November 24, 2017 1.01 pm This story is over 75 months old

Puppy astounds staff with rehabilitation skills at Lincoln care home

This 14-week-old cockapoo is helping residents at The Laurels.

A rehabilitation centre in Lincoln is considering starting an in-depth research project after seeing some fascinating results in patients following the introduction of a surprising new resident.

Teddy is a 14-week-old cockapoo and for the last couple of months has been going to work with his owner Sue Houston, the Registered Manager of The Laurels Neurological Rehabilitation centre.

The Laurels supports adults with neurological conditions resulting from injury, illness or disease.

Teddy is training to become a PAT (Pets as Therapy) dog with the intention that he will enhance the health and wellbeing of both residents and staff at the home.

Already, the impact he is having on some of the centre’s residents is ‘astounding’ staff and their families.

Residents that previously held very little conversation are communicating with Teddy whilst others are showing emotions and expressions that have rarely been seen before.

Sue said: “When the clients see Teddy you can see their mood lift and they become immediately engaged, focused and concentrated on the task of greeting him.

“Astonishingly, we have noted an immediate improvement in the communication of one lady who is often very confused.

“She has started using automatic speech phrases, something we had never witnessed.

“Her companionship with Teddy has made her more at ease, meaning staff can then guide her with rehabilitation and activity tasks.”