WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.789 --> 00:00:06.320 Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast, the show for dog lovers who 00:00:06.340 --> 00:00:12.000 see dogs not as toys or tools, but wise souls worth our respect and care. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:14.559 I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host. 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:20.560 I talk to poor some humans, people who do great work for dogs and their people. 00:00:21.099 --> 00:00:23.360 So come and join us for today's conversation. 00:00:24.905 --> 00:00:27.065 Anke: Hello and welcome, Kimmy. 00:00:27.215 --> 00:00:29.085 I'm very excited to have you here. 00:00:30.195 --> 00:00:30.505 Kimmy: Thank you. 00:00:30.505 --> 00:00:31.595 I'm excited to be here. 00:00:32.335 --> 00:00:32.675 Anke: Awesome. 00:00:32.865 --> 00:00:36.675 Well, I always start out, uh, wondering because I'm always fascinated 00:00:36.675 --> 00:00:39.025 with where on earth people are. 00:00:39.425 --> 00:00:43.665 And so my question to you, where on in this lovely world are you based 00:00:43.675 --> 00:00:45.465 and what's your business with dogs? 00:00:46.150 --> 00:00:51.220 Kimmy: Yes, I am based in the United States and, uh, in the state of Maine 00:00:51.580 --> 00:00:57.080 and my business with dogs, well, there's a couple of things I do, but, um, 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:01.830 the main thing that I do right now is we are a canine first response team. 00:01:02.160 --> 00:01:03.150 So what does that mean? 00:01:03.150 --> 00:01:07.510 That means that I am deployed across the United States when there is some sort 00:01:07.510 --> 00:01:13.910 of critical incident situation, such as a mass shooting, uh, natural disaster. 00:01:15.175 --> 00:01:21.035 major accident that they will call me into the situation and I 00:01:21.045 --> 00:01:24.315 bring my canines, which are highly trained for this type of work. 00:01:24.635 --> 00:01:31.465 And when we go into these situations, the dogs are requested to provide a sense 00:01:31.465 --> 00:01:35.635 of safety and a sense of calm for people going through a very difficult time. 00:01:38.185 --> 00:01:40.595 Anke: I'm just thinking, Jesus, that sounds tough. 00:01:41.225 --> 00:01:46.635 So, I understand that correctly, that your dogs are not the ones who are going to dig 00:01:46.755 --> 00:01:48.675 through the gravel trying to find people. 00:01:48.675 --> 00:01:50.205 Like, that's not their job, right? 00:01:50.555 --> 00:01:54.605 Kimmy: No, they're not a search and rescue dog, and, um, I get that a lot. 00:01:55.610 --> 00:01:56.570 I get that a lot. 00:01:56.580 --> 00:02:00.550 We work directly in collaboration with other first responders. 00:02:00.810 --> 00:02:04.500 So sometimes we will go into a community with the police department. 00:02:04.510 --> 00:02:06.810 Sometimes we collaborate with the fire department. 00:02:07.050 --> 00:02:12.340 Sometimes we're called in one on one and we are specifically there to provide 00:02:12.370 --> 00:02:14.490 people that are going through trauma. 00:02:15.715 --> 00:02:19.845 support and have that one on one connection with the canine. 00:02:20.195 --> 00:02:20.555 Anke: Yeah. 00:02:20.655 --> 00:02:25.535 And I, like, I think anybody who's ever, you know, looked into the eyes of 00:02:25.535 --> 00:02:30.885 a dog, like knows how they can provide something that another human probably, 00:02:30.965 --> 00:02:33.375 you know, has a hard time providing. 00:02:33.575 --> 00:02:37.520 So now I'm, I'm My curiosity goes in two directions, right? 00:02:38.100 --> 00:02:43.580 So one is how, how did you get into that? 00:02:43.590 --> 00:02:45.460 Like, what sparked your interest? 00:02:45.460 --> 00:02:50.400 Like, you know, and it feels, you know, it's also, it must be emotionally 00:02:50.410 --> 00:02:52.210 quite tough work on you as well. 00:02:52.220 --> 00:02:55.025 You get to see a lot of stuff that You know, people wouldn't 00:02:55.025 --> 00:02:58.005 normally rush to, um, to see. 00:02:58.325 --> 00:03:04.885 And I'm also curious of about how does one train a dog to be able to do that work? 00:03:05.325 --> 00:03:06.705 Kimmy: Yes, very good question. 00:03:06.705 --> 00:03:07.905 So I'll go to the first one. 00:03:08.415 --> 00:03:11.115 So first of all, I just like to say I'm in the unconditional love 00:03:11.125 --> 00:03:12.455 business because that's what we do. 00:03:12.465 --> 00:03:14.935 We're providing unconditional love through a canine. 00:03:15.325 --> 00:03:19.105 How I got into this business, I'll just jump back about 10 years ago. 00:03:19.105 --> 00:03:25.600 I started Um, as a therapy dog handler 10 years ago as a teacher in a school 00:03:25.600 --> 00:03:29.200 district, and I got this amazing puppy and I thought this dog is going 00:03:29.200 --> 00:03:31.080 to be a great therapy dog, right? 00:03:31.330 --> 00:03:34.760 So I actually got permission from my superintendent to have 00:03:34.760 --> 00:03:36.430 this dog trained in my classroom. 00:03:36.430 --> 00:03:39.800 So my students trained him to be a therapy dog. 00:03:40.030 --> 00:03:44.830 And then going forward, he was accepted to be part of the district to help children. 00:03:45.190 --> 00:03:48.400 as they go through their academics, you know, reading and writing. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:50.210 And he grew up in the school district. 00:03:50.210 --> 00:03:53.650 And I'm sharing this story, number one, because when I had 00:03:53.650 --> 00:03:54.860 this dog, his name is Campbell. 00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:56.040 He's still with me today. 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:59.610 When I had him in the classroom, literally miracles would happen. 00:03:59.980 --> 00:04:02.440 Kids who refused to read read. 00:04:02.720 --> 00:04:07.550 Kids who couldn't control their behaviors were 100 percent perfect 00:04:07.550 --> 00:04:09.050 when this dog was in this classroom. 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:13.490 When kids really struggled with math, when they sat one on one with Campbell. 00:04:13.830 --> 00:04:18.900 They tried their best, and I said, there's something to this work, right? 00:04:19.280 --> 00:04:23.480 Um, and I continued to do this type of work and bring Campbell to school 00:04:23.750 --> 00:04:26.010 for many, many years after that. 00:04:26.020 --> 00:04:30.640 But, let me share my origin story and how I got into Canine First Response. 00:04:30.950 --> 00:04:34.240 My mom was a social worker for 25 years. 00:04:34.590 --> 00:04:38.810 And she also collaborated with FEMA and the American Disaster 00:04:38.810 --> 00:04:41.170 Red Cross team as a volunteer. 00:04:41.170 --> 00:04:48.940 So, going all the way back to 9 11 in 2001, my mom was deployed all around the 00:04:48.940 --> 00:04:51.480 world when there was a tragic situation. 00:04:51.490 --> 00:04:57.310 And as a social worker, she would go into these communities to provide Counseling 00:04:57.310 --> 00:05:04.080 services and lead counselors, um, through, um, difficult situations, right? 00:05:04.270 --> 00:05:09.420 And so I grew up seeing my mom do this type of work and providing care for 00:05:09.420 --> 00:05:11.040 people that were going through trauma. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:16.590 And I always said to myself, I want to do that someday, but I don't know how. 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:17.610 I'm not a counselor. 00:05:17.610 --> 00:05:18.480 I'm a teacher. 00:05:19.230 --> 00:05:24.110 Fast forward three years ago, my mom has passed and she was my best friend. 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:29.965 And when she had passed, I said, I want to carry the torch forward and continue 00:05:29.965 --> 00:05:34.905 to do the work that my mom did in these type of critical incident situations. 00:05:35.175 --> 00:05:40.505 So, not only was this a passion of mine, not only did I see this growing 00:05:40.525 --> 00:05:45.830 up and how my mom had helped people, But it was a commitment that I 00:05:45.830 --> 00:05:48.380 wanted to make, um, to honor my mom. 00:05:48.380 --> 00:05:52.640 So I upped my training, I upped my therapy dogs training, and we got 00:05:52.640 --> 00:05:55.490 certified as a canine first response team. 00:05:55.640 --> 00:06:01.460 And that's how we got involved in being deployed for tragic situations. 00:06:01.840 --> 00:06:02.230 Anke: Wow. 00:06:02.320 --> 00:06:03.040 What a story. 00:06:03.070 --> 00:06:03.700 What a story. 00:06:03.700 --> 00:06:05.200 And it's, that's like, oh god, 00:06:07.660 --> 00:06:07.960 crying. 00:06:08.380 --> 00:06:13.920 So how, how do, how do you keep your sanity. 00:06:14.760 --> 00:06:16.100 in those situations. 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:20.260 You know, because like everybody goes through a trauma like once, right, you 00:06:20.260 --> 00:06:25.280 know, and that's the big thing and people get over the way they get over it, right. 00:06:25.280 --> 00:06:29.400 But so for you to go into one and another I mean, hopefully not 00:06:29.430 --> 00:06:32.490 every day but you don't so you see. 00:06:33.030 --> 00:06:36.180 More of those, like, how do you manage to keep your own peace? 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:37.850 Kimmy: Yes, thank you. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:38.990 Manage to keep my own peace. 00:06:38.990 --> 00:06:42.050 Well, number one, I will share with you that this work is remarkable. 00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:46.190 So when I go into these situations with my canines, it, it, it, 00:06:46.250 --> 00:06:48.225 it's so gratifying to see. 00:06:48.225 --> 00:06:52.875 See how people can start to heal through the unconditional love of a canine. 00:06:52.875 --> 00:06:57.255 So that is part of how I keep my peace, because I'm passionate about this work. 00:06:57.525 --> 00:06:59.025 This work works. 00:06:59.025 --> 00:07:04.155 And many times we are, the canine is a link for individuals 00:07:04.155 --> 00:07:05.655 to get further mental health. 00:07:05.895 --> 00:07:09.020 'cause many . People aren't ready to talk. 00:07:09.230 --> 00:07:13.930 They are not ready to go get help, but they will sit down with a dog and 00:07:13.930 --> 00:07:18.180 they start to process their emotions one on one with the dog with no words. 00:07:18.200 --> 00:07:19.190 No words are needed. 00:07:19.460 --> 00:07:24.790 And I always say, come to us just as you are, because we are going to 00:07:24.790 --> 00:07:26.600 love you no matter how you show up. 00:07:26.630 --> 00:07:26.910 Right? 00:07:26.910 --> 00:07:27.930 So that's number one. 00:07:27.930 --> 00:07:29.690 I love the work that I do. 00:07:30.080 --> 00:07:34.470 And it is, miracles happen, but number two, it is taught, it is 00:07:34.470 --> 00:07:38.330 all about self care for myself and self care for the dogs as well. 00:07:38.340 --> 00:07:43.120 So I limit the amount of deployments that I go on. 00:07:43.440 --> 00:07:48.520 I limit the amount of hours that we are on site with the canines, and I always 00:07:48.550 --> 00:07:51.710 make it a priority to do something fun. 00:07:52.095 --> 00:07:57.445 Either after a critical situation when I get home, um, something to fun, but the, 00:07:57.455 --> 00:08:02.375 the dogs love to go get an ice cream at, um, Dairy Queen and it's called a Pup Cup. 00:08:02.705 --> 00:08:05.945 So I might get an ice cream cone and I might have an ice 00:08:05.945 --> 00:08:07.305 cream cone myself, right? 00:08:07.485 --> 00:08:10.875 A little bit of self care and it's always training. 00:08:10.905 --> 00:08:15.615 I work out every single day and that is another way that I am managed, 00:08:15.695 --> 00:08:20.825 I'm able to manage the chaos and, and some of the things that I've seen. 00:08:22.280 --> 00:08:28.220 Anke: So how do you, well, okay, like if I was to look at like say Miss 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:32.910 Leia, who's like two years old, you know, she's, she's a big dog, but 00:08:32.910 --> 00:08:35.840 she's very sweet and very good natured. 00:08:36.260 --> 00:08:40.780 Um, how, what would be the path for her? 00:08:41.420 --> 00:08:47.070 If I was to think like I want to turn her into, you know, a canine first responder. 00:08:47.800 --> 00:08:48.910 Kimmy: Yes, absolutely. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:52.880 Well, the first path to take is to get registered as a therapy dog 00:08:53.140 --> 00:08:56.230 because it's really important to know that the dogs want to do this work. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:59.010 And that's the number one thing that I say to people. 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:00.880 There are some dogs that like to work. 00:09:00.900 --> 00:09:02.390 There are some dogs that like to play. 00:09:02.390 --> 00:09:04.290 There are some dogs that like agility. 00:09:04.550 --> 00:09:07.860 There are some dogs that just like to hang out on the couch and that's who they are. 00:09:08.090 --> 00:09:08.530 So. 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:13.730 Make, be sure that your dog enjoys going out and doing work, number one. 00:09:13.730 --> 00:09:17.810 Number two, obviously it's going through the canine, um, 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:20.340 basic obedience test, right? 00:09:20.350 --> 00:09:26.130 Then it's finding a local organization and becoming a therapy dog team and 00:09:26.140 --> 00:09:28.360 getting some experience under your belt. 00:09:28.370 --> 00:09:33.115 Going to hospitals, going to schools, getting Going to nursing homes, getting 00:09:33.115 --> 00:09:37.525 that experience of being out in the public with your dog and seeing how your dog 00:09:37.525 --> 00:09:42.775 reacts in a busy hospital compared to a quiet nursing home and really get a feel 00:09:42.775 --> 00:09:47.565 of what your dog is comfortable doing in the environment it's comfortable being in. 00:09:47.975 --> 00:09:52.625 After you are registered, after you have a couple years under your belt of 00:09:52.625 --> 00:09:57.295 doing therapy dog work and you choose to get into canine first response, number 00:09:57.295 --> 00:09:59.260 one it's It's training on the handler. 00:09:59.540 --> 00:10:05.910 It's getting, um, Red Cross training under your belt, it's getting critical 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:09.750 incident training under your belt, and then it's also getting training under 00:10:09.750 --> 00:10:12.130 the dogs, more training under their belt. 00:10:12.130 --> 00:10:13.090 And what does that mean? 00:10:13.350 --> 00:10:17.580 It means before you become a canine first response team, take 00:10:17.580 --> 00:10:19.880 your dog out to busy situations. 00:10:19.920 --> 00:10:23.220 Take your dogs out to communities where there's a variety of 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.820 ethnicities, different nationalities. 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:27.980 See how they are. 00:10:28.075 --> 00:10:29.075 See how they react. 00:10:29.095 --> 00:10:33.265 Take your dogs where there's loud noises, take your dog where there's a lot of 00:10:33.295 --> 00:10:37.715 energy, because that is the type of dog that needs to be able to do this work. 00:10:38.015 --> 00:10:39.575 Take your dog on a plane. 00:10:39.655 --> 00:10:42.535 Sometimes we're deployed, you know, to a different state. 00:10:42.765 --> 00:10:46.385 They need to be able to get on a plane, um, on a, on a train. 00:10:46.665 --> 00:10:51.505 So experiment, and if you find that your dog has that type of personality 00:10:51.735 --> 00:10:55.860 and can do this work, you know, enjoys these type of, of challenges and 00:10:55.860 --> 00:11:00.420 environments, then you would go forward and you would go ahead and get certified 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:02.060 as a canine first response team. 00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:05.040 And what that means is just additional training on the handler, 00:11:05.300 --> 00:11:07.050 additional training on the dog. 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:08.710 You both take a test. 00:11:08.950 --> 00:11:09.960 If you pass, you're certified. 00:11:10.180 --> 00:11:11.860 You are a canine first response team. 00:11:11.890 --> 00:11:12.020 You 00:11:12.020 --> 00:11:15.530 Anke: go, well, I mean, there's obviously quite a bit to it, right? 00:11:15.530 --> 00:11:21.120 So, so what's the core quality apart from, you know, being able to handle 00:11:21.130 --> 00:11:26.450 the stress, you know, to stay calm under, you know, those, like, see Mr. 00:11:26.490 --> 00:11:26.690 Mr. 00:11:26.690 --> 00:11:32.320 Kai, this one here, he wouldn't have, like, he was perhaps the most 00:11:32.330 --> 00:11:37.090 sensitive dog, like he could, He would know when you're coming down with 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:40.580 the flu, like even before you know, like he would read you too, right? 00:11:40.630 --> 00:11:46.150 Also, but that level of sensitivity didn't make him very happy 00:11:46.160 --> 00:11:48.880 in, in busy, higher energy. 00:11:48.880 --> 00:11:52.830 He'd be like, you know, so I, I can't see him doing. 00:11:53.170 --> 00:11:58.000 that work well, even though he has the sensitivity to really help 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.800 somebody, you know, he would, we would always call him like Dr. 00:12:00.800 --> 00:12:04.700 Kai, you know, when you kind of little like whatever he'd know and he'd not 00:12:04.730 --> 00:12:09.000 leave your side, like he was very nurturing that way, but definitely a 00:12:09.030 --> 00:12:13.050 little too sensitive, I think, for, you know, taking him to places and 00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:17.740 he'd be, you know, so what are the, are there specific breeds that are 00:12:17.870 --> 00:12:22.730 traditionally better suited or like, how would you know, or how can you tell? 00:12:23.050 --> 00:12:27.840 Well, you know, what parameters would I use to even think about, 00:12:27.870 --> 00:12:30.110 Ooh, Leia might be good for that. 00:12:31.190 --> 00:12:31.840 Kimmy: Yeah. 00:12:31.870 --> 00:12:34.770 Um, and your dog definitely sounds like a pup that's very 00:12:34.770 --> 00:12:37.190 attached to, to the family, right. 00:12:37.190 --> 00:12:39.970 And the needs of the family and in tune with that. 00:12:40.270 --> 00:12:44.590 Um, when we were looking at characteristics, I can't say a 00:12:44.590 --> 00:12:49.780 specific breed is better than another one, but you really have to look at. 00:12:51.470 --> 00:12:54.160 breeds, what are the characteristics of this dog breed? 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.560 Are they cattle dogs? 00:12:55.590 --> 00:12:57.700 You know, are they, would they rather herd, right? 00:12:58.020 --> 00:13:02.720 Or, um, other breeds, you know, are, are much more laid back. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:05.170 Now, my breed of dog is Golden Doodles. 00:13:05.745 --> 00:13:07.575 Or Golden Retriever, right? 00:13:07.875 --> 00:13:10.315 So they have the temperament, the personality. 00:13:10.315 --> 00:13:13.375 If you look back into the poodle line, they love to work. 00:13:13.545 --> 00:13:15.005 Poodles love to work. 00:13:15.225 --> 00:13:19.035 So with the Golden Doodle, um, I've had high success with, with 00:13:19.035 --> 00:13:20.405 the qualities in these dogs. 00:13:20.405 --> 00:13:21.835 They, they like to be out. 00:13:21.835 --> 00:13:23.945 They like to be among different people. 00:13:24.385 --> 00:13:29.775 Um, they're also hypoallergenic is another reason why I primarily go with the Doodle 00:13:29.805 --> 00:13:31.555 because we do a lot of work in schools. 00:13:31.565 --> 00:13:33.475 If a school gets a bomb threat. 00:13:33.505 --> 00:13:33.905 Right? 00:13:33.925 --> 00:13:37.785 We will be called into the district to provide a sense of calm for the students. 00:13:38.165 --> 00:13:44.605 So, but I'll just share one major quality, whether it's a doodle, a golden 00:13:44.605 --> 00:13:52.330 retriever, you know, a German shepherd, You want a dog, when they're out in 00:13:52.330 --> 00:13:54.840 public, they want to go up to people. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:57.120 They want to go up and greet people. 00:13:57.140 --> 00:14:01.610 And, and that's the biggest thing to watch with your dog and say, Is this 00:14:01.610 --> 00:14:03.240 dog going to be successful at this work? 00:14:03.260 --> 00:14:04.650 It doesn't matter if someone sees it. 00:14:05.670 --> 00:14:07.630 It doesn't matter of the age. 00:14:07.650 --> 00:14:09.430 It doesn't matter of the energy. 00:14:09.710 --> 00:14:13.660 If you take your dog out there and they're constantly wanting to go up to people 00:14:13.660 --> 00:14:16.120 and there is no stress sign in that dog. 00:14:16.130 --> 00:14:20.570 Stress signs in dog is the head is down, the tails between the legs. 00:14:20.845 --> 00:14:23.835 Maybe they lean on the owner and they don't really want to go over there. 00:14:23.835 --> 00:14:27.095 We all were trained in looking at stress signs for our dogs, right? 00:14:27.435 --> 00:14:32.355 If that is not present and your dog is continuing wanting to go up to other 00:14:32.375 --> 00:14:36.625 people, regardless of the situation, that is the number one characteristic 00:14:36.625 --> 00:14:40.505 we look for, because that is saying that they love the work that they are doing. 00:14:40.735 --> 00:14:45.495 And they love being what people, despite the energy or. 00:14:45.695 --> 00:14:50.845 Whatever they may be sensing in the room at that time, they are still 00:14:50.875 --> 00:14:53.075 enjoying wanting to meet new people. 00:14:54.385 --> 00:14:54.905 Anke: I love that. 00:14:55.195 --> 00:15:00.735 I'm just thinking so, and would you, would they have to have like a calm temperament 00:15:00.735 --> 00:15:02.665 or is that something that can be trained? 00:15:04.615 --> 00:15:05.785 Kimmy: Depends how old they are. 00:15:09.270 --> 00:15:12.630 Um, it definitely cannot be trained. 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:17.010 I think the calm temperament is, you know, they either have it 00:15:17.010 --> 00:15:18.410 as they get older or they don't. 00:15:18.450 --> 00:15:21.540 I know there's a couple of first response dogs that are about 00:15:21.730 --> 00:15:25.270 three years old, um, younger dogs. 00:15:25.765 --> 00:15:30.765 And, um, I'll, I'll tell you what works for these guys, because they are calm 00:15:30.765 --> 00:15:33.735 overall, but they've got to get the zoomies and the energy out, is that 00:15:33.735 --> 00:15:38.245 when some of the responders get a call, they'll take their dog out for an hour and 00:15:38.245 --> 00:15:40.565 just play before they go on site, right? 00:15:40.885 --> 00:15:45.425 Um, my dogs, I've got a 13 year old golden doodle that's been doing this work for 13. 00:15:45.765 --> 00:15:47.495 I've got a six year old golden doodle. 00:15:47.795 --> 00:15:48.415 So. 00:15:48.665 --> 00:15:52.175 They are pretty much calm and the work is, the mental work is 00:15:52.175 --> 00:15:53.675 what's kind of exhausts them. 00:15:54.585 --> 00:15:59.645 But again, it, it's really, you got to look at, at the, the 00:15:59.655 --> 00:16:01.295 personality of the dog, right? 00:16:01.295 --> 00:16:04.985 They all have energy, they all want to play, but at the end of the day, 00:16:04.995 --> 00:16:11.095 do you have a dog that really is kind of mediocre, calm, can settle down? 00:16:11.675 --> 00:16:14.455 Or is it a dog that always wants to jump and be busy? 00:16:14.925 --> 00:16:19.185 Um, and so it's just something that, uh, it's the way they are 00:16:19.235 --> 00:16:25.385 and, uh, it, it's, you just work through it if there's a little bit 00:16:25.385 --> 00:16:27.385 of the excitement in the beginning. 00:16:27.395 --> 00:16:30.275 But generally that's what I do because when I pick out my puppies 00:16:30.295 --> 00:16:34.735 to do this work, I meet the breeder, I meet the parents, and I really, 00:16:34.735 --> 00:16:40.465 really Get to know the personality of that puppy before I decide that they 00:16:40.465 --> 00:16:42.195 would be the right fit for this work. 00:16:43.375 --> 00:16:45.125 Anke: Because I'm just thinking of here Mrs. 00:16:45.695 --> 00:16:49.505 Ada like she's, she's like, she approaches the world with like, 00:16:49.545 --> 00:16:51.135 I'm cute and you know it, right? 00:16:51.525 --> 00:16:56.215 So she's pretty much, you know, and I'm very happy go lucky. 00:16:56.255 --> 00:17:00.325 I'm, I'm still she's a big dog so in the street I always like I don't want 00:17:00.325 --> 00:17:05.035 her to go up to people because when she gets excited she's big right so and I 00:17:05.045 --> 00:17:10.365 don't you know like I don't want her to get over excited you know so it's 00:17:10.365 --> 00:17:14.445 just an interesting one to kind of scan my own like look at what you've just 00:17:14.475 --> 00:17:19.065 sort of described and think like okay which of my dogs would be suitable not 00:17:19.065 --> 00:17:23.405 suitable whatever so it's actually quite fascinating do you find they need some 00:17:23.405 --> 00:17:29.440 kind of Like, how much of what's going on, because you mentioned like, you know, 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:35.360 school shootings and stuff like that, and the trauma that they help people 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:39.540 through, how much of that is kind of, are they taking that on, or are they 00:17:39.550 --> 00:17:45.170 just like, nope, I'm in the moment, and once the scene is over, I'm good? 00:17:45.170 --> 00:17:49.670 Like, is that, is there something that you need to help them to get through 00:17:49.670 --> 00:17:51.700 afterwards, or can they just absorb that? 00:17:52.315 --> 00:17:56.655 Kimmy: Oh no, they take it all in, um, and they absorb it, and they 00:17:56.655 --> 00:17:58.925 do need to release it afterwards. 00:17:59.455 --> 00:18:00.865 They, they really do. 00:18:01.205 --> 00:18:05.095 Um, it's not like they just go in, because dogs are very intuitive, they're 00:18:05.095 --> 00:18:09.865 very sensitive, and they do, they take on our stress, they take on our 00:18:09.865 --> 00:18:12.175 anxiety, they take on the depression. 00:18:12.545 --> 00:18:16.435 So, um, I can tell, number one, I'll watch body language, when 00:18:16.435 --> 00:18:20.815 they have taken too much on, what happens is they'll start to lay down. 00:18:21.730 --> 00:18:26.760 They'll start to lay down, and that's their sign to me, like, I'm done, 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:33.920 I'm maxed, I gotta go, and I set that boundary, and when I see that, I say 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:37.370 very respectfully, I'm sorry, but we're done, we'll be back tomorrow. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:42.000 And then what I do is I take them home and we always play with a toy. 00:18:42.040 --> 00:18:45.720 I always do something to get them moving, to get that energy out. 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.200 Right. 00:18:46.570 --> 00:18:48.550 Um, and make something fun. 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:52.500 Um, so it's always, always play afterwards. 00:18:52.520 --> 00:18:57.160 Even, even if you think, well, God, you know, are they, I think they're fine. 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:59.400 They're not, they've got. 00:18:59.890 --> 00:19:00.930 to let it out. 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:03.580 And they also have to know they did a good job. 00:19:04.060 --> 00:19:04.340 Yeah. 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:07.850 And it's really important that they continue to love this work. 00:19:08.100 --> 00:19:13.770 And that's why I'm so in tune to their body language and always rewarding after 00:19:13.820 --> 00:19:18.580 going into a situation because I want them to continue to enjoy the work. 00:19:18.630 --> 00:19:21.900 And the day that they don't, then they're retired. 00:19:22.305 --> 00:19:23.985 Anke: Yeah, I love it. 00:19:24.515 --> 00:19:25.005 I love that. 00:19:25.045 --> 00:19:25.405 I love that. 00:19:27.205 --> 00:19:31.075 I mean, that's and that's also I think it does give a sense of purpose as well 00:19:31.115 --> 00:19:35.055 like I would imagine like if the whole situation doesn't sort of stress them out 00:19:35.055 --> 00:19:39.065 it's it's very rewarding for them as well that sense of like, you know, I know I 00:19:39.075 --> 00:19:42.195 actually, you know, do work that matters. 00:19:42.390 --> 00:19:44.880 You know, I know just like my little Leia, like she's a, you 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:46.290 know, she's a Spanish Mastiff. 00:19:46.290 --> 00:19:50.470 So her thing is like, I need to make sure everybody's safe here at night, right? 00:19:50.870 --> 00:19:55.670 And so you can see her with that sense when she's sitting on the porch and like, 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:58.730 okay, I'm gonna, and then she comes in and checks in on everyone's like, she 00:19:58.730 --> 00:20:00.820 takes her work very seriously, right? 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:05.210 So it's kind of cute, but it's also like, it's the, suddenly you can really 00:20:05.210 --> 00:20:09.600 almost see in her face that satisfaction of I've got work to do here, you know? 00:20:09.950 --> 00:20:12.830 So I think it's really, it's rewarding for them as well. 00:20:13.765 --> 00:20:14.175 Very 00:20:14.175 --> 00:20:14.815 Kimmy: much so. 00:20:15.185 --> 00:20:15.755 Very much so. 00:20:15.755 --> 00:20:20.045 And what's really interesting in the fact is, you know, um, last year we had 00:20:20.045 --> 00:20:22.115 a mass shooting here in Maine, right? 00:20:22.405 --> 00:20:27.815 So there were all these critical situa uh, critical, um, places that 00:20:27.825 --> 00:20:31.815 we were deployed to that people could go to for mental health or 00:20:31.815 --> 00:20:33.295 just be supported by the community. 00:20:34.270 --> 00:20:38.670 Here's my point in this, um, the people would come up and they would 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:41.790 develop a relationship, let's say with one of my dogs, Campbell. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:47.170 The rewarding part for this for Campbell is that the next day if that same 00:20:47.170 --> 00:20:53.775 person came into this, uh, critical center, um, He would find that person 00:20:54.485 --> 00:20:58.945 out of 50 other people, he would find that person and go up to that person. 00:20:59.015 --> 00:21:04.525 And I know he remembered and he was checking in to say, are you okay today? 00:21:04.855 --> 00:21:07.805 And that's another area where we know our dogs. 00:21:08.765 --> 00:21:12.605 love the work that they do and they want to make sure that we're okay. 00:21:14.915 --> 00:21:15.165 Anke: Yeah. 00:21:15.175 --> 00:21:20.245 So where can people find out more about you and about the work you do and, you 00:21:20.245 --> 00:21:21.925 know, come a little closer into your work? 00:21:22.545 --> 00:21:23.065 Kimmy: Yes. 00:21:23.255 --> 00:21:25.005 Come on closer into my world. 00:21:25.005 --> 00:21:25.285 Yes. 00:21:25.285 --> 00:21:26.145 You can find me. 00:21:26.145 --> 00:21:30.545 My website is Kimberly Helene, H E L E N E dot com. 00:21:30.545 --> 00:21:32.915 Uh, you can find me on Facebook. 00:21:32.925 --> 00:21:34.955 It's K 9 First Response. 00:21:35.195 --> 00:21:35.905 Maine. 00:21:36.245 --> 00:21:40.285 You can also find me on Instagram, which is caninefirstresponsemaine. 00:21:40.285 --> 00:21:44.875 And, um, reach out at any time if you're interested. 00:21:44.875 --> 00:21:48.065 I don't care if you're in the United States or Spain. 00:21:48.345 --> 00:21:52.495 If you're interested in getting into this type of work, I am a trainer. 00:21:52.535 --> 00:21:55.285 I work with handlers and dogs that want to go out in the 00:21:55.285 --> 00:21:56.725 field and do this type of work. 00:21:56.725 --> 00:22:00.855 So contact me at any time, even if you don't know how to start and 00:22:00.855 --> 00:22:04.755 you're like, hey, um, I don't even know the first thing what to do. 00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:06.590 I can help you through the process. 00:22:06.630 --> 00:22:10.500 I would love to talk to you and I'm here to support you because my passion is 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:16.040 to get more dog handlers, teams, canine first response teams, therapy teams out in 00:22:16.040 --> 00:22:21.480 the world because this work makes a huge difference in the lives of so many people. 00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:22.710 Anke: I love that so much. 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:26.830 And I'm sort of, my mind is going, well, actually, if they're the more teams there 00:22:26.830 --> 00:22:30.070 are, you know, the, the less dramatic. 00:22:30.295 --> 00:22:31.995 The incidents has to be right. 00:22:32.185 --> 00:22:37.875 It's almost like, well, it could be in, in schools for exams and, you know, like 00:22:37.875 --> 00:22:43.315 a lot more situations where, where, where this could help, you know, so I love that. 00:22:43.665 --> 00:22:45.615 Kimmy: And I also work with professionals. 00:22:45.645 --> 00:22:49.855 I work with, um, therapists that want to bring their dog to work full time. 00:22:50.115 --> 00:22:53.405 So my goal, and it's happening here in the States, I don't know about Spain. 00:22:54.130 --> 00:22:58.440 Dogs, dogs are now being trained to go and work full time in school 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:04.620 districts and hospitals and courtrooms and in mental health facilities. 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:09.300 So I support professionals and how to do that as well. 00:23:09.785 --> 00:23:10.135 Awesome. 00:23:10.195 --> 00:23:11.345 Anke: Well, thank you so much. 00:23:11.345 --> 00:23:13.365 This was eye opening and it's got my mind spinning. 00:23:13.365 --> 00:23:15.955 Oh yeah, that's wonderful. 00:23:15.955 --> 00:23:17.255 Thank you so much for coming. 00:23:17.255 --> 00:23:21.525 We're obviously going to pop the links and you know, contact details in 00:23:21.525 --> 00:23:25.085 the show notes and below this video, so you're going to be easy to find. 00:23:25.345 --> 00:23:26.405 So thank you so much. 00:23:26.925 --> 00:23:27.255 Kimmy: Thank you. 00:23:27.255 --> 00:23:28.455 It's been a pleasure. 00:23:28.455 --> 00:23:31.965 And remember the unconditional love of a dog heals all. 00:23:32.871 --> 00:23:34.101 Thanks so much for listening. 00:23:34.621 --> 00:23:38.921 If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review so 00:23:39.021 --> 00:23:40.801 other dog lovers can find the show. 00:23:41.591 --> 00:23:45.081 If you haven't already, head over to soul touched by dogs. 00:23:45.511 --> 00:23:51.081 com and sign up for weekly doggy cuteness tips, recommendations, and personal 00:23:51.181 --> 00:23:53.551 stories to warm your dog loving heart. 00:23:53.552 --> 00:23:57.281 And if you know a pawsome human you think I should interview, 00:23:57.701 --> 00:23:58.841 I'd love an introduction. 00:23:59.321 --> 00:24:01.151 Email me at Anke. 00:24:01.421 --> 00:24:05.656 That's A N k E at Soul touched by dogs.com.