Take a little time to look through his website - it’s very professional.
Ben told us about one of his jobs advising the WA Police Service about training their dogs, because there had been media reports about some of their dogs who seemed to get out of control when apprehending possible criminals. The issue came down to one thing - they wouldn’t obey their handlers when they tried to get the dogs to come back - they were literally out of control. Ben helped set up a new training program and advised on selection of puppies for training as police dogs.
Ben also trains pet dogs, runs Puppy Schools, offers Doggy Day Stays, and trains Sport Dogs. Even though he has now spent many years with dogs, he is still amazed about how many dogs can sense how you are feeling. He thinks it’s because dogs and humans evolved together.
Ben’s a very busy man!
But when he had the opportunity to look at a role for dogs in helping veterans with PTSD, he couldn’t say no. The work is funded by the RSL through the Department of Veteran Affairs.
He knows many veterans who have PTSD, including his brother who is severely affected. Many of them literally ’suffer in silence’, and don’t seek medical support.
Ben is currently training four dogs for this role, alongside their future ‘owners’. The dogs he is preparing to be the constant companion of people like his brother, need to have zero aggression, and be stress free - Ben calls them ‘Potatoes’. Once they have passed the Public Access Test (travelling on public transport), the dogs will spend the rest of their lives improving the lives of PTSD sufferers. Ben aims to have 8 dogs in training every year, if this current experiment works.
As a dog lover (don’t tell my cat) I am in awe of people like Ben - People of Action
