01/09/2026
Recent feedback....
A very heartfelt thank you to Calm Paws from Sebbie and me. 🐾❤️ Mackinnon Fam
Thanks to Calm Paws, Sebbie is currently having the best week off at the Shack — beach time, naps, toys, doing absolutely nothing important and generally living his best life. 😂
It’s been quite a journey with this beautiful boy. Along the way, we’ve spent a lot of time educating people about the role and value of therapy and assistance dogs — and helping people understand that they are so much more than a gorgeous face and a wagging tail. Sebbie has worked in the NDIS space for 3 years now.
The benefits these dogs can bring to mental health and emotional wellbeing can be incredibly powerful.
A calm dog beside someone can help reduce anxiety, create a sense of safety, encourage connection and conversation, provide grounding during overwhelming moments and offer comfort without judgement or expectation.
Sometimes there simply aren’t the right words.
Sebbie doesn’t need someone to explain what they are feeling or why. He doesn't need their story. He can just sit beside them, be present and meet them exactly where they are.
That quiet connection can mean so much, particularly for someone experiencing distress, anxiety, loneliness or simply having a really difficult day. ❤️
And something else we have learned along the way is that Sebbie doesn't have to be in uniform every time he's doing something meaningful. His working uniform is compulsory when he is accessing public places under his assistance dog role, but outside of that he gets to simply be Sebbie.
A cheeky, toy-loving, sock-stealing, beach-going Labradoodle who takes his sleeping responsibilities extremely seriously. 😂🐾
None of what we have been able to do together would have been possible without the incredible foundation, training and support we received from Calm Paws.
Lynda you helped give Sebbie the skills and confidence to move through different environments calmly while still allowing his beautiful personality to shine through.
Our journey may also be about to take another exciting turn, with Sebbie potentially having a new job to start in the coming months.🎊
We’ll share more when we can. 🐾❤️
But for now, there are no responsibilities and absolutely no rush.
For now, it's chill time at the Shack. 🌊🐶💤
Thank you, Calm Paws, for being such an important part of Sebbie's story and for helping us demonstrate the very real value these incredible dogs can bring to mental health, wellbeing and human connection.
We will always be grateful. ❤️🐾
