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VETERANS WITH PTSD
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DOG BEHAVIOR - MIRRORING
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Mirroring is when a dog’s behavior mimics a handler's emotions. Ricochet is like a mirror to the people with whom she interacts, reflecting back their feelings with a sense of confidence. As such, she can help people go inward to find a place of peace while, at the same time, moving outward through their greatest fears. She can instantly mirror emotional or physical changes in complete strangers. I can typically tell how a person is feeling based on Ricochet’s behavior. She often takes on their emotions, and I notice it manifesting by her body language. She is driven by the emotions of the individuals she works with. People can’t fool Ricochet. Even if someone tells us they are fine, we always trust what Ricochet is communicating. Have you noticed your dog mirroring your emotions? Some people even look like their dogs... Or vice-versa! |
Mirroring in Dogs: Video example of mirroring behavior
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This video is Ricochet mirroring and alerting to PTSD symptoms of high anxiety. She is very obvious in her body language so it makes it easier to see the cues she's giving. Most dogs are capable of this, but they are a lot more subtle. First you'll see her mirroring the anxiety of the service member when he goes to walk with her. She plants, has a rigid body, and splays her legs when pressure is put on the leash. She is communicating that his anxiety is too high to go anywhere and he should just pet her until he reduces his stress. You'll also see her licking her lips and yawning. Those are signs of stress in dogs. She is outwardly showing what he is feeling inside. |
She tries to make eye contact with him, so I ask him to take his sunglasses off. When he does that, she engages and gets closer to look into his eyes. When making eye contact like that, the hormone, oxytocin is released which can reduce stress.
You can see Ricochet look back at me to validate that he's too anxious to go anywhere. But, when it looks like we're going to walk in the direction of the exit, Ricochet stopped planting. However, when people started talking to us, she planted again because now there was a new "threat" in the environment that could cause more anxiety.
This time when she plants, you can see the worried look on her face mirroring the emotion the service member was feeling. You can also see how stiff her legs are. I did take her leash after I turned the video off, and she walked with me.
You can see Ricochet look back at me to validate that he's too anxious to go anywhere. But, when it looks like we're going to walk in the direction of the exit, Ricochet stopped planting. However, when people started talking to us, she planted again because now there was a new "threat" in the environment that could cause more anxiety.
This time when she plants, you can see the worried look on her face mirroring the emotion the service member was feeling. You can also see how stiff her legs are. I did take her leash after I turned the video off, and she walked with me.
THE VIDEO ABOVE IS IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT A SERVICE DOG TO DO!
You want your service dog to make it easier for you to go into social situations. Ricochet fulfills a very specific niche with her healing power. She's most effective at the beginning of a service member's treatment, when they are still uncovering their issues. She helps them go very deep into their soul, which can provide additional insights during the discovery and recognition phases of recovery.
An anecdotal story of mirroring
One time we were in Home Depot. We had been exploring the aisles when the service member with PTSD stopped to look at something. Ricochet lay down and wouldn’t get back up. She doesn’t typically lie down when she’s working. But based on her behavior, the service member was asked if he was done.
He replied with a big sigh and said “yes, I’m sweating”. Service members are taught to push themselves beyond the limit. So they rarely tell us if they’re about to have a panic attack. But Ricochet knows. She doesn’t respond to what the person says or does; she responds to what they feel.
He replied with a big sigh and said “yes, I’m sweating”. Service members are taught to push themselves beyond the limit. So they rarely tell us if they’re about to have a panic attack. But Ricochet knows. She doesn’t respond to what the person says or does; she responds to what they feel.
Dogs are our mirrors and what they reflect back is our energy, emotions, pain, personalities, etc. You will often see your dog with the same expression as you. Or, if you're really excited, they start getting all giddy.
Do you know someone who has a dog that seems hyper, jumps on people, barks or manifests other undesirable behavior? Think about the person who owns the dog. Do their personalities seem to match up? What about your dogs? Does your personality come out in the way they behave? Are they mirroring you?
Do you know someone who has a dog that seems hyper, jumps on people, barks or manifests other undesirable behavior? Think about the person who owns the dog. Do their personalities seem to match up? What about your dogs? Does your personality come out in the way they behave? Are they mirroring you?
Your dog is your mirror
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