Meeting Dino, UTM’s licensed therapy dog
Whether you’re stopping by for career advice, looking to unwind, or both, Dino is ready to greet you with his welcoming energy at the UTM Career Centre.
The University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Career Centre is manned by an exceptional team of hardworking humans and one adorable dog.
Dino, pronounced dee-no, is a mixed-breed rescue dog from Antigua and is a licensed assisted therapy dog with Lifeline Canada. With his owner, April, Dino works as a therapy dog at UTM’s Career Centre. In an interview with April and Dino, we explore how Dino assists students and visitors at the Career Centre.
A bonfire of positivity, warmth, and joy
According to Better Cities for Pets, a program dedicated to helping cities become more pet-friendly, 57 per cent of participants in a survey said having dogs at work relieves anxiety and stress. Dino echoes these statistics by working hard to provide students with a safe space to visit and talk.
One of Dino’s jobs includes helping April with what is known as “Gentle Career Counselling.” Rather than focusing only on career-related stress, this type of counselling invites students to share memories and insights about their lives.
Every week, Dino and April also hold drop-in sessions called “Paws & Unwind with Dino.” These sessions are an open space where students can ask about career planning while unwinding in a safe space and, most importantly—playing with Dino. During these sessions, participants are seated on the ground while Dino can roam wherever he wants.
April shared that students are sometimes hesitant to ask questions and often think they need to have a problem before asking for help, but that is not the case. In times of hesitation or awkward silence, Dino fills in the gaps and helps students feel more welcomed and engaged.
According to April, the students love Dino. April mentioned that some students even compared Dino to “a bonfire that fills you with positivity, warmth and joy.”
Dino is also available for one-on-one appointments for students who prefer a private conversation. Instead of engaging in what might be an uncomfortable and scripted conversation for some students, Dino offers a relaxed, one-on-one environment where they can feel at ease and open up more naturally.
Beyond helping students relax, Dino plays a key role in fostering growth within the UTM community. As students come to meet Dino, they also meet other students and staff at the Career Centre, where they gradually learn more about what the centre has to offer and the resources available while befriending fellow students. Slowly but surely, students can make new connections and build a better support system for themselves, thanks to Dino.
Life as a working dog
Although he is cute, Dino is still a working dog. Before working as a therapy dog, Dino underwent extensive training.
Before becoming a therapy dog, every dog in training goes through various sets of temperament tests. Dino was taught many things, including becoming desensitized to actions like dropping food on the ground. The more desensitized he becomes to different things, the less reactive Dino is and the more calm he will be around humans.
Like us humans, Dino also has some trouble managing his work-life balance. Similar to how our energy is down at the end of a long day, Dino’s social battery drains after a full day at work. April incorporates breaks into these workdays so Dino can destress and preserve his energy.
April also works hard to help Dino by creating a routine for him. Every day, April parks in the same spot, walks down the same road, and takes the same elevator. Not only does this help Dino acclimate to his environment, but it has also been a building block in April’s and Dino’s relationship.
“Dino is also my personal therapy dog and emotional support, he’s like a wingman who is always there for cuddles and a hug,” April shared.
On his days off, April revealed that Dino can be very lazy—he sleeps in on the weekends and indulges in late-morning walks. Although Dino is obedient at work, April shared that he can also be a tad mischievous at home. His favourite toy, according to April, is any stuffed toy in which its stuffing he can rip apart.
If you want to visit Dino, make sure to stop by the Career Centre located in the Student Services Hub on the first floor of the William G. Davis Building. Dino’s next drop-in session of “Paws & Unwind” will take place on October 15 at 11:30 a.m. where he will be ready to greet you with his infectious warmth and gentle spirit.
