 💙

Today was another successful day running our group therapy programme at a specialist school in Melbourne.

Our beautiful therapy dog Arte was unable to join us today while she recovers, so Ranger stepped in to support the students. Many of the students remembered Ranger from a previous school visit, making it a lovely opportunity to reconnect with him.

Our topic today was sharing — sharing space, sharing things and sharing feelings. These ideas were gently woven throughout the session as we explored kindness, empathy and connection.

Sharon shared a beautiful story she wrote called “My Best Worst Day”, about Arte and her leg. This opened up conversations around sharing space, sharing things and sharing feelings. The students showed so much compassion, creating a special book for Sharon that shared their thoughts and feelings about Arte.

We also had lots of fun with Musical Dogs, passing toy dogs around while practising sharing and turn-taking, and introduced Hot Chocolate Breathing — a calming mindfulness activity that students can join in with or simply imagine to help regulate their bodies.

Another beautiful session filled with connection, compassion and the many ways we can share kindness with others. 🐶💙

#AnimalAssistedTherapy #CanineAssistedLearning #TherapyDogs #EmotionalRegulation #SpecialNeedsSupport

✨ You are one of a kind. Be kind to yourself. ❤️

Dogs have a beautiful way of reminding us what really matters. They don't worry about yesterday or tomorrow. They slow down, explore the world with curiosity, stop to sniff the grass, listen to the birds, feel the warmth of the sun, and simply enjoy the moment.

Maybe that's the reminder we all need today.

Take a gentle stroll. Breathe deeply. Notice the sounds around you, the fresh air, the colours, the scents. Let your senses bring you back to the present and give your mind a chance to rest.

Life isn't about rushing through every moment. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is pause, reconnect with ourselves, and remember that we are worthy of the same kindness we show to others.

As the song softly reminds us...
*"Please love yourself, don't be unkind... you're one of a kind."* 🐾❤️

Take a breath. Slow down. Be gentle with yourself today.

#SelfCompassion #Mindfulness #NatureHeals #DogWisdom #MentalHealthMatters

💭 What if children understood that anxiety isn't something to fear—but something they can learn to manage?

That's exactly what we explored today in our Calm Kids and Connected Kids programs.

With Ranger the Kelpie stepping in for his sister Ziva's best friend, Arte (who's home recovering), our therapy dogs helped create a safe, calm space where students could learn about emotions, anxiety, and the amazing brain.

Today we met our brain's "guard dog" – the amygdala. The students discovered how this tiny part of the brain tries to keep us safe, why it sometimes makes our feelings feel BIG, and how coping strategies can help us calm our minds and bodies when that guard dog becomes a little overprotective.

There were plenty of laughs, meaningful conversations, and practical tools to help students build emotional awareness, resilience, and social confidence.

We missed you today, Arte, and we hope you're back with your best friend Ziva very soon. ❤️🐾

#TherapyDogs #CalmKids #ConnectedKids #EmotionalWellbeing #LearningThroughDogs

Be the Best Version of You
#talkwithtails #animalassistedtherapy #therapydogs #aat #loveyourdog

🎥 Uncut & absolutely adorable... wait until you hear the little voice giving Ziva her instructions. 🐾💙

This uncut video captures a genuine learning moment, with the camera focused on Ziva as she responds to clear, simple directions.

Research suggests that interacting with therapy dogs can provide a motivating and low-pressure environment for children to practise communication skills. Giving clear instructions encourages expressive language, sequencing, and confidence, while the dog's calm, predictable responses provide immediate, positive feedback.

For many children with additional needs, these interactions can also support attention, turn-taking, problem-solving, and social connection. Therapy dogs offer a patient, non-judgemental partner, making communication feel safe, meaningful, and fun.

It's amazing how much learning can happen through one simple interaction. 🐾

#TherapyDog #AnimalAssistedTherapy #SpecialEducation #CommunicationSkills #TalkWithTails

What makes you happy?
❤️ 💙 Comment below!

🦋 Love Leaves Paw Prints 🦋

These images tell the story of love, loss and a new beginning.

🐾 Ranger and Gemma, sharing life side by side.
🐾 Ranger standing alone, learning to carry a heart that was missing a piece.
🐾 Ranger and Ziva, finding joy again while honouring the past.

The butterfly reminds us that love doesn't end when someone is gone. It changes form, but it never leaves us.

Gemma will always be part of our family. She shaped who Ranger is, and her paw prints remain on our hearts forever.

Moving forward doesn't mean forgetting. It means carrying those we love with us, wherever the journey leads.

Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever remembered. ❤️🦋

#GemmaForever #RainbowBridge #LifeWithDogs #TherapyDogs #LoveNeverLeaves

Today was one of those days that reminds us why we love what we do. 🐾💙

Talk with Tails Counselling & Support Services joined forces with Calm Kids Counselling & Coaching to deliver another Paws and Restore session at a specialist school in Melbourne, alongside our wonderful therapy dogs, Ziva and Arte.

Today's focus, chosen by the school, was turn-taking. Through games, laughter and shared experiences, students practised taking turns, waiting patiently and talking about how it feels when we have to wait. A colourful parachute, some very cute soft toys and plenty of smiles made learning lots of fun!

Sharon read Arte's Anxiety Disappears, introducing mindfulness through bubble blowing, while we also learnt some fantastic Key Word Sign and explored the emotions throughout the story. Of course, there was plenty of time for gentle greetings, pats and connection with Ziva and Arte, who helped create a calm and engaging space for everyone.

One of our favourite moments came from the dogs themselves. After a big sigh, they stood up, had a big shake and enjoyed a long stretch. It became the perfect opportunity to talk about how our bodies naturally release tension. Just like dogs, taking a deep breath, stretching and noticing how our body feels can help us recognise and regulate stress.

Sometimes our job is simply the best kind of fun—and watching students learn, connect and grow alongside our therapy dogs makes every moment worthwhile. ❤️🐶

#AnimalAssistedTherapy #PawsAndRestore #SpecialistEducation #TherapyDogs #TalkWithTails

What a fantastic way to start the day! Ziva and I joined Sharon and her therapy dog, Arte, at a local Melbourne school to begin another round of our Connected Kids and Calm Kids programs. 🐾

We were so busy that we barely took any photos—and that's always a good sign! Our first session is all about teaching safe greetings with our therapy dogs, setting group expectations, and building a foundation of safety and respect.

The students were fantastic, eagerly joining in every activity. When it came time to reflect, their favourite parts were clear: patting the dogs and learning all about them!

There's nothing quite like seeing those smiles and excitement. We're already looking forward to next week. Well done, Ziva and Arte—you were superstars today! 💙

#TalkWithTails #AnimalAssistedTherapy #ConnectedKids #CalmKids #TherapyDogs

Ranger has just returned home after two wonderful days working alongside me in Gippsland, and I think it's safe to say he's ready for a well-earned rest.

As I was gently scratching his neck, his lips automatically pulled back into what looked just like the biggest smile. It was one of those little moments that melted my heart. So cute, I couldn't help but share it.

People often see our therapy dogs while they're working, but it's just as important to remember that they need time to rest, recover and simply be dogs. Those quiet moments at home are just as important as the work they do.

💛 Good job, Ranger. You've earned those cuddles and that nap.

#TherapyDog #CanineAssistedCounselling #WorkingDog #DogWellbeing #TalkWithTails

CHOOSE TO SPEAK KINDNESS TO YOURSELF
#talkwithtails #loveyourdog #EmotionalWellbeing #loveyourself #bekindtoyourself

Some of the most meaningful therapy doesn't happen sitting across from a desk.

Today took us to a specialist school in country Victoria, where Ranger and Ziva spent the day walking alongside students, sharing quiet moments, gentle cuddles, a few favourite tricks, and plenty of well-earned treats and pats. Along the way, we explored personal strengths using our Talk with Tails Strength Cards and supported students to notice what was happening in their bodies through simple, trauma-informed somatic strategies.

Research continues to show that movement, connection and safe relationships can support emotional regulation, reduce stress and create opportunities for meaningful engagement. When therapy is tailored to each young person's abilities, interests and needs, even the smallest moments can become powerful stepping stones towards confidence, communication and wellbeing.

Days like today are a wonderful reminder that progress doesn't always look loud. Sometimes it looks like a smile, a gentle pat, a shared walk, or a moment of feeling safe enough to simply be.

#TalkWithTails #AnimalAssistedTherapy #SpecialistEducation #TraumaInformedPractice #CountryVictoria

Every little step counts. Even the ones no one sees. Keep going. You're doing great. ❤️

This photo of Gemma was taken at the last Cuboree, where she quietly supported a young Cub Scout over five days, helping them feel safe enough to stay engaged in camp.

Progress isn't always loud. Sometimes it's choosing to stay for one more activity, taking a deep breath, or reaching out for comfort when things feel overwhelming.

Those moments may go unnoticed by most, but they matter. They build confidence, resilience and trust, one small step at a time.

Never underestimate the power of simply being there.

#AnimalAssistedTherapy #TherapyDogs #MentalHealthMatters #EveryStepCounts #TalkWithTails

People often watch this and think, "What a clever trick."

But this isn't just a trick.

This is young Ranger learning a simple targeting behaviour I called "Muzzle." By placing his nose between my hands, I'm able to guide his body position and build more complex behaviours safely and positively.

One of those behaviours became "Heavy."🐾

"Heavy" is when Ranger gently lays his body across a person, providing deep pressure support. Research has shown that deep pressure can help calm the nervous system, reduce physiological arousal and create a greater sense of safety for some people.

Over the years, this behaviour has supported people during some of their most vulnerable moments. With consent, Ranger has helped clients experiencing dissociation by providing grounding through his warm, steady presence. He's also accompanied a client with a severe fear of needles, lying across them during a blood test, offering comforting pressure while helping them co-regulate through his calm breathing and relaxed body.

To the untrained eye, this may look like a simple training exercise.

But every purposeful behaviour we teach has the potential to become a meaningful therapeutic intervention. This behaviour has helped clients feel grounded, regulated and safe during one of the hardest moments of their life.

Every therapeutic behaviour starts with one small step.

#TherapyDog #AnimalAssistedTherapy #CanineAssistedCounselling #TalkWithTails #MentalHealthMatters

Today marked the beginning of our Term 3 program at a specialist school in Melbourne.

Today's session was delivered by Talk with Tails Counselling & Support Services, supported by Sharon from Calm Kids Counselling, alongside our wonderful therapy dogs Ziva and Arte.

Together, we launched a specially designed program for teenagers with diverse and complex needs. Through meaningful, hands-on activities, our goal is to build confidence, strengthen social connections, and create opportunities for every young person to experience success.

Today's focus was turn-taking, and the students embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm. It was heartwarming to watch them encourage one another, show kindness and empathy towards both their peers and the dogs, and celebrate each other's achievements. Their smiles, laughter, and positive feedback reminded us that sometimes the biggest growth comes from the simplest moments.

The teachers were equally delighted to see the students so engaged, connected, and showing empathy towards one another. We are excited to continue this journey together throughout the term.

#TalkWithTails #CalmKids #AnimalAssistedTherapy #TherapyDogs #SpecialistEducation

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