A certified therapy dog offers compassion and determination
You may have seen seeing eye dogs, military or police K9 units, guard dogs, and other “dogs with jobs” either on television or in your everyday life. But there is another type of working dog that doesn’t need to know any special tricks or have special talents: the therapy dog, a working dog with heart.
Therapy dogs are generally considered calm, well mannered, open to stranger interaction, and compassionate. There is no breed or size restriction; the dog’s attitude and demeanor are the most important aspects of a successful therapy dog. These dogs are used in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and other places where the connection between people and animals can be beneficial to the patients. Though the primary focus of a therapy dog is to be a good and gentle companion, some dogs are taught tricks to entertain, or simple games to play with the people they meet.
Therapy dogs have a short but richly developing history. Pets have been comforting their owners for years, but a nurse named Elaine Smith is generally credited as developing the formal idea of therapy animals. She saw some of her hospital patients experience such joy and strength from the simple companionship from a visiting chaplain’s dog, she started a training program for dogs to officially be recognized as therapeutic assistants. The history continued, with animals being used in rehabilitation programs, in nursing homes to engage and comfort the elderly, with soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, and for children battling emotional disorders. Some speech therapists have even had the opportunity to use therapy dogs as a way for children to work on speech impediments by having children read to the dogs!
If you think your dog has the patience, confidence, and friendly nature to work with strangers, therapy dog training may be the rewarding experience you and your dog are looking for. You and your dog could start practicing by allowing him to meet new people, especially children, and develop his confidence for being around strangers. Some games or tricks that aren’t intimidating (NO pulling games or jumping on people!) would also be a good foundation. Once you are ready for some professional training, the American Kennel Club’s “Canine Good Citizen” evaluation is a great test for your dog. Meeting strangers, sitting or lying in place, not being startled by distractions, and remaining pleasant when being away from the owner are all a part of the evaluation. Dogs who pass this behavioral evaluation can receive a special dog tag that declares the dog to be a Canine Good Citizen, which may be required to become a member of some Therapy Dog societies. AKC Canine Good Citizen testing dates and places can be found at http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/cgc_schedule.cfm
Joining a society or membership is the best way to stay aware of therapy opportunities for your dog. Therapy Dogs International and the Delta Society have a broad spectrum of programs available for their registered members; dogs visit hospice and nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and various shelters. There are many other organizations and support systems for therapy dogs and their owners. The work a therapy dog does contributes to the comfort and well being of older people who are lonely, sick children who find joy in their furry visitors, schoolchildren who practice reading aloud to the dogs, people who are displaced due to natural disasters, and much more.
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