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Austin Dog Alliance • Cedar Park

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By Kara Vaught Friday, 18 July 2008

Buzz is helping a Cedar Park nonprofit teach children self-confidence, compassion and patience. In return for his efforts, Buzz receives a sense of accomplishment, tummy rubs and squeaky toys.

Canine members of the Austin Dog Alliance are involved in several programs showcasing dogs’ special ability to put people at ease.

Buzz is a dachshund participating in an ADA pilot program called Paws for Alert, which allows hearing, hard of hearing and deaf children to teach him to respond to hand signs. Buzz is deaf and was named for the buzzing collar he wears to alert him to look up when his owner calls.

Sydney Pierce, Roel Gutierrez, Chance Walters and Denton Meiske teach Buzz the sign for “release” so he will let go of the ball. Photo courtesy Austin Dog Alliance

“It’s good socialization for the children, plus it’s helping to train the dog,” said Debi Krakar, ADA executive director.

After becoming certified by the Delta Society, which promotes training therapy dogs, Krakar said she realized volunteer sites had trouble qualifying each potential volunteer. She began the alliance to serve as a conduit for placing dog and owner/handler teams at volunteer locations.

Now, “if the dog is approved by us, then they know they are good,” she said.

Through a program called Bow Wow Buddies, ADA teams visit Leander and Austin ISD schools. The dogs are taught to rest their heads on a child’s knee and sit still while they read.

“You sit them down together and watch the child start petting the dog, calm down and start reading, and then they don’t want to stop,” Krakar said.

The dogs have the same soothing effect on nursing home residents and hospital patients, putting them in high demand. The ADA has about 35 teams working all over the area and a wait list of facilities at least 35 teams long.

“Once you identify [a potential volunteer], it takes a long time to train the dog,” she said. “There are 22 different exercises they have to pass.”

Krakar calls another alliance program, K9 Kids, “scouting with dogs.”

Aimed at fourth- and fifth graders, the participants spend six weeks learning about dog care and training from professionals in dog-related businesses such as grooming, training, breeding and veterinary care.

For two of the six weeks, children bring their own dogs and teach them tricks and agility exercises. The program not only makes the children better dog owners, but Krakar said the parents often learn new skills through their children.

In addition to other activities, the ADA also rescues dogs from shelters with euthanasia policies.

“We have an extensive foster network. We vet — shots, microchips and physicals — the dog completely and then families can adopt them,” Krakar said. “We do very well with rescues because I am picky with what we will take.”

In August, the alliance plans to begin a capital campaign to purchase a facility for on-site training, programs and gatherings like an upcoming adoption reunion.

“It’s very fun. We rescue a lot of puppies, and at the reunions the owners are so proud of what they have taught their dog,” Krakar said. “They want to show me so that I can be proud, too.”