Yogi and Cindy Bears are a team of Newfoundland dogs fully trained in Water Rescue, Animal Assisted Activities and as Therapy Dogs.
At Yogi and Cindy Bears we promote ‘The Provisions and the Training of Assistance / Therapy Dogs’. We provide an alternative type of therapy to medications, which comes under the realm of Animal Assisted Intervention.
Our Community Dog programme Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) techniques is the term given to interventions where a specially trained dog and professional handler work together, in conjunction with a human services professional (eg therapist, social care practitioner, teacher or healthcare provider), to promote improvements in the physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning of a person. These interventions are designed to meet particular goals to support that individual’s needs.
Goals can be very varied and may include helping with:
- Working with companies and staff to prevent falling into ill mental health
- Building self-esteem
- Overcoming anxiety and building confidence
- Accessing the community
- Social interaction with others
- Assisting individuals with assistant dogs
- Physical mobility, eg fine and gross motor skills
- Changing patterns of behaviour
Assisted Activities and Therapy Dogs
Yogi & Cindy Bears Assistance and Pet Therapy work with both adults and children across a wide range of client groups, including autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, rehabilitation needs, mental health conditions, social isolation, and dementia. Yogi and Cindy Bears have found positive outcomes and overall improved well-being in those with medical conditions, behavioural issues, depression, anxiety and stress. Providing assistance and therapeutic visits to hospitals, care homes, schools, special care facilities and a variety of other venues.
As we continue to develop our Community Dog programme, we can bring our services and knowledge to a greater number of people who can be helped in small one to one session or feel the benefits of working in small groups.
Water Rescue Service Dogs
Our dogs are fully trained and equipped to perform various rescue missions in the water, including the sea, lochs and rivers. The dogs possess exceptional swimming skills, intelligence and are very well committed to their duty within the water. The main factors of these dogs are to rescue individuals in danger or distress in the water. The dogs are trained for lifesaving within the water, their obedience builds a strong bond between the dogs and the handler. Our dogs are trained to search for individuals or remains by an open and moving water, they can also be deployed from a boat or helicopter. Providing a unique service to rescue teams and the public.
- We provide educational workshops
- Patrol the beaches throughout the seasons
- Communicate with the public on water hazards
- Our dogs have regular ongoing training in the water
- Handlers are fully trained water/first responders
- Detect individuals that may have drowned
Water Assistance and Therapy Dogs
Our dogs are fully trained to provide assistance / therapy work to individuals or groups with physical and mental disabilities. Providing safe and therapeutic sessions. Our dogs wear fully equipped life buoyancy jackets which the individual can hold onto while the dogs swim through the water. One session with our dogs can be a life changing experience to an individual. We provide this therapy service to the public to allow our dogs to assist and changing lives.
- Emotional and physical support
- Water therapy is to all individuals and groups
- Dogs are unique and incredible in the water
- Trained to adapt to different emotional situations
