You’ll find her in the snow, inside a velodrome, hiking the woods, walking on sand dunes, resting atop a mountain, or on base at the Australian Navy offices in Canberra. She’s even spent time in prison.
The first time we met Gigi the Defence Community Dog, she was one of 12 new Assistance Dogs, trained by inmates at Bathurst Correctional Facility for over 250 hours, and about to be paired with Veteran dog recipient, Taryn Dickens.
Taryn, a current serving member of the Australian Navy, suffers from PTSD, including major depressive disorder and anxiety, and had recently been diagnosed with cone dystrophy.
Defence Community Dogs, the sole beneficiary of the Defence Bank Foundation, pairs up highly trained dogs like Gigi with serving and ex-serving ADF members like Taryn, at no cost.
Months after the pair met, we caught up with how the program has affected both their lives.
In addition to performing basic commands, a Defence Community Dog can be further trained with complex commands tailored to the specific needs of their recipient.
“Gigi will perform a general stress interrupter, like nuzzling me to gain my attention if I am tapping my feet or rubbing my hands, if I am triggered,” says Taryn. “But the team also taught her to do this for my specific stress response of picking at my fingers.
“The team also trained Gigi to let me know when there is a set of stairs or obstacles in our way. Gigi is always by my side! That is, unless the hiking path is too thin, then she leads me by walking in front.”
Taryn, a weekend warrior with Women’s Adventure ACT, brings Gigi on every trip, sharing a double swag out in the bush.
“I’m able to sleep better knowing I have Gigi with me, she will interrupt me if I have disturbed sleep or night terrors… She’s my constant companion. Wherever I am and in whatever state I may be in.
“Knowing that I have reciprocal care for my dog and a responsibility to feed and care for her, helps me take the focus off my needs,” Taryn says on the duo’s home life. “Gigi gives me purpose and a reason to get up in the morning.”
In the workplace, Gigi helps Taryn as a conversation starter, while making sure all eyes are on Gigi.
“I didn’t want that attention beforehand, but now the focus is on Gigi, rather than on me,” Taryn says.
“She has helped connect me back into my community. It’s simple things like having a common topic of conversation.”
Taryn names Gigi “quite literally my Defence Community Dog,” as she helps her in navigating the Australian Defence Force (ADF) community itself.
“When I started to lose my vision, I became unable to see other Defence Force members’ rank slides on their uniforms, and so I was unable to address them appropriately. I became hypervigilant and wouldn’t walk around base or go to get a coffee as I didn’t feel confident in these situations.
“Having Gigi alongside me is a visual cue to others that I have non-physically obvious disabilities that I am dealing with, that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to notice,” says Taryn.
“Having a Defence Community Dog improves your personal mental and physical health needs, and helps to connect you with your people again, with a shared interest of an adorable, loving Labrador.”
Gigi was the team mascot when Taryn, as part of the ADF team, won gold at the National Track Masters Championships last May.
“My goal in life has been to help people do things that they didn’t think they could do. Now that is what Gigi is doing for me,” says Tarryn.
The pair will join the Women’s Navy Development Camp in mid-July and compete in a two-week Tri-Service Cool Shot Biathlon in August at Mount Hotham, Victoria. “Our first time in the snow together,” Taryn smiles.
“On my computer at work, there is a quote: ‘Set a goal you can’t achieve and turn into the person who can.’ Defence Community Dogs program has allowed me to redefine what it means for me to be well functioning, and to start goal setting for my future.
“This program is a life changer. It takes you from a solitary place and assures you that you don’t have to go through it alone,” she says.
“It started with receiving Gigi, and already I have a whole community of friends, family, work colleagues, other Veteran Dog recipients, a professional dog training team, and program support staff rallying for me, for my physical and mental health.
“I am not in this alone, and I don’t have to do this alone. With Gigi by my side, I have already become the person that can achieve many of the things I once thought I couldn’t.”
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