top of page
Community Dogs of Dunblane

Packmates (Volunteers)

Our Packmates programme is more than volunteering — it’s a community of people who share their time, skills, and love of dogs to make a difference. 

 

  • Induction & Training: All Packmates are introduced to dog behaviour, handling skills, safeguarding, and inclusion practices. 

 

  • Roles: Packmates may walk community dogs, assist in therapy sessions, or support events and school visits. 

 

  • Development: Volunteers gain valuable experience that supports careers in animal care, mental health, education, and social services. By becoming a Packmate, you’re not just walking dogs — you’re helping people build confidence, feel connected, and experience the joy that dogs bring.

Therapy & Training Support

We integrate professional psychotherapy and counselling with canine-assisted interventions to support people facing emotional, behavioural, and mental health challenges.

 

  • Autism & ADHD Support: Therapy dogs help reduce anxiety, improve daily routines, and offer emotional grounding. 

 

  • Cynophobia Therapy: Structured sessions help children and adults overcome fear of dogs in a safe, supportive way. 

 

  • Therapeutic Counselling: Brian A. Irwin, an Animal-Assisted Psychotherapist and Therapeutic Counsellor, provides evidence-based therapy that blends professional practice with the healing presence of dogs. 

 

  • Therapy-Level Training: We prepare dogs to meet high standards of calm behaviour, making them suitable for therapy, school, and care environments. This work ensures both humans and dogs thrive together, and no one is excluded for financial reasons thanks to our sliding scale and waiver policies.

Service & Assistance Dog
Training & Certification

Top Tails Foundation offers structured pathways for training and certifying Service & Assistance Dogs. These dogs transform lives by offering independence, security, and companionship. 

 

  • Autism & ADHD Support Dogs: Assist with routines, provide grounding during overwhelm, and increase confidence in public. 
     

  • Mobility Support Dogs: Help with practical tasks such as opening doors, fetching items, and aiding balance. 
     

  • Therapeutic Support Dogs: Offer emotional stability for people managing anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health challenges. Our approach includes: - Step-by-step training plans tailored to each dog and handler. 
     

  • Certification process to ensure every dog meets welfare and performance standards. 
     

  • Ongoing support for families and handlers, ensuring partnerships remain strong for the long term. 
     

  • Advocacy & rights protection — helping handlers confidently access public spaces with their service dogs.

Research & Evidence (Top Tails Labs)

Top Tails Labs Through our research branch, Top Tails Labs, we explore the science behind human–canine partnerships. Our areas of study include: -

 

  • Emotional Co-Regulation: How humans and dogs synchronise moods and behaviours in therapeutic settings. 
     

  • Impact in Schools: Measuring outcomes such as attendance, focus, and wellbeing when dogs are part of the classroom. 
     

  • Care Home Benefits: Understanding how canine visits reduce loneliness and improve quality of life for older adults. 
    ​

  • Training Innovations: Evaluating which training methods best prepare dogs for therapy and assistance roles. We share our findings openly so that communities, professionals, and policymakers can all benefit from the evidence.

Therapeutic & Support Walks

  • Theraputic Walks - gentle sessions with Monet & Pablo supporting wellbeing for neurodivergent children, adults with disabilities, and older adults.
    ​

  • Support Walks - volunteer packmates walk dogs for people who can't manage due to age, illness, or disability, ensuring both owner and dog are cared for.

bottom of page