Olaf the Autism Therapy Dog

Olaf the Autism Therapy Dog

by | Sep 12, 2016 | Search and Rescue, Therapy & Service

SALK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Learning Changes Lives
Superpower Dogs, Team Journalist
9 December 2016
In the halls of Salk Middle School with Olaf, the autism therapy dog.
There is a calming presence that roams the halls of Salk Middle School, a STEM-themed magnet school in the Elk River Area School District of central Minnesota. Here, young minds are put at ease and eager to learn whenever they encounter this special superpower hero.
Teachers and students alike know him as Olaf, yet he won’t be found seated behind a desk or reading a book in the library. If you want to spot this friendly face around Salk, just keep an eye out for four paws and a wagging tail.
Olaf the Autism Therapy Dog
Photograph by Owner Mary
That’s right, Olaf is a six year-old golden retriever, and he’s a specially trained therapy dog that works with students with developmental disabilities, autism, and anxiety. Olaf’s heroic super powers highlight the grand impact our four-legged friends can have on our schools and communities.
As the filming of Superpower Dogs gets underway, our mission is to raise awareness for the working dog community and dogs like Olaf who make our world, and Salk Middle School, a better place through emotional therapy and support.
Olaf first arrived at Salk Middle School in 2014, after teacher Mary Ostmoe began researching the potential positive impacts a therapy dog could have in her classroom.
Before being placed with Mary, Olaf underwent over 6 months of rigorous training with Pawsitivity, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in St. Paul, MN, dedicated to rescuing dogs and training them as service dogs for individuals with disabilities with a focus on children with autism. He was matched with Mary specifically for his superpower of gentle calmness, which has become an essential key to the supportive and safe environment fostered at the school.

From taking movement breaks and learning to care for an animal to learning the soothing comfort of having a loving, gentle fur friend. OLAF truly is a superpower dog.

Like any school, Salk’s students have a wide range of talents, abilities and backgrounds, each carrying their own unique set of needs. All of these youngsters learn in different styles, at different speeds, and under different circumstances, so Mary and her fellow staff know the challenge they face when cultivating a learning environment that works for everyone. However, these dedicated teachers also know that no matter what obstacles a student may face, each child can have the same opportunity to grow with the right support and conditions around them.

 

What makes Olaf perfectly suited for his role at the school is his superpower of gentle calmness that helps kids overcome a variety of different challenges. Whether students feel anxious, upset, distracted, or sad, Olaf’s presence can practically make those feelings disappear the very instant an outstretched hand meets his fluffy fur. With his intuitive senses and loving demeanor, Olaf provides many students at Salk the opportunity to learn new ways of coping with daily struggles. He also enables teachers like Mary to create a positive environment that works for all of her students no matter their needs, which ultimately helps shape these young lives for the better.
Mary shares, “Olaf offers so many opportunities to our students. From taking movement breaks and learning to care for an animal to learning the soothing comfort of having a loving, gentle fur friend. He truly is a superpower dog.”
Just as Olaf’s superpowers attract the attention of happy students each day he roams the school, word has begun to spread to other districts about his amazing impact. But despite how endeared Olaf has become to Salk Middle School, most other schools don’t have a therapy dog, and many students with learning challenges don’t experience the same calm and comfort that Olaf creates.
In order to help build awareness for our amazing furry friends like Olaf, the IMAX giant screen adventure film, Superpower Dogs is spreading our mission to raise awareness for the working dog community, support the next generation of canine heroes and help make sure that there is a working dog available for everyone in need.
Superpower Dogs is a giant screen adventure film in the making, scheduled to debut at the California Science Museum in 2018, about dogs that save lives, lift spirits and make our world a better place. Thank you Olaf for helping the students of Salk Middle School learn and grow with your super powers!
Salk Middle School
Photograph by Meet Olaf – Salk Middle School’s Therapy Dog for Students
WATCH
Superpower Dogs Official Trailer
READ
The Greatest Story Ever About Dogs
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More Inspiring Superpower Dog Stories
Coming to IMAX® and Giant Screen Theatres March 2019

Paws On The Peak: A Superpower Dog Story

Paws On The Peak: A Superpower Dog Story

by | Aug 12, 2016 | Superpower Dogs Stories, Therapy & Service

TEAM FARSIGHT FOUNDATION

Paws on the Peak: A Superpower Dog Story

Superpower Dogs
9 December 2016

On the trail with the world’s only professional blind hiker, Trevor Thomas, and guide-dog Tennille.

Mountain peaks loom large in our collective psyche as daunting challenges of the human spirit. Those who climb to such summits breathe rare air, and rightfully earn their reputation as some of the hardiest among us. Enduring violent weather, extreme terrain, and physical isolation make these climbs harrowing feats for any who attempt them — yet there are some ascents that stand out among the most remarkable.
This past season while deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Trevor Thomas and his Superpower Dog Tennille topped out above the clouds on Mt. Elbert, Colorado’s tallest peak at 14,400 ft., notching the first-ever solo ascent of the mountain by a blind person and guide dog. However this summit wasn’t the only milestone of the venture, just a fitting end to what was a tremendous 2015 for these rugged companions.
Trevor Thomas, known on the trail as “Zero/Zero,” a moniker coined for his vision (or lack thereof), is the world’s only blind professional long distance hiker. He and his expedition partner Tennille, a sturdy and affable 5 year-old black lab, have been a team since 2012, when he received her from Guide Dogs for the Blind, a service dog training organization. As a specially trained guide dog, Tennille has enabled Trevor to safely travel solo and unsupported across thousands of miles of backcountry trails. On their way to summiting Mt. Elbert this past summer, Trevor and Tennille completed the first solo, self-navigated thru hike of the Colorado Trail by a blind person and guide dog, a 500-mile trek through some of the most technical and remote terrain in the Rocky Mountain range.

Tennille and Trevor Have Hiked Thousands of Miles Together

Photograph by Trevor Thomas

It goes without saying that these two thrive on the challenge, which explains why each successive trip they undertake heightens in ambition and difficulty. The Colorado Trail expedition of 2015 was just the latest in a growing list of first ascents and record-setting solo treks, part of a passionate quest that was first ignited in 2008 when Trevor gained notoriety by becoming the first blind person to complete a solo, unassisted thru hike of the 2,175 mile Appalachian Trail. As word has spread about this plucky duo, their achievements have inspired many to aim skyward and break their own barriers of what’s possible.
Yes these two are exceptional, but there is no magic formula for such great accomplishments. What really is inspiring about Trevor and Tennille is their process, a passionate and driven mindset to achieve greatness one step at a time. This type of mastery over mind and body doesn’t happen by chance, nor is it something inherently gifted to a lucky few. In fact, in Trevor’s case, it all started in 2005, when he suddenly and unexpectedly went blind.
A recent law school grad, Trevor was springboarding into a career with the JAG Corps when a rarely diagnosed eye condition turned his world upside down. Life seemed to close off overnight, as even simple tasks became a struggle. Just when things seemed to be at their bleakest, a fate encounter with fellow blind adventurer, Erik Weihenmayer, led to a cathartic breakthrough.
The initial loss of his eyesight had left Trevor stuck in fixed mindset, believing that his vision had enabled him to do certain things, and without it they were no longer attainable. However, the subtle but ground-shaking shift in outlook that was triggered by Erik’s example led Trevor to reframe his entire approach. Starting by relearning how to navigate his environment, short walks around his neighborhood eventually led to hiking trails as he gradually pushed his comfort zone a little further each day.
With a new sense of confidence to confront the unknown, he made the crucial shift into a growth mindset; realizing his opportunity to explore the world was no longer a matter of ability but a matter of intentional practice.

Tennille is a dual-mode dog, meaning she has mastered both specialized guiding skills and backcountry navigation skills.

Each trek offers the chance to learn, to set a new goal, then surpass it. More miles on trail have brought more encounters with potential hazards, honing Trevor’s senses and expanding his physical, mental and emotional limits. Life on the sharp end means seeking out an ever-changing set of challenges that demand an equally evolving set of skills, which is why Trevor’s astounding journey to becoming a world-class, record-setting blind hiker tells only half the story. At the completion of every expedition, Trevor insists on sharing his accolades with his four-legged partner, Tennille.

Aside from being a naturally selfless companion, Tennille is a dual-mode dog, meaning she has mastered both specialized guiding skills and backcountry navigation skills. Such a combination is so rare that Guide Dogs for the Blind was the only organization willing to help pair Trevor with such an extraordinary animal, a process that would take over three years of intensive training. Over the course of this time together, Tennille has become as fit and gritty as her human companion with daily training hikes up to 15 miles. But even more vital to her role on the trail is her incredibly keen environmental awareness. Similar to Trevor’s process, each time out on the trail presents her with new obstacles, so while Trevor manages the big picture, Tennille’s prowess is in the details.

 

Though her highly developed senses are innate, the bond of their relationship has helped her develop a superpower of intuition. Over the course of hiking nearly 6,000 miles together, Tennille has learned to anticipate Trevor’s needs and make situational judgment calls on how to best keep them safe, a trait that has earned her the fitting nickname, “Genius.” A low-hanging tree limb, a treacherous cliff, a wildlife encounter, or a break in the path…in every situation she sends subtle signals so Trevor can gain a full picture of their surroundings.
Every bend in the trail is a new experience together that teaches them to be more adaptive and resilient.
Ultimately with each trek completed, Trevor and Tennille’s reward is the positive impact they have on young people, inspiring them to find their passion and overcome challenges.
The publicity generated from of their expeditions goes directly to supporting Trevor’s foundation, Team FarSight Foundation, which is devoted to empowering blind and visually impaired young adults through outdoor adventure programs. While we will undoubtedly continue to be inspired by such amazing achievements, perhaps there is also a lesson to be learned from their approach.

Team FarSight Foundation is devoted to empowering blind and visually impaired young adults through outdoor adventure programs.

Photograph by Trevor Thomas

WATCH
Superpower Dogs Official Trailer
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The Greatest Story Ever About Dogs
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More Inspiring Superpower Dog Stories
Coming to IMAX® and Giant Screen Theatres March 2019

Search & Rescue Dog, Booter, On The Front Line Of Disaster

Search & Rescue Dog, Booter, On The Front Line Of Disaster

by | Jun 29, 2016 | Search and Rescue, Superpower Dogs Stories

ARIZONA SEARCH DOGS
The Call To Help: Communities On The Frontlines Of Disaster
Superpower Dogs
29 June 2016

Booter, a 4-year old black lab with a large, jovial smile, and his handler John Dean of Arizona Search Dogs, were one subset of the superpower team of first responders that deployed to the massive landslide that took place outside of Oso, Washington in March 2014.

Flattened houses, uprooted trees, dispossessed families, sirens, flashing lights…

For most of us, picturing a community in the aftermath of a natural disaster brings to mind powerful if not heartbreaking scenes of destruction. While these types of images usually inform the media narrative of such events, taking a closer look can reveal a story of inspiration lying just beneath the surface of tragedy.

Despite the vulnerability humans face when thrust into intense, unexpected circumstances, these moments also elevate us to collectively be at our best. Disaster can serve as a catalyst for solidarity and selflessness, and remind us of the special bonds we create through a common purpose of helping others. To see this phenomenon in action, look no further than the most important members of any disaster response team: the search and rescue dogs.

Booter, Arizona Search Dog responds to Oso, WA Landslide

Photograph by Arizona Search Dogs

No matter the type of disaster, first responder teams rush to hit the frontlines in the most crucial moments to aid those in need. When every minute counts, finding imperiled humans faster than humanly possible is a challenge only our four-legged friends can rise to meet.

These incredible animals use their sense of smell to find and recover disaster victims in the most treacherous conditions, often buried beneath many feet of earth, crumbled structures, and debris. However it is an unshakable loyalty to their handler that enables these dogs to work 18 consecutive 11-hour days in the cold, wet mud searching for disaster victims, as was the case of Booter in the 2014 Oso, Washington landslide.
Booter, a 4-year old black lab with a large, jovial smile, and his handler John Dean of Arizona Search Dogs, were one subset of the superpower team of first responders that deployed to the massive landslide that took place outside of Oso, Washington in March 2014.

As part of the recovery effort, John and Booter formed a critical unit whose search efforts led them over the mass of mud, rock, and broken trees that covered over a square mile and buried the small town.

Over the course of 18 grueling days, Booter worked alongside police officers, firefighters, community members and other rescue personnel to help bring answers to the Oso community. Though this kind of success isn’t determined by hard work or raw ability alone, it starts with a foundation of trust and cohesion built through years of shared experience.

no disaster is insurmountable if we join hands (and paws) and face it together.

When John and Booter arrive at the scene of a disaster like the one in Oso, they don’t take long to find a familiar rhythm. One can tell by observing their unspoken communication that they’ve spent thousands of hours training together. But despite all of the elite skill these two exhibit, the most important factor in any situation is the bond they share. Through many challenges John and Booter have come to count on one another, and it is their mutual commitment that enables such effectiveness in dire situations.

Booter Searches the Scene of the Oso Landslide

Photograph by Arizona Search Dogs

Much like the experiences that have brought John and Booter together, the Oso landslide proved to have the same effect on the residents of the small mountain town.
For much of the recovery effort John and Booter worked alongside many family members and friends of the missing victims. While Booter’s calm focus and friendly demeanor certainly helped bolster a sense of hope amidst the group, perhaps there was no better inspiration for unconditional selflessness than that of the search dog on his mission to find people in trouble. This common purpose between John and Booter permeated the search team, and in the face of uncertainty, the courageous residents of Oso came together to help one another recover and heal.
Stories like the Oso landslide will undoubtedly recount the tragic loss of life and upending of a tiny community, but they can also teach us that no disaster is insurmountable if we join hands (and paws) and face it together.
WATCH
Superpower Dogs Official Trailer
READ
The Greatest Story Ever About Dogs
LEARN
More Inspiring Superpower Dog Stories
Coming to IMAX® and Giant Screen Theatres March 2019