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| Nicolette D. Gundersen, MS, MFA | |
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Website: Email: Phone: 913-541-2527 Conference Topic(s): The History & Applications of Animal-Assisted Therapies Wednesday, July 11th at 1pm “Dr. Dog – Man’s Best Friend Helping Man” - The education and career path of a therapy dog Friday, July 12th at 1:30pm |
Nicki Gundersen has been working with dogs in search and rescue work as well as in animal-based therapy since 1992.
In the early 90s, Gundersen got a Labrador retriever named Oliver. He was not the best dog for an inexperienced owner because he had numerous aggression issues, but he was a wonderful motivator and introduction to the world of dogs and dog training. Without him, it would be safe to say that the story would end here.
After Oliver passed away, many wonderful dogs have crossed Gundersen’s path with the first one being Barnabus the Newfoundland. It was with Barnabus that Gundersen entered the world of search and rescue work as well as animal-assisted therapy. And it is this partnering that has led her on a wonderful journey that is still unfolding today.
Before Barnabus turned a year old, he and Gundersen were blessed to be able to attend a search, rescue and avalanche dog academy in Montana. And it was that at point that she decided that she would always have a dog in her life as a partner, friend and companion.
Following a triumphant completion of the academy, they duo returned to Kansas and began a highly publicized and successful career in SAR work specializing in water recovery. But, it was also through these endeavors that Gundersen was first exposed to death, crime and the plight of those left behind.
During many encounters with surviving families, Gundersen realized that these families were often helped simply by getting to pet Barnabus, take care of him while he wasn’t working and attending to his needs for food and water. And, it was through this that she realized that they two of them could help people even when they were not on searches by volunteering as a therapy dog team.
After finding training, the Gundersen started a visiting therapy dog program at two local nursing homes and added another dog to her home, Calvin the Newfoundland.
Before Baranbus and Gundersen left their little town of Pittsburg, Kan. for Indiana, both had received commendations for out-standing community service from the governor of Kansas. Barnabus also received a proclamation marking Jan. 21 as Barnabus appreciation day and he received the title of Outstanding Pet of the Year by the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association.
The dynamic trio continued their SAR work and therapy work in Indiana. They broadened their therapy dog work and started visiting mental-health facilities, pediatric therapy offices, children at-risk and regular hospitals.
During Gundersen’s time in Indiana she had the opportunity to meet up with many dedicated dog trainers. Through her experiences with them, she attended numerous training seminars, including APDT conferences; got a Companion Dog (CD) title on Calvin and became an assistant instructor for a local trainer.
After leaving Indiana, Gundersen returned home to the Kansas City area and quickly found her place in the dog world again. She and the dogs joined up with Pets for Life as well as the local Delta Society chapter and started therapy dog visitations at a mental-health facility and a local hospital. They also met up with a local dive rescue team where their SAR dog skills were put to frequent use and she soon became an instructor for other area groups on the training of dogs to assist in locating victims of drowning.
Gundersen began part-time work with a local animal behaviorist and assisted in teaching obedience classes. Under his tutelage, she was exposed to new methods of training that emphasized positive reinforcement.
Soon after returning to Kansas City, Barnabus retired from both SAR work and therapy dog activities. Calvin took up the slack and became the lead dog. During his time in the limelight, he had the opportunity to be an understudy for a local production of Annie as well as work with a local animal talent agency.
A couple of years later, Quincy the uber-Newfoundland joined the household and opened up many new doors to the dog world: conformation, agility, rally, breeding, crisis work, etc. And with his arrival, Gundersen’s life quickly picked up speed.
Under the behaviorist’s guidance, Gundersen chose a different path for training Quincy. Instead of SAR work, he’d be doing specific scent detection (human remains) and it would be all be taught in a positive manner as well as all his other activities.
Following a whirlwind two years of accomplishing and experiencing things with Quincy, Gundersen heard about crisis response work with dogs. She felt that this would bridge the gap between her two personal commitments to therapy dog work and SAR work. This was something that she had to do and she sought out all the information that she could find on this work. During this search, she found Cindy Ehlers and heard that NOAH’s Assistance Dog school in Nebraska would be holding a training program for this type of work.
Since completing the program, Gundersen and Quincy have been big advocates in the KC area for Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR.) They currently volunteer in that capacity with the Trauma Support Network.
Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Gundersen and Quincy went down to Beaumont, Texas with AACR at the request of the American Red Cross to work with first responders. Due to that work, Quincy received an ACE Award from the American Kennel Club for Canine Excellence.
AFFILIATIONS
• Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (former vice-president)
• Trauma Support Network
(board of directors and responder)
• U.S. Tactical K9
• Black Paws Search, Rescue & Avalanche Dogs
• Newfoundland Club of America
• Pets for Life (therapy dog team)
• Mo-Kan Pet Partners (therapy dog
team)