Therapy dog helps children with eating disorders

Sipho enjoys having cuddles and being petted by staff and children at The Brambles eating disorders service in Duston, Northampton

A new therapy dog is helping young people who are being treated for eating disorders to be put at ease and laugh, his trainer said.

Sipho, the 10-month-old labradoodle puppy, goes with his owner, Bronwyne Stott, a paediatric nurse, to The Brambles, in Duston, Northampton.

Ms Stott, who works for the service run by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT), said: "He instinctively seems to know who is feeling anxious or vulnerable and will sit with his chin on their foot."

She said when he greets patients the entrance "they immediately feel more relaxed".

Sipho will have to be assessed by a qualified trainer before he can be deemed a fully-trained therapy dog

The children and young people enjoy taking him for a walk around the garden, which makes them more open about how they are feeling, the trust said.

"He makes them laugh and gets them chatting. They can sit and stroke him which puts the children, and their parents, at ease," Ms Stott said.

Staff also take him for a walk in their breaks to help with their own wellbeing.

A parent, whose daughter has an eating disorder, said: "It was a validating opportunity for her to have her views and opinions heard.

"Although she is often anxious in these kind of situations, she was put at ease and had a positive experience within the group."

Sipho has been helping both patients and staff at The Brambles

It was hoped Sipho, the first dog to be used at the service, would be fully trained in another eight months.

"Dogs are therapeutic anyway, and the benefit of having Sipho here has been amazing," Ms Stott added.

"If you have an eating disorder, or complex feeding issue, he proves a great distraction from the challenging circumstances these children are in, and he helps give them the confidence to take the next steps towards recovery."