Nine-year-old Jacob Hing had never felt the world quieten around him until he met Marshall, a therapy dog at his physiotherapy appointment.
Now his mother Georgina is determined to bring that same calm into his everyday life by fundraising for a therapy dog of his own.
The family recently moved from Baringa to Golden Beach, an upheaval that amplified Jacob’s struggles with social interactions, anxiety, emotional regulation and unfamiliar surroundings.
A recent physiotherapy appointment for an annual check-up was going pear-shaped until the practice’s therapy pup, Marshall, stepped onto the scene.
“Jacob was really starting to escalate and was very uncomfortable in the waiting room,” Ms Hing said
“When we got into the physio office, he was unable to talk to the physiotherapist at all and she said, did you want me to get my dog Marshall to come and sit with you?
“From the instant Marshall walked in, everything changed.
“Jacob was receptive to the treatment and was able to cooperate for us to see through the appointment.”
Ms Hing said the family’s life was centred around the needs of Jacob, the youngest of four, and the practices required to keep him safe.
“Jacob can often try to escape the house, so everything has to be double-locked at all times,” Ms Hing said.
“I am used to it, but the older he gets, the more I worry he will be able to get out.
“Another part of wanting the therapy dog is not only to calm Jacob and to help him through everyday situations, but also because these dogs are trained to track.”
Ms Hing has set up a Smart Pups Fundraising Page to help match Jacob with a highly-trained assistance dog – most likely a labrador or golden retriever.
Smart Pups Assistance Dog training begins at eight weeks old with foster families caring for pups during their first year, focusing on socialisation, house training, and basic obedience.
By 10–11 months, they advance to task-specific modules after completing general training at their own pace.
Smart Pups join their recipient families at 12–18 months, with a trainer spending up to five days ensuring the dog bonds with the child, settles in, and the family learns proper communication techniques.
Ms Hing believes the pup would be a “game changer” for her son.
“As Jacob grows, he becomes more aware of how different he is and you can see him trying so hard to modify his behaviour in public and places where he feels uncomfortable,” she said.
“The assistance dog would be able to keep him regulated so that he could go about his life like everyone else, and so that we could feel some degree of calm ourselves, knowing there is another way that we can look out for him.”
To donate to the Hing’s plight and bring Jacob one step closer to his very own assistance dog, visit www.smartpups.org.au/campaigns/smart-pup-for-jacob-202411/.
