Dog therapy business, Schnauzerhaus, nominated for award for its amazing work

A Toowoomba dog therapy business is rising in popularity across the state with more people seeing the benefits of having a specially trained canine to help them open up in difficult times.

A Toowoomba dog therapy business is rising in popularity across the state with more people seeing the benefits of having a specially trained canine to help them open up in difficult times.

Judith Predebon started Schnauzerhaus in 2019 after the idea came to her “like a bolt out of the blue” after seeing a schnauzer interact beautifully with a child with cerebral palsy.

From there, Ms Predebon trained with Therapy Dogs Australia to be able to run a clinical therapy dog team.

The business offers counselling and psychotherapeutic modalities and caters to all age groups, with the dogs incorporated as active participants in the therapeutic process.

Ms Predebon said her business was the first service in Toowoomba offering clinically trained therapy dogs.

Judith Predebon started Schnauzerhaus in 2019, after the idea came to her "like a bolt out of the blue." Here she is with Sophia Diem and dog Dr Vestas, as well as Andre Diem holding Clark Gable demonstrating what typical clients can experience in a session.

“The dogs and myself have gone through a lengthy training program designed especially for clinicians,” she said.

“We are evaluated as a team and must undergo a rigorous program of professional development annually.”

There are a number of benefits to clinically assisted canine therapy, according to Ms Predebon, including being used as a focus of attention for a client, as well as being objects of attachments which can help them form an emotional bridge to a higher level of functioning.

“Dogs are social facilitators in that they are enough like humans to elicit pro-social responses,” she said.

“They are recognised as symbols and metaphors in that they can be used to represent strong emotions and feelings that are hard to articulate.”

Ms Predebon is also a teacher of special needs, so understands the importance a therapy dog can offer.

Judith Predebon started Schnauzerhaus in 2019, after the idea came to her "like a bolt out of the blue." Here she is with Sophia Diem and dog Dr Vestas demonstrating what typical clients can experience in a session.

“Research shows through the human-animal-bond dogs can reduce anxiety, increase relaxation, increase and teach social interaction, increase communication in sessions, as well as act as an motivator for the client,” she said.

“My schnauzers are well-known in Toowoomba and throughout southeast Queensland, and people have been keenly following our endeavours in this field through social media, in person and by word of mouth.”

The business has also been nominated for a national award, and is in the running to take out the Roar Australian Business Award in the category Most Innovative New Business.

The Roar Awards will be announced next month and are the newest awards platform in Australia. They are fast gaining momentum for being the go-to awards options for businesses.

For more information visit www.schnauzerhaus.com.au or phone [phone].