Pippit

Understanding stammering

I must admit that I have no personal experience or knowledge when it comes to stammering. I know nothing about the cause or treatment. I am aware that it is a neurodevelopmental issue and there is no known cure. My understanding is limited to the movie The King’s Speech. For those who have not seen this extraordinary film, it documents the struggles of King George V1, who was thrust into the position of King when his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated because of his relationship with an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. Until that point, as a relatively unknown individual, it was rarely necessary for him to speak in public, so few knew of this affliction. Unfortunately, as the king, being unable to speak clearly and concisely would be humiliating and open the crown to ridicule. The film shows how he attempted to overcome his stutter with the assistance of a speech therapist.

For those who are attempting to work out which Royal he was, he was the father of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Research shows that 1 in 20 children stammer to some degree, and 1 in 10 adults will experience this condition in their lives, albeit for a short period of time.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, I truly believe that if we are going to benefit from stories of real people, then we need to learn from their experiences. So, now to the story of Tom.

Tom

Tom is a guy who suffers from a stammer. His stammer, whilst being a nuisance, was not anything like as bad as some, but it was accentuated by the fact that he worked from home and therefore ensured that he didn’t have the opportunity to associate with work colleagues. Knowing that practice makes perfect, or at least it should improve matters, Tom turned to a very special UK organisation called The Woodgreen Pets charity, which specialises in matching prospective adoptees who have issues to a particular shelter dog that needs a permanent home. The initial meeting takes place in a secure building, but the introduction is monitored by the staff through cctv so that they can gauge whether their choice was a correct one. Obviously, getting it right is to the benefit of all: the dog, the adoptee and of course the charity.

This matching of dogs to owners is not new. My first Golden Retriever, which I acquired from a breeder, was presented to me as the one that would suit my temperament. I was never given a choice; I never saw the rest of the litter. The old lady had developed a system that included a sit-down meeting over a cup of coffee while she decided which puppy would be best suited to any prospective owner. The exuberant humans were matched with the excitable pups, and the quiet, calm humans with the quieter, more reserved pups. According to her, she rarely had a puppy returned, as over the decades her experience gave her an insight into which dog required the best human

The perfect match

Enter Pippit, who had been taken to Woodgreen Pets by his elderly owner as he was unable to cope and made the brave decision to give her the chance of a better life.

Pippit is a Flatcoat Retriever, a breed that is much underrated. It is generally a very cheerful, good-tempered, extremely adaptable dog, and because it is not that popular, it has not been allowed to develop into one that has been ruined by overbreeding. Commonly referred to as Flatties, I have never met a bad one or even heard of an adverse incident involving a Flatcoat Retriever.

Well, Tom and his wife and Pippit pretty much hit it off immediately. Tom’s speech has improved, and Pippit has settled into the household and is now a much-loved family pet.

Another example of the benefits of having the right canine companion. In this instance, Pippit has assisted Tom without even trying. No special training, she just had to be around, giving that special companionship that comes from a pet.

I am indebted to the charity Woodgreen Pets and to the charity Stamma for their insight into this complex issue.