Dog training gives paws to recover

TRAINING a dog can be a challenging process but for many Tasmanian veterans it is also therapeutic.

Before Craig Gresham met Misha he faced significant physical and mental battles from his time in the Australian Defence Force, which included five overseas tours in East Timor and Afghanistan.

After being discharged in 2013 it was suggested to him that he get an assistance dog, but when he found is difficult to find someone to train Misha, he decided to do it himself.

A year later Misha passed her testing with flying colours and Mr Gresham was soon approached by other veterans asking for support to train their own assistance dogs.

Before long Misha’s Mates was born and you can now find their red jackets providing assistance all over Tasmania to soldiers and first responders who have suffered physical disabilities as well as minor traumatic brain injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Mr Gresham said the process of self-training an assistance dog could be “very therapeutic”.

“It gives that veteran a sense of purpose in their life again,” he said.

“When they’re discharged they lose that sense of community support, routine and structure to their life every day.”

He said having a dog with a training jacket was a beacon for people to come and talk to you.

“Some questions are good, others are bad but the veterans learn to deal with it,” Mr Gresham said.

“They become more confident with each outing and learn how to talk about those experiences.”

To get into the Misha’s Mates training program people need to have a doctors and psychologists referral and supply their own dog.

It takes about 40 weeks to a year to become a qualified assistance dog.

Mr Gresham said Misha’s Mates was hoping to open up their services a little bit in the future to accommodate mental illness in parents who lose children.